Category Archives: Press Releases

Lawsuit Filed Against LA Sheriff Jim McDonnell: Seeks Disclosure of Collusion with Trump Administration

On Thursday evening, the Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West (USWW) and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles Sheriff Jim McDonnell to compel disclosure of information about the Sheriff’s interactions with the Trump administration about SB-54 (“Values Act,” Sen. de León). During an evening panel discussion hosted by Zocalo Public Square, entitled “What Does Trump Mean for Immigrant LA?,” the Sheriff was physically “served” with the lawsuit by janitors and day laborers.

NDLON Suggests Questions for Sheriff McDonnell During Zocalo Public Square discussion on Trump’s impact on “Immigrant LA”

On Wednesday evening, Zocalo Public Square will host a panel discussion titled “What Does Trump Mean for Immigrant LA?” The panel will be moderated by Jennifer Medina, NY Times National Correspondent, and will include Los Angeles Times immigration reporter Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, World Trade Center Los Angeles president Stephen Cheung, and director of USC’s Tomás Rivera Policy Institute Roberto Suro. The panel features no immigrants, although event planners have stated that questions from the audience will be granted.

Breaking: Romulo Avelica Granted Emergency Stay of Removal From Board of Immigration Appeals

More than five months after ICE arrested Romulo Avelica while he was dropping his daughters off at school on February 28, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) today granted an emergency stay of removal, preventing his deportation while the BIA reviews his case. The Ninth Circuit had stayed his deportation from the date of his arrest, but that stay was due to expire today.

Delegation for Romulo Avelica to Demand His Release from ICE & Request Review of Case by Board of Immigration Appeals

More than five months after ICE arrested Romulo Avelica while he was dropping his daughters off at school, ICE has said that it will review his stay request on Monday, August 7th, and is again threatening to deport him imminently. Mr. Avelica’s lawyers, alongside a delegation of clergy, educators, students, families and elected officials, will provide an update on his case and demand that ICE stay his deportation, release him from detention, and request that the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) also review his case.

NDLON Statement on ICE Press Briefing at White House

On Thursday, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thomas D. Homan hosted a press briefing at the White House. Throughout the briefing Mr. Homan made statements critical of sanctuary cities and regarding the mass arrests of undocumented immigrants with or without criminal convictions.

NDLON Responds to AG Sessions’ attacks against sanctuary cities

On Tuesday afternoon, the Trump administration issued a new policy for local governments stating that they are required to “give federal officials advance notice when illegal immigrants are about to be released from custody and allow immigration agents access to local jails” or risk losing federal grants. The new policy specifically applies to cities that receive funds from the “Byrne Justice Assistance grant program.

Is Gardena Police Chief Siding with Trump’s Deportation Agenda? Immigrant Groups File Public Records Act Request

On Monday, immigration advocates announced the filing of a Public Records Act (PRA) request to demand transparency from Gardena Police Chief Edward Medrano, who is also the head of the CA Police Chief’s Association, around “entanglement” and collusion with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

BREAKING: #SB54 #CAValuesAct (Sen de León) Clears Assembly Judiciary Committee

On Wednesday, the California Values Act (SB-54, de León), widely considered as the ‘sanctuary state’ bill, passed the Assembly Judiciary Comittee with support from Democratic lawmakers. The bill would limit California involvement in enforcement of federal immigration law.

Los Angeles Coalition for Universal Representation Celebrates City Council’s Endorsement of La Justice Fund

Today, the LA City Council voted overwhelmingly (11-1) in support of the LA Justice Fund, a public-private partnership to provide deportation defense for immigrants facing the threat of removal. The City Council approved $2 million for the first two years of the program, to complement $3 million from the County and $5 million from private foundations.

Statement Regarding Romulo Avelica

On Friday, June 16, without opposition from the City Attorney and on the ground of a legal invalidity, a judge granted the request of Romulo Avelica to vacate his 1998 misdemeanor conviction for receipt of stolen property. Mr. Avelica is an undocumented father of four U.S. citizen children and long-time Los Angeles resident whose arrest by immigration agents while dropping his daughters at school on February 28, 2017 sparked widespread outrage. The conviction, which stemmed from an incident involving Mr. Avelica’s display of a vehicle registration sticker that he had not purchased, had previously led federal immigration authorities to hold him ineligible for certain forms of relief from deportation. As part of the vacatur, Mr. Avelica re-pled to a lesser vehicle code violation in relation to the incident. A judge had previously vacated Mr. Avelica’s only other misdemeanor conviction on grounds of legal invalidity, for which Mr. Avelica also re-pled to a lesser vehicle code violation.