Pathway To CItizenship – Make the Road Nevada

May Day, May Day, May Day: MRNV Takes the Las Vegas Strip for Immigrant Lives

May 4, 2022 MRNV DACA, Immigrant Justice, Social Justice Artkore,Biden,CHISPA,Culinary Union Local 226,immigrant justice,immigrant workers,International Workers Day,las vegas strip,make the road nevada,May Day March,National Domestic Workers Alliance,Pathway To CItizenship,union labor

On Sunday, May 1st, Make the Road Nevada, CHISPA, the Culinary Union Local 226, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, members, and allies marched down the Las Vegas strip for immigrant workers, union labor, and for a pathway to citizenship.

The member-led march accumulated about 100 attendees who started at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino’s fountains. We made our way through the influx of tourists and passersby in ‘Immigrants Are Essential’ shirts. Attendees also carried posters that read “Nothing Less Than Citizenship,” and “President Biden, Keep Your Promise,” in our beaming yellow and blue.

Our Immigration Justice Organizer, Rico Ocampo led the group alongside chant leaders: our Environmental Justice Organizer, Jose Rivera and our member leader, Edgardo. Collectively chanting:

El pueblo unido, Jamas sera vencido The people united, Will never be defeated

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What do we want?, Citizenship When do we want it?, Now! Que Queremos? , Ciudadanía Cuando?, Ahora!

And more. As we finally approached the New York-New York Hotel & Casino’s Statue of Liberty, we circled around the statue as our MCs, Economic Justice Organizer, Abe Lugo and member leader, Fary took the mic to introduce the evening’s speakers.

“In today’s program, you will hear the stories of workers, children of immigrants, and people directly affected by immigration policy,” said Lugo.

Lugo and Fary welcomed Medinah Yusufzai, a first-generation Afghan American daughter of two Afghan refugees who escaped Afghanistan during the Soviet Union invasion and immigrated to the United States. They also welcomed Febe Rodriguez, a Culinary Union Local 226 member who was once undocumented by now uses her citizenship status to advocate for union labor laws and advocate by those directly impacted by immigration injustices. More speakers shared their stories, as well.

Thank you to all those who attended the May Day and made this happen. A huge thank you to CHISPA, the Culinary Union Local 226, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and your members.

Thank you to Artkore for printing our materials, including our shirts, posters, banners, and flyers.

And special thank you to each and everyone of our members for this powerful, member-led march.

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A Week Of Change: Learn About Our Blitz Event And May Day March

April 20, 2022 MRNV Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada, Social Justice blitz,community leaders,Education,election season,immigrant justice,immigrant workers,Las Vegas,las vegas strip,leaders,make the road nevada,members,Nevada,Pathway To CItizenship,primaries,union labor

We’re ending the month and beginning another with a bang at Make the Road Nevada. Starting on April 25th, we will be hosting our Blitz at the MRNV office, inviting staff and members for leadership and development training.

The week-long event, which will end April 30th, will include a combination of classroom workshops and real field experience; these efforts will create confident and stronger community leaders in Nevada as we embark on the upcoming elections.

Training and workshops will be led by MRNV staff, ranging from our communications and civic engagement sectors to our organization sectors. Some of the topics that will be discussed include but are not limited to: housing, climate, fair scheduling and worker protections, immigration reform, and education.

We are then continuing the momentum with our May Day march on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, May 1st.

MRNV, the immigrant community, and allies will come together to celebrate immigrant workers and union labor—and to demand President Biden to deliver permanent relief for the millions undocumented immigrants who call the United States home.

“May Day serves as a reminder that immigrant labor is one of the many ways immigrant communities contribute to this nation,” said Rico Ocampo, our Immigrant Justice organizer. “It’s important for families across the nation to march so their power and perseverance can be visible.”

Please join MRNV on May Day at 6:00pm in front of the Bellagio fountains; we will be marching to the New York-New York Hotel & Casino’s Statue of Liberty. If you have any questions, please contact our Immigrant Justice organizer, Rico Ocampo at rico.ocampo@maketheroadnv.org.

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Keep Your Promises, Biden: MRNV Goes to Washington D.C.

March 8, 2022 MRNV DACA, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada catherine cortez masto,DACA,immigrant justice,Immigration Reform,joe biden,Las Vegas,make the road,Nevada,Pathway To CItizenship,rallies,state of the union,steven horsford,Washington D.C

Between February 28th and March 3rd, Make the Road Nevada visited Washington D.C. to take part in two rallies and to speak with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s and Representative Steven Horsford’s teams on immigration reform. Five MRNV members joined Rico Ocampo (Immigrant Justice Organizer), Itzel Hernandez (Health Equity Organizer), and Crystal Lugo (Digital Organizer) on the four-day trip, which began with the State of Our Lives rally on Monday.

Hundreds united outside the White House on the eve of President Biden’s State of the Union Address, demanding Biden to keep his pre-presidential promises on immigration reform. Speakers across various organizations expressed their frustrations with the unkept promises—all feeling collectively cheated and disillusioned by the president. The attendees urged the 46th president to grant citizenship to the 11 million undocumented people in the United States, and also demanded him to deliver solutions on healthcare and climate matters.

“Biden, shine light on those who have been forced into the shadows; shine light on our people and give us a permanent solution: citizenship,” shared MRNV member leader, Areli.

“Biden, act on what we put you in office for,” shared Northern Nevada MRNV member leader, Edurne.

On Wednesday, March 2nd, MRNV staff and members met with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s team to discuss her stance on immigration reform and ask for her support. MRNV members, Jose, Ben, and Amparo shared their stories with the senator’s team for the first time. MRNV member and Nevada teacher, Ben joined MRNV in alliance after witnessing his undocumented students struggle internally and externally due to their undocumented status.

“School is already stressful enough,” shared Ben with the senator’s team. “Being undocumented in this country adds unnecessary stress onto them.”

MRNV member leader and DACA recipient, Jose shared his story with Cortez Masto’s team and explained his disappointment over not feeling fully accepted by the only country he has ever called home.

“I’m tired of living a temporary life,” said Jose. “I’m not asking for a handout—all I’m asking for is a pathway to citizenship.”

MRNV member, Amparo shared her story about being an undocumented mother of three, circled by limitations and little-to-no support from the United States due to her status.

“I’m here in front of you expressing my stress,” shared Amparo. “I’m asking you to listen to us and put your hand on your hearts—be in community with us.”

On March 3rd, MRNV joined organizations outside the ICE building for the Communities Not Cages rally. The attendees chanted for change—calling Biden out on his adoption of Trump-era anti-immigration policies and demanding for ICE and CBP to be defunded, for detention centers to be shut down, for people to be freed, and for deportations to be stopped.

MRNV safely returned to Nevada on Thursday night, bringing back new experiences and a stronger fight with them. Thank you for visiting, team!

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Thank you, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s staff and Representative Steven Horsford’s staff, for speaking to our Nevada members and centering their voices.

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Missed our Washington D.C. trip? Check us out on our Twitter @maketheroadnv to view our Washington tweets, and visit our Instagram @maketheroadnv to view our Washington story highlight!

“@POTUS, act on what we put you in office for.” Edurne, MRNV member shares. #stateofourlives #thepeoplestateoftheunion #thetimeisnow ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/ALK2qCF7Na

— Make The Road NV 🦋 (@maketheroadnv) February 28, 2022

A People In Motion

September 21, 2021 MRNV DACA, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada, Social Justice immigration,Immigration Reform,Marches,Nationwide Action,Pathway To CItizenship,The People,Unity

How far have you gone to protect your family? How far would you travel? Who would you face to ensure that your children could spend another day with you?

Well, our gente has traveled miles. They have faced police and entire administrations to defend themselves and to fight for their neighbors. They have braved an entire country that criminalizes and dehumanizes them and their experiences to provide for their families on a daily basis. After so long, they continue. They continue to fight. They continue to raise their voices. They refuse to be defeated.

This week the Parliamentarian ruled against creating a pathway to citizenship. With this ruling folks all over the political process believe that the fight for citizenship is over, but our gente does not take no for an answer. Our gente is taking to the streets of DC this week to welcome back congress after their recess. Their welcome consists of marches outside the capitol and around DC. Chants are ricocheting from the walls and windows of the capital city because our people can’t wait another year. Our people are uniting across the country to fight for each other. To fight for security. To fight for their right to live a life of dignity and with respect.

From Nevada, Rico, Lalo, Areli, and Marvin are joining their voices to the call for our elected officials to develop a new plan in which millions of people in the states have a path to citizenship.

Rico, a DACA recipient, a father, a husband, a friend, has dedicated his life to the cause, to organizing his community into participating in the political process to ensure that the political process truly reflects the interests of the people.

Lalo, a DACA recipient, a father, a friend, a partner, works day in and day out to ensure that his community has access to fair housing conditions and is treated fairly by their landlords while also fighting to educate the community on their rights.

Arieli, a mother, a partner, an immigrant, came to the states in search of safety. Her search for safety led her to a space where she can use her story and her voice to educate others and to advocate for a more inclusive and more secure future for everyone in her community.

Marvin, a friend, a son, an advocate, has used his voice in school board meetings and in demonstrations to advocate for the rights of students and their families.

These powerful, educated, passionate voices are marching, demonstrating, and like Rep. John Lewis said, ‘getting into good trouble’ in DC. Their voices, their strength is a direct result of the support of the community. Nevada has a very large Latinx population and with that collective strength, they march on. From Nevada, we wish them peace, protection, and good vibes as they march for our rights. In Nevada, we will be cheering them on as they make history during Latinx Heritage Month. El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido! Si Se Puede!

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