CHICAGO – To highlight the importance of participating in the 2020 Census, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, and State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago are inviting residents throughout the Chicagoland area to join them and fellow members of the Latino Caucus and the Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 7 at their various visits of Latino-owned businesses, which include Mi Tierra en la Villita.

The Latino Caucus is working to ensure everyone is counted in the 2020 Census, so that communities receive their share of funds for local schools, roads, and other critical services that lift up working families. Latino Caucus members are hosting a series of stops across the Chicagoland area as part of their 2020 Census Tour. They are inviting local residents to join them and fellow Latino legislators at either of the Latino owned businesses below to have any concerns they may have addressed such as understanding that the Census will not include a question about someone’s citizenship and that participating in it will not put a family at risk.

Who:   

• State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez
• State Sen. Omar Aquino,
• Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus members 
• Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation members

What:  

• 2020 Census Tour

When:  

• Saturday, Sept. 7

Where:

• El Tarasco Restaurant, located at 4358 W. 51st St. in Chicago at 8 a.m.
• Nellie’s Restaurant, located at 2458 W. Division St. in Chicago at 10 a.m.
• La Quinta De Los Reyes, located at 36 E. New York St. in Aurora at noon
• Jorge’s Paletas, located at 110 S. Neltnor Blvd. in West Chicago at 1:30 p.m.
• Dulce Vida, located at 2003 Irving Park Rd. in Hanover Park at 3:30 p.m.
• Mi Tierra en la Villita, located at 2528 S Kedzie Ave. in Chicago at 6 p.m.

CHICAGO – To highlight the importance of participating in the 2020 Census, state Reps. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, and Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago are working with fellow Latino Caucus members and the Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation to host the Census 2020 Tour, which will include stops across various Latino owned businesses in the Chicagoland area.

“Given Donald Trump’s bigoted attempt to intimate immigrant communities to not participate in the 2020 Census, we must work like never before to address any issues and inform communities on the facts of the census,” Hernandez said. “I hope local families that are hesitant about participating or have questions come out and join us so we could address their issues.”

Hernandez and Villanueva are hosting a series of stops across the Chicagoland area as part of their 2020 Census Tour. Hernandez is inviting local residents to join her and fellow Latino legislators at the final stop of the tour which will take place at 6 p.m. in Mi Tierra en la Villita, located at 2528 S. Kedzie Ave. in the Little Village neighborhood. Other stops will include:

• El Tarasco Restaurant, located at 4358 W. 51st St. in Chicago at 8 a.m.
• Nellie’s Restaurant, located at 2458 W. Division St. in Chicago at 10 a.m.
• La Quinta De Los Reyes, located at 36 E. New York St. in Aurora at noon
• Jorge’s Paletas, located at 110 S. Neltnor Blvd. in West Chicago at 1:30 p.m.
• Dulce Vida, located at 2003 Irving Park Rd. in Hanover Park at 3:30 p.m.

Hernandez and fellow Latino Caucus members are working to ensure everyone is counted in the 2020 Census, so that communities receive their share of funds for local schools, roads, and other critical services that lift up working families.

“The Census will not include a question about someone’s citizenship and you will not be putting your family at risk for participating in it,” Villanueva added. “The Census is crucial in order to secure resources for our communities, so we must be informed and make sure that our friends and neighbors are as well.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement urging Congress to hold additional hearings on the politically motivated citizenship question for the 2020 Census, as the Supreme Court’s decision leaves open the possibility for the Trump Administration to find another way to justify it:

“While we applaud the court’s decision to question Donald Trump’s bigoted motives for the upcoming Census, we are disappointed that they did not fully strike it down. Given that their reasoning is that the administration did not adequately justify why asking someone’s citizenship status is necessary, they left open the possibility for Donald Trump and his bigoted allies to find another phony justification.

“Any change or any addition to the Census needs to be thoroughly vetted and the administration has ignored procedure to force through their politically and racially motivated agenda. Donald Trump has a clear goal and that is to intimidate our communities in order to further disadvantage us and silence our voices. We urge our congressional delegation to demand that further hearings be held on this matter. There is so much at stake.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump deliberately terrorizing immigrant parents and their children as a negotiation tactic:

“Like each and every single one of us, immigrant parents work hard every day to raise their children and contribute to their communities. Yet Donald Trump is deliberately casting fear among families in order to force through his bigoted agenda. Thankfully, we have taken action at the state-level to protect immigrant communities and set an example for other states to follow. Last week, legislation was signed into law to prevent local law enforcement from being forced into agreements with ICE agents to assist them in carrying out deportation policies, as well as to abolish for-profit detention centers.

“We applaud the outpouring of support and organizing from community leaders here at home and around the country. During times like these, we must stand up for our immigrant neighbors and ensure they understand their rights.

“We call on all local municipalities to follow Chicago’s lead and publicly affirm that they will not assist ICE agents in separating families, and urge our congressional delegation to stand their ground and not compromise on our shared values of diversity and family.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, state Rep. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, and fellow members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus worked to advance a series of reforms this spring that will put in place additional state-level protections to combat Donald Trump’s bigoted agenda and ensure Illinois supports and lifts up its immigrant community.

“A college education or technical training is key to move up the socioeconomic ladder and it’s unacceptable that talented young people are being denied that opportunity because of their immigration status,” Hernandez said. “The Illinois RISE Act will ensure equity and opportunity for all of our young people.”

The following initiatives were championed by members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and now await Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s consideration:

• House Bill 1637 (Villanueva) will prohibit local law enforcement from entering into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that permit them to enforce family separation policies;
• House Bill 2691 (Hernandez) will ensure state financial aid is available to Illinois students regardless of race, immigration status or gender identity;
• Senate Bill 172 (state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago) will expand student body representation among the University of Illinois’ Board of Trustees by allowing undocumented students to serve as student trustees;
• Senate Bill 1166 (state Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago) will allow trained individuals to obtain certain occupational or professional licensure, regardless of their immigration status; and
• Senate Bill 1290 (state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago) will make it unlawful for landlords to evict or harass a tenant based on their immigration status.

“It is up to us at the state level to protect local families from being torn apart by the bigoted agenda of Donald Trump,” Villanueva said. “By prohibiting local police from being deputized as ICE agents, we are building trust in local law enforcement as immigrant families will feel safe to call when their safety is at risk or when they need to report a crime in their community.” 

“Immigrant families work hard every day to contribute to our society. No one deserves to be threatened or harassed because of their immigration status,” Mah said. “This legislation will protect immigrant families from unscrupulous landlords, providing them much-needed peace of mind.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement urging for the passage of the Fair Tax Amendment:

“The communities we represent sent us to build an Illinois that works for them and working families across Illinois. They cannot afford more devastating cuts to services that help them move up the socioeconomic ladder. For too long, Illinois’ budget crises have created instability and divestment in our communities, while the rich have gotten richer.

“A Fair Tax is a first step toward requiring that the very wealthy pay their share so we can invest in our local schools, create good paying jobs, and make sure all Illinoisans have access to quality and affordable health care. It is also a critical step toward putting our state on firmer financial footing and ensuring that Illinois is truly a place for Latino advancement.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement urging the passage of legislation that would ensure greater representation of Latinos, African Americans and women on corporate boards:

“As elected officials of one of the most diverse states in our country, it is on us to ensure that the communities we represent have a seat at the table. Communities of color and women have and are still underrepresented in positions of power, and that is unacceptable.

“Members of all of our communities have had tireless leaders who have fought not only in securing their own rights and access to economic, social, and political opportunity, but to create a fairer and more just society for all Americans. Ensuring women and people of color are represented on corporate boards will build on that progress, ensuring that we live up to our ideals of inclusion.

“We urge our colleagues in the Senate to move swiftly and ensure that all residents in Illinois have a say when decisions are being made.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address:

“Under the reckless leadership of Bruce Rauner, services that lift up immigrants and Latino working families were cut year after year. Today’s remarks by the governor are a good step in the right direction as we work together to fix the harm caused by the previous administration.

“Latino working families across Illinois are struggling. While there is much work to be done, it is encouraging that education, health care, and public safety are at the front of the governor’s budget. Getting Illinois back on track will not be easy, but we look forward to working with Governor Pritzker to invest in our state’s Latino community by ensuring the funding of these critical services.”

AURORA, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to Gov. Pritzker’s proactive approach to combat Donald Trump’s bigoted agenda by requiring the Department of Human Services to expand access to Welcoming Centers for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, ensuring they know their rights:

“Today’s executive could not have come at a better time, given that Donald Trump is holding the federal government hostage unless he gets funding for his bigoted border wall. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Pritzker, Illinois is letting the country know loud and clear that we welcome all immigrants.

“This order is a step in the right direction as it will ensure that immigrant families and refugees know about the resources available to them, helping them feel safe and supported by our state. We commend Governor Pritzker for his commitment to Illinois’ 1.8 million immigrants. We look forward to working with him to address the issues affecting our community by ensuring local schools get the funding they deserve, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, and expanding access to affordable health care.” 

Governor Pritzker was joined by both Latino Caucus Co-Chairs state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez and state Sen. Omar Aquino, as well as Assistant Majority Leader Linda Chapa LaVia, state Rep. Kathleen Willis, state Rep. Celina Villanueva, state Rep. Anna Moeller, and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit.