Press Conference & Speak-out-Mothers in Bay Area stand together against Mayor Newsom & ICE

Multi-Racial Mothers accuse Mayor Newsom and ICE of Child Abuse of our Immigrant Youth

“Immigrant children, like all children, are our children, our responsibility, our future. With his rejection of this legislation, Newsom condemns our children to ongoing abuse and unending criminalization, said Lisa Gray-Garcia, single mother and executive director of POOR Magazine.

Thousands of community members, advocates and fellow board members in an 8-2 vote on October 20th supported Supervisor David Campos' Legislation to give due process to immigrant youth who face arrest in San Francisco before Immigration and Customs Enforcement is contacted. After the vote Mayor Gavin Newsom publicly stated that he would not follow the legislation and that it had no merit, which means their will be increased attacks and ongoing abuse of the basic civil rights of our immigrant children.

In response to the Mayors statements, a cross-cultural coalition of mothers and fathers are publicly accusing the mayor and ICE of child abuse and criminalization of our immigrant children and youth as the impact of deportation and incarceration without due process is a serious form of abuse.

“Immigrant children are everyones’ children,” said Kim Swan, mother of three African-American children.

“Why do they continue to criminalize our babies, this is a form of child abuse,” said Ingrid DeLeon, mother of four immigrant children.

POOR Magazine ia non-profit, grassroots organization providing media access, education and advocacy for youth, adults and elders in poverty in the Bay Area.