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Long Island Immigrant Alliance: Elected Officials And Hate Crimes

Posted January 26, 2010 by Patrick Young, Esq.

Earlier today, I reproduced the introduction to the Long Island Immigrant Alliance’s (LIIA) preliminary recommendations to the Suffolk Hate Crimes Task Force. Here are LIIA’s recommendations on the behavior of elected officials:
Section I: Elected Public Officials
In Suffolk County, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, the targeting of immigrants for housing evictions, code violations, and traffic stops have all been widely reported. Along with the police harassment of day laborers and the slew of legislation targeting immigrant workers, these actions have sent out the message that immigrants are a population separate from the community, of questionable value to the community, and a group without rights which others in the community are bound to respect.
When authorities point a damning finger at a marginalized and vulnerable social group, they encourage prejudicial, discriminatory, and even violent behaviors against that group. Criminalizing immigrants—along with the rhetoric used to support these policies—creates an atmosphere of disdain and hatred. If politicians are telling residents that immigrants are criminals who threaten our safety, our jobs, our neighborhoods, and our very nation, should we be surprised that some respond by inferring that they have implicit or explicit permission to punish, to harm these transgressors, thus ‘helping to defend’ or to ridding their communities of the ‘illegals,’ the ‘criminals’?
A prominent scholar, Jack Levin, writes in his book The Violence of Hate (p.87): “The role played by strong leadership at home, in the community, or at the national level in fostering or reducing hate and prejudice can hardly be exaggerated.” Responsible leadership requires prioritizing human rights and emphasizing the values of inclusion, equality, and diversity. Immigration is an American experience. Acceptance is an American value. We call upon this Task Force to make recommendations for government policies that promote responsible County leadership. To assist in this regard, we make the following recommendations:
1.1 Legislation
-Recommendation #1: Refrain from Introducing Hate-Inciting Legislation
County legislators should refrain from introducing or considering legislation that scapegoats immigrants for problems created by those with power. Real, effective solutions to social and economic problems inherently require support for the human rights of all residents, regardless of their ethnicity or legal status. All proposed legislation must accord all County residents equal protection under the law.
-Recommendation #2: Pass a Welcoming Resolution
To date, the Suffolk County Legislature has yet to pass any legislation that aids in the integration and acceptance of immigrants coming to the County. Nor have County legislators passed any proclamations recognizing the importance of immigrants to Suffolk County’s future. Other legislative bodies have passed Welcoming Resolutions to make a clear public statement that they value immigrants and welcome them to their communities. The idea is to publically announce the Suffolk County government’s support for all of its residents, to reaffirm a commitment to respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights, and to express that the County values and embraces its diversity. Such resolutions have been passed in Albany, Boston, and many other municipalities. They are paramount for reducing fear and creating an atmosphere of inclusion.
-Recommendation #3: Adopt a Civility Statement
On March 8, 2009, in response to the murder of Marcelo Lucero, the Village of Patchogue Board of Trustees adopted a Civility Statement to ensure that town leaders show respect towards the many different ethnic groups that comprise the Village. We recommend that Suffolk County adopt a similar statement for the same reasons discussed in Recommendation #2.
-Recommendation #4: Create Official Hiring Sites
One flashpoint of conflict in Suffolk County has been street corner day labor sites, where workers have often been subjected to harassment, intimidation, and violence by contractors, merchants, the police, and other County residents. Official hiring sites enable day laborers to look for work in safe and dignified conditions. Research finds that these sites reduce hate crimes against laborers and improve community relations (e.g., see Maney, Campisi, Molina, and Canales. 2004. “Protecting Human Rights in a Global Economy: The Impact of Government Responses to Day Labor Markets.” http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/SOCIO/ socio_report_daylabor.html). Accordingly, we recommend that Suffolk County work in collaboration with day laborers and their organizations to pass legislation establishing official hiring sites in communities where such sites would be supported by the day laborers and other stakeholders.
-Recommendation #5: Fund Shared Community Spaces
We recommend that the County fund and publicize community centers and projects that provide opportunities for those born in the US to cooperate with immigrants as equals in the pursuit of shared objectives. Research shows that such shared spaces and projects are indispensable in creating a culture of acceptance. In particular, we call upon the County to work with LIIA and the Marcelo Lucero Foundation to establish a multicultural community center in Patchogue that will serve as a living memorial to Marcelo Lucero. As we envision it, the Center would have a day care facility that caters to residents who value multicultural education. The Center could also strengthen the organizational capacities of immigrants through meeting spaces, trainings, and educational workshops. Above all, the Center can provide a shared space for cross-cultural community organizing and dialogue. Collective murals, theater pieces, and music can all serve to bring together people of different cultures and help to forge a shared identity celebrating the strength that comes from diversity.
-Recommendation #6: Create a Permanent Standing Committee on Hate Crimes
We want to thank the members of the Suffolk County Special Task Force on Hates Crimes under its capable chairman, DuWayne Gregory. We recognize the magnitude of the work and resources required to fulfill the obligations detailed in the legislation establishing the Task Force. Despite its dedicated leadership and the commitment of its talented members, the lack of resources and time allotted to the Task Force to adequately investigate and to make recommendations are indicative of the mindset of denial of the extent of the problem of hate crimes in the County. Accordingly, we request that the Task Force joins with us in calling upon the Suffolk County Legislature to create a permanent standing committee on hate crimes that has the authority, the tools, and the resources needed to conduct research on underlying sources of hate crimes, to issue binding recommendations, and to monitor the progress of County agencies in implementing recommendations. We also recommend that the Standing Committee work closely with a newly created Agency for Immigrant Integration (see Recommendation #8).
1.2 Community Engagement and Integration
The public takes its cue from the words and actions of our leaders and the media. The County needs to embark upon a serious effort to engage with and integrate the changing Long Island population and workforce. Coalition building is especially important in this effort.
One of the darkest days in Suffolk County is without question the senseless murder of Marcelo Lucero. This tragic event sheds light on the fact that we have to be intentional in creating the type of community we want and that this tragedy offers us a chance to get it right. More importantly, we recognize that in order to have a cohesive community that benefits all of its members, we must develop and implement a well thought out plan to integrate not only our new immigrant neighbors into our community, but also integrate our long-time residents with our new neighbors.
Immigrant integration has always required that both long time residents and new residents engage simultaneously as equal status partners in working together to build a vibrant, multicultural community. The U.S. experience with immigration is as old as the Republic. On the one hand, the history of immigration to the U.S., on the one hand, reflects a pattern of rejection of new comers and the prevalence of anti-immigrant sentiment. On the other hand, the history presents a pattern of integration and acceptance into host communities. What is instructive about the history of immigration is that integration is a two-way process, whereby newcomers learn the language, customs, and the practices of their new home, and long-time residents engage with and ultimately accept the newcomers as contributing valuable, respected members of the community. The operative word here is community. All stakeholders are deliberately engaged in community building.
Research suggests a multi-dimensional framework for community integration:
1. Communitywide organizing and planning
2. Bi-lingual language education
3. Health, well-being, and economic mobility
4. Equal treatment and opportunity
5. Social and cultural interaction
6. Civic participation and citizenship
It is important to convey a clear picture of the “community” in a sense being wrapped around the individual resident/families. Communitywide ownership over organizing and planning are essential if we are to accomplish and benefit from the successful integration of newcomers. Accordingly, we make the following recommendations.
-Recommendation #7: Form Partnerships with Organizations Supporting Immigrants
The government of Suffolk County needs to increase its outreach and build stronger relationships with local organizations that provide services and advocate on behalf of the rights of immigrants. Immigrants regularly connect with and trust these organizations. The County Executive as well as the heads of County departments and agencies should meet regularly with a broad spectrum of organizations representing immigrants.
As recently as October 2009, the County Executive used language to belittle and misrepresent organizations and community leaders that advocate for the rights of immigrants. Specifically, we are continually and erroneously called “advocates for illegal immigration.” With this ongoing antagonism, it is difficult to forge alliances to work together and to move forward. The community will be best served if County officials respect and cooperate with community advocates and service providers. Alliance building will help Suffolk County become the County of inclusion and integration rather than the County of exclusion and segregation.
-Recommendation #8: Create an Agency Responsible for Integrating Immigrants into County Affairs
We recommend that Suffolk County establish a governmental agency specifically responsible for coordinating services for immigrants. The Agency will help educate, empower, and integrate immigrants to be active participants in the social, economic and civic life of the County. A primary purpose of the new agency will be to provide a means of communication and dissemination of vital information to the immigrants of Suffolk County in compliance with New York State and Federal language access laws. The Agency will provide crucial support to ensure the appropriate, culturally competent provisions of services by departments to immigrants—the fastest growing segment of our population. A comparable agency—the Coordinating Agency for Spanish Americans (CASA)— already exists in Nassau County. Over the last three decades, CASA has proven to be a vital resource widely used by immigrants.
The Agency will link the County government with the immigrant communities, organizations, and businesses. The Agency will assist the County government in making informed, culturally competent policies. It will serve as a liaison between immigrant communities and other government agencies, including but not limited to Health and Human Services, Economic Development, Public Safety, BOCES, public libraries, and the court system. It will assess the efficacy of services provided by the County government to help coordinate and identify needs in immigrant communities as they arise.
The Agency will also serve as a hub for referrals regarding Federal, State, and County resources that contribute to the education and general welfare of immigrants in the United States. It will also carry out certain limited direct service programs as deemed necessary and appropriate. For instance, to support Suffolk’s workforce and businesses, the Agency can provide ESL/GED and basic computer literacy courses (with support from existing adult education programs). Other specific services that we recommend the new agency provide include economic empowerment initiatives, housing assistance, naturalization services, advocacy and community outreach.
-Recommendation #9: Outreach to Immigrants through Houses of Worship
Like most County residents, immigrants attend houses of worship. Immigrants often meet after services to discuss any problems that they or their children face in the community. Accordingly, County leaders should hold forums regularly at houses of worship to hear immigrants relate their aspirations, concerns, frustrations, and mistreatment. After listening carefully to their comments, County leaders should take action towards improving the quality of life of immigrants.
-Recommendation #10: Integrate Immigrants into Local Community Life
As new residents to Long Island, immigrants must have access to information about the workings of local government and Long Island communities. Working to integrate immigrants into local community life facilitates positive inter-group relations that benefit all residents.
In addition to funding community centers and projects that link immigrants with other residents (see Recommendation #5), Suffolk County Government should encourage towns to revive the deeply rooted and distinctively American tradition of voluntary Welcome Committees that greet newcomers to the Community whether they are domestic or foreign-born. These welcome committees can inform newcomers of resources available to them in the community, including the names of elected officials, agencies, meetings, and events. Local governments should also fund English and civic classes to engage new immigrants in community life. Lastly, mirroring the County Agency for Immigrant Integration, towns should establish agencies responsible for integrating immigrants into the community (see Recommendation #8).
1.3 Media Relations
The County should embark upon a campaign to reach the public to build unity, understanding, and a greater appreciation of the economic, social, and cultural contributions of immigrants to Long Island. The campaign should make it clear that immigrants make Suffolk County stronger and ensure our future progress. Reaching beyond the immigrant community and connecting with the general public is essential to fostering the acceptance of all residents by all residents.
-Recommendation #11: Launch a Positive Relations Campaign
The negative public perception of immigrants contributes considerably to community tension. The County has fostered this negative perception (see Southern Poverty Law Center. 2009. Climate of Fear: Latino Immigrants in Suffolk County, New York). We have come to a point where anyone who looks like they may be an immigrant is a considered illegal and an unwelcome part of the community.
In order to counter this negativity, we suggest the County utilize a positive media campaign to enhance the publics’ understanding of the important contributions of immigrants to our communities. Other communities have placed billboards and ads on the local public transportation system displaying multicultural images and unifying statements to improve community relations. A County-wide campaign should be multilingual and actively involve local governments, businesses, and residents.
Public Service Announcements should not only inform individuals on how to report hate crimes, but also should help to change the publics’ perception of immigrants. In 2007 Long Island Wins ran two commercials on local cable television highlighting the cultural and economic contributions of immigrants. Polling numbers showed that after the commercials ran the public had a more positive view of immigrants on Long Island. A similar tactic should be adopted by the County.
The County should create a database of media contacts, including but not limited to media outlets with large immigrant audiences. There should be regular contact between the local media and different County agencies to update immigrant communities on new policies and service developments as well as to highlight the positive contributions that immigrants are making to the County. Local programs on public access TV have introduced audiences to the wider accomplishments and contributions of minority communities and have helped to reduce misconceptions and distrust. We recommend that these efforts be supported.
All County government documents should contain, as a footnote, a statement about hate crimes (e.g., “Make Suffolk County a Hate Free Zone”). This statement should also be posted as signage in public buildings and other strategic areas such as bus shelters, libraries, schools, health clinics, police stations, and LIRR stations.