National Immigrant Bond Fund

From the American Immigration Lawyers Association (thanks, Michael!), a memo announcing the creation of the National Immigrant Bond Fund:

For too long U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have raided workplaces across the country, detaining and separating hard-working immigrants from their children, while leaving their local communities in total disarray.

ICE agents have detained, shackled and pushed men and woman alike through hearings in which these detainees have been deprived adequate legal representation, including an attorney of choice. In some cases ICE has flown detainees thousands of miles from their families to be tried in detention centers on the border.

These harsh enforcement actions are causing an economic, constitutional and humanitarian crisis in the United States.

Legal experts across the nation agree that the best chance immigrant detainees have to avoid deportation is to post bond immediately and contest their case in the courts. Posting bond sets jurisdiction in the district where the arrest took place, thereby avoiding ICE's rapid transfer of detainees outside the district. Posting bond also increases the detainee's ability to argue his/her case for a stay of deportation before a judge. Lastly detainees able to post bond have better access to community resources and family support.

Go to http://www.immigrantbondfund.org to help families remain intact and honor our nation's commitment to human dignity and due process.

The goals of National Immigrant Bond Fund are to:

Assist immigrants caught in raids to post bond so that they can assert their right to legal counsel and due process in court Build public opposition against raids and support for immigration reform by focusing on the lack of rights afforded detainees. Support local community's efforts to respond effectively to ICE enforcement actions and raise public awareness of the need for detained immigrants to access due process. 100% of your tax deductible contribution will go directly to an immigrant seeking due process in our courts (families of detained immigrants will be required to contribute towards the posting of bond). Released bonds will be returned to the Fund to assist other detained immigrants.

The National Immigrant Bond Fund is a fiscal project of the Public Interest Projects, Inc. (PIP). PIP strengthens the work of philanthropic institutions, nonprofit groups and other public interest organizations sharing a vision of a society that ensures justice, dignity and opportunity for all people.