• U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) hosted a forum in Santa Maria on Aug. 9 where people could receive an update and review from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials on their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal application. Immigration Services officials gave a presentation and hosted a question-and-answer session on the renewal process. Catholic Charities Santa Maria, the Cal Poly Rise Program, and IMPORTA-Santa Barbara were on hand to help students who needed help filling out their applications. DACA offers deferred action to undocumented immigrations who were brought to the U.S. as children, and who meet other additional requirements. Pres. Barack Obama introduced the program in 2012; those granted deferred action in 2012 are up for renewal this year. According to statistics from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, more than 500,000 applicants have been granted deferred status thus far. “The DACA program for undocumented young adults, youth brought to this country as children and who are pursuing their education or serving in the military, can be complicated,” Capps said in a press release sent out before Aug. 9. “I am happy to bring together federal and community resources to help these young people explore ways to remain in their communities.”
• San Luis Obispo County Democrats are inviting the public to a Labor Day tri-tip barbecue on Sept. 1 at Strother Park in Arroyo Grande from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special guests will include U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), state Sen. Bill Monning (D-Monterey), and several local candidates, including Caren Ray, who’s running for SLO County Supervisor. Phil’s Catering is taking care of the food, and tickets are $25 each, $10 for children. Tickets are available at the party’s headquarters in SLO, 3592 Broad St., Suite 100, and online at secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/. For more info call the office at 546-8499 or visit the party’s website, slocdp.org.
This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2014.
