Fw: DREAMer Newsletter Vol.1 No.4

[Claudia Retamoza]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Vasquez-Funk, Mercelena" <mvasqu...@dusd.net>
To: "claudia...@yahoo.com" <claudia...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 4:26 PM
Subject: FW: DREAMer Newsletter Vol.1 No.4

can you please send out to the club.
Mrs. Vasquez-Funk
Warren High School
English Teacher/ELD Mentor
562-869-7306 Ext 5748
mvasqu...@dusd.net<mailto:mvasqu...@dusd.net>



________________________________
From: Kevin Solis [kevin...@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 6:35 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients
Subject: DREAMer Newsletter Vol.1 No.4

Immigration Reform Goes To Washington<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#1> | The Dream is Now<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#2> | #11MillionDreams-Congressional Visits<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#3> | #11MillionStories<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#4> | The Senate Immigration Reform Bill<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#5> | Undocupick-up Lines<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#Undocupick-up_Lines> | Featured DREAMer<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#Featured_> | Calendar<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#Calendar> | Undocu-Trivia<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#Undocu-Trivia> | A Bill's Long Journey<https://webmail.dusd.net/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAwo43pv79kT4M7w6PMtcdHBwB%2f%2by%2bv6XZCSL6QYLGV2CBzAAAAoJ30AABNGu8cJPYEQbpnJb%2b2DyoqAAxmGJRoAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0#A_Bills_Long_Journey_to_Becoming_a_Law>                Vol.1 No.4

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[http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww277/kevinsolis/Newsletter/undocumented_600_152_zps4e3b3855.jpg]

Immigration Reform Goes To Washington
[http://talkingpointsmemo.com/assets_c/2013/04/immigrationrally0410-cropped-proto-custom_28.jpg] April was very important in the immigration reform movement. On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 thousands of pro-immigrant supporters rallied on the steps of the Capital in Washington, D.C. Thousands more held companion rallies all across the U.S. And here in Los Angeles hundreds of immigrant rights activists and DREAMers held a rally outside the Wilshire office of Sen. Diane Feinstein to pressure for the rights of all workers, not just agriculture. The rallies were to call attention to the need for immigration reform, both Democrats and Republicans believe the current system is broken and in need of major overhaul. The Wednesday rallies were just the first in a series of coordinated activities leading up to the release of the Senate bill on Tuesday, April 16 and it's press announcement on Wednesday. An article on the rally in the Washington Post is here<http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-10/local/38422803_1_immigration-reform-immigration-law-capitol-hill>.

The Dream is Now
[http://voxxi.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/The-Dream-is-Now.jpg]In Washington D.C. a private screening was held for the documentary The Dream is Now by the Academy Award winning director, Davis Guggenheim (Waiting for Superman, An Inconvenient Truth). The documentary highlights the story of five DREAMers putting a human face on undocumented youth as they desire to earn their citizenship in the only country they have ever known. The documentary is part of a larger campaign to advocate for the DREAM Act portion within the proposed immigration reform bill. There are many individual stories on The Dream is Now website<http://www.thedreamisnow.org/> that was launched by Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Steve Jobs). The documentary is only 30 minutes long and easily viewable during a DREAMer club meeting. The producers also have a viewing "kit" of promotional material to use if you want to schedule a larger community viewing of the documentary. Click here to request information on the promotional kit.<mailto:un...@thedreamisnow.org?Subject=Community%20Viewing> And the complete documentary is available online here<http://youtu.be/zfiInvpjPtI>.

#11MillionDreams - Congressional Visits
[http://agora.aila.org/Assets/ConferenceImages/conference_857.jpg]On April 11, 2013, the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) held their annual National Day of Action to lobby for immigration reform. [AILA is the official legal representative arm of the DREAMers.] Over 450 attorneys and DREAMers spent the day on Capital Hill lobbying Representatives and Senators informing them of important changes needed in the current immigration system. Two documents were left behind for the congresspeople to review. The first is Reforming Immigration for the 21st Century<http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=43907>. The other is AILA's Resource Guide on Immigration<http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=37861%7C25667%7C43899>.

During the congressional visits last week every congressperson had the same message, they need your stories of how being undocumented affects you and how immigration reform would benefit you. Representative Juan Vargas (D-Chula Vista, CA) said "Immigration reform is the topic of every conversation. Having stories helps 'sell' this reform to the 'other side.'" On April 12, 2013 he gave an important speech to congress on the need for immigration reform. As a former Jesuit he cited Matthew 25: "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat, for I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, for I was a stranger and you welcomed me." He told us the stranger among us is the undocumented wife of a U.S. Marine, the people who care for our children and homes.

In a latter meeting with Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Santa Fe Springs, CA) her staff member, Michael, summed up the need for letters this way. "We want to put a human face on these issues, to say 'this is the person you are helping. This legislation is not about legalizing people its about humanizing them. We can take these letters and show fellow legislators 'here are the four or five cases in your district.'"  To put a final point on the need for stories Michael it this way. "We have a saying in congress, 'one person is a tragedy, a million people are a statistic.'"  We must bring forward the person behind the statistic.

Click here<http://lindasanchez.house.gov/index.php/press-releases/807-linda-sanchez-statement-on-senate-immigration-bill-apr-17-2013> for a statement Representative Linda Sanchez issued in response to the Senate Immigration Bill where she specifically cites the DREAM Act eligible youth.

#11MillionLetters
To assist with passage of the immigration reform bill we're asking the undocumented community to send letters to their Congresspeople. A good letter will be brief. It begins with your Story of Self, your Story of Arrival. (Click here<http://sprng.me/hqrjc> for a guideline to craft your story.)  Next, talk about how immigration reform will affect you. Close the letter with your "ask", what it is you want. For most it will be that you want the congress member to support immigration reform. If you have experience in writing your congressperson you may specifically ask that they vote on the Senate version of the bill as this is the one most helpful to our community. If you are very comfortable with your status (undocumented and unafraid) include a picture in your letter.

Finding your Elected Officials
Each state has two senators, and you have a local congressional representative. Click here<http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm> to find your two senators. Click here<http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/> to find your representative. Send your letter to each of these three officials using their proper salutation and address. Click here<http://sprng.me/ho140> for the addressing style guide and writing tips.

Sending your letter
If you prepared your letter electronically (recommended) save it in a PDF format and e-mail it to your representative as an attachment. Often times you can call their offices to get an e-mail address to use. If hand writing your letter mail it to the address specified from their web site following the above style guide.

The Senate Immigration Reform Bill
On April 17, 2013, the Senate formally released it's bill known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The entire bill is 844 pages long, (click here<http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s744/text>) and there is a 17 page summary (click here<http://immigrationreports.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/revised-outline-of-immigration-bill-4-15-2.pdf>). The key points are;

*  A 13 year pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented people. (10 year RPI, 3 year LPR).
*  A new Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status which can be applied for 6 months after the bill becomes law.
*  A shorter five-year path to citizenship for agricultural workers and DREAM Act eligible youth.
*  Increased border security with goals/triggers that must be achieved.
*  Mandatory employer participation in the federal E-Verify program.

Many immigration groups will be conducting information workshops about the bill. We recommend you attend one of these to learn how you can support its passage.

Undocupick-up Lines
[http://media.tumblr.com/f9c51805324a9ab1bf2e45b4e1eb7746/tumblr_inline_mlfpd8MVGu1qz4rgp.jpg]Don't try and tackle all 844 pages of the immigration reform bill alone. Invite that special crush over and make a date out of it! See more Undocupick-up lines here.<http://undocupickuplines.tumblr.com/>



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Featured DREAMer
Gabrielle Jackson is a DREAMer living near Washington D.C. and she attended the National Day of Action telling her story to members of congress. Gabrielle came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago when she was 9 years old. Growing up in the Washington DC area she graduated with honors from a Science and Technology high school program. She now has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work currently working in acute mental health crisis.

During her visits she met with Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA.) who is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee (the committee that will take hearings on the proposed immigration bill). He asked her how she would feel about a bill that offered legal status only (ability to work, travel) but not offer a pathway to citizenship. She replied that she knows making changes to the immigration system will not be easy but it should be recognized that every person affected would be bringing value to this country, from the bottom to the top, "blue collar to white collar." Further, by saying only some would get a pathway it denounces the value that each person brings and creates a second-class citizen from the start, it creates a limbo of being here to work but never really accepted and considered of value, that they would not have the chance to really call this home as much as they feel it is home.

We'll see if Gabrielle's comments have any impact on  Rep. Goodlatte when he opens the House hearings for the bill in a couple weeks.

Have a DREAMer or ally doing great things you'd like to share? Tell us about them here.<mailto:kevin...@verizon.net?Subject=Featured%20DREAMer>

Calendar
4/28/13 Sunday 9:00a-6:00p
DREAM Team Los Angeles holds their 3rd Annual Unity Ride: LA to the Valley, bike ride. Registration is $20 and includes lunch, dinner, snacks, and bike mechanic support. Click here<https://www.facebook.com/events/153513501479337/> for the event flyer. Click here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mY4MVB5dyw75_S85PZ8jy-z9VTkr75SuCgrzrn6Oa7o/viewform?pli=1> to register.

5/11/13 Saturday 12:30p-5:30p
DREAM Team Los Angeles is conducting a free DACA (Deferred Application for Childhood Arrivals) application clinic hosted by Hebrew Union College. 3077 University Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007. (MTA Bus 200 to Hoover/32nd). Please come prepared with all supporting documented required for the DACA application.
Click here<http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww277/kevinsolis/Newsletter/905349_548950688483317_446140749_o_zps035df0f8.jpg> for the event flyer.

6/1/13 Saturday 9:00a-5:00p
6th Annual Immigrant Youth Empowerment Conference hosted by IDEAS at UCLA.
RSVP at http://ideasla.org/iyec2013

Undocu-Trivia
Last issue we talked about the policy behind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is much older than its announcement a year ago. If you used your "imagination" you came up with the name John Lennon. That's right, you may say he's a DREAMer. John Lennon of the Beatles was a British immigrant to the United States and along with Yoko Ono in 1971 they came on a visitors' visa. In 1972 they lost their ability to stay in the U.S. (visa overstay) and President Richard Nixon wanted John Lennon out of the country because of his peace activism.

Their attorney, Leon Wildes, filed a Freedom of Information Act motion and discovered the U.S. Immigration Service regularly overlooks and does not pursue deportation for all eligible cases. This is known as Prosecutorial Discretion.

In 1975 on appeal, John Lennon was granted residency based upon this argument, the first time it was ever used. John Lennon would tell Wildes, "Not everybody can afford lawyers like you. Can we publicize this so everybody eligible can try to get it?"  It's as if John Lennon himself is speaking across the grave to the undocumented youth of today.

Click here for an article by PBS for more detail on this case.<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/12/you-may-say-hes-a-dreamer-john-lennons-immigration-case.html> And be sure to attend the free DACA clinic<http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww277/kevinsolis/Newsletter/905349_548950688483317_446140749_o_zps035df0f8.jpg> hosted by DREAM Team Los Angeles on May 11, 2013.

A Bill's Long Journey to Becoming a Law
While many members of congress said they want to have this bill signed into law by the August recess, the Senate immigration reform bill has a long journey before it does become law. It had its first hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, April 19, 2013 and testimony will continue for a few days. It will need to clear the committee before it has a full Senate vote. It will then move to the House for debate and voting. From there it will go to the President's desk for signature. This short video from Schoolhouse Rock explains the process from a bill to a law.<https://vimeo.com/24334724>
<mailto:kevin...@verizon.net?Subject=Original%DREAMer>






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