Nevada center stage at DNC Hispanic Caucus meeting

By Megan Messerly

Monday, July 25, 2016 | 10:22 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA — Nevada took center stage at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Hispanic Caucus this morning, where panelists touched on a host of issues from immigration reform to workers’ rights.

The panel was moderated by Artie Blanco, a DNC member from Nevada, and featured Rudy Zamora, an immigrant who is serving as a convention page for Nevada.

Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, immigration attorney David Leopold and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia also spoke on the panel.

Zamora, a Dreamer, talked about how the Supreme Court’s failure to reach a decision in a lawsuit over President Barack Obama’s executive orders was a significant blow to him and his family.

His mother would have qualified for deferred action under the executive order, but because the court failed to reach a decision, the lower court’s ruling striking down the orders stands.

Zamora said elected officials not only need to champion immigration reform but other issues like the environment.

“All our issues intersect with each other,” Zamora said. “We need to work across the board.”

Blanco stressed the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ballot, going after Congress — and specifically highlighting Republican Rep. Joe Heck from Nevada, who is running for Sen. Harry Reid’s seat against Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto — for accomplishing nothing on immigration reform.

“The leadership of Congress has not done its job,” Blanco said.

She also talked about how fighting for worker rights is important for everyone who is working in the country, regardless of their immigration status.

“There are labor laws in this country that cover every human being that works in this country,” Blanco said.

Andres Ramirez, a Democratic political consultant from Nevada and vice chair on the DNC’s Hispanic Caucus, presided over the morning’s meeting.