Civil Rights News: Immigration Reform Makes Progress; Immigrants Held in Solitary Confinement; Stop-and-Frisk Policy Disrupts Public Housing

Compiled by Emily Van Dusen, a Spring 2013 intern at The Leadership Conference Education Fund

A Shockingly Sensible Plan
The Los Angeles Times
Editorial

Progress towards comprehensive immigration reform legislation continues following a recent agreement concerning visas for nonagricultural workers between the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labor union, and the Department of Commerce. The agreement may provide continued momentum as Congress amplifies efforts to draft comprehensive legislation, especially since previous attempts at reform (most recently in 2007) were unable to reach a similar agreement. This move may provide leverage for ongoing negotiations, and may speed up the introduction of legislation.

Immigrants in Solitary
The New York Times
Editorial

For detainees currently being held in relation to immigration cases, a lack of consideration for civil and human rights represents a disconnect between the ideals and practices of the American justice system. Proper due process is absent in most cases, and the extreme punishment of solitary confinement is being used arbitrarily on detainees.

As The Times states:

“The homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, has promised a review of solitary-confinement policies. If she doesn’t fix this, then Congress should step in, and now is the perfect time. Lawmakers are preparing a sweeping overhaul of immigration so that it meets the country’s economic needs. They should do just as much to bring the system in line with American values.”

New York City Public Housing as a ‘Penal Colony’
New York Times
Editorial

New York City’s stop-and-frisk program, which has been identified as perpetuating the practice of racial profiling, is especially disruptive for the city’s public housing projects. While security in these areas is a priority, the physical and emotional effect of this policy on the residents is detrimental, according to community leaders. The New York Times is therefore calling on the city to settle the suits “and ensure that police policies adhere to Fourth Amendment guarantees of freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.”