Latinos United for Healthcare


NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS: SCRAP FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT DEPUTIZES POLICE AS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
287(g) program fails to make communities safer and instead leads to racial profiling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 46 of the nation’s most preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, calls on the federal government to end the 287(g) program, which permits the federal government to deputize inadequately trained state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law. In a resolution adopted by NHLA’s board, the coalition also committed itself to a campaign to discourage local and state jurisdictions from entering into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and to instead adopt community trust policies that strengthen the relationships among local law enforcement, city officials, and immigrant residents and their families.

Investigations and reports by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office, among others, have found that the 287(g) program emboldens law enforcement to engage in illegal racial profiling tactics that target immigrant and Latino communities, and that there are insufficient internal controls to ensure adequate oversight of local law enforcement. For example, the Department of Justice found that Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona used a 287(g) agreement with ICE to engage in a pattern and practice of constitutional violations against Latinos, based on rampant racial profiling. Similar abuses were found in North Carolina by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, which used a 287(g) agreement to establish checkpoints into predominantly Latino neighborhoods, among other racial profiling tactics.

Rather than increasing public safety, 287(g) agreements foster an environment of fear and hostility that creates distrust between community members and local law enforcement. This discourages immigrants and others from coming forward when they are the victims of crime and from aiding law enforcement in the investigation of crime. Research has shown that the negative impacts on communities can be far-reaching, including poorer health outcomes.

Despite these facts, the Trump Administration is promoting 287(g) agreements, and 18 new jurisdictions have applied to join the program. Given the overwhelming evidence that 287(g) programs encourage abusive use of power against Latinos, NHLA strongly urges ICE and its Internal Advisory Committee, which is charged with reviewing and assessing pending 287(g) applications, not to move these 18 applications forward.

“The 287(g) program exists to make politicians feel good about themselves while wasting taxpayer money, violating the constitutional rights of people of color, and failing to make communities any safer. This program must end, and if the Trump administration insists on pursuing it, we will encourage jurisdictions one-by-one not to participate,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“Law enforcement professionals know that cooperation between local police and ICE simply leads to an inevitable reduction in public safety; it can also trigger significant and costly legal liability for misconduct,” said Thomas A. Saenz, Vice Chair of NHLA and President and General Counsel of MALDEF. “When elected officials, including sheriffs, enter into these agreements, they are sacrificing their constituents’ safety to the Trump Administration’s nativist agenda; the Latino community will not support, in any way, such a devil’s bargain.”

"While the White House may be focused on doubling down on bad immigration policies, we are going to do everything within our power to ensure that state and local governments refuse to get entangled in a federal program that increases racial profiling and causes immeasurable harm to community trust and public safety," said José Calderón, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Immigration Committee and President of the Hispanic Federation.

“Expanding the 287(g) program would harm immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and trafficking, by pushing them further into the shadows and reinforcing their fear of deportation when reporting crimes to local law enforcement agencies,” said Patricia Tototzintle, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Latina Task Force and CEO of Casa de Esperanza. “If immigrant victims and witnesses do not trust local law enforcement this not only further endangers them, but undermines overall public safety in the community.”

“The essential ingredient of a constructive relationship between local police forces and the communities they are supposed to serve and protect is TRUST. The collaborative agreements between the federal government and local police forces on immigration policy matters, known as 287 (g) agreements, lead to the opposite of TRUST. For this sole reason, these agreements should be rejected. As taxpayers, all immigrants deserve the benefits of police forces they can trust on all matters of public safety,” said Oscar Chacon, member of NHLA’s Immigration Committee and Executive Director of Alianza Americas.

“One of the very few good things the Obama administration did in immigration enforcement was to slowly walk away from local law enforcement cooperation agreements because they make no sense from a policing best-practices point of view and from the serious risk of encouraging unconstitutional racial profiling against Latino residents of the country. Our local police have more important things to do than trying to figure out the complexities of U.S. immigration law and deciding who has permission to stay. The 287(g) program nurtures excessive policing, loss of confidence in our police and our courts, and a disdain for our constitutional principle that group suspicion is unlawful. Latinos know racial profiling very well. And they know that 287(g) has no place in law enforcement,” said Juan Cartagena, Chair of NHLA’s Criminal Justice Working Group and President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 46 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American G.I. Forum | ASPIRA Association | Avance Inc. | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | Green Latinos | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund | Mi Familia Vota | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Journalists | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina/o Psychological Association | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | Presente.org | SER Jobs for Progress National | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.- Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino

Healthcare Press Releases

  • Nov 13, 2014 - NHLA ORGANIZATIONS GEARING UP TO INCREASE LATINO HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 13, 2014 NHLA ORGANIZATIONS GEARING UP TO INCREASE LATINO HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT New enrollment period for ACA’s Health Insurance Marketplaces presents opportunity to build on previous success in securing health coverage for Latinos Washington, D.C. – Member organizations of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation’s preeminent Latino organizations, are preparing extensive outreach efforts to boost enrollment and re-enrollment of eligible Latinos during the upcoming open season of the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplaces that open on November 15. Last year’s enrollment efforts resulted in a significant drop… Read More

  • Oct 8, 2014 - HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS +

    For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS Immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and those who benefit from expanded administrative relief should have access to the programs their taxes pay for Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, has called on President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell to restore access to affordable health coverage and care to those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the President established… Read More

  • Oct 8, 2014 - NHLA LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA REGARDING HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS +

    October 8, 2014 The Honorable Barack H. Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Re: Health Care Access for Deferred Action Recipients Dear President Obama: We write on behalf of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 leading national Latino civil rights and advocacy organizations, to urge you to undertake expansive administrative action to provide health care access to undocumented immigrants with grants of deferred action, both under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and any future affirmative administrative relief programs. Administrative action is warranted in light of the chronic and severe lack… Read More

  • Mar 5, 2014 - LATINO LEADERS PRAISE UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET AS SBA ADMINISTRATOR +

    PRESS RELEASE March 5, 2014 LATINO LEADERS PRAISE UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET AS SBA ADMINISTRATOR NHLA urges swift Senate Floor Vote for Latina business and community leader who would be second Latino in President's Cabinet and highest-ranking Latina in the Administration Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) today praised Senators on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for unanimously supporting the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet as Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator. The next step toward confirmation is a full vote of the United States Senate and NHLA urges Senators to move swiftly in scheduling a floor… Read More

  • Mar 5, 2014 - LATINO LEADERS SEND LETTERS TO U.S. SENATE IN SUPPORT OF LATINO NOMINEES FOR HUD AND SBA +

    PRESS RELEASE March 5, 2014 LATINO LEADERS SEND LETTERS TO U.S. SENATE IN SUPPORT OF LATINO NOMINEES FOR HUD AND SBA NHLA urges YES votes on confirmation for Maria Contreras-Sweet to head SBA and offer support prior to hearing for Gustavo Velasquez to be Assistant Secretary at HUD Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), the coalition of 37 preeminent national Latino organizations, sent letters to United States Senators on behalf of two highly qualified nominees: Maria Contreras-Sweet to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and, Mr. Gustavo Velasquez to be an Assistant Secretary of the United… Read More

  • Feb 25, 2014 - With Affordable Care Act Enrollment Deadlines Approaching, NHLA Boosts Outreach +

    PRESS RELEASE February 25, 2014 With Affordable Care Act Enrollment Deadlines Approaching, NHLA Boosts Outreach Various events planned for Latino Enrollment Week of Action Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation’s preeminent Latino organizations, and its members have multiple events planned during the Latino Enrollment Week of Action, as part of their continued efforts to ensure as many eligible Latinos as possible enroll in health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace. March 15 is the deadline to sign up for coverage that goes into effect on April 1,… Read More

  • Feb 12, 2014 - LA PEQUEÑA EMPRESA Y LA LEY DEL CUIDADO DE SALUD A BAJO PRECIO +

    Cientos de miles de propietarios de pequeñas empresas han aprovechado del crédito tributario de la ley, que asciende hasta un 35% de su aporte a la prima del seguro, cifra que se elevará al 50 por ciento el próximo año, para ayudarles a brindar cobertura a sus empleados. Entérese más acerca de Créditos Tributarios para la Pequeña Empresa. Las primas de seguros patrocinados por los empleadores aumentaron solo el 3 por ciento el 2012, la tasa más baja registrada hasta ahora. Y conforme a la ley, una mayor responsabilidad de las compañías de seguros ha significado que las pequeñas empresas… Read More

  • Jan 6, 2014 - LA CELEBRACIÓN CONTINÚA: EL DÍA DE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS Y EL MERCADO DE SEGUROS MÉDICOS +

    Mayra E. Álvarez on January 06, 2014 at 01:42 PM EST Nota del editor: Este blog se ha extraído del blog de la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías Cuando era niña, siempre esperaba con ilusión el 6 de enero. Para muchos de mis amigos, las celebraciones de Navidad habían terminado y Santa Claus ya estaba de vuelta en el Polo Norte ocupado preparándose para la siguiente temporada navideña. Para mis hermanas y para mí, y para muchos otros en la comunidad latina, los regalos no se habían acabado ya que todavía quedaba por celebrar el Día de los Tres… Read More

  • Nov 12, 2013 - LA LEY DEL CUIDADO DE SALUD A BAJO PRECIO: SU SALUD, DE FORMA SENCILLA +

    Lo primero que tiene que saber con respecto a la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio es que ya está funcionando para millones de personas que viven en Estados Unidos. El 85% de las personas que viven en Estados Unidos que ya tienen seguro de salud ahora obtienen mejor calidad por su dinero, tienen acceso a atención preventiva sin copagos y ahorran dinero en medicamentos con receta en el período sin cobertura de la Parte D de Medicare. Lo segundo que debe saber es que para el 15% de las personas que viven en Estados Unidos que no… Read More

  • Oct 21, 2013 - Latino Leaders to Announce Enrollment Campaign for National Hispanic Health Week of Action +

    NHLA To Hold Press Conference Launching Efforts to Encourage Hispanic Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces MEDIA ADVISORYOctober 21, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.—This afternoon the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 36 of the nation’s preeminent Latino organizations, will host a press conference to kick off a National Hispanic Health Week of Action to raise awareness among Hispanic families about the affordable health coverage options available in the Health Insurance Marketplaces that are part of the Affordable Care Act.   Currently, almost one in three Latinos do not have health insurance and over 10 million are uninsured. NHLA strongly advocated… Read More
  • 1
  • 2
› ‹