Election season greetings from
Democrats Abroad Global Hispanic Caucus!  

This month is very special not only because we welcome our Hispanic Heritage Month, but also because midterms (November 8^th) are approaching fast, and we would like to send a special reminder to request your ballot and return it SOON!  

Voting is always critical, but this year is even more if we want to support the great work that President Biden is engaged in for the future our nation, so, please, don’t forget to register at www.votefromabroad.org and VOTE! 

You can also find the links for the relevant voting information of each State HERE together with the deadlines (also in Spanish)! 

Democrats Abroad Global Hispanic Caucus continues working on its mission to focus on issues concerning the U.S. Hispanic community, helping to engage U.S. Hispanic voters living abroad and ensuring that their needs are met within the Democrats Abroad community. We always remain dedicated to the wide variety of issues that we as Hispanics and Latinos are personally impacted by.  

This month we intend to organize many activities celebrating the great contributions that Hispanic have made to our Nation. As President Johnson said in Proclamation 3869—National Hispanic Heritage Week, 1968 “It is with special pride that I call the attention of my fellow citizens to the great contribution to our national heritage made by our people of Hispanic descent”.  So please stay tuned for more information! 

There is always growth in our “comunidad” for growth and discovery, so if you would like to volunteer, please send us an email (English or Spanish) to [email protected]and we will get to you asap! 

Your help is always very valuable and we always welcome donations to help us register Latinx all over the world, reach out on issues that concern you, and build a brighter future for our country and the world, so click HERE if you are willing to donate.

Thank you very much and FELIZ MES DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA! 

Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus 

You can follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

to download the PDF click here.

MESSAGE FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE

The new Steering Committee is up and rolling! Our recently appointed Chair just selected the members of the Steering Committee that will assist her in the upcoming years through the important challenges related to mobilizing Latino voters abroad. 

This year is a very important one, we have the Midterm. We need to work together and we need your help! Don’t forget to register to vote, you can do it using the links below:  

• English: https://www.votefromabroad.org/es
• Spanish at: https://www.votefromabroad.org/es

It is also crucial  that we support the passing of voting rights  bills , such as: (i) Freedom to Vote Act, which seeks to ease voter registration, expand voting access, enhance election integrity and security, and establish Election Day as a federal holiday; and the (ii) John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that aims to restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In addition, the Hispanic Caucus continues to advocate for important issues to our communities, such as (i) the Dream and Promise Act and the (ii) the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  We remain dedicated to the passing of these bills as they will greatly benefit immigrant communities.

We will also keep an eye out for other policies related to access to healthcare, tax reform for Americans abroad, as well as veterans’ issues among others. Also, within the DACH we are committed to support Statehood for Puerto Rico.

We hope you will be inspired by the work that our members put into each cause, and we are always open to receiving your feedback and hearing about the problems that you are facing as latinos abroad.

You can reach us at: [email protected] 

There is always room in our comunidad for you! Remember, we welcome everyone into our Caucus, you don’t have to be latino for participating in the Caucus, so don’t wait anymore and come and join ushttps://www.democratsabroad.org/hc

I. Activities!

Global Hispanic Caucus Steering Committee Members

We are up and rolling!  We are very happy to preset our new Steering Committee Members

• Onélica Andrade (votes in CA, lives in Belgium) - Chair
• Amerika Garcia-Grewal (votes in TX, lives in Fiji)- AP Vice-Chair
• Carlos Colao (votes in FL, lives in Spain) - EMEA Vice-Chair
• Edgar Lopez (votes in NY, lives in Mexico) - Americas Vice-Chair
• Cynthia Romero (votes in CA, lives in Sweden) - Chief Translator
• Michael Ramos (votes in IL, lives in Australia) - Policy Advisor
• Norma Oldfield (votes in MD, lives in UK) - Communications Manager
• Orlando Vidal (votes in DC, lives in UAE) - Legal Advisor

New Membership Drive for reaching Hispanic Americans!

Edgar López
Democrats Abroad México

Our Steering Committee Member, Edgar López, member of Democrats Abroad Mexico, is  focused on trying to reach Hispanic Americans in the Americas and  particularly in Mexico where the State Department estimates that there are  1.6 million American citizens.  One of the main goals for the DAHC and DA Mexico is reaching this Hispanic American population.

For this purpose, a New Membership Drive will be launched in Mexico for both English and Spanish speakers with three stages: 1. launching the front-end appeal, 2. inducting the respondents, and 3. evaluating the performance of both front and back ends to refine them in a new iteration!

Remember to register to vote! Go to votefromabroad.org! Available in English and Spanish! /Recuerde que tiene que registrarse para votar!

Preguntas frecuentes en español

You must register every year to be able to vote!

Have any questions?  There is  an FAQ section/Preguntas Frencuentes, availble also in Spanish and you can always write to [email protected]

For our Latino Spanish speaking voters please find below the most FAQ in Spanish/Información sobre preguntas frecuentes en español!

• Votando Como Ciudadano Estadounidense En El Extranjero
• Registrarse Para Votar Y Solicitar Su Boleta
• Cómo Completar Su Formulario Tarjeta Federal Postal De Aplicación (FPCA)
• Recibir Y Enviar Boletas
• Cómo Usar La Boleta De Respaldo (Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot/FWAB)
• Impuesto Federal
• Elecciones Estatales Y Locales
• Estudiando En El Extranjero

 FANDANGO AT THE WALL!

The Global Hispanic Caucus, the Global Black Caucus, and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance (ALJA) International hosted a discussion about HBO’s Fandango at the Wall documentary.

The documentary follows Grammy Award winners Arturo O’Farrill and Kabir Sehgal as they prepare to record a live album at the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The project is inspired by the annual Fandango Fronterizo Festival, which unites people on both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border. Before recording, festival organizer Jorge Francisco Castillo, takes O’Farrill and Sehgal on a tour of Veracruz, Mexico, where this musical mixture of Indigenous, Spanish, and African traditions originated. Their travels finish with the annual celebration, promoting peace and celebrating unity. 

Learn more about the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, the creators of The Fandango at the Wall, visit: https://afrolatinjazz.org/

“The border wall was behind us, the sun was setting over the Pacific Ocean, the crowd was yelling “Epa” and “Otra!”, and the band was grooving. Many of us were in tears as we took everything in. For a moment, we had helped to turn a symbol of division into a common space of peace and harmony.” 

Kabir Sehgal, Executive Producer & Producer

Thank you for participating in this memorable Black History Month event!

Women's History Month

Cynthia Romero, Steering Committee Member

Para el Mes de la Historia de la Mujer el Comité Hispano se ha unido a la celebración con una campaña que destaca a Latinas en la historia de los Estados Unidos que han hecho cambios importantes. Estas mujeres vienen de diferentes partes de la nación y son de varias herencias Latinas. Pero su trabajo ha sido él mismo: elevar a la comunidad Latina, a las mujeres, a los derechos humanos y pelear por justicia social. El trabajo que han hecho estas mujeres se siente hasta hoy. Y como muestra nuestra celebración de la mujer -que aún no termina- hay muchas jóvenes que están tomando las riendas y siguiendo la lucha. Únase nosotros mientras seguimos celebrando a las mujeres latinas en los Estados Unidos que han marcado la diferencia.

For Women's History Month the Hispanic Caucus has joined the celebration with a campaign highlighting Latinas in the history of the United States that have made important changes. These women come from different parts of the nation and from various Hispanic heritages. But the work has been the same: to elevate the Latino community, to work for women's rights, to work for human rights, and to fight for social justice. The job that these women have done permeates today. And just as our continuing celebration shows there are many young women who have taken the reins and continue the fight. Join us as we continue to celebrate Latino women in the United States who have made a difference.

II. Interview Section

Blue Vote Café Interviews Global Hispanic Caucus Steering Committee members

In November, the Blue Vote Café from DA Canada invited our Steering Committee Members, Amerika García Grewal, Edgar López and Carlos Colao to talk about the main challenges of Democrats Abroad Global Hispanic Caucus!  You want to hear more!

Click here

III. Relevant Bills in progress!

We are always working and advocating for relevant reforms to help our Country and the Latino community. Here are the ones that we are keeping a close eye on:

• R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This bill would create a process for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, otherwise known as “DREAMERS,” to earn permanent resident status and eventual citizenship. It also includes a path to citizenship for people with temporary protected status (TPS) and beneficiaries of deferred enforced departure (DED). (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)
• R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
  
  This bill would:
  • Establish a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy;
  • reform the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers; and
  • focus on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.

          (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)

• Res. 276 / S. Res. 135, a resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States.
  (Status: Currently pending in House and Senate committees)
  
  
• R. 1182, the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act. This bill would prevent non-citizen veterans from being deported, improve tracking of noncitizen veterans in immigration proceedings, and bring certain eligible deported veterans back home.
  (Status: Currently pending in 3 House committees)
  
  
• R. 1522, a bill to provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union.
  (Status: Hearing held on 4/14/21. Currently pending in a House committee)
  
  
• R. 1976, a bill to establish a Medicare for All national health insurance program.
  (Status: Currently pending in 7 House committees)
  
  
• Res. 332, a resolution recognizing the Federal Government has a duty to create a Green New Deal.
  (Status: Currently pending in 11 House committees)
  
  
• R. 1333, the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act. This bill would strengthen the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion.
  (Status: Passed the House; currently pending in the Senate)
  
  
• R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act. This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to allow individuals subject to secondary immigration inspection at U.S. ports of entry to consult with an attorney, accredited immigration official, family member, or immigration sponsor during the inspection.
  (Status: Passed the House. Currently pending in the Senate)
  
  
• 1517 - Freedom for Families Act (Not to be confused with the Republican tax bill of the same name currently pending in the House). This bill would:
  • Ensure that no federal dollars will be used for the operation and construction of family detention facilities.
  • Create a 30-day phase out of currently operating family detention centers.
  • Transfer funds currently used to operate family detention centers for the implementation and development of appropriate community-based non-detention programs
  • Instruct the DHS Secretary to review the feasibility of transferring case management programs out of the purview of ICE and DHS.

          (Status: Currently pending in a Senate committee)

• R. 1 / S. 1, the For the People Act. This bill aims to:
  • Expand automatic voter registration and same day registration
  • Strengthen vote by mail, early voting and ballot access,
  • Combat voter intimidation and voter suppression,
  • Protect elections from foreign interference,
  • Fix partisan gerrymandering,
  • Promote digital ad transparency,
  • Force disclosure of dark money,
  • Rein in lobbyist influence,
  • Reinforce ethics and conflict of interest rules for all government officials, and
  • Empower small donors with matching funds paid for by lawbreakers, not taxpayers.

         (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)

• R.4 - John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
  • The bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect.
  • The bill authorizes Department of Justice to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights.
  • The bill also outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.

• 2747 - Freedom to Vote Act
  • This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance.
  • The bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday.
  • The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence.
  • The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting.
  • Sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections.
  • The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting.
  • The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices

         (Status: introduced in Senate -10/20/2021.Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2747 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 420)  

• R.5123 - American Freedom and Internet Access Act
  (Status: introduced in House)

• R. 4137 - the Veterans Visa and Protection Act
  This bill provides permanent resident status and citizenship eligibility to certain noncitizen veterans and addresses related issues.
  (Status: Introduced in House 09/07/2021, pending in 3 different committees)

• R.5376 - Build Back Better Act
  This bill provides funding, establishes programs, and otherwise modifies provisions relating to a broad array of areas, including education, labor, childcare, health care, taxes, immigration, and the environment. (The bill is commonly referred to as the Build Back Better Act.) 

IV. Latest News from Key Stakeholders!

Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Latest News

·       The 2020 census had big undercounts of Black people, Latinos and Native Americans

March 11, 2022

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Statement on Dr. Cynthia Telles Swearing-in as First Latina U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica

Feb 16, 2022 

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Statement on Nomination of Justice Patricia Guerrero as Associate Justice of the CA Supreme Court

Feb 15, 2022 

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus, National Hispanic and Immigration Advocacy Leaders Press Forward on Immigration Reform

Feb 8, 2022

·      CHC Chair Ruiz: We Will Use Every Tool at Our Disposal to Protect our Communities

Feb 8, 2022

·      CHC Highlights Key Resources for Noncitizen Servicemembers and Veterans

Feb 7, 2022 

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Ruiz Joins Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Honduras

Jan 27, 2022 

·      Immigration and Border Issues

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Urge the Senate to Pass Voting Rights Legislation to Protect our Democracy

Jan 19, 2022 

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Urge Action to Combat Spanish-Language Misinformation

Jan 18, 2022 

·      Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Statement on ICE’s New Pilot Program Using Body Worn Cameras

Dec 22, 2021 

V. Volunteer Opportunities!

If you are interested reach out to Norma, our Comms Manager, at [email protected], subject: “Facebook volunteer”

If you would like to give us a hand but Facebook is not your thing,! Write to us at [email protected]

 You can also help us by making a donation to support our activities to get out the vote among US Latinos around the world. https://www.democratsabroad.org/hc-donations

VI. Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus at a Glance

Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus of Democrats provides a forum for all Democrats Abroad members to better understand the issues and concerns affecting the U.S. Hispanic community, to help engage with U.S. Hispanic voters living abroad, ensure that their needs are met within the Democrats Abroad community, and, where needed, to advocate for reforms to political issues. Therefore, DAHC is integrated with US Hispanic citizens and their allies from all over world.

Democrats Abroad (DA) is the official arm of the Democratic Party for the 9 million Americans living outside the United States. DA strives to provide Americans abroad with a Democratic voice in our government and elect Democratic candidates by mobilizing the overseas vote

DAHC currently counts with nearly 1,500 members with members from in 82 countries from Argentina to Zambia, representing  all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC, with the most members coming from California, Texas, Florida, and New York

VII. Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus Resources

• DA Hispanic Caucus Facebook Page 
  https://www.facebook.com/democratsabroadhispaniccaucus/ 

• DA Hispanic Caucus Twitter Page 
  https://twitter.com/DemsAbroadHC 

• DA Hispanic Caucus Podcast 
  https://dahispaniccaucus.podomatic.com/ 

• Contact us at:  
  [email protected]
  
  
• DA Hispanic Caucus Terms of Reference
  https://www.democratsabroad.org/hc_terms_of_reference

Join us!

Onelica Andrade / Chair
Email:  [email protected] 

Follow us on

Activities -  DAHC Interview Section - Why I Vote - Events - DAHC at a Glance

MESSAGE FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE

During the months of April, March and June Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus (DAHC) has continued working on its mission to focus on issues concerning the U.S. Hispanic community, and help engaging U.S. Hispanic voters living abroad and ensure that their needs are met within the Democrats Abroad community. 

 In this respect, we keep working on our legislative priorities: (i) Immigration Reform, (ii) Access to healthcare, (iii) Voting access/voters' right: (iv) Tax Reform for Americans abroad; and (v) Statehood for Puerto Rico.

We are very happy to welcome the new two Bills presented in April to the House: (i) the Dream and Promise Act and the (ii) the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. We remain dedicated to the passing of these bills as they will greatly benefit immigrant communities. We recognize that many families in the Hispanic community are mix-status, which is why we welcome initiatives that support equality for immigrants from all walks of life.

In particular, we believe in providing a path to citizenship to the Childhood Arrivals that call the U.S. their home. As President Biden said, “Dreamers are American.”

Also, within the DACH we continue committed with our entirely support for the Statehood for Puerto Rico. Democrats Abroad delegation co-sponsored at the DNC in 2017 a resolution that, for the first time, declared the Democratic Party’s support for statehood for Puerto Rico. DAHC will be sponsoring a webinar on Statehood for Puerto Rico, so save the date and join us.

We are thrilled that during this period, we have continued to work in several exciting initiatives. Voting access has been discussed as we have teamed up with DA Spain to speak about bilingual outreach, during the EMEA May Meeting: Focus on Chapters.

DAHC remains dedicated to the wide variety of issues that we as Hispanics and Latinos are personally impacted by. We hope you will be inspired by the diligent work that our members have put into each cause. There is always room in our comunidad for growth and discovery- we welcome everyone, allies alike, to take part with us.

Activities!

Immigration reform event!

Hosted by: Global Hispanic Caucus, in partnership with the AAPI, LGBTQ and Youth Caucuses, DA Canada, DA Spain and DA Germany

The Immigration Reform package presented by President Biden can create a better and more stable future for millions of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, but passing it will require efforts from all of us.

In April, two key immigration bills are going through the House: (i) the Dream and Promise Act and the (ii) Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

DAHC joined with the Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus (AAPI), LGBTQ Caucus, DA Canada, DA Spain and DA Germany to host this immigration reform event, where these two bills and topics related to them, such as the Ten-Year Ban, were discussed, and where were honored by the participation of the following guest speakers:

• Eun Suk Hong: Co-Founder of Departed Dreamers. Speaking on Dream and Promise Act.
• Nicole Salgado: Educator and author of Amor and Exile. Speaking on her 15 years immigration exile.
• Tawheeda Wahabzada: Co-founder of Departed Speaking on Ten-Year Ban.
• Nicole Salgado:  Educator and Author of Amor and Exile. Speaking on her 15 years in immigration exile.
• Edgar Franks:  Political Director of Familias Unidas por La Justicia. Speaking on the FarmWorkforce Modernization Act

Legislative Pulse:

Using BillTrack50 to Follow legislation!

On Sunday, April 11^th, Karen Suhaka from Democrats Abroad United Kingdom (“DAUK”) shared how to take action on the political issues that you care about the most.

Karen is the founder and catalyst behind Billtrack50 and has worked on American legislative state and federal data management for many years. She has been most generous in giving Democrats Abroad a free subscription to billtrack50.com to research our key policy interests and develop plans to reach legislators and make policy become a reality.

Karen walked us through the basic steps that a bill goes through to become a law, talked about how bills are numbered to help us figure out who to call, explained when states are in session so you know when you should call, provided resources to look up who your representatives and their staff are, and helped figure out what’s the best action to take when tracking a certain bill.

This event was sponsored by the Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Global Black, LGBTQ+, ProDA, Veterans & Military Families Caucuses, the Taxation Task Force, and the Texans Abroad Squad.

BETWEEN TWO STIGMAS: THE INTERSECTION OF BEING LGBTQ+ AND AN IMMIGRANT

Pride celebrated who we are and the power of coming out. It was also a time to acknowledge the risk associated with coming out for many LGBTQ+ people around the world and in our communities.

The panelists shared what it is like to be at the intersection of two stigmatized communities: being an immigrant, being undocumented, and being LGBTQ+.

We heard about how undocumented immigrants created and concealed parts of their identity to cope with discrimination and negative stereotypes. We highlighted pending legislation and how DA members can forward the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 and the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021

This event was part of our all day PRIDE marathon and was cohosted with the DA Hispanic Caucus.

Our Moderator was Juan Cerda of DA-Paris. Speakers included Departed Dreamers: Tawheeda Wahabzada and Monsy; DACA applicant Yari; immigration lawyer and former DemsAbroad DNC Representative, Bob Bragar.

DAHC Supports PUERTO RICO Statehood!

Orlando Vidal, DAHC Steering Committee, DNC Member, UAE Chair, UAE Legal Counsel, DA International Counsel

On May, the House passed a bill to admit Washington, DC as the 51st state of our Union. Though Senate approval will be difficult, it is the right thing to do. With statehood, our citizens in DC will finally have voting representation in the House, and Senators like all other states (they secured the right to vote for President and Vice President through constitutional amendment in 1961).

But there are approximately 3.5 million more Americans who still today are denied the right to vote for President, Vice President, Representatives, and Senators merely because of where they live. I’m, of course, referring to the residents of the five major US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa).

 Together with Guam, Puerto Rico is the longest held US territory, having been first acquired in 1898, which means Puerto Rico has been part of the US for half the history of our country (since our Declaration of Independence in 1776). It is also the most populous of all US territories, with 3.1 million citizens.

 In the last three local plebiscites (held in 2012, 2017, and most recently in 2020), Puerto Ricans have overwhelmingly chosen statehood.

Our Democrats Abroad delegation co-sponsored at the DNC in 2017 a resolution that, for the first time, declared the Democratic Party’s support for statehood for Puerto Rico.

In June, the Global Hispanic Caucus will be sponsoring a webinar on Statehood for Puerto Rico, in which the lead presenter (and a good friend to Democrats Abroad) will be the Chairman of the Puerto Rico Democratic Party, former Puerto Rico Senate President Charlie Rodríguez. More details will follow soon. We hope everyone can attend.

 Statehood for Puerto Rico will bring legal equality to our US citizens there by fully enfranchising them at the federal level and thereby ending the separate “but equal” territorial segregation to which they have been confined for the past 123 years.

Adam Toledo, Statement by the DAHC Steering Committee!

On March 29, 2021, 13-year-old Adam Toledo was shot and killed by an officer from the Chicago Police Department. Body-worn camera footage was released on Thursday, April 16 showing the shooting.

This tragedy has shown that when it comes to children of color, the presumption of guilt is often prematurely conceived, and often wrong. We as a community mourn the loss of a young boy whose dreams and hopes for the future parallel those of other Latino boys in our families.

This atrocity exposes the need for greater assistance for kids of color, the need for social workers in these communities, and above all greater investment in training that would prevent these situations from happening in the first place.

Democrats Abroad extends our heartfelt condolences to the Toledo family during this time of unimaginable pain. We wish them great strength and healing. This is not the first tragedy to arise from police incompetence, incompetence that negatively affects, in particular, the black members of the Hispanic and Latino community.

This year has been one of grief and fury for underrepresented communities in the United States. We have seen not only a continuation of fatalities, but an escalation in hate crimes and police brutality. The AAPI and African American communities have experienced similar tragedies – a bitter reminder that this struggle is not exclusive to one group.

Across communities in the United States, policies to prevent death by the police are uneven, inadequate, and unacceptable. Improved standards need to be established for use of force and training on these standards must be implemented across the country. The implementation of racial and ethnic respect should be a key component of law enforcement training.

We call for every police officer to be held accountable and for increased meaningful communications between underrepresented communities and law enforcement. We demand an end to the vilification of victims of police violence. We demand protection.

We demand justice for Adam Toledo, and all youth of color!

TAXATION TIME… Don’t forget that within Democrats Abroad we are always advocating for reforms towards a residency-based taxation system!

Democrats Abroad has filed this submission to the Senate Finance Committee making the case for our GILTI reform recommendation

Carmelan Polce, Chair, Taxation Task Force Democrats Abroad

Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force advocates for reforms to tax laws and regulations that cause personal and financial harm to Americans abroad. Discussions in Congress about using increases in tax on the profits of the foreign subsidiaries of U.S. multinational corporations gives us a great opportunity to seek relief from the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) taxes that have double-taxed the profits of small to medium sized businesses of Americans abroad registered in the countries where they live. Democrats Abroad has published a submission to the Senate Finance Committee making the case for our reform recommendations.

The Task Force is also leading on a Democrats Abroad campaign to increase membership in the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus. Growing the Caucus grows the number of allies we have in the House of Representatives in progressing our reform recommendations. We urge you to reach out to your Representative about joining the Americans Abroad Caucus. To participate:

https://www.democratsabroad.org/carmelan/your_representative_belongs_in_the_congressional_americans_abroad_caucus

COVID stimulus payments updates - We continue to hear from members who are chasing their U.S. Government Economic Impact Payment (EIP). This post has updates on EIP #3, the $1,400 payments included in the Biden American Rescue Plan, and includes advice on how to reach the IRS with questions.

Taxation and COVID stimulus payments webinar - DAUK hosted a webinar on Thursday 22 April with advice on tax filing and COVID stimulus payments. This is a recording of the webinar.

The new $3,000 Child Care Tax Credits - we are beginning to get a lot of questions about the new $3,000 child care tax credits established in the American Rescue Plan Act. Contrary to earlier statements, the IRS announced in hearings last week that they are prepared to begin making payments starting in July. DA is planning a webinar for parents interested in understanding what is happening and what they need to do. More soon.

More Taxation Task Force Treasury outreach - Like with the stimulus payments, Americans without a U.S. bank account on file with the IRS will be sent USG checks, with the same risk that the checks go missing in the post or are difficult/impossible to cash in the country where the recipient lives. We are reaching out to Treasury again to persuade them to make payments into the foreign bank accounts of non-resident taxpayers using the IBAN.

Go to the Taxation Task Force webpage on the Democrats Abroad website for information on our work and to sign up for regular updates on it.

Send comments or questions to [email protected].

 for information on our work and to sign up for regular updates on it.

Send comments or questions to [email protected].

… And new BILLS coming! We are always on the track!!

Michael Ramos, DAHC Steering Committee

We are always working and advocating for relevant reforms to help our Country and the Latino community. Our Steering Committee Member, Michael Ramos, highlights some of these bills that we are keeping a close eye on:

H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This bill would create a process for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, otherwise known as “DREAMers,” to earn permanent resident status and eventual citizenship. It also includes a path to citizenship for people with temporary protected status (TPS) and beneficiaries of deferred enforced departure (DED).

• (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)

H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This bill would:

• establish a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy;
• reform the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers; and
• focus on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.
• (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)

 H. Res. 276 / S. Res. 135, a resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States.

• (Status: Currently pending in House and Senate committees)

H.R. 1182, the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act. This bill would prevent non-citizen veterans from being deported, improve tracking of noncitizen veterans in immigration proceedings, and bring certain eligible deported veterans back home.

• (Status: Currently pending in 3 House committees)

H.R. 1522, a bill to provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union.

• (Status: Hearing held on 4/14/21. Currently pending in a House committee)

H.R. 2070, a bill to recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to call a status convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.

• (Status: Hearing held on 4/14/21. Currently pending in 2 House committees)

H.R. 1976, a bill to establish a Medicare for All national health insurance program.

• (Status: Currently pending in 7 House committees)

H. Res. 332, a resolution recognizing the Federal Government has a duty to create a Green New Deal.

• (Status: Currently pending in 11 House committees)

H.R. 3493, the Family Reunification Act. This bill would provide a path to legalization for individuals with family or employer ties and shields individuals from removal proceedings while waiting for a visa.

• (Current status: pending in the House Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 1177, the U.S. Citizenship Act. This bill would provide millions of hardworking, undocumented immigrants with a pathway to earned citizenship, including Dreamers, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers who have made enormous sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic; prioritize family reunification and keeping families together; bolster the country’s long-term economic growth; equip the country to responsibly and effectively manage the border with smart and effective investments; address root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America; and restore the United States’ commitment to human rights.

• (Current status: pending in 12 House committees)

H.R. 1333, the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act. This bill would strengthen the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion.

• (Status: Passed the House; currently pending in the Senate)

H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act. This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to allow individuals subject to secondary immigration inspection at U.S. ports of entry to consult with an attorney, accredited immigration official, family member, or immigration sponsor during the inspection.

• (Status: Passed the House. Currently pending in the Senate)

S. 1517_____, the Freedom for Families Act (Not to be confused with the Republican tax bill of the same name currently pending in the House). This bill would:

• Ensure that no federal dollars will be used for the operation and construction of family detention facilities.
• Create a 30-day phase out of currently operating family detention centers.
• Transfer funds currently used to operate family detention centers for the implementation and development of appropriate community-based non-detention programs
• Instruct the DHS Secretary to review the feasibility of transferring case management programs out of the purview of ICE and DHS.
• (Status: Currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 1 / S. 1, the For the People Act. This bill aims to:

• expand automatic voter registration and same day registration
• strengthen vote by mail, early voting and ballot access,
• combat voter intimidation and voter suppression,
• protect elections from foreign interference,
• fix partisan gerrymandering,
• promote digital ad transparency,
• force disclosure of dark money,
• rein in lobbyist influence,
• enforce ethics and conflict of interest rules for all government officials, and
• empower small donors with matching funds paid for by lawbreakers, not
• (Status: Passed the House, currently pending in the Senate)

Interview Section!

Alma Young, Georgia Systemic Change Coordinator with the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFW)

 Our DAHC Steering Committee Members Onélica Andrade interviewed Alma Young, Georgia Systemic Change Coordinator with the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFW).

For 15 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay, and other worker protections(https://www.ufwfoundation.org/)

Hola, Alma happy to have you here and thank you very much for the interview, could you please be so kind to introduce yourself?

My name is Alma Young, I am currently the Georgia Systemic Change Coordinator with the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFWF). I am an immigrant and a former farm worker. While I spent part of my childhood in the Texas Valley, I consider myself a Georgian.

My family moved here following the crops. Since I experienced many abuses, inequalities, and bigotry as a farm worker as well as a Chicana living in the South, I turned my personal experience into a lifelong career.

I was an educator in Higher Education for 14 years and worked in various roles to provide access to education to migrant, Latinx, DACA, and undocumented students of Georgia and Florida as well as their families.

1. How did you start working for UFW Foundation?

In my previous role, I directed a program at a university in South Georgia that supported migrant students through their first year of college. Through my direction, we established and coordinated a campus-wide celebration of the National Farmworkers Awareness Week. One of the highlights of our 2018 event was the keynote speech of then UFW President and successor of Cesar Chavez, Arturo Rodriguez. While I had briefly met Arturo on several occasions, the opportunity to have him in South Georgia was a huge deal! After that, me, Arturo, as well as other UFW staff kept in touch, but it was a few months after the COVID-19 pandemic started that I reached out to Arturo and asked about the UFW and my interest in the Union/Non-profit work.

While I was helping migrant families through education, I felt that there was not enough being done by our state government to protect farm working families. As the pandemic progressed, I kept hearing about students being hospitalized, some of the families who I had developed close relationships with had family members who died.

As an educator, I felt powerless to help unless I switched careers, and that’s what I did. The conversations between me and the UFW Foundation started because my interest fit perfectly with their expansion efforts. They had already sent staff to Georgia on several occasions to investigate deaths of H2A workers, so they understood the need of having an organization in Georgia whose focus was 100% on farmworkers, then I came along. So yeah, the rest is history.

1. Could you give us a brief summary of what the Farm Workforce Modernization Act proposes, including what specific parts of the bill will be most beneficial and what area(s) might need some more work/improvement in the future?

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603) is a bipartisan bill and the product of months of negotiations between farmworker organizations (United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation and Farmworker Justice), agricultural employers, as well as Democrats and Republicans. There are three major components of the bill. The first is legalization for farmworkers currently in the US. The second component is reform to the H-2A program to improve protections for guest workers and include efficiencies for employers. The third and final component of the bill is verification of employment authorization in the ag sector.

The legalization component if obviously the most beneficial aspect of the bill because most of the issues that we see in regard to the farmworkers legal, health, financial struggles stem from their lack of legal status, so legalization alone will change the farmworkers lives dramatically.

In my opinion, the verification component is the most problematic aspect of the bill because companies will be using E-verify to verify the legal status of the employees. This is controversial because of what we have experienced in the past, especially here in Georgia. For example, in 2011 Georgia enacted the House Bill 87 (Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011) which required businesses in Georgia with more than 10 employees to use E-Verify to verify that prospective employees are eligible to work in the United States legally. I personally saw many farmworkers leave the area due to fear of being of being deported, however, even though we highly disagree with this aspect of the bill, the difference is that this time E-Verify comes along with a work permit, therefore, protection from deportation. Again, this was a compromise we had to make just like legalization was a compromise for the other side.

1. What kind of work did the UFW Foundation do to shape and pass the bill through the House?

The UFW Foundation has been heavily involved almost every aspect of this bill along with other organizations who were involved in the negotiation process. Since the UFW Foundation strongly believes in the power of organizing and empowering communities, those of us in the UFWF Systemic Change Department are in the frontlines speaking, assisting, and engaging with farmworkers. Every single one of the UFW Foundation Systemic Change Organizing Coordinators are extremely involved in the communities, most of us were former farmworkers/immigrants, which is key in work that we do. So while the UFW Foundation did a lot of background work, the work that mattered came from the workers themselves. They called their representatives and shared their personal stories as immigrants and farmworkers, they took time from work to attend meetings with representatives. They did it all! We were mostly there to motivate and support the farmworkers.

1. The next step for the Farm Workforce Modernization bill is to pass the Senate. How can we, as Americans Abroad, help to get this bill passed? Are there certain senators we should focus on reaching out to?

There is so much American Abroad can help us do! While democrats currently have the Senate majority of 50 democratic senators plus the vice president, in order to ensure the bill passes we need to have the support of at least 10 republican senators, should they decide to filibuster. Since we just finished the House work, we are still waiting to hear from our leadership on what are the next steps. In the meantime, follow our social media pages, such as Instagram, twitter, and Facebook for news on the bill and next steps. We have Facebook live events about the FWMA that are recorded for those who are not able to join us at that time. Also, please donate to our efforts! We will really take all and any help that we can.

Thank very much Alma, it was great having you on board and congratulations for your excellent job and for helping farmworkers.

In Solidarity with our DA Black Caucus brothers and sisters!

Statement by Angela Fobbs, Global Black Caucus Chair, and Julia Bryan, Democrats Abroad Global Chair

Justice has been delivered to George Floyd and his family, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief - for now.

We must take this moment to not only deliver justice for the dead but to protect the living. We must help make our country a place where we can all breathe freely, a place where the color of our skin does not put us at risk.

Philonise Floyd said after the verdict, "As an African American, we usually never get justice."

This inequality cannot stand. The House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It is time for the Senate to do so too. Democrats and Republicans must rise to the challenge of our  times, unite our United States behind this issue, and transform policing in America.

Our moral compass is bending towards justice. It’s time to put policies in place to make this transformation complete. The time is now.

#BlackLivesMatter

IN MEMORIAM!

DAHC stands together with the Asian American community in these terrible moments of sadness and pain!

Anti-Asian Hate
Cory Lemke and Emily Lines
Global AAPI Caucus Cochairs

On March 17th, 2021, a shooter murdered eight people in Atlanta-area spas, six of whom were women of Asian descent. As Asian American and Pacific Islanders, we are concerned with the growing normalcy of anti-Asian sentiment and rhetoric in the United States. Hate crimes against AAPI people have increased 150% in the past year, and this was stoked by the previous administration as COVID-19 spread across the country. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were scapegoated to mask the blatant failure of the Trump administration. Let us be reminded that words have as much consequence as elections.

Anti-Asian actions continue daily in the United States. Please join our Online Vigil here and add your voice to those speaking out against hat.

Why I vote!

Why I Vote -- by Amerika Garcia-Grewal

Since I turned 18 I've lived in Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, and New York. I've been to each state capital and to Washington, DC to visit my legislators and share my concerns about different issues over the years. Voting is more than "something to do" every four years; it's a way of building up our country's leadership, beginning at the local level, and supporting them all the way to the White House.

My move to Fiji in 2014 made it more challenging to participate in local elections. Because of the lengthy mail times I have never received a ballot from my hometown election office in time to vote on that ballot. Luckily, the tools at VoteFromAbroad.org make it easy to make sure I'm registered to vote and that I'm using the right ballots to vote.

So why do I vote? I vote because I love my country. I vote because I saw my parents vote when I was a child. I vote because I want my voice to be heard. I vote because I am a role model for my family. I vote because I know that not every country allows its citizenry to participate in democratic elections.

I vote because it matters.

Por qué voto! Carlos Colao, DHAC Steering Committee

Votar representa la consagración de nuestra libertad sobre cuyo derecho se constituye y plasma la máxima manifestación democrática de nuestra Sociedad, y sobre la que erige y levanta nuestra Constitución americana como norma suprema en la que poder someter la corrupción, la avaricia y la maldad encarnada en los pecados más amargos del poder.

Es en esa libertad donde la propia esencia del ser humano se puede ver inconmensurablemente completa, donde nació y creció el sueño americano; sí, ese sueño de poder ser al fin todos iguales y donde es nuestra propia voluntad la que marca nuestro destino.

Nunca olvidemos que votar es nuestro derecho más sagrado sobre el que nuestros antepasados lucharon y murieron por conseguir. Es, al fin y al cabo, la representación máxima del pueblo americano, y que requiere siempre el mayor respeto y responsabilidad posible, ya que, sobre ese derecho, construimos nuestro futuro.

Por eso, VOTO.

Upcoming Events!

Puerto Rico Statehood webinar!

DAHC will be sponsoring a webinar on Statehood for Puerto Rico, in which the lead presenter (and a good friend to Democrats Abroad) will be the Chairman of the Puerto Rico Democratic Party, former Puerto Rico Senate President Charlie Rodríguez.

RSVP HERE to get the Zoom link to this event!

Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus at a Glance

Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus of Democrats provides a forum for all Democrats Abroad members to better understand the issues and concerns affecting the U.S. Hispanic community, to help engage with U.S. Hispanic voters living abroad, ensure that their needs are met within the Democrats Abroad community, and, where needed, to advocate for reforms to political issues. Therefore, DAHC is integrated with US Hispanic citizens and their allies from all over world.

Democrats Abroad (DA) is the official arm of the Democratic Party for the 9 million Americans living outside the United States. DA strives to provide Americans abroad with a Democratic voice in our government and elect Democratic candidates by mobilizing the overseas vote

DAHC currently counts with nearly 1,500 members with members from in 82 countries from Argentina to Zambia, representing all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC, with the most members coming from California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

Join us!

Amerika Garcia Grewal / Chair
Email: [email protected]

Activities - On the Ground! - DAHC Interview Section - Members Contributions - Events - DAHC at a Glance

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Happy 2021, the Year of the Ox. As we welcome in the Lunar New Year and our second year of dealing with a pandemic-changed world, there is so much to share with you. The Hispanic Caucus of Democrats Abroad is larger than ever, with nearly 1,500 members at the start of this month. We have members in 82 countries from Argentina to Zambia coming from all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC, with the most members voting absentee in the states of California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

We have an exciting series of events to kick off the year. In the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, Onélica Andrade and Carlos Colao have been reviewing our Terms of Reference and updating it with new goals as we prepare for the 2022 midterms. In the Americas region, Edgar Lopez has been hard at work with Onélica Andrade and myself preparing for the joint caucus Leadership Development Regional Workshops.

• Asia-Pacific (AP) – held on 21 February
• EMEA – held on 28 February, 10:00 AM EST
• Americas - 7 March, 3:30 PM EST

Each online session showcases four different Democrats Abroad Leaders, one for each of the Global, Regional, and Country levels, and one from a country without a Country Chapter from within the region, interspersed with breakout rooms for networking and deeper discussions.

We’re also working on our legislative priorities. The following were raised by members in our regional meetings as among our caucus’ highest  priorities:

1) Enacting Comprehensive Immigration Reform
2) Increasing Access to healthcare, in particular, when it comes to COVID-19 care and access to vaccines
3) Expanding Voting rights
4) Tax Reform for Americans abroad 
5) Halting deportations of U.S. veterans
6) Statehood for Puerto Rico

As well as Education, specifically increased opportunities for our Latinx community in public education, and Climate Change.

What are you most concerned about?

Reaching out to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

We are happy to announce that the DAHC recently wrote to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to introduce ourselves to the new Chair, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), and to reaffirm our commitment to working with our Latinx Democratic allies to pass meaningful reforms. We want to use this year to forge strong ties to Congress and with other potential allies back in the U.S.

 As a reminder, our Mission Statement clearly supports and defends the U.S. Constitution and the goals and ideals of the Democratic Party and Democrats Abroad. In particular:

• To advocate on issues of concern to the U.S. Hispanic community
• To be a pro-Hispanic voice for U.S. citizens living abroad
• To support campaigns of Democratic Hispanic nominees running for elected office in the U.S.

Likewise, DAHC encourages all Democratic Hispanic members of Congress to join this caucus for the purpose of a unified voice in Congress in advocating for policies to improve the lives and well-being of Hispanic-Americans. We are proud to report that every Democratic Hispanic member of the 117^th Congress is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus snapshot

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) was founded in December 1976 as a legislative service organization of the United States House of Representatives. Today, the CHC is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed by the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The CHC addresses national and international issues and crafts policies that impact the Hispanic community. The function of the Caucus is to serve as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” (https://chc.house.gov/about)

DACA: Thank you, Mr. President!

Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

The Hispanic Caucus of Democrats Abroad (DAHC) has thanked President Biden for keeping the campaign promise and acting swiftly in issuing an executive order to reinstate and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

This is a major relief for the thousands of “Dreamers” and their families who live in constant uncertainty and fear of deportation.  And while this may give undocumented immigrants a respite, we hope that Congress will soon pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

Addressing this issue is a top legislative priority for us and we stand fully committed to work with our members and our Democratic colleagues in finally moving forward on a strong, compassionate, and fair immigration system. As the primary voice for the U.S. Hispanic Community living abroad, we advocate for and encourage reforms like the bipartisan Dream Act, S. 264, to finally allow Dreamers and temporary protected status (TPS) individuals to not fear coming out of the shadows and being fully welcomed into society as Americans.

One of our incredible volunteers, a former DACA individual now living in Germany, stated:

“I want to thank President Biden for providing my fellow Childhood Arrivals with the security we have so badly needed the past four years. I want to encourage the new Administration to keep our well-being and that of other minorities at heart, and to make the much needed changes to give security to the Childhood Arrivals that remain trapped in for-profit detention centers as well as TPS recipients currently in limbo.

It is essential that we recognize each other´s humanity - immigrant, asylum seeker refugee, and U.S. citizen alike - and bolster the voices of those of us who have lived in the shadows. The path to equality is filled with difficult challenges that I know President Biden is willing to confront. I thank you for this important step, and promise to urge for American voices to fight alongside those who have yet to be heard.”

Connecting our roots to our Global Community

Edgar López-Vallejo
DA Mexico, Media Team Leader, Hispanic Caucus Steering Committee Member

Do you like the idea of forming international communities that take their strength from the roots they share in Latin America and the US? We in the Dems Abroad Hispanic Caucus are working with the Latinx diaspora to get in touch with each other, to revel in our shared identity, to retrace our provenance from communities across the US, and to build a strong nexus from our networks spanning the globe to all of those communities that nurtured our families back in their ancestral homeland. 

Affirming our identity as a global community and rebuilding our collective links to the towns and neighborhoods that nurtured us and our families would make us feel more complete as people and, we believe, would anchor to our belonging. 

It would also allow us to better support, throughout our voting rights and contact with the Latinx communities in the US, the acceptance of their members as full-fledged citizens at every level in the country, the respect of their rights, and the acknowledgment of the voices that emanate from them.

For these reasons, we are starting a program to identify and retrace those links, to find the communities that bridge our shared history, language, and idiosyncrasy, and build political and cultural networks that may allow us and other Latinx abroad to nurture ourselves from the strength of those communities, and to give back, from what we have become, to those communities across the Americas. We will be stronger and more complete for it, and our land will benefit from what we can give back.

If the idea interests you, let us  know: get in touch and contribute your point of view, and work with us to build this program and rebuild our contact with the Americas.

Please feel free to reach me at here.

The Hispanic Caucus of Democrats Abroad (DAHC) has thanked President Biden for keeping his campaign promise and acting swiftly in issuing an executive order to reinstate and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

President Joseph Biden

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Re: Appreciation and gratitude

February  25, 2021

Dear Mr.  President,

We are happy to announce that the DAHC wrote to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to introduce ourselves to the new Chair, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), and to reaffirm our commitment to working with our Latinx Democratic allies to pass meaningful reforms. We want to use this year to forge strong ties to Congress and with other potential allies back in the  U.S.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)

Attn. Mr. Raúl Ruiz, Chairman

2241 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

January 26^th, 2021

Dear Mr. Chairman,

A speed networking and leadership development workshop

Always wanted to get involved politically but not sure where to start? Democrats Abroad is a global organization with groups all around the world representing and organizing Americans. Learn how you can have an impact!

The Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus invite you to a speed networking and leadership development workshop. 

The workshop will:

• Introduce you to the Democrats Abroad organization at its different levels and corresponding leaders,
• Review the wide variety of volunteer roles available and their commitments in terms of time and responsibility,
• Clarify and demystify how any member can run for office within Democrats Abroad.

There will be three online sessions, each 1.5 hours, held at a time that is convenient for each region:

• AP - 21 February, 3:00 AM EST (7PM China Standard Time)
• EMEA - 28 February, 10:00 AM EST (4PM Paris Time)
• Americas - 7 March, 3:30 PM EST 

Each session will showcase four different Democrats Abroad Leaders, one for each of the Global, Regional, and Country levels, and one from a country without a Country Chapter from the region, interspersed with breakout rooms where you can engage in speed networking and discussions.

AP Speakers:

• Non-Affiliated leader: Carmelan Polce, Chair Taxation Task Force
• Regional leader: Samantha Wong, Asia Pacific Deputy Regional Vice-Chair
• Global leader: John Eastwood, former DNC member

EMEA Speakers:

• Country-Committee leader: Adrienne Johnson, Chair, UK Black Caucus and former member of the UK Executive Committee
• Non-Affiliated leader: Elisabeth Myers, Democracy Lead for DA-Morocco
• Regional leader: Merrill Oates, former Regional Vice-Chair
• Global leader: Martha McDevitt-Pugh, DNC member, Global LGBT Caucus Co-Chair & Aaron Fishbone, Director Global Communications

Americas Speakers: 

• Country-Committee leader:Quyen Nguyen, Chair, DA Colombia
• Non-Affiliated leader: Asha Subas, Chair, Global Election Committee
• Regional leader: Roz Reymers, Non-Country Committee Coordinator, Americas Region
• Global leader: Julia Bryan, Global DA Chair

Please RSVP by clicking on one of the links above.

Have you ever made a successful change in your life? Perhaps you wanted to exercise more, eat less, or change jobs? Think about the time and attention you dedicated to the process. A lot, right? Change is hard. Creating effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of power, privilege, supremacy, and leadership is like any lifestyle change. Setting our intentions and adjusting what we spend our time doing is essential. It’s all about building new habits. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. The good news is, there’s an abundance of resources just waiting to empower you to be a more effective player in the quest for equity and justice.

Join the Hispanic Caucus and the Global Black Caucus
and take the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge!

About the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge 

• For 21 days, do one action to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity 
• This plan includes suggestions for readings, podcasts, videos, observations, and ways to form and deepen community connections. Click here to join the Challenge!

Happy New Year! Truly, a new day has begun.

Launched in 2017, it feels so good to see all of the efforts that were put into the Global Hispanic Caucus since then paying off with a Happy Blue Year 2021. Let the world know you’re a caucus members with a profile frame www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=458094495350528  

We’re at an inflection point now. Our membership is larger than it’s ever been, we’ve turned Congress and the White House blue, but we came so close to losing our country entirely. What do you think we need to do in the days ahead to ensure we never again come so close? Please tell us in this planning and scheduling survey at http://bit.ly/21ghcsurvey

2021 will see a lot more regional programming. Our first HC-AP meeting will be on Saturday the 23rd at 4AM EST https://www.democratsabroad.org/hc_events, Dates and times for Americas and EMEA caucus meetings are coming soon. 

Unity is a central theme of the Biden-Harris administration, and we intend to collaborate with other caucus and entities as often as possible. In conjunction with other caucuses we are presenting a series of events in 2021 to help demystify the structure of Democrats Abroad and identify leadership opportunities for our caucus members.

We love to talk to our members. Please connect with us or contact us at:

• Webpagehttp://www.democratsabroad.org/hc
• FB facebook.com/democratsabroadhispaniccaucus/
• Twitterhttps://twitter.com/DemsAbroadHC @DemsAbroadHC
• Podcasthttps://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dahispaniccaucus
• Email:[email protected], Amerika Garcia Grewal, Chair (Fiji) Miguel Madrigal Hidalgo, Vice-Chair (Costa Rica)
• Donationshttps://secure.actblue.com/donate/globalhispaniccaucus

On January 6th, 2021 a group of armed rioters stormed and occupied the US Capitol building in a deliberate attempt to disrupt Joe Biden’s certification as the 46th President.  As a result, people have died, including a Capitol Police officer. This attack on the Capitol while our elected Congress was in session is an act of domestic terrorism.

Actions have consequences, regardless of when they occur.

Those who have nothing to say as this unfolds are either too cowardly to speak up when they see something that they know is wrong, or as morally bankrupt as the armed criminals who broke the windows of the Capitol and planted pipe bombs. Confederate and Nazi flags were flown in the nation’s heart. The United States of America was built by immigrants; there is no place for white supremacy or the eugenicist beliefs of those two failed national experiments.

This is beyond the pale. The shamelessness of this event is amplified by its body count. The most recent casualty was Officer Brian Sicknick of the Capitol Police, whose death due to a clash with rioters brings the death toll up to five. If there are no consequences for this kind of reckless endangerment and abuse of power, this becomes the new normal. Members of Congress and the President cannot use elected office to incite violence in order to overthrow a lawful election; such behavior constitutes treason. Removing those who have done so is an action more about the future of our democracy than the immediate problems of the present. Measures must also be taken against the individuals who shamelessly desecrated the Capitol.

The Hispanic Caucus of Democrats Abroad calls on Congress to Impeach the president and for the resignation of the 147 members of the so called sedition caucus who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential Election.