With Obama Administration Announcement, a Sprinkle of Justice

Today we feel a sprinkle of justice.

With the announcement by the Obama administration, immigrant youth in the RGV are feeling a refreshing moment of hopefulness. After years of organizing for the DREAM Act, we are finally seeing a change in policy at the highest levels of government concerning our undocumented youth brothers and sisters. This is a recognition of the value that undocumented youth bring to this nation. Youth are hearing from the President himself that their lives are valuable and that they deserve to stay–and that he is willing to take action to make that happen.

It is refreshing as a cool summer shower.

But make no mistake, DREAMers made this happen.

BREAKING: RITA responds to Obama Announcement on DREAMer deportations

(EL PASO, Texas) — The White House announced today that the administration will provide Deferred Action for some undocumented youth.

The Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance congratulates the undocumented youth whose leadership and bold action forced this announcement. DREAMers have been occupying Obama campaign offices for weeks demanding action. And today, the White House had no choice but to respond.

SECRETARY NAPOLITANO ANNOUNCES DEFERRED ACTION PROCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES

June 15, 2012

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization.

10 biggest victories of the 99 percent in the 956 via occupymcallen.org

This has been a momentous year for the 99 percent in the Rio Grande Valley. From colonia residents finally winning relief for damages caused by Hurricane Dolly to fighting off anti-immigrant legislation, the organizing efforts led by working people have paid off big.

These victories have come largely as a result of people and organizations of different sectors joining together. While we might not always agree on everything, when we join forces to work for the things we do agree on, we are stronger for it. “Juntos pero no revueltos,” as leader Ramona Casas, of colonia organization ARISE says. That doesn’t mean we are mixed up or uniform. We have our differences and, used the right way, they make us stronger.

These victories are not in any specific order.

Colonia residents pose after winning a portion of Precinct 3 budget for installation of streetlights.

1. Colonia residents win streetlights for 10 Hidalgo County colonias. La Union del Pueblo Entero and ARISE

The vast majority of the Rio Grande Valley’s unincorporated neighborhoods are left in the dark nightly. This is beginning to change as colonia residents organize for safer, healthier communities, demanding streetlights be installed by their Hidalgo County Precinct officials. Thanks to these efforts, 10 colonias will see streetlights installed next year.

2. $14 million for drainage projects in Hidalgo County colonias. Equal Voice Network, Texas Low Income Housing and Texas Apple Seed

Hidalgo County Commissioners agreed to devote at least $14 million of Hurricane Dolly Disaster Recovery funds to colonias last month. The victory came as a result of the work of ARISE, LUPE, TOP, Proyecto Azteca and the rest of the Equal Voice Network’s housing and drainage team, who have organized with colonia residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Dolly. Colonia residents’ demand that disaster recovery funds go to colonias was backed by Texas Low Income Housing and Texas Apple Seed, who insisted that funding colonias was an absolute requirement for use of the federal funds.

US residents achieve citizenship with LUPE

Naturalization: Hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents achieve citizenship each year

by Gail Burkhardt

Silvia Saucedo’s throat felt tight as she walked into the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Center in Harlingen. The interview and test she had come for went by in a whir.

The nerves and hard work paid off when Saucedo, of Weslaco, passed her naturalization test about a month ago. Saucedo soon will become a U.S. citizen after moving to the country from Mexico 21 years ago.

A few days after passing her test, the beaming woman spoke to her former classmates in the U.S. citizenship class at La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) to inspire them to study hard to become citizens themselves.

“I come to motivate you,” she said in Spanish, telling her classmates to study when they come home from work each day.

Saucedo is one of the more than 600,000 people who become naturalized U.S. citizens each year.

To become a naturalized citizen, most people have to be a permanent U.S. resident for five years, receive approval of their application and pass the naturalization test and interview.

THE TEST

The test consists of U.S. civics and history questions, and conversing, reading and writing in English. Proctors also go over the naturalization application, a document called a Form N-400 for most people, in English with the aspiring citizen.

Immigrants must correctly answer six of 10 civics and history questions. Applicants can study the 100 possible civics and history questions that could appear on the test beforehand.

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They have to correctly transcribe at least one of three sentences a proctor reads aloud in English. They also must correctly read aloud one of three sentences in English.

“The idea isn’t to make sure someone is absolutely fluent,” said Tim Counts, Citizenship and Immigration Service spokesman. Applicants must be able to communicate in English, but it does not have to be perfect.

People who are 55 or older and have been permanent residents for 15 years, and those ages 50 to 55 who have been permanent residents for 20 years, can take the test in their native language. Those who have a physical or mental impairment that make them unable to speak English may take the test in another language.

It costs $595 to apply to take the test and an additional $85 to have fingerprints taken. If an applicant fails the naturalization test the first time, he or she can take it again within 90 days without reapplying. If the applicant fails the test a third time, he or she must reapply and pay the fee again.

PREPARATION

NOW: DREAM Act Supporters Stage Sit-in at KBH’s SA Office

Sit-in Still In Progress, No Arrests Made

Students on hunger strike at UTSA

San Antonio- After initiating a state-wide hunger strike in support of the DREAM Act, San Antonio DREAM Act supporters have escalated their actions and staged a sit-in at Senator Hutchison’s San Antonio office. The students, which include DREAM-eligible youth and U.S. citizens, will not leave the office until Senator Hutchison commits to voting for the DREAM Act in the lame duck session.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” said My Le. “I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but we don’t have any time to waste.”

“I wish I had celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and friends,” added Felipe Vargas. “But we’ll have our Thanksgiving celebration when the DREAM Act passes.”

Lucina Martinez added, “We know that the Senator understands our plight, that she is sensible, and compassionate. She voted for the DREAM Act in 2007, and her constituent responses were always favorable. She’s only recently changed her tune. We hope to remind her that our futures, that our lives depend on her support.”

Below are the profiles of the four individuals sitting in at Senator Hutchison’s office:

Julio Lopez: His hometown is San Antonio. He is in his last year of undergraduate study at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is taking a double-major in Anthropology and Mexican American Studies and is an active member of the Mexican American Studies Student Organization.

Lucina Martinez: Born in Mexico City but moved to Dallas, TX with her parents at age 6. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio where she is double majoring in Women’s Studies and Mexican American Studies. She’s a DREAM Act beneficiary and is on her 20th day of the Hunger Strike.

Felipe Vargas: Currently finishing doctorate in History, Philosophy and Education Policy from Indiana University Bloomington. He is on the 20th day of the hunger strike.

My Le: Hometown is Saigon, Vietnam. She moved to the United States at the age of 5. She is not a DREAM Act beneficiary but a committed ally. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio and is double majoring in Art and Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies.

Not too long ago, Senator Hutchison was a supporter of the DREAM Act. In 2007, the Senator made a compassionate floor speech in favor of the DREAM Act. In June 2010, the Senator’s constituent responses in regards to the DREAM Act were positive. Below is an excerpt from a June 2010 constituent response from Senator Hutchison on the DREAM Act:

“Among our immigrant population, there are young people who were brought to this country as minors and have not yet attained legal status. These young people have attended and graduated from American high schools. They wish to attend or are attending American colleges and universities in order to enjoy prosperity. Their inability to garner employment following college graduation leaves them in an unfortunate position. I believe that we must find a way to help assimilate these college graduates into our country. In addition to the economic benefit of retaining college graduates in our country, there is a compassionate reason for us to try to work this out.”

For updates, visit the UTSA DREAM Act blog here: http://dreamactutsa.blogspot.com/

RGG: Broad coalition being formed in Valley to oppose Arizona-style bills

The fight against the slew of anti-immigrant bills already prefiled in the Texas legislature is growing across the state. A broad coalition is forming in the RGV to face these bad bills head on. Join our mailing list to receive updates and action alerts.

…The immigration committee of the Equal Voice for America’s Families group met at the offices of La Unión del Pueblo Entero in Mercedes on the very day another batch of immigrant-bashing bills was filed in Austin.

One the new bills would deny food stamps and other state benefits to American-born children whose parents are undocumented immigrants. Another would prevent undocumented immigrants from filing lawsuits in state courts. Another would deny birthright citizenship to those born in Texas to undocumented parents. The bills were filed by state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler.

“I feel saddened that there is so much hate in some people’s hearts,” said LUPE’s Martha Sanchez, referring to Berman’s bills. “This anti-immigrant legislation makes us as a nation so small. We used to be the leader in human rights and how we treated people. We are a nation of immigrants. Our nation has been built on energy and entrepreneurship of immigrants.”

The Equal Voice group agreed to set up an urgent meeting with representation from the business and health care community, the religious community, schools, non-profit groups, cities and counties would be represented. Every state representative and state senator in the Valley will be invited. The purpose of the meeting will be to see if common ground can be found in the fight against anti-immigrant legislation.

Continue reading at RioGrandeGuardian.com

RGG: Equal Voice: Our GOTV target is tough, but achievable

McALLEN, Oct. 17 – At the end of a Get Out the Vote rally attended by more than 300 people, Equal Voice for America’s Families acknowledged it has a tough task on its hands this election season.

The group is trying to increase voter turnout by ten percent in ten targeted precincts across the Rio Grande Valley that have relatively high voter registration but historically low voter turnout.

If the group succeeds, the philanthropic groups that have invested more than $100,000 in this year’s GOTV project, the Open Society and the Marguerite Casey Foundation, will likely invest a lot more for a much bigger operation in 2012.

What is making things tough, the group’s leaders acknowledge, is that the Obama Administration has thus failed to deliver on its promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform. In house meetings across the Valley, families belonging to the ten non-profits that make up the Equal Voice network in the region listed immigration reform as their No. 1 agenda item.

“There was a lot more energy in the community two years ago. This time round, we have a much tougher job, but I think we can do it,” said Martha Sanchez, a community organizer with La Unión del Pueblo Entero in Alton.

“It has been tough because some people are disillusioned. We have not had the changes we expected two years ago. But, changes are very slow in the political system. Things do not happen overnight. This time around, we are having to use a lot more energy, a lot more argument, in order to persuade people to vote.”

Sanchez acknowledged that immigration reform and, more specifically, stopping anything similar to Arizona’s SB 1070 from being passed in Texas, is the number one agenda item for Equal Voice. She said this was made clear in town hall meetings and house meetings.

“Clearly, immigration reform is the number one issue. Our community needs it. It was the issue we had most questions on. People are very concerned about the Arizona bill being passed in Texas or one similar,” she said.

The strength of opposition to SB 1070 could be seen in the number of banners and signs being waved in the audience at the GOTV event, which was held Saturday at the McAllen Convention Center.

Under SB 1070, if an undocumented immigrant is identified by law enforcement in Arizona, he or she can be prosecuted and deported. The bill makes failure to carry immigration documents a misdemeanor. It also gives the police broad powers to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

Rodolfo Garcia, a community organizer for LUPE who lives in McAllen, said the thought of SB 1070 being passed by state lawmakers during the 82nd legislative session in Austin next year is causing nightmares for immigrants.

“What is going on in Arizona and other states around the nation makes us a target. Life is becoming very rough. And it is not just a question that they might pass such a bill in Austin. They are already working on it. Gov. Perry has given 100 percent support to the Arizona governor,” Garcia said.

“They talk about the security of the country. We have a whole community by the millions not secure, unprotected; afraid of what the police or Border Security might do. Just what is Gov. Perry trying to do in bringing 100,000 National Guard to the border? Psyche us out?”

Another reason it might be tough to hit GOTV targets is the state of the economy. Unemployment has hit double digit figures in the Valley, with the McAllen MSA recording the highest jobless percentage in the state.

Sanchez said residents may be disillusioned but that is all the more reason for Equal Voice to redouble its efforts.

“When people are low, this is the time to work hardest. As Cesar Chavez taught us, Sí, Se Puede. We must remind people, Yes We Can. Our spirit is strong. We must work a little harder but we will get there in the end,” she said.

Sanchez said that with hindsight, the Equal Voice group might have delivered a slightly different message in 2008, when it exceeded its GOTV goals.

“We perhaps should have warned people not to expect changes quickly. Major changes do not happen overnight. This system has been in place a long time and it is not in our favor. For it to change, it is going to take time,” Sanchez said.

“This year, we are changing our message. Our message now is that we have to establish a culture of voting in the Valley because changes are going to be gradual. We have to establish a culture of voting for Latino voters, not just in the Valley but across the state and the nation.”

Eva Soto, a community organizer with Project ARISE in Edinburg, said it is not coincidence that the Valley has a low voter turnout compared to the rest of the state and a much higher rate of poverty. “They go hand in hand. If our voice is not heard, we do not count. Our voice will only be heard if we vote in much greater numbers,” Soto said.

Project ARISE and Proyecto Azteca have teamed up to increase turnout in two precincts, 5 and 122, in Las Milpas. The two precincts have about 9,000 registered voters who have no history of voting. “We will be back out on the streets on Monday, trying to reach those people who were not home last time we called. We will also be offering transportation in order to get people to the polls,” Soto said.

As part of its long term strategy for “creating a culture of voting” among low-income colonia families, Equal Voice is going to target young people. “We need to do a better job of educating them on the issues, engaging them in our events,” Sanchez said.

Equal Voice leaders were pleased with how Saturday’s GOTV rally in McAllen went. As well as attracting a lot of families, many candidates on the November ballot were present to listen to the group’s agenda.
“State Representatives Veronica Gonzales and Armando Martinez and state Rep.-elect Sergio Muñoz all spoke and all said they back our agenda. We know we have three allies we can count on in Austin,” Sanchez said.

In addition, there was great applause when a representative for gubernatorial candidate Bill White said that if elected governor, White would veto any SB 1070-type legislation.

“It was very important the candidates listened to the issues our members have listed. Some of them need educating,” Sanchez added.

RGG: Equal Voice to host two GOTV rallies in the Valley Saturday

SAN BENITO, Oct. 15 – The Equal Voice for America’s Families Network will hold major Get out the Vote rallies in McAllen and San Benito on Saturday.

The McAllen event takes place at the McAllen Convention Center starting at 9 a.m. The San Benito event takes place on the grounds of the Historical San Benito Museum District and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At the San Benito rally, the two candidates running for Cameron County Judge will participate in a candidate’s forum. Incumbent Carlos Cascos, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat John Wood. The candidate’s forum starts at 11 a.m.

“How can they take their country away from them?” LUPE members on the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship

Radical right wingers have long suggested stripping the constitution of birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but recently, the mainstream media has capitalized off the controversy to gain ratings and prominent Republicans have picked up the issue to gain votes.

But just because the idea of stripping the constitution of the 14th Amendment has become more popular lately does not make it any less of a slap in the face, both to the African American community (many of whom gave their lives to fight for the rights the Amendment protects) and the immigrant community, who already face second class citizenship and exclusion from the national community.

Last week a reporter from the Associated Press came to the Valley wanting to put a human face on the 14th Amendment debate and interviewed LUPE member Maribel, her husband Miguel and Dora, a family friend. I had the opportunity to sit in on the interview and write down their views on the situation.

Maribel and Miguel have four kids, two from here and two from Mexico. During the interview their three year old son, Miguel, climes all over his dad, pretending to turn into the Hulk. Maribel, Miguel and their two oldest children crossed into the US without documents 10 years ago because they couldn’t find work in Mexico. Now her husband works cleaning and cutting down palm trees and, because he is contracted by the city, earns a good wage that allows her to take care of the children.

Dora also came into the US with her family without documents. They left Mexico because there wasn’t any work and there was no way of feeding her family. Her husband also works cutting down palm trees, contracted by the city.

When asked how she feels about two of her children having citizenship, Maribel says that part of her feels good, but part of her doesn’t because they are separate, two are from here and won’t be taken if the family gets picked up by immigration. “You know how the situation is,” she says, referring to the current immigration enforcement policies that have separated more families this year than in any past period, including under the right-wing Bush administration. “I might be taken,” she says, “and two of my children will stay here and I’m concerned that I’ll be separated from them.”

Here in the states she says she sees many opportunities for her children that were born here that the ones born in Mexico won’t have. They might be able to go to school, “but my children from the other side won’t.”

But when asked if she thinks people in Mexico come here to have their children just so they will be citizens and can petition for their parents’ citizenship, both her and her husband answer emphatically. “I don’t think that is the case,” she says, “because we suffer a lot to come into the US, we risk a lot.” Her husband Miguel says “I don’t think people in Mexico think that way because they know you also suffer here, finding work and in work. When you come, you can’t just go back, because you struggle a lot to cross, you struggle to find work.” Miguel expresses offense at the idea that immigrants come here just to have babies and not see themselves as part of the community. Once you’re here, he says, “everything you gain you’re going to invest here.” You’re already “instalado” (set up/installed) here he says.

For Maribel, Miguel, Dora and others like them, the main priority when considering coming to the US is survival. They will risk everything to come to the US because here they have work when at home there is none; here they feed their children when at home they may starve. As one man getting ready to cross the Arizona desert put it, “I know that I am risking death; but in my home village, I am already living in a coffin. At least there is hope for something in the north.”

And once they are here, “instalado” as Miguel says, the question of access to citizenship is not a matter of playing the system, but rather a necessity for living a dignified life where they don’t fear being separated from their children, where they won’t be harassed or threatened with deportation on the job, where their children will receive the education they need to live a quality life.

And in response to the question of whether the children of immigrants should be denied their citizenship, Dora puts it best: “The kids who are born here, this is already their country. How can they take their country away from them?”