Dear Casa San José Amigos,
Welcome back to our weekly message! Here’s what’s new:
HELP:
NEWS: HELP:
- Update from October 4: You may remember that ICE has been targeting men living with their families in Moon Township, leaving families suddenly without their head of household, and in desperate need of help. More details and an update on that story is below - and MANY THANKS to our Amigos that stepped forward quickly with such generous help. There is still a need for rental units that can go to tenants without documents - also winter clothing, diapers (size 3-4) and wipes, so if you can assist, please contact Monica at monica@casasanjose.org.
- ¡Día De Los Muertos: Jose Antonio Vive, La Lucha Sigue! (Jose Antonio Lives, The Struggle Continues) Celebration on Friday, Nov. 3 at 5120 Penn Ave., hosted by Casa San José. Enjoy great food, live music, dancing, and all the honor and celebration of this uniquely Mexican holiday, with special focus on the life of 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodríguez who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents. Net proceeds go towards sending immigrant families, DACA youth, and allies to the SOA Watch National Convergence to protest the border wall, and reunite with Jose Antonio's family.
- If you can't make it and would like to donate to support the trip, please contact Christina Acuna Castillo via Facebook or at (516) 510-6042. Thank you!
- IMPORTANT: Make your plan to VOTE on November 7, and tell your family and friends! This is mainly a state judicial election, which has traditionally had very low turnout, but has tremendous implications for immigrant rights, among others. The judiciary has been our best and sometimes only hope to overturn and stop hurtful administration policies (i.e. the Muslim ban.) For candidate information, see this voter guide from the League of Women Voters.
- "Immigrants are a blessing, not a burden: Praying with Dreamers Week" is this week: Oct. 29 - Nov. 4. Congregations across the country are praying for immigrants in many ways - more information is here on the Facebook page.
- Berks County Family Detention Center (BCRC) continues to operate as one of three detention centers for immigrant families, where children as young as two-weeks-old have been incarcerated. Many of the families have been unjustly held for more than a year, despite judicial orders to release them and the revocation of its license. Governor Wolf has the power to shut it down: please call the Governor's Office to protest, write a letter, or post on social media. More information to support a protest is here.
- By the time you get this, we will be moving to our NEW LOCATION in the Beechview neighborhood at 2116 Broadway Ave.,15216. Hurray! We will be closed from Oct. 26 - Nov 1, but welcome you to come visit us anytime in our new home after that. An open house is being planned.
- Casa San José held a community meeting last Wednesday night to hear peoples' concerns and discuss DACA, ICE, sanctuary policies, and other issues of interest.
OUR STORY: families broken up in Moon and the kindness of neighbors
- Since the beginning of the month, ICE agents have posted themselves at the entrance and exit of a little known street deep in Moon Township, where approximately 10 undocumented families live in bare, ill-maintained apartments. So far, at least 15 men have been swept up and taken out to Erie or Cambria to await deportation proceedings, leaving their families to fend without breadwinners and in fear of being sent away themselves. They would like to live elsewhere, where they wouldn't feel so trapped, but rental housing is very scarce for those without documents.
But there are a few bright spots to this story, in the generosity and kindness of others. In one day, a group of the mothers and children were brought by Monica, Veronica, Pilar and Rachel from Casa to two very welcoming food pantries. Pastor Michael Sourwine and his congregation at the House of Prayer in Aliquippa had heard of these families, and immediately asked to help, inviting them to help themselves to the much needed food, baby, and household supplies in their food pantry and offering compassion and caring. Also, Director Sandy Hershberger and people at the West Hills Food Pantry in Moon invited them in too, thoughtfully made Spanish versions of their forms for them, and asked them back with enthusiasm and warmth. In addition, several Amigos donated rental assistance so that eviction at least is held off for now.
SUGGESTED if you'd like to read more:
- Please see the informative and clear "Undocumented Immigrants" slideshow (attached) presented by Carlos Adolfo Gonzalez at the PA Immigration & Citizenship Coalition, filled with salient myth-busting facts about this community in PA and the US. Particularly important to know and communicate are the economic consequences: tremendous gains from a path to citizenship, and the huge costs of deportations.
- A news story that just asks: what kind of country do we live in now? "10-year-old immigrant is detained after agents stop her on way to surgery", Vivian Yee, New York Times, Oct. 25.
