Desert Deaths Soar, a Morgue Grows Crowded

Rights, Not Raids

By Bill Ong Hing & David Bacon
This article with original date on April 29, 2009, appeared in the May 18, 2009 edition of The Nation.


For more than two decades, the authors say, undocumented workers have been accused and hunted like criminals, just for the simple reason of trying to hold a job in the United States.

Would President Obama carry on the campaign promises of Immigration Reform? Read on how these "enforcement" policies have destroyed the lives of many workers and their families, and how international leaders see the situation from another perspective.

Obama Flinches on Immigration

This editorial published on the New York Times on March 24th reports the withdrawal of the Obama's administration offer to Thomas Saenz, "a highly regarded civil-rights lawyer and counsel to the mayor of Los Angeles, to run the Justice Department’s civil rights division."

Although it might have been a missed opportunity to set some record about the Obama's administration intentions regarding immigration, it seems that a more moderate route was preferred by nominating Thomas Perez, Labor Secretary from Maryland. The decision, according to the article, was caused by pressure from the right-wing anti-immigrant groups. However, I wonder how much the decision was influenced by the Mexican border situation and Thomas relationship with controversial Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. And the main question: Does Obama need to start yet another fire?

A Slippery Place in the U.S. Work Force

This article by Julia Preston published by the New York Times on March 21st describes the unsettling situation of undocumented immigrants due to the economic crisis and the continuing immigration raids in different parts of the country. Read how they are coping with the difficulties and how people react to the situation.

U.S. Hispanic Population Surpasses 45 Million
Now 15 Percent of Total

RELEASED: THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
The nation’s Hispanic population increased 1.4 million to reach 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million.

Hispanics remained the largest minority group, with blacks (single race or multiracial) second at 40.7 million in 2007. The black population exceeded 500,000 in 20 states. Blacks were the largest minority group in 24 states, compared with 20 states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group.

US immigrant groups to march a day after Obama takes over

On January 21 immigrants plan a march in Washington to ask for reforms and for an end to the raids at workplaces that have seen illegal immigrants arrested and deported. Read how immigrants will remind Obama of one of the policy planks he plugged on the campaign stump as he wooed the Hispanic vote.

Spanish-Language Media Decries Long Island Hate Crime

New America Media Editor introduced this article: "The stabbing death of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorean immigrant in Long Island, has triggered intense nation wide coverage from Spanish-language media. NAM Contributing editor Marcelo Ballvé is based in New York." Read how government policies against immigrants have contributed to foster anti-immigrant sentiments.

2008 National Survey of Latinos: Hispanics See Their Situation in U.S. Deteriorating; Oppose Key Immigration Enforcement Measures


Not surprising, Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center, and Susan Minushkin, Deputy Director, Pew Hispanic Center report "the increasingly downbeat assessments [that] come at a time when the Hispanic community in this country--numbering approximately 46 million, or 15.4% of the total U.S. civilian non-institutional population--has been hit hard by rising unemployment (Kochhar 2008) and stepped-up immigration enforcement." Find out how Latinos are being affected by the Bush administration's avalanche of senseless persecution and harassment to hard-working families.

For Latino Delegates and Leaders, "Ya Basta!"

In the verge of presidential elections, the Republican administration, apparently oblivious to its political consequences, continues to conduct expanding raids and deportations that are separating hard-working families and terrorizing whole communities. Latino elected officials, community leaders, and members of the faith and business community joined efforts to stop these actions.

"Please Deport Me Plan" Fails First Day

"Nazi" oriented strategies continue to plague the action of government agencies against undocumented immigrants. Lately, they have introduced "a plan so absurd, even its die-hard fans are stumped."