Criminalizing Reform

I love going on the Huffpost Live. They hit me up for the most random conversations at all hours, which I don't really mind because I can always work around them since I'm on west coast time. And I will say that it's usually a cute girl from their offices trying to get me to be on the panel.

Anyway, I participated in a conversation about what immigration reform will mean for the border to prison pipeline that currently incarcerates thousands of immigrants for extended periods of time for civil infractions. Folks are held in for profit detention centers that make more money the more folks the house. It's something I've talked about in the past and is getting more and more attention as immigration reform is at the fore front right now in congress.

Video from my participation on the Huffpost Live

So earlier this week, I was on the Huffington Post Live talking about a new program that the city of Los Angeles wants to start, which is to give folks a city issued ID that will allow them access to specific services, much like a library card, but is being marketed toward folks who are undocumented immigrants. I think the ID's are complete bullshit, but I say that with the privilege of having a bank account, being bilingual and knowing how to navigate these financial systems.

Other folks, for numerous reasons that aren't valid or to be dismissed, don't have access to these kind of resources. Anyway, I was part of a panel on the Huffpost talking about the ID's and what they mean in the larger conversation of cities being more immigrant friendly by offering services like these. I totally ended up dominating the conversation and I inadvertently checked the two other folks in the panel. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.