Latino Citizens Convention Will Focus On Overcoming Immigration Measures In AZ

 Washington, D.C. - Immigration policy will be a hot-button topic when more than 20,000 participates gather for the 81st annual convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Albuquerque, N.M., July 12-17th at the convention center. The new immigration law enacted by neighboring Arizona will be a focal point, along with such issues as education, health care and diversity. This year’s national conference theme, New Strategies for Community Empowerment: New Leadership through Action, will take on these pressing concerns. 

LULAC wants to focus on overcoming immigration measures in Arizona by condemning Governor Jan Brewer’s decision to sign the unconstitutional bill. Her disregard for the serious damage it could cause to civil liberties and public safety in the state is troubling. Poll after poll demonstrates that the majority of Americans support Comprehensive Immigration Reform that restores the rule of law by including legalization and enforcement. LULAC will use the convention as a vehicle for change. 

“We believe that our nation cannot move forward without addressing the need for sincere, fair, and comprehensive immigration reform today,” said LULAC National President, Rosa Rosales. “We fear that other states will follow Arizona’s racially divisive behavior if SB 1070 is not struck down by the courts or repealed,” she added.

The law SB 1070 will be discussed at multiple forums and a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Town hall at the 81st annual convention that gathers the national delegates of LULAC to discuss issues, set policies, and elect the organization’s leaders. 

In addition to a series of workshops and keynote addresses given by the nation’s top officials such as U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development John Trasviña, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Ed Avalos, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, Latin King of Comedy Paul Rodriguez, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency, Peter Silva, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Tom Perez, OPM Director John Berry, Rt. General United States Army, Ricardo Sanchez, Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and Planning, Office of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Raul Perea-Henze, NAACP President Ben Jealous, Representative Ben Lujan (D-NM), Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) and Representative Joe Baca (D-CA), ther e are ongoing activities designed for the general public. 

LULAC will host a concert extravaganza, Voces Unidas por América, to unite the divided people of Arizona through celebrity performances featuring many artists. The event will take place on Saturday July 17th and will focus on helping hard working immigrants realize their American Dream. 

The LULAC Expo is free and open to the public. Our exhibit area will include hundreds of corporate exhibits, a federal plaza, a career fair, a health fair, a Mercado, and a nearby cyber café. Among the offerings is a three-day Career Fair featuring great employment opportunities from over 250 top companies and federal agencies that are ready to do on the spot hiring. 

For updated conference information, visit visit www.lulac.org. 

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.