Chicago-based Association of Latino/as Motivating Action ( ALMA ) said it is extremely disappointed in the House of Representatives' latest anti-immigrant crusade. Whereas the state of Illinois has worked to become an inclusive and safe place for immigrants and members of the LGBT communities, "we are especially outraged with the members of the Illinois congressional delegation who voted for these bills," ALMA stated in a press release.
In the last hours before going on a five-week vacation, the House of Representatives "passed an inhumane bill to strip defenseless refugee children of their right to a fair trial in court, expedite their deportation, and authorized to send the National Guard to the U.S-Mexico border. The refugee children are not a threat to the sovereignty of the United States; instead they are simply escaping a culture of extreme violence in their home countries. These children need protection, but the House of Representatives is instead offering a one-way ticket back to immediate danger."
Also last night, the Republican-led House of Representatives "passed a misguided and ugly bill to defund, and prevent the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program. Many undocumented LGBT youth who received their DACA, have continued their education, and also work to help their families. Last night's vote from the House of Representatives is a direct attack on our communities," ALMA stated.
"Now more than ever, we encourage all undocumented youth who are eligible for, or who are ready to renew their DACA, to do so. ALMA and the LGBT Immigrant Rights Coalition is hosting a DACA Renewal Informational Session on August 12 at 4 p.m. in the Chicago Commons' Paulo Fierie Family Center. We welcome all community members, especially LGBT undocumented youth, to attend," they said. "If the 2012 elections were not enough to highlight the power of the Latino, Asian-American, immigrant vote, ALMA will continue to work with our community partners to mobilize voters to exercise their power in the next elections. We will not rest until all members of our LGBT immigrant community are safe and can thrive in our communities."