Over the years we have seen how much immigrants have been affected by unjust immigration policies. A designated humanitarian protection that exists in the U.S. for specific undocumented immigrant communities is in jeopardy of being stripped away. This protection is known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). There are an estimated 354,645 TPS holders in the U.S., with 254,550 being Central American nationals. Under new redesignations, TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras would have their immigration protections extended for a determined amount of time by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. One thing to know is that there is no pathway to permanent residency status for TPS recipients. Ahead of creating this petition, Seeds of Resistance/ American Friends Service Committee (FL) launched a letter drive with directly impacted immigrants and refugees outside of the Miramar ICE Facility in Florida in which we denounced the unjust treatment of immigrants and the need for real relief for migrants. In addition, we urged Secretary Mayorkas, President Biden, and Secretary Blinken to redesignate TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras and issue a new TPS designation for Guatemala. Secretary Mayorkas has the power to designate a country for TPS when a country is facing the following conditions: 1) Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war); 2) An environmental disaster (such as an earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic; 3) Other extraordinary and temporary circumstances that prevent a safe return to a person's country of origin. During a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminary eligible for TPS upon initial review of their case. 1) Are not removable from the United States; 2) Can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD); 3) May be granted travel authorization. In addition to urging the Biden administration to issue new TPS designations for Central American nationals, we also affirm the need for our government to divest from the immigrant detention apparatus and instead invest in case management programs that help immigrants find legal representation to guide them through the immigration court system, and connect them with other community resources that are successful and more affordable.

Petition English Version here: https://somos.presente.org/petitions/tell-president-daniel-ortega-to-free-opposition-leaders-in-nicaragua En diciembre de 2020, Nicaragua aprobó una ley que otorga al gobierno del presidente Daniel Ortega el poder de designar unilateralmente a los ciudadanos como "traidores a la patria" y prohibirles postularse a cargos de elección popular. “La legislación castiga a quienes 'lideran o financian un golpe ... fomentan la injerencia extranjera, piden una intervención militar ... proponen o planifican bloqueos económicos, aplauden y defienden la imposición de sanciones contra Nicaragua o sus ciudadanos'”. De ser acusadas, las personas serían consideradas "traidoras de la patria" y por esa razón no pueden postularse para cargos públicos ". En Nicaragua, las personas acusadas de traición podrían enfrentar hasta 15 años en prisión. Tras la sanción de esta ley, en mayo y junio de 2021, la Policía Nacional de Nicaragua arrestó a quince líderes de la oposición. Los familiares de muchas de las personas detenidas dicen que desconocen su paradero y que no han tenido acceso a representación legal. Durante décadas, las comunidades migrantes y latinas en los EE. UU. han alzado sus voces en solidaridad con los pueblos de América Latina, y hoy es importante que ejerzamos nuestro poder y autoridad moral uniéndonos al pueblo nicaragüense para luchar contra la injusticia. Bajo el gobierno opresivo del presidente Ortega, las voces fuera de Nicaragua se vuelven aún más importantes. Firme esta petición y pídale al presidente Daniel Ortega que dé a conocer el paradero de los líderes de la oposición y los libere de inmediato. Referencias: Associated Press. “Nicaragua arrests 5 more opposition leaders in crackdown.” Washington Post. 13 de junio de 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nicaragua-arrests-more-opposition-leaders-in-crackdown/2021/06/13/619f39c0-cc69-11eb-a224-bd59bd22197c_story.html Salcedo, Andrea. “Nicaragua’s government has arrested a dozen opposition leaders. Their relatives don’t know where they are.” Washington Post. 15 de junio de 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/15/nicaragua-arrests-ortega-opponents-candidates/

Version en español aqui: https://somos.presente.org/petitions/exijamos-al-presidente-ortega-que-libere-a-los-lideres-de-la-oposicion-en-nicaragua In December 2020, Nicaragua passed a law giving President Daniel Ortega’s government the power to unilaterally label citizens as “traitors to the homeland”, and ban them from running as electoral candidates. “The law punishes those ‘who lead or finance a coup ... encourage foreign interference, ask for military intervention ...propose or plan economic blockades, applaud and champion the imposition of sanctions against Nicaragua or its citizens.’” If charged, the accused would be considered “traitors to the homeland” and for that reason may not run for public office.” In Nicaragua, people accused of treason could face up to 15 years in prison. Following the passage of this law, in May and June of 2021, Nicaragua’s National Police arrested fifteen opposition leaders. Many relatives of those arrested say they don’t know their whereabouts and that they haven’t had access to attorneys. For decades Latinx and migrant communities in the U.S. have raised their voices in solidarity with the people of Latin America, and today it’s important that we exercise our power and moral authority by joining the Nicaraguan people to push back against injustice. Under President Ortega’s oppressive rule, voices outside of Nicaragua become even more important. Sign this petition and call on President Daniel Ortega to let the public know the whereabouts of opposition leaders and to free them immediately. References: Associated Press. “Nicaragua arrests 5 more opposition leaders in crackdown.” Washington Post. June 13, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nicaragua-arrests-more-opposition-leaders-in-crackdown/2021/06/13/619f39c0-cc69-11eb-a224-bd59bd22197c_story.html Salcedo, Andrea. “Nicaragua’s government has arrested a dozen opposition leaders. Their relatives don’t know where they are.” Washington Post. June 15, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/15/nicaragua-arrests-ortega-opponents-candidates/

Petition English Version here: https://somos.presente.org/petitions/tps-for-nationals-of-central-american-countries-impacted-by-hurricanes-and-storms-1 Gracias al liderazgo de muchas organizaciones dirigidas por comunidades negras, latinas y migrantes en todo Estados Unidos, el 22 de mayo de 2021, la administración Biden-Harris escuchó nuestra demanda y emitió una nueva designación de Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglés) para Haití. Más de 100,000 haitianos que residen en los Estados Unidos podrán vivir sin temor a ser detenidos y deportados al país del que huyeron. Felicitamos a la administración por su decisión de proporcionar una nueva designación de TPS para los ciudadanos haitianos y le pedimos que emita una nueva designación de TPS para El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala y Nicaragua. La crisis climática junto con la pandemia de COVID-19 en curso requiere una acción inmediata por parte de los líderes electos.

Right now, the US government is dynamiting our borderlands, destroying ecosystems, violating sacred native territories, and carving a path of destruction through our US border cities. Joe Biden can stop all of this immediately, fulfilling his campaign promise that "There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration." (8/5/2020) Despite being defeated, Trump ignored the election results and has continued building the wall at warp speed, setting the stage for wall construction to continue well into the Biden administration. It can only be stopped if Biden issues an Executive Order. Your signature will be delivered to members of the Biden/Harris team, and help save countless communities under attack. Your signatures will: HALT THE DESTRUCTION: The wall is not a fence. It is a 3-story-tall prison-style barrier (more than twice the height of the Berlin Wall) surrounded by a militarized security zone the width of a football field. It has lasting, devastating impacts on every US community in which it is built. It destroys natural ecosystems and sacred native sites. For example, in just a single U.S. city that the wall would impact, Laredo, TX, the wall will carve a path of destruction through over 1,000 people's homes, public parks, and even an orphanage run by nuns. https://bit.ly/3hJq3sN SAVE BILLIONS, SAVE LIVES: Halting wall construction and tearing it down would save the U.S. government billions of dollars that can be devoted to the real emergency needs of our country, like Covid relief. The wall costs between $20-30 million for every single mile, which we can instead use to fund housing, education, health care and other real needs. For example, just a single mile of wall can fund over 300,000 Covid vaccine doses. https://bit.ly/2WtkHrX STOP FUELING VIOLENT RACISM: For Trump's most violent supporters, the wall is their single greatest symbol of inspiration, one that fuels violent racist attacks across the country. "Build The Wall!" has become a chant at MAGA rallies in Washington D.C., and a slur shouted during assaults on people of color in states as far away from the border as Michigan and Pennsylvania. The wall is a national issue. Stopping the wall helps shut down this engine of racism. https://bit.ly/2WtkHrX END THE FAKE "EMERGENCY": There is no "national emergency" happening on the border. FBI statistics show border cities are among the safest in the United States. The wall is based on a lie and serves no actual security purpose on the border. Data: https://bit.ly/37ytD5u RESTORE EQUAL RIGHTS: To build the wall, Trump has been seizing public and private lands of thousands of U.S. citizens and tossing aside over 40 federal laws like the Clean Water Act. As a result, people who live on the border have fewer constitutional rights than those who live in the rest of the U.S. Help restore the rights of border citizens. STOP THE CORRUPTION: The wall is a feeding frenzy for corrupt contractors, putting billions of dollars of taxpayer handouts directly in the hands of Trump cronies, some of whom are currently under federal investigation for fraud. You can help end this corrupt spending spree. https://bit.ly/34v8es4 Tell Biden to immediately halt all construction and cancel all funding for this harmful and wasteful wall.

Version en español aqui: https://somos.presente.org/petitions/un-nuevo-tps-para-los-nacionales-de-centroamerica-y-haiti-ahora Climate catastrophes ravaged through Central America late 2020 leaving entire communities struggling to rebuild. The aftermath of Hurricanes Eta and Iota have made it nearly impossible for communities to rebuild with dignity. There is a severe social and economic crisis happening now and families need our urgent support. The climate crisis coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires swift action by elected leaders. We call on the Biden-Harris administration to issue a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The human costs in Central America are heartbreaking at it’s time leaders take swift action to protect immigrant families. It is impossible for the nationals from these countries to live with dignity under the current circumstances.

Right now, the Trump administration is in a mad dash to build a border wall before the elections in order to rally an increasingly violent racist base of supporters, seizing public and private lands and tossing aside over 40 federal laws. The flagship piece of the wall runs right through the city of Laredo, TX a densely populated city right on the Rio Grande river. If built, the wall would stoke further anti-immigrant hatred across the country, and impose destruction on border towns and cities for generations. There is no "national emergency" happening in Laredo. That is a manufactured story created by the administration. Laredo is actually safer and more peaceful than most US cities. The wall serves no actual security purpose. In truth, the wall is a symbol meant to stoke racism across the country. It also has lasting, devastating impacts on the communities in which it is built. The border wall in Laredo would carve a path of destruction through Laredo, TX destroying public spaces, historic structures, public parks, private homes, places of worship, even a children's home run by Catholic nuns. The wall is not just a fence, it would be a 30 foot tall prison wall more than twice the height of the Berlin Wall. It is a 200 foot wide security corridor, that would militarize the entire waterfront of Laredo, which is precious to the people of Laredo, and has been theirs for for 265 years. Laredo depends on the Rio Grand for 100% of it's drinking water. If built, the zone would not only cut off all 250,000 residents from accessing their river, the now federally owned zone would void over 25 federal laws protecting water, land, and air quality. As Congress returns to session and a presidential election right around the corner, it's imperative that we stop this wall. We support human rights and urge you to do the same. Stand with the vets who are defending their city. Please sign this petition to have our vets' backs. Thank you! FOLLOW US on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vets-United-To-Stop-The-Wall-111198500719227 Once you sign the petition, there are 3 other things you can do: 1) Send the vets a PERSONAL LETTER OF SUPPORT https://forms.gle/L2rZdn2e8YJc1EcP7 2) SIGN UP with No Border Wall Coalition for updates on the Vets' actions: http://www.noborderwallcoalition.com/ 3) DONATE to support the upcoming Veterans' actions: Donate here: https://bit.ly/NBWMuralDonate All solidarity is welcomed, Deepest thanks, Vets United to Stop The Border Wall, The No Border Wall Coalition, Laredo, TX

This is important to me because I want my dad to be here every step of my journey of becoming a successful women. He needs to see me graduate high school. He needs to see all of us graduate. I am only 14 years old. I need my dad here. He’s my rock.

This month, Flatiron Books published American Dirt, a problematic book filled with stereotypes, hackneyed and often ridiculously unrepresentative language of the Latinx community. Its flawed premises, the racism in its promotion and much more—were resoundingly exposed in the critical reception it received in the New York Times, USA Today and many other outlets, as well as in the Latinx community. Dig and you will discover the deeper truth expressed in publishing industry statistics: 1. Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. population [2] 2. Latinx authors, Latinx books are abysmally underrepresented. For example, of the 3,400 children’s books received and studied by The Cooperative Children’s Book Center in 2015, only 83 were about Latinos and only 59 were written by Latinos. And all indicators are that the statistics for adult publishing are far worse. [3] 3. White people make up over 79% of the overall industry. [4] 4. The overwhelming majority of book reviewers (89%) percent are white. As a result of a callous, ill-conceived marketing campaign, Flatiron Books is now associated with the symbol of a wall wrapped in barbed wire. Flatiron Books is now associated with the commodification of carnage. Flatiron Books is now associated with the glamorization and romanticization of rape. Flatiron Books is on its way to becoming synonymous with racism. These associations tarnish the dignity of the publishing industry–and of Latinos. Latinos reject the indignity forced upon us by misrepresentation, cultural appropriation, and other modes of exploitation. We refuse to allow these behaviors to continue. Such behaviors harm the Latinx community. They harm the publishing industry as well. We have the potential to shape how Latinxs voices and stories are represented in publishing and in marketing. Please add your name to our petition to tell Flatiron Books to abandon these behaviors and repair the damage that has been done. Thank you: Myriam Gurba Roberto Lovato David Bowles References: [1] Bermudez, Esmeralda. “Commentary: When Latinos are shut out of the book industry, you end up with ‘American Dirt’.” Los Angeles Times. January 24, 2020: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-01-24/american-dirt-book-latino- response [2] Flores, A & Lopez M.H & Krogstad, J.M. “U.S. Hispanic population reached new high in 2018, but growth has slowed.” Pew Research Center. July 18, 2019. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/08/u-s-hispanic-population-reached-new-high-in-2018-but-growth-has-slowed/ [3] “Publishing Statistics on Children's/YA Books about People of Color and First/Native Nations and by People of Color and First/Native Nations Authors and Illustrators.” CCBC. November 21, 2019. Accessed on January 24, 2020. https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp [4] Flood, Alison. “Publishing industry is overwhelmingly white and female, US study finds.” The Guardian. January 27, 2016: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/27/us-study-finds-publishing-is-overwhelmingly-white-and-female

Across California, Latinx families are grieving and suffering the trauma and pain caused by losing loved ones at the hands of police violence. AB 392 is supported by hundreds of victims’ family members and Latino-led organizations. California Latinxs have marched on the streets in San Diego, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Bakersfield, Salinas, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, and many other parts of the state. We have lobbied in the Capitol, sent in hundreds of letters, and made thousands of calls to our representatives in support of AB 931 and now AB 392. This bill is being introduced less than a year after Assemblymember Shirley Weber introduced AB 931, a common sense legislative proposal that would have updated a weak and dangerous use of force standard that was established in 1872 - 137 years ago, the oldest in the nation! This minimal California use of force standard was passed in order to protect racialized state violence at a time when our state had the highest lynching rates in the nation - largely perpetrated by law enforcement on Mexican and Native people - including the genocide of indigenous Californians, which resulted in the murder of 90% of Native Californians. AB 931 was stalled in the legislative process in 2018, but the California Let Us Live Coalition decided that in order to protect Black and Brown people from being killed in our communities then we needed to raise it again in 2019. The California Act to Save Lives (AB 392) will reduce and prevent use of force resulting in homicide and also ensure that officers avoid the use of deadly force unless it’s in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. AB 392 is modeled after best practices already in place in a number of departments across the country – practices that have already been proven to reduce deadly use of force. You can find out more by downloading the fact sheet here. Specifically, AB 392 will: - Clarify that police should use deadly force only when there are no reasonable alternatives. - Require de-escalation whenever possible. - Hold officers accountable when deadly force wasn’t necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury and when the officers’ conduct created the circumstances that led to deadly use of force. Latinx-based organizations and self-identified individuals stand in solidarity with black and indigenous communities who are killed at the highest rates by law enforcement and urge you to protect our communities and take action for our families.

As a Member State of the United Nations, the United States government has the moral, ethical and legal obligation to adhere to international law and protect the human rights of the vulnerable. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” As such, governments are responsible for protecting people who seek safety in their territory without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or physical incapacity. As a signatory to the UDHR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention and Protocols Relating to the Status of Refugees, the US has international legal obligations to ensure refugees exercise their basic human rights and live securely and with dignity. Moreover, the US has the obligation to ensure refugees right to seek asylum is respected and they are not forcibly returned. Closing the U.S.-Mexico border port of entry, the use of lethal force, subjecting asylum seekers to forcibly return to their countries where they risk persecution (refoulement), as enacted by U.S. officials in the San Isidro-Tijuana U.S. port of entry on 25 November 2018, are gross violations of international law and the human rights of refugees. The US government must end its hostile treatment of refugees and uphold its international legal obligations. This effort is a collaboration between among the US Human Rights Network, Puente Arizona, Mijente and Presente.org. Reference: 1. "Mexico to deport up to 500 migrants who tried to cross US border." The Guardian. November 26, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/25/us-mexico-border-crossing-closes-migrants?fbclid=IwAR1DNsKtC67Evcx2z0GIBAfMv6EHh8_y-7iUFjVQO4P33Hza_lCLSE_z_B0

Considered by many as the heart of San Francisco’s Mission district, and the voice of Latinx arts and culture for more than 4 decades, Galería de la Raza is at urgent risk of losing the lease on its historic home and needs your help. The toxic combination—money mixed with greed— that’s destroying San Francisco’s black, Latinx and poor communities now threatens Galeria, an organization that has consistently paid its rent for over 46 years. But you can join the hundreds of Mission artists and concerned community members fighting for a stable and thriving Galeria. Following the death of the former landlord, the Trust overseeing the estate of Lily Ng is breaking with the good faith and kindness of the late former owner and are, instead, giving in the temptation of greed, giving Galeria unrealistic and predatory rates on their lease. The terms offered by Mr. Thomas Foo on behalf of the Trust of Lilly Ng would either break Galeria de La Raza or force it to move to another location. To speed up the process, Mr. Foo and the Trust have already initiated a 3 day pay or quit notice that effectively forces Galeria out of its cherished space. Our demand to Mr. Foo, the Trust and Mrs. Ng’s family is simple and reasonable: retract the 3 day pay or quit notice and make a more reasonable offer to Galeria. For this reason, we ask that you join Galeria and all its supporter by adding your name to the petition below. We will then make sure that all the interested parties—the Trust, Mr. Foo, the Latino and Chinese communities, the Mayor and other elected officials, the media–know that Galeria is neither alone nor defeated. This fight is only beginning. Please join us.