They recognize new chaplains and immigrant work

On Saturday, December 4, I was invited to the Graduation Ceremony for Five Counselors-Chaplains, held in the hall of the Church of Scientology in Southern California. The event was chaired by Dr. Guillermo Ahumada, who is the head of professional South American chaplains in California.

One by one, the graduates were called, and they all went on stage, where they were applauded: Ana Lilia Toutila and Ana Maria Casas, residents of Orange County; Angelica Ramirez from Los Angeles and Juan Carlos Molina from Valdivia, Chile, and Alejandro Heraldez from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

Immediately afterwards, the event was livened up by the music of charro singer Ramon Rivera.

After the appointment ceremony for the new chaplains and a musical performance, to the surprise of all present, the Chief Bishop of the Professional Chaplains of America, Dr. Guillermo Aumada, announced that recognition would be given to Counselor Kevin De Leon, Representative of the 14th District of Los Angeles, for his work on behalf of the workers, immigrants, women and children in southern California.

When De Leon was asked to come in to get his confession, questions hung in the air as to why the confession would be given to Kevin De Leon and not another politician, given the situation on the Los Angeles City Council, and the answer seemed obvious: “De Leon has always been a friend of society,” some said.

It was recalled that the council member was instrumental in allowing undocumented people to get driver’s licenses in California, and that he promoted a bill that made the state the first haven for undocumented people, given that the state is home to about two million undocumented immigrants. permanent status.

It was also mentioned that De Leon sponsored a state bill that would allow undocumented entrepreneurs to register and operate a business in the state; while as President of the Senate, the current councilor promoted legislation that allows employers who do not have savings or retirement plans for their employees to have access to them, so that thousands of Californians now have the ability to contribute to their own retirement plan.

Since becoming a member of the Los Angeles Council, De Leon has provided more housing for the homeless than in any other area of ​​the city.

It has been emphasized that De Leon’s work is not new to the public, as in 1994 he, along with hundreds of thousands of Californians, opposed the racist Proposition 187; in 1996 he went to the capital of the country with immigrants to demand fair immigration reform; and recently he has been involved in numerous mobilizations demanding immigration reform with citizenship for more than 11 million workers.

That is why, sisters and brothers, on Saturday, December 4, I joined the members of the Professional Chaplains of America in paying tribute to Council Member De Leon.

After handing him a plaque reading “For his dedication and service to the community,” Bishop Ahumada asked the councilor to say a few words to those present.

“In a world of so much suffering, hostility and judgment, our community of America’s professional chaplains offers guidance and support to provide the comfort and forgiveness needed to heal in times of pain and grief. That is why I am honored to be recognized by you bishops for supporting those in need.”

Remembering all that the Migrant Advisor had done, he felt it was time to speed up the rehabilitation in the community of our colleague, friend and brother Kevin De Leon. A man of his political authority does not deserve to end up vilely condemned for ending his political career and exposed as something he is not, never was, and never will be: a vile racist. I say this deliberately, as I have known De Leon for 35 years, when he was only 21 years old.

Juan José Gutierrez is Executive Director of the Immigrants’ Full Rights Coalition.