TENT CITY ARIZONA

So hopefully, if you're interested in social justice and human rights you've been keeping tabs on the situation in Arizona. Pretty Crazy Right. So if you're undocumented, you can be picked up just because well, the police think you just might be illegal. Arizona Law SB1070 is the latest in a long list of draconian laws that towns, counties and states have enacted in the past few years throughout the United States. Last year, I spent a few days in Tent City in Maricopa County. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio set up a "Tent City" as an extension of the Maricopa County Jail in an effort to tackle over-crowding without building a new jail. All inmates in Tent City are required to wear pink underwear and old fashioned striped jump suits.

Since 2006 ‘America’s Toughest Sheriff’ as Arpaio likes to be called, has increasingly focused energy on the undocumented Latin American community in Maricopa County. The County Sheriff's office has approximately 162 federally trained 287(g) officers. Under 287(g), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) provides state and local law enforcement with the training and subsequent authorization to identify, process, and when appropriate, detain immigration offenders they encounter during their regular, daily law-enforcement activity.

Hand Cuffs

Deportation Piece on MSNBC

Just published a story about deportations from the United States to Mexico and Guatemala. There are currently more than 48 flights each week that carry undocumented residents out of the United States. I spent about a week following this story from Pennsylvania to Texas and onto Guatemala. Quite a heartbreaking story. Check it out when you get a chance. On my journey through the migrant trail I've seen people deported in many ways and had been requesting this access from ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) for almost two years when they finally called. I packed my gear and left less than a week later.

To see the story go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36022667#36022667

Welcome to the Shadow Lives USA Blog by Jon Lowenstein

Hello. I am building my blog for my Shadow Lives project. Please take a look at Shadowlivesusa.org in a few days and you will see an in-depth look at the lives of undocumented Latinos in the United States. Check it out.