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In a new push by anti-immigrant advocates in Arizona, Senator Russell Pearce has proposed denying citizenship to children born in the United States to undocumented parents. Despite the fact that citizenship is a constitutional birthright protected by the fourteenth amendment, Pearce and his supporters argue that its time to amend the constitution to change that. Meanwhile a 19 year old undocumented student at Harvard University, who was facing deportation after attempting to fly using his student ID, has been granted so-called deferred action. The case of Eric Balderas attracted much attention in the context of an increased push by undocumented students for the DREAM Act, which is a federal bill that would allow them a path to citizenship through higher education or military service. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has decided not to pursue Balderas’ deportation. The issue of immigration has become a flash point once more with the recent signing into law of SB 1070 in Arizona, a bill that criminalizes undocumented immigrants and promotes racial profiling in that state. While Arizona is now facing a lawsuit from the federal Justice Department over the law, Governor Jan Brewer says she will not back down. Emboldened by SB 1070, other states and cities are attempting to follow suit. The residents of Fremont, Nebraska are set to vote on a proposition that calls for businesses and landlords to be barred from hiring or renting property to undocumented immigrants this week.

Today we spend the hour on immigration, through the lens of a new documentary, The 800 Mile Wall. The film, directed by John Carlos Frey, examines the failed US border policy that has killed thousands of migrants, and is killing more each day. In 2006 President George W Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law, legislating the building of more than 700 miles of fencing between the US and Mexico. While the resulting wall will be about 850 miles long, since the time building has begun, more than 5000 migrants have died crossing the border. The documentary, The 800 Mile Wall explains the horrific death toll and explores alternatives to US border policies.

Find out more at www.800milewall.org.

Thank you Gifts:

The 800 Mile Wall DVD – $100

The $365 Dollar-a-day “AMNESTY PACK” (limited to 14):

The 800 Mile Wall DVD
Crossing Arizona DVD
Criterion Collection El Norte DVD
Citizenship 101 DVD/Booklet
2 Tickets to MOLAA

Call 818-985-5735, or visit www.kpfk.org to pledge.