Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: immigration

Poll – Should Santa Ana become a Sanctuary City?

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Should Santa Ana become a Sanctuary City

The Santa Ana City Council will be considering a resolution at their meeting tonight to declare Santa Ana to be a Sanctuary City.

If passed, the resolution would require the city prohibit using city resources for immigration enforcement; reaffirm its commitment to preventing biased-based policing; exercise maximum discretion in policing; protect sensitive information; provide training for affected employees, officials and agents; and explore the feasibility of establishing a task force for oversight, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested after pretending to be an ICE agent and extorting a woman in Anaheim

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Luis Flores-Mendoza of Santa Ana, a 26-year-old, was arrested after he pretended to be a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and threatened to deport a woman if she didn’t give him money, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim, an unidentified woman, said that on June 6, the suspect went to a restaurant in Anaheim, where she worked. The suspect was dressed in a green uniform with a vest, gun, and a badge. He said that he was a Federal agent, according to the Placentia Police Department. Continue reading→

Bao Nguyen calls on Pres. Obama to put a moratorium on deportations

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Bao Nguyen, Democratic Party, immigration, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2016

Contact: Ender Ho, (714) 642-2120, info@bao2016.com

Anaheim, CA – In response to the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Texas the case in which 26 Republican governors are suing to block the deferred action programs, Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen called on President Obama and DHS to put a moratorium on deportations. Mayor Nguyen is running for Congress in California’s 46th district, which is 67% Latino. Mayor Nguyen issued the following statement:

I call on President Obama to use his authority to put an immediate halt on deportations. With so many people in DACA and DAPA, it’s the only responsible course of action. It’s only a temporary measure, so we also need Congress to act on immigration reform, which has been on the backburner for far too long. In Congress, I’ll fight for an immigration system that keeps families together, not tears them apart. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council won’t terminate their jail’s contract with ICE until 2020

Posted on by Posted in Crime, immigration, LGBT, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana City Council members unanimously voted to terminate a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – but not immediately, as some activists pressured with a hunger strike, according to the O.C. Register.

The Santa Ana City Council directed the City Manager, David Cavazos, to not renew the ICE contract set to expire on June 30, 2020, and not to end it earlier without a viable way to pay off the $24.3 million jail facility debt that ICE dollars are going toward. Continue reading→

Free Citizenship Fair at the Southwest Senior Citizen Center on April 9

Posted on by Posted in immigration, Santa Ana 2 Comments

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Free Citizenship Fair

In partnership with OCCORD, the Orange County Labor Federation, the Public Law Center, and NALEO, the City of Santa Ana is proud to present a FREE Citizenship Fair on Saturday, April 9th at the Southwest Community Center from 9 am to noon at the Southwest Center Center (2201 W McFadden Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704).

The Citizenship Fair will provide direct one-on-one assistance and is free of charge. Services include: Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez’ statement on the latest court decision against Pres. Obama’s immigration reforms

Posted on by Posted in immigration, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Loretta Sanchez and the Hispanic Caucus

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, 202-225-2965, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON 5TH CIRCUIT DECISION ON IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ACTIONS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decision to maintain an injunction on the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood (DACA) Arrivals program:

“This upsetting decision by the Fifth Circuit is yet another setback for our dysfunctional immigration system. Continue reading→

DMV worker, 5 others charged in sophisticated identity theft scheme using Puerto Rican ID’s

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homeland security seal

DMV worker, 5 others charged in sophisticated identity theft scheme

Defendants allegedly used Puerto Rican birth certificates to create new identities

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A clerk at the California Department of Motor Vehicles office in El Monte and five others have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly selling legitimate birth certificates and Social Security numbers obtained from Puerto Rico to individuals willing to pay thousands of dollars to obtain new identities.

DMV clerk Tracey Lynette Jones, 33, of Long Beach, surrendered to federal authorities Monday and was arraigned Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court. Jones, who entered a not guilty plea, was released on a $25,000 bond and ordered to stand trial Nov. 24 before U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez’ statement on the 50th anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

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Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, 202-225-2965, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON 50th ANNIVERSARY OF IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY ACT OF 1965

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) released the following statement commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act), which banned discriminatory immigration quotas based on national origin and was signed into law on October 3rd, 1965.

“50 years after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed landmark legislation to end discriminatory and harmful racial quotas in our immigration system, our immigration system is in a state of dysfunction and our country is yet again consumed by divisive and fear mongering rhetoric about immigrants and refugees. Continue reading→

Enjoy a BBQ and bash Donald Trump piñatas on July 25 at DTSA’s Lola Gaspar

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Food, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Politics, Restaurants, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Donald trump piñata

Lola Gaspar, a restaurant in Downtown Santa Ana, will be hosting a Donald Trump piñata bash and a barbecue on July 25, 2015, from 12 noon to 3 pm, according to the OC Weekly.

They will have five Trump piñatas available for us to smash!  The menu that day will include tri-tip, roasted corn, al pastor tacos, and frozen margaritas. Continue reading→

O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do partners with the new Mexican Consul Mario Cuevas

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Andrew Do with Mexican Consul Mario Cuevas Zamora

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 15TH, 2015

CONTACT: BRIAN PROBOLSKY, CELL: 949-533-4254

MEXICAN CONSUL MARIO CUEVAS, SUPERVISOR ANDREW DO FORM FAST FRIENDSHIP TO SERVE ORANGE COUNTY

Santa Ana, California— Mario Cuevas has barely had time to unpack his bags.

But, since arriving at his new post in June, the newly appointed Consul of Mexico has already formed a fast friendship and strong partnership with Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do. The two officials are working together to serve the Latino community in Orange County.

“We’re so privileged to have Consul Cuevas in Orange County,” Supervisor Andrew Do said after a recent breakfast meeting at the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana. “It’s vital that Orange County work with our partners at the Mexican Consulate to assist new immigrants with necessary public services.” Continue reading→

Five pro immigrant LGBT protestors to be charged for blocking DTSA streets

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Tran Detention in Santa Ana

Photo Courtesy of the Not1More Facebook Page

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CM07231

Date: June 25, 2015

FIVE PROTESTORS TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR DELAYING POLICE OFFICERS AND OBSTRUCTING SANTA ANA STREET BY CHAINING THEMSELVES TOGETHER

SANTA ANA – Five protesters are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for delaying police officers and obstructing a Santa Ana street by chaining themselves together. Mariela Martinez, 23, Los Angeles, Jorge Hernandez, 25, Oakland, Sandra Paola Jara Riveros, 33, Pasadena, Isaia Celestino Noyola, 36, Vellejo, and Jeffrey Christopher Neel, 43, Anaheim, are charged with one misdemeanor count each of obstructing or delaying a peace officer, obstructing passage on a public street, and unlawfully loitering or sitting on a public street. If convicted, each of the defendants face a maximum sentence of one year in jail and $1,000 fine. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, June 26, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-54, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on May 28, 2015, the five defendants were part of a group of approximately 50 individuals participating in a protest regarding the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants who are part of the LGBT community. The protestors gathered at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and Flower Street in Santa Ana, near the Central Justice Center to begin their demonstration. The protest was not pre-planned with the City of Santa Ana, and no permits had been issued allowing blockage of the intersection as required by law. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez bashes House Republicans over their anti-immigrant vote

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, immigration, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Republican Party 1 Comment

Loretta Sanchez speaks on the House floor

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, 202-226-8373. Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ: HOUSE GOP HITS NEW LOW WITH DANGEROUS ANTI-IMMIGRANT VOTE

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, today criticized House Republican’s partisan vote to roll back Obama’s executive actions on immigration, including the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

“Today’s vote confirms that Republicans are willing to do anything, including endanger our national security, to score political points through anti-immigrant measures,” said Rep. Sanchez. “They have no shame. No tienen verguenza.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana immigrant rights activists arrested while protesting at a DUI checkpoint

Posted on by Posted in Crime, immigration, Santa Ana 16 Comments

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Immigrant rights activists Maria Zacarias and Theresa Dang were arrested on suspicion of resisting or delaying a police officer and on suspicion of being intoxicated in public, respectively, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. They have been released, according to the OC Register.

Zacarias and Dang helped change checkpoints in Santa Ana when police agreed to allow unlicensed drivers 20 minutes to find someone with a license to whisk their car away from an expensive impound. The OC May Day Coalition said then that the previous policy unfairly targeted and profited off the undocumented community. The two went out to Friday night’s check point and offered to be on-spot drivers when the arrests happened, according to the OC Weekly.

My own research into the SAPD’s DUI checkpoints, a few years ago, revealed that they hardly ever caught any actual drunk drivers.  They do however serve to hassle immigrants.  Beyond that however there is a simple reason why the SAPD keeps running these ineffective checkpoints. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez’ statement on Obama’s immigration overreach

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, immigration, Loretta Sanchez, Politics 6 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ’S STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ACTION

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, and member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today responded to President Obama’s announcement that he will use his authority to protect over four million undocumented immigrants from the threat of deportation.

“The President’s announcement tonight provides long-awaited relief for millions of families suffering from our broken immigration system. It’s been 511 days since the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. All House Republicans had to do was bring it to the floor, but because they were unwilling to use their power to act the President had to act. Executive action is not ideal, but unfortunately it is necessary. Continue reading→