STRONG PUSHBACK TO POSSIBLE ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS; MAYORS URGE A MORE ORDERLY, EFFICIENT AND FAIR PROCESS
In response to troubling reports of lawmakers considering lasting asylum restrictions in exchange for Ukraine funding, America’s Voice issued a statement both warning against giving in to MAGA Republican brinkmanship, and raising the dangerous implications it could have on vulnerable people for years to come. While we do need to update our broken immigration system, “[t]hat process needs to take place via regular order and involve a full-scale set of policy reforms, not those solely focused on eviscerating asylum access,” AV Executive Director Vanessa Cárdenas said. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal pushed back in a joint statement, slamming Republicans’ “extreme, cruel, unworkable anti-immigrant agenda.” A more humane and commonsense approach is the path set forth by mayors in a letter urging additional federal funding, increased access to work authorization, faster approval of work authorization for eligible applicants, and a renewed and collaborative federal approach where the Biden administration and Congress help coordinate entry to support states and localities. “Asylum seekers need a hand up, not a handout,” Cárdenas said. “These mayors understand this and that is why they are calling for an orderly, efficient and fair process for asylum seekers to arrive and be able to support themselves through work as their cases are heard.” Read more here.
PROPOSALS TRUMPING FEDERAL AUTHORITY ON IMMIGRATION ADVANCE IN TEXAS LEGISLATURE
While local and state advocates have been fiercely pushing back, the collection of anti-immigrant proposals put forward by Republicans in the Texas state legislature seem primed to go to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. One bill as introduced seeks to give state law enforcement officers unprecedented, and likely unconstitutional, immigration enforcement powers. “In a judiciary that includes a Supreme Court increasingly tilted to the right, Texas may be scheming to redefine federal supremacy on immigration law, potentially opening the door to a dangerous and chaotic era of state anti-immigrant policymaking that is driven by ugly politics and moves us farther from real solutions,” said AV legal advisor David Leopold. The proposal will likely lead to racial profiling, make it harder for local law enforcement to do actual community policing, and does nothing to address our outdated immigration system. Read more here.
MIKE JOHNSON, THE NEW CHESS PIECE IN TRUMP’S ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLITICAL GAME
In their weekly column, America’s Voice En Español Director Maribel Hastings and Spanish-language Advisor David Torres write that “it would be delusional to think that the election of the Republican congressman from Louisiana, Mike Johnson, as Speaker of the House of Representatives was something casual and fortuitous. As details emerge about his positions—especially on immigration…—it’s clear that it’s all part of one strategy. That is, to smooth the path for the former president in his quest for a second term in the White House.” Hastings and Torres add: “Johnson… is more dangerous than McCarthy. He’s anti-abortion, he’s anti-LGBTQ, he’s anti-democracy, because he promoted the lie that Trump had been robbed of the presidential election; Johnson is also a promoter of white supremacist conspiracy theories like the ‘great replacement; the ‘invasion’ and ‘open borders.’” Their column was also published at a number of outlets including Radio Bilingüe, El Tiempo Latino and El Periódico USA. Read their column in English here and in Spanish here.
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT THE FARMWORKERS WHO FEED US
The clock is ticking to submit your public comment in support of proposed regulations that would reduce abuse, exploitation and trafficking of the farmworkers who feed us. In a number of the changes proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL) this past September, H-2A guest farmworkers would see strengthened union organizing rights and protections from unjust firing or retaliation by employers, while employers would be prohibited from confiscating workers travel documents to help prevent human trafficking. Farmworker advocates like United Farm Workers (UFW) have been pushing for these changes for years – now we need as many comments as possible to get these changes over the finish line. UFW has created a simple to use tool to submit your support. But you have to act quickly – the window closes Nov. 14. Submit your public comment in support of farmworkers here.
REMEMBER TO HONOR THE WORKERS WHO HELP KEEP OUR TRADITIONS ALIVE
This week, many in our community celebrated Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a traditional holiday remembering family and friends who have passed away. A central part of this holiday is the ofrenda, or altar, which honors loved ones and can be decorated with photos, favorite foods, brightly colored paper, and marigolds. “The flowers’ bright orange color and sweet, earthy smell are believed to help lure the souls of the dead from their graves,” KQED said. The AV Digital Team created a graphic to honor the workers who painstakingly and lovingly harvest these fragrant flowers. Click here to share our Día de los Muertos graphic and thank the workers who help keep our traditions alive.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS
TheDream.US, the nation’s largest scholarship fund for undocumented students, has announced that applications are now open for the next round of scholarships. The program is open to undocumented students who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before November 1, 2018, while scholarship type depends on the home state of the applicant. Throughout its existence, TheDream.US has awarded more than 10,000 college scholarships, and celebrated more than 3,600 Scholars’ college graduations. “We are excited to build on our first decade of success and open up our newest scholarship application round for driven Dreamers with and without DACA to pursue their higher education and career dreams,” said TheDream.US President Gaby Pacheco. Deadline for applications is early 2024. Click here for more eligibility information and to apply.
Not a subscriber to our weekly immigration policy and politics updates? You can sign up right here.
