Omaha, Nebraska – March 26, 2015 – Recently, hundreds of UFCW International staff and activists met in Omaha for outreach training sessions to help members in applying for a new immigration program that would protect undocumented workers and their American-born children against unjust deportation, and provide the family members the legal right to work.

The immigration program is called the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program, and it could impact as many as 4.4 million undocumented workers and their children.

The UFCW fought and lobbied hard to make the DAPA program a reality. Now locals are making sure members will be at the front of the line for applications by hosting workshops over the coming weeks to help members prepare to apply.

The Omaha training sessions were the first phase of the outreach program to assist members. The second phase, which will take place at the local union level, will assist members to determine their eligibility for DAPA, and gather and review key documents. The final phase of the program will help eligible members prepare and submit their application.

 “The program is unlike anything in the labor movement,” says UFCW Executive Vice President and Director of the Civil Rights and Community Action Department Esther López. “We are uniquely positioned to transform the lives of our members and their families with this work,” she said.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone called the UFCW’s work on immigration “the most important thing we will do over the next decade.”

“Our union movement will be stronger if we truly empower our immigrant members with programs like this,” said Brother Perrone.

The DAPA application process could open as early as May 2015.