CHICAGO – After the U.S. Supreme Court voted to uphold the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“DACA allows hundreds of thousands of people to access the things they need to provide for their families. The Supreme Court made the right decision by allowing DACA recipients to continue to be protected under the law.

“’DACAmented’ people are hard-working taxpayers who are American in everything but on paper. Now that DACA has been upheld by the Supreme Court, national leaders must take further action to give all undocumented people a permanent path toward citizenship so they can no longer be used as political leverage for immigration debate.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) celebrated a historic election package that expands the state’s vote by mail program for the 2020 General Election.

“Access to the ballot is a fundamental right,” Villanueva said. “Expanding vote by mail will allow voters to participate in our democracy while taking necessary precautions during this public health crisis.”

Read more: Villanueva: Vote by mail needs to be made permanent

CHICAGO – A new cash assistance program will provide financial support to Chicago residents who were excluded from federal stimulus aid, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) announced.

“Federal stimulus packages systematically excluded mixed-status families,” Villanueva said. “This new fund covers those who were left behind and makes sure that everyone, regardless of status, gets the help they need.”

Read more: New fund offers $1,000 to Chicagoans excluded from federal COVID-19 aid

CHICAGO – After the Department of Human Services announced a new program aiming to assist unemployed youth, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) encouraged residents to apply.

“For most of my career I have been dedicated to the development of young people and am continuously amazed at the things that they can accomplish,” Villanueva said. “The Summer Youth Employment Project will help them expand on their work skills and find reliable employment in their community.”

The COVID-19 Summer Youth Employment Project (C-SYEP) seeks to employ 2,200 low-income, minority and at-risk youth living in high poverty communities and counties hardest hit by the pandemic. Participants will be placed into work-based learning, career development or pre-apprenticeship programs to develop marketable job skills. More information on C-SYEP can be found here.