[AAACE-NLA] FW: Crackdown in Immigrants
Lennox McLendon
lmclendon at naepdc.org
Thu Feb 2 09:31:15 EST 2006
Hi Sylvie,
The folks we are meeting wth at lunch are also in charge of the new test, I believe, so I will inquire about plans for the visually impaired.
Thanks for the heads up.
Lennox
>>> "Kaizen Program" <kaizen_esl at literacynet.org> 02/02/06 9:20 AM >>>
Lennox, Thank you for your work on this.
I am concerned that this test redesign should not be completed without
taking the needs of applicants with visual impairments into account. Most
teachers of English to speakers of other languages are not generally fully
aware of the many strengths or complex challenges faced by this diverse
population, which includes many people who have lost vision (but not
cognitive abilities) as adults, and sometimes as seniors.
I know that once the new citizenship test is completed, with questions
centered on pictures, maps, graphs and charts, etc. it will be very
difficult to provide truly equal access for people who are blind or have low
vision, no matter the format. And, this will only encourage teachers in
community-based programs and community colleges to increase the number of
recommendations to applicants who are blind or have low vision that they ask
for waivers on the basis of not being able to learn, even when they could be
quite capable of learning if given appropriate study materials and
accessible tests, as well as being taught with fully accessible methods.
Every year, I speak with or hear about three or more immigrants and refugees
with vision impairments who were told to apply for waivers because they
couldn't really be taught. And, I am sure there are many more I never learn
about. This is very discouraging to such people, especially because the vast
majority of them want to be equal citizens and full participants in our
society.
Unfortunately, I do not currently have the funding to be in Washington D.C.
But, I do intend to contact Congress people, as I did last year.
In order to be as informed as possible in my advocacy efforts, I would
appreciate any information and any other help you can give in this matter.
Best,
Sylvie Kashdan, M.A.
Instructor/Curriculum Coordinator
KAIZEN PROGRAM for New English Learners with Visual Limitations
810-A Hiawatha Place South
Seattle, WA 98144, U.S.A.
phone: (206) 784-5619
email: kaizen_esl at literacynet.org
web: http://www.nwlincs.org/kaizen/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lennox McLendon" <lmclendon at naepdc.org>
To: <david at collings.com>; <aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>;
<kaizen_esl at literacynet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 5:30 AM
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] FW: Crackdown in Immigrants
Greetings,
The two we knew about are S. 1033 the McCain/Kennedy bill and S. 1815
sponsored by Alexander (TN) and Cornyn (TX) and the staff mentioned that
there were two others but three judiciary staff members (from Kennedy,
Cornyn and Specter) did not mention the specifics of the other two.
If you look at the bills on Thomas you will see that the English Literacy
and Citizenship instruction portions are not well developed, and that is why
we met with them; to remind them that there is an existing quality programs
with experienced teachers, professional development and resources. It makes
sense to flow any education services through the existing system rather than
creating a new one in Homeland Security. They nodded in agreement but that
does not necessarily mean they agree with our assumptions; yet them may.
There are naturally a lot of agendas at play.
Today we are meeting with the Homeland Security folks who are most likely
the Administration staff who are responsible for implementing whatever comes
from the legislation. Our goal again is to remind them that there is a
strong delivery system in place and discuss how education provisions from
the Immigration Bill could blend with not compete with the existing
services.
That is the news to date.
Lennox
Lennox McLendon
National Council of State Directors of Adult Education
www.ncsdae.org
202.624.5250
>>> "Kaizen Program" <kaizen_esl at literacynet.org> 02/01/06 11:12 PM >>>
Lennox,
Thank you for sharing this update.
How can we find out more about the new bill and what discussions are forming
it?
Can you tell us about the four bills that are being used to form it?
Best,
Sylvie
Sylvie Kashdan, M.A.
Instructor/Curriculum Coordinator
KAIZEN PROGRAM for New English Learners with Visual Limitations
810-A Hiawatha Place South
Seattle, WA 98144, U.S.A.
phone: (206) 784-5619
email: kaizen_esl at literacynet.org
web: http://www.nwlincs.org/kaizen/
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Collings" <david at collings.com>
To: "'National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE'"
<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Cc: "'Lennox McLendon'" <lmclendon at naepdc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 5:33 PM
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] FW: Crackdown in Immigrants
Here is an update from Lennox McLendon.
David C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lennox McLendon [mailto:lmclendon at naepdc.org]
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Crackdown in Immigrants
Greetings all,
We met with three of the Senate Judiciary staff members yesterday. They
have four immigration bills they are working into one. There is an English
Literacy and Citizenship component which will be of interest to all of us.
Their target date is March 2.
Lennox
>>> "David Collings" <david at collings.com> 02/01/06 1:29 AM >>>
The following message is from Sylvie Kashdan (kaizen_esl at literacynet.org).
David C.
-------------------------------------------------------------
For your information:
In December 2005, this immigration bill was introduced into the House of
Representatives by Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin.
The bill passed the House by a 239-182 vote.
The Senate will probably consider immigration issues in early February.
For more information on this bill, please see the following websites:
http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/CIR/cir002.htm
http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=781
Best,
Sylvie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Inverso, Diane" <InversoD at library.phila.gov>
To: "National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE"
<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:13 PM
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Crackdown in Immigrants
There are 3 versions of Bill Number H.R.4437 for the 109th Congress
1 . Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of
2005 (Introduced in House)[H.R.4437.IH]
2 . Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of
2005 (Reported in House)[H.R.4437.RH]
3 . Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of
2005 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.R.4437.EH]
Diane C. Inverso
Director of Education
Mayor's Commission on Literacy
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
MCOL Phone #215.686.5250/51
Personal line with voicemail 215.686.5253 Fax # 215.686.5257
inversod at library.phila.gov
-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of Pat Phillips
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 1:54 PM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Crackdown in Immigrants
Can anyone give more information about the bill so that we can locate it and
track what is happening?
-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of Inverso, Diane
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 3:08 PM
To: dwyoho at earthlink.net; National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Crackdown in Immigrants
Introduction to the Current Immigration Reform Debate
A week before Christmas, while most of us were shopping for gifts and
attending holiday parties, the House of Representatives approved a massive
immigration enforcement bill with little opportunity for floor discussion or
debate. Among other damaging provisions, the bill would:
* Make undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants who have temporary
status problems into aggravated felons under federal law, including 1.6
million children
* Criminalize anyone who works or interacts with undocumented immigrants
(including social service agencies, employers, lawyers, families and
friends) as an "alien smuggler"
* Turn state and local police into enforcers of federal immigration law,
reducing public safety as immigrants would be less likely to report crimes
that they have witnessed or experienced
* Cost more than $200 billion over five years to deport millions of people.
* Split up families who have some legal members and some undocumented (such
as citizen children with undocumented parents)
This bill focuses on enforcement and fails to address the underlying
mismatch of our immigration policy. Over the past twenty years, ballooning
enforcement along the US-Mexico border has led to increased costs and
increased migrant deaths, but has not slowed illegal immigration.
Enforcement alone does not address the underlying policy problems of a
broken immigration system that does not provide a way for many to be here
legally. Without legal channels to bring people out of the shadows and
accommodate the flow, we will continue to experience the problems of an
unrealistic system; illegal and deadly border crossings, overstayed visas,
and a growing undocumented population living in the shadows.
There are currently an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the
US, making up 5% of the workforce. 70% have been in the US five years or
longer. 1.6 million are children. They would prefer to be here legally,
but we have increasingly closed paths to legal status:
* There are only 5,000 visas available for unskilled foreigners seeking
year-round work. Yet some 485,000 unskilled, undocumented migrants come to
the US every year and find work.
* Families can be separated for years by processing delays and annual limits
* Congress has made it more difficult for someone fleeing persecution to
gain a hearing on an asylum claim.
Only through a comprehensive approach combining a reform of our admission
system, a realistic solution for the undocumented population living in the
U.S., and targeted, effective enforcement of realistic laws will we gain
control over our immigration system. A more comprehensive immigration
reform bill would address the underlying mismatch between the reality and
our current immigration policy by:
* Creating paths to earned legalization for those who are already here
* Creating legal channels for those who we expect to come in future years
* Removing backlogs and annual caps that separate family members
* Creating good, smart enforcement that treats all individuals with respect
In order to stop the anti-immigrant bill from the house, the Senate
Judiciary Committee must develop a good immigration reform bill. Arlen
Specter is chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Diane C. Inverso
Director of Education
Mayor's Commission on Literacy
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
MCOL Phone #215.686.5250/51
Personal line with voicemail 215.686.5253 Fax # 215.686.5257
inversod at library.phila.gov
-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of Debbie Yoho
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:31 PM
To: aaace-nla
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] Crackdown in Immigrants
This excerpt from the 1/16 LA Times:
"...In New Hampshire, which has one of the smallest Latino populations in
the country, two sheriffs last year began arresting illegal immigrants,
reasoning that their presence violated state laws against criminal trespass.
Immigrant
rights groups sued and had the prosecution invalidated. In response to that
ruling, Republican legislators are pushing a bill that would enable the
state to invoke trespass laws against illegal immigrants, and states such as
South Carolina have inquired about the approach."...
Does anyone know anything about this?
"Turning Pages into Possibilities", Debbie
Deborah W. Yoho
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205
803-765-2555 Fax 803-799-8417 dwyoho at earthlink.net
GCLC is a community service of Volunteers of America of the Carolinas.
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