The vote by the Claremont City Council in “Safeguarding the Civil Rights, Safety, and Dignity of all People” was a big victory for our targeted communities – for our immigrant communities – and adds to the large number of cities, colleges, schools, churches, unions, and neighborhoods that are responding to the tension and climate of fear created by the election of Donald Trump.  It is a response to blatant words and actions of racism, sexism, homophobia and attacks against our immigrant families, our DACA students, our Muslims, our women, our physically and mentally challenged brothers and sisters.  We applaud the commitment and tenacity of hundreds of students and community people who sat through seven hours of passionate testimony in defense of our targeted communities.  As many agreed in their presentations, this is only a beginning and has to be followed up with voting, accountability, and further preparation for what is to come.  Trump has promised to reinstate the Secure Communities program nationally which, prior to its termination, operated in California as an indiscriminate mass deportation program at great cost to California both financially and otherwise. According to a report prepared by Justice Strategies in 2012, under S-Comm, California taxpayers spent an estimated $65 million annually to detain people for ICE.  Continuing to tangle state and local public safety resources with the dirty business of deportations threatens the civil rights and safety of all who reside in California. Such actions foster racial profiling, police mistreatment, and wrongful arrests, which further undermine trust between local communities and law enforcement. That is why it was particularly significant that the resolution declared Claremont as a “safe place” for all people (against acts of bullying, hate, and violence – supporting colleges who have designated their campuses as sanctuaries and who are calling for the continuation of DACA) – and most importantly committing to not enforcing federal immigration law, not conducting immigration enforcement raids, and not question, detain, or arrest individuals solely on the basis of their being undocumented. As part of these continuing efforts, the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley will continues to support other similar organizing efforts throughout the state and nation – and urges support for SB 54 (de León), which protects the safety and well-being of all Californians by ensuring that state and local resources are not used to fuel mass deportations, separate families, or divide Californians on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, or national or ethnic origins.

Jose Zapata Calderon

Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies

1050 North Mills Avenue

Claremont, CA 91711-6101

(909) 952-1640

 Jose_Calderon@pitzer.edu

Website:  www.josezcalderon.com

We just received word that the vote on DAPA by the Supreme Court was a 4 – 4 deadlock.  Join us for a press conference on Friday at 11 A. M. at Pomona City Hall.

Press Advisory

Contact: Jose Calderon (909) 952-1640

               Madeline Rios (909) 263-4579

               Angela Sanbrano (323) 371-7305

Who: Latino/a Roundtable and partners

What: The Latino and Latina Roundtable will be holding a press conference

When: Friday, June 24^th 11:00 a.m.

Where: at Pomona City Hall 505 S. Garey Avenue Pomona, CA

Why: Latino/a Roundtable response to the Supreme Court makes a decision on the Executive Order on Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Expanded DACA). The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 4 to 4 on US v. Texas. In other words, the ruling means that DAPA and DACA Expansion programs will not be moving forward until we go back to the beginning and start all over again to get back to the Supreme Court. With sadness but resolve we have learned that the Supreme Court rejected President Obama’s executive order for Deferred Action for Parents and Lawfully Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the Expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Expanded DACA).   Claudia Bedolla from the Latino and Latina Roundtable stated, “DAPA didn’t happen and with that the opportunity for our families to have a better life has again been DENIED”. As you know, DAPA/Expanded DACA could benefit up to five million undocumented immigrants who, if it passes, will be eligible for deportation protection and a three-year work permit.  This includes immigrant parents who have lived in the U. S. for at least five years, since before January 1, 2010    and have children who either were born in the U. S. or are legal permanent residents.  The program would of  also allow immigrants who arrived as children before Jan. 1, 2010 to become eligible — expanding the program beyond the original June 15, 2007 cutoff date.

This should be the new campaign in cities and school boards, particularly in cities where undocumented immigrants comprise a substantial part of the population.  They pay taxes and contribute immensely to local economies.  This is taxation without representation — and they should have the right to vote.

As this op-ed relates, a number of jurisdictions have taken the lead and made it a reality.

“There are now a handful of U.S. jurisdictions where noncitizens have a right to vote in some elections. In six towns in Maryland since the 1990s, all residents (except felons serving sentences or those judged mentally incompetent by a court) can vote in local elections. Chicago permits all noncitizen parents of schoolchildren to vote in school district elections. In California, all parents can participate in “parent trigger” votes to change the administration of their children’s schools.

Next year, the New York City Council will take up a bill — which has broad political support — that would allow noncitizens lawfully residing in the U.S. to vote in local elections. In March, Burlington, Vt., voters will decide on a similar ballot proposition to let legal permanent residents vote in local elections. The District of Columbia has a similar bill pending.”

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hayduk-let-noncitizens-vote-20141223-story.html

Dear Professor Calderón,

On Wednesday, October 15, at 7:00 pm, the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center is collaborating with Deacon Mario López and the Department of Motor Vehicles to put on a forum on AB 60 for Spanish-speaking parishioners and community members. Continue reading →

http://inthesetimes.com/article/16919/8_reasons_u.s._trade_and_immigration_policies_have_caused_migration_from_ce

Good article by David Bacon (Debunking 8 Myths About Why Central American Children Are Migrating) who always comes through with deep analysis. Here, with David Bacon and Dolores Huerta at Agbayani Commemoration in Delano. Continue reading →

Quick Update:

The Senate is trying to maintain order and pass a bill that will help the refugee children tonight. Despite attempts by Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) and the likes to deter, drag out the process by adding on amendments that would rollback policies and hurt immigrant families, Dreamers, the Senate is keeping a CLEAN bill for a vote tonight, which would direct funding to help the children fleeing violence to have the due process protections and rights to legal representation. After this vote in the next 35 min, the Senate will adjourn for August recess, returning Sept 8. Continue reading →