The 15th Annual Equity in Action Conference kicked off on Oct. 13 with a presentation on immigration and comprehensive immigration reform by Congressman Mike Quigley, who represents the 5th district which includes NEIU. The conference’s theme throughout its three day duration was “Immigration and Social Justice.”
As President Sharon Hahs mentioned in her introduction, Quigley co-sponsored the DREAM Act and has worked towards equal rights, environmental protection and ethical open government. Quigley spoke about the workings of Washington, D.C. and how the process of passing a bill is not as easy as people initially think.
Quigley also mentioned how it is currently a great time in regards to social justice and immigration, but that current events were impeding progress.
“The fact that there is extraordinary economic downturn not seen since the days of the Great Depression, [makes] getting anything done difficult, because there simply isn’t the resources to do it,” said Quigley.
Quigley then informed the attendees that those who are opposed to comprehensive immigration reform will most likely use the same “fear-mongering” tactics as those who oppose health care reform, while attempting to pit one side against the other through the usage of different mediums.
In other words, the opposing side will be creating scapegoats just as they do for health care reform. He then spoke about how republicans and conservative democrats will argue that the “social agenda can’t be about these items because they will be arguing that we should be focusing on the wars and the economy.”
The following summaries depict the few of the many sessions and events the conference had to offer on Oct. 14 and 15. Impact of Immigration on Labor Markets: A Research Based Analysis By Syed Ahad Hussain Staff Writer
The session began with the introduction by NEIU’s Dean of Academic Development/ Multicultural Programs Murell J. H. Duster. Duster briefly discussed the problems of violations in the workplace, such as employers’ delays of paying workers. Another example is the cut of hours some worker’s might experience, such as six or three hour work days.
Then, Nina Martin, Geography Professor at the University of North Carolina, presented her research on unregulated jobs and undocumented workers. Martin mentioned how unfair labor practices include paying as low as $2 to $3 per hour for a 10-12 hour shift. Workers are also denied access to health care even for workplace injuries caused by various means such as unsafe exposure to chemicals and lack of proper safety measure installations.
Martin also talked about how mental assaults, physical and sexual harassments are usually faced silently by the worker because of an obvious fear of losing the job. Such workplace violations exist in workplaces as diverse as restaurants, grocery stores, security agencies, salons and warehouses.
Martin indicated that there were nearly 8.7 million immigrants working in the United States during the 80s and how the number has currently increased up to almost 12 million. To escape government work regulations, the practice of hiring undocumented workers is common throughout the nation. Martin ended by claiming that undocumented workers, due to their lack of proficiency in English, unawareness of immigration laws and also due to stereotypical considerations, are forced to work for these unscrupulous employers. Human Trafficking: A Modern Day Form of Slavery By Mike Friedberg Staff Writer
This session focused on how slavery is still prevalent in America and throughout the world today. The presenters, Shana Wills, Executive Director of International Organization for Adolescents, and Virginia Martinez, English Instructor at NEIU exposed these contemporary atrocities.
Wills explained the three elements of human trafficking: process, means and end. She mentioned how many victims of trafficking are immigrants looking for a better life and are lied to about being opportunities for work.
“It’s not about na’veté”, asserted Wills, “it’s about immigration policies.” Some of the uses of trafficking include: marriage, domestic service, prostitution, factory work, begging and peddling, agriculture, restaurant work and construction work. Wills also explained that trafficking is a global operation, and because the routes are constantly being changed, it is difficult to track.
The second half of the presentation was lead by Virginia Martinez, Legislative Staff Attorney, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Her talk emphasized the mistreatment, difficulties and oppressive conditions of illegal immigrants.
Sept. 11 and anti-immigration sentiments have fueled Operation Gatekeeper, a “system to try to close the border”, as Martinez put it. This makes trying to attain a new life in the United States difficult and forces many Mexican citizens to attempt to cross the desert. This process has been responsible for 5,000 deaths in the past 15 years.
In response to the millions who tell immigrants to “get in line”, Martinez responded, “There is no line.” She further explained how immigration laws affect women especially. In response to many anti-immigrant groups, she explained how it is actually a guise for racism. “It’s the KKK with a new jingle”, she concluded.