Category: Updates

Among many immigrant communities in the Bay Area, Filipinx are deeply impacted by inhumane immigration and criminal legal policies and practices. Many Filipinx migrate and settle in under-resourced and over-policed neighborhoods, lacking culturally-relevant services, and funneling youth into the prison system. In addition, inhumane immigration policies create extensive wait-lists, separating families for decades, forcing many to migrate without documentation. The Filipinx community is impacted by the twin systems of immigration and incarceration. 

In an effort to deepen the engagement of the Filipinx community and visibilize the impact among our kasama, IM4HI has been creating spaces for the Filipinx faith community, those directly impacted, and allies to collectively work together. Learn more about how we are engaging below, and read our blog post about Filipinx American History Month by Gala King, IM4HI Northern California Regional Director.

Kasama ng Kalayaan Collective

In 2020, with the leadership of directly impacted kasamas, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, launched the collective, Kasama ng Kalayaan translates to “together for freedom.” Kalayaan collective was formed to provide a space to organize for the liberation and healing of Filipinx impacted by systems of immigration detention, deportation, and incarceration. Members include reps from: IM4HI, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Asian Prisoner Support Committee, along with faith leaders, students, and directly impacted leaders and family members. 

Filipinx Faith Organizing

Filipinx faith leaders are integral to this effort, providing accompaniment to kasama who are seeking asylum in the Bay Area, or resettling after immigrant detention and incarceration. Together we are creating space to deepen cultural and faith traditions for the liberation of kasama.

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Ways to get involved

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Join our panel during the USF Critical Migration Studies Conference. “Kalayaan: Liberating and healing the Filipinx community from immigration detention and mass incarceration” – November 2, 2021, 1:50pm

• Full workshop description is here.
• RSVP:bit.ly/FilipinxPanelUSF-RSVP 
• Zoom link: bit.ly/FilipinxPanelUSF-Zoom

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Join a virtual vigil for International Human Rights Day. Kalayaan at Kapayapaan: Stories of Resistance and Prayers of Resilience. December 9, 2021. RSVP: bit.ly/FilipinxVigilDec9-RSVP

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Join our Kasama ng Kalayaan collective. Join our space to organize for the liberation, healing, and of our kasama impacted by immigration detention, deportation, and incarceration! Sign up here: bit.ly/kasama-ng-kalayaan

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Stop the deportation of kasama Estelito Adiova! See the toolkit for what actions to take

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Resources:

COMING SOON

• Community Events:
  • Bulosan Workshop Description 
  • Filipinx Faith Dialogue Description
• Reports:
  • APSC Report
  • Nadal Report
• Resources for impacted community members
  • Prison to ICE to freedom handbook
• Faith Resources:
  • Jeepney Theology

Donate to the IM4HI Migrant & Prisoner Emergency Support Fund

Over the past five years, individuals like you have donated over $30,000 through our  Migrant & Prisoner Emergency Support Fund. This fund covers emergencies when immigrants we accompany have no safety net. In this time of Shelter-in-Place, Jorge*, his wife Celeste*, and their niece Suni* are all out of work. They all already worked paycheck to paycheck– Jorge in construction, Celeste with a restaurant night shift, and Suni cleaning houses.  This immigrant family, like others, now have no way to earn an income, and no safety net to support their daily expenses and bills. Even before the crisis, they and other families we accompany could not qualify most government resources, and they likely won’t qualify for any relief package that is to come. 

We care about them–they are valuable and worthy of relief. Our human connection and real provision through the Migrant & Prisoner Emergency Support Fund could be the lifeline they are looking for. You can be in solidarity with them by donating to the  Migrant & Prisoner Emergency Support Fund.

Our Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Teams are part of the safety net for families like Jorge, Celeste, and Suni. The accompaniment teams empower families to be self-sufficient in looking for resources in the local community, and can also fundraise through own congregation for emergencies.  Still, it is hard to cover so many expenses. Thankfully, our Migrant & Prisoner Emergency Support Fund can supplement these efforts to provide a safety net.  Thank you for all the ways you are supporting our most vulnerable in our communities and take care of them during this difficult time!

Questions? Please contact Kelly Younger, Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Program Coordinator at kyounger@im4humanintegrity.org

Join Justice Not Jails First Thursday’s for IMMIGRATION IS A BLACK ISSUE

Thursday, October 7 | 6:30-8:00PM

Join us and our special guests as we discuss the struggles of Black immigrants and how racialized U.S. immigration policies result in immigrants of African descent being systematically precluded from entering the U.S., and upon entry, they are disproportionately detained and deported by ICE. Also, learn how you and your faith community can get involved to demand the fair treatment of immigrants of color and put pressure on the U.S. government to end its racialization and criminalization of Black immigrants.  JNJ Agenda Spiritual Centering: Welcoming the Stranger IM4HI-Values and Mission Shared Stories from immigrants Real Talk with Rev. Kelvin Sauls and Maraky Alemseged Q & A Call to Action