Fast for Our Families

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Why We Are Fasting

On New Year’s Eve, a half dozen of us had our last meal and entered St. Ann’s Mission in Naranja, Florida, just south of Miami. We have vowed to consume only liquids and not eat another meal until the Obama Administration hears the voices of all the families torn apart by deportation. We need the Administration to act in its executive authority now to:

1. Suspend the deportation of immigrants with American families, especially families with U.S. citizen children or spouses until Congress acts to fix the broken immigration system. 

2. Send the Secretary of Homeland Security to South Florida to meet with us, the fasters, and hear from us firsthand the conditions that moved us to fast.

In the meantime, we will continue our fast indefinitely. We are asking all those of conscience, especially those that are losing a friend or family member to the broken immigration system, to join us in the Fast for Our Families.

Support the Trail of DREAMs

On January 1st, 2010, a small team of brave, passionate young immigrant students from Florida’s Students Working for Equal Rights (SWER) will embark on a 4-month long, 1,500 mile walk – the Trail of Dreams. As they travel through the southeastern United States, this courageous group will be seeking meetings with political and civic leaders, joining in rallies and vigils, and reaching out to the media - galvanizing support for immigration policy reform in communities that might otherwise be without a voice.       

Visit the Trail of DREAMs at: http://trailofdreams.net/Home.html

Fast for Our Families Enters 3rd Week

Media Advisory/Comunicado de Prensa

Fast for Our Families Enters Third Week Calling for TPS for Haitians, Facing Serious Health Concerns

For Immediate Release: January 14, 2010
                            
Contacts: Subhash Kateel (English) Florida Immigrant Coalition: (347) 524-3374; or
Jeanette Smith (English and Spanish) South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice: (305) 598-1404
WHAT: Press conference with supporters of the Fast for Our Families, including representatives from the offices of Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, WeCount!, Miami Workers Center, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, Familias Unidas and the Florida Faith Coalition.
 
WHEN: Friday, January 15, at 11 a.m.
 
WHERE: St. Ann’s Catholic Mission, 13875 SW 264th Street, Naranja, FL 33032
 
It has been two weeks since five (now six) immigrant family members and allies stopped eating and started the indefinite Fast for Our Families in Naranja, South Dade. Today, three of the fasters are receiving medical treatment at Homestead Hospital after experiencing serious health problems. The purpose of the fast is to pressure the Obama Administration to suspend the detention and deportation of immigrants with American family members until Congress fixes the broken immigration system.
 
In the wake of the deadly earthquake in Haiti, we continue to call--more urgently than ever--for an in-person meeting with Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Secretary. The Obama Administration urgently needs to grant TPS to Haitians in the U.S., set free those who are detained, and permit them to work so that they can assist their families and their country. Supporters continue to send faxes (http://ow.ly/VCC0), signing onto our letter, and have been making phone calls to the Department of Homeland Security (866-587-3023 for English, 866-974-8813 for Spanish). Allies from around the country are engaging in solidarity fasts.
 
We are thankful for the advocacy support and concern shown by our representatives in Congress--especially Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen--to grant TPS for Haitians in this time of tragedy, and to stop the separations of our families.

En Español:
 
El Ayuno por Nuestras Familias: Entre la Tercera Semana Llamando para el TPS para los Haitianos y Enfrentando Problemas Serios de sus Propia Salud
 
QUÉ: Conferencia de prensa con los partidarios del Ayuno por Nuestras Familias, incluidos los representantes de la Coalición de Inmigrantes de la Florida, WeCount!, Miami Workers Center, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, Diócesis Episcopal del Sureste de la Florida, Familias Unidas y la Coalición de Fe de la Florida.
 
CUÁNDO: Viernes, 15 de enero, a las 11 a.m.
DÓNDE: Iglesia Santa Ana, 13875 SW 264th Street, Naranja, FL 33032

Han pasado dos semanas desde que los cinco (ahora seis) miembros de la familia de inmigrantes y sus aliados dejaron de comer y empezó el ayuno por tiempo indefinido para nuestras familias en Naranja, South Dade. Hoy en día, tres de los ayunantes están recibiendo tratamiento médico en el Homestead Hospital, después de experimentar problemas serios de sus propia salud. El propósito del ayuno es presionar a la Administración de Obama a suspender la detención y deportación de inmigrantes con miembros de la familia norteamericana, hasta el Congreso cambie el sistema de inmigración roto.
 
Al raíz del terremoto mortal en Haití, seguimos pidiendo - más urgente que nunca - para una reunión en persona con Janet Napolitano, Secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Interior Secretario. La administración de Obama necesita urgentemente conceder el TPS a los haitianos en los EE.UU., liberar a los detenidos, y les permita trabajar de manera que puedan ayudar a sus familias y su país. Siguimos enviando faxes (http://ow.ly/VCC0), firmando nuestra carta, y han estado haciendo llamadas telefónicas al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (866-587-3023 para Inglés, 866-974-8813 para español ). Los aliados de todo el país están participando en los ayunos de solidaridad.
 
Estamos agradecidos por el apoyo a la promoción y el interés mostrado por nuestros representantes en el Congreso - especialmente el congresista Lincoln Díaz-Balart y Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - la concesión de TPS para los haitianos en este momento de tragedia, y para detener la separación de nuestras familias.