Since early 2006, the national immigration debate has galvanized the country. This critical issue not only impacts federal immigration policy and a potential legalization opportunity for undocumented immigrants, but also has local impacts such as fear of raids and deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the proposition of local anti-immigrant ordinances designed to punish landlords and employers who rent to or employ undocumented immigrants, and state legislators inaction on legislative issues that affect immigrant communities. This workshop will explore the root causes of illegal immigration; oppression, discrimination, and exploitation experienced by both documented and undocumented immigrants; and how all immigrants have been getting involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, locally and nationally. Specifically, the defeat of two proposed anti-immigrant ordinances in two Florida cities will be highlighted, which combined immigrant civic participation, and building relationships with allies, especially faith-based groups and ethnic media.

Participants will share their experiences engaging documented and undocumented immigrants in community actions, challenges and barriers, and local impacts of the national debate on immigration. This event connects to the following USSF crosscutting themes: neoliberalism, imperialism, institutionalized racism, connecting past and current struggles, movement building, environmental justice and sustainability, building solidarity with allies, learning from the experiences of others, popular education, and ideas for building “another world”. This workshop and any handouts will be bilingual – English/Spanish.