Heroes’ Farewell For Cuevas Family: Communities Continue Struggle

(San Francisco) The Cuevas family of Fremont, California, a Filipino family who brought national
attention to the plight of undocumented immigrant families, leaves this evening, JUNE 30, WEDNESDAY, for
the Philippines from the San Francisco International Airport. The family leaves California, their home of
nineteen years. The Support Committee for the Cuevas Family, members of the Filipino immigrant community
and immigrants’ rights advocates will prepare a “heroes’ send-off” for the Cuevas family at 6:00 pm
TODAY in the SF International Airport in front of the Philippine Airlines front desk.

Braving shame in an immigrant community that values privacy and family honor, the Cuevas family came
forward with their story in January and brought a human face to those who struggle with immigration laws
complicated by the paranoid tenor of the times due to the War on Terror. While more than 3,000 individuals
and 200 organizations signed a petition in support of the Cuevas family, California lawmakers were not moved
by the groundswell of support. Democrat Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer refused to introduce
private legislation that would have allowed the family to stay and process their papers as residents. The
Cuevas family’s departure follows the increased round-ups of immigrants across California by Immigrations
and Customs Enforcement(ICE) this month.

But even as lawmakers turn a deaf ear and fail to protect their constituents, the Cuevas campaign has
given hope to other families. According to the Support Committee for the Cuevas Family, more undocumented
Filipino families have stepped forward to ask for assistance with legalizing their status after decades
of working in the country and raising their families.

Despite their departure, many view the Cuevas case as
a victory for immigrant communities. Immigrants’
rights organizations are currently preparing a
national campaign to stop deportations and to change
current immigration laws that penalizes rather than
protect immigrant families.

Speakers include:
- Cuevas Family Support Committee members and organizations
- representatives from the Labor and Immigrant Rights community
- a letter from Dolores Huerta and the Dolores Huerta Foundation
- representatives from various immigrant communities and organizations in the SF Bay Area