Latinos United for Immigration Reform

July 27, 2017 - Latino Leaders Condemn U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ New Compliance Requirements for Department of Justice Grant Programs

LATINO LEADERS CONDEMN U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS’ NEW COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, condemns U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to restrict Department of Justice (DOJ) grants from being given to cities that declare themselves as a sanctuary to immigrants. Sessions stated that recipients of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) will face new requirements in order to continue receiving the funds, including an increase in information sharing between federal and local governments. The DOJ alleges that jurisdictions with community trust policies that restrict the involvement or entanglement of local law enforcement with federal immigration enforcement are a public safety concern. In reality, the DOJ seeks to take away the ability of state and local jurisdictions to establish their own law enforcement priorities focused on building trust with immigrant communities and ensure victims of crimes are comfortable coming forward, and it is doing so by attacking much-needed law enforcement dollars.

NHLA continues to advocate for immigration policies that respect the dignity of the individual and end criminalization of Latino immigrants; it is essential that the role of immigration enforcement stay with federal authorities. To threaten cities that seek to provide a safe space for immigrants contradicts the development of humane immigration policy, encourages racial profiling, and perpetuates the false narrative that immigrants are dangerous to our nation.

“It is disturbing to see the very department that should be providing justice for all moving forward with actions that discourage protection of some of our most vulnerable members of society. To threaten federal funding for cities that protect these members will not improve safety or our progress as a nation, but will likely lead to less safe communities and higher levels of profiling. We applaud those cities who are willing to protect all immigrants and are concerned with the devastating impact the Attorney General Sessions’ recent actions may have on our nation,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

"Attorney General Sessions is threatening public safety through this directive, all in service of a despicable agenda of appealing to nativist extremists and sowing unprecedented fear among immigrant families and their supporters," said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and President and General Counsel of MALDEF.

“The fact is that we are a stronger and safer nation when our communities are empowered to actively engage and support local policing efforts. This attempt to hamstring local governments and police departments who understand the importance of community policing is not only misguided, it is extremely dangerous and irresponsible," said Jose Calderon, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Immigration Committee and President of Hispanic Federation.

“The Department of Justice has forgotten that one of its primary responsibilities is to help vindicate the rights of those who have been unfairly or discriminatorily targeted by others, including by government agencies and officials. Conditioning federal funding to local governments on whether or not they choose to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement officials does not lead to safer communities; on the contrary, it leads to communities that are less protected, who are being unfairly deprived of needed funding and in turn more fearful of their government,” said Natasha Bannan, member of NHLA’s Latina Task Force and Associate Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

“Policies that require increased entanglement between local police and federal immigration enforcement make immigrant victims and witnesses fearful of engagement with the police and undermine victim and public safety,” said Patricia Tototzintle, Co-Chair of NHLA's Latina Task Force and CEO of Casa de Esperanza. “Threatening the removal of valuable grant funding from jurisdictions that choose to prioritize community trust policies only further undermines public safety.”

“NLIRH is appalled by Attorney General Sessions’ recent decision to restrict federal funding to cities that choose community trust policies over racial profiling. Inhumane policies such as these, target and criminalize immigrant communities, and endanger families of all immigration status. Many undocumented people are already forced to forgo essential reproductive healthcare and other lifesaving preventive care for fear of being separated from their families. By dismantling sanctuary cities, the health of our communities will be further compromised. In condemning Sessions’ dangerous actions, we affirm our belief that all people deserve to live free from fear of persecution, and with the power to make and exercise decisions about their health, family, and future,” said Ann Marie Benitez, Co-Chair of NHLA's Latina Task Force and Senior Director of Government Relations of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH). 

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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 45 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 | LatinoJustice 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 Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | 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 | UnidosUS | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.- Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino

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