Community kicks off week of action to protect Californians from Trump’s deportation force

San Diego, CA – The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) will kick off a week of action to urge the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to stay out of the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California. County officials will meet on April 17 to decide whether to join the lawsuit over Senate Bill 54, known as the “California Values Act,” which strengthens public safety and protects families from Trump’s deportation force.

SDIRC and its members will launch a week of action featuring meetings with supervisors, an online petition, phone banking, and a social media campaign to urge supervisors to side with Californians, not Trump.

Lilian Serrano, Chair of the San Diego Immigrants Rights Consortium (SDIRC) and Community Representative at Alianza Comunitaria released the following statement:

“This lawsuit against California is an affront to our state’s efforts to strengthen public safety for all while protecting families from the president’s abusive and overreaching deportation force. We are mobilizing communities across the region to urge County supervisors to side with California, not Trump, and reject joining this misguided lawsuit.

Cities like Chula Vista and National City have passed resolutions in support of Senate Bill 54 because they know that we are less safe when immigrants are afraid to call the police and report crimes. Local police officers should not be acting as border agents.

This is an opportunity for County supervisors to send a message to California and the nation that San Diego is a welcoming place because we understand that immigrants are valuable and productive members of our community.”

About the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium

The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium is a project of Alliance San Diego. Since 2007, community, faith, labor, and legal organizations have come together as the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC). Through SDIRC, these organizations are pursuing four common goals: support comprehensive immigration reform; stop the spread of local policies and practices that target and violate the civil and human rights of immigrants; educate immigrants, and educate the public about the important contributions of immigrants. More at: www.immigrantsandiego.org.

###

El pueblo unido, Jamas será vencido! Ang tao ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban! The people united, will never be defeated!

May 15th, 2017 was the 21st Annual Immigrant Day. The SDIRC delegation of 33 San Diego leaders successfully met with all 11 assembly members and senators who represent a piece or region of San Diego County.

The day was kicked off with a rally and program of speakers to ground all participating organizations and individuals for the day ahead. There was a variety of speakers from all over the state who stood in front of the hundreds to speak their truth. The speakers ranged from faith leaders, community leaders and organizational representatives who shared stories, either their own or of the communities they work with. They spoke about the importance of building and maintaining a united front on the issues that affect all of us, especially considering the targeted threats under the Trump administration.

During our time at the state’s capitol, we had the opportunity to get to know, learn from and interview Said Abiyow, current President and CEO of the Somali Bantu Association of America, now a member organization of SDIRC. Below are his responses and impressions as a first time participant in Immigrant Day.

By Erin Tsurumoto Grassi

As the granddaughter of Japanese Americans who were imprisoned during World War II, the importance of Immigrant Day could not be clearer. After all, this is a chance for advocates like myself and others across the state to join efforts and advocate for immigrant rights in Sacramento.

The 21st Annual Immigrant Day will take place on Monday, May 15, and the  San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium is proud to be sending a record-size delegation to our state’s capital. Close to 40 leaders from across San Diego County will join hundreds of other community members and activists who will meet with elected representatives from every quarter of the county.