News Clips March 9, 2010

Immigrant rights group slam Obama, Democrats for slow action with legalization bill

Leaders of nearly a dozen grass-roots immigrant rights groups excoriated President Obama and congressional Democrats on Monday, accusing them of moving too slowly to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants and citing a record number of deportations in 2009.

“Our community is angry. Our members feel betrayed,” said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “We never believed in our wildest dreams that President Obama would have a record like this.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/08/AR2010030804898.html

Latino Leaders Impatient With Obama After Promises on Immigration

In July 2008, Sen. Barack Obama took time out of his packed presidential campaign schedule to address a crucial block of voters whom he would need in his fight against Sen. John McCain in the November elections.

During his speech to the League of Latin American Citizens, a leading Latino organization, Obama lamented the lack of presidential leadership on immigration reform in 2006, and promised to do better.

“We need a president who isn’t going to walk away from something as important as comprehensive immigration reform when it becomes politically unpopular. That’s the commitment I’m making to you,” he told the group. “I fought with you in the Senate for comprehensive immigration reform. And I will make it a top priority in my first year as president.”

But after Obama’s victorious presidential campaign, in which he won with 67 percent of the Latino vote, immigration advocates say they are still waiting for the results that Obama promised them 18 months ago. And their patience is wearing thin.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/09/latino-leaders-say-obama-has-yet-to-live-up-to-promises-on-immig/

Census Workers Needed In Berks County

READING, Pa. — With only days to go before the Census is set to get underway the government is still scrambling to find workers. So if you need a job this could be your chance.The current pay rate is about $14 an hour, and you get to pick your own schedule. If you can meet a few basic requirements, the job could be yours.For the past few weeks, Gabrielina Polanco has taken to the phones, desperate to find people willing to become numerators – they go door to door helping residents complete the census form. One of the major requirements is that you must live in Berks County.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/22759750/detail.html

‘Dream Act’ y reforma migratoria temas en la mira

TAMPA BAY.- “Este es el momento”. “Hay que actuar”, son algunos de los lemas bajo los cuales planean con fervor las organizaciones que apoyan el proyecto de ‘Dream Act’ y la reforma integral migratoria, enfatizando que llegó el tiempo clave. Sin precedentes. Es perentorio impulsar ambas decisiones de manera que se materialicen unidas y simultáneamente”.

Democracia USA, una organización nacional hispana, y Reform Immigration For America, están invitando a toda la comunidad hispana y anglosajona, que simpatiza con ambas propuestas legislativas, para que asistan al foro informativo sobre las iniciativas de ley de reforma del sistema migratorio.

http://7dias.us/news.php?nid=61277

Census count of Latinos is vital to Tennessee

Tennessee has a bigger financial stake than most of the nation in getting every resident counted, but a growing Latino population could make that tougher in this year’s Census.

The state’s Latino community leaders say they hope Spanish-language radio ads and other outreach efforts will impress upon their audience how much Tennessee depends on Census-related federal funding.A report out today shows the state ranked seventh among states in 2008 in per capita federal funding that is tied to Census figures — $1,976 per person. Tennessee also ranked sixth in the portion of its overall federal funding that is guided by the Census.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100309/NEWS01/3090362/2066/NEWS03

Five things to know about the U.S. Census

1. The Questions
The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in census history, consisting of 10 main questions.

* How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?

* Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010, that you did not include in Question 1? (Possibilities include children, such as newborn babies or foster children, relatives, non-relatives, such as roommates or live-in babysitters, people staying temporarily).

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x2102347413/Five-things-to-know-about-the-U-S-Census

CENTRAL JERSEY: Census stresses importance of being counted

If you are not counted in the 2010 Census next month, you won’t count — and that could lead to less federal money flowing into New Jersey as well as the loss of political representation at the federal or state level.

That’s the message delivered to about two dozen people who turned recently to listen speakers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the state Labor Department and the Latino Merchants Association of Mercer County.

”Our quest is to get people to fully participate and to count everyone one time where they live,” said Jennifer Jones of the U.S. Census Bureau.

She was one of the speakers at the session, which was sponsored by the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Everyone will be counted where they spend the majority of their time, Ms. Jones said. College students who live on campus will be counted in that community, for example. Prisoners are counted in the community where the prison is located, and the homeless are counted in the transitional housing facility where they live.
Ms. Jones emphasized that whether someone is here legally or illegally, that person will be counted. The information that is gathered is confidential and may not be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the police or any other governmental entity, she said. The Census Bureau “is not interested” in deporting people, she added.

http://centraljersey.com/articles/2010/03/08/topstory/doc4b958221ca017688481647.txt

2010 Census: Think Twice, Check Once

The federal government is taking a road trip, dubbed the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour, to try to convince “hard-to-count audiences” to participate in this year’s dicennial Census. One of those particularly hard-to-count groups are those who identify as racially mixed. Many will choose to take advantage of the “mark one or more races” (MOOM) option made first available on the 2000 Census. Race scholars have been hotly debating the significance of this paradigm shift, asking: just what are the Civil Rights consequences of the Census option of “mark one or more races”?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-elam/2010-census-think-twice-c_b_490164.html

War story: Ireland’s Chieftains unite Latino, U.S. musicians to retell tale of Irish fighting for Mexico

LOS ANGELES – HISTORY, it’s often been observed, is written by victors, which might explain why an especially compelling chapter of the Mexican-American War remains so infrequently told, at least in the United States.

The chapter in question is about the San Patricios, a company of Irish immigrants pressed into service by the U.S. Army. Ideologically opposed to the fight, they switched sides, choosing to stand alongside the Mexican military rather than the forces of their newly adopted homeland.

When the conflict ended, the members of the battalion were executed for their desertion. Their deeds were largely forgotten, except among the people of the Churubusco region outside Mexico City who maintain a memorial to the San Patricios.

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20100309_War_story__Ireland_s_Chieftains_unite_Latino__U_S__musicians_to_retell_tale_of_Irish_fighting_for_Mexico.html

Kidnapped, smuggled and worse

A Mexican mother wanted only a better life for her daughter, 4, but the trip north took a terrible turn.

The smuggler threatened to kill 4-year-old Nayli if he didn’t receive $11,500 from her parents — immediately.

He had sneaked the girl across the Mexican border nearly a month earlier and now was holding her for ransom somewhere near Los Angeles.

“Mommy, I don’t want to be here anymore,” Nayli said through tears when the smuggler put her on the phone.

Her mother, Yaneth, could hear terror in her daughter’s voice. “OK, mija, I am coming,” she answered in Spanish before the smuggler hung up. Yaneth was desperate. She had hired the coyote but now he was demanding more than she’d agreed to pay. She didn’t have enough money. And she was still in Mexico, after border agents caught her as she was trying to cross into the U.S.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/08/local/la-me-smuggle9-2010mar09

American Dream Deferred?

Watching the recent video about a young lady named Nancy, who has been an excellent student throughout her life, but has been limited by her legal status; I could not help but think about my own life and those around me who are equally affected.  Nancy is a great student who has been accepted to Harvard, but is unable to attend because she is not a citizen of this country.  When the video was over I thought to myself, “Options, I can’t help but think about all my options in life.  Do I want to go to college? What will I major in?”  It is a tremendous and wonderful feeling to have options and know that no matter what my choice is I have the opportunity to make it come true.  “It truly is wonderful, America, the land of opportunity” a friend once told me.  She then said to me, “I’m really happy for you and glad that you have those opportunities.”  Then it struck me:  here was an individual who had exceeded expectations and had realized potential within herself that she never dreamed of, all because she was granted the opportunity to reside in the United States of America, where she was able to attend school and receive a good education.  Then she graduated high school and all those opportunities were gone.  Gone because she is not a citizen of the United States of America.

It breaks my heart to know that a young woman full of life and potential does not have the same options that I have before me, when deep down in my heart I know that she is much more than deserving.

Susana

Two days have passed since 18 State Senators of Colorado voted against SB 170 the Tuition Equity Bill. Two days have passed since 18 Men and Women denied higher education to graduating high school students from: Ethiopia, Kenya, China, Cambodia, Mexico, Guatemala, and the many other nations in which Men and Women are Seeking a better life for their children.

On the second day I met “Susana” at a meeting of supporters of SB 170. “Susana” happened to be one of the many high school students present as their State Senate decided whether they’ll be able to afford in state college tuition or not. As we went around the room to describe how we feel after the defeat of SB 170 “Susana” described how she felt in one word: Hurting…

Later on in the meeting “Susana” raised her hand and said: “Earlier I described how I felt as hurting because I was there, in the Senate Chamber, listening to what the State Senators were saying when they were not behind the microphone. I have never felt so dehumanized, worthless, or ashamed as I did listening to what our elected officials were saying about us… [pause] I vow not to ever feel that way again. From this point forward I dedicate myself to a life in politics because as a POLITICIAN they will never make me feel that way again.”

At the end of the second day we began to heal and remember the life and organizing of Cesar Chavez who say every defeat as an incremental victory. We reflect back to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who fought for equality, went to jail for equality, and murdered for believing in equality not because it is simply morally right but because it was an inalienable right. We reflect back at the 30 years the Nelson Mandela spent behind bars as he brought an end to apartheid. Today is day three and we are ready to fight again on the long path to victory.

Thank you “Susana.”

-Isaac Medrano

Democracia Ahora Colorado State Director

“What part of illegal don’t you understand?”

Last Sunday, a reporter with The Arizona Republic published an article confronting all those who pose the question “what part of illegal don’t you understand,” which is frequently asked of him via comments in response to his publications.  Having publicly supported the Dream Act in previous articles, E. J. Montini finally reached his limit on ignorance when he decided to answer this question.  Indeed, he provided four answers.  Below is a summation of what he stated.

 

1.      He doesn’t understand how it is illegal to grant someone, who has lived here since infancy and graduated with honors from high school, the ability to pursue higher education.  This is particularly true, considering we often times recruit people from other countries!

2.      He doesn’t understand why politicians almost never listen to experienced educators, who can prove the benefits of allowing brilliant immigrant youth to continue their studies.

3.      He doesn’t understand how the term illegal applies to children that moved here involuntarily too early in their lives, when in fact we spend an average of $70,000 in providing education for these children from kindergarten through high school.

4.      He doesn’t understand how using such a term as illegal is fair – when it applies to both true criminals and over-achieving, dedicated students. 

 

As a community, we should all commend Montini for his honesty and accuracy!

– Marianne Peterson

“You too can go to college”

The greatest gift parents can give their children is an education. We as Chicanos, Latinos, Hispanos, and Americans have seen our children encounter obstacles in their educational pursuits from PROP 187 in California, Question #2 in Massachusetts, to Arizona’s Prop 203 just to name a few. In 2006 LAUSD had a graduation rate for Latinos of 44% compared to non-minority students with a 77% graduation rate.

Federal law mandates that all children including the undocumented receive a K-12 education only to have their hopes and aspirations taken away when they cannot qualify for in state tuition. In Colorado, HB 1023 precludes undocumented immigrant high school graduates from qualifying for in state tuition even if they have lived in Colorado since they were 2 years old. Does it come as any surprise that undocumented students are ten times less likely to attend college than their peers and often drop out of high school because they see no hope of furthering their education?

Is there a solution?

The answer is yes in 10 states including California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington have passed tuition equity laws granting undocumented high school graduates in state college tuition.

 

Who really benefits from tuition equity?

 

America does, your state does, and your city does. Your neighborhoods receive the benefits from tuition equity. “Individuals who do not complete high school are over 25 percent more likely to need public assistance such as welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, or subsidized lunches for their children compared to individuals who attend or graduate from college.”

 

“States with a large percentage of college educated residents have higher productivity, and are more likely to attract high-growth industries including biomedical, software and new energy economy companies.” In fact you could even call this a long term economic stimulus package that does not cost a dime. Quite the contrary without tuition equity we are single handedly cutting revenues from state colleges and universities by excluding eager minds that desire a college education because they cannot afford out of state tuition.

 

 

What’s next?

 

I am glad you asked. Currently, at least 2 other states Colorado, SB 170, and Virginia, SB 1037, legislation have been introduced to extend the benefits of in state tuition for all high school graduates regardless of legal status! However, introducing bills is not enough we must rally around and talk to our neighbors, small business owners, educators, clergy, and most importantly your elected officials. We cannot continue to wait. This is our moment. This is the time to DREAM. This is the time to ACT.

 

Isaac R. Medrano<br>Pueblo, CO

 

 

Is the Dream Act just a dream?

Countless times we see bills enter Congress floor for discussion, and countless times we see them pushed away, despite their best intentions.  Welcome to the case of the Dream Act.  For those of you who are new to the political process, let me breakdown the usual painful process of what happens when a bill is perceived by those on the Hill as too progressive or just simply not safe enough. 

 

1.       Translate a solution to a plaguing social problem into a bill:  check. 

2.       Bring the bill to Congress floor for negotiation:  check. 

3.       Spend months (or years) tearing it apart:  check. 

4.       Reject the bill due to its controversial nature:  check.

5.       Water it down, attach it to another more Congress-friendly bill or both:  check.

 

Does it pass, then?  Not often enough, and those bills that do pass are many times not as inclusive and as constructive as its original version.  Is this fair and just politics, especially when it concerns the futures and livelihoods of undocumented immigrant youth that have spent a majority of their lives investing on their education?  I suppose it would depend on who you are asking this question.  If it’s one of the 65,000 18-year old students that would benefit from such a bill each year, I think it’s safe to assume that the answer is no.

 

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the Dream Act, is a bi-partisan legislation that was first introduced in 2001.  It was created to address the issues pertaining to young people that came to the United States involuntarily at a very young age and are now being denied access to higher education as a result of their legal status.  Between 2001 and 2006, it was introduced time and time again to both the House and Senate, with the same disappointing rejection each time. 

 

Then, with the continued support of Richard Durbin (D-IL) and other Congress members, the Dream Act once more tried its turn on the floor of Congress.  This time, it came in the form of an amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006.  The growing momentum and advocacy for this issue in Washington was finally reaching its peak and the bill had passed the Senate.  Just when it seemed like victory was around the corner, the House leadership failed to bring up the bill for vote.  Now, with the comprehensive immigration reform slowly being drowned out, the Dream Act has yet again fallen through the cracks of legislation.  Perhaps with the new administration will come new hope.

 

So, to answer my title of whether the Dream Act is just a dream, I can only aspire that it’s not – for the sake of undocumented Latino and other minority children.

 

 

– Marianne Peterson

Great News About the Dream Act

After 656,991 votes for 7,847 ideas, today Change.org (a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are deciding the top 10 ideas for how they think the Obama administration should change America) presented the top 10 ideas for change in America  and one of the TOP TEN IDEAS- out of 7,847 ideas- was to pass the DREAM Act.  For those who don’t know: 

The federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), is a bipartisan legislation that would permit these students conditional legal status and eventual citizenship granted that they meet ALL the following requirements:

–if they were brought to the United States before they turned 16, are below the age of 30,

–have lived here continuously for five years,

–graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED

–have good moral character with no criminal record and

–attend college or enlist in the military.

For me, personally, this is a very big issue.  I grew up and went to public school in Union City, NJ.  Union City is the most densely populated city in the country, and according to The Brookings Institution, one of the top 100 most economically depressed communities in America.  It’s also a huge Latino immigrant community.  Long story short, several of my friends growing up did not come here legally – but they are kind, brilliant, hard working people who didn’t make the decisions that brought them to the US without papers.  Most of them got by – until college, when the lack of a social security number made securing financial aid impossible.   The DREAM Act would change that

For all of us, this is a huge victory.  Yes, the administration still needs to make this issue a priority, and some top ten list is no guarantee of success.  BUT – it’s a sign that we’re organized and we know how to mobilize.  More than that – we’re involved in our democracy – and that’s what Democracia-USA is all about.  

-Alicia Menendez