Don't Let ICE Deport a Hero of the Occupy Movement! Francisco “Pancho” Ramos-Stierle was arrested on Monday as he was sitting in silent, non-violent protest against the deep inequality that pervades our society and affects so many Latinos and immigrants.
But what makes Pancho different from so many of the "Occupy" protestors who have been arrested is that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is trying to deport him!
Pancho's information was immediately passed from local police to immigration officials through the Secure Communities (S-COMM) program. So even though the charges against him were dropped, he is still under federal immigration hold. ICE has less than 48 hours to either take him into federal custody or release him and cancel his deportation. This shows you just how messed up our immigration system is!
We can't let that happen. He was bravely standing up for his community, and now we have to stand up for him. Can you take a moment and sign this petition demanding that ICE release Pancho and cancel his deportation immediately?
Pancho was arrested during an early morning raid on the Occupy Oakland encampment on November 14th. He participated in Occupy Oakland because he was tired of banks and corporations dominating our country's politics. Our people have suffered disproportionately as corporations and the wealthiest among us gain more and more power. Latinos across immigration statuses have lost a staggering two-thirds of our wealth in the recession. And for the first time in U.S. history, more Latino children are living in poverty than children of any other ethnic group, and more than two-thirds of them have immigrant parents. Meanwhile, corporations such as CCA and GEO are making billions and profiteering by jailing immigrants like Pancho.
Although local courts dropped the charges against Pancho, his fingerprints were immediately forwarded to ICE as soon as he was in custody. This direct pipeline to ICE and deportation is the hallmark of the Obama administration's S-COMM program - a flawed program that fosters racial profiling against Latinos and authorizes local police to act as immigration officers. Now, we must fight to get Pancho's deportation cancelled.
Art by Xico Gonzalez
