News
Nearly 5,000 undocumented young people, immigrant rights advocates, and faith leaders congregated today at 12:00 PM at the Upper Senate Park for a rally in support of a clean DREAM Act and permanent solution for Temporary Protected Status. Events included: stories from directly impacted people, calls to action by members of Congress, and a civil disobedience on the steps of Capitol Hill resulting in the arrest of Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Luis Gutierrez and 182 individuals, five from NAKASEC.
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, November 15, marks over 2 months since the Trump administration killed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, putting the lives of immigrant youth immediately at risk for detention and deportation.
Thank you so much for your support of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and the Korean Resource Center (KRC)! With your contribution, we are able to empower marginalized communities and at this year’s "Building A Movement for Change: From Roots to Power 34th Annual Gala", we have received pledges up to $120,000.
Walters and Royce, whose districts both have public universities and and community colleges, have been particularly targeted by activists. Their districts have considerable Latino and Asian populations, which are among the most fervent supporters of DACA. Royce’s district is 34 percent Latino and 32 percent Asian. Walters’ district is 18 percent Latino and 44 percent Asian. The Korean Resource Center has co-sponsored the three DACA demonstrations at Walters’ office this month, as well as last month’s rally at UC Irvine. “KRC has focused more on Walters because she hasn’t taken a stance (yet) on citizenship and she represents a district with a large number of DACA eligible young people,” said Kim, who is hoping Walters can be persuaded to support a path to citizenship for DACA recipients. Royce has said he favors allowing those currently protected by the program to remain legally in the country, but opposes a path to citizenship.
WHAT: Trump and Senate Republicans have announced that they will not attach protection for Dreamers to the end-of-year spending bill. As a response, the Korean Resource Center (KRC) will gather with hundreds of Orange County constituents including DACA recipients, immigrant advocates, and allies in front of Congresswoman Mimi Walters’ (R-45) office demanding justice for Dreamers who have been double-crossed by the President and his administration. After multiple failed attempts to meet with Congresswoman Walters, a delegation will return to demand her support of her communities and a clean Dream Act.
WHEN: Friday, November 3rd, 10:00 am
WHERE: 3333 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
Over 30 voters, students, and community members in support of the DREAM Act rallied outside the office building of U.S. Congressmember Mimi Walters. Voters were seeking answers from their representative - will she meet with the community to discuss the fate of the dreamers? Will she support a clean DREAM Act? Why is she avoiding the issue? Jonathan Paik, OC Director at KRC said “We reached out to 5,110 Asian American voters in Representative Walter’s district, and 74% have said that they urge their congressmember to vote for a Clean DREAM Act. We are baffled at Walter’s lack of responsiveness to this pressing community issue. The DREAM Act is a strong legislative solution that would allow young immigrants to continue living their American Dream with a path to citizenship. It only makes sense to support the bill.”
Thousands of Irvine voters across many communities agree: Representative Mimi Walters (R-45) needs to respond to her constituents and protect young undocumented immigrants and their families by supporting a clean DREAM Act.
Where: sidewalk behind Rep. Mimi Walter’s Office (3333 Michelson Dr #230, Irvine, CA 92612)
When: Wednesday, November 1st, 11:00 AM
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), was awarded the “Standing Up for Justice” recognition by the Korean Resource Center (KRC) and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) for her commitment to women, children, people of color, and low-income communities during their 34th Annual Gala in Los Angeles.
GOP senators are getting closer to an immigration agreement that might pass muster with both Democrats and Donald Trump. Key Senate Republicans have begun privately discussing the contours of an immigration plan to shield the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who will lose work permits and deportation protections starting early next year.
For over a decade, the Korean Resource Center has led the way in voter engagement techniques and voter data usage among people of color community organizations in Southern California. This is our first entry in a new blog series exploring topics in voter data and integrated voter engagement best practices to share the accumulated know-how with social justice activists and organizations in the Asian American community.