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Tag Archives: Dream Act

The Santa Ana City Council is urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, immigration, mexico, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana City Council Approves Resolution Urging Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017

At last night’s council meeting, the Santa Ana City Council approved a resolution urging the United States Congress to immediately pass the Dream Act of 2017 and to protect immigrant youth and families from deportation. Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would be rescinded. Upon rescission, more than 800,000 individuals would lose their DACA status and accompanying protections, including their eligibility to remain in the U.S. and their eligibility to work.

DACA is an immigration policy established by the Obama administration in June 2012 that permits individuals who entered the country illegally as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. Continue reading→

Onofre to host a free seminar about Immigration Reform on May 15

Posted on by Posted in Business, Cecilia Iglesias, Entertainment, immigration, Karina Onofre, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Louis Piscopo

Former Santa Ana City Council candidate Karina Onofre is hosting a meeting at her office on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at 7 pm.  The meeting will include a free seminar on lmmigration Reform, the Dream Act, U.S. Residency, and U.S. Citizenship naturalization.  Onofre’s office is located at 726 S. Main St, Santa Ana.

The guest speaker will be a veteran immigration lawyer, Louis Michael Piscopo.  Piscopo practices Immigration and Nationality Law. He is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law. Mr. Piscopo is also former Chairman of the Orange County Bar Association’s Immigration Section, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (Southern California Chapter) Liaison Officer to the USCIS-Santa Ana Office. Continue reading→

SAUSD School Board candidate Ceci Iglesias addresses the Dream Act

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Dream Act, Education, immigration, Latinos, Santa Ana 8 Comments

I asked SAUSD School Board candidate Cecilia Iglesias to clarify her position on the Dream Act.  You may recall that her fellow Republicans, Robert Hammond and Charles Hart, brow beat her at a meeting of the OC GOP Endorsement Committee into disavowing the Dream Act.

But now Iglesias says she is not against it at all although she does not refer to the Dream Act by name in her statement.  Here then is her statement clarifying her position on the Dream Act: Continue reading→

L.A. to O.C. Dream Ride today, Feb. 20

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, Orange County, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Join us in a 50 mile bike ride to continue raising awareness for Federal Dream Act, California Dream Act (institutional financial aid) and getting drivers licences for all California residents, as well as bringing attention to the rights of all bicyclist in the city of L.A and Orange County. Spokes & Words, The Orange County Dream Team and Dream Team Los Angeles are working together with City of Lights and the Bici Digna program in organizing and funding this event to bring together all these great orgs that fight for social justice for for all.

When: Sunday Feb. 20 (presidents day weekend), from 9 a.m to 11 a.m.

Where: Starting at Corazon del Pueblo 2003 E. 1st. street Boyle Heights 90033 and ending at Centro Cultural de Mexico 310 W. 5th street Santa Ana 92701.

Registration: Registration form and $15 fee (link at bottom of page) will be due on Jan. 28. This will include lunch, dinner, bike maintenance during event and over night stay in Orange County. Form can be downloaded via link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13WcyFiBe45oBXLUIAOkvINgfZAzimUHsIxHlPCWnNOM/edit?hl=en

Route: Approx 50 miles via streets of L.A., San Gabriel River Bike Path and streets of Santa Ana.

Housing: Sleeping over at Centro Cultural de Mexico. Individuals are responsible for bringing their own sleeping bag, pillows, blankets, toiletries, change of clothes etc. and transportation back to L.A. A truck will carry participant’s belongings, sleeping bags etc. to Santa Ana and back to CDP after ride is over.

Food: Lunch, dinner and snacks will be provided for all participants accounted for, for the event.

Bike Safety Work Shops: All participants of event will be required to attend at least one workshop on safety, rules of the road and ridding in a group. No exceptions. First workshop will be at CDP on Jan 23rd. Second will be at Centro Cultural in Santa Ana on Jan 30th and the final workshop will be at CDP on Feb. 5th Riders needing help with their bikes will be encouraged to bring them to the workshop for maintenance and bike tune up. Workshops will be coordinated by City of Lights.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for anyone that wants to donate food, supplies or sponsor riders for the event as well.

Anyone with questions about the event can contact dream.act.riders@gmail.com for more information or concerns.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Event Sponsors:

  • Spokes & Words
  • City of Lights
  • Orange County Dream Team
  • Dream Team Los Angeles
  • Corazon del Pueblo
  • El Centro Cultural de Mexico

Link to pay pal account here: http://justarandomhero.blogspot.com/2011/01/la-to-oc-dream-ride.html

HOPE Coalition of Orange County to host Dream Act Forum tonight, Jan. 28, in Anaheim

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Education, Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 4 Comments

HOPE Coalition of Orange County to Host Forum on “Generations of Lost DREAMS: Finding Solutions”

Friday, January 28 in Anaheim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Person: Minerva S.G. Stone
714-376-8065 (cell) / E-Mail: gomez_minerva@yahoo.com

The newly formed Hope Coalition of Orange County recognizes that it has been several weeks since the U.S. Senate failed to take decisive steps to vote on the DREAM Act, which was guided in the last days of 2010 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. These same student leaders also are re-emerging more determined just days after President Obama’s State of the Union speech addressing our nation’s current predicaments and working together to find solutions. The President stated, “They (children of undocumented parents) grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet live every day with the threat of deportation. ….. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.”

The HOPE Coalition agrees with President Obama, that the coming debates will be difficult, challenging and will take time to address the millions now living in the shadows across America .

College graduate and one of the Coalition leaders Minerva S.G. Stone totally agrees with our President as he reinforced his beliefs that America must “stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.” Ms. Stone stated, “ Orange County students are getting ready for a new congressional session with high hopes of great changes to come. The first step is to host a forum on Friday, January 28 to address the hopelessness in failed DREAMS.”

Guest speaker Dr. Roberto Gonzales, University of Washington will discuss research studies and results that will assist citizens and non-citizens to understand the multi-generational immigration debates of previous DREAM Act efforts.

FORUM: “Generations of Lost DREAMS: Finding Solutions”
Friday January 28, 2011 (6:00 pm– 8:30 pm)
Betsy Ross Elementary School (Cafeteria), 535 South Walnut Street, Anaheim , CA
Information: 714-376-8065 / E-Mail: gomez_minerva@yahoo.com

Another Coalition leader and college graduate, Antonia Rivera states, “We believe it is our responsibility to prevent the continuing intolerance for under-represented communities. We need to self-empower Orange County communities to step up for America and to also teach leadership skills on civil rights advocacy to young students who will follow in their footsteps.”

The goal of the HOPE Coalition of Orange County is to address the difficult and different issues confronting community residents in Orange County . This Forum is the group’s first efforts to educate communities on the enormous and positive impact the DREAM Act will have for our nation and how it will affect every single person – each one of us.

The HOPE Coalition is committed to a target goal of fund-raising $25,000 for scholarships for students affected by the DREAM Act. Contributions can be sent to California LULAC Foundation, Inc., PO Box 1810 , Santa Ana , CA 92702 .

The HOPE Coalition of Orange County is composed of community organizations and leaders, including Los Amigos of Orange County, Orange County Community Housing Corporation, Santa Ana LULAC #147, and the Orange County DREAM Team.

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Passage of Dream Act would have a huge impact on Santa Ana’s young people

Posted on by Posted in Dream Act, Education, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Congress on Wednesday is expected to begin its fight over extending legal immigration status to foreign-born youngsters with a scheduled cloture vote on the DREAM Act in the Senate, according to the L.A. Times.

The bill, whose cloture vote is expected about 4 p.m. EST, is being heavily pushed by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who was reelected with a large Latino vote last month. He pledged to bring the measure to a vote, though it will likely fail because of strong opposition from Republicans to a what they have called a mass amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) is urging members of Congress to pass the “Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.”  This sensible piece of legislation would allow undocumented kids who have grown up in this country the opportunity to achieve conditional legal status, and eventually earn the ability to apply for citizenship, if they attend college or serve in the military.  Polls show the majority of the American public supports the measure, according to The Hill.

In an attempt to round up more votes on the DREAM Act immigration bill, House leaders are looking at adding an agriculture jobs bill that would ease rules for farm laborers, according to Politico.  I hope that works!

I just posted a story yesterday about the graduation and drop-out rates in Santa Ana.  While the dropout rates are discouraging, a lot of our students at the SAUSD do end up graduating.  It is so sad that many of them cannot go any further for lack of documentation.

The Dream Act would be a huge economic boost to the U.S.  We already paid to educate these kids.  Why not finish the task and let them go to college and have a path to citizenship?

For the Democrats this vote is crucial.  They must find a way to pass the Dream Act.  Republicans are generally against it, but if they don’t start working with Latinos their future is going to be quite dim.  This is one bill that both parties should support!

Dream Act press conference in Anaheim on Nov. 30

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Arab Americans, Churches and Religion, Civil Rights, Education, Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Orange County DREAM Team’s Banner Holding for the DREAM Act in Santa Ana, CA. 11/28/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 24, 2010

Contact: Aura Vasquez, 714-931-6045, aura@occcopico.org or Vanessa Martinez, 714-767-9860, vanessa.clue@gmail.com

Top Faith and Community Leaders “March for the DREAM” with Orange County Congregations, Families, and Students

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), in partnership with the Orange County DREAM Team (OCDT) and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE OC), will hold a “March for the DREAM” in support of the DREAM Act, providing a pathway for citizenship and higher education to college bound immigrants and those serving in the US Military. OCCCO, CLUE, OCDT, and their partners urge Senators to show moral leadership and vision when voting for the DREAM Act.

WHO:

  • Bishop, Dominic Luong, Diocese of Orange
  • Dr. Jose Moreno, School Board President of Anaheim School District
  • DREAM ACT Student Testimonies
  • Community organizations including Los Amigos of Orange County and the League of Women Voters
  • Anaheim Union High School District
  • Other clergy and top religious leaders from Orange County
  • Chaired by: OCCCO Leaders Jan Meslin from Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation and Annan Aboul-Nasr from the Islamic Institute of Orange County

WHAT: “March for the DREAM” – Families, youth, and clergy from Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Unitarian congregations throughout Orange County will gather together for a march from St. Boniface to Anaheim High School to hold a press conference in support of our immigrant youth. As communities of faith, the march to the school symbolizes putting our faith into action to stand in solidarity with students and urge Senators to support the DREAM ACT.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 – 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm, press conference starts at 2:45 at Anaheim High School.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

WHERE: Starts: St. Boniface Catholic Church, 120 N. Janss Street, Anaheim, CA 92805
Ends: Anaheim High School, 811 West Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805

VISUALS: Clergy, students, families marching and standing together, with signs saying “ready to serve”, “we want the American DREAM”, and “I want to be a teacher, lawyer, nurse, doctor, etc.”

MORE INFORMATION

Thousands of hard working young people who were brought to the United States as infants or children can now be locked up in federal detention centers and deported to a country they’ve never known. The DREAM Act could stop the injustice by giving students who have grown up and graduated high school in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status college or military service. For almost 10 years immigrant youth have been fighting for the passage of the DREAM Act. As people of faith, we support the DREAM Act because we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children.

BACKGROUND ON PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) is an interfaith network of 22 member congregations and civic groups representing 50,000 families in eight cities throughout Orange County. OCCCO was established in 1985 and is a current member federation of the PICO National Network – the largest faith-based organizing network in the nation, representing more than 1 million families across the United States.

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of Orange County (CLUE OC) provides spiritual leadership in the movement to achieve economic justice in Orange County. We seek to achieve a California with a moral economy where workers will have just wages and safe working conditions. We also seek the removal of barriers that hinder full participation of low wage workers and immigrant families in society and the workplace, including the reform of our immigration system. CLUE Orange County is one of 13 affiliates of the statewide network CLUE California

The Orange County DREAM Team (OCDT) is an organization composed of students, allies and community members, who advocate for the rights of undocumented students of all nationalities and is also dedicated to the passage of the DREAM Act.

Dream Act Rally in Santa Ana on Friday, Nov. 12

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, Youth Activities 1 Comment

The Dream Act is going to be put up for a vote during the lame duck session, sometime in th next two months. Dreamers around the nation are organizing events in their states and communities in order to unify our efforts to ensure Dream Act passes this congressional year.

Orange County invites you to “Step Out of the Shadows” and come together and inspire thousands of other Dreamers to do the same. We must not be afraid but rather empowered and unafraid. Join us this Monday to kick of the national action week.  Dream Act Now!!!!!!!

The event will consist of Dreamer sharing their narratives in a public space, poetry, music and an open space for anyone to take the microphone and speak their mind. Come and support!!

Time: Friday, November 12 · 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Sasscer Park, at 502 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Ward 6 candidate Helen Martinez refuses to talk about immigration and the Dream Act, while addressing Godinez High students

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, immigration, Latinos, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Helen Martinez, a candidate for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council, showed up today at Godinez Fundamental High School, where she spoke to a combined group of students from three government classes.  Unfortunately for Martinez, the group included my son Joey, a senior and AP student, who quickly texted me.

Joey asked her stance on illegal immigration and the Dream Act; she chose to “reserve her opinion.”  What a cop-out!

However Martinez was able to give her opinion on prop 19, which she is opposing.   One student asked her why she was able to give her opinion on that but not on illegal immigration and she said “it’s because that isn’t a proposition.”  Lame!

Martinez’ main argument against marijuana was that california would become “smokier” and she had concerns for asthmatics, such as herself.  She had nothing else to say basically, she just beat around the bush a lot.

When asked why she was running against the incumbent, Councilman Sal Tinajero, with the person asking the question looking for specific policies, all she said was that it was because her opponent had lost sight of what it means to be a “public servant,” that he never showed up when he was supposed to.  She went off on a huge tangent, according to my son, and she failed to answer the question.

The general reaction towards her from my son’s classmates was that she didn’t really answer anybody’s questions and that she didn’t seem well informed.  My son didn’t think anyone in his class would have voted for her.

Martinez is running against incumbent Councilman Sal Tinajero, an award-winning teacher who used to work at the SAUSD.  Why did she get invited to speak and not Tinajero as well?  This is an outrage.  I suspect the SAUSD district office will be hearing from Tinajero tomorrow.

I know the Godinez students would learn a lot more from Tinajero, who also served on the SAUSD School Board previously,  then they could possibly learn from Martinez.

I am very proud of the students who asked about immigration and Prop. 19.  This shows they are very much aware of some of the most important political issues we are currently dealing with.

Tinajero, for the record, does support the Dream Act, which provides students who came here at a young age and completed their education in our schools to have a pathway to citizenship – and college.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez finally co-sponsors the Dream Act

Posted on by Posted in Dream Act, Education, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, mexico, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has finally decided to co-sponsor the Dream Act, according to Gustavo Arellano, at the OC Weekly, and the Don Palabraz blog.

Click here to see her name on the record at the Library of Congress as a co-sponsor.

Here is an excerpt from Arellano’s post:

I’ve received much criticism from local Democrats over the past year for my constant bashing of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for not co-sponsoring the DREAM Act, a bill before the House and Senate that would create a path toward amnesty for undocumented college students. Recently, the Orange County Dream Team ratcheted up their pressure on Loretta as well, calling her out at liberal shindigs this past weekend. Continue reading→

Help Gloria get to Harvard’s Graduate School

Posted on by Posted in Dream Act, Education, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 6 Comments

The haters will tell you that Mexicans cannot amount to anything – the truth is that our young people are just as capable as anyone else.

In the video above, you will meet Gloria Montiel, a graduate of Santa Ana High School.  She was accepted into Harvard – and she finished an undergraduate degree.  Now she wants to go to Harvard’s graduate university, to get a Master’s degree in education, but the cost is $50,000.  Because Gloria is undocumented, she cannot avail herself of the student loans that the rest of us take for granted.

But Gloria isn’t giving up!  Her friends are helping her raise $39,000 so she can finish school and get her Master’s degree.  You can help out by clicking here and printing out the event flier, and going to La Casa Garcia tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, anytime from 10 am to 10 pm, to enjoy a $10 plate of Turkey Mole, with the works, including rice, beans and tortillas.  La Casa Garcia is located at 531 W. Chapman Ave., in Anaheim. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s May Day March will be at Sasscer Park

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, immigration, Labor, Latinos, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

¡Otro Mundo Es Posible! – Another World Is Possible!

Join Orange County Communities for Santa Ana’s May Day March.  Meet at Sasscer Park on the corner of Ross/5th at 3pm, on May 1.  Click here to RSVP.

Unite for Action, Equality and Human Rights – Platform:

IMMIGRATION

*Comprehensive Immigration Reform – full legalization

*DREAM Act – to create a pathway for undocumented students Continue reading→

New Facebook group asks Congresswoman Sanchez to co-sponsor the Dream Act

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Education, Garden Grove, immigration, Latinos, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez dresses up for the Tet Festival but won’t co-sponsor the Dream Act

A new Facebook page is asking Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to co-sponsor the Dream Act.  Here is what they are saying online:

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is running for re-election this year and has refused to co-sponsor the DREAM Act once again. Every year that students have met with her, its the same story…that she will not co-sponsor. Ms. Sanchez has referred to a DREAM student as “selfish” for wanting to fulfill his professional DREAM. We are tired of Loretta NOT representing the community. It is time that our voices are heard once and for all! Enough is enough!! If you live in her district and demand that she support ALL students, please join this group.

Loretta Sanchez represents the 47th Congressional District, which encompasses the Southern California cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove and portions of Anaheim and Fullerton. Continue reading→