Today the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in a resounding vote with only two nays restored due process to immigrant youth. Facing a full audience of over 100 immigrant right supporters, clergy, community members and high school children, only Supervisor's Sean Elsbernd and Carmen Chu voted no. Despite their lack of support, it looks as if the board will have a veto proof majority when it reaches Mayor Gavin Newsom's desk.
Back in July 2008 Mayor Newsom instructed the Juvenile Probation Department to immediately begin reporting youth to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation at the moment of their arrest for a felony allegation. Under this new policy, juveniles would receive no hearings, no trial and no due process. Anyone taking a Civics 101 class could see how draconian and dangerous this new policy was for any juvenile regardless of their citizenship. Under this policy youth who were merely suspected of being undocumented are immediately taken from their families and sent to detention centers across the country while deportation proceedings are initiated. Since July, over 160 children have been referred by San Francisco to ICE.
Through the leadership of Supervisor David Campos, a total of eight Supervisors introduced a balanced resolution to restore due process rights to the children. The proposed legislation which was approved by the City Attorney's Office, many prominent law professors and civil rights organizations, amends the current policy to ensure that juveniles are not reported to immigration authorities until after they receive a fair trial and due process.
Because I couldn't get enough of the debatin', I headed down to SF's Mission District for the D9 Supervisor debate. John McCain and Barack Obama move to the back, I'm listening to Mark Sanchez and David Campos ask each other questions about the decriminalization of prostitution, and who will be Board President next year (never mind that 7 of the 11 seats are up for election, but whatevs). It's a blast. I promise.
The debate was hosted by Sweet Melissa, so it was definitely a must-see. By the way, she would have done a better job than Tom Brokaw. Check the flip for a few points of interest from the debate.
