Sacramento Legal Services to Defend Undocumented Residents

by Anita Chabria.  The Sacramento Bee

Undocumented immigrants in Sacramento will have city-funded legal services as soon as next month to fight deportation and “prepare for the worst” as their fears grow about federal immigration enforcement.

Sacramento City Council members voted unanimously late Thursday to set aside up to $300,000 for a network of legal, educational and faith-based nonprofit groups that will help residents with immediate immigration problems and advise them how to protect children and assets if parents are deported.

The network also would educate them on their rights.

“The reality is there is a lot of fear,” said Councilman Eric Guerra. “We can alleviate that fear.”

Washington Elementary School Principal Gema Godina testified she has been asked multiple times by frightened undocumented families to take their children if parents are detained. She said she was unprepared for the requests but has agreed to be the legal guardian for five of her students.

Sacramento Candidate Eric Guerra - Worked His Way Up !

Endorsed by Progressive Alliance, Calif. Nurses, Los Rios Federation of Teachers. 

Election.  April 7, 2015. 

Marcos Breton. Sacramento Bee

Sitting in a Sacramento diner on Friday morning while preparing to go door to door in his campaign to win a City Council seat, Eric Guerra shook his head while considering his life of achievement over poverty.

“Sometimes even I can’t believe that I am here,” said Guerra, 36, a policy analyst at the state Capitol who is running to fill the Tahoe Park/Elmhurst/College Greens council seat recently vacated by Kevin McCarty. Absentee ballots go out March 9, and election day is April 7.

One of the most interesting candidates to seek political office in the state capital in some time, Guerra has gone from farmworker kid, to college student living out of his car, to student body president at Sacramento State, to an advanced degree, a sought-after job, a home, family and a community where he is a budding leader.

“From where I was to middle class in less than a generation, “ Guerra said. “Where else can you do that?”

Guerra could become the first Latino elected to the Sacramento City Council in nearly 20 years, but that designation sells him short.

Vote for Eric Guerra

The Sacramento Progressive Alliance supports Eric Guerra for Sacramento City Council, District 6.
Special election.  April 7, 2015.
The Sacramento City Council has not had a Latino member for twenty years. Most of the Democratic Party clubs are supporting his opponent.
Contract the Guerra campaign on Facebook. Campaign volunteers are needed.
The decision was made at our board meeting on Feb.21.