“To go after productive citizens who have been our neighbors and friends for years? It’s insane,” said Marilyn Tyler, a retired librarian from Burlington who knew the arrested woman. “We can’t just stand by and let this happen.”
Alamance County has been identifying and deporting illegal immigrants from its jails for more than a year, but now a library worker’s arrest has some worried that county officials may be using another tool — public health department medical records….Marxavi Angel Martinez’ arrest in mid-July raised concerns that the county may be examining confidential medical information. Sheriff Terry Johnson turned her in. Johnson has become well known for his efforts to deport illegal immigrants, but he has promised not to pursue people unless they land in his jail for other crimes.Johnson’s spokesman, Randy Jones, said Johnson received a tip that Martinez had lied about her citizenship when applying to work for the library.Johnson told reporters that Martinez got prenatal care at the department. He also said the tip about her immigration status came from a county employee and was related to the health department investigation.
see:
Resolution in Support of Immigrant Rights
WHEREAS, America’s immigrants are a strong and valuable part of the social fabric of this nation; and
WHEREAS, The ALA Library Bill of Rights states that the person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views; and
WHEREAS, The library community opposes all attempts at the local, state and federal level to restrict access to information by immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Restriction of access is a direct violation of the ALA Library Bill of Rights and Policy #60, Diversity, which states that “The American Library Association (ALA) promotes equal access to information for all persons and recognizes the ongoing need to increase awareness of and responsiveness to the diversity of the communities we serve”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That ALA strongly supports the protection of each person’s civil liberties, regardless of that individual’s nationality, residency, or status; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That ALA opposes any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise, to use library resources, programs, and services on national, state, and local levels.”
Adopted by the American Library Association Council
Wednesday, January 22, 2007
Seattle, Washington
Also see:
“Librarians as Advocates for the Human Rights of Immigrants,” Progressive Librarian (summer 2007): 51.