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