How would you like to be a part of the largest Latino Conference ever to take place in Cincinnati, support the Latino community – and attend for FREE?

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) www.lulacohio.orgis bringing their National Conference to Cincinnati June 27 – July 2.

The conference attendance is expected to be 20,000 including top government, business, labor and community leaders. The conference will include:

• Career Fair – 3 day event with over 250 top companies in attendance  
• LULAC Expo – showcasing products and services of major corporations  
• College Fair  
• Health Fair  
• Youth Conference  
• Young Adult Conference  
• Federal Training Institute  
• Many Seminars on subjects important to the Latino community

Volunteers are needed to work in all areas of the conference. However, to assure a match with your skills, you might want to consider volunteering for Protocol or the Press Room.Following are the benefits awarded for volunteer service: 

• 5 hours : Parking, voucher for a sandwich/drink, Access to the professional development seminars and career expo
• 10+ hours: all of the above plus a ticket to the Thursday Concert (Concierto de la Gente)
• 20+ hours: all of the above plus 1 ticket to attend a luncheon of their choice
• 30+ hours: all of the above plus 1 ticket to attend a dinner event

If you would like to participate, a link is provided below for Volunteer Registration. Questions, please contact: ag.lulac@gmail.comTo volunteer: www.lulaccincinnati.com

Note that there is a Special Registration Sheet for Protocol.

Cincinnati, OH — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Cincinnati calls for the release of Bernard Pastor. LULAC will take part in a prayer vigil outside Reading High School on Saturday December 4, 2010.

Bernard Pastor, 18, was brought to the United States by his parents at the age of 3. His family left Guatemala to seek religious and political freedom. Throughout his life in the United States, Bernard became a model student and citizen. He graduated in the Top 5 of his class, and is an avid volunteer in both his church and his community. Bernard’s father is a pastor and Bernard envisions his own life in the service of God and the community.

Bernard was detained for a minor traffic accident and because of his inability to produce a driver’s license; he was reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is currently in the Morrow County Jail in Mt. Gilead, pending a deportation order. Bernard speaks English as a first language. He has never been back to Guatemala and does not know anybody there, as this is a country entirely foreign to him.

Bernard Pastor exemplifies what thousands of young undocumented immigrants face in the United States every single day. This is the time to stand up for our future of young people. This is the time to urge ICE to free Bernard. LULAC is committed to this goal.

Please join LULAC Cincinnati, Cincinnati Faith and Justice, Cincinnati Interfaith Workers’ Center, and other community members to rally for Bernard Pastor and pave the way towards a prominent future for this outstanding young American.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, December 5th

WHERE: Reading High School: 1600 West Street, Lectura, OH

WHO: League of United Latin American Citizens, Reading High School classmates of Bernard Pastor and all members of the community.

LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) warns immigrants in the United States applying for Diversity (Lottery) Visas to be aware of immigration scams.  Every year thousands of applicants, and their spouses and children, are able to enter the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident because they were selected as a recipient of a Diversity Visa.  The Diversity Visa is also commonly referred to as the Lottery Visa.  However, most immigrants that are already in the United States do not qualify to receive permanent residency status even if their Diversity Visa application is selected by USCIS because they do not have current and continual lawful immigration status.  Moreover, a person risks being placed in deportation proceedings when their Permanent Residency case is denied, even if they were selected for a Diversity Visa.

Every year thousands of immigrants are scammed by individuals, notary publics and organizations who charge service fees for filing a Diversity Visa application despite the fact that the applicant would not be awarded the Diversity Permanent Residency Visa because they do not have lawful immigration status or have been employed without valid work authorization.  The service fee is collected from the immigrant applicant with no explanation of immigration laws and no explanation of the ramifications of filing an application.

If you believe that you are in the small group of people who qualify to receive a Diversity Permanent Residency Visa despite the fact that you do not have lawful immigration status, LULAC encourages you to speak to a qualified Immigration Attorney to confirm your eligibility.  LULAC also encourages family members that reside abroad in qualifying countries, and have never violated U.S. immigration laws, to petition for the Diversity Visa.

Representation

It is not required that you have an attorney or a representative to apply for the Diversity Visa.  However, it is in your best interest to speak to a qualified Immigration Attorney before you file for a Diversity Visa or any immigration application.  If you choose to have a representative when filing an application or petition with USCIS, you may be represented by an attorney or an accredited representative of a recognized organization.  Your representative must file a “Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative” form (Form G-28) with your application.

USCIS Forms & Fees

All USCIS forms are available at no charge on www.uscis.gov/forms or by calling the USCIS Forms hotline at (800) 870-3676.

Helpful Tips

The following tips will help you to avoid becoming a victim of an immigration scam:

• DO NOT sign any blank papers or documents that you do not understand
• DO NOT sign any documents that contain false or inaccurate information
• DO NOT let anyone keep your original documents
• DO NOT pay more than a nominal fee to someone who is not an attorney or make payments on the internet
• DO speak to an attorney to ensure that you qualify for an immigration benefit prior to filing any application
• DO make photocopies of all documents prepared or submitted for you
• DO get a receipt any time you pay someone to assist you in completing or submitting forms
• DO verify that your attorney is licensed or your representative is accredited by BIA

Marilyn Zayas-Davis, Esq.,

LULAC Ohio Legal Advisor

513-621-4224

Cincinnati--The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Ohio calls for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to implement a policy regarding the validity of Puerto Rican Birth Certificates that parallels that of the USCIS (United States Immigration and Naturalization Services) and the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rican.  The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is refusing to issue driver’s licenses and other rights to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico because the certified copy of their birth certificate was issued prior to July 1, 2010.  As a consequence, the Ohio BMV’s current policy is placing an unwarranted burden upon U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico. 

After September 30, 2010, all certified copies of birth certificates reporting births in Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010, will not by accepted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  In the interim, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles should continue to accept all certified copies of Puerto Rican birth certificates as they are considered legally valid.  Under the current policy of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Ohio is unconstitutionally providing fewer rights than that given under Federal Laws.