Paperwork and lawyer talk is not the usual way to bring us together, but Promise Arizona and the NO DREAM DEFERRED Coalition teamed up with Neighborhood Miniseries to put on a Deferred Action Information session for over 1,300 people on Saturday, August 18, 2012. Gathered at Neighborhood Ministries, lawyers presented and answered questions concerning Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Accommodating 200 for each of five separate sessions, the waiting room filling up as quickly as the auditorium with entire families, friends and people interested in improving their community.
Watching twin projectors that displayed Spanish and English at the same time, attendants took notes, asked questions and talked to the presenters one-on-one afterwards. Thanks to Promise Arizona and the No DREAM Deferred Coalition, hundreds have come closer to living without the fear of being taken away from the only home they’ve ever known and being separated from their families.
“This has already brought new hope for me and my sister. My sister just enrolled in school, and I’m ready to start college…This will open doors for me,” Milca C., a volunteer with Adios Arpaio, said about the opportunities in applying for deferred action.
Right now, DREAMers like Milca can start working towards their futures by applying for deferred action. The Department of Homeland Security will start accepting applications for the program on August 15.
This is a chance for DREAMers and other undocumented people in our communities to reach their full potential – by either utilizing their college degrees through entering the workforce or returning to school after laws like Prop 300 which denied students in-state tuition if they lacked documentation.
There are still many unanswered questions about how this affects our movement and our work. But we know it’s a small step towards the progress that we’ve fought so hard for, and we know there is more to come.
Please read through the application carefully. We urge everyone to use these online resources as a guide and be aware of scams.
Today the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision regarding SB 1070 and became the third legal instance to suspend three of the most controversial fragments of the anti-immigrant law. Although the judges confirmed that this law separates families and promotes discrimination, SB 1070 was not eliminated in its entirety and we must continue the fight to prevent another law like this from being passed. The best tool against abuses and injustice is the vote.
“The decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S. shows that SB 1070 is a law that does more harm than good,” said Petra Falcon, Director of Promise Arizona (PAZ). “The judges agreed that there are fragments that are unjust, unconstitutional and that betray the core values of our nation, and this made it clear to our politicians that they will not allow them to continue using laws as political strategies,” she added. “With the upholding of the ‘show me your papers’ provision, thousands of families will remain living in the shadows and fearing the Police rather than relying on them.”
Falcon insisted that this is only a battle that they are fighting against the separation of families, but that there is still a long way to go until the approval of a comprehensive immigration reform and the end of these types of anti-immigrant legislations, including the “show me your papers” provision.
“SB 1070 is not what we want for us, it is an unjust law that separates families, promotes discrimination and does not reflect the core values of our nation,” said Petra Falcon, Director of Promise Arizona. “SB 1070 is not what we want; cost us pain and unjust suffering and also costs us money… is unfair and inhumane.”
“However, we must keep moving forward and elect people who really represent our needs, that’s why it is very important to get out to vote and to motivate others in our community to do it… only through the vote we can achieve a solid and permanent change for our Latino community.”
Today Promise Arizona (PAZ) celebrates a historic victory. Petra Falcón, executive director of PAZ, applauds President Obama’s decision to suspend deportation of DREAM students as a historic act of moral leadership and possible turning point in the debate over immigration policy.
“This is a big step for our youth, for those young people who have the courage to fight for their dreams,” Petra Falcón said. “Although this is not a permanent solution and we still demand the Congress to pass the DREAM Act, this announcement brings relief to those children who came to this country and now are fighting for an opportunity to prove that they deserve to be here.”
Yolanda Medina is a dreamer and a recent graduate from Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, who is struggling to come up with the money to attend university in the fall. She also celebrates Obama’s announcement.
“The day has finally come where the hard work of many undocumented immigrant students have been granted relief to apply for a work permit,” she said. “If I’m granted a work permit I will be able to pay my part of my education, it’s amazing.”
To celebrate this decision, Petra Falcon, Yolanda and members of the Vigil of Promise Arizona will be at the Arizona State Capitol (1700 W Washington St. Phoenix) today, Friday the 15th of June at 5:00 PM. They will be praying and asking the Virgen de Guadalupe her divine intercession to ensure the Supreme Court of Justice will rule against SB 1070.
