REDLANDS >> A local group of activists “pink slipped” Rep. Pete Aguilar outside the San Bernardino County Medical Society here on Thursday.
The Claremont-based political action group We The People Rising protested outside the building, where Aguilar, D-Rancho Cucamonga, had planned to speak with members of the San Bernardino County Medical Society Political Action Committee and the Legislative Committee.
“We’re very disappointed in the fact that he is a staunch supporter of the Obama immigration plan,” said Robin Hvidston, executive director of We The People Rising. “We’re very disappointed that he is not standing with the lawful American citizens.”
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The group protested Aguilar’s support of President Barack Obama’s executive orders aimed at expanding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and create Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, or DAPA, a new program for parents of American-born children. Aguilar was one of 180
members of Congress to sign an amicus brief in support of the orders.
The We The People Rising “pink slip” represents the group’s firing of Aguilar and call on voters not to re-elect him in 2016.
Aguilar, the former mayor of Redlands, on Tuesday met with Ernesto and Dina Gudino of Redlands, who have lived in the country without documentation for 18 years and have three American-born children. They are eligible for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents under Obama’s executive orders.
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Aguilar met with the family as part of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles’ campaign in which California Democratic congressional representatives meet with families with mixed immigration statuses at their homes to discuss immigration policy.
“The Senate passed a bipartisan bill nearly two years ago, which the House leadership has refused to bring to the floor,” Aguilar said in an emailed statement. “This is about showing compassion and keeping families together, and also bringing hard-working men and women like Ernesto and Dina into the fold of the Inland Empire’s economy. While I realize a difficult road lies ahead, I’m confident that Democrats and Republicans will be able to work together to finally see this through.”
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Hvidston said his group would rather see Aguilar meeting with American citizens in need of assistance.
“We’re highly disappointed to learn that he went to great lengths to hold a public event where he is meeting with people in our country illegally,” Hvidston said. “That promotes federal law breaking to have our Congress members engaging in that type of photo-op.”
The group also protested the meet-and-greet itself for not being open to the public.
Aguilar has been holding ongoing “Coffee with Your Congressman” meetings with constituents.