10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Bakersfield
Protests targets new detention center, McCarthy backing for suit blocking President Obama’s executive action on immigration
Activists with the United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation will peacefully protest in front of the new Mesa Verde immigration detention center in Bakersfield at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday as part of a nationwide day of action mobilizing against anti-immigrant attacks on President Obama’s new deferred action programs. Immigrant families, community leaders, public officials, Latino and immigrant voters, and immigrant rights groups across the country are participating.
The Bakersfield demonstration will call on the 26 state attorneys general that filed the South Texas lawsuit that has temporarily suspended implementation of the President’s executive action. Protesters will also call on House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other anti-immigrant leaders to abandon the lawsuit and other efforts that are currently blocking implementation of the DAPA program and the expansion of DACA. The event will also call on vigilance to ensure detainees’ rights at the Mesa Verde facility are being protected under California’s Trust Act, which requires limits on cruel and costly immigration "hold" requests at local jails.
“We’re calling on House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans to put a stop to this anti-immigrant lawsuit and allow President Obama’s executive action to take effect. The blockage of the expansion of DACA and DAPA not only hurts immigrant families but all families living in the U.S. because it directly affects those, who harvest our fruits and vegetables.” UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez says. “If these two would be implemented today, the ten heavily Ag counties in California would make up the fourth largest ‘state’ to benefit from Obama’s executive order.”
Rodriguez adds that the new detention center is required under current immigration law for those who have “grievously” violated U.S. laws. However, “we’ll closely watch to ensure no detainees are being held for solely because of their immigration status and in violation of the state Trust Act. We’ll’ make sure they are treated justly and that their human rights are not being violated,” Rodriguez says.
Rodriguez will MC another action at 11:30 a.m. the same day in Los Angeles with the UFW, UFW Foundation and other immigrant rights champions, including CHIRLA, SEIU, NILC, and UNITE HERE.
The day of action is aimed at communicating to political leaders that Latino and immigrant families are escalating efforts against anti-immigrant elected officials who oppose relief for millions of hardworking families. A full list of events happening around the country can be found at http://www.allianceforcitizenship.org/may19events. Events across the county will be using #Fight4DAPA on social media.
The UFW and UFW Foundation will continue preparing immigrants for expansion of DACA and DAPA when the President’s executive order becomes available. For more information visit: www.SiSePuede.org.
Who: UFW, UFW Foundation, SEIU, farm workers, Dolores Huerta with the Dolores Huerta Foundation and the Kern Coalition for Citizenship.
What: Protest at the Mesa Verde immigration detention facility demanding a halt to the lawsuit blocking the expansion of DACA and DAPA and for vigilance at the new detention center.
When: Tuesday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Mesa Verde facility, 425 Golden State Ave., Bakersfield 93301
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