For 43 years, ACLAMO has been the only full-service organization that addresses the needs of low-income Latino children, families, and seniors in Montgomery County. ACLAMO provides education services to children, young adults and families; health and wellness programs designed to decrease health disparities for Latinos; and social services to address immigration, food insecurity, housing, training and employment needs. We provided services to 5,500 individuals and families. In 2018, we received the award for Cultural and Linguistic Competency at the Children’s Interagency Conference and, in 2019, we were awarded the prestigious GSK Impact Award for their work to build a healthier greater Philadelphia region. This year ACLAMO received the 2020 Impact 100 Philadelphia Award recognizing its work in the community we served. ACLAMO’s vision is for every family, child, and adult to reach their full potential and become independent and happy. For more information please visit us in our website at www.aclamo.org.

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5-4 that President Trump did not follow the correct process to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and that DACA should be restored to when it was first established in 2012. The continuation of the program ensures relief from deportation, continuation of work permits, financial stability, and opportunities for individuals to plan out their future. This is a win for the immigrant community who are committed to protecting DACA recipients, TPS & DED holders, and all undocumented immigrants.

What we know so far:

For those who currently have a DACA permit:
-- Check your expiration date and renew your DACA in a timely manner
-- Seek assistance from a trusted and reputable legal advisor

For New DACA Applicants:
-- Guidance from USCIS on initial DACA applications hasn't been released yet, but you can start preparing!
-- Begin gathering supporting documents for your DACA application
-- Consult a trusted and reputable legal advisor for advice on when to apply

Check out our DACA Resource page for updated information about the decision, resources, and much more. Follow PICC on Facebook for live updates and DACA watch parties.

Keep Fighting!

The fight for DACA, TPS, DED, and 11 million undocumented people in this country is not over! The administration still has the power to end DACA, and may attempt to do so in the coming weeks or months, and we must keep fighting until we have permanent solutions for all immigrant communities. Contact our Youth Organizer at yenyromero@paimmigrant.org to get involved

- Join our Youth Membership
- Attend our monthly youth calls
- Join a local campaign for immigrant justice: Welcoming Schools, access to college for immigrant students, drivers licenses for all, Shut Down Berks, and so much more. Check out campaigns that PICC coordinates and supports!

After pressure from community, the Philadelphia City Council decided to restore funding for the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP)! We are thankful for the councilmembers who listened to community and stood up for Philadelphia’s immigrant communities during this time of crisis.

Because of Philadelphia’s strong leadership, PAIFUP will continue to provide publicly funded legal representation to immigrants in court. Publicly funded attorneys are supported by an overwhelming majority — 87% — of people surveyed in the US and are many immigrants’ last line of defense against deportation and being separated from their families. Especially during a global pandemic, legal representation in court can mean the difference between life or death for immigrants, with significant public health considerations for the broader community.

The protests in our streets called for a radical rethinking of policing and safety in America. PAIFUP provides a critical protection for immigrants, and this budget is just the beginning. We will continue to fight to defund police and abolish ICE.

Over five million individuals are estimated to have naturalized since 2014 in the United States, approximately 3.1 million of which did so after Donald Trump’s election, making for one of the most significant electoral groups in recent U.S. history, according to a report released on June 16, 2020 by the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA).

The report also indicates that significant numbers of these newly naturalized voters are located in Pennsylvania, where they could potentially determine the political outcome in this year’s local and state political races, and the national election.

Some highlights from the report:
- In Pennsylvania, the top nations of origin for newly naturalized citizens from 2014 to 2018 are India; Dominican Republic; China; Bhutan; and Vietnam.
- In terms of a world region, for the same time period, the largest newly naturalized groups in Pennsylvania were from Asian and Pacific Islander countries, Latin America, and Europe.
- In 2020, New American Voters can have an especially large impact during the presidential election. In Pennsylvania, the 2016 margin was 44,292 votes. The number of citizens who naturalized from 2014 to 2018 is almost double that margin, at 82,052, over half of whom are from India, the Dominican Republic, China, and Bhutan.

PICC will be continuuing its non-partisan voter registration program at naturalization ceremonies this year. Stay tuned for details on how you can voulnteer to help ensure all new citizens have the opportunity to vote!

Please Donate to PICC!

PICC depends upon your support. Please donate to PICC today to support our advocacy and organizing work to mobilize the immigrant vote, build immigrant leaders, campaign for pro-immigrant policies at the local, state and federal levels, and support the effective implementation of pro-immigrant public policies.