Crackdown on Immigrants

Dear Editor,

After rumors – apparently false – circulated about a new wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Greenlining Institute called for an immediate end to the current crackdown on immigrants. Greenlining Institute President Orson Aguilar made the following statement: “Because of these pointless and cruel raids, whole communities are on edge for no good reason. Officials say they’re cracking down on supposed criminals, but we know that many have been swept up who have no criminal records, along with at least one Dreamer who should have been immune from detention and removal under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

“What America needs is sensible, comprehensive immigration reform that enables full participation in American society by 12 million immigrants who are Americans in every way except for what papers they possess. These immigrants are part of our neighborhoods and workplaces. They pay taxes. They help build our communities. Instead of wasting tax dollars to hunt down people whose only crime is seeking a better life or to build our own version of the Berlin Wall, we should use our nation’s resources to strengthen our communities, improve our schools and make sure that all within our borders have access to health care.”

THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE – A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute, www.greenlining.org ****

From AREAA Greater Chicago

Dear Editor, Thank you for coming! Thank you for attending AREAA Greater Chicago’s Inaugural Ceremony & Gala! We continually strive to improve our events for our members and the real estate community,

AREEA Greater Chicago Chapter

 

Editor’s Note: Please read page 32, Club Presidents column by Ryan Tejero, about Vicky Silvano, AREAA’s ****

From Commission on Asian American & Pacific Islanters

Ten members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders submitted their resignations to President Trump. This move comes less than a month after the resignation of six other Commissioners, who resigned on January 20, 2017, despite having terms that do not officially end until September 30, 2017. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA- 27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), released the following statement: “The en masse resignations of these 10 Commissioners speak volumes about the depth of opposition to President Trump’s recent actions, especially in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. This includes hateful Executive Orders that threaten immigrant, Muslim and refugee communities. Under previous Democratic and Republican administrations, the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has enabled the federal government to better serve the AAPI community. But rather than empower this Commission, President Trump has chosen to undermine the very principles that guide their work. And instead of seeing the Commission as a path towards unity, Mr. Trump has embraced division. This deeply troubling shift signals that far from working to build a more inclusive government, we have a President that now seeks to advance discriminatory policies that strike fear in our communities.

“I commend the members of the President’s Advisory Commission, all of whom have made an indelible impact on the well-being and advancement of AAPIs across our nation. Their work to engage community networks, federal agencies, and AAPI leaders and to make government more accessible to our communities is truly commendable, and we are a stronger country because of their contributions. Their bold and principled stand reminds us that we must continue to reject hateful and discriminatory policies and work to protect the civil rights of all Americans.”