Immigrants are major part of memorial day

"As of last year," says Saif Kahn, an immigrant from India, who joined the Virginia Army National Guard in the year 2000, "about 29,000 people serving in our military did not have U.S. citizenship."

Kahn served as a combat engineer in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005. In this article, he worries about the soldiers who are serving to obtain citizenship, and their families left behind.

Another proof of our current immigration law injustice: immigrants cannot work legally in this country but can pay taxes; immigrants can fight for this country but do not have the right to obtain citizenship until -maybe- it is too late.

Why the immigration debate has come to a stall, when at least 60% of Latinos voted Obama for office? Promises were done in the midst of the election excitement. However, once again, the immigration reform is left for last. How do you think organized immigration leaders should show their active disagreement?

Latin America Dictatorships Meet Justice, Decades On

A series of articles under this optimistic heading in IPS news brings a panorama of the attempts to make justice in different Latin American countries and Spain. From the conviction of several Argentinean military officers in the “chain of command" to the prosecution of Judge Garzón in Spain to the acquittal of two soldiers and a police officer accused of the disappearance of Peruvian peasant, these articles tell us that we are not yet where we should be regarding human rights.

Starting with the Franco era and following with thirteen military dictatorships in the 60s and 70s in Latin American countries, only a few of these countries have dug dip into the horrors of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing millions. A great update of what is happening on these issues on both sides of the Atlantic, and a question to be asked: What is stopping democratic leaders in Latin America from prosecuting and convicting these cases?

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 to Push Immigration Bill as One Priority

Finally the national debate about immigration will start, according to this article published today on the online version of the New York Times.

Latino immigrants supported President Obama with over 60% of their vote, which in time meant high pressure for the promises made during the campaign about discussing immigration.

Is Obama going to come forward with his promises? And if so, what are the conditions that his proposal will include to legalize 12 million undocumented immigrants? Will he follow the "Bush road" of "pay to play"?

State’s Crackdown on Immigrants Fuels Hispanic Media Growth

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news

Do you think the media should be the government agencies' watchdog? Read this article about North Carolina ethnic media. When the nation's immigrants are getting ready to march next May 1st, what is the role of media in this national debate?

"Most Spanish-language publications in the area have a specific section dedicated to immigration coverage. Radio stations such as La Tremenda La Raza in Charlotte broadcast daily talk shows that cover the latest developments on the immigration debate."

Hispanics and the Criminal Justice System

This new report by Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, and Gretchen Livingston, Senior Researcher, Pew Hispanic Center is based on two different studies the Center conducted nationwide.

Not surprinsingly, Hispanics show less confidence in police effectiveness than whites and close to what Blacks believe. I say it does not come as a surprise when the "correctional" system is mainly crowded with Blacks and Hispanics.

Also read the interesting study about prisons in the US on the same page:
Pew Center on the States, "One in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections," March 2, 2009.

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.

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.

The Closing of the American Border

New America Media, Q&A with Edward Alden, Sandip Roy, Posted: Oct 12, 2008

The fight against illegal immigration began the very night of 9/11, according to Edward Allen, author of "The Closing of the American Border." In this interview, Allen comments on the different positions in the Department of Justice and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at the time, and the historical words of President George W. Bush. Read on to the end, because after comments are juicy.

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."

Fear follows largest workplace raid in U.S. history

Outrageous! At the Mississippi immigration raids, government officers are quickly turning into SS best practices, signaling undocumented immigrants in the Jewish persecution’s fashion.

"...she was fitted with a bracelet and told to appear in federal court next month."

What else is coming? Read about the consequences the raids are having on immigrant working families, their children, their towns and their employers.

Sign the Pledge!
In the face of immigration turmoil, this pledge shows that compassion, dignity and solidarity still abound in this country.

Hundreds of Workers Held in Immigration Raid

Great concern in the Latino community is caused by the repeated raids that ICE, the immigration enforcement branch, is conducting in different states. It seems that President Bush's government not only wants to leave a legacy of a senseless war, a devastated economy and a declining international role of the United States but also is willing to attack the core values of this country by separating families, generating internal terror and hurting means of employment of thousands of hard working immigrants. Read on this chilling article about late procedures in Laurel, Miss. where hundreds of families were left without their bread winners.

Immigrant Crackdown May Spur Disease

On August 19, 2008, the Chicago Sun-Times reported the growing concern of doctors over illegal immigrants creating a public health threat. The concern is related to a case in Alamance County, NC, where medical records may have been used to prosecute a library worker who was in the country illegally. Consequently, now also her family is under deportation procedures. Read about the concern related to this case the president of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians expressed, that could extend to the community at large.

Cuarenta años para no olvidar y no repetir

El Universal de México, en su edición digital, conmemora el 40º aniversario de la masacre estudiantil conocida como la Matanza de Tlatelolco. Fotos, testimonios y artículos para no olvidar y no repetir. El Universal solicita a los lectores que vivieron el hecho que compartan sus experiencias.

Minutemen Launch National Campaign in San Francisco

Read and watch this incredible video of the Minutemen activities now creeping up to additional cities. Excellent report from New America Media, the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations.