Are you Preparing to Renew your DACA?
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released their renewal process for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). If you are getting ready to renew, go on over to this page: http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-process/ice-granted-daca-renewal-guidance If you need help deciphering the renewal process, United We Dream has some great resources to help you. They provide answers to questions, such as: LIVE DACA Renewal Broadcasts Q&A with Top Attorneys & National Experts Personalized DACA Renewal
Immigration Reform from the Ground Up: A Filmmaker’s Perspective
When I embarked on this journey over four years ago, I never thought I would witness what is happening in the country today: Congress is seriously debating passage of a bill that would overhaul our dysfunctional immigration system. What’s more, after several failed attempts in the past couple of decades, it looks as though the legislation has a real shot at becoming law. As a filmmaker and a first generation Hispanic American, I had only one thought in mind when I started directing DREAM: An American Story and that thought was: “I need to help the Hispanic American community in this nat
Why Passing the DREAM Act Would Benefit the Economy
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding passage of the DREAM Act. Many arguments have been made from both sides of the political spectrum regarding how the United States should deal with the issue of immigration. But aside from the political and social consequences of implementing legislation that would offer a select group of immigrants the opportunity to gain a path to citizenship, the DREAM act would create several economic opportunities for the country by providing more taxable income, saving taxpayer money and increasing revenue for higher learning organizations. Here’s how…
Immigrants + Innovation = Economic Prosperity for all Americans
Check out the new video we just produced...hot off the proverbial media presses: And this my friends, is why we support passage of the DREAM Act...because it makes good economic sense. DREAMers will be the first in line to get a higher education, which translates to higher levels of innovation and entrepreneurship...to the benefit of all Americans! I hope you have a great weekend. PS: Feel free to share!
No Papers, No Fear: Undocubus Immigration Activists Take Freedom Ride
The Undocubus is on its way from Arizona to North Carolina, is the National Democratic Convention ready? [caption id="attachment_1314" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Last week the Undocubus began its cross-country tour from Phoenix, Arizona to North Carolina — just in time for the Democratic National Convention on September 3."][/caption] Undocubus to Roll From Arizona to DNC Convention. Throughout American history, whether or not those who had the most to lose were involved, it seems like everyone has an opinion on immigration and the consequences of action, or inaction and re
Undocumented Activists Follow LGBT Tactics
Great piece on how the DREAM movement has brought together different advocacy tactics. [caption id="attachment_1303" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="On hand to exhort the undocumented youths on their walk across the nation is Filipino native Jose Antonio Vargas, a former Washington Post journalist who came out as an undocumented immigrant in 2010."][/caption] On a lovely spring day, Nicholas Gonzalez gathered on the University of California (Berkeley) plaza with four other activists before embarking on their 3,000-mile, eight-month walk across the country to increase awareness a
Sea change for immigration politics
An interesting opinion piece by Politico on the change of immigration politics. [caption id="attachment_1294" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Politicians are finally catching up to demographic reality."][/caption] Not so long ago, conservatives could use anti-immigrant positioning to rally their base and as a political wedge against moderates. Progressives, meanwhile, could promote pro-immigration policies — but couldn’t gain leverage with moderates or against conservatives. So conservatives’ anti-immigrant legislative agenda set the terms of the national debate. But t
Why ‘illegal immigrant’ is a slur
An interesting read on how 'illegal immigrant' is a slur and how the Supreme Court took this into account regarding SB1010 in Arizona. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="A supporter of Arizona's immigration policy pickets outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington in April."][/caption] Editor's note: Charles Garcia, who has served in the administrations of four presidents, of both parties, is the CEO of Garcia Trujillo, a business focused on the Hispanic market. He was named in the book "Hispanics in the USA: Making History" as one of 14 Hispanic role mod
Are the States Moving the Feds to Action on Immigration Reform?
Shortly after the DREAM Act was historically passed by the House in December of last year (but stalled in the Senate) I wrote about this phenomenon. I was then of a mind that it would only present problems (which it has) but later (August, 2011) amended my opinion to the following: ...there may be a silver lining in this cloud: I am hoping that the pressure being created at the State level, will increase pressure on Congress and the Administration to do something at the Federal level. In the weeks subsequent to that post, there seems to be general agreement that the states are actin
Second Half of California DREAM Act Jumps Major Hurdle
The LA Times reports today that AB 131 (the other half of the California DREAM Act) has jumped a major hurdle and has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. This means that the bill is one step closer to becoming law in the state of California, to which Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) said that he "expected the bill to pass the Senate and Assembly next week and land on the governor's desk soon after." If AB 131 passes, as Assemblyman Cedillo predicts, undocumented students in California will have access to Cal Grants as well as other forms of public financial aid t