action alert

Act Now: Update on Francisco Rodriguez's Case

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Francisco Rodriguez was detained on Thursday, July 13 at his check-in with ICE. Francisco is an active member of the Chelsea and Boston communities, a union janitor at MIT with 32BJ SEIU, and a father of two daughters with a third child on the way.You can read more about Francisco's case here and you can read his letter to the public from inside detention here.

Take action today to stop Francisco's deportation:

  1. Donate to Francisco's fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/help-stop-franciscos-deportation
  2. Call our Senators and Representative, thank them for their work on the case thus far, and ask for their support for Francisco’s immediate release from detention & and to weigh in personally with DHS to stop Francisco’s deportation
  3. Sign this petition and call Governor Charlie Baker and ask for his support for Francisco Rodriguez’s immediate release from detention and to weigh in personally with DHS to stop Francisco’s deportation
  4. Contact ICE and let them know you want Francisco Rodriguez to be immediately released from detention:

Important: If you've had a bad experience calling ICE re. Francisco's case, please write down the date, time, and the name of the officer that you spoke with and what happened and email it to me lily@massjwj.net.Sample Script for Senators/Representatives:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling to ask you to help stop Francisco Rodriguez ’s deportation and for his immediate release from detention. Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. I appreciate the work your office and the Senator/Representative has taken on with regards to Francisco's case. I'm calling to ask him/her to personally weigh in with ICE and DHS and to continue to do all he/she can to keep Francisco in our community. If he is deported, we would all suffer greatly. Thank you for your time."

 Sample Script for Governor Baker:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling with regards to the case of Francisco Rodriguez. I'm calling to urge the Governor to do everything in his power to stop the deportation and advocate for the immediate release of Francisco from detention. Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. Governor Baker has the power to do the right thing and personally weigh in with ICE and DHS to keep Francisco with his family and community. Our Commonwealth would suffer greatly if he is deported. Thank you for your time."

 Sample Script for ICE:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling to ask you to help stop Francisco Rodriguez ’s deportation and for his immediate release from detention. His A-Number: 099-665-463. His A-Number: 099-665-463.  Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. Despite following ICE's orders, he was detained on Thursday, July 13. I'm calling to urge ICE to use its discretion and keep Francisco in the community and with his family."

Keep Francisco Home: Week of Action

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MIT Rally & Press Conference

When: Tuesday, July 11 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.Where: MIT Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 02139

The MIT community calls on ICE to stop Francisco's deportation! Join Francisco, MIT officials, faculty, and staff, 32BJ SEIU members, MIT students, and greater Cambridge politicians and community members.

ICE Check-In Support

When: Thursday, July 13 | 9 a.m.
Where: ICE Field Office, 1000 District Avenue, Burlington 01803
We will gather with community and union members to support Francisco as he attends his mandatory check-in with ICE and receives information about the future of his case and ability to stay with his family in the United States.

#HereToStay Vigil

When: Thursday, July 13 | 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: US Immigration Courts at JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury Street, Room 320, Boston 02203
Come hear the campaign update and celebrate Francisco's good news OR call for his immediate release if he was detained at his check-in! Stand in solidarity with Francisco and all immigrant workers and their families who have faced detention and deportation.

About Francisco's Case:

Francisco Rodriguez is a union brother and devoted community member facing deportation.
Last month, we joined more than 40 community members from faith, student, and labor organizations to accompany Francisco to his immigration check-in. We went to support Francisco and his family and to show ICE that we are watching. After this meeting, Francisco received a call moving up his next check-in date from December to July.
 
We must continue to show up and put the pressure on ICE to do the right thing and keep Francisco here with his family.
 
Other ways to support Francisco:
 
1. Call
  • New England Regional ICE office Immigration officer Gary Roltsch: (781) 359-7500 X7625
  • Community Relations officer Alexia Koplewski: (781) 359-7511
2. Email
3. Write a letter or postcard to Immigration Officer ASAP:
 
Immigration Officer Gary Roltsch
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Boston Field Office
1000 District Avenue
Burlington, MA 01803
Sample script for calls, emails, letters: "Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I am calling to ask you to grant Mr. Francisco Rodriguez Guardado's stay of removal. His A-Number: 099-665-463. Mr. Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006. He is a father of two American citizen children and with a baby on the way. He is a member of his children's school parent committee, of the community organization Chelsea Collaborative, of the Church Tabernaculo biblico seguidores de Jesus, and a union member of 32BJ SEIU (Service Employees International Union) at MIT. Mr. Rodriguez  always pays his taxes and contributes to his community, church, children's school and at work. He is a beloved member of Chelsea. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez's mother who is currently a permanent resident will become a citizen next year and shortly after she will petition for her son's pathway to residency and eventual citizenship."

Help Us Stop Francisco's Deportation

One of our union brothers is facing deportation, and he needs your help. This is urgent.

Francisco Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006 and has been in Chelsea for the past six years. He is a janitor at MIT and a member of 32BJ SEIU and the Chelsea Collaborative. He has young children who are U.S. citizens and his mother is a legal permanent resident. Despite the fact that Mr. Rodriguez is a beloved member of our community, he is facing potential deportation.

How you can support Francisco:

  1. Attend the rally for Francisco's check-in, July 13 at 9 a.m. at the ICE Field Office, 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803
  2. Call
    1. New England Regional ICE office Immigration officer Gary Roltsch: (781) 359-7500 X7625
    2. Community Relations officer Alexia Koplewski: (781) 359-7511
  3. Email
    1. alexia.koplewski@ice.dhs.gov
    2. Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.go
    3. ERO.INFO@ice.dhs.gov
    4. Chris.M.Cronen@ice.dhs.gov
    5. Todd.J.Thurlow@ice.dhs.gov
  4. Write a letter or postcard to Immigration Officer ASAP:
    Immigration Officer Gary Roltsch
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    Boston Field Office
    1000 District Avenue
    Burlington, MA 01803
Sample script for calls, emails, letters, and postcards: "Hi, my name is __ and I live in__. I am calling to ask you to grant Mr. Francisco Rodriguez Guardado's stay of removal. His A-Number: 099-665-463. Mr. Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006. He is a father of two American citizen children and with a baby on the way. He is a member of his children's school parent committee, of the community organization Chelsea Collaborative, of the Church Tabernaculo Biblico Seguidores de Jesus, and a union member of 32BJ SEIU (Service Employees International Union) at MIT. Mr. Rodriguez Guardado always pays his taxes and contributes to his community, church, children's school and at work. He is a beloved member of Chelsea. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez's mother who is currently a permanent resident will become a citizen next year and shortly after she will petition for her son's pathway to residency and eventual citizenship."
Mr. Rodriguez applied for asylum in 2007 shortly after arriving in the United States. After his application for asylum was denied, he was granted prosecutorial discretion and has received a Stay of Removal every year since then.

On Tuesday, June 13th, Francisco went to his immigration check-in and was accompanied by more than 40 community members, including the JLC, to bear witness, support him and his family, and take a stand against unjust immigration laws and deportations. Together we chanted and sang songs of solidarity as we waited for Francisco.

In the morning, ICE said that Francisco has until Dec 13th for his next check-in, however, just six hours later, ICE said that Francisco has to return for his check-in on July 13th with travel documents.

Please continue to check your emails from us and our Facebook page on ways you can take action.

JLC Summer Hearings Schedule

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Our four key legislative priorities this year are the Safe Communities Act, paid family and medical leave, the $15/hour minimum wage and elimination of the tipped sub-minimum wage, the Fair Share Amendment. An important step in passing these laws is the hearing process.It's critical that advocates for these progressive pieces of legislation show up in force to demonstrate the widespread community support during the hearings and the Constitutional Convention. We hope you will join us.We encourage you to attend these lobby and hearing sessions for any portion of time you can. The length of each hearing will vary and is difficult to predict.If you have personal experience with topics covered by these bills and would like to share you experience publicly through a written statement or testimony, please contact Jenna at jenna.nejlc@gmail.com. Please also contact Jenna with any further questions about timing or logistics.

Safe Communities Act Hearing

When: Friday, June 9 | 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House Rooms A1 & A2

Paid Family and Medical Leave Hearing

When: Tuesday, June 13 | Briefing & Lobbying 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Hearing 1:00-4:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House | Briefing in Room 327 | Hearing in Room B2We will meet for a briefing and designated time to lobby your elected officials before the hearing time. We strongly encourage you to attend the pre-hearing program and to lobby your officials.

Fight for $15/Minimum Wage Hearing

When: Tuesday, September 19 | Briefing & Lobbying 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Hearing 1:00-4:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House | Briefing Room TBA | Hearing in Gardner AuditoriumWe will meet for a briefing and designated time to lobby your elected officials before the hearing time. We strongly encourage you to attend the pre-hearing program and to lobby your officials.

Fair Share Amendment Constitutional Convention

When: Wednesday, June 14 | 12:30 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House, House Chamber  

Celebrating May Day

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A Brief History of May Day

May 1st, or May Day, is International Workers' Day. The first May Day mobilization took place 131 years ago, when workers rose up in the late 1800s to demand an eight-hour work day, and end to police brutality, and other rights for workers. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (the predecessor of the American Federation of Labor-AFL) called a nationwide movement for the eight-hour work day.
The FOTLU announced May 1, 1886 as the beginning of this movement. In Chicago, a massive, peaceful, multi-day mobilization began on May 1, 1886. Violence erupted on May 3, and police officers killed four workers and wounded 200. The Haymarket Affair became justification for anti-labor and anti-union government crackdowns across the country. In July 1889, May 1 became designated as International Labor Day in memory of the injustice of the Haymarket Affair.

May Day Mobilizations

We are happy to be participating in two actions for May Day this year. Details below.

Here to Stay: Rally in Support of the Safe Communities Act

When: Monday, May 1 | 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Where: Massachusetts State House Steps
Join labor and immigrants' groups on International Workers' Day for a rally as we speak out against unfair deportations and call for the passage of the Safe Communities Act. The Safe Communities Act would Massachusetts state support for a Muslim registry and protect immigrants in the Commonwealth through a number of provision, including barring state, local, and campus police from participation in federal immigration enforcement activities. Click here to learn more about the Safe Communities Act and what you can do to support it.

East Boston, Chelsea, and Everett March

When: Monday, May 1 | 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Where: March from Lo Presti Park in East Boston, to Chelsea City Hall
The immigrant communities of East Boston, Chelsea, and Everett will join forces once again to marches on Monday, May 1 in honor of International Workers' Day.
Logisitics: The NE JLC will be joining this coalition at Lo Presti Park at 4:00 p.m. Please get off at the Maverick stop on the Blue Line; there will be marshalls at Maverick Square to direct you to Lo Presti Park (a 5 minute walk). Please email us if you would like to carry a Jewish Labor Committee sign.
This year's event is symbolically being held in the City of Chelsea, which became a sanctuary city in June of 2007. The resolution that was approved by Chelsea's City Council states that the City of Chelsea respects all people irrespective of their race, ethnicity or immigration status. It also establishes that all Chelsea residents have the right to work without fear, receive fair wages, and access secure working conditions. The resolution concludes that unwarranted raids and consequential family separations will not be tolerated in Chelsea.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Come to Boston!

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a worker-led human rights organization internationally recognized for its achievements in the fields of social responsibility, human trafficking, and gender-based violence at work. The CIW's membership is comprised primarily of farmworkers who labor in the tomato fields in Immokalee, Florida.
The CIW has called a boycott against Wendy's for their continued disregard of farmworkers' human rights. Unlike all the other major fast food companies, Wendy's refuses to join the CIW's Fair Food Program, which increases farmworkers' wages and improves workplace safety.
We are excited to invite you to learn from and take action with CIW members!
On Saturday, October 22, CIW members will be speaking at two Boston synagogues:
  • 12 noon at Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, 120 Corey St, West Roxbury
  • 4-5:30 PM at Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, 43 Lochstead Ave, Jamaica Plain
 On Sunday, October 23, join CIW members and their supporters for a Boycott Wendy's rally:
  • 2-3:30PM at the Downtown Crossing Wendy's, (71 Summer St, Boston)
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Read more about the CIW and its boycott of Wendy's here:

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