News for Amigos de Casa San José: October 4, 2017

Dear Casa San José Amigos,

Welcome back to our weekly message!  Here’s what’s new:

HELP:

• From Monica: ICE has hit several times in Aliquippa the last few weeks leaving many women and children alone without their head of household, they are in desperate need of financial help (rent, food). If there are any families that can help in any way, please contact Monica at monica@casasanjose.org

ACTION:

• Come to our Food Sale for Migrant Justice at 5120 Penn Ave this Friday, Oct. 6 as part of the First Friday on Penn Ave. celebration!  Delicious food made by immigrant families will be served, with all proceeds go towards sending DACA youth, families, and allies to protest the border wall and connect with thousands of other migrant justice advocates at the SOA Watch Convergence in Nogales, AZ in November. We'll also be selling beautiful t-shirts which you can also get at our office.
  

• From PICC:  Last week the PA House voted to pass HB1095, which would require additional proof of citizenship to obtain public benefits. The Senate version of the bill - SB9 -  is now in the Senate State Government Committee.  HB 1095 & SB 9 are anti-immigrant legislation intended to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving "public benefits" even though they are already barred from all major public benefit programs in Pennsylvania. They are meant to stigmatize and spread misinformation about immigrants. Other effects of the bill would make it harder for US citizens, especially seniors, the unemployed and the disabled, to get the benefits they are entitled to. Please contact your State Senator (find them here) to tell them to vote NO.  More explanation and talking points are here.

• It's almost time for the celebration "¡Que Viva Clemente!" (click here to get tickets and more info.)  this Saturday, Oct. 7 from 7-10 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side.  Proceeds go to support our work at Casa San José.  Tickets also available at the door. !Vámonos!

• Last chance to sign up for the 4.12K for Casa San José Run/Walk at SouthSide Riverfront Park at 18th St. this coming Sunday, Oct. 8. Hope to see you there!

NEWS:  

• Huffington Post just published an article about Cristian Minor, an attorney who volunteers at Casa San José's legal clinic - also has great photos of our kids! "This Lawyer Works Pro Bono To Help Undocumented Families", Sara Ruiz-Grossman, Huffington Post, Sept. 29.

• Here's a photo of protestors gathered last week at Sen. Toomey's office to fight for immigrant rights and specifically a permanent law for DACA.

SUGGESTED if you'd like to read or see more:

• "More groups press Port Authority to use civilian fare checkers, not armed officers",  Post-Gazette, September 30.  To everyone who wrote in or came to the hearings on this issue, which would particularly target and terrorize undocumented residents - progress is being made because of you!

Thank you for joining us!

News for Amigos de Casa San José: Sept. 27, 2017

Dear Amigos de Casa San José,

Welcome back to our weekly message!

ACTION:  

Today we are sending out this alert, just sent to us by our partners at PICC and CASA:  Standing Up for Dream Act, Thursday will be the Largest Statewide day of Action in PA History. 

• Please call your Representative in the House to ask that she/he sign the “Discharge Petition” to move the clean DREAM act to the floor.  For more info, see below and the attached document.  Find your Rep.’s telephone # here.  (Doyle has already signed – you can thank him. See signatures here.)
  
• Background: Monday, the Dems began collecting signatures to circumvent the normal committee process and take a clean DREAM act bill directly to the floor of the house.  They need 218 signatures and currently have 191 with a few more commitments secured at our action on the hill today.  But we have at least 20 to go, and if we are getting 20 a couple will likely need to be from PA. This is our greatest chance at winning a clean bill with no enforcement. And we can only do it the same way we won health care, with a massive show of public outrage from all fronts.   If the discharge fails, we will be left with negotiations on how many deportations each dreamer's future is worth. (Attachment: talking points on DREAM and Discharge Petition)

• Please help show support at the Action for DACA TODAY (Thursday) at Sen. Toomey’s office, 310 Grant St. Downtown, 12-1 pm

HELP:

• Jeimy has created a GoFundMe site to help residents of the town of Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, where more than 80% of their homes have collapsed due to an 8.2 level devastating earthquake on Sept. 7.  Jeimy, who knows many people in the town and is vetting our partners there, says: "A lot of attention has been drawn to the most recent earthquake in Mexico City which is important, but this town needs our help too. Please help us raise funds quickly so that the town can buy food, water, medical care and help to rebuild their homes and schools." More information is on the site, and photos will follow.

Thank you for joining us!

(Earlier messages can be found here.)

News for Amigos de Casa San José: September 21, 2017

Dear Casa San José Amigos,

Welcome back to our weekly message!  Here’s what’s new:

HELP:

• Volunteers needed on Saturday, Oct. 14 to help with an event sponsored by the Mexican Consulate to get passports and other vital documents to local residents who are Mexican citizens. Location is the gym behind Central Catholic High School which is at 4720 Fifth Ave. in Oakland, with parking on site.  We need: 
• people to help set up starting at 8 am and/or take down around 4:30 pm
• people to help sell food during the day
• people to help watch and play with children while their parents get documents
• interpreters who can assist the lawyers who don't speak Spanish 
• If you can do this, please email Sister Valerie at srvalerie@casasanjose.org.  (Only the interpreters need to speak Spanish.)

ACTION:

• Come to the Old World New World Heritage Festival hosted by Brookline Teen Outreach this Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1-4 pm at 520 Brookline Blvd., Pittsburgh 15226.  "Whether you immigrated recently or your family has been in America for generations, we want to celebrate the contributions of all cultures through a free event for all ages. Art, music, food, games, and so much more!":

• Or, another option that day: Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 pm for the screening of documentary film Al Otro Lado, about Mexicans traveling north to escape crisis situations and the music that accompanies them, introduced by Sister Janice, at the Beechview Branch of Carnegie Library, 1910 Broadway Ave.

• AND - please keep calling:  here's another fast and easy way (from the ACLU) to call your Senator to protect Dreamers and pass a Clean Dream Act now.

NEWS:  

• Last Friday, Casa San José joined the Steelworkers and LCLAA and other allies in a march from Market Square to Sen. Toomey's office to support the Dreamers, but also all immigrants. Monica spoke and reminded us that "today we stand here with workers for DACA, but in reality it's also about the parents of the DACA youth and all the 11 million people who desperately need compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform." We need to keep our eyes on the larger goal too.

• There are still a few more tickets left (click here to get them and more info.) for the super celebration "¡Que Viva Clemente!" Saturday, Oct. 7 from 7-10 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side.  Proceeds go to support our work at Casa San José.  It's an annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the legacy of the great humanitarian and Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, organized by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). Enjoy wonderful Flamenco dance and music from Alba Flamenca and deliciously authentic Latin American cuisine along with fine craft beer and homemade sangria. 

• Last Sunday, Sr. Janice spoke to the worshippers at Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist church in Mt. Lebanon, and this weekend she will be traveling to St. John's Lutheran Church in North Versailles. Faith based organizations are reaching out to us for informational talks and to ask what they can do to help and support our work.

• Welcoming Pittsburgh is sponsoring a Citizenship Day this Friday, Sept. 22, at the City County Building, 414 Grant St. downtown, for people who are interested in becoming US citizens.  They are also looking for volunteers.

• Come visit us and other great nonprofit partners at the Help or High Water Volunteer Fair this Thursday evening at the Union Project.  

SUGGESTED if you'd like to read or see more:

• Relatives of Undocumented Children Caught Up in ICE Dragnet: in a shift from how it operated during the Obama administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is cracking down on relatives who let undocumented kids stay with them after entering the U.S.  ProPublica, Sept. 11.

Thank you for joining us!

(Earlier messages can be found here.)

News for Amigos de Casa San José: September 14, 2017

Dear Casa San José Amigos,
Welcome back to our weekly message!  Here’s what’s new:

ACTION:

• If you're looking for a concrete way to help DACA recipients, here's an urgent one: donate to a fund that helps pay their renewal fees to USCIS. The $495 fee is a huge barrier in itself. The Philadelphia Foundation is helping PA is Ready! raise funds to support DACA application fees for Pennsylvania Dreamers who must apply by Oct. 5 to extend their legal status. Link to donate is here. These are tax-deductible and must be received by Sept. 25, 2017. There is a very tight window for renewal now for those whose permits are set to expire between now and March 5.  Also, if you know any Dreamer who needs help with this cost, put them in touch with the Dreamers Initiative  or 215-832-0636 ASAP.

• Stand up for DACA this Friday (tomorrow - Sept. 15) at the Action at Sen. Toomey's office downtown. From Monica: We are starting at the USW International Headquarters at 11:30 and will march over to Market Square. We are hoping to have 1 speaker (an actual Dreamer.) After the square we are marching up to Senator Toomey's office where we are hoping to have Fred Redmond speak. Should not take more than an hour.

• It's great to contact legislators to protest their actions against immigrants, but it's also good to thank those who support them. Here's what Senator Casey just said about DACA:  "President Trump’s action today is an insult to America and our values. This action is profoundly unjust, immoral and without regard for basic fairness. Tearing apart the lives of these young people will make our nation less safe, and harm our economy." You can thank Senator Casey for speaking up, and while you're at it, ask him to co-sponsor the Dream Act here.

• Hope springs eternal:  please also ask Senator Toomey to support the new Dream Act - his phone numbers are here. Numbers count, and Congress is working on this right now!  "Immigration arms race begins on Capitol Hill."

HELP:

• Reserve your tickets now (click here to get them and more info.) for the super celebration "¡Que Viva Clemente!" Saturday, Oct. 7 from 7-10 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side.  Proceeds go to support our work at Casa San José.  It's an annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the legacy of the great humanitarian and Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, organized by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).  Guests will enjoy wonderful Flamenco dance and music from Alba Flamenca and deliciously authentic Latin American cuisine along with fine craft beer and homemade sangria. 

• 412 Resistance is hosting a 4.12K run/walk with proceeds going to Casa San José on Sunday, Oct. 8.  Some of the funds raised will support those applying for DACA renewals. Location: Southside Riverview Park. Participants 12 and under register for free and each child will receive a thank you prize. Sign up here. 

OUR STORY, continued:  

• In this video, three vibrant young DACA recipients - Luis, Norma, and Angeles - who were on the Casa San José trip to DC last week tell their stories.

NEWS:

• On Sunday, Sister Janice was presented with the Ohtli Award at the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia. It is an extraordinary recognition awarded by the Mexican Government to those who have "have dedicated much of their lives and efforts to the welfare of the Mexican community abroad, opening paths and opportunities." ¡Felicitaciones, Hermana Janice!
  

• For our immigrant community, Casa San José is sponsoring free DACA and "Know Your Rights" clinics as well as a community meeting this month to voice thoughts and concerns and get answers.  More information is on our Facebook page.

SUGGESTED if you'd like to read or see more:

• "The Next DACA? Trump administration turns to another class of immigrants" , CNN, Sept. 11 - keep an eye on TPS (Temporary Protected Status) which is also under attack and affects 440,000 immigrants temporarily protected from deportation because they are in danger in their home countries.

• "DACA offers no clearcut road map to US citizenship", Triblive, Sept. 10 - profiles DACA recipient Ana Alberto and tells why a permanent solution is needed, from a Pittsburgh perspective.

Thank you for joining us!

(Earlier messages can be found here.)