Pictured above: Joyce Noche, directing attorney at the Public Law Center, said immigrants should seek out trusted service providers to see if they are eligible for the current DACA program or other forms of administrative relief. Photo: Michael Lozano / VoiceWaves

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Immigrant rights advocates are encouraging families to get ready for the possible implementation of two programs that could go into effect later this year. Both programs provide beneficiaries with temporary relief from deportation.

Even with the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in February, advocates say a ruling on one of the big questions before the Supreme Court – whether Obama’s executive actions on immigration will finally go into effect – remains up in the air.

Obama’s expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and launch of a new program for undocumented parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), could provide millions of undocumented immigrants temporary relief from deportation and access to work permits.

Both programs have been on hold ever since they were announced in November 2014. Their fate now rests with the U.S. Supreme Court.

With eight justices on the court, five votes are needed to overturn an injunction put in place by a lower court, thereby allowing DACA and DAPA to move forward. In the case of a 4-4 tie, the lower court’s ruling would stand but the Supreme Court’s ruling would not be precedent.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear Texas v. United States in April and announce its decision in June. If it decides in Obama’s favor, the two programs could go into effect, possibly by late summer or early fall.

In the meantime, legal experts, advocates and DACA recipients say there are steps that families can take now to get ready for their possible implementation – and take advantage of programs that are currently available.

The litigation does not affect Obama’s original DACA program announced in 2012, which remains in effect.

Joyce Noche, directing attorney at the Public Law Center, encouraged immigrants in Orange County to seek out trustworthy service providers to see if they might be eligible for the current DACA program or other forms of administrative relief. Noche spoke at a media roundtable in Anaheim organized by New America Media and Ready California, a statewide coalition working to ensure that the maximum number of eligible Californians take advantage of DACA and DAPA.

Noche told reporters that while no one knows how the court will rule, a majority of law professors believe the president was within his power to announce his 2014 executive actions on immigration.

“We believe these programs are perfectly legal and will also be upheld,” said Hairo Cortes, program coordinator of Orange County Immigrant Youth United, who said that families should start preparing now for their implementation.

Residents can start gathering documents that prove they have been living continuously in the United States, he said. Those who have had contact with law enforcement can visit a trusted legal service provider to inquire about what is on their record.

Undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children should continue to apply for and renew DACA, said Cortes. DACA recipients who meet income requirements are eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal, California’s health care program for low-income residents.

For Avila Medrano, 23, DACA allowed her to get treatment for several health problems though Medi-Cal. When she was hospitalized recently, Medrano was able to get Medi-Cal to cover her hospital stay, medicines, and visits to doctors.

“When DACA came around, I saw hope,” said Medrano.

David Lee, a Korean American DACA recipient who was formerly homeless, said a man from church helped connect him to the local non-profit organization Korean Community Services.

“He told me I could work legally and there’s a program called DACA,” said Lee. “I didn’t believe it but I needed help. So I applied for DACA and it went through.”

Lee, who is now able to work legally, also said he now feels freer because of DACA. He explained that as a breakdancer, he used to be embarrassed to have to present a passport in order to enter a nightclub. Now he can use his ID to go out dancing.

“Thanks to DACA,” he said, “I can have more fun. I feel more free.”

Cortes said there are actions that families can take regardless of their status.

As of May 2016, all undocumented minors will be able to access full-scope Medi-Cal, so parents are encouraged to enroll their children in emergency Medi-Cal now.

Undocumented immigrants in California are encouraged to continue to apply for driver’s licenses, available to all qualifying residents regardless of immigration status, through the state law AB 60.

Eligible green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship; and U.S. citizens can register to vote.

Concerned residents can also make their voices heard through organizing, Cortes said.

“We’re seeing a greater organizing effort now in New York, Chicago, people standing up against raids,” said Cortes, who noted that a recent protest in Santa Ana called for an end to deportations.

News of immigration raids on Central American refugees in other parts of the country has put immigrant communities on edge, noted Carlos Perea, project manager at Resistencia, Autonomia, Igualdad, lideraZgo (RAIZ)‬.

“There’s already enough fear and panic in the community,” said Perea, “that anytime the community hears about raids and [law enforcement’s] cooperation with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], the community will freak out.”

Perea said it’s important for undocumented families to have a plan of action if they come in contact with ICE agents, so they will be able to get the help they need should they be detained. Perea suggests that families have an emergency contact who will be able to take action if family members are detained; they should contact a trusted immigration lawyer or advocacy organization that will be able to mobilize on their behalf; and they should have an emergency plan for their children.

Meanwhile, Lee encouraged other undocumented immigrants in his community to see if they qualified for DACA so they could be free from the threat of deportation and be able to work legally.

“Don’t be skeptical [of applying for DACA] like I was,” he says. “Take action.”

For more information about Ready California, visit Ready-California.org.

Editor’s Note: In an effort to keep our communities safe and informed, We’Ced Youth Media has partnered with local Immigration Attorney Carolina Castañeda to publish a ‘Know your Rights’ guide in Spanish. The guide relates important information and actions to take during the event of an ICE raid.

CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS!

Por Carolina Castañeda, Imagen via One America

Nota del Editor: Carolina Castañeda is una abogada de inmigración en Merced. Nacida en Durango, Mexico, e hija de inmigrantes, Castañeda entiende lo difícil que es navegar las leyes de inmigración.  Por eso, la abogada esta determinada a ayudar a nuestra comunidad  de una manera honesta. Con años de experiencia sirviendo el área de Los Angeles, en el 2015 Castañeda se mudo e estableció su oficina en Merced. Si gusta contactarla, puede visitar a su pagina www.ccastanedalaw.com  o llamar al (209) 560-6625.

 GUÍA DURANTE REDADAS DE INMIGRACIÓN

En tu casa:

• No abras la puerta!- La constitución de Los Estados Unidos te protege. Una persona (incluye policías y agentes de inmigración) no puede entrar a tu casa sin tu permiso.  Solo pueden entrar si tienen orden de cateo o de arresto.

• Si abres, o si siguen insistiendo…Pregunta si tienen orden de arresto o cateo.- Agentes de inmigración se tienen que identificar (Sabemos que muchas veces no lo hacen, pero bajo la ley están obligados a hacerlo).

• Pide ver la orden de arresto o de cateo (antes de que abras la puerta).- El hecho de que te digan que traen orden de arresto o de cateo no es suficiente.  Para ser válida es necesario que tenga lo siguiente: (1) Tu nombre; (2) tu dirección correcta;  (3) tiene que decir a quien están buscando; y (4) tiene que estar firmada por un juez de inmigración.

• Pide hablar con un abogado.

• No firmes absolutamente nada, pide ver a un juez de inmigración.- No les des información que puede ser utilizada en tu contra!

• Si tienes miedo de regresar a tu país de origen, diles!

En la calle:

• Pregunta si te puedes ir. Si te dicen que no estas arrestado, vete. No preguntes más, vete inmediatamente.

• Si te dicen que no, pregunta si estas arrestado.

Si la respuesta es que no, entonces diles que te vas a ir, que es tu derecho.

• Si te arrestan, pide hablar con un abogado, no firmes nada, pide ver a un juez de inmigración.

IMPORTANTE:

• Si estas en la corte de inmigración – Carga contigo copia de tu próximo citatorio en corte. Agentes de inmigración NO te pueden deportar si tu caso está pendiente.  Si ya te deportaron porque no fuiste a la corte, es posible que puedas someter una moción de reapertura, consulta con un abogado inmediatamente.

• Si estas en trámites de arreglar papeles – Carga contigo comprobantes que estas en trámites. Es su discreción, los agentes te pueden dejar ir.

• Si ya fuiste deportado anteriormente – Corres más riesgo que nadie porque te pueden deportar sin mandarte a un juez de inmigración. Pide hablar con un abogado lo más pronto posible. No firmes tu deportación.

• Si tienes DACA – Tienes que traer tu permiso de trabajo contigo en todo momento! Es tu comprobante de que estas aquí con permiso de acción diferida. Si cometiste algún delito que te descalifique, corres riesgo de que te puedan deportar, habla con un abogado.

• Si tienes Residencia – Tienes que traer tu tarjeta de residencia contigo en todo momento!  De hecho hay una regulación que tienes que traer tu tarjeta, si no te pueden deportar.  Es muy poco probable que te deporten por no traer to residencia. Pero, tráela contigo a todo momento. Ponla con tu licencia de manejar.

• POR ULTIMO, SI YA CALIFICAS PARA LA CUIDADANIA QUE ESPERAS?!!

New America Media, News Report, Viji Sundaram, Posted: Jan 15, 2016

California schools will once again be able to offer mental health programs for students in kindergarten and grades one to three who are struggling with anxiety and other trauma or stress related symptoms, if a bill introduced in the legislature earlier this week passes.

AB 1644 was introduced by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) and is co-sponsored by Children Now, a statewide youth advocacy organization headquartered in Oakland, and by state Attorney General Kamala Harris.

“The evidence is clear that when we don’t intervene, many children are more likely to be either victims or perpetrators of crimes,” Harris said in a statement.

“We view early childhood trauma as a public health crisis,” noted Ben Rubin, senior associate of neurodevelopment and health with Children Now. He said adverse childhood experiences (ACE) lead to long-term mental and medical health effects.

Bonta’s bill would restore funding for mental health services that were once offered on 464 school sites around California under the state’s Early Mental Health Intervention (EMHI) program launched in 1992. The state gave matching funds to schools that provided intervention programs. AB 1644 is estimated to cost the state about $1 million a year.

In 2012, the state defunded the program, citing budgetary reasons. Research showed that 79 percent of the children who received those services improved their behavioral and social skills.

According to a Kidsdata.org study, more than half of all California elementary school staff reported that mental health is a problem at their school. And just over 70 percent of the state’s elementary school teachers say that their school “emphasizes helping students with emotional or behavioral problems.”

Early childhood mental health advocates say the teacher training and funding isn’t adequate to support young students who are experiencing symptoms resulting from stress and trauma. In its 2016 California Children’s Report Card, Children Now gave the state a D minus when it comes to spending on assessing and treating children who have mental health challenges.

The Children Now report warns that if kids struggling with mental health disorders don’t get the treatment they need, they are more likely to be hospitalized, drop out of school and become “involved with the justice system.” The report also says that only 40 percent of children under the age of six with mental health issues get the support they need.

California has the highest student-to-counselor ratio in the nation, with an average of 1,016 K-12 students per counselor, according to EdSource. The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 to one.

The question of a school’s responsibility to provide services to students suffering ACE related trauma is at the core of a lawsuit filed against the Compton Unified School District in Los Angeles. Five students and three teachers there have sued the district for allegedly failing to provide adequate training and resources for coping with trauma. The CUSD, the plaintiffs say in the federal lawsuit filed last year, is setting them up for academic failure.

Robert Hull, a school psychologist in Prince George’s County in Maryland, who has extensively researched the impact of complex trauma on childhood development, observed: “There’s a huge number of children walking into kindergarten with trauma. They’re just sitting in the classroom trying to make it through the day, not profiting from the instruction, however good it may be.”

By providing them early intervention, he said, “you are moving them from a survival mode into a learning mode.”