CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement in support of fast-food workers organizing for a living wage:

“When large corporations like McDonald’s are making billions in profits each year, none of their workers should live in poverty. The success of these companies is built on the labor of their employees, and those employees deserve a living wage and dignity in their work.

“No one should have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. It is past time that McDonald’s and other companies in the service industry pay a living wage of at least $15 per hour.”

Villanueva sigue la lucha por $15

CHICAGO – La Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) dio a conocer la siguiente declaración en apoyo al derecho de organización de los trabajadores de la industria de la comida rápida en favor de ingresos dignos:

“Cuando grandes corporaciones como McDonald’s tienen miles de millones de dólares en ganancias anuales, ninguno de sus trabajadores debería vivir en la pobreza. El éxito de estas compañías se construyó con el trabajo de sus empleados, y esos trabajadores merecen ingresos dignos y suficientes.

“Nadie debería tener dos o tres trabajos para pagar con dificultad sus cuentas. Es tiempo de que McDonald’s y otras compañías en la industria de los servicios paguen un salario digno que sea de al menos $15 la hora.”

SPRINGFIELD – So students better understand the naturalization process, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Senate Education Committee that would allow schools to offer courses on naturalization and citizenship.

“More than two-thirds of students that take the U.S. Citizenship test in their history courses end up failing,” Villanueva said. “Schools should offer instruction on citizenship so that students from all backgrounds know the effort it takes to go through the naturalization process.”

The legislation would allow public high schools in Illinois to include a unit of instruction on the process of naturalization in their curricula. The course would include content from the actual citizenship test administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The measure allows local school boards to determine the amount of instructional time.

CHICAGO – Legal representation to those in immigration proceedings should be a fundamental right, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) argued this week as she passed the Right to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Act in the Senate Human Rights Committee.

“Having an immigration lawyer at your side dramatically increases the success rates of your case,” Villanueva said. “We must create a fairer legal system so that all residents, regardless of status, have an equal opportunity at justice.”

Current law provides the right to legal representation in immigration proceedings, but at the defendant’s own expense. Villanueva’s measure creates a task force to study how to guarantee legal counsel to all those in immigration proceedings by July 1, 2022. Those who qualify would include people who are subject to removal proceedings.

Villanueva’s legislation is inspired by the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. This program has achieved a 1,100% increase in success rates for their clients when compared to people who did not have counsel in their proceedings.

The legislation, House Bill 25, passed the Senate Human Rights Committee and awaits consideration before the full Senate.

Villanueva: El acceso a un abogado de inmigración debe ser un derecho fundamental

CHICAGO – La representación legal para aquellos que enfrentan un proceso migratorio debe ser un derecho fundamental, dijo esta semana la Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) al aprobar la iniciativa del Derecho a Asistencia Legal en Procesos Migratorios en el Comité de Derechos Humanos del Senado de Illinois.

“Contar con un abogado de inmigración incrementa dramáticamente las posibilidades de éxito de un caso,” dijo Villanueva. “Debemos crear un sistema legal más justo para todos, independientemente de su estatus migratorio para tener equidad en la procuración de justicia.”

La ley actual otorga el derecho a la representación legal en los procedimientos migratorios, pero es al costo de quien se defiende. La medida de Villanueva crea el grupo de trabajo que estudiará cómo garantizar la defensa legal a todos aquellos que tengan un caso ante Inmigración para el 1 de julio de 2022. Las personas que califiquen al beneficio incluirán a aquellos que son sujeto a ser deportados.

La legislación de Villanueva está inspirada por el New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. Este programa ha logrado un 1,100% de éxito en los casos de sus clientes al ser comparados con los de las personas que no contaron con representación legal.

La legislación, HB 25, fue aprobada por el Comité de Derechos Humanos y espera ser considerada ante el pleno del Senado.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the wellbeing of immigrant communities, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force.

“We need this task force in order to determine where relief efforts have fallen short for immigrant communities,” Villanueva said. “We must address the systemic disinvestment in our area and build a recovery that benefits all Illinoisans, regardless of status.”

The legislation would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force, which ended at the start of 2021. The task force would examine where the state can improve relations and services in immigrant communities, the impact of the pandemic, disbursement of funds to immigrant communities, practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state among other issues.

“Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the privacy and safety of Illinois’ undocumented residents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would prevent photographs taken for state IDs and driver’s licenses from being shared with federal immigration authorities on Thursday.

“Undocumented residents need to be able to trust our state institutions,” Villanueva said. “It’s impossible to expect that of them if we are sending their facial recognition data directly to authorities. Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect women and children in Illinois, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation the Illinois Senate that would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

“Incidents of domestic violence have increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Families are counting on us to take proactive measures to prevent violence.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect first-generation college students from predatory business practices, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would create transparency and fairer guidelines for educational planning services.

“Companies that prey on first-generation and low-income students must be held accountable,” Villanueva said. “I am committed to empowering our state agencies to reel in these bad actors.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help public colleges and universities better understand the needs of student parents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate directing colleges to collect certain information from students that will help shape more accommodating policies going forward.

“Young parents and parents returning to school face unique challenges, specifically with access to child care and financial assistance,” Villanueva said. “Public institutions of higher education have a moral obligation to the children of their students to see that they are cared for.”