The 7th annual National Latino Congreso, the first held outside the Southwestern United States, concluded last week in Chicago at the Arturo Velazquez Institute. Over the three days of the convening, elected officials—including US Senator Dick Durbin and US Representative Luis Gutierrez—joined hundreds of Latino leaders and community members in dialog around a collective advocacy agenda ahead of November elections.

With a focus the Latino vote, economic justice, immigration, and migrant rights, delegates at the 2012 National Latino Congreso voted on a collective advocacy agenda for the Latino community, reflective of the array of issues that will determine how Latinos will cast their ballots in November. This collective agenda was set forth in a series of resolutions passed by the Congreso. Resolutions will be shared with both presidential candidates ahead of the 2012 elections.

Highlights of resolutions include:

• A resolution submitted by Frente Unido de Inmigrantes called on the Obama Administration to end the “Secure Communities” program.
• A resolution proposed by Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization (PERRO), called on Congreso members to advocate for a new, legally binding international agreement on the status of “climate refugees.”
• A resolution by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) called on Congreso members to commit themselves to the fight against the construction of more immigration detention facilities, particularly those privately owned.
• The Latino Policy Forum proposed a resolution to increase access and equity for Latinos in state government and leadership positions in Illinois.