Roots of resistance The contemporary U.S. immigrant and refugee rights movement has multiple roots stretching back to the 1960s movements for civil rights, racial justice, farm workers unions, student rights, and peace.

In 1964, landmark civil rights and immigration reform legislation transformed the racial and political dynamics of the country forever. The U.S. ended the Bracero Program, labor importation policies in place since 1941, which brought in Mexicans as replacement and support workers in U.S. agriculture and manufacturing industries. The program had also spurred mass raids and deportations throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1965, Mexico started its “Border Industrialization Program,” the full-blown expansion of a maquiladora-based economy on the border, as a strategy to absorb returning Mexican workers and develop its northern region. Instead, the BIP marked the beginning of greater economic integration between the U.S. and Mexico foreshadowing economic globalization now prevalent.

From the 1920s to the 1960s, community leaders, labor organizers, writers, and visionaries dedicated their lives to fight for the rights of migrant workers from Mexico, the Philippines, China, and other Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American countries. The Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born challenged McCarthy-era arrests and deportations of immigrant leaders. These examples offer lasting inspiration that help us develop the immigrant rights movement into a movement inclusive of communities, traditions, and rights for all. Our roots and precursors – the communities, organizations and movements that provided unyielding commitment to justice – continue providing clarity and guidance throughout the Network’s development.

1970s

Progressive organizations based in Mexican, Filipino, Arab, and other immigrant communities began organizing among documented and undocumented workers. These organizations worked for legalization, union rights, and against INS raids and other immigration law enforcement brutality.

In the mid-1970s, the first immigration legislation reform debates in Congress begin and various proposals take shape, beginning with the Rodino bill – a precursor to sweeping immigration legislation introduced in the early 1980s.

1980s

During the administration of President Jimmy Carter, the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy was established, and its 1981 report, saying that undocumented migration was the country’s number one immigration problem, largely influenced what became the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

In response to the introduction of sweeping immigration legislation, including an “Omnibus Immigration Bill” from the Reagan Administration, grassroots-based coalitions emerge in Washington State, California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and other states, building on the longstanding work of a generation of activists and organizers of color. They begin to network in opposition to the Simpson/Mazzoli immigration bill, and are also active in supporting the growing number of Haitian and Central American refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. from repression in those countries.

1984

Formation of the Rainbow Coalition in preceding year gives shape to broad electoral alliance led by Rev. Jesse Jackson. Immigrant rights issues hold a prominent place.

1985

National religious organizations provide support for the first “National Consultation on Immigrant Rights,” held in Los Angeles in 1985, to share information and to develop coordinated plans.

The Consultation immediately calls for broad mobilizations culminating in a National Day of Action for Justice for Immigrants and Refugees on October 19, “to call attention to issues and to dramatize the positive role of immigrants in shaping U.S. society.” Over twenty cities participate in the event, calling for “No Deportations” and to “Stop the Simpson-Rodino-Mazzoli Bill.”

1986

A decisive year for the immigrant rights movement. A National Conference on Immigrant and Refugee Rights held in May brings together a broad array of grassroots groups, advocates, civil rights groups, unions, and others to deliberate over the immigration legislative agenda – and to found the National Network!

On July 4, acknowledging the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, hundreds march at the U.S./Mexico border, rallying with Mexican supporters at the border crossing by San Ysidro.

On November 6, Congress approves the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), providing legalization for certain undocumented workers, including agricultural workers, but also setting in place employer sanctions, making it illegal for employers to hire undocumented workers.

1987

The Network provides information and action guidelines on numerous issues, including opposition to English Only initiatives, the deportation of Central American and Haitian refugees, and attempts to limit family unification through legal immigration laws.

1988

A first national conference for the National Network takes place in Chicago in March. With the theme, “Equality, Justice, and Dignity,” the conference provides a “big picture” overview for the immigrant rights movement, exploring the international context of immigration policy, the history of U.S. immigration laws, and the role of social movements in defending the rights of immigrants and refugees.

1989

The National Network launches the “National Campaign to End Employer Sanctions,” rallying hundreds of organizations to protest this harmful policy. Third annual report on the impact of employer sanctions by the General Accounting Office finds that employer sanctions have created new forms of racial discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas of U.S. society, but Congress fails to enact repeal of employer sanctions.

1990

The National Network conference, entitled “Immigrant Rights: A Civil Rights Issue for the 90s,” addresses the emerging demographic revolution and identifies the immigrant rights’ movement’s cause as a civil rights and racial justice one for all communities. Over 400 activists, including community members, policy advocates, civil rights, racial justice, unions, faith-based, refugee rights, and women’s rights groups mobilize for the conference.

The National Network, in collaboration with MALDEF, organizes the California Delegation against Hate Violence to lead an investigation on human rights abuses and hate violence against migrants in the San Diego-Tijuana border area. The delegation meets with Mexican and U.S. counterparts, documenting deepening INS and private citizen violence against migrants crossing and migrant workers in the U.S. and calls for demilitarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and protections for migrants from hate groups and Border Patrol abuse.

In August, the U.S. declares war on Iraq, to repel the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in dispute over control of oil fields; President George Bush calls for a “New World Order,” launching military mobilization to the Middle East and prepares attack on Iraq in September. Anti-war mobilizations begin calling for “No Blood for Oil.”

1991

As U.S. bombing of Iraq begins on the birthday of renowned civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., the U.S. war on Iraq unleashes immigration related repression. The war in Iraq results in over five million migrant workers, Arabs, Palestinians, Kuwaitis, and Iraqis being forcibly displaced by the brutal military assault on Iraq. The National Network denounces the war and its debilitating impacts. The growing war-buildup results in threats of raids, actual raids, and other forms of intimidation unleashed against immigrant communities to quell any support for peace and justice as part of the Bush Administration’s efforts to build U.S. public support for his war drive.

A national delegation is organized to visit Washington, D.C., to meet with advocates and congressional representatives, and raise concerns about increased border enforcement being posed as an “alternative” to employer sanctions.

Employer Sanctions Documentation Project launched to survey practices of over 500 employers in four key cities.

NNIRR helps to organize the National Conference on Immigrant and Refugee Women, held in October in Berkeley.

1992

FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform) launches public campaign on immigration as a source of economic problems. Population control advocates oppose immigration and call for a moratorium. California Governor Pete Wilson fuels debate in saying that “there is a limit to what we can absorb,” and blaming immigrants for depleting state coffers.

Los Angeles Police Department cracks down on Latino immigrants during the “Los Angeles rebellion” following the “not guilty” verdict handed down in the Rodney King police brutality case.

Urgent Response Network formed to help mobilize protest of human rights abuses by the INS along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Boatloads of Haitian refugees are interdicted on the high seas, thousands detained and deported following military overthrow of Aristide government.

1993

The National Network launches an initiative to unravel the erroneous theories promoting immigration and population growth as the main source of environmental degradation. Organizations called to endorse national statement against the “greening of hate.”

National Network goes online with a new electronic list-serve for immigrant rights activists and advocates.

“The Violation of Rights in Immigration Policing in Non-Border Areas: A Brief Overview,” produced in conjunction with the National Lawyers Guild National Immigration Project.

1994-1995

The fight over California’s Proposition 187 brings the debate over immigration – and particularly over undocumented immigration – to the front pages of the national press.

Director Catherine Tactaquin participates in formation of new international migrant rights network at the U.N. Conference on Population and Development in Cairo.

Facing a financial crunch, the National Network reduces staff size while maintaining linkages and strategizing among activists nationwide.

1996

As the National Network re-remerges from its “hiatus,” begins to work on a new strategy document to “reframe the immigration debate,” in partnership with the American Friends Service Committee.

The BRIDGE (Building a Race and Immigration Dialogue in the Global Era) curriculum and dialogue project is conceived, to foster better relations among diverse communities and groups, linking issues of immigration with race and globalization.

NNIRR provides information, analysis, and advocacy guidelines to oppose wave of anti-immigrant legislation contained in welfare reform proposals, anti-terrorism bill, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA).

www.nnirr.org is launched!

1997

Organizations nationally rally to target accountability of INS as immigration raids on worksites and neighborhoods dramatically increase. National INS Raids Task Force is launched to share information, monitor, and document rights abuses.

1998

In June, the National Network convenes a national conference, “The Challenge for Human Rights: Confronting Immigration Enforcement Today,” which brings together over 450 grassroots activists and advocates in Los Angeles.

The National Week of Action Against INS Raids highlights the report, “Portrait of Injustice: The Impact of Immigration Raids on Families, Workers, and Communities.” The report exposes the negative impact of raids and is publicized in activities in some twenty-seven communities nationwide.

1999

In May, the National Network and the INS Raids Task Force work with the National Organizers’ Alliance to bring together some fifty-five immigrant community leaders for NOA’s annual gathering. Following the meeting, a new collaboration, the Immigrant Community organizing Working Group, is formed to help strengthen immigrant community organizing and networking.

During the summer months, BRIDGE dialogues are piloted in six cities, launching exchanges among diverse communities on complex issues revolving around globalization, immigration, and race.

In November, the NNIRR works with the Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project to coordinate nationwide activities marking Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Public displays of crosses, representing those who died crossing the border, capture public and media attention.

2000

In June, NNIRR mobilizes a delegation of immigrant and refugee women to participate in “Beijing+5” activities in New York, and produces the report, “Hands that Shape the World: Conditions of Immigrant Women in the U.S. 5 Years after the Beijing Women’s Conference.”

Over sixty immigrant community organizers are brought together in retreat in the San Francisco Bay Area for the Immigrant Community Organizers Working Group, an initiative in coordination with the National Organizers Alliance.

Preparations are launched for the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance. Some twenty-five groups respond to the call to form the Immigrant Rights Working Group, meeting in October to plan preparatory activities for the coming year. Delegation attends the Americas preparatory meeting in Santiago, Chile, in December.

NNIRR coordinates a national planning committee on legalization, and convenes a meeting in Los Angeles of some 90 organizers and advocates to share information, analysis, and plans on the fast-moving issue of legalization.

2001

National Legalization Campaign initiated in follow-up meeting on legalization strategy, held in Washington, D.C., in March. Organizers visit congressional offices to share views and plans on the legalization issue.

Preparations for the World Conference against Racism are in full swing. Immigrant Rights Working Group representatives attend preparatory meetings in Quito, Ecuador and in Geneva, Switzerland. In July, IRWG delegates gather for a training conference in Berkeley.

On August 8, a National Day of Action, the national report, “From the Borderline to the Colorline: A Report on Anti-Immigrant Racism in the United States” is released.

NNIRR coordinates participation for some sixty representatives from U.S. immigrant rights community to the World Conference against Racism, and helps to lead numerous activities in Durban, South Africa.

September 11: As many delegates return from the Durban conference, the terrorist attacks shift NNIRR’s attention to renewed attacks on immigrants and immigration as part of the backlash and the new U.S. “war against terrorism.”