U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich discusses immigration reform
by Juan Gutierrez, KDBC Channel 4, KTSM Channel 9
Las Cruces, NM (May 1, 2013) - Hundreds of people attended a discussion on comprehensive immigration reform in Las Cruces Wednesday evening. The discussion hosted by CAFe centered around a proposed immigration bill that would allow an easier path to citizenship for about 11 million people.
"For the first time in many years we have an opportunity here to pass real reform that will work for the state of New Mexico and that will be good for the country," said United States Senator Martin Heinrich.
Lawmakers are proposing changes that would give illegal immigrants the chance to apply for a green card after 10 years and citizenship three years after that.
Heinrich said it will take a bi-partisan effort to pass the current proposed bill.
He said there is progress being made with both parties actively working on the legislation and hopes the discussion will continue to move forward in Congress.
Full story here
"For the first time in many years we have an opportunity here to pass real reform that will work for the state of New Mexico and that will be good for the country," said United States Senator Martin Heinrich.
Lawmakers are proposing changes that would give illegal immigrants the chance to apply for a green card after 10 years and citizenship three years after that.
Heinrich said it will take a bi-partisan effort to pass the current proposed bill.
He said there is progress being made with both parties actively working on the legislation and hopes the discussion will continue to move forward in Congress.
Full story here
Jovenes soñadores, expresan su deseo de reforma migratoria
DREAMers express their desire for immigration reform
KINT News - Noticias 26
Las Cruces, NM (May 1, 2013) - Jovenes soñadores dan su testimonio frente a una concurrida audiencia en Las Cruces. Es tiempo para la ciudadania, es el cartel que se muestra en el podio que fue utilizado por jovenes soñadores, en el centro de convenciones de Las Cruces. En medio de un animado ambiente, los jovenes fueron dando su testimonio frente a padres de familia, activistas politicos y legisladores como el senador democrata Martin Henrich.
Young dreamers give their testimony in front of a packed audience in Las Cruces. It's time for citizenship, is the poster displayed on the podium that was used by young dreamers in the Las Cruces Convention Center. In the midst of a lively audience, young people gave their testimony to parents, political activists and legislators like Senator Democrat Martin Heinrich.
View video
Young dreamers give their testimony in front of a packed audience in Las Cruces. It's time for citizenship, is the poster displayed on the podium that was used by young dreamers in the Las Cruces Convention Center. In the midst of a lively audience, young people gave their testimony to parents, political activists and legislators like Senator Democrat Martin Heinrich.
View video
Advocates push for immigration reform with statewide events
By Steve Ramirez, Las Cruces Sun News
LAS CRUCES — Magdalena Reza, a 23-year-old Chaparral resident, isn't among the immigrants who could be affected by potential immigration reform through the proposed Dream Act.
But she still dreams. Reza dreams of being a full-fledged American citizen.
"Maybe in two years," Reza said with a faint smile. "I've been here (in the U.S.) since I was 5. My parents brought me from Meoqui, Chihuahua but I've never been to Mexico, never seen it."
Reza was among a standing-room-only crowd of several hundred who attended the Community Prayer for Citizenship, at the Las Cruces Convention Center, Wednesday evening. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramirez and other faith leaders from southern New Mexico joined in the event.
Full article
But she still dreams. Reza dreams of being a full-fledged American citizen.
"Maybe in two years," Reza said with a faint smile. "I've been here (in the U.S.) since I was 5. My parents brought me from Meoqui, Chihuahua but I've never been to Mexico, never seen it."
Reza was among a standing-room-only crowd of several hundred who attended the Community Prayer for Citizenship, at the Las Cruces Convention Center, Wednesday evening. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramirez and other faith leaders from southern New Mexico joined in the event.
Full article
Multi-faith clergy & leaders call for citizenship
Las Cruces, NM (Feb. 28, 2013) – Religious leaders and lay congregants from multiple faith traditions in southern New Mexico will gather tomorrow, March 1st, at First Christian Church in Las Cruces to call on legislators now actively drafting comprehensive immigration reform, to do so with compassion.
"Important decisions are being made now that affect our communities, so we are launching our Campaign for Citizenship calling for our leaders to demand citizenship for our 11 million aspiring American citizens," says Sarah Nolan, Executive Director of CAFé Comunidades en Acción y de Fe. "Now is the time to find a pathway towards citizenship for our brothers and sisters who work, play, and worship alongside us."
Press release
"Important decisions are being made now that affect our communities, so we are launching our Campaign for Citizenship calling for our leaders to demand citizenship for our 11 million aspiring American citizens," says Sarah Nolan, Executive Director of CAFé Comunidades en Acción y de Fe. "Now is the time to find a pathway towards citizenship for our brothers and sisters who work, play, and worship alongside us."
Press release
Mayor backs foreclosure bill
by Todd Dickson, LC Bulletin
Infographic by The New Bottom Line
Las Cruces, NM (Feb. 22, 2013) - During last week's press conference with Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, homeowner Glenn Vick demanded that the Obama administration replace Edward DeMarco, interim director of the Federal Housing Finance Authority. She stated, "I, for one, am deeply concerned that one man, Ed DeMarco,...is single handedly standing in the way of rebuilding our housing crisis." Vick explained, "His lack of action is deeply affecting millions of homeowners and forcing them into unnecessary debt and foreclosure."
Mayor Miyagishima vowed to take the issue to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for a resolution.
View article here: LC Bulletin A27
Read press release here
Read Rabbi Larry Karol's prayer here
Mayor Miyagishima vowed to take the issue to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for a resolution.
View article here: LC Bulletin A27
Read press release here
Read Rabbi Larry Karol's prayer here
Las Cruces elected officials rally for wage hike
By Gerardo Najera, News channel 7
Las Cruces, NM (Feb. 16, 2013) - Proponents and activists gathered in Las Cruces today to rally for a hike in minimum wages. It's been almost four years since New Mexico has seen a raise in their minimum wage. Back in 2009 the minimum was raised to $7.50 an hour. Las Cruces elected officials are saying a dollar raise to $8.50 an hour, could boost the economy by 67-million dollars.
View here: Press conference
View here: Press conference
Las Cruces Mayor signs letter in support of the Mortgage Fair Foreclosure Act
By Juan Gutierrez, News channel 4
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Feb. 14, 2013) — Las Cruces resident Sherry Kirk, 64, thought she would be spending her golden years enjoying retirement, but instead she's facing foreclosure.
Kirk tragically lost her husband after being beat from a neighbor when he went outside to pick up the paper. "I just couldn't believe he was gone just like that he was gone," Kirk said.
View here: Press conference
Kirk tragically lost her husband after being beat from a neighbor when he went outside to pick up the paper. "I just couldn't believe he was gone just like that he was gone," Kirk said.
View here: Press conference
Clergy, Community Leaders Welcome President Obama’s Commitment to Change, Call for Citizenship
NM Communites in Action and Faith (CAFé) reiterates commitment to citizenship for American immigrant families
Las Cruces, NM —On Tuesday, January 29, faith leaders from across the country joined with DREAM Act students and other community leaders in Las Vegas as President Obama laid out his plan to change the broken immigration laws that have torn families apart. NM CAFé will be reacting to the president’s remarks this Saturday from 2-4pm at First Christian Church, 1809 El Paseo Road across from Las Cruces High School.
Read full press release here: Press Release
Read full press release here: Press Release
Dream home turns nightmare foreclosure: Lawmakers offered mortgage reform measures during session
By Todd G. Dickson, LC Bulletin
Las Cruces, NM (Jan. 24, 2013)- Margaret and Victoria Loring designed their dream home north of Las Cruces just before the housing bubble burst in 2008. The home was large – to accommodate the couple’s menagerie of rescued dogs, cats and guinea pigs, but also to have desired comforts of a small home entertainment theater and a swimming pool. The home was also expensive, but Margaret Loring, who had good experiences “flipping” homes during the height of the housing boom, said she believed they could handle the payments for a few years, during which she could take advantage of lower interest rates in the future. Read full story here: Page A1 and Page A12
Corrections to article: Please note that Rose Ann Vasquez is not a housing counselor as stated in the article. She is a community organizer with CAFé. For housing counseling, contact Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation located at 210 E. Idaho Street, (575) 541-0477. Also the homeowner featured in the story, Margaret Loring, is a retired college professor.
Corrections to article: Please note that Rose Ann Vasquez is not a housing counselor as stated in the article. She is a community organizer with CAFé. For housing counseling, contact Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation located at 210 E. Idaho Street, (575) 541-0477. Also the homeowner featured in the story, Margaret Loring, is a retired college professor.
Latino Voters urge Obama to keep immigration promise
By Don Gonyea, NPR Morning Edition
Washington D.C. (Jan. 18, 2013) - Latino voters were a key to President Obama's victory in November, turning out in big numbers and supporting Obama by more than 2 to 1 over Republican Mitt Romney. Now, many of those voters say to it's time for Obama to do something he did not do in his first term: push hard for and sign a comprehensive immigration overhaul.
Alejandra Gomez, who lives in New Mexico, told an emotional story about her two brothers' deportation last year. "My prayers for 2013 is that President Obama and the Congress will act to finally fix our immigration system and create a path to citizenship for families like mine, so that families like mine can reunite," she said.
The president again begins a term of office calling immigration a priority. Many Latinos hope that's for real this time.
Alejandra Gomez, who lives in New Mexico, told an emotional story about her two brothers' deportation last year. "My prayers for 2013 is that President Obama and the Congress will act to finally fix our immigration system and create a path to citizenship for families like mine, so that families like mine can reunite," she said.
The president again begins a term of office calling immigration a priority. Many Latinos hope that's for real this time.
'Dreamers' get chance, Siblings qualify for immigration offer
By Todd G. Dickson, LC Bulletin
Las Cruces, NM (Jan. 18, 2013) - Daniel Lara flew to the nation's capitol Wednesday, Jan. 16, to take part in a national conference on immigration reform, something that would have been inconceivable to him a few months ago.
The 21-year-old student at New Mexico State University was even afraid to travel out of state because he was brought to this country as a young boy - along with his sister Yanin now 17 - by his parents, who are undocumented migrants from Mexico. Traveling used to mean the risk of deportation. Read full story here: LC Bulletin Page A1 and Page A11
The 21-year-old student at New Mexico State University was even afraid to travel out of state because he was brought to this country as a young boy - along with his sister Yanin now 17 - by his parents, who are undocumented migrants from Mexico. Traveling used to mean the risk of deportation. Read full story here: LC Bulletin Page A1 and Page A11
DREAMer and Local New Mexican Alejandra Gomez Featured in AFL-CIO National Blog
A Prayer for 2013: That Congress and President Obama Will Create a Road Map to Citizenship
By Luis Santoyo, AFL-CIO
January 17th, 2013-To the lyrics of African American spirituals and freedom songs like “Guide My Feet” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round,” a group made up of DREAMers, their families, clergy and other people of faith in Washington, D.C., earlier today launched the nationwide Campaign for Citizenship to call on Congress to create a road map to citizenship for the country’s 11 million aspiring Americans. “For millions of families, the supper table is the daily reminder of loved ones who have been taken from them by our nation’s broken immigration system,” said the Rev. Richard Smith, pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist in San Francisco.
Alejandra Gómez, a DREAMer and aspiring citizen from New Mexico, spoke of brothers Julio, 20, and Reymundo, 23, who were detained by local police about a year ago while collecting scrap metal to help support the family.
Read Full Story Here: AFL-CIO
Alejandra Gómez, a DREAMer and aspiring citizen from New Mexico, spoke of brothers Julio, 20, and Reymundo, 23, who were detained by local police about a year ago while collecting scrap metal to help support the family.
Read Full Story Here: AFL-CIO
Fronteras 301: Illegal Immigrants in New Mexico Long & Nolan
By KRWG news
Las Cruces, NM (Jan. 16, 2013) - Fronteras: A Changing America (Ep. 301) Monica Ortiz Uribe discusses illegal immigrants with State issued driver's licenses. The guests for this show were Captain of Doña Ana Sheriff's Dept. Manion Long and the Director of NM Communities in Action & Faith (CAFe) Sarah Nolan.
New Mexico licenses ease fear of deportation, immigrants say
By Heath Haussamen, New Mexico In Depth
Alan Tarango
January 9, 2013 - Las Cruces Sun News: Deportation is a risk for undocumented immigrants living in the United States, but Alejandra Gomez doesn't worry about it much. Her New Mexico driver's license gives her confidence that she's less likely to be deported.
Alan Tarango of Sunland Park, on the other hand, doesn't have a license and doesn't drive because his mother fears he could be pulled over and deported.
Tarango and Gomez were both born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, but the two have only known life in the United States. Both fear deportation and say they would try to return if ever sent back to Mexico.
Both believe having a New Mexico driver's license helps undocumented immigrants function in America while reducing the chance of deportation.
Read full story here: LC Sun News
Alan Tarango of Sunland Park, on the other hand, doesn't have a license and doesn't drive because his mother fears he could be pulled over and deported.
Tarango and Gomez were both born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, but the two have only known life in the United States. Both fear deportation and say they would try to return if ever sent back to Mexico.
Both believe having a New Mexico driver's license helps undocumented immigrants function in America while reducing the chance of deportation.
Read full story here: LC Sun News
New Mexico license debate is about immigration and public safety
By Heath Haussamen, New Mexico In Depth
Alejandra Gomez
January 9, 2013 - Las Cruces Sun News: Gomez, a 21-year-old mother of two, is one of tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants living in New Mexico. An unknown number have been issued driver's licenses under a 2003 law that let people without Social Security numbers, including immigrants who aren't in the United States legally, get licenses. Like Gomez, many use those licenses to accomplish everyday tasks such as going to work, taking children to school and buying groceries.
Read full article here: LC Sun News
Read full article here: LC Sun News
TU Revista Latina features CAFé in their fall edition
Faith based organizing is about people, and CAFé aspires to create a culture of support that empowers New Mexicans to act on their own behalf towards a better quality of life. Since its inception CAFé has been a crucial actor in the political landscape in southern New Mexico creating a “land of opportunity” by challenging our elected leaders to put the needs of families and the common good of New Mexico first. At the helm of CAFé’s efforts are strong spiritual leaders who have played a pivotal role in healing the state and restoring people’s confidence in a responsive government that promotes opportunity for all. Full article
Our sincere thanks to Gloria & Junior Vaquera for their professionalism and for including CAFé in their highly respected and quality bilingual magazine.
Our sincere thanks to Gloria & Junior Vaquera for their professionalism and for including CAFé in their highly respected and quality bilingual magazine.
A Homeowner's Story: My unexpected foreclosure journey
by Rose Ann Vasquez
Rose Ann Vasquez, mother of 3 and lifelong resident of Las Cruces, found herself facing foreclosure last year of the home where she raised her children. She is not alone. There are millions of homeowners facing foreclosure across the United States. Read her story and how organizing others in her community has empowered her to do more. Full story
CAFé meets voter registration goal in Dona Ana County: Registers 1,500 residents
Las Cruces, NM – NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fe (CAFé) and its various partners reached their goal of registering 1,500 new and unlikely voters across Dona Ana County. The collaboration was to ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote in this year’s general election.
Click here to read Press Release: Press release
Click here to read Press Release: Press release
"Home is where the Vote IS" press conference news: September 27, 2012
Las Cruces, NM - CAFé announces that it has been awarded funds from the National Mortgage Settlement to increase resources for homeowners in Dona Ana County.
ABC Channel 7 News:
Click here for the full video by NM Mobile Newsroom reporter Vanessa de la Viña
KDBC Channel 4 News:
Click here for the abbreviated story by Juan Gutierrez
ABC Channel 7 News:
Click here for the full video by NM Mobile Newsroom reporter Vanessa de la Viña
KDBC Channel 4 News:
Click here for the abbreviated story by Juan Gutierrez
Experts and Housing Advocates meet at White House to Push Administration for Solutions to Foreclosure Crisis: September 20, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – A local homeowner, Rose Ann Vasquez with NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFé), and housing counselor, Dolores Rosell, with YWCA of Las Cruces traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with top Obama Administration officials at the White House about implementing bold solutions to the housing crisis that has enveloped the nation. Click here to read the press release: Press Release
CAFe HOSTS CLINICS TO AID NEW MEXICANS WITH DEFERRED ACTION PROCESS:
August 24, 2012
Click here to view the press release: Press Release
Power to the People
The Deming Headlight, July 8, 2012
NM CAFe staff Carli Romero, Civic Engagement Campaign Manager, and Mariaelena Johnson, Faith & Democracy Fellow, reach out to the county clerk in Luna County to discuss the Land of Opportunity campaign.
NM CAFe staff Carli Romero, Civic Engagement Campaign Manager, and Mariaelena Johnson, Faith & Democracy Fellow, reach out to the county clerk in Luna County to discuss the Land of Opportunity campaign.
Good news? Foreclosure rate is down, but experts warn that many are still in trouble
Las Cruces Sun News, July 1, 2012
NM CAFe Executive Director Sarah Nolan and other experts warn that Las Cruces is still in the midst of a foreclosure crises as many homeowners are underwater and still struggling with no economic relief in sight.
NM CAFe Executive Director Sarah Nolan and other experts warn that Las Cruces is still in the midst of a foreclosure crises as many homeowners are underwater and still struggling with no economic relief in sight.
