Local Families Received Help for Deferred Action

More than 250 people filled the Lambert Park auditorium in El Monte on Friday evening to receive free information and assessment on the known as "deferred action", and community organizations.

The informational forum served to explain to potential solicitors of the program and their families the necessary steps and requirements to qualify, as well as to answer questions from the public about this immigration benefit.

"It is important for those of us with undocumented children, and who don't have the money to go to a lawyer," said Maura González, a mother from El Monte whose children could qualify for the program. "Here we have found a lot of valuable help about what we have to do," she added.

The event, organized by congresswomen Judy Chu and Grace Napolitano, as well as by various community organizations like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and the National Immigration Law Center, was aided y the presence of renown immigration lawyers, like .

"At this time it is very important that our community is not vulnerable and that it is armed with information, so they don't fall prey to unscrupulous people," said Domínguez, who donated her time to answer questions from the community of El Monte and surrounding towns.

According to Congresswoman Judy Chu, close to 100 people were expected at the event, however, the number of attendants increased exponentially.

"I am amazed at the turnout, people are so anxious to get the proper information and cannot wait to ask a question. These kind of events are really important," said the current representative from District 32, which includes Baldwin Park. "We are here to warn DREAM-eligible students to be wary of scammers," she added.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, who is running for District 32 in November, said that she would continue working in Washington to find a complete solution to the immigration problem.

"This is the first step in assisting those who have worked tirelessly in helping our economy grow. I will continue to work and press the President for a broader, more comprehensive immigration reform," she emphasized.

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