Cudahy : Latino Group Receives State Grant for Amnesty Classes

The Bell / Cudahy chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens was awarded $55,000 by the state Department of Education to teach amnesty applicants civics and English, the head of the nonprofit organization announced this week.

LULAC chief Rudy Garcia said his group already has been issued a $25,000 check from Bill Honig, state superintendent of public instruction. The balance is due in the near future, he said.

Earlier this year, Garcia said his application for state money to finance the classes was rejected because of an administrative and filing error. Garcia, who runs classes in the Cudahy Social Services Center, said he had considered canceling the classes because the Latino organization had run out of money.

Garcia’s application for state funds was denied because he missed a deadline for completing the necessary paper work, state officials said.

But after several written pleas by Garcia, education officials have decided to provide the LULAC chapter with grant money to continue offering the classes. Garcia said the state money will allow his group to begin classes at a second location, the new Teresa Hughes Elementary School, 4242 Clara St.

Amnesty applicants must complete 40 hours of civics and English or prove proficiency in a U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service test before they are granted permanent status.