State prosecutors host Ceres public forum on federal immigration programs

The state Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday announced it will host a series of public forums, including one Saturday in Ceres, where immigrants can learn about federal programs created to help them avoid deportation. The forums also will offer information about potential scams.

Attorney General Kamala Harris said the federal programs, created by executive orders from President Barack Obama, were designed to help many families get out from living in the shadows.

“We want to shine a light on a new path that frees them from the lure of predators and con artists,” Harris said in a news release. “These forums will inform immigrants about their rights and responsibilities under the new programs, helping them on their way to realizing the American Dream.”

The public forums will take place in seven other counties, including Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Clara.

There are an estimated 40,000 undocumented immigrants in Stanislaus County, which has about 525,000 residents. Local immigration reform advocate groups, including Mi Familia Vota and Congregations Building Community, are helping put together the Modesto public forum this weekend.

The local groups have organized these types of public forums before in Stanislaus County. They expect a few hundred attendees to show up Saturday at Argus and Endeavor High School in Ceres.

Sergio Lara of Mi Familia Vota said the Attorney General’s Office leading this latest effort sends a big message. “It says, ‘We’re behind immigrant families, we’re supporting these programs and we’re behind the president’s decisions,” Lara said.

Saturday’s forum will begin with a representative from the Attorney General’s Office discussing the potential for fraud. State prosecutors say major changes to immigration policy often lead to con artists emerging to prey on vulnerable people seeking help with immigration services.

Homero Mejia of Congregations Building Community will lead a discussion about the application process for the deportation deferment programs. His discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Solange Altman, a Modesto-based immigration attorney.

Mejia views this state effort on immigration reform as validation of local grass-roots groups who have worked on this issue over the past few years. “It’s way overdue. We need to recognize that this impacts all of us,” Mejia said.

Obama’s executive orders halt deportations for millions of immigrants who were brought into this country illegally as children. An expansion of these programs meant undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have resided in the country for at least five years were eligible to apply for three-year reprieves from deportation. Many also could receive work permits.

But the expansion is stalled in federal court. A federal judge in southern Texas suspended the program while a lawsuit against the executive actions, filed by 26 states, proceeds. This week, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the U.S. Justice Department’s request to allow the immigration expansion to begin.

Lara said the state Attorney General’s Office’s public forums could bring some needed hope to immigrants who continue to wait for immigration reform that brings about significant change. “It provides a lot more confidence and trust in government,” he said.

This story was originally published May 27, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "State prosecutors host Ceres public forum on federal immigration programs."