STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Less than seven weeks after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 4
into law, the Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus will join the nation’s largest
gathering of Latino policymakers for a discussion on next steps during the
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 34th Annual
Conference in Dallas.
The three-day event,
which will take place June 22-24, 2017, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, will bring
together the Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus with Texas lawmakers and
colleagues from across the country as Latino policymakers join forces to
strategize on how best to protect and support the immigrant community in the
current political climate.
“In Arizona, we know
the fight Texas has on its hands. We have seen similar harmful legislation when
Arizona enacted SB 1070, which was one of the most destructive pieces of
legislation that oppressed an entire community and which had a devastating
economic impact in Arizona," stated Rep. Diego Espinoza, D-Tolleson (District
19). "The Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus stands in solidarity with those who
oppose SB 4 in Texas and look forward to joining colleagues in Texas to discuss
a plan of action."
On Saturday, June 24,
Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus members will participate in a special plenary
session devoted to the newly signed legislation entitled, “Supporting the Lone
Star State Post SB 4: How Latino Leaders Can Unite to Combat Anti-Immigrant Laws
and Practices.” This plenary session will explore how different communities are
responding to this new paradigm and how lessons learned from California’s
Proposition 187 and Arizona’s SB 1070 can be applied to best support the
immigrant community today and to mobilize toward increased civic participation.
Following the plenary
session, Arizona Latino Legislative Latino Caucus members will join Latino
policymakers from California, Texas and across the nation for three working
group break-out sessions focused on key issues relating to SB 4 and other
similar anti-immigration measures. The meetings will focus on policy and legal
tools that Latino policymakers can use to support immigrants, strategies for
ensuring the immigrant community knows its rights, and an examination of the
negative impact these laws have on state and local economies.
A number of Texas
Latino elected officials who led the fight against the SB 4 legislation will be
in attendance with the Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus during the three-day
event, including NALEO President and Dallas County Treasurer Pauline
Medrano, Texas State Senator and Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus Chair
Sylvia R. Garcia, Texas State Representative and Mexican American
Legislative Caucus Chairman Rafael Anchia, Texas State Representative
Cesar Blanco, Texas State Representative Armando Walle, Harris
County Sherriff Ed Gonzalez and Dallas County Sheriff Lupe
Valdez.
More information on
the NALEO 34th Annual Conference can be found at www.naleo.org/dallas2017.
The bipartisan
Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus has 17 members from both the state House and
Senate. Members hold strategic leadership positions and promote legislation and
policies that directly affect Latinos in Arizona. The caucus also encourages
more Latinos to engage in the political process through public policy and
community events.
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