Immigration advocates advice to DACA recipients: Hope for the best, plan for the worst

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GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO HORIZONTE.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: I AM HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THE PROGRAM KNOWN AS DACA THAT WAS AFFECTUATED UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS BEING RESENDED. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ENDS THE DACA PROGRAM THAT OFFERS TEMPORARY DEPORTATION PROTECTION TO IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT TO THE U-S ILLEGALLY AS CHILDREN. WE’LL HAVE ANALYSIS IN A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION. AND, FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR LATINO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY A DISABILITY. ALL COMING UP ON HORIZONTE.

 

“HORIZONTE” IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOINNING US. I’M JOSE CARDENAS. PRESIDENT TRUMP MOVED TO END DACA, THE PROGRAM THAT PROTECTS THE NEARLY 800,000 YOUNG UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS KNOWN AS DREAMERS FROM BEING DEPORTED.

 

JEFF SESSIONS: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. SUCH AN OPEN ENDED IMMIGRATION LAW WAS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL EXERCISE OF THE AUTHORITY FROM THE BRANCH. THE AFFECT OF THIS AMNESTY CONTRIBUTED TO A SURGE OF MINORS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER THAT YIELDED TERRIBLE HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES. IT DENIED JOBS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS BY LETTING ILLEGAL ALIENS TAKE THE JOBS. THE POLICY IS VULNERABLE TO THE SAME LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGED THAT THE COURT RECOGNIZED WITH RESPECT TO THE DAPA PROGRAM.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT ARE KORINA IRIBE ROMO, WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FOR EDUCATION EQUITY.AYENSA MILLAN, MANAGING ATTORNEY WITH CIMA LAW GROUP. SEAN NOBLE, PARTNER WITH COMPASS STRATEGIES. AND ROY HERRERA, WITH LEWIS ROCA, ROTHGERBER CHRISTIE. YOU ARE AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER. GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY?

 

AYENSA MILLAN: ESSENTIALLY, WHAT HAPPENED WAS DACA, A PROGRAM PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED IN 2012, THAT ALLOWED CERTAIN UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO AQUIRE A WORK PERMIT. THAT IS ESSENTIALLY, WHAT IT WAS. THEY RECENDED THAT EXECUTIVE ACTION AND THEY DELAYED THE FULL RESCISSION OF THE PROGRAM AND THEY GAVE A DATE OF MARCH 5TH OF 2018. WHAT THEY SAID WAS THAT PEOPLE THAT HAD NOT APPLIED AT THIS POINT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY AS OF YESTERDAY OR SEPTEMBER 5TH. THEY ALSO HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 5TH OF THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO RENEW. IF YOU DO NOT FALL WITHIN OCTOBER 5TH AND MARCH 5TH YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW YOUR WORK PERMIT AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IT WILL ALLOW THESE YOUNG STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR WORK PERMIT UNTIL THEY EXPIER.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: ONE QUICK QUESTION. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD DACA STATUS? WHATEVER REASON ALLOWED IT TO LAPSE. WILL THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW IT?

 

AYENSA MILLAN: OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF THEY CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THEIR DACA, MEANING THEIR CARD HAS EXPIRED, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW IT AT THIS POINT.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: WHY YESTERDAY? WHAT WAS THE MAGIC OF SEPTEMBER 5TH?

 

ROY HERRERA: A NUMBER OF STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS HAVE WRITTEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO BRING A LAWSUIT TO THE SAME GROUNDS ON MANY OF THE SAME GROUNDS THE ATTORNEY GENERALS BROUGHT FOR THE DAPA PROGRAM. THEY WERE GOING TO BRING A SIMILAR LAWSUIT AGAINST DACA AND TOLD THEM IF YOU DIDN’T RESEND THE PROGRAM BY THIS DATE THEY WOULD GET THE LAWSUIT. ATTORNEY JEFF SESSIONS DIDN’T WANT TO DEFEND THIS LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT SO IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE BLAME THEY PUNTED THE ISSUE AND BASICALLY SAID WE ARE CREATING THIS SIX-MONTH DELAY AND CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND HELP THESE DREAMERS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: EVEN IF THEY HAD CHOSEN ULTIMATELY NOT TO DEFEND. AS I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN EXISTING LAWSUIT, THE PARTY WOULD HAVE PROPOSED THE MOTION TO AMEND. THERE WAS A COLUMN POINTING OUT THERE WERE MONTHS BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE HAD TO TAKE A POSITION. WHY SEPTEMBER 5TH? WAS IT THE POLITICS OF IT?

 

ROY HERRERA: AGAIN, WHILE THE LAWSUIT WAS SUCCESSFUL AGAINST DAPA AND BY SUCCESSFUL I MEAN SUCCESSFUL AT THE COURT OF APPEALS LEVEL AND NEVER WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT. EVEN IF IT WALK CHALLENGED UNDER THE SAME GROUND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LONG RUN WAY IN A LAWSUIT BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE FOUND OUT WHETHER A COURT WOULD FIND IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT. HE MADE THE DECISION PURELY IN MY VIEW FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION HE IS ESSENTIALLY TOLD CONGRESS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT AGAIN THIS WAS HIS DECISION AND IN MY VIEW ONE OF THE CRUELEST DECISIONS AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT HAS DONE. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, THESE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, HAVE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES UP ENDED AND WE DON’T KNOW WHETHER CONGRESS WILL DO THE WORK TO HELP THEM.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: MAYBE YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION NOW BUT COULDN’T HE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION? AND I DON’T KNOW TO MAINTAIN DACA BUT TO SAY DACA IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY RIGHT AWAY I WILL WORK WITH CONGRESS TO GET THE DREAM ACT PASS AND IF THAT DOESN’T WORK OUT I WILL END DACA. PRETTY STRONG BACKLASH ALMOST UNIVERSAL.

 

SEAN NOBLE: THIS WAS DRIVEN BY TOP SESSIONS MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: REPORTS ARE THE PRESIDENT IS TROUBLED WITH IT.

 

SEAN NOBLE: I THINK HE WAS GETTING INPUT FROM PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM AND FRIENDS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO SAID WAIT A MINUTE THIS ISN’T NECESSARILY A GOOD THING. DESPITE WHAT JEFF SESSIONS SAID ABOUT THE JOBS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN BY THESE DREAMERS, WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WE HAVE HAD IN YEARS. I AM NOT SURE THEY COULD ACTUALLY POINT TO PLACES WHERE — WE HAVE A LOT OF JOBS THAT NEED FILLING HERE IN ARIZONA AND OTHER PLACES. I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN ULTIMATELY IS TRUMP DECIDED TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE WAS BEING TOLD THIS IS A CAMPAIGN PROMISE HE MADE. THEY THINK VERY MUCH THE SAME. SO JEFF SESSIONS AND STEVEN MILLER ARE KIND OF A MIND MELD AND THAT WAS DRIVING THE AGENDA ON THIS. I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT TRUMP SAYS LOOK CONGRESS, YOU HAVE TO PASS THIS. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING. I AM PRETTY OPTIMISTIC AND I USED TO AS AN EXAMPLE OR THIS WEEK WHEN TRUMP DECIDED TO SIDE WITH CHUCK SCHUMER AND NANCY PELOSI ON THE DEBT CEILING ISSUE AND THROUGH MITCH MCCONNELL AND PAUL RYAN UNDER THE BUS. I THINK SOME OF US PROJECTED IF HE GETS ELECTED HE WILL NOT BE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN BUT A DEAL MAKER. I THINK HE IS NOW DEMONSTRATING THIS. HE MADE A DEAL WITH THE DEBT CEILING I THINK AND I THINK THAT OPENS THE DOOR ARE THE DREAM ACT TO COME INTO PLACE DESPITE THE PROTESTACEANS SOME OF THE MORE HARD RIGHT REPUBLICAN PARTY IN CONGRESS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: KORINA, I KNOW FROM DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD YOU ARE NOT AS OPTIMISTIC THE PRESIDENT WILL WANT TO SEE THE ENACTMENT OF THE DREAMER ACT.

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: I HAVE DACA. I APPLIED IN 2012 WHEN THE INITIAL APPLICATIONS WERE ROLLED OUT. I THINK FOR US, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ARIZONA, WE HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO THESE ATTACKS. ON THE FIRST DAY WE WERE DENIED OUR DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAD TO FIGHT THAT LEGAL AND AMNESTY BATTLE. WE SAW IT WITH OUR TUITION RATES WHICH WAS ALSO A LEGAL BATTLE. HERE IN ARIZONA WE WERE READY AND ORGANIZING FOR THIS. WHEN THE DECISION CAME, IT WAS STILL VERY DEVASTATING FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: NOT A SURPRISE THOUGH, I TAKE IT.

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: NOT A SURPRISE BUT A LET DOWN AND DEVASTATING. WE ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THESE ARE OUR LIVES AND HOMES WE BUILT AT STAKE AND OUR JOBS AND CAREERS AND THE FEAR OF BEING DRAGGED AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES. BEING AT RISK OF DEPORTATION WITH THE END OF THE DACA PROGRAM.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: I HAVE READ REPORTS SOME MAY DROP OUT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THIS. HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING LIKE THIS? PEOPLE BEING DISCOURAGED AND READY TO GIVE UP?

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON’T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REACH EVERY SINGLE DREAMER. THERE ARE 800,000 CONGRESS THE COUNTRY AND 28,000 IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. WE ARE EXHAUSTING ALL EFFORTS TO REACH THESE PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW THERE IS HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATION WILL FUND RAISE AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES WE CAN SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AS NORMALLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE WILL NOT REACH EVERY SINGLE PERSON. THAT IS WHAT THIS DECISION WILL DO. IT WILL DESTROY PEOPLE’S LIVES BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ANSWERS OR THEIR RESOURCES. BUT THERE IS HOPE. WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A FUND TO HELP PEOPLE RENEW THEIR APPLICATION.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: RENEW THE FEES?

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: RENEW THE FEES IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. WE ARE PARTNERING AT HELP FIND SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FOR STUDENTS AND WE ARE PROVIDING LEGAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THEM AS A COMMUNITY. I WORK WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FOR EDUCATION AND I AM ON THE TABLE WITH MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN, ONE OF THE POINTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE WAS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS VULNERABLE TO LEGAL CHALLENGE. IS THAT TRUE?

 

AYENSA MILLAN: IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY, WE HAVE HAD PRESIDENTS THAT HAVE USED DIFFERENT FORMS OF DEFERRED ACTION TO PROTECT AND FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST, FOR THE NATIONAL INTEREST WHO PROTECT A CERTAIN SECTION OF THE IMIMMIGRANT POPULATION. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW. WHAT OBAMA DID IS SOMETHING MANY OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DOING.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: YOU THINK IT WAS — IN LIGHT OF THE DECISION REACHED WITH RESPECT TO DAPA? WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS?

 

AYENSA MILLAN: I THINK THE DIFFERENCES IS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT IT WAS PROTECTING. THE MAIN ARGUMENT WAS IN HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT THE STATES. OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DREAMERS ARE A FRACTION OF THE AMOUNT OF UNDOCUMENTED.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: I THINK SOME PEOPLE SAID DACA WOULD EXTEND IT TO FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: LET ME ASK YOU. IF INDEED, AND IT DOES SEEM TO BE OR TO HEAR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY THE WEIGHT OF AUTHORITY EXPRESSED BY THE LEGAL ANALYST IS THAT DACA WOULD HAVE DONE THE WAY OF DAPA. WHAT IS WRONG WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID? WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DREAM ACT AND PASS IT AFTER 17 YEARS OF TRYING OR JUST GIVE UP. AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

 

ROY HERRERA: YEAH, I WISH AND HOPE THAT SEAN IS CORRECT AND CONGRESS IS ABLE TO DO IT. I DON’T HAVE THAT POSITIVE OUTLOOK SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PASS THE DREAM ACT FOR A VERY LONG TIME COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS ON CAPITOL HILL WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT AND WE HAD DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF CONGRESS AND IT STILL DIDN’T GET DONE.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: HERE SOME OF THE BLAME HAS BEEN PUT ON DEMOCRATS WHO DIDN’T WANT TO DO PIECE MEAL IMMIGRATION REFORM.

 

ROY HERRERA: EXACTLY. IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE DREAM ACT AS A STAND ALONE MEASURE YOU WOULD GET OVERWHELMING SUPPORT BUT IT GETS WRAPPED IN THE LARGER IMMIGRATION REFORM QUESTION WHICH INCLUDES ENFORCEMENT AND THAT IS WHY I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM GETTING IT PASSED BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE REPUBLICANS THAT SAY WE WILL DO THE DREAM ACT BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TIE IT TO ENFORCEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: SO WHAT HAPPENS IF REPUBLICANS INSIST ON FUNDING FOR THE WALL AS PART OF THE DEAL?

 

SEAN NOBLE: I THINK THERE ARE CHANCES SOME REPUBLICANS WILL INSIST ON THAT. THE HUMANITARIAN ASPECT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. WHAT IS PUTTING A FACE TO THIS. JEFF SESSIONS AND STEVEN MILLER DON’T PERSONALLY SEE THIS IN THEIR LIFE BUT HAD MORE THIS IS BROUGHT OUT AND TALKED ABOUT AND PUBLIC POLICY LEADERS ARE AWARE OF THIS I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS HARD AS IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT IS REALLY A PARTY OF COMPASSION. KEEP IN MIND, 1986, 1984 RONALD REAGAN COM CAMPAIGNED ON HIS ELECTION FOR AMNESTY. THAT HAPPENED IN 1986. I THINK WE NEED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE REALIZE WE ARE IN A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN EXPECT THESE KIDS TO GO BACK TO WHERE THEY ORIGINATED FROM. IT IS LIKE SAYING YOU CAN’T GO BACK TO ARIZONA YOU HAVE TO GO TO NEW YORK CITY.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AND CONSISTENTLY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE PRESIDENT IS PANDERING TO HIS BASE IN SO MANY AREAS AND HIS BASE IS EXPECTING DIFFICULT.

 

SEAN NOBLE: I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS I THINK THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GO HOME OVER THE BREAK OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS THE THIS HAPPENS. I DON’T THINK THE BASE GRAPPLES WITH THE FACT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WHO DON’T KNOW ANY OTHER HOME AND TO SAY WE WILL FORCE YOU TO GO BACK TO A PLACE YOU DON’T KNOW, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS TO, YOU DON’T HAVE ANYBODY THERE FOR YOU. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT. IT WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMIC. THAT MEANS THE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I DON’T BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A LEGISLATION THAT PASSES THAT PROTECTS DREAMERS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WILL DEMAND IT.

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: I THINK WE HAVE BEEN DEMANDING IT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AND THE SHARING OF NARRATIVE OF WHO WE ARE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT. WE DO IT EVERY DAY, ALL OF THE TIME. IT IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO WIN DACA. A LOT OF THE CREDIT GOES TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT IT WAS UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH WHO RISK THEMSELVES, PUT THEMSELVES TO BE ARRESTED TO ADVOCATE, TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR RE-ELECTION. THAT PUSHED HIM TO PASS THE DACA PROGRAM. AND I THINK FOR US, IF WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION WHETHER I PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS GOING TO PASS OR NOT I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO PUSH FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS MY LIVELIHOOD AND I THINK 800 DACA YOUTHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FEEL THE SAME WAY.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET TO MARCH 5TH, 2018 AND THERE IS NOTHING?

 

KORINA IRIBE ROMO: I THINK BEING PUSHED BACK INTO THE — SHADOWS IS NOT AN OPTION. YOU TALK ABOUT A COMPASSIONATE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS CAME ON. USING THE WORD COMPASSION INSINUATING WE WERE TERRORISTS AND WE STOLE JOBS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: WHAT ABOUT THE SURGE OF MINORS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA CROSSING THE BORDER? IS THAT A FAIR CHARGE?

 

ROY HERRERA: IT IS A CHARGE THAT HAS BEEN LEVELED A LOT. I THINK THAT GETS AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL ISSUE HERE ABOUT WHO IS RECEIVING DACA. FOR THE MOST PART, THESE 800,000 DREAMERS ARE PEOPLE WITH NO CRIMINAL HISTORY. THEY ARE 90 PLUS PERCENT OF THEM HAVE JOBS AND EDUCATED. THEY ARE A NET POSITIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

JOSE CARDENAS: SO THEY ARE CONTRIBUTORS?

 

ROY HERRERA: EXACTLY.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: ONE LAST QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME. PEOPLE COMMENTED ON THE PRESIDENT AFTER THIS ALL WENT DOWN THE OTHER DAY SAID IF CONGRESS DOESN’T TAKE CARE OF THIS I WILL REVISIT IT SUGGESTING WE WILL TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION.

 

AYENSA MILLAN: HE IS SUGGESTING IT IS LEGAL.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: INCONSISTENT?

 

AYENSA MILLAN: YEAH.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: ON THAT NOTE, WE WILL END THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON “HORIZONTE.” YOU ARE WATCHING “HORIZONTE” ON ARIZONA PBS. COMING UP NEXT FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR LATINO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY A DISABILITY.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: THE SECOND ANNUAL LATINO DISABILITY SUMMIT AND RESOURCE FAIR OFFERS RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS REBECA CAVAZOS, CO-CHAIR FOR THE LATINO DISABILITY SUMMIT & RESOURCE FAIR. WELCOME TO “HORIZONTE.”

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR. TELL US HOW THIS WHOLE THING GOT STARTED A YEAR AGO.

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: WELL, IT WAS AN INITIATIVE FOR TWO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW LATINOS GET — I AM SORRY.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: HAVE TROUBLE WITH GETTING SERVICES. AND YOU WORK FOR ABOUT 360 WHICH FOCUSES ON HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND AS I UNDERSTAND THEY NOTICED THERE WERE NOT AS MANY LATINOS PARTICIPATING.

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: YEAH, IN ALL THE SERVICES WE DO IT WAS A LOW PARTICIPATION OF THE LATINO PEOPLE. WE STARTED ALONG WITH AARP AND CHICANOS. THOSE ARE OUR PARTNERS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: SO, WAS THERE SOME ANALYSIS OR DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SENSE YOURSELF WHY IT IS LATINOS HAVEN’T BEEN PARTICIPATING MORE BROADLY IN THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THE LANGUAGE BARRIER AND ALSO CULTURAL BARRIER. I THINK LATINOS ARE A COMMUNITY THAT TEND TO PROTECT THEIR INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES AND WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT. WE WANT THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE INDEPENDENT. THEY CAN BE IN THE WORKFORCE AND THEY CAN HAVE RELATIONSHIP AND GO OUT AND PRACTICE SPORTS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AND ON THE CULTURAL SIDE OF IT, YOU OFTEN HEAR PART OF THE ISSUE, IF THERE IS ONE, IS THAT THE FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE.

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: YES, WE ARE VERY PROTECTIVE.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: ARE THERE SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AT THE FAIR THAT ARE OFFERED?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: YES, WE ARE READY TO RECEIVE PEOPLE THAT JUST SPEAK SPANISH AND WE WILL BE READY FOR THEM.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: THE MATERIALS TALK ABOUT OVER 50 PRESIDENTATIONS.

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: WE WILL HAVE A WORKSHOP AND 50 EXHIBITORS THAT OFFICER RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE EXHIBITORS PEOPLE WOULD SEE. AND THIS IS SEPTEMBER 16?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: SEPTEMBER 16TH FROM 9:00-4:00 AT MISSION 360. IT IS A GOOD REASON TO COME AND CELEBRATE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: THE EXHIBITORS WOULD INCLUDE?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: CHICANOS POR LA CAUSA, AARP, ABILITY 360 AND MANY OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS FROM DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND HEALTH PROVIDERS.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AND THE MATERIALS TALK ABOUT DEMONSTRATIONS. WHAT KIND OF DEMONSTRATIONS ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON HOW TO TRANSFER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY FROM THEIR WHEELCHAIR TO DIFFERENT STAGES. WE WILL HAVE FREE SCREENING FOR DENTAL, MEMORY SCREEN. WE HAVE GOING TO HAVE ALSO DVS ACCESSIBLE KIDS ZONE.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AND I TAKE IT THAT SOME OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS REALLY ARE TARGETED AT FAMILIES AND HOW TO CARE FOR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE DISABILITIES?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: THOSE ARE THE WORKSHOPS. WE WILL HAVE EIGHT WORKSHOPS. SOME OF THEM ARE DEDICATED TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO GET ADVOCACY, HEALTH SERVICES, SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPLIES, AND IMMIGRATION, TOO.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: ON THE IMMIGRATION SIDE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THERE? DO YOU THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON’T SOME FORWARD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY HAVE IMMIGRATION ISSUES?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: WE WILL HAVE TWO WORKSHOPS ONE OF THEM IS GET A PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHICH IS THEY CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF FROM FAMILY THAT MIGHT BE DEPORTED THEY NEED TO HAVE A PLAN AND WE WILL HAVE THAT WORKSHOP AND WE HAVE GOING TO BE OFFERING FREE IMMIGRATION CONSULTATION.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND? HOW MANY DID YOU HAVE LAST YEAR?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: LAST YEAR WE HAD 400 AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE MORE THIS YEAR.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: AND HOW WERE YOU PROMOTING IT? SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO TV?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: YES, TV, RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: DID YOU FIND LAST YEAR THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOT IT WERE MONOLINGUAL AND ONLY SPOKE SPANISH?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: NO, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST SPEAK ENGLISH TOO.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: IF PEOPLE WANT MORE INFORMATION WE PUT UP THE WEB SIDE INFORMATION AND PHONE NUMBERS. ANYTHING ELSE THEY SHOULD KNOW?

 

REBECA CAVAZOS: THAT THE EVENT IS COMPLETELY FREE AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US SEPTEMBER 16TH. AT ABOUT 630. 5025 EAST WASHINGTON STREET.

 

JOSE CARDENAS: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS GOOD LUCK WITH THE EVENT. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. FOR ARIZONA P-B-S AND HORIZONTE I’M JOSE CARDENAS HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

 

“HORIZONTE” IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

 

Ted Simons, host and managing editor of

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