NAKASEC is in the midst of our “Summer of Service” as part of President Obama’s United We Serve initiative. Launched on June 22, 2009, President Obama’s nationwide service initiative is based on the belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools (for more information, please visit www.serve.gov). NAKASEC and its affiliates, the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Chicago and the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles, have organized a series of service opportunities and are excited that more and more Korean Americans are getting involved to serve and better immigrant communities throughout the U.S. To learn how you can volunteer, please visit http://nakasec.org/blog/english/unitedweserve-2.

We are proud to announce that 2 of our volunteers have been featured on President Obama’s  United We Serve website:  summer intern Healy Ko  and Dr. Angela Jo.

A Philadelphia resident, Healy will be a sophomore at Stanford University, majoring in Asian American Studies. She has been volunteering with the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles (www.krcla.org), working with Korean American high school youth in their “Summer Youth Empowerment Program.”

Please visit http://www.serve.gov/stories_detail.asp?tbl_servestories_id=84 to read more about why she volunteers and how she is improving her community from the bottom up.

Dr. Angela Jo, assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Department of Family Medicine, began a community health program at Korean Resource Center (KRC) with a group of Korean American medical students. Since beginning last year, the monthly clinic, which provides individual consultations to low-income uninsured Korean Americans, has served over 100 community members ranging in age from eight to 89 years. “This work gives me energy and satisfaction” said Dr. Jo, “I, too, came here as an immigrant with my parents.  We have gone through many of the issues our community faces, and healthcare is one of them.  I’m grateful to be at a place where I can give to the community and make a positive difference.”

Please visit http://www.serve.gov/stories_detail.asp?tbl_servestories_id=140 to read the full article on Dr. Angela Jo

To request media interviews with Healy and Dr. Jo, as well as other inspiring volunteers, please contact HyunJoo at hlee@nakasec.org or 323-937-3703 x 202.

RAPID RESPONSE PLEDGE

Please commit to act for health & immigration reform. Next week, you can join members of our rapid response network calling the Senate Finance Committee to support health reform, by addressing equitable treatment of all taxfilers, regardless of immigration status. Equitable health reform enables states to achieve economic gains, so that money earned in your state is reinvested into its people and health systems.

On Tuesday, July 14, the chairs and subcommittee chairs of three major committees in the House of Representatives introduced the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (HR 3200), a 1000+ page bill that will be soon marked up in committee. The bill passed two out of three committees, and is waiting to be “marked up” in the Energy & Commerce committee. As early as next week, The Senate Finance Committee is estimated to pass its version of the health reform bill.

NAKASEC is working to ensure quality, affordable health reform that ensures equitable access to subsidies for all taxfilers, the repeal of the five-year bar in Medicaid, and that ensures that all children and pregnant women have healthcare. Some of these provisions are in the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009 (HR 3090) but a preliminary analysis suggests that they are not in the House Tri-Committee bill (HR 3200).

The Obama Administration – New Appointments & Nominations

Office of Citizenship: On July 6, Rebecca S. Carson was appointed as the Chief of the Office of Citizenship at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ms. Carson is a licensed attorney in Illinois, and has worked as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Patty Murray in 2004 and as the National Field Director at the Democratic National Committee, as well as a number of other national and state-wide campaigns. Ms. Carson graduated from DePaul University College of Law with a Public Interest Law Certificate, was awarded the prestigious Public Interest Law Initiative grant and clerked for the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, Illinois.

United States Supreme Court: The Senate confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor began on Monday July 13. Senate Leadership remains confident that Sotomayor will be confirmed. A minor group of opponents have raised questions concerning Judge Sotomayor’s judicial impartiality, bench demeanor, and objectivity. Sotomayor, the first Latina and the third woman to be nominated for appointment to the Supreme Court, has stated that she has always, and will continue to, loyally observe “the impartiality of our justice system” during her opening statements. Judge Sotomayor and Senators dedicated the first day of hearings to opening statements, and the questioning portion of the hearings began on Tuesday July 14. Sotomayor has served on the federal judicial bench for 17 years and brings more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years, and more overall judicial experience than anyone confirmed for the Court in the past 70 years.

United States Census Bureau: On July 13, Dr. Robert Groves was confirmed as the new Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Dr. Groves has previously served as the associate director of the U.S. Census Bureau from 1990-1992, and has since served as the director of the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center. NAKASEC applauds the selection of Dr. Groves as the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau; Dr. Groves has a strong track record and commitment to ensuring that traditionally undercounted communities, such as the Korean American community, will be accounted for in the 2010 Census efforts.

Office of the Surgeon General: On July 13, Dr. Regina Benjamin was nominated for the position of U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin is Founder and CEO of Bayou La Batre Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and has previously served as the Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States and Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and as the President of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, becoming the first African American woman President of a State Medical Society in the United States. Dr. Benjamin is well-known along the Gulf Coast for her work for underserved communities. She is a recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights, the MacArthur Genius Award, and the 2000 Caring Award. In 1995, Dr. Benjamin was elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, becoming the youngest ever and first African American woman to be elected to the Board of Trustees. Dr. Benjamin will bring years of experience serving the most vulnerable members of our society to the Office of the Surgeon General.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Background: The broken immigration system affects the Korean American community: 1 in 5 Korean Americans are undocumented, thousands of bright youth cannot fulfill their dreams, countless others are separated because of the immigration backlogs, and there are those languishing and dying in detention centers. In recent years, attempts to pass legislative reform have been stymied by a vocal minority. Instead, families have been torn apart and communities have been devastated by the ramping up of raids and other enforcement activities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State and local governments also took matters into their own hands and passed anti-immigrant measures.

Solution: For more than a decade, Korean American communities have been engaged in national efforts to realize long-term systemic change. In doing so, we have reached a level of consensus that any legislative proposal must contain the following components:
1) Bring millions of hard working undocumented immigrants and their children out of the shadows and provide them a path to citizenship.
2) Keep families together by preserving the family immigration system, eliminating the immigration backlogs, stopping mandatory & indefinite detentions and cruel deportations for minor infractions
3) Protect all workers regardless of their immigration status.
4) Allow students to reach their full potential through access to college.
5) Protect and restore basic rights and liberties, including allowing every person to have their day in court.
6) Promote the social, economic, and political integration of immigrants.

White House Policy Announcements: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that on July 8 that the Obama Administration supports the expansion of the E-Verify system to all federal contractors and subcontractors, including those currently funded and those that received funds earlier this year through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. At the same time, the Obama Administration rescinded the Social Security Administration (SSA) no-match rule. Introduced in August 2007 under the Bush Administration, the SSA no-match rule, which has never been implemented because of legal challenges, sought the mandated use of an error-ridden database for immigration enforcement by requiring employers to fire workers who are unable to resolve discrepancies in their Social Security records.

While NAKASEC supports the decision to overturn the “no-sense” SSA no-match rule, NAKASEC and other community groups are strongly concerned that many of the similar consequences of profiling and unjust termination will increase with the expanded E-Verify program. In multiple Congressional hearings, substantial evidence from community, advocates, business, and government agencies document the flaws and inaccuracies of the E-Verify program.

Immigrant Rights Related Amendments in Senate DHS Appropriations Bill: On July 9, the Senate passed the DHS Appropriations bill by a vote of 84 to 6. Three notably negative amendments and one positive amendment passed. All four are now heading into conference committee to reconcile this bill with a funding measure previously passed by the House which contains none of the Senate immigration amendments.

SSA No-Match Amendment, S. AMDT 1375: Unfortunately this amendment introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-LA) prevents the rescinding of the SSA no-match rule (see above article) by prohibiting the administration from spending any funds to implement to change the regulation. This amendment was adopted by a voice vote, therefore there is no record of the vote.

Border Fence Amendment, S. AMDT 1399: Introduced by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), this amendment requires the completion of at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border of the United States by December 31, 2010. The tremendous costs to taxpayers and human life of continuing an essentially ineffective practice have been well documented. While the apprehension figures show a downward trend, the number of deaths has not dropped accordingly. Even with the escalation of fencing, patrols, and other barriers, the risk of dying is 1.5 times higher today compared with five years ago according to Arizona’s border-death database. This amendment was agreed to in the Senate by a vote of 54-44 in favor of passage. Click here to see how your Senator voted.

E-Verify Amendment, S. ADMT 1371: Introduced by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), this amendment would expand and make permanent the E-Verify program. E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by DHS in partnership with the SSA that allows employers to compare information from I-9 forms against federal databases. A wide range of sectors, from community organizations to businesses, have expressed strong opposition to E-Verify implementation including the burdensome cost for businesses to implement, the high error rates of the federal databases, and the increased vulnerability of immigrant workers to unjust discrimination, targeting, and termination. This amendment was agreed to in the Senate by a voice vote.

Widows and Orphans, Doctors, and Religious Workers Amendment, S. ADMT 1428: Introduced by Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), this amendment will allow the spouses and children of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to apply for immigration status even if their spouse or parents have passed away before the process of obtaining their immigration status is completed. In addition, this amendment extends a special visa program for foreign doctors who work in rural or inner-city areas, called the “Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver” and expands a visa program for non-minister religious workers to September 30, 2012. This amendment provides relief for widows and widowers of U.S. citizens who would have had their visa applications interrupted upon death of the petitioner.

Similar to one of the provisions of the Reuniting Families Act, earlier introduced in the House and Senate, the need for such a fix is highlighted through the story of Hang Youk from Texas, whose entire family’s hopes and dreams for a stable life and permanent residence in the United States disappeared in a split second. On the night of June 2, 2000, his father, Tae Youk, was murdered on the floor of a convenience store in Ranchester, Texas. His family was no longer eligible for the green cards that they were months away from receiving through sponsorship from his father. Tae first came to the United States from South Korea to earn a doctorate degree in Theology at the Houston Graduate School of Theology. He decided to settle in the U.S. when a church offered him a job and a green card for him and the rest of his family. They came in 1998, during which time Hang enrolled at the University of Houston and studied accounting. Without even sufficient time to mourn the loss of his father, they were immediately faced with the grave uncertainty and fear of unstable status in the United States.

Expansion of 287(g): On July 10, DHS announced the expansion of the problematic 287(g) program, adding 11 new agreements (or Memorandums of Agreements – MOAs) with state and local enforcement agencies nationwide. These agreements authorize local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law. While DHS states that the reformed provisions of the MOAs will reduce human rights violations and racial profiling, as nationally reported in cities like Maricopa County, Arizona, there is actually little substantive difference between the new and old MOAs. Further, while the new MOAs sets “priority levels” of suspected violators, there does not exist corresponding measures to ensure that local cities and counties will focus their activities on policing serious crimes. Vocal opposition to the 287(g) program has already been lodged by The Police Foundation, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Major Chiefs Association citing that deputizing local law enforcement officers undermines the trust of immigrant communities, stretches already thin police resources, and overall reduces public safety.Click here for a side-by-side comparison of previous MOA and current MOA.

Access to Education

Background: Each year, 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduate from U.S. high schools unable to realize their full potential. These students are U.S.-raised children of immigrants who are denied the opportunity to build a future in America, the country that they call home. As undocumented students, they face difficulty pursuing higher education because they are denied financial aid, scholarships, loans, and in-state tuition rates in most states. Those that have the resources to graduate are unlikely to work in the field of their choice or study. And more tragically, they live daily with the fear of being deported to a country that they barely know.

DREAM Act: On March 26, 2009, the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act was introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and Harry Reid (D-NV) in the Senate as S. 729 and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Joseph Cao (R-LA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House as H.R. 1751.

Recent Developments: After the national day of action for the DREAM Act on June 23, 2009 a record 11 new co-sponsors joined the growing movement to achieve equal access to higher education. To date, a total of 87 Representatives and 23 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors of the DREAM Act. For more than eight years, young people have been in the forefront organizing their peers, community leaders, and other allies for the student legalization and equal access to higher education movement. Until these students are afforded the same treatment as their native born peers, NAKASEC will continue to educate and organize the Korean American community.

In-State Tuition Challenge in California: The California Supreme Court is currently considering a case, Martinez v. Regents of the University of California, which challenges the legality of AB 540, a state law that allows undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state tuition rates at California’s public universities and colleges. The outcome of this decision is critical to Korean American and AAPI communities. While statewide statistics are not available, records show that 60% of undocumented AAPI students in the University of California system are Korean American. There have been recent gains to increase access to education; on June 29, Wisconsin became the 11th state to provide in-state tuition to certain eligible undocumented immigrant students. Consequently, communities across the country are closely following the case.

NAKASEC, along with its Los Angeles affiliate, the Korean Resource Center (KRC), have joined other community groups to support an amicus brief filing to support the University of California’s efforts to defend the AB 540 program and allow undocumented immigrant students access to higher education.

Civil Rights

Hate Crimes Bill: On April 29, the Local Law Enforcement Protection Act H.R. 1913 (otherwise known as the Matthew Shepard Bill) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 249-175. The bill expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include bias-motivated crimes based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Current law covers crimes based on race, color, religion, and national origin. It also provides the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute hate crimes in states where current law or local law enforcement action is inadequate. The bill is now in the Senate and a vote is expected any day. NAKASEC urges the Senate to swiftly vote to pass the Matthew Shepard Bill and calls for educational programs and resources to promote tolerance and multi-ethnic harmony locally and nationally.

Employment Discrimination: Last year, the City of New Haven had deemed a test given to firefighters to receive job promotions as unconstitutional based on evidence that no African American firefighters and only 1 Latino firefighter had ever passed the test. Their decision was upheld by the judges of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (one of which was Judge Sonia Sotomayor). On June 29 however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that there was not enough evidence to prove discrimination, consequently enacting a new standard of employment equality. NAKASEC is deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision because it will lead to tests being certified that do not comply with federal guidelines, specifically Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that bars racial discrimination in employment. NAKASEC calls upon President Obama’s leadership to work with Congress in outlining clear guidelines to combat discrimination and ensure equal opportunity in the workplace.

English Language Learners Programs: On June 25, the Supreme Court decided 5-4 in favor of English Language Learner (ELL) programs; they stated that a state’s compliance to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 does not automatically translate to protection of ELLs’ civil rights under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA). The Supreme Court referred to lower federal courts, which must review additional factors to consider lifting a 2000 mandate for sufficient state funding to ELLs programs in Nogales, Arizona. In March of this year, NAKASEC joined other civil rights and AAPI organizations in filing a friend of the court brief in support of Miriam Flores and ELL students. Quality ELL education is vital in giving immigrant students the tools to succeed academically and become full civic participants in society. Therefore, NAKASEC applauds the Court’s decision and hopes that the lower federal courts will uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

1. Participate in NAKASEC’s upcoming Citizenship Day mobilization – “Unity In Movement” – for health reform and immigration reform in Washington, D.C. Click here for more information about this three-day national gathering that uplifts the values of social responsibility and making your community better, hallmarks of what it truly means to be a citizen. Registration deadline is August 7, 2009.

2. Forward this email to your friends and encourage them to sign up on our listserv.

3. Become a member in 2009. Your membership dollars support NAKASEC’s mission to project a national progressive voice on major civil rights and immigrant rights issues and promote the full participation of Korean Americans. Reduced rates are available for students and low-income community members.

About NAKASEC – National Korean American Service & Education Consortium

The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC maintains its national office in Los Angeles and an office in Washington, D.C. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (The Korean Resource Center) and Chicago (The Korean American Resource & Cultural Center). NAKASEC is a member of the APIA Vote, Campaign for Community Values, Detention Watch Network, Fair Immigration Reform Movement/Immigrant Organizing Committee, Health Care for America Now, Health Rights Organizing Project, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Gender and Equity Campaign, Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign, Rights Working Group, and the We Are America Alliance.

For more information and resources, visit www.nakasec.org or call 323.937.3703 / 202.339.9318.

Headquarters

900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3703 Fax: 323.937.3753 nakasec.org“>www. nakasec.org

D. C. Office

1536 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202-339-9318 Fax: 202-387-4893

Korean Resource Center (founded in 1983)

900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3718 Fax: 323.937.3526 www.krcla.org

Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (founded in 1995)

6146 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
Tel: 773.588.9158 Fax: 773.588.9159 www.chicagokrcc.org

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The Obama Administration – New Appointments and Nominations

Department of Justice – On June 4, 2009, Tom Perez was appointed Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division. Perez’s main responsibilities will be to ensure that all Americans receive equal treatment and justice under the law in regards to areas such as education, housing, and employment. Perez is currently a civil rights attorney and consumer advocate who serves as Secretary for the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). Prior to this position, Perez also worked as a prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division and was on the board of directors of Casa de Maryland, a non-profit immigrant assistance organization.

Department of Health and Human Services – On May 29, 2009, Cindy Mann was appointed Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations (CMSO), which is part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As Director of CMSO, Mann will help oversee Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the federal level. Mann is currently a research professor at Georgetown University, Health Policy Institute and executive director of the Center for Children and Families at the Institute.

United States Supreme Court – On June 9, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced that hearings to consider the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court will begin on July 13. President Obama had announced his designation of Sotomayor to succeed retiring Justice David Souter on May 26. Sotomayor served as an assistant district attorney in New York City and in private practice before being nominated by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed to the federal district court in 1992.  In 1998, she was confirmed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. President Obama emphasized Sotomayor’s “extraordinary journey” from modest beginnings to the Ivy League and now the pinnacle of the judicial system. She would be the first Latina justice in the court’s history and its third woman. The President has touched off a confirmation battle that he hopes will focus on her legal experience. Sotomayor has served on the federal judicial bench for 17 years and brings more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years, and more overall judicial experience than anyone confirmed for the Court in the past 70 years. Nonetheless, her public record has been subject to scrutiny by conservatives as Republicans have threatened to slow down the nomination process because they were not informed of the start date prior to Leahy’s announcement.  Leahy dismissed Republican attacks arguing that it took the current Chief Justice John Roberts only 72 days to be confirmed from the time he was nominated and that Sotomayor’s confirmation should be on a similar timeline.

Just & Humane Immigration Reform

Background: The broken immigration system affects the Korean American community: 1 in 5 Korean Americans are undocumented, thousands of bright youth cannot fulfill their dreams, countless others are separated because of the immigration backlogs, and there are those languishing and dying in detention centers. In recent years, attempts to pass legislative reform have been stymied by a vocal minority. Instead, families have been torn apart and communities have been devastated by the ramping up of raids and other enforcement activities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State and local governments also took matters into their own hands and passed anti-immigrant measures.

Solution: For more than a decade, Korean American communities have been engaged in national efforts to realize long-term systemic change. In doing so, we have reached a level of consensus that any legislative proposal must contain the following components:

1) Bring millions of hard working undocumented immigrants and their   children out of the shadows and provide them a path to citizenship.

2) Keep families together by preserving the family immigration system, eliminating the immigration backlogs, stopping mandatory and indefinite detentions and cruel deportations for minor infractions

3) Protect all workers regardless of their immigration status.

4) Allow students to reach their full potential through access to college.

5) Protect and restore basic rights and liberties, including allowing every person to have their day in court.

6) Promote the social, economic, and political integration of immigrants.

Immigration Reform Meeting Delayed: President Obama was expected to meet with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress on June 17 to begin discussions on immigration reform. Originally scheduled for June 8 and later re-scheduled for June 17, this meeting has now been postponed twice. While there has been notable actions taken by the White House on the administrative end, the introduction of legislation addressing key components of immigration reform, and leadership exercised by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Obama Administration and Congress has yet to begin working in concert to address comprehensive immigration reform.

Reform Immigration FOR America campaign launch: Communities launched the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign, a nationally coordinated effort that brings together multiple sectors under one tent to promote comprehensive immigration policies on June 1 in 40 cities. Later that week, an energizing summit united nearly 800 community organizers from 40 states, including NAKASEC and its affiliates, to discuss political strategy, listen to and share testimonies, and walk the halls of Congress. In the coming months, NAKASEC and its affiliates will be rallying Korean Americans, AAPIs and the wider community to get educated and take action with their feet and fingers to fix the broken immigration system. For more information, contact NAKASEC at 202-339-9349 or soh@nakasec.org

Restoration of Right-To-Counsel Decision – On June 3, Attorney General Eric Holder withdrew a decision issued by outgoing Attorney General Michael Mukasey that purported to unravel decades of legal precedent on the important role of and right to competent counsel in immigration proceedings. Mukasey’s decision, Matter of Compean, 24 I&N Dec. 710 (A.G. 2009), held that immigrants in removal proceedings had no right to counsel under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. It further held that the immigrant had to provide extensive evidence of this prejudice that was not required in the past, creating new burdens for thousands of immigrants who face significant, life-changing decisions. Holder’s withdrawal of Mukasey’s decision improved the integrity of immigration court decisions and underscored the importance of protecting our fundamental principles of due process within our justice system.

Family Immigration Bill Introduced in the House – The “Reuniting Families Act” or H.R. 2709 was introduced on June 4 by Representatives Mike Honda (D, CA-15), Linda Sanchez (D, CA-39), and Raul Grijalva (D, AZ-7). Currently there are 59 co-sponsors. Similar to the Senate version introduced by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Charles Schumer (D-NY) on May 20, 2009, this legislation recognizes the contributions of immigrants and the importance of families in strengthening our country. By reducing the unbearably long periods of families being separated and improving the outdated family immigration system, countless families will not be forced to wait years – often decades – to reunify with loved ones. Other provisions of note include The House version contains an additional provision that would allow same-sex binational permanent partners to obtain lawful permanent resident status. Click here for a summary of the provisions.

Administrative Relief for Widows and Widowers – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a directive on June 9 to grant deferred action for two years to widows and widowers of U.S. citizens – as well as their unmarried children under 18 years old – who reside in the United States and who were married for less than two years prior to their spouse’s death. Previously, widows and widowers of U.S. citizens would have had their visa applications interrupted upon death of the main petitioner. This action provides an opportunity for some families to stay in the country and apply for work authorization for at least two years while their legal status is resolved. Additionally, DHS will soon issue guidance on how widows and widowers can apply for humanitarian reinstatement in the case that their petition was previously rejected. Secretary Napolitano noted that this is temporary and that a legislative fix is needed, such as the recently introduced House family immigration bill.

Health Reform

Background: Korean Americans are underserved by the broken health system.  In the United States, roughly 1 in 2 adults and 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 Korean Americans are uninsured. Nationwide, healthcare is an unaffordable human need for many Korean Americans who are more than twice as likely as whites to go without health insurance. Lack of health coverage, combined with culturally incompetent care, force many Korean Americans to delay medically necessary care while those with coverage are unable to receive quality health services. Meanwhile, racial and ethnic disparities in health constitute a national crisis. When health services are only available in one or two languages, or when people are excluded from coverage options based on immigration status alone, it results in disproportionate and discriminatory treatment of groups based on their race or national origin. Korean American patients, in particular, face language barriers that limit their ability to communicate effectively with health care providers, sometimes leading to life-threatening misdiagnoses.

Recent developments: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee (one of two committees of jurisdiction in the Senate) released its draft legislation for review so that it may be introduced as a bill soon.  NAKASEC is in the process of reviewing its summary and relevant sections to determine to what extent NAKASEC’s policy priorities – public plan option, immigrant inclusion, and health equity – are incorporated. To date, NAKASEC has signed onto a letter that was sent to Senator Edward Kennedy (HELP Committee Chair) that detailed specific policy fixes addressing immigrant inclusion in health reform. Meetings have also been held with the HELP committee, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. In the weeks to come, NAKASEC intends to meet with the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others to bolster Congressional support for immigrant inclusion.

Health Disparity Bill To Be Introduced: On June 9, the Congressional TriCaucus – comprised of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus – unveiled a draft of the “Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009.” Seeking to address causes of health disparity across race, ethnicity, gender, and geography, this legislation supports efforts to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, improve workforce diversity, and strengthen and coordinate data collection and analysis.

Immigrant Student Access to Education

Background: Each year, 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduating from U.S. high schools are unable to realize their full potential. These immigrant students were raised in the United States and are denied the opportunity to build a future in America – the country they call home. As undocumented students, they face difficulty pursuing higher education because they are denied financial aid, scholarships, loans, and in-state tuition rates in most states. Those that have the resources to graduate are unlikely to work in the field of their choice or study. And more tragically, they live daily with the fear of being deported to a country they barely know.

DREAM Act: On March 26, 2009, the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act was introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and Harry Reid (D-NV) in the Senate as S. 729 and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Joseph Cao (R-LA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House as H.R. 1751. Currently there are 22 co-sponsors in the Senate and 70 in the House for the respective bills.

Building Momentum for the DREAM Act – Since March 2009, youth leaders and activists organized by NAKASEC and its affiliates have collected over 1,000 post cards in Chicago and Los Angeles and have visited 30 members of Congress to urge their leadership on the DREAM Act. Youth members have also been fundraising for the national DREAM Scholarship Fund which was launched 2 years ago by Korean American youths who first mobilized around the DREAM Act campaign. To get involved, please contact.

Civil Rights

New Hampshire Becomes the 6th State to Pass Marriage Equity – On June 3, the New Hampshire legislature approved a revised same-sex marriage bill and signed into law by Gov. John Lynch. The law will take effect January 1, 2010. The revised bill includes a clause that will protect religious organizations and clergy members from having to perform same-sex weddings. As more states legalize same-sex marriages, some are increasingly pushing for “conscience protections” language that protects certain organizations, including religious organizations and even businesses (such as photographers or florists). Despite the negotiations, it is clear that states are taking the lead in standing for marriage equality. NAKASEC is inspired by the recent victory in New Hampshire and are committed to educating and organizing the Korean American community so that together we build a society where all community members, regardless of their sexual orientation, have full and equal rights to justice and happiness. To get involved, please contact hlee@nakasec.org.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Join NAKASEC to support quality health care for all.

o Rally and Candlelight Vigil for Healthcare Equity: Wednesday, June 24 from 7 – 9 p.m. at Freedom Plaza (14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, near the Metro Center Metro stop)
o Health Care Can’t Wait Mobilization: Thursday, June 25 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Hemi Kim at hkim@nakasec.org or 202.339.9318.

Storm the Hill and Act for DREAM! United We Dream Coalition invites you to join the National Day of Action on June 23 in Washington, D.C. Register at www.dreamactivist.org. For more information, contact HyunJoo Lee at hlee@nakasec.org or 323.937.3703, x202.

2. Forward this email to your friends and encourage them to sign up on our listserv.
3. Become a member in 2009. Your membership dollars support NAKASEC’s mission to project a national progressive voice on major civil rights and immigrant rights issues and promote the full participation of Korean Americans. Reduced rates are available for students and low-income community members.

About NAKASEC – National Korean American Service & Education Consortium

The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC maintains its national office in Los Angeles and an office in Washington, D.C. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (The Korean Resource Center) and Chicago (The Korean American Resource & Cultural Center). NAKASEC is a member of the APIA Vote, Campaign for Community Values, Detention Watch Network, Fair Immigration Reform Movement/Immigrant Organizing Committee, Health Care for America Now, Health Rights Organizing Project, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Gender and Equity Campaign, Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign, Rights Working Group, and the We Are America Alliance.

For more information and resources, visit www.nakasec.org or call 323.937.3703 / 202.339.9318.

Headquarters

900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

Tel: 323.937.3703   Fax: 323.937.3753   www. nakasec.org

D. C. Office

1536 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Tel: 202-339-9318   Fax: 202-387-4893

Korean Resource Center (founded in 1983)

900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

Tel: 323.937.3718   Fax: 323.937.3526   www.krcla.org

Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (founded in 1995)

6146 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659

Tel: 773.588.9158   Fax: 773.588.9159   www.chicagokrcc.org

The Obama Administration – New Appointments and Nominations
Department of Commerce – William A. Ramos was appointed Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Commerce Department where he will be responsible for Census 2010 outreach efforts including building partnerships between the Census Bureau and state and local governments. He is currently the Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ (NALEO) D.C. office. For over twenty years, Mr. Ramos has worked to promote public policies that enhance Latino opportunities to participate in the American political process, particularly in the areas of naturalization, comprehensive immigration reform and the Census.

Department of Health and Human Services – Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed on April 28 as Health and Human Services Secretary. The Kansas governor served as state insurance commissioner for eight years and has overseen the Medicaid program for the poor during her tenure as governor. Sebelius tried unsuccessfully to expand health coverage in the state through higher cigarette taxes. As HHS Secretary, she oversees a department of 65,000 employees responsible for public health, food safety, scientific research, and the administration of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which serve 90 million Americans.

Department of Homeland Security – Alejandro Mayorkas was nominated on May 1 by President Obama to be director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As Director of USCIS, Mayorkas will address a broad range of immigration and naturalization issues and oversee international adoptions, asylum, refugee status and foreign student authorization. Born in Cuba, Mayorkas is a former U.S. attorney for the Central District of California and was involved in a controversial clemency case involving a drug dealer’s prison sentence during the Clinton administration. On May 12, John Morton was confirmed unanimously by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At ICE, Morton will guide a workforce of more than 17,000 in an international mission to enforce immigration laws, strengthen the nation’s immigration systems and conduct investigations related to cross-border and financial crimes. Morton worked for the U.S. Department of Justice where he was responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases and development of DOJ policy as Acting Chief of the Domestic Security Section and Senior Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division.

Department of Housing and Urban Development – Ronald Sims has been nominated to be Deputy Secretary of HUD. If confirmed, Mr. Sims, who is currently the county executive in King County, Washington, would be the Obama administration’s point person on housing assistance and affordable housing programs. John Trasviña has been nominated Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Most recently, Mr. Trasviña was president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF). During the Clinton administration, he was special counsel for immigration-related unfair employment practices at the Justice Department.

Retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter – Justice David Souter will retire at the end of the current court term, giving President Obama his first chance at nominating a member of the Supreme Court. Souter is known as a moderate-to-liberal member. This is the first vacancy in the Supreme Court and all eyes are on who will be President Obama’s choice. In particular, will the next increase representation of women and/or minorities in the Supreme Court?

Just & Humane Immigration Reform
Background: The broken immigration system affects the Korean American community: 1 in 5 Korean Americans are undocumented, thousands of bright youth cannot fulfill their dreams, countless others are separated because of the immigration backlogs, and there are those languishing and dying in detention centers. In recent years, attempts to pass legislative reform have been stymied by a vocal minority. Instead, families have been torn apart and communities have been devastated by the ramping up of raids and other enforcement activities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State and local governments also took matters into their own hands and passed anti-immigrant measures.

Solution: For more than a decade, Korean American communities have been engaged in national efforts to realize long-term systemic change. In doing so, we have reached a level of consensus that any legislative proposal must contain the following components:
1) Bring millions of hard working undocumented immigrants and their children out of the shadows and provide them a path to citizenship.
2) Keep families together by preserving the family immigration system, eliminating the immigration backlogs, stopping mandatory & indefinite detentions and cruel deportations for minor infractions
3) Protect all workers regardless of their immigration status.
4) Allow students to reach their full potential through access to college.
5) Protect and restore basic rights and liberties, including allowing every person to have their day in court.
6) Promote the social, economic, and political integration of immigrants.

Building Momentum for Immigration Reform in 2009: Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Chair of the Immigration Subcommittee in the Senate, held the first hearing on immigration reform on April 30. Titled “Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009, Can We Do It and How,” the diverse panel presented economic, social, and moral perspectives on the urgent need to fix the immigration system.

Panelists included J. Thomas Manger (Chief of Police, Montgomery County, MD and Director, Major Cities Chiefs Association), Alan Greenspan (Economist and Former Chairman, Federal Reserve of the United States), Dr. Joel Hunter (Senior Pastor, Northland Church and Member, President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships), Jeff Moseley (President and CEO Greater Houston Partnership), Doris Meissner (Senior Fellow, Migration Policy Institute and Former Commissioner, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service), Eliseo Medina (Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union), Wade Henderson (President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights), and Kris Kobach (Professor of Law, University of Missouri). Click to read NAKASEC’s submitted testimony and to read the panelists’ testimonies.

May Day rallies: Over 25 states organized rallies for immigration reform, the DREAM Act, and/or workers’ rights on May 1st. NAKASEC affiliates – the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC) in Chicago and the Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles – actively participated in major May Day events. Click here for photos.

New Guidelines for DHS Workplace Enforcement: On April 30th, DHS announced new guidelines on worksite raids issued to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that target employers’ unlawful hiring practices. Several provisions outlined in the DHS Worksite Enforcement Strategy Fact Sheet indicate a focus on targeting unscrupulous employers before detaining any workers. The new guidelines reduce the threshold from 150 to 25 employees to activate existing humanitarian guidelines to quickly identify persons arrested who are sole caregivers or who should be released for other humanitarian reasons.

Limiting identity theft law: In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court ruled on May 4, that only people who knowingly steal someone’s Social Security number can be convicted of aggravated identity theft. Under the Bush administration, many undocumented workers were arrested on aggravated identity theft charges, rather than a misdemeanor, and deported for using false Social Security numbers. The decision in Flores-Figueroa v. U.S. is considered a major victory for immigrant communities as it restrains an exceptionally harsh punishment and limits the unfair application of the aggravated identity theft charge. Had this been in effect, for example during a worksite raid of a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, many workers may not have been persuaded to plead guilty to the lesser immigration charge, which carries a prison term of five months, but also led to automatic deportation.

Immigrant Student Access to Education
Background: Each year, 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduate from U.S. high schools unable to realize their full potential. These immigrant students were raised in the United States and are denied the opportunity to build a future in America – the country that they call home. As undocumented students, they face difficulty pursuing higher education because they are denied financial aid, scholarships, loans, and in-state tuition rates in most states. Those that have the resources to graduate are unlikely to work in the field of their choice or study. And more tragically, they live daily with the fear of being deported to a country that they barely know.

DREAM Act: On March 26, 2009, the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act was introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and Harry Reid (D-NV) in the Senate as S. 729 and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Joseph Cao (R-LA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House as H.R. 1751.

The youth-driven national DREAM Act campaign will collect 12,500 postcards, continue to organize legislative visits with key Congressmembers and launch an interactive website this summer. To take action, contact HyunJoo Lee at hlee@nakasec.org. Click here to download bilingual fact sheets about the DREAM Act.

Health Reform
Background: Korean Americans are underserved by the broken health system. In the United States, roughly 1 in 2 adults and 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 Korean Americans are uninsured. Nationwide, healthcare is an unaffordable human need for many Korean Americans who are more than twice as likely as whites to go without health insurance. Lack of health coverage, combined with culturally incompetent care, force many Korean Americans to delay medically necessary care while those with coverage are unable to receive quality health services. Meanwhile, racial and ethnic disparities in health constitute a national crisis. When health services are only available in one or two languages, or when people are excluded from coverage options based on immigration status alone, it results in disproportionate and discriminatory treatment of groups based on their race or national origin. Korean Americans patients, in particular, face language barriers that limit their ability to communicate effectively with health care providers, sometimes leading to life-threatening misdiagnoses.

Quality, affordable health care for all will not happen if we exclude one in five Korean Americans who live, work and build communities in the United States but do not have a path towards legal citizenship status. That is, currently NAKASEC is working to see that health reform legislation being drafted in the House and Senate is inclusive of all immigrants regardless of status. Thousands of people across the country called Congress to ensure universal children’s coverage, and saw the resulting passage of provisions to repeal the federal five-year bar for immigrant children and pregnant women in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. What’s happening now?

• National Immigration Law Center has put out an FAQ for advocates about next steps.
• NAKASEC and affiliates are leading visits to members of Congress that have jurisdiction and/or potential to stand for the inclusion of all immigrant adults and children in health reform legislation. Click here for our latest community education material.
• Congress is drafting health reform legislation. The Senate Finance Committee conducted the second of its three-roundtable series on May 5, 2009. Other committees of jurisdiction include the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, the House Ways & Means Committee, the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and the House Education & Labor Committee.

Announcement of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Reform – On May 11, Secretary Sebelius of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the establishment of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Health Reform. This Office will spearhead the Department’s efforts to pass urgently needed health reform this year and coordinate closely with the White House Office of Health Reform. Both offices were created by an April 8 Executive Order to deliver on one of President Obama’s top policy priorities. Staff members include: Dr. Jeanne Lambrew, Director of the HHS Office of Health Reform; Michael Hash, Senior Advisor; Neera Tanden, Senior Advisor; and Caya B. Lewis, MPH, Director of Outreach and Public Health Policy.

Voting Rights
Defending the Voting Rights Act - On April 29, the Supreme Court heard arguments related to the Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder case in which the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) is in question. Renewed in 2006, Section 5 requires jurisdictions with histories of discrimination in voting to receive federal preclearance of new voting practices or procedures. As minority and immigrant communities continue to grow in the U.S., laws like Section 5 are critical in protecting their voting rights and ensuring their full civic participation in the democratic process. The Supreme Court is expected to release their decision in a few weeks.

Civil Rights
States Take the Lead in Marriage Equality – On April 29, the New Hampshire Senate voted to legalize gay marriage. Unless vetoed by the Governor, the legislation will go into effect on January 1, 2010. New Hampshire joins four other states whose legislatures have passed same-sex marriage laws; Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont currently permit same-sex marriages. In Vermont, the state legislature overrode Republican Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on April 7, approving legislation that will take effect on January 1, 2010.

House Passes Hate Crimes Bill – On April 29, the House passed H.R. 1913 or the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would classify “hate crimes” as attacks based on one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or mental or physical disability. The current law, which was enacted four decades ago, excludes sexual orientation from its definition of a hate crime. The bill would also lift a requirement that a victim had to be attacked while engaged in a federally protected activity, like attending school, for it to be a federal hate crime and allow the federal government to help state and local authorities investigate hate crimes. NAKASEC applauds the House passage and are working with organizations leading the effort, such as the Leadership Council of Civil Rights and Human Rights Campaign, to advocate for its passage in the Senate as well as developing educational materials for the Korean American community.

What you can do
1. Demand health reform legislation that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all, including immigrants regardless of status. Call your Congress member in the House and Senate at (202)224-3121, and tell them to support health reform in your state by making sure that all immigrants are included in any new health proposal. For more information, contact Hemi Kim at hkim@nakasec.org or 202-339-9318, or Carol Kim at ckim@nakasec.org / 323-937-9703.

2. Become a member in 2009. Your membership dollars support NAKASEC’s mission to project a national progressive voice on major civil rights and immigrant rights issues and promote the full participation of Korean Americans. Reduced rates are available for students and low-income community members.

About NAKASEC – National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC maintains its national office in Los Angeles and an office in Washington, D.C. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (The Korean Resource Center) and Chicago (The Korean American Resource & Cultural Center). NAKASEC is a member of the APIA Vote, Campaign for Community Values, Detention Watch Network, Fair Immigration Reform Movement/Immigrant Organizing Committee, Health Care for America Now, Health Rights Organizing Project, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Gender and Equity Campaign, Reform Immigration for America Campaign, Rights Working Group, and the We Are America Alliance.

For more information and resources, visit www.nakasec.org or call 323.937.3703 / 202.339.9318.

Headquarters
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3703
Fax: 323.937.3753
www. nakasec.org

D. C. Office
1536 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202-339-9318
Fax: 202-387-4893

Korean Resource Center (founded in 1983)
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3718
Fax: 323.937.3526

Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (founded in 1995)
6146 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
Tel: 773.588.9158
Fax: 773.588.9159

The Obama Administration – New Appointments and Nominations
Department of Veteran Affairs: Tammy Duckworth was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Veteran Affairs (VA) on April 22, 2009, previously serving as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. She is the first woman to serve in this position. In 2004, Duckworth lost both her legs as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. As assistant secretary, Duckworth will direct VA’s public affairs, internal communications and intergovernmental relations. She also will oversee programs for homeless Veterans, consumer affairs and special rehabilitative events.

Just & Humane Immigration Reform
Background: The broken immigration system affects the Korean American community: 1 in 5 Korean Americans are undocumented, thousands of bright youth cannot fulfill their dreams, countless others are separated because of the immigration backlogs, and there are those languishing and dying in detention centers. In recent years, attempts to pass legislative reform have been stymied by a vocal minority. Instead, families have been torn apart and communities have been devastated by the ramping up of raids and other enforcement activities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State and local governments also took matters into their own hands and passed anti-immigrant measures.

Solution: For more than a decade, Korean American communities have been engaged in national efforts to realize long-term systemic change. In doing so, we have reached a level of consensus that any legislative proposal must contain the following components:

1) Bring millions of hard working undocumented immigrants and their children out of the shadows and provide them a path to citizenship.

2) Keep families together by preserving the family immigration system, eliminating the immigration backlogs, stopping mandatory & indefinite detentions and cruel deportations for minor infractions

3) Protect all workers regardless of their immigration status.

4) Allow students to reach their full potential through access to college.

5) Protect and restore basic rights and liberties, including allowing every person to have their day in court.

6) Promote the social, economic, and political integration of immigrants.

Building Momentum for Immigration Reform in 2009: Cecilia Muñoz, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, confirmed that President Barack Obama will speak publicly about the issue of immigration reform in May in an interview with the New York Times. In addition, the Administration will convene working group to begin discussing possible legislation for as early as this fall.

On April 14, 2009 the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) representing 56 national and international labor unions and Change To Win, representing the UFCW, SEIU, UNITE HERE, UFW, LIUNA, Teamsters and Carpenters unions, unveiled an unified set of principles supporting comprehensive immigration reform. The unified statement came after months of deliberations and was announced at a labor-convened briefing with various stakeholders, including NAKASEC, present. To read more, click here.

An exciting national effort that joins business, community, faith, labor and other diverse sectors is being rolled out. After consultation with hundreds of organizations nationwide, the “Reform Immigration for America” campaign has principles for reform, brings together multiple stakeholders, and seeks to harness community organizing to influence the policy and political debate. Your organization can formally join the campaign by visiting www.immigrationforum.org/action. Signing onto the campaign means endorsement of the comprehensive immigration reform principles and a commitment to participate in the campaign’s decisions and activities. For questions about the campaign, contact NAKASEC.

SSA no-match: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked for another extension, until June 10, 2009 to decide whether to support the previous administration’s SSA no-match rule. Under the Bush Administration, DHS proposed to use SSA-no match letters as evidence that employers knowingly hired undocumented workers and that if workers are unable to correct their Social Security records within a 90-day period, the employer must fire them or risk being prosecuted for violating immigration laws. NAKASEC continues to oppose this expanded use of SSA no-match as an immigration enforcement tool as it fails to address real concerns. Implementation of the SSA no-match rule will result in workers in being more vulnerable to discrimination, profiling and unjust termination and creating undue burdens on business owners. Click here to download bilingual guides – for workers and employers – about SSA no-match.

In fact, studies and data overwhelmingly demonstrate the opposite – that SSA no-match letters are in no way a reliable indicator of immigration status. The SSA Office of Inspector General estimates that 13 million of the 17.8 million records in SSA’s database contain discrepancies that could generate a no-match letter. SSA itself is unable to estimate how many of the un-matched wage items in its database belong to undocumented workers. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified before Congress that the Earnings Suspense File (ESF) contains “hundreds of millions of records, many unrelated to unauthorized work,” and that “in terms of poor earnings reporting, its focus is not on unauthorized workers.” GAO further stated that “most” of the earnings that have been correctly reinstated belong to “U.S.-born workers, not to unauthorized workers.” In the Safe Harbor rule itself, DHS also admits that it “does not have adequate data to estimate the percentage of unauthorized employees with SSNs that are listed on no-match letters.”

Immigrant Student Access to Education
Background: Each year, 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduate from U.S. high schools unable to realize their full potential. These immigrant students were raised in the United States and are denied the opportunity to build a future in America – the country that they call home. As undocumented students, they face difficulty pursuing higher education because they are denied financial aid, scholarships, loans, and in-state tuition rates in most states. Those that have the resources to graduate are unlikely to work in the field of their choice or study. And more tragically, they live daily with the fear of being deported to a country that they barely know.

DREAM Act: On March 26, 2009, the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act was introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and Harry Reid (D-NV) in the Senate as S. 729 and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Joseph Cao (R-LA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House as H.R. 1751.

This bipartisan legislation would provide undocumented students a chance to pursue higher education and obtain legal status. As a result of a series of legislative visits organized by NAKASEC affiliated youth groups in Chicago and Southern California over the April congressional recess, new co-sponsors have been secured. For example, staff of Rep. Susan Davis shared with college students of University of California San Diego that are affiliated with KRC her decision to sign on as a co-sponsor.

The youth-driven national DREAM Act campaign will collect 12,500 postcards, continue to organize legislative visits with key Congressmembers and launch an interactive website this summer. To take action, contact HyunJoo Lee at hlee@nakasec.org. Click here to download bilingual fact sheets about the DREAM Act.

Health Reform
Background: Korean Americans are underserved by the current health care system. Across the United States, roughly 1 in 2 adults and 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 Korean Americans are uninsured. Nationwide, healthcare is an unaffordable human need for many Korean Americans who are more than twice as likely as whites to go without health insurance. Moreover, racial disparities in health constitute a national crisis. When health care services are only available in one or two languages, it results in disproportionate and discriminatory treatment of groups based on their race or national origin. Korean Americans in particular face language barriers that limit their ability to communicate effectively with their health care provider, sometimes leading to life-threatening misdiagnoses. In addition, numerous health care facilities fail to deliver culturally competent care where a high percentage of the patient population is Korean American. The lack of health coverage forces many Korean Americans to delay medically necessary care while those with coverage are unable to receive quality health care services.

Health reform legislation is currently in its “tenth hour.” Proposed legislation is being crafted in two Senate Committees (Finance and Health, Labor, Education and Pensions or HELP), and in the House. The House bill is being overseen by the Energy and Commerce, the Ways and Means, and the Education and Labor committees. The bill will be introduced in early June, with passage of a bipartisan bill hoped for in September. In order to inject support for ensuring immigrant inclusion, regardless of status, in such a bill, NAKASEC and its affiliates have accelerated advocacy efforts. Community members shared their concerns with staff and legislators during the April congressional recess. These district-level visits will be complemented by follow-up correspondence to their DC offices.

Eliminating Health Disparities Through Stronger Enforcement of Language Access Requirements: On April 20, 2009, NAKASEC joined a panel of advocates to present community stories on the need to strengthen compliance and enforcement mechanisms of language access rights guaranteed under federal law to the Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, federal agencies and recipients of federal financial assistance are prohibited from discriminating against an individual on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The U.S. Supreme Court specifically held that Title VI prohibits conduct that has a disproportionate effect on limited English proficient persons because such conduct constitutes national origin discrimination. Formed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice, over 35 federal agencies are represented in the group.

Language access is particularly important to the Korean American community. 57% of Korean Americans are speak English less than very well. For Korean American over the age of 65, that figure rises precipitously to 95% according to a recent survey conducted by the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles. In fact, NAKASEC reported to the Federal Interagency Working Group that seniors receiving Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federally funded Medicaid program, continue to be sent notices in English only. One senior had his benefits terminated because he did not understand that his notice required him to complete the enclosed redetermination form to maintain the benefits he was receiving.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King of the Civil Rights Divisions has made implementation of language access requirements under Title VI and its regulations an absolute priority in her department. She encouraged federal agencies, advocates, and community members to work collaboratively in ensuring meaningful access for all limited English proficient persons.

Voting Rights
Voter ID Laws in Texas: Legislation that would require photo identification at poll sites on elections has passed through the Texas Senate, and there are several versions of the bill on the House side. It is expected that the bills will be discussed on the State House floor sometime in May. NAKASEC has joined national and local AAPI organizations in signing a letter addressed to the Texas House of Representatives stating photo ID voter laws will disenfranchise voters, particularly seniors, low-income and immigrant voters, who either do not have a photo ID or have limited access to one.

Proof of Citizenship Law in Georgia: On April 17, 2009, NAKASEC signed onto a letter addressed to Governor Purdue of Georgia urging his veto of SB 86, a bill that would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Requiring proof of citizenship is a discriminatory barrier that will deter many eligible voters from registering and having their voices heard in the political process. Georgia is home to the second fastest growing Asian American pop ulation and it is imperative we work to protect the right of all citizens to register and vote, especially those from immigrant communities who already face challenges to their civic participation such as language and unfamiliarity with the electoral process.

What you can do
1. Sign the Health Care for America Now petition to demand the passage of health care legislation that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all. For more information, contact Hemi Kim at hkim@nakasec.org or 202-339-9318.

2. Invite NAKASEC or one of our affiliates to your classroom, place of worship, workplace, or community organization. We have experience organizing workshops and presenting on a range of issues, particularly as it impacts the Korean American and AAPI communities, including access to public education for undocumented students, civic engagement, voter empowerment, community organizing, immigrant rights (immigration reform & DREAM Act), and health care access.

3. Become a member in 2009. Your membership dollars support NAKASEC’s mission to project a national progressive voice on major civil rights and immigrant rights issues and promote the full participation of Korean Americans. Reduced rates are available for students and low-income community members.

About NAKASEC – National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC maintains its national office in Los Angeles and an office in Washington, D.C. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (The Korean Resource Center) and Chicago (The Korean American Resource & Cultural Center). NAKASEC is a member of the APIA Vote, Campaign for Community Values, Detention Watch Network, Fair Immigration Reform Movement/Immigrant Organizing Committee, Health Care for America Now, Health Rights Organizing Project, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Gender and Equity Campaign, Reform Immigration for America Campaign, Rights Working Group, and the We Are America Alliance. For more information and resources, visit www.nakasec.org or call 323.937.3703 / 202.339.9318.

Headquarters
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3703 Fax: 323.937.3753 www. nakasec.org

D. C. Office
1536 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202-339-9318 Fax: 202-387-4893

Korean Resource Center (founded in 1983)
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323.937.3718 Fax: 323.937.3526

Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (founded in 1995)
6146 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
Tel: 773.588.9158 Fax: 773.588.9159