Latest news with #ArizonaLuminaria
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trans advocacy group endorses Grijalva as progressive frontrunner in special election
Adelita Grijalva on on Sept. 19, 2023. Photo by Michael MicKisson | Arizona Luminaria Adelita Grijalva has won the endorsement of the country's first organization dedicated to championing pro-trans candidates in her bid to win a special congressional election in southern Arizona, strengthening her ties to trans rights advocacy amid worsening hostility from the federal government — even as some in the Democratic Party move to the right on the issue. Grijalva is campaigning for a chance to represent Arizona's 7th congressional district, a seat held for over two decades by her father, progressive giant Raúl Grijalva, until his death last month at 77 following a long battle with lung cancer. The younger Grijalva, a veteran of Tucson-area politics who currently sits on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, faces a crowded field in July's Democratic primary. But she has quickly emerged as the frontrunner, gathering the required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot within hours of her announcement to run and nabbing endorsements from prominent political figures, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. The Christopher Street Project, a national trans electoral advocacy organization established to counter the GOP's anti-trans focus, announced Wednesday it was backing Grijalva. The group's support cements her progressive bonafides and signals to voters that she hasn't joined the faction of the Democratic Party that is willing to compromise trans rights for electoral appeal. During last year's election, as Republicans and President Donald Trump poured millions into campaign ads attacking trans people, Democratic congressional candidates in red states and battleground states adopted anti-trans talking points of their own. And in January, two Texas Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives sided with Republicans to vote for legislation that would have prohibited trans girls in public schools from joining sports teams that best align with their gender identity. In a written statement, Grijalva celebrated the endorsement from the Christopher Street Project and called the anti-trans attacks from Republicans 'hateful, dangerous and shameful.' She vowed to push back on legislation targeting trans people and to keep fellow party members on track. 'In Congress, I'll fight alongside (the Christopher Street Project) to defend our trans communities, hold Democrats accountable to their promises, and push back against every effort to strip away our rights,' Grijalva said. 'Our message is clear: trans people belong, and we won't back down.' Tyler Hack, the 19-year-old founder of the Christopher Street Project, which is named after the New York City street where the Stonewall Inn is located, said that Grijalva was the perfect choice for the organization's first ever political endorsement, given her history of consistent allyship. She has spent two decades on the Tucson Unified School District's governing board and has spent four years on the board of supervisors, where she was often involved with local LGBTQ and Pride month events. 'Adelita Grijalva is a proven champion for trans rights, and in the midst of this unprecedented, state-sponsored attack on trans people, we need her voice in Congress,' Hack said in a written statement. Trump has issued multiple executive orders intended to make it impossible for trans people to live as themselves, including by erasing the federal recognition of trans people's existence, prohibiting pronoun use in federal agencies, threatening to cut federal funding from health care organizations that offer gender affirming care, laying the groundwork to ban trans people from the military and reinterpreting federal protections in a way that excludes gender identity so as to bar trans girls from joining school sports teams that best reflect who they are. The Republican-controlled Congress is in lockstep with Trump's anti-trans vision, proposing bills that discriminate against trans people in athletics, public facilities, housing, school and government identification documents. Hack said the only way to ensure a bulwark against that tide of attacks is by electing Democrats that are serious about protecting trans people. 'The Democratic Party needs to hold up its responsibility to all marginalized peoples, and that includes trans people,' they said. 'Democratic voters aren't happy with the abdication to Trump and to MAGA Republicans. We need fighters who will step up and support trans people in every way that they can.' Along with pushing back on the anti-trans agenda at the federal level, Hack said a pro-trans candidate is needed to help ensure local resources for trans people, which are increasingly under attack from the Trump administration, remain available. That's because the threats from Trump and Republicans in Congress have resulted in state-based organizations complying in advance with discriminatory directives to avoid future consequences — even at the expense of trans people. Shortly after the Arizona branch of Planned Parenthood received a letter from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services instructing it not to use Medicaid funding to pay for gender-affirming care, the organization voluntarily froze its trans health care services out of an 'abundance of caution.' Following public backlash, those services were restored. That, Hack said, is a clear example of a time when a trans-friendly advocate, like Grijalva, can be critical for trans Arizonans. 'Having someone who we can call and who can actually push an organization or a group to stand up for trans people and to not abdicate to Trump's attacks is crucial,' they said. The Christopher Street Project's vote of confidence is also a boost for Grijalva's status as an advocate for LGBTQ rights, helping level the playing field against her most high-profile opponent, former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez. He was one of Arizona's few openly gay state lawmakers, was a founding member of the legislature's LGBTQ Caucus and spent years supporting working to enshrine LGBTQ rights into state statute and speaking out against discriminatory legislation. Hack said the organization is working to mobilize volunteers in Arizona on behalf of Grijalva's bid and pointed out that the election for the congressional district's seat will be one of the first to take place since Trump took office in January. That, they said, gives the organization and trans advocates across the state an opportunity to flex their political muscles. 'This is the first special election in a safe blue or competitive district since Trump took office this year,' Hack said. 'There hasn't been an opportunity to demonstrate trans political power yet, and we're so excited to bring that to Arizona (CD) 7.' The district, which spans much of southern Arizona, leans Democratic, with the percentage of votes cast for Democratic candidates more than doubling those cast for Republicans. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens of ASU international students had visas revoked amid immigration crackdown
The Brief Over 50 international students at Arizona State University have had their visas revoked. Some of the students affected were set to graduate in May. ASU officials said the revocations were not related to 2024 campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. PHOENIX - More than 50 international students at Arizona State University are now facing deportation, after their visas were revoked. The revocation were all part of the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown, and emails from campus leadership at Arizona universities suggest international students carry their documentation around campus. What we know "We do know that at least three people from ASU were put into immigration detention," said John Washington, a writer for Arizona Luminaria. "All of the students identified as having their visas revoked in Arizona are from, you know, the Middle East, Muslim-majority countries, China, or India." Washington, who has been in close contact with the students, said there are more questions than answers, such as whether they can go to class this year or if they can still graduate. A number of the dozens of students affected so far were set to graduate in May, and fear that could be taken away. "People spent a lot of their own money to come here, and then to pay tuition and other fees," said Washington. "It's a blow not just to the students, but to the campuses." What ASU Officials Said We have reached out to ASU about the incident, and in their response, they said they cannot provide an exact number of students affected, as the visa process is complex. University officials also weighed in on whether the revocations are in connection with campus protests in 2024 over Israel's war with Hamas. "These revocations are unrelated to campus protests; they stem from what appear to be, in most cases, various legal infractions," a spokesperson wrote. ASU officials said they are committed to fully supporting all affected international students in completing their degree programs.
The Intercept
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
At Least 50 Arizona State Students Have Now Had Visas Revoked, Lawyer Says
In partnership with This story was first published by Arizona Luminaria. The number of international students at Arizona State University who have had their visas revoked is now at least 50, according to an attorney representing the students. Last week, Arizona Luminaria reported on eight students at ASU who had their visas revoked. That number has increased quickly, with at least three students facing some time in immigration detention, according to senior attorney Ami Hutchinson, with Green Evans-Schroeder, the Tucson, Arizona-based law firm representing the students. She said students she's spoken to are confused. 'They're really, really afraid.' 'They still seem to think that someone made a mistake. That it shouldn't have happened and this was just all a misunderstanding,' Hutchinson said. 'They're really, really afraid,' she added. One ASU student remains in detention, and has been locked up for about 10 days, according to Hutchinson. An ASU spokesperson would not confirm the number of students. Hutchinson told Arizona Luminaria she estimates the total number of revoked international student visas across the country to be around 1,000, based on other attorneys and firms working in Arizona and other states. Hutchinson told Arizona Luminaria that ASU is 'being supportive' of the students and has been paying Green Evans-Schroeder for a portion of their consultation fees with the students. ASU did not immediately respond about paying the consultation fees. A spokesperson for the University of Arizona did not comment last week on whether any UA students have had their visas revoked, saying, 'we care deeply about the safety and well-being of our campus community.' Arizona Luminaria reached out again to the media office and directly to UA's president, Suresh Garimella, for comment about possible visa revocations. The offices did not immediately respond. A message March 31 informed UA students: 'Be sure to check your email regularly for updates from U.S. Department of State (DOS). Some messages may include time-sensitive information related to your immigration status, visa compliance requirements, or the impact of any policy changes.' The UA has recommended that all international students carry a copy of their passport, their visas, and proof of their immigration status on them at all times. Notice of the visa revocations has been coming to the students via email, Hutchinson said. That has left students confused and unsure of what to do next. Should they go to class? Should they prepare to leave the country, keep an eye out for federal immigration officers on campus? Students at ASU who have had their visas revoked may still be able to go to classes, but Hutchinson said multiple students were set to graduate this spring and will not be able to obtain their degree. 'They can't do that now, and so it just throws away many years of their studies,' Hutchinson said. Hutchinson laid out other potential options for the students. They can wait and see what happens next, even if that risks possible detention and/or deportation. Or they can file a lawsuit, claiming that the U.S. government didn't follow the proper procedures in canceling their visas. They can also request to have their status reinstated, though Hutchinson said that may not be viable for many of the students given the current political climate. 'The growing number of visa revocations at Arizona universities and across the country is part of the Trump administration's disturbing efforts to silence dissent, target immigrants, and undermine the pillars of a free society,' Noah Schramm, a policy strategist at the ACLU of Arizona, told Arizona Luminaria. 'The ACLU of Arizona unequivocally condemns the targeting of non-citizen students through the abuse of immigration authority and as punishment for protected expression.' Read Our Complete Coverage The student who remains in immigration detention had a known conviction for driving under the influence from years ago, according to Hutchinson. Hutchinson said the student was nearly done with their studies. At this point, they are willing to go home if that means they can get out of detention. According to Hutchinson, the student said they want to leave the country and never come back because they want to go somewhere where they are treated with dignity and respect. Arizona Luminaria reached out to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that issues visas, as well as the State Department, for comment. Luminaria also asked for the students' nationalities and why their visas were revoked. Officials with the federal agencies did not immediately respond. In March, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to 60 colleges and universities 'warning them of potential enforcement actions' if they don't protect Jewish students on campus. Hutchinson said attorneys in Arizona and other states representing students with revoked visas are wondering whether students who protested the war in Gaza, or engaged in other forms of political activity, at these institutions are being targeted. She added that all of the students they've worked with are from India, China, or Muslim-majority countries. Applying for a student visa to study in the United States is a complex process that is both expensive and laborious. Besides paying hundreds of dollars in fees, getting interviewed, and obtaining the visa and booking travel, students must acquire and maintain active status in the 'Student and Exchange Visitor Information System' database, known as SEVIS. A lawsuit filed April 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleges that hundreds of students across the country have had their SEVIS status 'abruptly and unlawfully terminated.' 'Until recently, government policy generally allowed these students to remain in the United States and continue their studies.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement revoked the SEVIS status of several of the ASU students. They were told that was because of their failure to maintain legal status in the country, Hutchinson said. That's because, in a sort of circular logic, the State Department canceled their student visas. A letter developed by Green Evans-Schroeder explaining to students why their visa may have been revoked offers a bit of recent historical context. 'In the past, it has been relatively common for international students who were arrested, charged, or even convicted of minor offenses — typically misdemeanors — to receive notices that their student visas had been revoked,' according to the letter. 'However, until recently, government policy generally allowed these students to remain in the United States and continue their studies until their Form I-20 expired.' Hutchinson said Green Evans-Schroeder and other firms were considering joining or filing lawsuits, as well as possibly filing a class-action suit. The hope is to bring these lawsuits not only saying that the government messed up and 'did not do what they're supposed to do, but also, the underlying basis is bizarre and unlawful,' Hutchinson said.
The Intercept
03-04-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
Eight International Students at ASU Have Had Their Visas Revoked
In partnership with This story was originally published by Arizona Luminaria. Eight international students at Arizona State University have had their visas revoked amid the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts and a crackdown on students expressing their political views. An ASU spokesperson confirmed Wednesday in an email to Arizona Luminaria that the students' visas were revoked recently — in the first two days of April and in late March. Little more is publicly known about who the students are or why their visas were revoked. The ASU spokesperson wouldn't comment on whether any of the students who had their visas revoked have been arrested. 'The only thing we can tell you at this time is that eight out of our 15,100 international students have had their visas revoked. These were not protest related,' the spokesperson wrote. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late last month that more than 300 visas, primarily student visas, have been recently revoked by the State Department. 'No one has a right to a visa. These are things that we decide,' Rubio said. 'We deny visas every day, and we can revoke visas. If you have the power to deny, you have the power to revoke.' The university spokesperson, repeatedly saying they couldn't offer specifics, added that 'none of the eight students I mentioned previously are from Latin American countries.' 'The letters I have seen do not contain any reason for the visa being revoked.' Michael Kintscher, an ASU graduate student and president of United Campus Workers of Arizona, also confirmed that their international classmates are being targeted. 'The letters I have seen do not contain any reason for the visa being revoked,' they said. Arizona Luminaria reached out to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that issues visas, as well as the State Department for comment. The news organization also asked for the students' nationalities and why their visas were revoked. Officials with the federal agencies did not immediately respond. Citing student privacy protections, Mitch Zak, spokesperson for the University of Arizona, would not say whether any UA students have had their visas revoked. 'UA International Student Services and International Faculty/Scholar Services monitor immigration-related developments and provide students and scholars with updates to ensure they are informed and in compliance with federal regulations,' Zak added. The UA has recommended that all international students carry a copy of their passport, their visas, and proof of their immigration status on them at all times. The university also has a list of guidelines and resources about immigration enforcement available on its website. ASU offers similar advice and resources.
