IMMIGRATION MARCH IN GREENSBORO

“NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION” IMMIGRATION MARCH IN GREENSBORO

Protest “tax and deport” policy of federal government

GREENSBORO, NC—Immigrants and their allies plan to rally at the Beloved Community Center on 417 Arlington Street on Friday, August 27 in response to the federal government’s policy of deporting tax-paying undocumented immigrants, often when they have never committed a crime. The event is being called a “No Taxation without Representation” rally followed by a march to the Internal Revenue Service office at 320 Federal Place.

Recently, members of the North Carolina DREAM Team confronted Senator Kay Hagan about her vow to ‘protect taxpayers’ which includes undocumented immigrants. Her response was that she only meant “legal taxpayers.” At this event, we are asserting that there is nothing illegal about paying taxes and our elected representatives have a responsibility to defend all of their constituents. 

The Internal Revenue Service has been chosen as a point along the march because of its role in the taxation of undocumented immigrants. The IRS issues undocumented immigrants 9-digit Individual Tax Identification Numbers, or ITINS, which they use to pay income tax. The numbers were created in 1996—the same year the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) formally prohibited undocumented immigrants from receiving Social Security and other government services. Since 1996, the IRS has issued more than 11 million ITINS, most of which are generally understood to have gone to undocumented immigrants.

ITIN taxation has continued while policies such as 287(g), Secure Communities and Arizona’s SB1070 have been put into place, creating an unjust “tax and deport” policy toward undocumented immigrants.

The event will begin at 7pm, Friday August 27 at the Beloved Community Center at 417 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC.

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