Los Angeles, CA – In early 2014 there was hope that undocumented parents would be able to be protected against deportation, when President Obama issued an executive order to create Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Deferred Action for Children Arrivals, also known as DAPA/DACA. In 2014, 26 Republican governors, led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, filed a lawsuit in federal court that blocked its implementation. The Obama administration filed a speedy appeal challenging the Republican-led lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in April and issue a ruling in June 2016. Millions of people will be are anxiously watching this ruling. Centro CSO plans to continue fighting for Deferred Action and legalization for all in the East Side of Los Angeles.

This January members of the Boyle Heights community group Centro CSO gathered to start the New Year fighting against deportations and in favor of Deferred Action. Knocking door-to-door, flyering outside of churches and taking to the streets, members of Centro CSO obtained many petition signatures in support of Deferred Action.

Centro CSO is a grassroots community-based organization that fights for equality for Mexicans, Chicanos and Latinos in the Boyle Heights area.

On Jan. 20, Centro CSO organized a successful first meeting for the year, in the heart of Boyle Heights. Plans for 2016 include a March 5 action to pressure the U.S. Supreme court for a favorable ruling on Deferred Action. Chicano activist Carlos Montes, arrested in the 1968 ELA walkouts, called on the meeting to unite and make plans for a large march and rally on May 1 in the heart of Boyle Heights to demand legalization for all and equality for Chicanos and Latinos.

Boyle Heights has a long history of resistance and mass marches against attacks. In 1994 over 150,000 people, mostly Latinos, marched in the heart of Boyle Heights to protest California proposition 187 that would have criminalized the undocumented.

Last year’s Central American refugee crisis shines a light on how the U.S.’s lack of immigration reform and a fair refugee policies causes suffering for Central Americans. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs Enforcement began deportation proceedings of Central Americans who have been denied political asylum. Central Americans may be granted political asylum but they must file an application and prove their case. However Mexicans are not eligible for political asylum and to avoid arrest by ICE take the dangerous routes to cross the U.S. border. They face death crossing dangerous desert terrain and violence on the border. Racist attacks continue against the undocumented and are being promoted by politicians like billionaire Donald Trump.

“Deferred Action for Parents of Americans will open the doors to many parents who have been in the shadows for years,” says Maria Ocampo of Centro CSO. “The parents who day after day fight for a dream. They deserve the right to live with no fear of being deported. No more separation of families!”

“A new year means a new victory left to fight for and win,” Says Sol Marquez another member of Centro CSO. “While Trump and other politicians running for U.S. president are busy trying to fool us, deportations continue. And while many organizations would push the undocumented aside, in Boyle Heights we’re trying to organize them to fight back! DAPA would mean protection against deportations for thousands of undocumented immigrants.”

Centro CSO has monthly organizing meetings. If you would like to get involved call 323-943-2030 or email [email protected]. If you would like to sign the online DAPA petition click here: https://centrocso.wordpress.com/l-a-support-legalization-for-all-now-sign-the-petition/

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