Massachusetts Itapokea Watoto Wahamiaji Haramu Ambao Hawakuja Nchini USA na Wazazi Wao

 Imekuwa kero na sasa nbi balaa.  Watoto wahamiaji haramu (illegal aliens) kutoka Amerika ya Kati zaidi ya 57,000 wameruka mpaka wa Mexico kuingia USA. Wana umri wa miaka mitatu hadi 17. Wamekuja bila wazazi wao. Wazazi wao wanawatuma halafu wanawambia wahakikishe wanakamatwa.  Sasa, wataoto wamekuwa wengi  kiasi kwamba serikali ya Marekani inakosa sehemu ya kuwaweka. Gavana wetu hapa Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick, amekubali kuwapokea baadhi yao. Watu wameanza kuchachamaa maana wana dai wahamiaji haramu wamezidi kunyonyua huduma za wananchi wa kawaidia na waliokuja kihalali hasa mashule, na kliniki za afya.

Wanadai wazazi wao wanawatuma kwa vile Raidi Obama alitoa msamaha kwa watoto wahamiaji haramu waliokuwa hapa USA  ambao walikuwa hapa tayari.

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BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick on Friday proposed two possible locations in Massachusetts to temporarily shelter unaccompanied children crossing the nation's southern border.

   Camp Edwards military base on Cape Cod and Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee will be reviewed by officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to see if either is suitable for housing the children, most of whom are coming from Central America, Patrick said.

   Only one site would be selected, if any facility in Massachusetts is chosen.

   Patrick said the federal government is looking for places that can house up to 1,000 children for four months.

   He said each child would stay for an average of about 35 days and that all expenses will be picked up by the federal government while they are being processed for deportation, reunification or asylum.

   The children would receive food, care and education while at the facility, Patrick said, and will not attend local schools. All children would receive a medical screening before entering the state, including all essential vaccines.

   Patrick said no final decision has been made yet on whether either facility would be suitable as a shelter or when any children may start arriving.

   Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos said he's also concerned about the humanitarian plight, but said locating children at Westover Air Force Base doesn't make sense, citing insufficient housing and few facilities needed to care for children.

   "It does not work for those children, and it does not work for the city of Chicopee," Kos told reporters at city hall Friday afternoon according to The Republican newspaper. "We are more than skeptical."

   More than 57,000 children have crossed into the country over the southern border since the fall, mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Some U.S. residents have opposed housing the children within their communities, spurring protests in California and Arizona.

   Patrick, who at times appeared emotional during a morning press conference, said the country and the state have a moral responsibility to look after the unaccompanied minors.

   "There are children alone in a foreign land," Patrick said. "This good nation is great when we open our doors and our hearts to needy children and diminished when we don't."

   Patrick said that any memorandum of understanding signed with the federal government will specify that the federal government will be responsible for the cost of running the facility, what period of time the facility would be open, and the conditions under which there could be an extension.

   Patrick said other states have received similar requests from the federal government to aid in what he called a "humanitarian crisis."

   State Rep. Brad Jones, the House Republican leader, said in a statement on Thursday that he will convene a meeting next week to discuss the potential impact on Massachusetts of what he called a "national immigration crisis."

   President Barack Obama has requested $3.7 billion in emergency spending to help address the situation at the border. Congressional Republicans have been pushing to significantly pare down that request.

   There is precedent for Massachusetts offering temporary shelter in crisis situations. In 2005, 235 Hurricane Katrina evacuees were housed at Camp Edwards until they could be placed in permanent housing.

   In Connecticut, state officials recently rejected a federal request to temporarily house up to 2,000 immigrant children from Central America at a mostly vacant facility built for developmentally disabled adults, pointing in part to what they said was the facility's size and deteriorating condition.

Ujumbe Muhimu Kwa Wahamiaji Kutoka Afrika Massachusetts

Dear MM::MessageTweak,

The federal government under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiated a program called Secure Communities (SC) and in 2006 ICE started a pilot program of SC in Boston.

Secure Communities is a program that allows state and local police to check the fingerprints of an individual they arrest against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration databases. The program, which is likely to be mandatory for all US States by 2013, is supposed to target the worst offenders and people who have committed national security crimes although current data indicates majority of those arrested have no criminal records or have minor offences.

The State is currently considering how SC will be implemented in MA and this has caused great concern among many communities, including the African community. In seeking to understand how the issue would affect our community and to voice the concerns we were receiving, members of T.A.C attended a community organizations, leaders & advocates meeting with State officials - Undersecretary of Forensic Science and Technology – John Grossman and Director of the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants - Richard Chacon.

During the aforementioned meeting, we learned that Massachusetts is yet to enter any agreement with the Federal government regarding SC implementation and that they would review data, which they have invited community participation in, from the SC pilot program in January 2011 as they consider how to move forward on the issue.

It is in this regard we are inviting you to be part of one of the urgent action meetings on either January 15th, 16th or 29th (RSVP and see below for more info) that will seek to provide more information, lend our voice to this discussion and help us outline our position as a community on this matter. We have also invited other community advocates and state officials to this meeting so that we can have a comprehensive and informed discussion on the matter.

T.A.C came into being in order to strengthen the African voice in Massachusetts and ensure that our voice was heard on issues that mattered and affected our community - Secure Communities is definitely such an issue. Unless we are involved in having a say on how SC is, or even if it should be, implemented in MA, we will be bear the consequences of a matter that affects us but one that we did not have a say in.
Make sure our voice counts! RSVP here for one of our meetings which will be held in Boston, Worcester and Lowell.

Thank you and we look forward to you being a part of strengthening the African voice in MA.

Sincerely,
The African Council
Action Committee

Meetings Particulars
January 15th, 2:00pm - 4:30pm: Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St, Waltham MA. 02451
January 16th, 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Worcester, (Location TBA)
January 29th, 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Lowell, (Location TBA)

Gavana Mweusi wa Massachusetts Ashinda Uchaguzi!

Gavana wetu, Mh. Deval Patrick, ameshinda katika uchaguzi wa jana. Ataongoza mkoa wa Massachusetts miaka minne zaidi. Gavana Patrick ni mweusi wa kwanza kushika wadhifa huu na kuwa kachaguliwa tena inasema mengi. Yuko katika chama cha Democrats. Kwa kweli watu wengi hawakutarajia kama atashinda. Aliwaudhi sana baadhi ya wazungu hapa na siasa zake za eti kupendelea maskini na wahamiaji. Lakini ukweli Gavana Patrick amejitahidi sana kunyanyua Massachusetts katika uchumi mbaya. Haya kapata miaka minne mingine ya kuongoza Massachusetts. Wazungu kibao wametangaza kuwa wataondoka Massachusetts na kuhamia mikoa mingine. Na sisi tunasema, "GOOD-BYE!" Lakini mbona alivyoshinda kwa mara ya kwanza mwaka 2006 walisema hivyo hivyo na bado wapo! Chekeni!

Come Meet First Lady of Massachusetts - Diane Patrick

Pichani: Governor Deval Patrick and wife First Lady Diane Patrick

~SPREAD THE WORD~

African Women for Deval

are honored to host*

First Lady Diane Patrick
at a
Deval Patrick Fundraising Celebration

of African

Food. Dance. Fashion. Music.

on
Sunday, August 22nd
2:30pm - 6:00pm

at
Memorial Hall
590 Main St.
Melrose, MA 02176

Come dressed in your traditional dress as we celebrate:
"The African Woman - Who She Is and What She Can Do"
in support of Governor Patrick.

Celebration Event Ticket ~ $25
Exclusive Pre-Reception with First Lady Diane Patrick ~$125

http://www.actblue.com/page/africanwomencelebration

This will be a very memorable event and we want you to be a part of it! RSVP Required. Please RSVP to gaccampaign@gmail.com or 617-5447-GAC (422)~~~~~~~~*

The host committee is still forming and if you are interested in being a part of it please contact us (gaccampaign@gmail.com or 617 544- 7422) right away for more information

Reminder

TOMORROW!

Saturday, April 17th, 2:15pm

the

1st African Town Hall Meeting
with
Governor Deval Patrick

at

TOBIN COMMUNITY CENTER
1481 Tremont St, Roxbury Crossing 02120

Be A Part of Strengthening the African Voice in Massachusetts!
Let us Strongly Showcase the African Presence : Invite your friends and Spread the Word!

Please arrive on time. Governor is scheduled to speak at 3pm.

--
The Governor's African Council (GAC) is an independent community initiative that aims to strengthen the African Voice in Massachusetts through political and civic engagement. GAC's objective is to unify and increase the participation of the African community in the Massachusetts political processes and build a voice that can advocate for the community's needs.

If you are interested in learning more or being a part of building the GAC, please email us at gaccampaign@gmail.com or call us at 617-5447- GAC.

African Town Meeting Massachusetts

All Tanzanians who live in Massachusetts are invited
to the

1st African Town Hall Meeting
with
Governor Deval Patrick
Saturday, April 17th, 2:15pm
Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont St., Roxbury Crossing, MA. 02120

~
AGENDA

We Are Here :
Showcase the African presence in Massachusetts

We Are Speaking Out:
Issues & Concerns of the African Community

We Want To Be Heard:
Q & A Session With Governor Deval Patrick

We Are Moving Forward:
Strengthening the African voice

~
RSVP & Parking Information

If you have not yet done so, kindly RSVP for the event.

Parking is available across the street ( 1460 Tremont St.) from the event venue but is limited and priority will be given to those who RSVP and will have car pooled.

Volunteers Needed!

Kindly indicate whether you are available to volunteer during the event. Please click here to sign up and for more information.

THANK YOU & CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD!
--
The Governor's African Council (GAC) is an independent community initiative that aims to strengthen the African Voice in Massachusetts through political and civic engagement. GAC's objective is to unify and increase the participation of the African community in the Massachusetts political processes and build a voice that can advocate for the community's needs.
If you are interested in learning more or being a part of building the GAC, please email us at gaccampaign@gmail.com or call us at 617-5447- GAC.

Waafrika Waalikwa Kukutana na Gavana Patrick

Wadau, waafrika tunaoishi Massachusetts tunaalikwa kukutana na Gavana Deval Patrick. Gavana Patrick ni mweusi wa kwanza kushika wadhifa huo. Twendeni tusikie anasema nini. Pia itakuwa nafasi kuongea dukuduku zako. Natabiri waNigeria wataihijack!

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The Governor's African Council (GAC)

Invites you to

THE FIRST
African Town Hall Meeting

with
Governor Deval Patrick

At

The Tobin Community Center , 1481 Tremont St .
Roxbury Crossing , MA . 02120

Doors open at 2:15pm . Governor will speak at 3:00pm

Please RSVP and Volunteer to Organize!

Spread the Word and Let Us Work To Strengthen the African Voice!

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GOVERNOR'S AFRICAN COUNCIL (GAC)

The Governor's African Council (GAC) is an independent community initiative that aims to strengthen the African Voice in Massachusetts through political and civic engagement.

The GAC's objective is to unify and increase the participation of the African community in the Massachusetts political processes and build a voice that can advocate for the community's needs.

GAC is organizing the First African Town Hall Meeting as one way to give voice to the issues of the African community. It is one of the many major events GAC will be organizing to strengthen the African voice in Massachusetts .

If you are interested in learning more or being a part of building the GAC, please email us at gaccampaign@gmail.com or call us at 617-5447- GAC.