Donate to assist the undocumented

Hope all of you are staying safe and healthy during this pandemic. 

As you know two of the most impacted groups of this pandemic is our undocumented and asylum seeking families. Many who work in the service and hospitality industry have lost their jobs and do not qualify for unemployment insurance benefits or other government assistance programs. NorCal Resist has been receiving many panic calls from our undocumented and asylum seeking families seeking assistance with paying rent and utilities and groceries. Although we can provide the full rent, we have been helping with a portion of it and a few groceries. We have received over 200 calls from throughout California from Los Angeles, Bay Area, Central Valley, all the way to the Oregon Border.  Although we would like to help everyone, we are an all volunteer organization with a small budget, therefore, limiting assistance to those in the Greater Sacramento Area. In our first week we have assisted over 50 families.

We anticipate the need to double in the next two weeks and want to be ready to help as many families as possible.  Here is where you can help us. 

Please donate to NorCal Resist’s relief fund: https://tinyurl.com/NCRFund

Also, please SHARE it with your networks. All donations are tax deductible. All proceeds raised go towards assisting our most vulnerable families.

If you have any questions, please call me 916-949-9506.

In Solidarity,
Ruth Ibarra
Autumn Gonzalez 

Provide Aid To Farm Workers

ACT NOW: Farm Workers left out  of COVID-19 federal aid What would Cesar Chavez say? E-mail your Congressmembers today. The 3 trillion dollar COVID-19 stimulus package was signed last week. These funds will help many families, but leaves many farm workers out. There are 9.5 billion dollars headed for the agricultural sector and it's unclear if any of those funds will support farm workers taking risks to put food on our tables. At least 50% of farm workers are undocumented, so they won't get the relief payment most other households will. Most are still laboring in the fields, feeding America during this pandemic. They are facing huge new economic burdens and risks. Please take action to help them. Undocumented farm workers pay taxes, but they are left out of the stimulus check the rest of us are eligible to receive. Even their US citizen children are left out.  They are told they are essential workers, but they are not receiving essential benefits. They are putting themselves at risk on a daily basis by going out to the fields harvesting our food. Many are unable to practice social distancing as it is not possible with their work. Because of COVID-19, masks are a rare commodity, so some farm workers are put at additional risk of Valley Fever or other illnesses by not having masks that are supposed to be provided. These low wage workers are being forced to deal with huge economic expenses. Childcare for one. For farm worker families, both the mother and father are usually working just to break even. All of a sudden they need to face the economic challenge of their children being home instead of in school. This means many of these low wage workers, who are exempt from “Stay at Home” orders, have to pay for unexpected childcare. One vegetable worker shared his child care costs went from $100/week to $220/week, as besides his 4-year-old he now has to pay for childcare expenses for his 6, 9, and 11-year-olds. When you are making $500 a week and live in one of the most expensive counties in CA, this additional expense is overwhelming. Not only that, but there is the burden of home schooling and the cost of school supplies for their children.  Farm workers are also dealing with panic buying. Because farm workers are working in the fields during the day, they can't stand in line when the stores open. By the time farm workers get to the store at the end of the day, the store is often out of basic foods. The alternative is local small stores which often price gouge and force farm workers to pay even more to keep their families fed. In addition, farm workers are facing extra transportation costs. Some companies are requiring workers not to carpool during COVID-19. Plus many workers desperately want to social distance vs. being in an enclosed and crowded car or bus.  Something has to be done. We are depending on farm workers to keep our supermarket shelves full. It's time that Congress take care of the farm workers who are keeping us fed. Tell Congress to provide hazard pay for these workers who are now working in a dangerous environment and dealing with huge additional expenses.  As Cesar Chavez said, "It's ironic that those who till the soil, cultivate and harvest the fruits, vegetables, and other foods that fill your tables with abundance have nothing left for themselves." Essential workers deserve essential benefits. Please take action today.  PS: After you take action you can also share this campaign on Facebook & Twitter.

Congressman Garamendi,  Thank you for your work on the recent Covid-19 stimulus bill.  These funds will help many families, but  also leaves many farm workers out. There are 9.5 billion dollars headed for the agricultural sector and it's unclear if any of those funds will support farm workers taking risks to put food on our tables. At least 50% of farm workers are undocumented, so they won't get the relief payment most other households will. Most are still laboring in the fields, feeding America during this pandemic. They are facing huge new economic burdens and risks. Please take action to help them. Undocumented farm workers pay taxes, but they are left out of the stimulus check the rest of us are eligible to receive. Even their US citizen children are left out. They are told they are essential workers, but they are not receiving essential benefits.They are putting themselves at risk on a daily basis by going out to the fields harvesting our food. Many are unable to practice social distancing as it is not possible with their work. Because of COVID-19, masks are a rare commodity, so some farm workers are put at additional risk of Valley Fever or other illnesses by not having masks that are supposed to be provided. We are depending on farm workers to keep our supermarket shelves full. It's time that Congress take care of the farm workers who are keeping us fed. Please develop legislation to provide these essential workers with hazard wages,  these workers are now working in a dangerous environment and dealing with huge additional expenses.  As Cesar Chavez said, "It's ironic that those who till the soil, cultivate and harvest the fruits, vegetables, and other foods that fill your tables with abundance have nothing left for themselves." Essential workers deserve essential benefits.  Cordially, Dr. Duane E. Campbell,  For LULAC Council 2862. Sacramento area.  PO box 162790, Sacramento,  95816 www.sacramentolulac.org

Resources for workers

Note: The undocumented were excluded from most of the stimulus.  See the post from LULAC below.

Stimulus Bill Leaves out the Undocumented. Call Now !!

As you may be aware of, a $2 trillion “COVID-19 Relief bill” is making its way through Congress to provide support to working Americans which will include $1,200 checks for every adult, $500 for children, compensation to small business owners and increased unemployment compensation to laid off workers.

Unfortunately, the undocumented immigrant community is not covered in the proposal put forth by the U.S. Senate. We need your help to stand up and defend ALL members of our community now and support the US House bill "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act".

Please call/email your member of Congress to make sure that the 11 million undocumented immigrant community is protected during this crisis and ask them to support the U.S. House bill which includes protections for ALL workers. We must demand that all families regardless of status are protected in this legislation. Find your member’s contact information HERE.

Below are some talking points to use when you call today:

1. Workers first, family first, means that all communities should have access to testing and treatment.
2. It is reckless to our nation’s public health to exclude immigrant families from access to testing, medical services, and financial relief. The needs and health of all workers, regardless of immigration status, should be ahead of corporate execs, Wall Street, and 2020 anti-immigrant politics.
3. Our elected officials must ensure any solution against the pandemic protects all families.
4. There has been no other time in American history when our nation has needed to ensure that all families - regardless of immigration status - are protected and prioritized.
5. There are millions of immigrant families who are at the frontlines of combatting the impacts of the pandemic. From food and agriculture workers to home and health care workers, Dreamers, TPS-holders, and immigrant workers and families - regardless of immigration status - are critical to keeping all American communities safe and healthy.

Resources:

• [SEE CAP ANALYSIS] CAP analysis finds that roughly 27,000 DACA recipients are health care practitioners, including physicians. America can’t afford such a loss.
• [SEE CATO REPORT] Millions of immigrants in the U.S. are working every day to defeat the contagion or mitigate its economic effects: On the front lines of this battle are the nearly 1.7 million immigrant medical and health care workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients, over 155,000 immigrant scientists and engineers, a majority of janitorial and cleaning service workers are immigrants, and over 700,000 immigrant workers cultivating and processing a significant portion of America’s food and meat production.
• [SEE CATO REPORT] Nearly 1.5 million immigrants work in delivery, shipping, and trucking, bringing products to households who need them across America.
• [SEE National Agricultural Workers Survey] While most Americans stay at home, farmworkers continue to work since they have been designated as “essential workers” by DHS. Nearly half lack legal work authorization and residency status, making them ineligible for essential benefits that could help them stay home when sick.

Together We Rise,

LULAC Statement on the $2 Trillion Bill

LULAC Statement On $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill To Address Coronavirus Pandemic And Calls For Inclusiveness Of Communities Of Color

Nation’s Oldest & Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Continues to Push Federal Legislators to Ensure that All Workers are Protected, Including Latinos whose Backbreaking Labor Sustains the US Economy

Washington, DC - Today, the League of United Latin American (LULAC) leadership released the following statements on the legislation being negotiated in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate:

“Over the last few weeks we’ve seen that during a time of economic crisis, it is Latino, African American, immigrant and low-income workers across the nation who are disproportionately hurt and in most need,” stated LULAC National President Domingo Garcia. “The legislation being negotiated in the Senate is a step in the right direction to alleviate the economic hardships for millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are concerned about the farmworkers, undocumented workers, and legal residents who need to get help also. All working people in America -- whose backbreaking labor sustains the entire US economy-- need to be included in all of the unemployment and health protections being negotiated.”

LULAC National CEO Sindy Benavides issued the following statement:

“LULAC applauds the House Democrats’ stimulus plan under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for directly addressing the needs of Latinos and all working people in this country. This legislation includes larger cash payments of $1,500 per person, expands unemployment insurance and paid sick leave, offers extra aid for small businesses in grants and interest-free loans to small businesses, including $300 billion in forgivable loans to cover short-term payroll costs, boosts funds to food banks by an extra $450 million, and whatever funds ‘necessary’ to account for more people in need of food stamps, and bans utility providers from cutting off service during the crisis. We will fight alongside House Democrats to ensure America’s working people are not forgotten. We demand that Republican Senators swiftly take action and stop playing politics with people’s lives especially as the death toll increases daily across the country due to COVID-19.”

LULAC has also demanded that the COVID-19 rescue bills being negotiated in Congress include the following:

Small Business Owners:

In the last decade, U.S. Latino-owned companies generated $470 billion in revenue and created 3.2 million jobs. Latino businesses are struggling to stay afloat. The American economy will suffer if Latino owned businesses suffer, many of which are small and medium-sized, are left without the same benefits corporations are poised to receive from a stimulus package.

Low-Wage Earners (Hotel, Restaurant, Hospitality, Cleaning, and other Service/Retail Workers, etc.):

Many low-wage workers in the retail and service industry who earn minimum wage face the difficult decision between risking catching the virus at work with no insurance or staying home without pay. This is not a choice that families should have to make.

Families and Children:

Latinos need aid to address keeping education, childcare, and school meal programs afloat. The impact on students who depend on a free or reduced-price school lunch is stark – we know that nearly 2 out 3 Latino children qualify for these programs. Latino families depend on these school meals to feed their families.

Immigrants:

ICE recently announced that they will scale back enforcement efforts in the U.S. and will not carry out operations at or near health care facilities. LULAC has agreed that ICE should most certainly suspend raids, family separations, end the deportation of DACA recipients, and halt immigration hearings immediately.

The first detained immigrant tested positive for COVID-19 today. Those in ICE detention face great danger at this time. These detention centers can turn into death camps quickly since the spread of the disease is rampant and can easily get out of control. As such, LULAC has called on the Department of Justice to release non-violent detainees older than 50, those who are pregnant, or have underlying conditions such as a weakened immune system or heart or lung disease, on parole.

Farmworkers:

LULAC has called on legislators to represent the interests of all working families, including an estimated two to three million farmworkers who are employed across the United States. Farmworkers and ALL workers should be included in the COVID-19 rescue bills coming out of Congress. Farmworkers, who feed the entire country and world, earn poverty-level wages, work under substandard conditions and face a myriad of health and other issues due to their living and employment conditions.

No Pases la Tos, Pasa la Voz!!!

Defiendan a Los Trabajadores

The rights of all workers, especially immigrant workers are under attack during this Covid-19 crisis.

We, the IMWG has a resource folder to assist you in finding vital information.

I have just posted resource guides for workers in Spanish and English.

Members of the IMWG Allies and Activists are free to use all documents in the resource folder.

These are pdf files in English and in Spanish.

Our resource folder is here.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1g5E3jLsd6K1mkJmPr3dphkRdhg6ZXdIH

From DSA to the Immigrant Community

Desde la crisis financiera global del 2008 hasta los desastres naturales causados por el cambio climático que sacudieron California del Norte, Nueva Orleans, Nueva York y Puerto Rico, el capitalismo ha causado crisis humanas desgarradoras. Durante cada una de estas crisis, han sido los pobres, los trabajadores y la gente marginada los que más han sufrido — mientras que los bancos, las empresas de energía y la industria inmobiliaria han sido rescatados.

Ahora con el brote de COVID-19 y una inminente recesión económica, son los trabajadores hospitalarios, los pobres y sin vivienda, los mayores, la gente encarcelada, las personas inmunocomprometidas, los inmigrantes y otros grupos marginados los que sufrirán el impacto. Hay millones de personas que no tienen cobertura médica adecuada; hay millones que viven de sueldo en sueldo y aún millones más no pueden tomar dispensa paga del trabajo. Eso significa que los trabajadores y los pobres serán los más vulnerables a enfermarse sin tener la capacidad de pagar los costos del tratamiento ni de los exámenes, poniendo en riesgo a comunidades enteras. Muchos de los que faltan al trabajo a causa del brote perderán sus sueldos o su seguro médico, serán incapaces de pagar la luz, el gas y el agua, y enfrentarán desalojo.

Todo esto se exacerba gracias a que nuestro gobierno hace años ha recortado los presupuestos de servicios como SNAP (cupones alimentarios) y mientras tanto ha repartido salvavidas a las compañías petroleras y de gas natural. Queda claro que nuestro sistema de salud privatizado y organizado para producir lucro y no para proteger la salud humana es incapaz de manejar una pandemia global.

A su vez, Trump y los Republicanos están explotando esta crisis para echarle la culpa a algunos chivos expiatorios: demonizan a los inmigrantes, a las personas chinas y a la Unión Europea, fomentando el racismo y la xenofobia. Es más, el pan de estímulo de Trump destruirá a la Seguridad Social, uno de los pocos programas verdaderamente universales que nos quedan y una línea de defensa para la gente mayor, que es una de las poblaciones más vulnerables a COVID-19.

Como socialistas, rechazamos la austeridad, la privatización, el racismo y la xenofobia. En su lugar, nosotros, los Socialistas Democráticos de América, nos ponemos de pie unidos con los trabajadores, los pobres y los marginados de nuestra sociedad para demandar una solución a esta crisis para la clase obrera.

La pandemia de COVID-19 confirma la verdad en el slogan del movimiento obrero radical: “Un ataque contra uno es un ataque contra todos.” Tenemos que rápidamente reorientar nuestra sociedad en contra del individualismo y el lucro privado y hacia la justicia y la solidaridad.

Estamos de acuerdo con las medidas del Families First Coronavirus Response Act que incluye fondos federales para examenes gratuitos de coronavirus y dispensa laboral paga.

Pero el Congreso tiene que hacer más.

Primero, el Congreso debe aprobar la legislación de Medicare for All de Bernie Sanders. No podemos manejar esta crisis, ni sus desproporcionados efectos para los pobres y la clase obrera, si no les damos cuidado médico gratuito en el punto de servicio a todos los residentes estadounidenses. Es inaceptable que casi cien millones de personas en estados unidos no tienen seguro médico adecuado durante una crisis de salud pública, mientras que los CEOs de empresas de seguro médico cobran sueldos anuales de decenas de millones de dólares.

Segundo, el Congreso debe aprobar una moratoria de emergencia sobre los desalojamientos y apagones de luz, gas y agua hasta que cese la crisis. Trabajadores que no puedan trabajar debido a las cuarentenas no deberían ser penalizados por no poder pagar el alquiler y las facturas y luz, gas y agua. Bienes como la vivienda, el agua, la electricidad, el internet y más deberían ser proveídos como beneficios sociales a todos y no acaparados para el lucro de algunos pocos billonarios.

Tercero, en vez que rescatar a las empresas petroleras y de gas natural durante esta crisis, el Congreso debe aprovechar los bajos precios del petróleo y comenzar una eliminación gradual de la producción petrolera doméstica. Al mismo tiempo, debe introducir la legislación agresiva del Green New Deal que exige neutralidad de carbono antes del 2030 y crearía millones de trabajos verdes. Si vamos a evitar el cambio climático catastrófico, que a su vez haría que los desastres naturales sean mucho más frecuentes e intensos, tenemos que desligar nuestra economía de los combustibles fósiles inmediatamente. La crisis económica inminente que podría dejar a millones sin trabajo, bajas tasas de interés y una caída en el precio del petróleo hacen de hoy el momento ideal para que el gobierno federal comience esta transformación.

Ante una pandemia, reconocemos que solo estamos tan seguros como las personas más afectadas por nuestros sistemas actuales. Nuestra cuarta demanda es un fin a la fianza en efectivo y una moratoria a las deportaciones. Estados Unidos tiene el sistema de detención más grande del mundo. Estados Unidos alberga el sistema de detención más grande del mundo. Dadas las condiciones tortuosas, el hacinamiento y la naturaleza irresponsable de nuestro sistema carcelario actual, pedimos que se deje ir a las personas en las cárceles, prisiones, centros de detención y campamentos y que las instalaciones cuenten con el personal médico adecuado para garantizar el bienestar de aquellos que no puedan ser liberados. Exigimos una moratoria sobre las deportaciones para garantizar que las comunidades inmigrantes se mantengan seguras y no eviten a buscar tratamiento.

Reiteramos las demandas expresadas hoy por Bernie Sanders: líneas telefónicas directas en cada estado y a nivel nacional para que cualquier residente tenga acceso a recursos e información. Estamos de acuerdo en que este nivel de transparencia debe ser transmitido por científicos y expertos en salud y no por políticos. Una vacuna, cuando se desarrolla, debe ser gratuita y cualquier medicamento desarrollado para ayudar con la crisis debe venderse al costo de producción. Se debe abordar la falta de salas de cuidado intensivo y de respiradores y a la vez movilizar a los residentes médicos y al personal médico retirado, armados de la instrucción adecuada y equipos de protección personal. También estamos de acuerdo con su demanda de asistencia de desempleo de emergencia al 100% de los ingresos de los trabajadores para TODOS, incluyendo a aquellos que trabajan por propinas, trabajadores de gig, trabajadores domésticos y contratistas independientes. Se deben construir refugios de emergencia, completos con atención médica y alimentos, para las personas sin vivienda, sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y estudiantes universitarios.

Finalmente, todo este gasto social debe pagarse con un impuesto a los ricos. La clase obrera estadounidense ha rescatado repetidamente a las mismas corporaciones masivas y a los multimillonarios que causan y exacerban las crisis. La solución propuesta por la administración de Trump, un recorte a los impuestos sobre la nómina, no proporcionaría ningún alivio a la clase trabajadora y de hecho exacerbaría el problema al crear un incentivo para seguir trabajando, incluso estando enfermo, particularmente para aquellos que no pueden trabajar remotamente ni recibir dispensa laboral remunerada. La propuesta también pondría en peligro a algunas de nuestras poblaciones más vulnerables al desglosar fondos para el Seguro Social y Medicare. Una y otra vez, la clase dominante usa la crisis para ponernos en contra entre nosotros. Esta vez, los ricos, cuya riqueza es producida por los trabajadores, deberían pagar la cuenta.

Como una medida práctica y una muestra de solidaridad con todas las personas de la clase trabajadora, especialmente los ancianos, los desalojados, los enfermos crónicos y los inmunocomprometidos que son más vulnerables a COVID-19, recomendamos que todas las sedes de DSA implementen medidas de distanciamiento social de inmediato, incluyendo:

• Cancelar, posponer o mover en línea cualquier reunión programada para más de un pequeño grupo de personas;
• Practicar las acciones preventivas recomendadas por el CDC, especialmente mantener una distancia de 6 pies o más entre las personas;
• Establecer un protocolo COVID-19 que describa los síntomas que los miembros deben observar y pedir a cualquier miembro enfermo que se quede en casa o que asista a reuniones a través de un software de videoconferencia o teléfono como Zoom;
• Desarrollar la infraestructura necesaria para hacer text- y phone-banking en lugar de sondeos en persona cuando sea posible;
• Crear un plan para comunicarse con los miembros locales y asegurarse de que todos tengan los recursos necesarios para navegar esta crisis, especialmente los miembros de edad avanzada y los miembros inmunocomprometidos;
• Desarrollar planes para adaptar reuniones y acciones en función a la tasa de infección en su área; consultar esta plantilla para ver ejemplos de escenarios y alternativas a las movilizaciones masivas tradicionales;
• Realizar una limpieza de rutina de superficies tales como mesas, dispositivos electrónicos, manijas de puertas, etc. antes y después de todas las reuniones en persona utilizando productos como toallitas desinfectantes o aerosoles antibacterianos;
• Suministre desinfectante de manos en todas las reuniones y fomente su uso (consulte la guía de los CDC para producir desinfectante para manos);
• Colocar carteles que indiquen cómo toser y estornudar de manera segura y fomenten el lavado de manos en espacios de reunión.

Nuestro sistema actual es injusto y se precipita hacia el desastre. Está más claro que nunca que nuestra sociedad debe elegir: tendremos socialismo o tendremos barbarie. Pedimos que las sedes usen estas recomendaciones para proteger a sus miembros y sus comunidades. También les pedimos que revisen esta Guía de Recursos: COVID-19 Resources Guide for Organizers para formular demandas e informarse en este momento tan grave.

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To the Immigrant Community

Dear immigrant community:

We are in a confusing, uncertain, and unprecedented moment with the global coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Every day there is news about new cases, business closings, curfews, and other restrictions that affect our lives.

We must not panic, hoard resources that others also need, or spread misinformation. However, it is essential that we take this situation seriously to protect ourselves and our community.

The reality is the immigrant community is extremely vulnerable during this pandemic.

Until now, many of us have not been able to stop going to work. We also face various barriers to taking the best health precautions right now, including lack of access to health insurance, lack of information in our languages, and the ongoing fear of being detained or deported.

We are also worried for our families in our home countries, who are also living this global crisis — the daily pain of distance and borders is becoming even greater.

A public health crisis like this one reveals and worsens the profound inequalities that harm the 11 million undocumented immigrants every day.

We are part of an economy that expects us to work despite imminent risk of exposure. That expects us to stay quiet about massive layoffs that are already happening. As Cosecheros, we know that this country depends on our labor during and after this national crisis.

They want us to risk our lives while denying us medical care, pay for lost hours, and continuing to threaten us with ICE every day. It is not the moment to put our heads down and just do what this country expects of us. In the face of this pandemic, we must continue demanding dignity and respect. We must empower ourselves with information and preventative actions that fight against the idea that we should put ourselves at risk, just because we are undocumented workers.

Just as we organize in Cosecha to fight for permanent protection for the community, now we will organize to protect our health and support the community during these times.

The most important thing right now is “social distancing” or quarantine.

The most important thing right now is “social distancing” or quarantine, which means that everyone says home and commits to only leaving the house for essential reasons (buying food or medicine, going to work if absolutely necessary). A concerning fact about COVID-19 is that a seemingly healthy person can still have the virus without showing any symptoms and pass it to other people without knowing or meaning to cause harm.

Cosecha

LULAC Calls for the End of Deportations, Release those Incarcerated

Lulac

We are pleased to see that ICE recently announced that they will scale back enforcement efforts in the U.S. and will not carry out operations at or near health care facilities. ICE should most certainly suspend raids, family separations, end the deportation of DACA recipients, and halt immigration hearings immediately.

Those locked behind bars and in cages by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) face great danger at this time. These detention centers are death camps where the spread of the disease is severe and can easily get out of control. As such, we are calling on ICE to release non-violent detainees older than 50, those who are pregnant, or have underlying conditions such as a weakened immune system or heart or lung disease, on parole.

We can’t wait to take action. Low-income and the working-class communities need help immediately. LULAC is here to protect the interest of the Latino community and we will continue the fight for our families and every Latino across the country. “

Coronavirus Capitalism — and How to Beat It

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Workers Response to Covid-19

Worker & Migrant Justice Response to the Coronavirus

With the United States already experiencing unprecedented levels of nativism, xenophobia, racial resentment, and dehumanization, we are very concerned the global pandemic, the imminent economic downturn, and the upcoming election will coalesce and create a perfect storm resulting in a full-scale human rights crisis with the potential significant loss of life.

This context only makes more acute the need for comprehensive migrant justice, and it underscores and highlights the urgency of sensible policy proposals presented below. An appropriate national response to the global pandemic must prioritize the health and safety of those who are most vulnerable, including immigrants. However, we fear that vulnerable populations including undocumented migrant workers, poor people, and refugees will be deemed acceptable collateral damage by forces that view them as less than human. At NDLON, we will do everything within our power to protect members of our community who might be at risk of being left behind in the days and weeks ahead.

National Day Laborers Association

https://ndlon.org/worker-migrant-justice-response-to-the-coronavirus/

Bernie Addresses the Nation on the Health and Economic Crisis

Start at 13 min,

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Court Allows Remain in Mexico Policy to Continue

Gabe Ortiz, Daily Kos

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Trump administration can continue enforcing its inhumane Remain in Mexico policy as litigation continues. The policy, which has forced up to 62,000 asylum-seekers to wait for their U.S. immigration court cases in Mexico, many of them in dangerous conditions, had been blocked by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last month.

[ the Court ruled that the policy could remain in place while appeals continue }

“The Court of Appeals unequivocally declared this policy to be illegal,” Judy Rabinovitz of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project said in a statement. “The Supreme Court should as well. Asylum seekers face grave danger and irreversible harm every day this depraved policy remains in effect.” 

The Trump administration has increasingly run to the Supreme Court following unfavorable court decisions against its anti-immigrant policies. “In the past year, the justices let the administration deter poor immigrants, deny asylum seekers and redirect military funds to build a wall along the southern border,” USA Today reportedlast month.

The court is also expected to issue soon a decision on the administration’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, with a ruling in the impeached president’s favor standing to result in upheaval for hundreds of thousands of families across the U.S. During a recent Senate hearing, California Sen. Kamala Harris grilled acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on federal immigration officials’ plans for after a court decision, getting him to commit to handing over that information.

”Any day now, the Supreme Court will issue a ruling in the DACA case,” Harris later tweeted. “Our DREAMers deserve to know whether this administration is planning to deport them from the only home they’ve ever known.”

DACA and Immigration Reform

IMMIGRATION

DREAMER DISCUSSIONS: Trump has sought to shut down the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides for deportation protection and work authorization for people who came to the country illegally as children. As POLITICO's Anita Kumar reports, Trump told Republican senators during a meeting at the White House Thursday that he will hold off on a proposal for protecting DACA recipients until the Supreme Court rules on whether ending DACA is legal. That's is expected to happen in June, five months before Election Day. "The takeaway for me is if the court rules in the president's favor, we're not going to allow these folks to have their lives turned upside down," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally who has long pushed for a massive rewrite of the nation's immigration laws. "But we will try to put together a package that protects the DACA population," Graham said. But don't forget... Trump tried to strike a deal with Democrats that would have protected Dreamers in exchange for his immigration priorities, such as money for a southern border wall. But that effort quickly died in Congress amid a backlash from immigration hawks.

ICE/Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities

March 5, 2020 The latest directive from the Trump administration in its war with “sanctuary cities,” including Los Angeles and San Francisco, is simple: Arrest as many undocumented immigrants as possible, and “flood the streets.” [The New York Times]

Latino Votes Fuel Sanders CA Win

Latino Votes Fuel Sanders CA Win

Sanders wins California, largest Super Tuesday prize, fueled by Latino vote. NPR: "Former Vice President Joe Biden may have won the most states on Super Tuesday, but Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders captured the one with the most delegates: California. There are 415 delegates at stake in California, the largest haul of any state. With 79% of the state's precincts reporting, Sanders had 33.5% of the vote to Biden's 24.8%. Sanders was always expected to do well in California, with its large population of Latino voters and energized progressives. On Tuesday, he lived up to those expectations. Sanders carried 49% of the Latino vote, the state's largest minority group, and 49% of voters who call themselves very liberal, according to exit polls. It is expected to be days before the final delegate allocation is known, because counting in California is complicated. Mail-in ballots will count as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday, and same day registration means there a large number of provisional ballots. Of the delegates assigned so far, Sanders has 72 and Biden 21. Some four million votes were cast before Tuesday. Officials have until April 2 to complete their tally."

And, much of the Latino vote in Texas where Biden only won by a few percent, splitting the delegate counts. 

Migrant Caravans

Hitching rides on trucks and other vehicles was a faster, yet more dangerous, way to make the journey north.

A Salvadoran man kneels during an impromptu group prayer service in the Mexican town of Metapa.

A caravan of Salvadoran migrants cross the Suchiate river from Guatemala into Mexico after Mexican immigration authorities declined their request to legally travel through Mexico.
 

Caravan of Hope From National Geographic, Photographer Moises Saman captures the toll of living with poverty and violence in Central America or leaving everything behind in search of the unknown in the U.S. We’ve chosen some of our favorite pictures to share below. To see the full portfolio, please click here.

Mobilize in March: Protect Dreamers!