100 Immigrant Youth to Descend on Harris County Jail, Demand President Obama End Harsh Immigration Enforcement Policies

*I’ve been watching what the United We Dream kids are doing. And I don’t call them kids in a pejorative way – on the contrary, their youth is one of the things I like about them. They organize and act in the way youth movements of the past did, they’re focused, articulate, and they’re using social media and digital networks to be effective. It was their dogged insistence, along with the backing of important people in important positions, that resulted in President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. This time they’re focused on the president’s immigration enforcement policies. VL

PRESS RELEASE

Texas is ground zero for Obama’s policy — recently touted by Gov. Greg Abbott — of entangling immigration agents with local police

HOUSTON, TX. – On Saturday, Oct. 31, outside of the Harris County Jail in Houston, immigrant youth from across Texas and the country will protest the Obama administration and its harsh immigration enforcement policies that continue detaining families, including children, and separating people from their loved ones.

President Obama, Gov. Abbott and local politicians like former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia built Texas into the home of the most deportations, most border deaths and most detention facilities than any other state. The Harris County Jail detains more undocumented immigrants due to federal policies which entangle local police and immigration agents.

What: Nearly 100 immigrant youth will protest President Obama’s enforcement policies that leave immigrant communities living in fear and participate in a “die-in”, representing those from our community who have died because of these harsh immigration policies.

Who: United We Dream affiliates from across the country will participate in a protest and press conference

Where: Outside of Harris County Jail, 701 N. San Jacinto, Houston, TX

When: October 31, Action begins at 10:30 a.m. CT

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United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful nonpartisan network made up of 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states. UWD organizes and advocates for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status. We seek to address the inequities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth and believe that by empowering immigrant youth, we can advance the cause of the entire community—justice for all immigrants.

You can find more about UWD online at www.unitedwedream.org