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Statement from Living United for Change in Arizona's Executive Director, Alejandra Gomez April 25, 2024 PHOENIX – Republican Lawmakers in the Arizona House of Representatives have filed an ethics complaint against Representatives Analise Ortiz and Oscar De Los Santos for voicing their opposition to the Abortion Ban Law during a debate on the House floor, accusing Democratic lawmakers of “inciting a riot.” This sham complaint is coming from the same Republican caucus whose members publicly voiced their support, and have members who are directly linked, and were even present during the Jan. 6 insurrection that attempted to overthrow our Democracy. Alejandra Gomez Executive Director of LUCHA said, “Utilizing your First Amendment right to speak out against a Civil War era abortion ban is democracy in action. This baseless complaint from Arizona Republicans is full of irony, as they themselves have ties to the January 6th insurrection. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to silence dissent and a waste of time and resources. This is a Republican party that is becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of ditching democracy altogether to cling to power. We applaud the boisterous opposition of Democratic Lawmakers like Analise Ortiz and Oscar De Los Santos, who are fearless and unapologetic in service of their constituents and the state of Arizona.” ### About Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) Living United for Change in Arizona is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families.  LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information

More than 100,000 Arizona residents are eligible to become U.S. citizens, and voter mobilization groups are counting on them to make a difference in the upcoming election. By Gloria Gomez, AZ Mirror The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency estimates that as many as 177,171 lawful permanent residents who call the Grand Canyon State their home qualify for naturalization. And while many of them likely have not yet embarked on the costly and lengthy hurdle that the naturalization process represents, between 2016 and 2020 more than 62,000 people in Arizona did become naturalized citizens. Even that number has the potential to sway election results in a swing state known for tight races, said Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans. “The 2020 election (for president in Arizona) was decided by just 10,000 votes, so if there’s 62,000 newly naturalized citizens here in Arizona, I’m going to ascertain that there’s a portion of them that will deeply influence the outcome of this year’s election,” she told the Mirror on Tuesday, during a nationwide campaign launched to mobilize naturalized voters. The campaign to recruit newly naturalized voters kicked off on Tuesday, the 14-year anniversary of the signing of SB1070, Arizona’s notorious anti-immigrant “show me your papers” law that greenlit racial profiling. Alejandra Gomez, executive director of Arizona Center for Empowerment, highlighted that contrast. She said that, while the GOP-majority legislature has recently harkened back to that anti-immigrant era by proposing several discriminatory measures this session, Latino advocacy organizations are now better equipped to mount a defense. “Fourteen years ago, I felt caught off guard,” Gomez said. “Our organizing community was still in development. Today, I do not feel caught off guard.” Part of that organizing effort is the annual campaign to connect with newly naturalized voters, which ramps up during election cycle years. Gomez said ACE’s sister organization, Living United for Change in Arizona, has committed to knocking on one million doors this election cycle. And ACE itself works to connect with voters across the state, coordinating with the Mexican consulate to identify potential voters and launching online advertisements. While ACE has statewide reach, the organization, and most other pro-immigrant groups, is focused in Maricopa County, where the majority of Latino residents and those eligible to begin the naturalization process live. According to USCIS, as many as 123,610 lawful permanent residents who qualify for naturalization live in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area. Petra Falcon, the head of immigrant advocacy group Promise Arizona, added that newly naturalized citizens could be a balance tipping force in the November election and a significant force for change beyond that. “In Arizona alone, the outcome of the 2020 presidential election was determined by just 10,000 votes, illustrating not just the power of every vote, but the undeniable influence of new citizens in our electoral landscape,” she said. “(With) 177,000 residents eligible for naturalization, our potential to shape the future is immense and growing.” While advocates tout the potential influence of naturalized voters in Arizona, the tricky part lies in mobilizing them to begin with. Only about 10% of residents across the country who are eligible to naturalize do so every year. And voting participation among newly naturalized citizens is equally dismal. In 2016, only 54% of naturalized voters cast a ballot, compared to 62% of U.S. born citizens. Still, Hispanic and Asian naturalized citizens are likelier to vote than U.S. born Hispanic or Asian voters, signaling that the voting bloc is highly interested in participating. Nejra Sumic, the national field manager for We Are All America, which advocates on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, urged newly naturalized citizens to take action this election cycle. Sumic, who was a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that this year’s election is especially important and every vote is critical. “There is a lot at stake this election year, particularly here in Arizona,” she said. “We are facing tremendous issues that are directly impacting our communities. Housing is skyrocketing and people are losing their homes, ending up on the streets…inflation is through the roof. We have women’s reproductive rights currently under attack.” Newly eligible voters can be a part of the solution by electing better leaders, Sumic added, instead of politicians who she said are more concerned with their careers than with backing helpful policies. “We have people in power who are not in it for the right reasons and creating further divisiveness among people, and passing legislation that is harming our communities,” she said. “Many of these elected officials are going to be up for reelection in November.” The Arizona legislature is up for grabs this election, along with several seats in Congress that both the Republican and Democratic parties are vying over to cement control at the federal level. Razia Shalizi is one newly minted Arizonan who will make her voice heard in November. The 24-year-old fled Afghanistan with her family in 2018 and became a citizen last year. While she hasn’t yet registered to vote, she plans to do so before the Oct. 7 deadline, and her top concern is reproductive freedom. The Arizona Abortion Access Act, which is headed for the November ballot, seeks to enshrine abortion as a right in the state constitution, voiding efforts from the Arizona Republicans to ban access to the procedure and nullifying an 1864 near-total ban that is set to be reimplemented in June. Now that she’s a citizen, Shalizi said, she’s looking forward to casting her ballot for what she believes in. “I’m going to be voting this year for women’s rights,” she said. “I wish, for all women, to have their rights and their freedoms.” And 25-year-old Alex Jurua is focused on backing pro-immigrant candidates. The native of the Republic of Congo is set to finally become a citizen in June. As someone who is both an immigrant and who works with other immigrants, Jurua said hearing hostile rhetoric from lawmakers is disheartening. Once he becomes a citizen, he said he plans to be an active voter and inform as many people as he can about which politicians care about and advocate for all Arizonans, no matter their national origin. “When I become a citizen, I will start voting, and I will start electing people that are willing to respond to our views or to our feelings — who will respect our dignity and respect us for who we are,” he said. Link to original article: https://azmirror.com/2024/04/23/newly-minted-american-citizens-could-sway-the-2024-election-if-they-vote/

Llaman a Legislatura de Arizona a Aumentar los Ingresos Estatales en presupuesto Por Oscar ramos, Prensa Arizona Líderes sociales instaron a la Legislatura de Arizona a Aumentar los Ingresos Estatales y Eliminar las Reducciones de Impuestos para los Ricos para Restaurar Recursos Estatales Fundamentales como la vivienda, educación y cuidado de niños. La Coalición Economía Primero para la Gente (PFE) llevó a cabo una conferencia de prensa en el Jardín de Rosas del Capitolio Estatal de Arizona para hablar sobre la necesidad de aumentar los ingresos estatales para financiar programas críticos que apoyarán a nuestras comunidades. Arizona enfrenta un déficit de mil millones de dólares en el presupuesto de este año debido a las reducciones de impuestos del anterior gobernador republicano Doug Ducey y la falta de voluntad de las mayorías republicanas en la legislatura para aumentar los ingresos, asegurando que los ricos paguen su parte justa en impuestos. Presentes estuvieron representantes de las organizaciones LUCHA, Opportunity Arizona, FUERTE, RAZA, Nuestra Voz Nuestro Voto, Poder LatinX, y Miembros de la Comunidad. Los defensores de la comunidad directamente afectados compartieron historias personales sobre cómo han luchado para encontrar cuidado infantil asequible, mantener a flote sus pequeñas empresas y permanecer en sus hogares debido a la falta de financiamiento y apoyo estatal. “Ya sea que seas un maestro, una familia en busca de comprar su primera casa, un ganadero en Arizona rural dependiente de mejoras en la infraestructura rural, o un propietario de pequeña empresa, la falta de ingresos estatales impacta directamente en sus medios de vida”, dijo Alejandra Gómez, Directora Ejecutiva de Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA). “Los líderes republicanos dieron enormes reducciones de impuestos a las corporaciones y a los ricos, y ahora se les pide a las familias trabajadoras que paguen por esos errores. Ahora, es hora de que nuestra legislatura pida a las corporaciones y a los ricos que paguen su parte justa para que podamos financiar adecuadamente los programas y servicios en los que nuestras comunidades confían”, afirmó. La Coalición PFE insta a la Legislatura del Estado de Arizona a rechazar los recortes propuestos a programas esenciales que son vitales para las familias de Arizona. Al aumentar el financiamiento estatal, estos programas avanzarán aún más en nuestra economía para fomentar un Arizona vivo y próspero. Clic aquí para el enlace original: https://prensaarizona.com/piden-poner-a-la-gente-primero/

Organizers warn that the bills will lead to harassment of communities of color. By Tori Gantz, Teen Vogue Amid a mounting humanitarian crisis along the southern border, Arizona lawmakers from both parties are scrambling to act. Democrats and Republicans alike blame the federal government for failing to provide the resources needed to address the thousands of migrants hoping to enter the United States. But they have different ideas about what to do next. The Republican delegation in the state house, led by congressional candidate Ben Toma, is pushing through a set of bills that would allow state police and local agents to investigate and detain non-US citizens who enter Arizona from anywhere other than a lawful port of entry. The immigrant rights organization Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) calls it “one of the most extreme anti-immigrant and racist bill packages ever introduced in Arizona's history.” Though Democratic governor Katie Hobbs vetoed one bill that the ACLU of Arizona said “would put communities of color across the state at greater risk of harassment and arrest by local and state police,” in mid-March, legislators in the Republican-controlled Senate greenlit two bills — HB 2748 and HB 2821 — with nearly identical language. Senate Democrats walked out of meetings that day to protest the proposed legislation, joining students and members from local community groups to rally outside the Capitol against the majority caucus’ approach. Karime Rodriguez is one of the students speaking out against anti-immigrant legislation in the state. A junior at Grand Canyon University and manager of Arizona Center for Empowerment’s services department, Rodriguez assists LUCHA members with DACA and residency renewals and classes, including English language, computer literacy, and naturalization test prep. Teen Vogue caught up with Rodriguez to hear about how young Arizonans and their families are educating each other about what’s happening in the state and what they’re doing to resist. This conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Teen Vogue: What drove you to become engaged in this work? Karime Rodriguez: I am an immigrant myself. My family and I came to Arizona when I was only two years old. Arizona is the home that I've known basically my entire life. My family, they’re all immigrants as well. Everything that LUCHA stands for and everything that LUCHA fights for is what I know that my family, my community need. So me being engaged in this work is me putting in my little grain of sand and helping to advance equitable housing and immigrant rights in the state of Arizona, which [I] know will help to benefit my community. TV: What does the youth mobilization effort look like? KR: LUCHA tries to engage with students all the time.… A key piece, especially for me when I started in my advocacy world, was a lack of confidence where I really felt that I didn't belong in spaces with legislators because of my background. And I lacked the confidence to say, “No, I am a constituent of the state of Arizona and I deserve to voice my opinions about what I want my state to look like and how I want my state to run.” We often hold Know Your Rights workshops in various schools around the Valley. We also do LUCHA Listens sessions where we talk about an issue in our state and listen to feedback from our community on how they want us to go about resolving this issue. We hold community rallies, digital campaigns, and community forums to continue to engage students. We start as early as high school education and then continue on to students throughout college. TV: How are young people participating in the movement? KR: Involvement looks different for everybody. Not always does somebody have the opportunity to get out of class on a Wednesday afternoon to meet us at the Capitol, which we fully understand. We really try to let our members know that you can get involved through posting on social media… You can always reach out to your legislators via email and let them know how you're feeling about these bills and what you want them to do in response. For me, that's very important because my schedule is stretched pretty thin with working full-time and going to school full-time, but I still find little pockets of dedicated time throughout my day to make sure that I'm doing my part. TV: Why do you think these policies targeting immigrants are being pushed in Arizona right now? KR: I think a lot of this has to do with the attention that we are receiving at our southern border. Republicans are literally calling this the “Arizona [Border] Invasion Act.”… I mean, calling it an “invasion act” already strips away the humanity of our immigration crisis. It's a way for Republicans to paint a picture in a state and use fear tactics to try to bring this sort of rhetoric back, which our people have already said we don't want here. I also think that it's in response to a lot of anti-immigrant bills that we're seeing around the country, like in Texas and Florida. TV: How would the proposed laws affect students? KR: Basically, these bills would classify the crossing of undocumented immigrants outside of a legal port of entry at our southern border as a state crime. That would allow local judges to decide immigration cases and for somebody, for example, like myself — thankfully, I've already been able to adjust my status, but if I hadn't had that — that means that I [could be] be detained and prosecuted for being here unlawfully. This is important for students and everybody in the state of Arizona because it won't allow us to live our regular lives. We'll live in fear, again, like how we did in SB 1070 [a notorious law designed to facilitate the deportation of undocumented immigrants, much of which was eventually struck down by the Supreme Court]. I was here, I lived in Arizona during this time, and I can tell you it was scary for everyone. I fear [someone from] my community driving, and if they are stopped at a traffic light…will they be criminalized? Also, as a student, and being younger, I have my parents to worry about. It's a lot of added stress on top of just trying to progress, trying to get my college education. TV: How are people responding? KR: We have a lot of engagement from the younger voters and younger college students, especially, because a lot of us, we have family and friends who are directly impacted by bills like this. A big chunk of us were here during the SB 1070 era, but we were children so we didn't fully understand the implications of that law. However, now that we're older and we're voting age, we can make a difference. Younger people are starting to come out to the polls more often, and we're realizing our power.… Students and young people especially are trying to see where we can make our change. TV: What do you want to see happen if these bills go before voters as ballot measures? KR: If these bills make it to the ballots, it is up to us — everybody, but students especially — to mobilize and make our voices heard. Because time and time again, we see that immigration is a big topic that is important to the voters in Arizona. And being younger and seeing all of this unfold before our eyes, I think it's up to us to really, really come together and strategize. I don’t think we should be underestimated. Our legislators should start to take a look at the younger demographic because we are a force and together we will make change. We are the future of the state of Arizona and we need to start shaping how we want our state to look. Link to original article: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/arizona-anti-immigration-bills

Por Telemundo Arizona Clic para enlace original aqui: https://www.telemundoarizona.com/noticias/local/crisis-vivienda-asequible-compra-casa-arizona-hipoteca-pago-renta/2396670/

El lunes la Corte Suprema de Arizona dio paso a una restricción a nivel estatal que prohibiría el aborto en casi la mayoría de los casos. La prohibición es parte de una ley promulgada en 1864 que no exime casos de violación o incesto y permite el aborto solo si la vida de la madre está en peligro. Por Silvia Solis, La Voz En Arizona un aborto continúa siendo legal (solo en inglés) antes de las 15 semanas de embarazo, pero este dejaría de ser el caso en cuanto entre en vigor la ley de 1864, entre 14 y 45 días tras el fallo tribunal. La ley de hace 160 años, conocida como Ley Comstock, fue bloqueada en 1973 por la decisión de la Suprema Corte de los Estados Unidos en el caso Roe v. Wade, la cual garantizó el derecho constitucional al aborto en todo el país hasta que fue anulada en 2022. Desde entonces, se abrieron las puertas a que los estados reconsideraran prohibiciones viejas y nuevas al aborto a nivel local. De acuerdo al Centro de Derechos Repoductivos, 14 estados han hecho ilegal el aborto y otros 11 han dejado claro el deseo de prohibir el aborto en los últimos dos años, incluyendo Arizona. Cómo la prohibición del aborto de Arizona impacta a latinas La reciente decisión de la Suprema Corte del estado ha causado tumultos políticos y civiles, con particular atención a los sectores más vulnerables de la población, incluyendo grupos dentro de la comunidad latina. Según una encuesta de 2022, que se realizó tras derogarse Roe V. Wade en la Corte Suprema de EEUU, una gran mayoría de votantes latinos elegibles no cree que el aborto deba ser ilegal o que se deba quitar el derecho de elegir a las mujeres. Un análisis realizado por la Asociación Nacional para Mujeres y Familias en 2023 muestra que más de 36 millones de mujeres en edad reproductiva viven en alguno de los estados que ya prohíben o probablemente prohibirán el aborto. Cerca de la mitad de las afectadas son mujeres de color, incluyendo 6.7 millones de latinas, lo cual representa una mayor proporción de la población en comparación con otros grupos étnicos y raciales. En Arizona viven más de 1.5 millones de mujeres en edad reproductiva, de las cuales más del 37 por ciento son latinas —270 mil madres (incluyendo 78 mil madres de niños menores de tres años) 262 mil con inseguridad económica, 39 mil que viven con alguna discapacidad y 4 mil veteranas. De acuerdo a un estudio por la Universidad de California en San Francisco, la denegación del aborto conlleva consecuencias financieras, familiares y de salud, como un incremento en el nivel de pobreza en el hogar y mayores probabilidades de criar a sus hijos sin ayuda de familia o pareja. Los datos también encontraron que, entre las mujeres que llevan a cabo un aborto, las probabilidades de sufrir de depresión, ansiedad o pensamientos suicidas no aumentan comparado con aquellas a las que se les niega el procedimiento. El 95 por ciento de las mujeres en el estudio afirman que haber tenido un aborto fue la decisión correcta para ellas incluso después de cinco años. Estado dividido: una lucha entre conservadores y progresistas La división de opinion en cuanto a las restricciones relacionadas al aborto ha provocado fuertes reacciones tanto de los partidarios como de los opositores. En un comunicado el miércoles (sólo en inglés) la gobernadora de Arizona Katie Hobbs anunció que buscará hacer todo lo que esté en su poder para proteger las libertades reproductivas de las mujeres en el estado. “Mi corazón está con cada mujer que ahora se pregunta si es seguro para ellas comenzar una familia. Estoy orgullosa de ser la voz de cada arizonense que cree en la libertad y la autonomía corporal. Esta lucha está lejos de terminar”, dijo Hobbs en el comunicado. En el 2023, Hobbs anunció una Orden Ejecutiva (solo en inglés) que protege a cualquier persona involucrada en un aborto obtenido legalmente y prohíbe a fiscales locales presentar cargos relacionados con el aborto y a agencias estatales asistir en investigaciones criminales sin una orden judicial, la cual sigue en pie. Políticos de ambos lados del espectro han denunciado la decisión de la Corte de Arizona, incluyendo comentarios en redes sociales por republicanos provida, como la candidata al Senado de EEUU Kari Lake y el representante David Schweikert. El martes la presidenta del Partido Demócrata de Arizona, Yolanda Bejarano, llevó a cabo una conferencia de prensa (solo en inglés) con otros funcionarios de Arizona comprometiéndose a aprobar un referéndum para el acceso al aborto en las elecciones de noviembre. Legisladores proeeleccion buscan introducir la Iniciativa por el Derecho al Aborto de Arizona en la boleta electoral el 5 de noviembre con el fin de establecer el derecho fundamental al aborto en el estado. Jared Keenan, director legal de la Unión Estadounidense de Libertades Civiles de Arizona (ACLU por sus siglas en inglés), también dijo estar comprometido a defender la libertad reproductiva tanto en los tribunales y la legislatura como en las comunidades del estado por medio de la la aprobación de la Ley de Acceso al Aborto de Arizona en noviembre, de acuerdo a un comunicado emitido el miércoles. “La vergonzosa decisión de hoy de permitir que se aplique una anticuada y peligrosa prohibición casi total del aborto tendrá consecuencias trágicas para los arizonenses y sus familias,” dijo Keenan en el comunicado. “La urgencia de consagrar el derecho al aborto en la constitución de nuestro estado nunca ha sido más necesaria”. Karime Rodriguez, gerente de servicios de empoderamiento para las organizaciones Viviendo Unidos por el Cambio en Arizona (LUCHA por sus siglas en inglés) y el Centro de Arizona para el Empoderamiento, dijo en una llamada telefónica con La Voz Arizona, que seguirán movilizando a las comunidades y educando a los votantes para que hagan escuchar su voz en noviembre. “Siendo de origen latino, sé que mi comunidad ya tiene problemas con el acceso a la atención médica y no confían en el sistema de salud,” dijo Rodriguez. “Cuando los políticos imponen regulaciones en algo tan privado, agregan otra barrera para obtener la atención que necesitamos y podría poner en peligro a las personas que no quieren ir al médico por miedo a las consecuencias de las prohibiciones.” La prohibición en Arizona es una de las más estrictas en todo el país y aunque no es claro todavía cómo se aplicaría la ley, haría que algo que ya es delicado lo sea aún más, dijo Rodriguez. Por su parte, partidarios provida en el estado han mostrado apoyo a la decisión de la Corte. Representantes republicanos de la Cámara de Arizona han frenado intentos por parte de demócratas y republicanos de derogar la prohibición, inclusive pausando la sesión legislativa del miércoles para detener cualquier acción en contra de la decisión. La Coalición de Vida de Arizona, una organización sin fines de lucro no partidista que busca fomentar la cooperacion para fortalecer el movimiento provida en todo el estado, emitió un comunicado (solo en inglés) aplaudiendo la decisión de la Corte como “una victoria significativa en la defensa de la vida inocente”. “Esta decisión reconoce el valor intrínseco de los seres humanos no nacidos, ofreciéndoles la misma protección ante la ley que merecen. Los niños inocentes no nacidos finalmente tienen protección contra ser asesinados simplemente porque no son deseados o son inconvenientes, salvando miles de vidas por año en Arizona,” dice el comunicado. La Coalición da apoyo financiero a organizaciones que afirman la vida como centros de ayuda para el embarazo y agencias de adopción y ayuda a conectar a mujeres a diferentes tipos de apoyo bajo la convicción de que “miles de mujeres buscan abortar porque se sienten aisladas y sin apoyo,” de acuerdo al sitio web. Como esta, existen otras organizaciones que ofrecen ayuda a mujeres promoviendo el derecho a la vida con un énfasis en la comunidad latina. Macario de la Cruz trabaja como director de relaciones comunitarias en el Proyecto por la Familia de Arizona, una iniciativa de Center for Arizona Policy que busca fomentar el bienestar de las familias hispanas en el estado incluyendo la defensa de la vida. “Nosotros creemos que la decisión de la Corte Suprema de Arizona tomó una decisión correcta,” dijo a La Voz en una llamada telefónica. “Nosotros creemos que el derecho a la vida es el derecho fundamental de todo ser humano y de este emanan todos los demás derechos.” De acuerdo a De la Cruz, “la industria del aborto” busca a mujeres en comunidades con minorías haciéndolas particularmente vulnerables a participar en el procedimiento. En la última década, los abortos entre mujeres hispanas o latinas ha incrementado casi al doble. En el 2022, casi el 45 por ciento de los abortos en Arizona fueron realizados por mujeres hispanas, que sobrepasa porcentualmente cualquier otro grupo étnico o racial en el estado, según datos del Departamento de Servicios de Salud en Arizona. “Una de las razones por las que ha subido el aborto entre la comunidad hispana es (por venderles) la mentira de que para las mujeres es la única salida,” dijo de la Cruz. “A nosotros ahorita nos importa tanto la vida del vientre de esta criatura como la vida de las mujeres que están lidiando con un embarazo no planeado.” De la Cruz dijo que aunque celebran la decisión de la Corte, tienen de frente una tarea bastante dura ante las elecciones de noviembre para prevenir que pase la iniciativa por el derecho al aborto en Arizona. Clic aquí para el enlace original: https://www.azcentral.com/story/noticias/2024/04/12/como-prohibicion-de-aborto-impacta-a-latinas-de-arizona/73303500007/

April 9, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Cesar Fierros (cesarf@luchaaz.org) PHOENIX — Following the Arizona's Supreme Court’s disastrous decision to reinstate a nearly 200-year-old law banning Abortion in Arizona and ripping away Arizonan's bodily autonomy. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), has issued the following statement: "We are not surprised by the Arizona's Supreme Court’s blatant extremism. Their ruling today puts the lives of countless Arizonans at risk and robs us of our most basic rights—the right to make our own decisions about our own bodies free from government interference. Arizona families deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion. To revert to an 1800's era near-total ban that was established when women could not vote is completely out-of-step with the majority of Arizonans from across the political spectrum. It puts us in line with states like Louisiana and Arkansas where doctors are fleeing and patients are suffering and dying. No matter how you personally feel about abortion, most Arizonans agree these deeply personal decisions should be left to patients, their families, and their medical providers—not politicians. The continued rise of Republican extremism in our state underscores the urgent need for action! Now more than ever, LUCHA and partners are galvanized to defeat Republican politicians who continue attack our civil liberties and Arizonan's reproductive rights!” ### About Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA): Living United for Change in Arizona is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families. LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information.

The Republican sponsored Arizona Invasion Act— “homegrown bigotry in the place of policy”—Sen. Flavio Bravo (D) By Kira Caspers, Northeast Valley News Protestors rallied outside of the Arizona State Capitol building on March 20 to oppose the Arizona Invasion Act, a pair of house bills that would make illegal immigration a state crime. The act is comprised of House Bills 2748 and 2821 that would authorize local law enforcement to administer federal immigration law and would allow local judges to decide immigration cases. Under the act, civil immunity would be provided to law enforcement for damages that could result from actions taken while enforcing this law. Both bills were sponsored by Republicans in the Senate, Sen. Jane Shamp and Sen. David Gowan, and in the House, Rep. Steve Montenegro and Rep. Joseph Chaplik.Civil rights organizations are calling this act a revival of SB1070, the ‘show me your papers’ law that was struck down in 2014 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Signed into action in 2010, SB1070 was strictest anti-immigration law in the country at the time. It forced immigrants to carry documentation with them at all times or face potential arrest if local law enforcement was suspicious of their legal status. The civil rights organization Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA brought community members together last week to make noise against these bills with speeches and chants such as,  “Here to stay!” and “Sí se puede.” LUCHA has community organizers located in Phoenix, Tucson, Cochise and Douglas which is where community organizers like Rodolfo Valencia hailed from to attend the protest. Valencia brought family and friends with him to learn more about these bills, raise awareness and to represent those in his town that do not have a voice to speak out. “We need more help in our community, since Douglas is a border town,” Valencia said. “We want to make some noise about what’s happening here.” In the middle of the protest, Sen. Flavio Bravo stepped up to a microphone as he was walking out of the state senate building and spoke to the crowd. “It is irresponsible to repeat the same mistakes of the past,” Bravo said. “These bills are nothing but homegrown bigotry in the place of policy and is playing into the fear that there is an invasion at our southern border when it’s actually a humanitarian crisis.” “This is not Texas,” he said in reference to Senate Bill 4, the Texas bill currently blocked by a federal appeals court. Similar to the Invasion Act, SB4 would also make unauthorized immigration a state crime and would warrant punishment of up to six months in jail for a first offense. These Arizona and Texas bills were made in response to a sharp increase in immigration in recent months. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency documented around 190,000 encounters by border patrol with unauthorized people crossing the southwest border in February, up nearly 20% from last year. Alberto Plentillas, the Central Region Director for the Arizona Students Association, spoke on behalf of the empowerment organization to decry the twin bills. “We do think this bill is targeting a lot of students, especially the ones that are undocumented. But it also creates an environment of fear for most students.” He mentioned how the anticipation of these bills passing could cause international students to look elsewhere for their education. “We’re trying to build community power and we feel like this is just scaring communities away,” Plentillas said. Both bills were passed by the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday and will move forward in the state senate for further voting. Link to original article: https://nevalleynews.org/18868/news/civil-rights-organizations-and-lucha-rally-against-an-az-republican-fear-bill-unevidenced-claims-over-immigration/

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) campaign arm is launching its voter mobilization efforts ahead of November’s election through alliances with grassroots groups in Arizona, Florida and Texas. By Rafael Bernal, The Hill Bold PAC is announcing the effort Thursday, focusing on the three states with key congressional races. “Latino voters will be integral to the 2024 elections, deciding whether Democrats are able to defend the White House, Senate, and take back the House,” Bold PAC Chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) said. “There is so much at stake for our community, and the future of America, highlighting the importance of ensuring that Latinos are mobilized and energized to vote for Democrats in November.” The political action committee’s core mission is to expand the CHC’s membership, but its unique focus on Hispanic voters gives the group unique access to that electorate, where other official party committees sometimes struggle. The group’s turnout efforts could have an effect up-ballot, in a presidential race that could come down to extremely thin margins in Latino-heavy battlegrounds like Arizona. The three states covered in the launch have Senate races of interest to Bold PAC — in two cases with the potential to grow the CHC’s footprint in the upper chamber. “The way the Senate works is that good opportunities don’t present themselves very often. And so Bold PAC has, over the course of many cycles, continued to prioritize bringing new Latinos to the Senate, or defending the ones we have,” said Victoria McGroary, executive director of Bold PAC. “A great example is Senator [Catherine] Cortez Masto [D-Nev.],” she added. “Last cycle we made very big investments in Nevada on her behalf, because it was so critically important to defend the first and only Latina in the Senate.” In Arizona, Bold PAC is joining forces with Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), where Chair Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is looking to fill retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat in a head-to-head against former GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake. That race is the CHC’s best shot at keeping or growing its four Senate seats. Sens. Cortez Masto, Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are not up for reelection, and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is not running for the Democratic nomination for his seat, following a cascade of corruption allegations and related indictments. Menéndez has said he will consider running as a Democratic independent if he can shake off the federal indictments by the summer. Bold PAC is also looking at raising Latino turnout in Florida, where former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) is looking to unseat Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who even as a heavy favorite is, along with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the closest thing the GOP has to a vulnerable Senate incumbent. “We are so excited to have, again, not one but two incredibly, incredibly unique and strong opportunities to get Senate seats, and that that has been over the course of several cycles an increased focus of Bold PAC because we just don’t we don’t get those opportunities very often,” McGroary said. Florida, where Bold PAC is working with Florida Freedom PAC, is also host to key House races for the CHC, including the reelection bid of Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.). Turnout is likely to be a key factor in Soto’s effort, whose constituency includes a large part of central Florida’s Puerto Rican population, a key demographic that Democrats need to win over if they want to make a comeback in the Sunshine State. Though national Democrats have become wary of investing in Florida because Republicans have turned the perennial swing state reliably red, Latino organizations like Bold PAC have kept investments in the state. “Bold PAC invested heavily in Florida last cycle. That was not true for a lot of organizations. But it was true of Bold PAC, you know, and we brought another member to the CHC because of it, the first Gen-Z member of Congress,” said McGroary, referring to Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.). Bold PAC’s kickoff, an initial six-figure effort that’s scheduled to precede other investments throughout the country, will also feature an alliance with Somos PAC Texas, the local branch of a Super PAC that featured heavily in Cortez Masto’s reelection effort in 2022. In Texas, Bold PAC will focus on a series of House races that could determine that chamber’s composition, and whose competitive nature could alter statewide calculations, for instance by driving Latino voter turnout in November in the Rio Grande Valley. Turnout in that region is often heavier in May, with voters more involved in local elections like school boards but voting patterns could be shifting with newly-competitive House races — and strategic mobilization investments. “What we know at Bold PAC is investments really matter, and the timing of investments really matters,” McGroary said. “And all the money in the world invested improperly without good authentic strategy and at the wrong time, really doesn’t matter.” Link to original article: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4561313-hispanic-democrats-kick-off-voter-mobilization-campaign/

By Alejandra Gomez, Living United for Change in Arizona We remember the dark days of SB1070—when our neighborhoods were raided, entire families ripped apart at the seam, and communities lost. Many immigrant families fled the state out of fear, and many were deported. For those who stayed, we organized, mobilized, and ushered in a new era for Arizona. After more than a decade of hard work, Living United for Change in Arizona and other organizations labored tediously to take power from the hands of those who attacked our families. We built power with the community, elected allies to office, and reshaped Arizona’s political landscape. That’s right: the shift you have witnessed over a decade was not an accident. It was methodically planned and orchestrated by activists, organizers, and community members. Yes, we turned the page and brought Arizona out of its dark days, but now, in 2024, Arizona Republicans are working tirelessly to bring back even darker days – they are on a mission to create SB 1070 2.0. Policies focused on fear and chaos Let’s call it what it is: Republicans are not interested in governing or solving problems. Their policies have time and time again failed the state and us. Their ticket to power is for chaos and fear to permeate throughout the state. That is why for decades, every legislative session has been filled with bills that attack working-class families, minimum-wage workers, women, and Black and Brown Arizonans. They throw red meat at their base, proposing incredibly racist, and anti-immigrant legislation knowing full well they are scapegoating entire communities for political gain. This year is no different. Republicans are at the precipice of their reign over the state legislature coming to an end—and, in a last-ditch effort to cling onto power, their move is to hogtie themselves to Donald Trump. But their approach is nothing new: once again, they are using Black and Brown communities as their scapegoat, and exploiting the humanitarian crisis at the border is central to their 2024 platform. As a result, 2024 has seen some of the most racist legislation since the days of SB 1070. SB 1070 2.0 Bills: One down, three to go Few bills stand as brazen testaments to bigotry and fearmongering quite like those introduced this year. Sponsored and championed by Republicans in the legislature, this abhorrent legislation seeks to revive the dark specter of SB 1070 and represents a dangerous trend toward extreme policies that threaten our civil rights. Here’s what they are, and what they would do: House Bill 2748, Senate Bill 1231, and HB 2821 aim to grant law enforcement and local officials unchecked power to enforce immigration laws—even if there are found to be no violations— shielded from any civil liability. This blatant disregard for accountability undermines the principles of justice and fairness, opening the floodgates for potential abuse of power and discrimination. By granting immunity, these bills embolden vigilante behavior, eroding trust in our institutions and endangering the rights of immigrants and citizens alike. SB 1231 was rushed through the legislature with limited input from the public and elected officials and was vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs. The other two are still being debated at the Capitol. HB 2843 is perhaps the most egregious of all, as it effectively legalizes murder under the guise of property rights. This bill, championed by those with extremist agendas reminiscent of SB 1070, condones lethal force against unarmed individuals found on private land. \ Republicans’ chilling testimony reveals a callous disregard for human life, where cruelty is not only tolerated but embraced as a means to an end. Imagine hiking in the desert, miles away from any home, but you unknowingly step on someone’s private property, would that constitute the use of lethal force? That’s what happened with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Kaylin Gillis in New York—but, where their murderers were held accountable, a law like HB 2843 would protect them from justice. The language is so broad, that simply stepping foot on someone’s land could result in your death. SCOTUS Decision on Texas SB 4 Serves a Stark Reminder The current US Supreme Court has been highjacked by extreme Republicans with an agenda that is out of step with what most Arizonans support. Therefore it is no surprise to see the Supreme Court overstep its authority and land on the wrong side of history. Republicans are utilizing the High Court as a weapon to legislate and implement their fringe right-wing ideology. Much like Texas was given the green light to use law enforcement to arrest migrants under SB 4, if any of SB 1070 2.0 bills see the light of day, we can expect the Supreme Court to weaponize racial profiling and hate, and stand against our communities. But we have the power to ensure bills like HB 2821, HB 2843, and HCR 2060 are stopped directly in their tracks! We’ve already seen Arizonans overwhelmingly reject these bills, most recently HCR 2060 was blasted by the business community, organizations, and media overwhelming the airways. And Hobbs’ veto of SB 1231 sent a clear message that, while Republicans haven’t, Arizona has turned the page! We will Remember in November Make no mistake: the Arizona Republican caucus is rapidly advancing these bills. They are complicit in perpetuating racism and injustice. By aligning themselves with these racist measures, they expose their true intentions—and themselves—as enablers of intolerance and bigotry. Their actions underscore their priorities and their eagerness to sacrifice the well-being of communities and our state for political expediency. But come November, we have a choice to make. Look to the past; we are no strangers to this fight. What GOP lawmakers don’t understand is that this is not 2010 anymore. The children of those parents who were under attack have grown up, and they are organizing! We defeated the architect behind SB1070, Russell Pearce, and in 2017 we said adios to Arpaio, reshaping the political landscape from the ashes. We will do exactly that in 2024, and deliver justice for our communities. While this is a moment of fear and disbelief, this is also a galvanizing moment. Come Election Day, we will remember who stood with Arizona and who turned their backs on us. While Republicans try mightily to deny our humanity, our contributions, our dreams, and our very existence, they will feel our presence and collective power. Because we aren’t going back! Link to original article: https://coppercourier.com/2024/03/22/opinion-arizona-republicans-want-to-legalize-racial-profiling-with-sb-1070-2-0-bills-but-lucha-says-ya-basta/

As Republican lawmakers unanimously greenlit bills to jail and deport migrants in the state Senate on Thursday, Arizona immigrants and Latino voter advocates rallied outside, vowing to unseat them for pushing “racist” policies. By Gloria Gomez, AZ Mirror “There’s no room in our state for this racist legislation that would allow police to racially profile and harass our people,” Vanessa Perez, an organizer with Mi Familia Vota, yelled into a loudspeaker to a crowd of more than three dozen gathered in front of the Arizona Senate building. Inside, the four GOP members of the Senate Military Affairs and Public Safety committee cast their votes in favor of House Bill 2821 and House Bill 2748. The bills mirror a Senate version vetoed just two weeks ago by Gov. Katie Hobbs that would punish migrants who cross Arizona’s southern border anywhere but at a port of entry with up to 6 months in jail. Republicans, who hold a majority in the state legislature and have seized on harsh immigration policies to appeal to voters this election year, have promised to resend the legislation to the governor’s desk in a bid to paint the Democrat as weak on border security. And party leadership has indicated a willingness to circumvent the Ninth Floor by placing the proposal directly on the November ballot once the bills are inevitably vetoed. Outside, the Arizona Capitol courtyard resounded with chants of “When our communities are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and “United, we will never be divided!” Protesters in bright blue shirts with the Mexican luchador logo of Living United For Change, a pro-immigrant advocacy group that has spearheaded the opposition of the bills, crowded around a hand painted banner denouncing the policy package as “SB1070 2.0”. Critics of the legislation have decried it as an extension of Arizona’s infamous “show me your papers” law from 2010 that allowed local police to investigate the citizenship status of people during routine traffic stops and led to widespread racial profiling. Attendees spoke out against the bills, highlighting the anti-immigrant sentiment behind them. Irma Pacheco, who was born in Mexico City, called the GOP’s move against immigrants unfair, pointing out that, historically, politicians unabashedly availed themselves of immigration to bolster the American workforce and build the country’s infrastructure. The 62-year-old’s father was recruited by the Bracero Program to help lay railroad tracks in the 1940s. “When they did need immigrants, they used and welcomed them,” she said. “And now they don’t want us and they’re trying to run us out. We’re not going to allow that, it’s unjust and inhumane.” Lorenzo Escamilla Moreno, from Hidalgo, Mexico, who owns a family landscaping business, called on lawmakers to stop advancing discriminatory measures, saying that immigrants in Arizona deserve better treatment. “We, as human beings, deserve respect,” the 63-year-old said. “That’s what we’re demanding. None of us came to hurt anybody — all we came here to do is work. We’re your neighbors and we deserve respect.” Arizona Republicans have marketed the proposals as a necessary defense against a wave of criminal activity, using xenophobic language to villainize migrants and accuse them of being responsible for a multitude of problems. “Multiple rapes, sexual violence as well. We have crime increasing, and fentanyl,” Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, who sponsored one of the bills, told lawmakers on the Senate committee Thursday. “And the housing crisis is, essentially, created by this invasion.” The three Democratic members of the committee walked out of the hearing in protest on Thursday, just before discussion of the bills began, citing the uselessness of passing bills that are destined for a veto and the harm they would cause to the state’s Latino community. Democratic lawmakers in both chambers have unanimously opposed the GOP immigration bills, but with a minority on every committee panel and in the state legislature as a whole, the party is powerless to stop the proposals from advancing. The trio of Democrats joined the protest outside, adding their voices to the criticism of the policy proposals. Sen. Flavio Bravo, a Democrat from Phoenix, recalled his relief when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against SB1070 and slammed his Republican colleagues for backing legislation that has the potential to end in costly lawsuits, even as the state faces a $1.7 billion dollar budget deficit. In 2012, the high court struck down three of the law’s four provisions and ruled that enforcing immigration laws is under the sole and supreme authority of the federal government. That law cost the state more than $1 million in court costs. And the new proposals are likely to land Arizona back in court, if they become law. The bills are modeled on a Texas law that is currently under litigation, with the federal government arguing that it’s unconstitutional. “During a time when we are facing a budget deficit, do we really want to spend another $1 million dollars fighting in court about a bill that we know is unconstitutional?” Bravo asked. “It is irresponsible to repeat the same mistakes of the past. These bills are nothing but home grown bigotry in a place of policy.” Jeremy Garrett, a campaign manager for Our Voice Our Vote Arizona, a voter mobilization group, warned that while the courts have in the past sided with the federal government when determining who has the right to enforce immigration laws, the new makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court has been unafraid of bucking precedent. Earlier this week, the high court refused to approve a request from the Biden administration to block the Texas law from being implemented while litigation continues. Only two of the justices on the current nine member panel were on the bench in 2012 when SB1070 was ruled unconstitutional. The successful passage of the new legislation, Garrett said, could prove devastating. “With the current makeup of the Supreme Court, there’s no guarantee these bills, if challenged, would be struck down,” he said. And if the Republican majority makes good on its promise to send the proposal, which has been dubbed the “Arizona Border Invasion Act,” to the November ballot to avoid Hobbs’ veto pen, the only recourse left would be the courts if it’s ultimately approved by voters. The solution, Karina Ruiz, the executive director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, which advocates for increased protections for immigrants brought to the country as minors, is to show up to the polls and flip the legislature to a Democratic majority. “We’re watching you and what you’re doing,” she warned GOP lawmakers. “We’re going to keep coming back, and we’re going to replace you with better people, people that do care about our community.” Rocky Joseph Rivera urged the crowd to get involved in the upcoming election, pointing out that the Republican party holds a razor-thin one-vote majority in each chamber. Democrats need to win just two extra seats in both to gain control. “We’re (four) seats away from having this change!” he said. “So, these bills can never exist at all!” And 57-year-old Magdalena Marin, who became a naturalized citizen in 2005 and has lived in Arizona for the past 20 years, said she’s ready to make her voice heard. She’s also the mother of five children, all of whom she’s taught to be active voters. “These lawmakers apparently have Alzheimer’s — they’ve forgotten all the harm laws like these have done. But we’re going to give them a little pill called ‘voting,’” she said, to loud cheers from the crowd. Link to original article: https://azmirror.com/2024/03/21/as-republicans-approved-strict-immigration-bills-opponents-rallied-against-the-racist-proposals/

Democratic lawmakers walked out of a vote at the state Capitol Wednesday to protest the latest immigration bills moving through the Arizona Senate. By Wayne Schutsky, KJZZ House Bills 2748 and 2821 would make it a state crime to cross the southern border illegally and give local and state police the power to enforce immigration laws. The bills are nearly identical to a measure Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed earlier this month. Three Democratic senators boycotted a committee vote on the bills to join the protestors with Latino advocacy groups that had gathered outside the state Senate. Sens. Rosanna Gabaldón (D-Green Valley) and Flavio Bravo (D-Phoenix) said there was no need to debate the bills again after Hobbs’ veto. “We already know the outcome,” Bravo said. “And not just that it would guarantee a veto but that it would invite further litigation, and we’re in a budget deficit right now. We don’t need lawsuits from the Department of Justice for unconstitutional proposals.” Activists like Karina Ruiz, executive director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, compared the measures to SB 1070, the controversial law passed by the Legislature over a decade ago that she blamed for a rise in racial profiling by law enforcement. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the parts of SB 1070 that empowered local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Karina Ruiz, executive director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, is encouraged by the president's proposal to expand Pell grants to DACA recipients, but doesn't think it goes far enough. “We’re here for immigrants. We’re here for people that are oppressed, that are marginalized,” Ruiz said. “And we want those people in the state Capitol to hear us loud and clear: We won’t take it anymore.” Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale) sponsored one of the bills. He said it is needed to crack down on issues like fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking. “Why do we have the bill here? Again, the Biden administration has neglected our border,” Chaplik said. “Typically, there’s a single reason for when people present bills. There’s about 12 million reasons here.” Chaplik cited several high-profile crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants, including the murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley. But Democrats and activists critical of the bills said the federal government is responsible for crafting and enforcing immigration laws. And they argued the current slate of Republican proposals are politically motivated and designed to take advantage of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed a similar Texas law to briefly go into effect before an appeals court again paused the legislation pending legal challenges. “These attacks on the immigrant community have to stop,” Ruiz said. “They have to find solutions to immigration instead of constantly trying to attack us.” Gabaldón said federal lawmakers need to advance comprehensive immigration reform. Link to original article: https://kjzz.org/content/1874843/arizona-democratic-lawmakers-walk-out-vote-controversial-immigration-bills