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 →

The Latino and Latina Roundtable urges you to call your Congressional Representatives in this area:  Grace Napolitano, Judy Chu, Gloria Negrete-McCloud, and Xavier Becerra today  and assure that there is no weakening of protections for children refugees who are fleeing violence and persecution. The phone numbers to call are below: Continue reading →

From Article:  The process Congress wants to use for child migrants is a disaster

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/15/5898349/border-children-mexican-central-american-deport-quickly-2008-law

On Monday, the White House said it was “likely” that migrant children facing the “credible threat” of death in their home countries would be allowed to stay in the United States, as the administration sought balance on the issue. Continue reading →