Immigrants’ Spring of Survival Declaration
We consider the Coronavirus crisis to be a blessing in disguise, because now more than ever, we need to pressure the Democrats and their presidential nominee to make sure that their platform and emergency “bailout” legislation guarantees that all undocumented immigrant households receive the monthly stipends to be sent to families, regardless of legal status.
Moreover, we call upon Latino elected officials at all levels to support the need for equal economic and health benefits to be provided to all U.S. residents, regardless of legal status, and demand that:
- Immigrant small businesses owners and street vendors affected by mandatory “emergency social-distancing” policies receive all government benefits;
- Coronavirus testing and medical care for all immigrants, regardless of legal status;
- For ICE to stop all raids and deportations, and demand that USCIS release all immigrants in detention centers to be with their families, and not exposed to the Coronavirus while incarcerated;
- Denounce the “Wait in Mexico” policy between the U.S. and Mexico, and allow all asylum seekers to remain in the U.S.;
- Denounce all racist politicos like Rand Paul that want to keep undocumented immigrants from receiving benefits because ‘we are not people’.
But most important, while we are forced to stay home for weeks and possibly months, the Spring of Survival offer the opportunity for people of all backgrounds and persuasions to call for Trump to resign and a mass mobilization through social media to Dump Trump !
Gov. Newsom orders all Californians to stay home as coronavirus cases top 1,000
By Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times – March 20, 2020
SACRAMENTO — The day after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced extraordinary measures directing all Californias to stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak, Contra Costa County on Friday announced its first death related to the virus.
The person was in their 70s, had an underlying medical condition and had recently traveled overseas, officials said. The patient died Thursday in an undisclosed hospital, becoming the 20th person to die of the virus in California.
The number of reported cases continues to rise across the state. A veteran tested positive at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center on Wednesday. The person is being cared for in isolation, and the risk of transmission to other patients and staff is low, said Steve Ruh, chief of communications for the VA Greater L.A. Healthcare System. The VA is screening veterans and staffers and isolating those found to be at risk, Ruh said.
In San Diego County, a third cluster of COVID-19 patients was announced Thursday, as the local count of virus cases jumped from 80 to 105 and efforts to house vulnerable people in local hotels progressed. Read more
14th Anniversary of Marco Antonio Firebaugh's Passing
Professors Gonzalo Santos and Armando Vazquez-Ramos in downtown LA, carrying Marco A. Firebaugh's casket at the 2006 immigration march.
Today, on the first day of Spring, marks 14 years since the lamented passing of Marco Antonio Firebaugh at the age of 39, and he is being timely remembered by the California-Mexico Studies Center for his landmark Assembly Bill 540 legislation, and numerous accomplishments during his trailblazing career.
While Marco Antonio Firebaugh's legacy reflects a wide range of undertakings, foremost was his dedication to serving the most vulnerable and the underrepresented, and above all, he stood up for immigrants and working families.
Marco was born on October 13, 1966 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, migrated to the U.S. as a young boy and never forgot his humble beginnings. After being diagnosed with liver disease in 2003, he died on March 21, 2006 from severe complications. He was survived by his two children, Tlalli Ariana and Nicolas Andres Firebaugh.
Though he died at a young age, his legacy lives on today in particular through his AB-540 bill, signed into law on Oct 12, 2001 by Governor Gray Davis, allowing undocumented students in California to pay in-state tuition, at public colleges and universities rather than the out-of-state rate for non-residents. A historic breakthrough precedent in U.S. higher education, now replicated by several states that benefit the growing student population now often referred to as Dreamers.
We invite you to mark his passing with a moment of silence and prayer, to reflect upon his legacy, after you watch the following documentary produced by the CMSC to keep his memory alive!
ICE to stop most immigration enforcement inside U.S., will focus on criminals during coronavirus outbreak
By Maria Sacchetti and Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post –March 18, 2020
U.S. immigration authorities will temporarily halt enforcement across the United States, except for efforts to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes or who pose a threat to public safety. The change in enforcement status comes amid the coronavirus outbreak and aims tolimit the spread of the virus and to encourage those who need treatment to seek medical help.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said late Wednesday that its Enforcement and Removal Operations division will “delay enforcement actions” and use “alternatives to detention” amid the outbreak... Read Full Article
ICE suspende arrestos de inmigrantes por crisis de coronavirus (La Opinión)
El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) anunció el miércoles que suspenderá las operaciones que lleven a arrestos debido a la crisis del coronavirus. La agencia tomó la medida para priorizar la salud de detenidos y de los agentes... Leer Más
COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Californians
By: California Impact Youth Justice Alliance - March 16, 2020
As COVID-19, more commonly referred to as the “coronavirus,” begins to make its impact in the United States, we want to take this moment to remind undocumented youth and their families to prirotize their health to the best of their abilities.
Though health access for our community has been long fought for, there are still gaps that leave us specifically vulnerable to health threats, such as this pandemic. From medical neglect at private detention centers, to being less likely to be allowed to stay home from work, undocumented people face challenges that are specific to our community that we want to to address and ask allies to pay particular attention to amidst the panic.
Given that not all of us can take paid time off, and that we have limited health access for undocumented people, especially those detained, we are sharing the following resources:
Read more about all resources available
Where There's Love, There Should Be Care
Families of all forms should be able to be there for each other in times of need, and no one should have to risk their job or financial stability to care for themselves or their loved ones. Especially in this urgent time of COVID-19, it's imperative that everyone – workers at every level of our society – has access to Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Together, let's raise the drumbeat around an inclusive, equitable, and visionary narrative on Paid Family and Medical Leave so that policymakers hear our call for Paid Family and Medical Leave for all!
The Opportunity Agenda can help you achieve this with our new messaging memo, Telling a Story About Families and Opportunity, which lays out a foundation for communicating about the importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave policies for all shapes and types of families in our country.... Read More
CMSC initiative to provide mental health services to all immigrant communities
WATCH VIDEO IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH
The CMSC's initiative to create awareness about the need for immigrants’ mental health services is more critical than ever !!! This initiative intends to inform and educate the public regarding the psychological crisis affecting the immigrant population throughout the U.S., due to a pervasive state of fear generated by the Trump administration since coming into office in 2017, the targeted acts of violence as the August 3, 2019 El Paso, Texas mass shooting at a Walt Mart store, and the hate-crimes aimed against immigrants, Mexicans and Latinos.
Moreover, this initiative promotes the collaboration of mental health providers, social workers, and educators as volunteers to help us guide this effort towards providing specialized mental health services to immigrants.
Learn more about this initiative here
POSTPONED: Due to the CONVID-19 crisis, we are cancelling and postponing the following events:
Read full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dd65fdb5dd5a/immigrants-spring-of-survival-declaration-benito-juarez-birthday-and-the-14th-anniversary-of-marco-a-firebaughs-passing-in-2006
