Luchando por #Health4All

El estado de inmigración no debe ser una barrera para las personas que buscan atención médica para salvar su vida, por lo que #Health4All siempre ha sido una prioridad para SIREN. En mayo, como parte del Día de Acción del Inmigrante en todo el estado, los líderes de SIREN, como Karina Guzmán, abogaron con los encargados de formular políticas para proporcionar Medi-Cal completo a individuos sin importar su estatus migratorio. Karina compartió su lucha, como le dijo a The Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-democrats-face-off-over-health-care-for-illegal-immigrants-11558431000 para obtener atención médica. La semana pasada, el Gobernador y la legislatura estatal llegaron a un acuerdo presupuestario para brindar atención médica a adultos jóvenes hasta los 25 años, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Este es un importante paso adelante, SIREN y la comunidad continuarán luchando por una legislación que cubra a TODOS los inmigrantes, independientemente de su edad y estado.

Lea el artículo completo aquí.

Fighting for #Health4All

Immigration status should not be a barrier for individuals seeking life-saving medical care which is why #Health4All has long been a priority for SIREN. In May, as part of the statewide Immigrant Day of Action, SIREN grassroots leaders, like Karina Guzman, advocated with policymakers to provide full-scope Medi-Cal to individuals regardless of immigration status. Karina shared her struggle, as she told The Wall Street Journal [LINK TO WSJ ARTICLE], to obtain medical care. In the past week, the Governor and the state legislature have reached a budget deal to provide health care for young adults up to age 25 regardless of immigration status. While this is a significant step forward, SIREN and the community will continue to fight for legislation that covers ALL immigrants, regardless of age and status.

Read full article here.

A Message from the Executive Director - May 2019

Dear Friends,

Thanks to the adamant efforts of SIREN leaders, our partners in the FIRE Coalition and allies, on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously affirmed their position of not working with ICE and respecting the due process rights of all immigrants. This represents an important victory for our immigrant and refugee communities! In moments like these, we are reminded of the power of our community, and how critical it is for us to stand and speak up at every level of government.

We also firmly believe that immigrants deserve dignity and compassion including through medical care. Income or immigration status should not be a reason why someone cannot seek health care. This is why SIREN has been committed to being a strong, vocal advocate pushing for #Health4All, as part of our unrelenting agenda for human rights and dignity for everyone.  

We must continue to be vigilant and loud when it comes to the injustices and cruelty of the current administration. Seeing children in detention, robbed of their freedom and innocence, is an abomination few could have imagined. The incarceration and persecution of humanitarian volunteers providing water and support to immigrants on their journey to this country is happening today. And with Trump recently threatening increased enforcement in major U.S. cities, we must remember not to panic but protect ourselves by knowing our rights and reaching out for support. These dark realities remind us that our work is fundamentally about human rights and the dignity of all people, regardless of status, nationality, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Our SIREN leaders, staff, and supporters understand the vital importance of this work and implore your support in this journey. We invite you to join us by making a donation today in honor of our fight to treat all immigrants with dignity.

In community spirit,

Maricela Gutiérrez
Executive Director 
Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN)

Mensaje de la Directora - Mayo 2019

Queridos amigos,

Gracias a los esfuerzos firmes de los líderes de SIREN, nuestros socios en la Coalición FIRE y sus aliados, el martes 4 de junio de 2019, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Santa Clara afirmó su posición de no trabajar con ICE y respetar los derechos al debido proceso de todos los inmigrantes. ¡Esto representa una victoria importante para nuestras comunidades de inmigrantes y refugiados! En momentos como estos, se nos recuerda el poder de nuestra comunidad y la importancia de que nos pongamos de pie y hablemos en todos los niveles del gobierno

También creemos firmemente que los inmigrantes merecen dignidad y compasión, incluso a través de la atención médica. Los ingresos o el estado de inmigración no deben ser una razón por la cual  alguien no pueda buscar atención médica. Esta es la razón por la que SIREN se ha comprometido a ser un defensor fuerte y vocal que aboga por #Health4All, como parte de nuestra implacable agenda de derechos humanos y dignidad para todos.

Debemos seguir siendo vigilantes y opinados cuando se trata de las injusticias y la crueldad de la administración. Ver a los niños detenidos, despojados de su libertad e inocencia, es una abominación que pocos podrían haber imaginado. El encarcelamiento y la persecución de voluntarios humanitarios que proveen agua y apoyo a los inmigrantes en su viaje a este país está sucediendo hoy. Y como Trump recientemente ha amenazado con aumentar la aplicación de la ley en las principales ciudades de los Estados Unidos, debemos recordar no entrar en pánico, sino protegernos a nosotros mismos conociendo nuestros derechos y buscando apoyo.

Estas oscuras realidades nos recuerdan que nuestro trabajo se basa fundamentalmente en los derechos humanos y la dignidad de todas las personas, independientemente de su estatus legal, nacionalidad, color, género, etc

Nuestros líderes, personal y colaboradores de SIREN entienden la importancia vital de este trabajo e imploran su apoyo en este viaje. Lo invitamos a unirse a nosotros haciendo una donación en honor a nuestra lucha para tratar a todos los inmigrantes con dignidad.

En espíritu de comunidad,

Maricela Gutiérrez
Executive Director 
Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN)

Victory! We Kept #ICEOutofSCC!

In an historic vote on June 4, 2019, the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County voted 5-0 and affirmed our County’s long standing values of not working with ICE and respecting the due process rights of all immigrants. This policy reiterates that our County will not honor detainers or notification questions from ICE, and reaffirms our policy to require judicial warrants for transfers.

As co-chair of Forum for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (FIRE) Coalition, SIREN has been fiercely advocating with local policymakers on the importance for the community to ensure that our County does not work with ICE. Over the course of months culminating with a fearless group rallying on the day of the vote, the community was victorious! We appreciate the leadership of our County Supervisors and urge SIREN’s supporters to join us in expressing our thanks - our communities can feel more secure knowing that our County will not  cooperate with ICE.

¡SI SE PUEDE Y SI SE PUDO!

Read full article here.

¡Victoria! Mantuvimos #ICEOutofSCC (ICE fuera del Condado de Santa Clara!)

En una votación histórica realizada el 4 de junio de 2019, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Santa Clara votó 5 a 0 y afirmó los valores de largo plazo de nuestro Condado de no trabajar con ICE y respetar los derechos del debido proceso de todos los inmigrantes. Esta póliza reitera que nuestro Condado no cumplirá con las reclamaciones o las preguntas de notificación de ICE, y reafirma nuestra póliza de exigir órdenes judiciales para las transferencias.

Como co-presidente del Foro por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes y la Coalición para el Empoderamiento (FIRE), SIREN ha estado defendiendo ferozmente con políticos locales sobre la importancia para la comunidad de garantizar que nuestro Condado no trabaje con ICE. En el transcurso de los meses que culminaron con un grupo audaz reuniéndose el día de la votación, ¡la comunidad fue victoriosa! Apreciamos el liderazgo de nuestros Supervisores del Condado y urgimos a los partidarios de SIREN a unirse a nosotros para expresar nuestro agradecimiento: nuestras comunidades pueden sentirse más seguras sabiendo que nuestro Condado no cooperará con ICE.

¡SI SE PUEDE Y SI SE PUDO!

Lea el artículo completo aquí.

The Hardly Spoken Struggles of Immigrants

Sara (not her actual name) is an asylum client with a pending case in front of the San Francisco Immigration Court. Sara fled El Salvador with her three children about two years ago due to death threats against her and her family. Earlier this year, Sara came to SIREN’s office looking for support after her case was dropped by a private immigration attorney. She was desperately in need of legal support because she had a fast-approaching final hearing. SIREN took her case and has a hearing in the next several months.

It is often demoralizing for asylum seekers to have their court proceedings continued, leaving them with anxiety, confusion and uncertainty. For most, it takes several court hearings to resolve issues in their immigration case, and often, single mothers are the most impacted.

With no family or friends in the area and with no financial resources to pay for childcare, many mothers are forced to bring their children with them to immigration court. In addition to navigating the intricacies of immigration court, many women are also forced to deal with the difficulties of showing up the best they can for their children.

Such was the case for Sara, who did not have childcare or available family support to care for her 10-year-old daughter, Natalie. Sara’s attorney at SIREN, Grey, made a public ask to volunteers who could help support Sara and Natalie. Within the hour, Sara was able to find help from Gabi (her actual name), a SIREN volunteer who gave her time to provide childcare. Gabi agreed to meet Sara and Grey at the immigration court in San Francisco and care for Natalie while Sara saw the judge. With Gabi’s support, Sara was able to focus on her court hearing and be as present as possible.

Volunteers are extremely important in our work, not only in supporting with application assistance such as DACA or naturalization clinics, but in moments like these, where their presence can make the difference in a client’s demeanor and mental state in court.