Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform at Liberty State Park

The time is now for immigration reform!

On Saturday, April 6, the Latino Action Network is joining a statewide rally to demand commonsense immigration reform. People are coming together by the thousands at Liberty State Park in Jersey City to demand that Congress fix our broken immigration system. The rally will be family friendly with lots of multicultural entertainment.  Will you join us? 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

12:00pm

Liberty State Park, Jersey City

Free shuttles to the rally will be available from the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Liberty State Park stop.

Will you join us?  Click here to RSVP and receive more information about buses in your area that you can join to reach the event.

Together we can send a message that:

• The time is now for a realistic path to citizenship
• The time is now for reform that keeps families together, raises standards for all working people, and keeps the economy strong.

DANIEL SANTO PIETRO REFERS TO THE "DESTRUCTIVE DOZEN" IN HIS TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF LAN TO THE NEW JERSEY SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Daniel Santo-Pietro, LAN Public Policy Chair, delivered testimony on behalf of the Latino Action Network to the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.   He focused his comments on the 12 items that have done the most harm to working families during the last three budget cycles.  The "Destructive Dozen", as Daniel called them, remain in the Governor’s FY2014 Budget. Daniel ended his testimony by calling for the passage of the In-State Tuition bill that would help immigrant students get a college education and urging the legislature to negotiate with the Governor to resolve the "Destructive Dozen" budget items and move our State forward.  Please read Daniel's testimony below:

TESTIMONY TO SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

MARCH 20, 2013

The Latino Action Network is a 501c4 organization with a Steering Committee comprised of Latino leaders from across the State from unions, community organizations, academia and professional backgrounds.  Our President is Frank Argote-Freyre, a well known historian and activist.  We are a membership organization with students and many other Latinos counted among our ranks.  We maintain a separate PAC and Foundation using social networking tools to involve a broad cross-section of people.  Our testimony and other documents can be accessed at our website and on our Facebook page.

Our testimony comes from the perspective of low to moderate income working families and owners of very small businesses who constitute the majority of Hispanics, a community that is often voiceless in Trenton .  Hispanics are approaching 25% of the population of New Jersey and increasingly they are actively pursuing their interests both nationally and locally. 

The Latino Action Network wants to draw your attention to the Destructive Dozen. We want to focus on the 12 items that have done the most harm to working families during the last three budget cycles.  The Destructive Dozen remain in the Governor’s FY2014 Budget.  We hope the Governor will reconsider his strategy of hurting the poor and helping the rich and we urge legislators to use their considerable power to probe the relevant departments during hearings and make changes in the budget where possible. The Governor never met a rich man he did not want to shower with tax breaks. His compassion for the wealthy knows no limit. The time has come to create a Commission that would investigate these trends and determine how a rich state like New Jersey can reverse them.

THE DESTRUCTIVE DOZEN

1. New Jersey has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country.  Yet budget proposals for training and other employment initiatives are too few and far too little in dollars.  One such initiative led by the Hispanic community, Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers, saw their modest $500 thousand eliminated from the budget.  The Governor still seems to depend on grants to corporations to generate more jobs, but there is no convincing evidence it has worked in the past.

  

2. The Governor’s veto of the minimum wage increase weighs most heavily on working families. LAN is in favor of the minimum wage increase to $8.25/ hr and will support it if it is on the ballot in November.  Combined with the Governor’s failure to move ahead on the increase of the State EITC, these two steps are a painful one-two punch to working families.

3. Governor Christie in his first budget underfunded the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) by $1.6 Billion. This year Governor Christie’s proposed budget provides flat funding for 200 districts, mostly those that are economically disadvantaged.  The SFRA was a bi-partisan compromise that created a funding formula that allowed funds to follow the child no matter which district where they were enrolled.  The Governor’s arbitrary changes to the Formula reduce the weight given in the SFRA to at-risk children and English learners.  These changes mean that schools with large numbers of Hispanic children, mostly urban schools where working families have their children enrolled, will have to meet their formidable challenges with less resources.  Last year the legislature took out language in the Budget that would have permanently changed the formula, but left the revised funding formula intact.  This year you must correct the problem of appropriating less and less money to the children who need it most.  This is the type of basic mathematics that anyone can understand.

4. In the context described above the proposed $2 Million for Opportunity Scholarships is a cruel joke.  It will help a few private schools with their enrollment but take away resources from the schools that must educate the overwhelming number of children of working families.  The voucher approach is not what New Jersey schools need to improve.

5. Preschool funding in the Budget does nothing to expand preschool to districts that have sizeable number of children from working families.   The preponderance of evidence shows that the preschools opened in the 31 previous Abbott districts under court order have been a resounding success.  Hispanic children from lower income families, some with limited English, have caught up with other children in reading skills, vocabulary, even exposure to science and math.  This allows them to begin K-12 with a much greater chance to succeed.  The evidence is so great that President Obama has called for a national effort to provide preschool to all children.  We expected this budget at least to propose funding for more districts who want to expand preschools for at-risk children as a part of the public school program.

  

6. Last year the Department of Human Services made eligibility for wrap-around child care so strict as to eliminate many families.  This service allowed working families to bring their children to preschool early and pick them up after three as needed to accommodate their working hours.  The new requirements caused many low income families to drop this service and in some cases to take their child out of preschool altogether. The most onerous is demanding verification of income with paystubs or W-2s that many Hispanics who work in micro businesses and part-time employment cannot satisfy.  The logic of preventing a few people from getting undeserved benefits by cutting off thousands from needed child care eludes me.  This is yet another blow to working families struggling to educate their child.

7. The scarcity of funding for community after-school programs has left a void for many working families.  The addition of $1 million in the DOE budget for these programs will hardly replace programs previously cut from the budget or put in operation the needed programs to protect and nurture children who live in dangerous neighborhoods.  Please demand the details of this program and determine whether it will meet the demand for this service.

8. The Governor’s decision to carry out the expansion of Medicaid which is a key element in ObamaCare was the right one.  Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the federal government will pay 100% of the cost to insure over 300,000 low income parents and childless adults.  On the other hand the Governor’s disparaging remarks in his Budget speech about the Affordable Care Act was misguided.  If fully implemented, the ACA has a goal of reaching near universal coverage and could cover about 800,000 low and moderate income New Jerseyans bringing the percentage of uninsured down from almost 20% to 8.8%, according to the State Center for Health Policy.  This is a goal worth achieving.

9. The Center for State Health Policy identified Hispanics as the most significant segment of the “Changing Insurance Buying Public”, and among the most challenging to communicate with effectively.  The Governor vetoed the creation of a state-run marketplace for health coverage, but the State still has to cooperate fully with the federally run marketplace and support starting in October 2013 an enrollment process simple and accessible to working families who need it most.  The failure to include any funds in the State Budget for public education outreach aimed at working families who need assistance to understand what they have to do to gain coverage is a major missing piece.  Federal funding will pay for phone and on-line customer service, media announcements and a limited number of “Navigators” who will help people fill out forms, but community education and even door to door outreach is the key to getting eligible people subsidies to buy the health insurance available through the Marketplace starting January 2014.

  

10. In the past three budgets, there have been deep cuts in community based programs aimed at low income Hispanics.  Cuts to the Division of Youth and Family Services partnerships with Hispanic community organizations, and elimination of Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers that taught English and computer skills tso that women, many immigrants, could secure employment, are among the more egregious examples.  The governor’s budget offers no hope of increases that will correct this unfortunate mistake of the last three years.  Now when Jose is having a problem with unscrupulous landlords, his limited English means he no longer has a place in his community to turn to for counseling about his rights.  Maria an 80 year old living alone no longer can get help with doing chores or some one to check on her well being.  Jaime has no after school program that his local community agency used to offer and has become a latch-key child because his parents have to work.  These are all examples of real damage to families caused by the Christie campaign against working families.

11. Most regretful, the Governor dismantled the one agency in State Government aimed at giving Hispanics a voice in the State bureaucracy, the Center for Hispanic Policy (CHPRD).  He reduced its funding by 75% to $1 million and moved it to the Secretary of State where its mission was changed from supporting Hispanic initiated community programs to a vague small grant organization with virtually no interest in supporting Hispanic community initiatives.  LAN urges legislators to recommend changes to the performance of CHPRD.

12. Finally, we end with the issue of taxes.  Last year the Governor proposed an across the board income tax cut, which would have given working families peanuts while offering the wealthy a bonanza.  Fortunately, it was not implemented.  The Governor speaks often of his effort to control increases on property taxes, a tax that weighs heavily on working families whether they own or rent a home.  We strongly urge him to abandon income tax cuts and concentrate on bringing property taxes down significantly.  Otherwise, working families will always be at a huge disadvantage. 

Some people call 2013 the Year of the Hispanic.  A Latin American Pope who has a love for the poor and a major drive for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Washington to relieve all Americans from the broken and unjust immigration laws are two good signs. We even expect New Jersey to join Texas and California in granting all our immigrant children In-State Tuition.  We urge the legislature to negotiate with the Governor to resolve the Destructive Dozen budget items and move our State forward.

Presented by Daniel Santo Pietro, Chair Public Policy

Latino Action Network, PO Box 943, Freehold, NJ 07728

Perth Amboy DREAM Team Presents: Coming Out of the Shadows!

The Latino Action Network is proud to support the Perth Amboy DREAM Team as they present:

Coming Out of the Shadows!

Friday, March 8, 2013
5:00 PM

Perth Amboy High School
300 Eagle Ave
Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861

The Perth Amboy Dream Team is a fearless group of students that are fighting for a cause. We no longer want to be in the shadows and we will come out strong. We are undocumented unafraid and unapologetic.

Join us in this life changing event where we will come out with our stories through poems and songs.

There will be a series of performances and plenty of food.

MOST IMPORTANTLY IT'S FREE.

LAN FYI: Announcing the 2013 NJALL Scholarships

Announcing the 2013 NJALL Scholarships


Now's the time! Please encourage eligible adult students to apply!

NJALL will award scholarships in June 2013 to two adults who have earned a NJ High School Diploma through a NJ adult education program by attending GED preparation classes or completing Adult HS requirements.The NJALL Scholarship provides up to $500 per semester for full-time enrollment in higher education, to a maximum of $4000.
Scholarship applications are open to anyone regardless of gender, race, color, religion, age, or disabling condition.

Eligibility and Application

The Committee will judge applicants based on demonstrated ability to meet educational and life challenges, motivation, need, realistic goals, and potential for success in higher education.

To Qualify an Applicant Must:

Be a resident of New Jersey.

Have earned a NJ High School Diploma through an adult education program in NJ by attending GED preparation classes or completing Adult HS requirements.

Have been accepted to an accredited post-secondary institution.

Complete and sign the application and include ALL required documents:

a. Copies of GED scores & HS Diploma OR Adult HS transcript and HS Diploma.

b. Proof of acceptance to an accredited post-secondary institution.

i. If currently attending, please include transcripts of your grades.

c. Two (2) letters of recommendation addressing ability to meet educational and life challenges, motivation, goals and potential for success in higher education.

Note: At least one of the letters must be completed using the "Educational Recommendation" form included in the application.

SUBMIT the completed signed application and all required supporting materials by US Mail, postmarked no later than April 30, 2013.

Applications postmarked after April 30, 2013 will not be considered.
Visit www.njall.org for eligibility information and application.

Click here for the application form.

For more information, email us at njall@njall.org.

LAN FYI - Afordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Toolkit

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that oversees health programs has recently sent the Latino Action Network a toolkit of flyers in Spanish and English about the Affordable Care Act (otherwise called Obamacare).  These are simple explanations of how the ACA will be implemented and what people can do to prepare.  One flyer is particularly aimed at small businesses and their employees.  In order to be ready to enroll people beginning October 2013 with coverage effective after January 1, 2014 it is important we distribute and post this information where people can see it.  Since the State of New Jersey has not decided how it is going to participate, some details are not available, but we should alert people now.  This outreach is only the first step in trying to reach all the uninsured, especially in our Hispanic community.  LAN expects to be part of this on-going campaign.

Follow the link to the toolkit below and you will see eight flyers you can download and print out or post on your websites.  Thanks for your cooperation.

Click here to download: Afordable Care Act (ACA) Toolkit

More information from  CMS can be found below:


Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace starts October 1st, and coverage starts in January 2014. Now that October 1 is fast approaching, we've developed a toolkit with resources to help you spread the word about the Marketplace. The toolkit includes information, tools, and resources you need to help consumers find health insurance to fit their budget, with less hassle. As new items are developed for outreach, we’ll continue to add them to this toolkit.

Also, HealthCare.gov now has information about the Marketplace for consumers. Check out all of the latest information, including 7 things consumers can do now to get ready for enrollment. Consumers can also sign up for Marketplace email and text message updates.

Feeling social? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for even more news and updates about the Health Insurance Marketplace.

LAN FYI - Future Latino Leaders Law Camp

Future Latino Leaders Law Camp
July 13-21, 2013 in Washington, DC

2013 Application Process Opens December 1, 2012. Create a User ID and password to access the online application.

http://www.hnbf.org/content/future-latino-leaders

The Future Latino Leaders Law Camp is a nine-day program held by the HNBF in Washington, DC and provides up to 30 Latino high school students with the opportunity to learn more about the legal profession. Established by the HNBF in 2005, the Law Camp offers students the chance to come to DC and learn more about the college application process, meet influential Latino leaders, and tour national monuments and various government agencies.

The Law Camp is offered cost-free! However, there is a non-refundable application fee of $50 (fee waivers are granted based on demonstrated need--download form here) and the cost of transportation to and from DC may be required. The HNBF is committed to working with accepted applicants and their families to ensure their ability to attend. Please do not allow the cost of transportation deter you from applying.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Latino high school students who are interested in law to travel to Washington and connect with their peers from across the country as well as meet other successful Latinos. View the map to see what cities our Law Camp students have represented.

ELIGIBILITY

In order to apply and participate, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a high school student entering your sophomore, junior, or senior year, or be a recent graduate in the summer of 2013

Have an interest in learning about law school and becoming a lawyer

Be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or be a legal U.S. visitor with a valid visa and passport

Have a demonstrated interest in helping your community and building your leadership skills

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE LAW CAMP

"The best part about the Law Camp was the people. The students, the presenters, and the staff made the camp one of the most amazing weeks of my life. Hearing the success stories of people from similar backgrounds as me has inspired me, and showed me that the legal field is an amazing place for Hispanic people." L. Alvarez, 17

"[The Law Camp] changed my mind completely about entering college. At first I wasn't sure about going to college but now I am and I will go to college." J. Lopez, 16

"I am really interested in pursuing criminal law and political science after hearing the success stories of so many Latinos who overcame impossible odds." J. Guillen, 16

"[The Law Camp] has helped me develop many skills that will be useful. The Camp has definitely convinced me that I want to become a lawyer." A. Rosario, 16

For more information, please visit the HNBF website at:

http://www.hnbf.org/content/future-latino-leaders

LAN FYI: White House eases path to residency for some undocumented immigrants

latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-illegal-immigration-residency-20130102,0,181647.story

By Brian Bennett

9:28 AM PST, January 2, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration eased the way Wednesday for illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens to apply for permanent residency, a change that could affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants unlawfully in the U.S.

A new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security aims to reduce the time illegal immigrants are separated from their American families while seeking legal status, immigration officials said.

Beginning March 4, when the changes go into effect, illegal immigrants who can demonstrate that time apart from an American spouse, child or parent would create “extreme hardship,” can start the application process for a legal visa without leaving the U.S.

Once approved, applicants would be required to leave the U.S. briefly in order to return to their native country and pick up their visa.

The change is the latest move by the administration to use its executive powers to revise immigration procedures without Congress passing a law. In August, the Obama administration launched a program to halt the deportation of young people brought to the U.S. unlawfully as children.

The new procedures could reduce a family's time apart to one week in some cases, officials said. In recent years a few relatives of U.S. citizens have been killed in foreign countries while waiting for their applications to be resolved.

“The law is designed to avoid extreme hardship to U.S. citizens, which is precisely what this rule achieves,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in a statement. “The change will have a significant impact on American families by greatly reducing the time family members are separated from those they rely upon,” he said.

Until now, many immigrants who might seek legal status do not pursue it out of fear they will not receive a "hardship waiver" of strict U.S. immigration laws: An illegal immigrant who has overstayed a visa for more than six months is barred from reentering the U.S. for three years; those who overstay more than a year are barred for 10 years.

The new rule allows those relatives to apply for the waiver without first leaving the U.S.

brian.bennett@latimes.com
Twitter: @ByBrianBennett

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