Trivia Answers – September 2017 Newsletter

Aug 10, 2017

Dreamer Immigrants

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently released data that showed more than ____ Dreamer immigrants have received work permits and deportation relief since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created. a. 2 million b. 750,000 c. 450,000 2. To qualify for DACA, applicants must meet all the following criteria except: a. Must have arrived in the U.S. prior to age 16 b. Must be currently enrolled in school, have graduated high school or obtained a GED c. Must qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps) d. Must not have been convicted of a felony or multiple serious misdemeanors 3. Although DACA offers Dreamers a way to apply for a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit, it does not provide a path to U.S. citizenship. a. True b. False

Civil Asset Forfeiture

1. Which state’s civil forfeiture law requires that people be criminally convicted before their property is seized and that forfeiture proceeds go to a general fund vs. directly to the agency that seized the assets? a. California b. Florida c. New Mexico 2. On March 29, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General released a report on the DOJ’s cash seizure and forfeiture activities, which concluded: a. During the past 10 years, law enforcement agencies under the DOJ (such as the FBI) have seized more than $28 billion in forfeiture assets. b. Between 2007 and 2016, the DEA seized approximately $3.2 billion in cash forfeitures. c. The vast majority of asset seizures were forfeited without a criminal proceeding. d. The DEA conducts cash seizures that may pose risks to citizens’ civil liberties. e. All of the above. 3. Although asset forfeitures happen often, most people do not try to get their property back because they can’t afford to file a lawsuit against the agency that seized it. a. True b. False

Bill of Rights Matching Game

H___ First Amendment C____Second Amendment G____Third Amendment F____Fourth Amendment B____Fifth Amendment I____Sixth Amendment J ___ Seventh Amendment D___ Eighth Amendment E___ Ninth Amendment A___ Tenth Amendment   A. Powers reserved to the states. B. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy. C. Right to keep and bear arms. D. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments. E. Other rights of the people. F. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. G. No quartering of soldiers. H. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. I. Right to a speedy and public trial J. Right of trial by jury.

Research Links & Critical-Thinking Questions – September 2017

Aug 9, 2017

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Dreamer Immigrants Dream Act of 2017 Summary Side by Side Comparison of the 2010 and 2017 Dream Acts, and DACA New York Times’ Collection of Dreamers’ Stories “Why I oppose the DREAM Act” Editorial “The Dream Is Now” Documentary Video by Organizing for Action  Issue 2: Civil Asset Forfeiture Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Statement (July 19, 2017) Summary of Report on the DOJ’s Cash Seizure & Forfeiture Activities FOX News Article, “Sessions opens door for police to seize assets” Washington Post Column by George Will, “When Government Is the Looter” “Policing for Profit: The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture” Report American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Civil Asset Abuse

CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Dreamer Immigrants

  1. Who are the Dreamers and why are they called Dreamers? If you were in their situation, would you keep your status private at school? Why or why not?
  2. View goo.gl/msmk7t to view a map of state laws on access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. Find your state and read its policies. Do you feel these policies are fair, unfair or just right?
  3. Read the “Why I Oppose the DREAM Act” editorial (see link above). Do you agree or disagree with this stance? List your arguments and defend your positions.
  4. Watch “The Dream Is Now” video (see link above). Compare and contrast your own dreams and the dreams described by the young people in the video. What are the similarities and differences?
  5. Read the Dream Act of 2017 summary (see link above). If you were a member of Congress, would you vote yay or nay on this legislation? Why?

Issue 2: Civil Asset Forfeiture

  1. Civil asset forfeiture is one of the few bipartisan issues on which right-leaning Republicans and left-leaning Democrats agree. Why do you think this is so?
  2. In your opinion, does civil asset forfeiture violate citizens’ constitutional rights? Why or why not?
  3. Read the summary of the DOJ report (see link above). Do the findings challenge or support your position on civil asset forfeiture?
  4. Read Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ statement on July 19, 2017 (see link above). Do you agree with his reasoning? Why or why not?
  5. According to the Fifth Amendment, “no person shall … be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Why do some people see civil asset forfeiture as a violation of the “due process” clause?