I wonder if it is possible to consolidate these efforts in a single city and examine the effects. Then, perhaps we can develop policies that reach all cities. -Dr. Louie F. Rodriguez
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Cisneros: Nation's future linked to Latino success
2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros said Monday he plans to create a nonprofit that will help integrate newcomers to U.S. society by improving their English and expanding their participation in military service and civic activities.
Cisneros, who served in the Clinton administration, said he hopes to launch the group this year to "proselytize" the significance of immigrants and "the absolutely invaluable role they'll play in the American future."
The group would team up with churches, schools and other nonprofits to offer a "life plan" on how people integrate into American society, he said. The plan would include showing parents how U.S. schools work and how they can help their children advance as well as promoting their responsibility in building the nation's future.
"We've got to get beyond just the basics of legalization and citizenship," Cisneros said.
Leaving 12 million people in the shadows and undocumented "is not what civilized country wants to do when it needs workers," he said.
Latinos make up 15 percent of the U.S. population and will make up a quarter of the population by 2050. Even if the nation's borders were closed, the Latino population in the U.S. is expected to grow because the population's families are younger and larger.
Cisneros said his effort dovetails with President Barack Obama's message of multicultural inclusion. He said he and Obama talked last year about the "aspirational" themes of the Hispanic population — better wages, educational achievement, health care and legalization.
Cisneros and several other high-profile Latinos argue in a new book, "Latinos and the Nation's Future," that the large numbers mean the advancement and global competitiveness of the country depends on the progress of the Latino population.
"Is America going to be populated by a population that is large but poor, undereducated, underproductive, alienated in due course for lack of opportunity?" he asked. "Or is it a going to be populated by a community that is large but has infused with the education and skills so that it is one of the contributors to the energy, the creativity the productivity of this country going forward?"
On the Net:
Arte Publico Press: http://www.arte.uh.edu/
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, September 22, 2008
With struggling economy, I.E. Latinos fear deportation (from San Bernardino Sun)
Story about home...-Dr. Louie F. Rodriguez
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With struggling economy, I.E. Latinos fear deportation
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/21/2008 06:56:36 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO - With U.S. financial markets tanking and the economy reeling, Latino activists fear a repeat of history.
During the Great Depression, one-third of the country's Mexican population was deported or pressured to return home. Many of them were American citizens.
The recession of the early 1950s forced nearly 3 million Mexicans to be sent home as a consequence of "Operation Wetback."
A similar economic and financial meltdown could precipitate another massive deportation and removal program, activists say.
"In times of recession and times of depression, there is an escalation and intensification of anti-immigration politics," said Armando Navarro, coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights. "Immigrants become the scapegoats."
The National Alliance has scheduled a meeting Tuesday at the Villasenor Library to discuss ways to counteract what it sees as a resurgence of nativism.
The meeting also will focus on the progress of local efforts in support of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Several "Viva Obama" clubs recently formed to mobilize Latino voters to back Obama.
The Illinois senator is preferred by many Latinos who favor a path to citizenship for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.
Latino immigrant communities in several states have been hit hard by workplace raids and other enforcement measures that have created a climate of fear and anxiety.
In a well-publicized case, federal immigration agents in May arrested 389 workers during a raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa.
Closer to home, federal agents this month served a search warrant and arrested 51 illegal immigrants at a Palm Springs bakery. Two supervisors also were charged with employing illegal immigrants.
A Pew Hispanic Center survey released last week showed that a growing number of Latinos in the United States are worried about being deported. Fifty-seven percent said they are concerned that they, a relative or close friend may be deported. That's a 4 percent increase over last year, according to the survey.
"They're getting real strict with the law," said Jorge Reyes, a Fontana resident who is vice president of political affairs for the Ontario Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "They are going to the factories and the companies and going after the workers. This is getting really bad for us."
Mel Albiso, who heads a statewide nonprofit that helps Latino students, said there is a correlation between workplace raids and school attendance.
"The immigrant parents will keep their children home because they're fearful of their families being split apart," said Albiso, president of the Association of Mexican-American Educators. "You can't educate children the way you need to when they're scared about having a place to go home to. No group of people should have to live in fear."
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With struggling economy, I.E. Latinos fear deportation
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/21/2008 06:56:36 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO - With U.S. financial markets tanking and the economy reeling, Latino activists fear a repeat of history.
During the Great Depression, one-third of the country's Mexican population was deported or pressured to return home. Many of them were American citizens.
The recession of the early 1950s forced nearly 3 million Mexicans to be sent home as a consequence of "Operation Wetback."
A similar economic and financial meltdown could precipitate another massive deportation and removal program, activists say.
"In times of recession and times of depression, there is an escalation and intensification of anti-immigration politics," said Armando Navarro, coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights. "Immigrants become the scapegoats."
The National Alliance has scheduled a meeting Tuesday at the Villasenor Library to discuss ways to counteract what it sees as a resurgence of nativism.
The meeting also will focus on the progress of local efforts in support of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Several "Viva Obama" clubs recently formed to mobilize Latino voters to back Obama.
The Illinois senator is preferred by many Latinos who favor a path to citizenship for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.
Latino immigrant communities in several states have been hit hard by workplace raids and other enforcement measures that have created a climate of fear and anxiety.
In a well-publicized case, federal immigration agents in May arrested 389 workers during a raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa.
Closer to home, federal agents this month served a search warrant and arrested 51 illegal immigrants at a Palm Springs bakery. Two supervisors also were charged with employing illegal immigrants.
A Pew Hispanic Center survey released last week showed that a growing number of Latinos in the United States are worried about being deported. Fifty-seven percent said they are concerned that they, a relative or close friend may be deported. That's a 4 percent increase over last year, according to the survey.
"They're getting real strict with the law," said Jorge Reyes, a Fontana resident who is vice president of political affairs for the Ontario Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "They are going to the factories and the companies and going after the workers. This is getting really bad for us."
Mel Albiso, who heads a statewide nonprofit that helps Latino students, said there is a correlation between workplace raids and school attendance.
"The immigrant parents will keep their children home because they're fearful of their families being split apart," said Albiso, president of the Association of Mexican-American Educators. "You can't educate children the way you need to when they're scared about having a place to go home to. No group of people should have to live in fear."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Hispanic immigrant college students impacted by court ruling
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Hispanic immigrant college students impacted by court ruling
MALDEF URGES CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF IN-STATE TUITION RULING
AB 540 Still Remains in Effect Pending Final Resolution
Press Release
LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, a California Appellate Court issued a ruling that calls into question the continued validity of California’s AB 540. AB 540 is a California law which provides a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees at California’s public colleges and universities for any student – regardless of immigration status – who has completed three years at a California high school and has attained a high school diploma.
Specifically, the Court of Appeal held that under AB 540 eligibility for in-state tuition is based on residency and therefore violates federal law. The Court so ruled despite the fact that eligibility is based on attending a California high school and receiving a high school diploma, criteria that are unrelated to residency. The case likely will be resolved through an appeal to the California Supreme Court.
“Yesterday’s appellate decision must not close the door to higher education for undocumented immigrant students in California. They are graduates of our public schools and they, and their parents, have paid taxes to the state. California needs them for our future and ignoring their California ties makes us all poorer,” said MALDEF Western Regional Counsel Nancy Ramirez.
AB 540 remains in effect, and will likely continue to remain in effect until there is a final resolution of the case. In the meantime, students who are eligible should continue to receive the tuition waiver. If AB 540 is ultimately overturned, undocumented students who would have been eligible for the AB 540 tuition waiver will still be allowed to attend California public colleges and universities but will be required to pay out-of-state rather than in-state tuition.
The decision is yet another reason for the next President and Congress to fulfill their constitutional authority by enacting comprehensive immigration reform. Many of these students and their parents work in the most dangerous and difficult jobs in our state and country. Their hard work and aspirations for higher education can not be ignored.
“We will continue this fight in the California Supreme Court, if need be. Current AB 540 students, the vast majority of whom are United States citizens, must not be discouraged. Their place in college remains intact,” said Cynthia Valenzuela, MALDEF’s Director of Litigation.
MALDEF sought to intervene at the trial level and filed an amicus brief with the appellate court. MALDEF will work with legislators, state officials, students and the community to permit AB 540 students to remain and pay in-state tuition.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: http://www.maldef.org/.
Hispanic immigrant college students impacted by court ruling
MALDEF URGES CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF IN-STATE TUITION RULING
AB 540 Still Remains in Effect Pending Final Resolution
Press Release
LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, a California Appellate Court issued a ruling that calls into question the continued validity of California’s AB 540. AB 540 is a California law which provides a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees at California’s public colleges and universities for any student – regardless of immigration status – who has completed three years at a California high school and has attained a high school diploma.
Specifically, the Court of Appeal held that under AB 540 eligibility for in-state tuition is based on residency and therefore violates federal law. The Court so ruled despite the fact that eligibility is based on attending a California high school and receiving a high school diploma, criteria that are unrelated to residency. The case likely will be resolved through an appeal to the California Supreme Court.
“Yesterday’s appellate decision must not close the door to higher education for undocumented immigrant students in California. They are graduates of our public schools and they, and their parents, have paid taxes to the state. California needs them for our future and ignoring their California ties makes us all poorer,” said MALDEF Western Regional Counsel Nancy Ramirez.
AB 540 remains in effect, and will likely continue to remain in effect until there is a final resolution of the case. In the meantime, students who are eligible should continue to receive the tuition waiver. If AB 540 is ultimately overturned, undocumented students who would have been eligible for the AB 540 tuition waiver will still be allowed to attend California public colleges and universities but will be required to pay out-of-state rather than in-state tuition.
The decision is yet another reason for the next President and Congress to fulfill their constitutional authority by enacting comprehensive immigration reform. Many of these students and their parents work in the most dangerous and difficult jobs in our state and country. Their hard work and aspirations for higher education can not be ignored.
“We will continue this fight in the California Supreme Court, if need be. Current AB 540 students, the vast majority of whom are United States citizens, must not be discouraged. Their place in college remains intact,” said Cynthia Valenzuela, MALDEF’s Director of Litigation.
MALDEF sought to intervene at the trial level and filed an amicus brief with the appellate court. MALDEF will work with legislators, state officials, students and the community to permit AB 540 students to remain and pay in-state tuition.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: http://www.maldef.org/.
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