November 19th – More than a dozen undocumented Georgians and supporters have locked themselves to the gates of the downtown Atlanta ICE office as part of the national campaign demanding the President stop deportations and expand deferred action for all.
“If the President can stop the deportations of military families, he can stop breaking apart other families as well,” explains Marisela Medina. “All my children think about is the day I could be taken away. Instead the President should grant relief to my family and all families. What is he waiting for?”
The group cites the Secure Communities deportation program active in Georgia since 2009 and the 287g agreements in counties like Cobb and Gwinnett and the state’s HB87 as creating an atmosphere of terror that hurts public safety and needlessly deports the very people who would benefit from reform.
They say that the President has the legal authority and the moral obligation to stop their suffering by expanding the already existing deferred action program, especially as immigration reform meets challenges in Congress.
In explaining why he was participating in the action, Jose Luis Romero stated, “Everyday immigrants face the risk of deportation just by taking our children to school. Today is no different. It’s just that now we take that risk as we defend the rights of our entire community. We’re doing everything in our power to stop deportations, now it’s time for the President to do everything in his power to give us relief.”
Undocumented Georgians, members of the cómites populares of GLAHR, are joined in their civil disobedience by members of Southerners on New Ground and Project South.
Suzanne Pharr added, “Very large numbers of both immigrants and LGBT people live in the South and face threats of violence if we live openly. I oppose the human crisis caused by detention and deportation and I support dignity and safety for all our people. We’re working together to create a South built on justice.”
I am from the US South. I am a staffer of Southerners On New Ground, that works for the dignity and self-determination of the LGBTQ community, a board member of Project South that works for the elimination of racism and genocide, and a member of the National Council of Elders that works to build beloved community and create multi-racial democracy. I am participating in this action because I work for a different world, a world in which we all can have human rights, human dignity and live in the fullness of who we are as human beings. I live in a region of the country that has one of the largest populations of immigrants and LGBTQ people, and our lives intersect. Our safety and dignity are linked, and so is our struggle for justice.
I am from Mexico, I came to the US in 2000. I was living with my brother's family when I saw my nephew deported. That got me more involved to fight deportations and the breaking apart of families.
I have been fighting for a fair immigration reform for the last seven years, participating in marches, rallies, signing petitions, and visiting elected officials. Now we are escalating our campaign to civil disobediences. I have participated on two previous events as well; chaining myself to the White House and the Eloy detention Center in Arizona, because our communities cannot wait any longer, and the deportations and separations of families need to stop now. We are telling President Obama that if he does not stop deportations we are doing it ourselves. That is why I believe in this campaign “Not1More”, because we are focusing on the only one who can solve the deportation problem, the president, Barack Obama.
I have lived in Atlanta for 14 years, I have three children, two of them are DACA recipients and the third is an American Citizen, born and raised in Georgia. I’m participating in the action because it is important for the growth of the community, because we are fed-up with the oppression of the system, because we deserve to live and work with dignity, and for the peace of our own American children. Living with fear affects negatively our families, our lives, our jobs. We only want to be accepted and be a thriving part of the society in which we live.
I came to the US at the end of 2000. I work mainly in construction. I am married and we have 4 children born here. I realized that things got harder for the immigrants, and that the community was gradually more affected. I realize I have to be involved before this crisis reached me or my family. I heard about GLAHR from a radio show, and I decided to get involved to stay informed. We can fight better when we are organized and in community, not only protecting ourselves, but also influencing the attitude against us, and proving them we are not ignorant, that we know our rights, and we are going to protect them.
I live in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I am thee co-director of SONG, Southerners of New Ground. SONG strives to bring LGBT people into the work of justice for everyone. I am participating because so many LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color face fear, isolation and violence every day. We believe the only way we can change that is by taking sheer risks to unleash our power. The risk I take today is small in comparison to the risk of my compañeras and compañeros, and yet to take that risk makes my integrity more whole.
I’ve lived in Statesboro for 10 years. I am a construction worker. I am a member of the popular committee, Voces Unidas. Since the beginning of time, human beings have migrated from one place to the other to look for a better live. In our case, for ourselves and our families. It is a right we have as human beings. We all pursue happiness, and our blood is red, regardless of race, gender, religion, or social condition. I am participating in this action to protect our Human Rights. We do not want one more deportations, we do not want more families separated. This is a country that claims to protect families and children, but they’re the ones most affected when parents are taken from their kids.
I decided to come here as many other immigrants, inspired for the search of the American Dream. The many adversities I have encountered do not discourage me of one day achieving it. I have lived in Warner Robins Georgia for 6 years now. I am construction worker. I am member of the popular committee, Fuerza y Unidad. I decided to participate in this action because we have to fight together to reach our objectives. This is one more step, and we are going to keep going until put a halt on deportations.
Tifton has been my home for six year now. I work in retail. I am a member of the popular committee of Tifton. I am participating in this event because I have the hope that actions like this will create a change in deportations, given that are affecting our communities so deeply. I have small cousins and nephews whose parents had been deported. This is a very harsh reality and must stop immediately.
I am born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina from a Lebanese immigrant family. I work with Southerners of New Ground organizing for the safety and dignity of queer people of all over the south. I am risking arrest tomorrow because I want to fight for the safety and dignity of all people whether queer, undocumented or otherwise. No community deserves violence, and we, as queer Southerners, must stand with our undocumented brothers and sisters to demand that their safety and dignity be respected too. Queers demand an end to deportations!
I live in Warner Robins Georgia. I am happily married, and my three children are American citizens. I am construction worker. I am a member of the popular committee Fuerza y Unidad de Warner Robins. I am participating because I want to fight the fear that affects my community, and stop deportations. I am the support for my family and I do not want to see my daughters growing up without their parents.
I came to the US 12 years ago. I am currently living in Doraville, Georgia, and I am a member of the popular committee Fuerzas Unidas. I have a daughter, and five American great-children. I also have a son that was deported eight years ago. I am participating in this action because we all are suffering the menace of the deportations, and it is not only my family, but everybody around me, and somebody has to step up. I was one of the seven people that chained ourselves to the fence of the White House in the summer, and this action is part of the escalation we have promised president Obama until we stop deportations and the separation of families.
I was born and raised in Houston Texas, and I am currently living in Atlanta. I have been a community organizer for 17 years, and I am the co-director at Project South Institute for the Elimination of Poverty and Genocide. I believe the current attack on immigrants in this country represents the historic roots of racism and colonialism and we need a broad social movement that is not afraid to stand together to stop violence and transform our communities.
I live in Warner Robins, Georgia. I have been in the US for 11 years now. I have a teenage son. I am a member of the popular committee of Warner Robins. I participate in this event representing all the families that live in fear, and are affected by deportations and ICE. We have lived in the shadows for too long, and it is time we come out. I ask President Obama in the name of the families of my committee, to demand a stop to deportations.
I’ve lived in Warner Robins, Georgia for nine years now. I am member of the popular committee of Warner Robins as well. I urge President Barack Obama to stop deportations, because it affects all immigrant families in one way or the other. I also want to Congress to pass an immigration reform, because we cannot live in fear anymore.
I live in Warner Robins Georgia. I came to the US in 2005. I am a roofer. I am a member of the popular committee of Warner Robins. Deportations must stop, I see many children with no parents, and broken families, and it is time we take action about it.
I live in Fairburn, Georgia for 4 years now, and I first came to the US in 1998. My children are undocumented, but my grandchildren are all American citizens. I am part of the popular committee of Atlanta. I am homemaker. We are standing unafraid to protect the integrity of our families. I am here as mother, spouse and grandmother, to stop deportations and tell my community that we cannot be afraid anymore. If we work together this can be a great victory and the answer to unfair deportations.
I am originally from Mexico DF, I am currently living in Tattnall County, Georgia. My two children are American Citizens. I am member of the popular committee, Voces Unidas. I am a homemaker. I am fed up with the way the ICE and the police are attacking my community, I do this because the separation of families has to stop. Our children have the right to be with their parents.