On Oct. 27, Gov. Eliot Spitzer joined Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to announce New York’s endorsement of the REAL ID Act. REAL ID will force all New Yorkers to comply with a complicated multi-tiered licensing program, which includes specific identifying markers for those who are undocumented. In effect, DMV employees will be acting as de facto immigration agents. This leads to serious concerns that REAL ID will open the doors not only to mass confusion, but also to racial profiling and discrimination. With estimated costs totaling at least $11 billion, REAL ID mandates the creation of a national database accessible to all state DMVs and law enforcement agencies that captures driver’s license data. Many have raised concerns of the increased risk of identity theft, fraud and privacy.

In response, YKASEC, other immigrant organizations and allies organized demonstrations to denounce this betrayal. They called out the anti-immigrant forces that are pressuring states and localities to trade away a sound policy for a costly and impractical policy. NAKASEC also worked with Asian Pacific American organizations to issue a joint statement in opposition of New York’s policy reversal.

 

Fundraiser

A Success

 

On Oct. 19, NAKASEC and KRC hosted a joint dinner fundraiser themed “Building Bridges for America’s Future” in Los Angeles. The evening was a time for NAKASEC and affiliates KRC, KRCC and YKASEC to celebrate this year’s accomplishments, pay tribute to Asian Pacific American and immigrant communities and forge an agenda for year. A cultural mix of traditional, ethnic drumming by Korean, Latino and African American performers stood as a symbolic gesture of the bridges that NAKASEC and affiliates are mounting with other communities of color. Congressman Mike Honda and Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV) were the 2007 Standing Up For Justice Awardees, and Esther Choi and Danny Park were two of the three DREAM In Action youth awardees. The success of the evening was evidenced by the 350 local and national guests and the gross earnings of $116,000.

 

After School Matters 

 

Starting this fall, KRCC will provide after-school programming for Korean and other APA high school students in Chicago. Fifteen students are taking Korean percussion classes three days a week and KRCC is adding other cultural workshops for next year.

 

Dreams Deferred

 

On Oct. 25, the DREAM Act (S. 2205) suffered a temporary setback in the Senate. While winning support from a bipartisan majority (52-44), the votes fell short of the necessary 60 votes to permit debate on the bill. The morning of the vote, the Bush Administration issued a statement opposing the DREAM Act arguing for the need of a comprehensive approach, which they had obstructed earlier in June. No doubt this legislation must pass. NAKASEC and affiliate youth groups continue to work on a postcard collection campaign, and we also just established a scholarship fund for students who are ineligible for most financial aid and existing scholarship opportunities.