Saturday, July 28, 2012

Act now to protect the U.S. Refugee Program! Urge Congress to Save Funding for Refugees   
Take Action!

from HIAS

Last week, a House subcommittee approved a proposal that would drastically cut funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for fiscal year 2013.  The proposed cuts would have an unprecedented negative impact, significantly reducing services and programs that assist refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable populations.

But you can help us maintain a strong refugee resettlement program - ACT NOW by telling Congress not to cut funding for refugees!

Immigrant Gardener Helps More than 100 Latinos Go to College

A great story about a man who knows what it is to struggle and has helped more than 100 with his experiences and money.   - - Donna Poisl

from latino.foxnews.com

Los Angeles –  Mexican immigrant Catalino Tapia was a very young man when he came to California and started a gardening service, and then, aware of the importance of learning, founded an organization to help the children of other gardeners get a college education.

"I crossed the border in 1964 when I was 20, having only studied up to the 6th grade, without knowing anyone and with $6 in my pocket," Tapia said in an interview with Efe.
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New York to protect illegal immigrants from fraudsters

Fake lawyers are cheating immigrants who want to get into the new plan that allows them to stay here if they came as children.  - - Donna Poisl

from Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state has launched an initiative aimed at protecting illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, helping them hire lawyers and avoid fraudsters peddling dishonest legal services.

The plan comes more than a month after President Barack Obama signed an executive order stopping the deportation of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who arrived in the country before the age of 16, have lived here for five years, have no criminal record, are no older than 30 and are either students, high school graduates or military veterans.
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Baltimore puts out welcome mat for immigrants, hoping to stop population decline

Here is another city that recognizes the need for more immigrants to keep their city thriving.    - - Donna Poisl

By Carol Morello and Luz Lazo

The fate of Baltimore may rest with immigrants like Alexandra Gonzalez.

A native of Puebla, Mexico, Gonzalez feels more at home in Baltimore with every passing year. She attends city-run nutrition and exercise classes in Spanish and takes her two young children to a Spanish-language storytelling hour at her neighborhood library. She plans to earn a GED and become a teacher.
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Number Of Unregistered Latino Voters Large Enough To Transform Red States Into Swing States

Latino residents who are eligible to vote MUST register and then vote. They are so very important to the future of this country.    - - Donna Poisl

by Janell Ross

The day before a class action civil rights lawsuit accusing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office of wide-scale civil rights violations went to trial in Phoenix, a handful of people stood at the corner of North 27th Avenue and West Indian School Road just off the city’s Black Canyon Freeway.

Wearing “Adios Arpaio” T-shirts, the small group staged a protest at one of the busiest intersections in mostly Latino West Phoenix, aimed at what some consider two of Arizona’s biggest problems: Arpaio and apathy.
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Freedom University helps immigrants achieve dreams

Many people think of Latinos when they think of illegal immigrants, that is not always the case.    - - Donna Poisl

by Gracie Bonds Staples, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Despite the “model minority” stereotype that presumes all Asian-Americans are prosperous and well educated, Keish Kim’s family is not well-to-do and she can’t get into her dream college.

The first blow to Kim’s quest for success came when the lawyer hired by her family to handle their immigration from Seoul, South Korea, in 2000 (when Kim was 8) missed a crucial deadline, making it impossible for them to attain citizenship. The second came in 2010 when the state Board of Regents barred illegal immigrants from attending the state’s top five universities.
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Homeland Security chief defends shift on immigration

It is good that the administration is sticking together on the immigration decision. They can fight the threatened lawsuit.    - - Donna Poisl

from Boston.com


WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday defended President Obama’s decision to stop deporting many illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children and allow them to seek work permits.

‘‘Our nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a strong and sensible manner,’’ Napolitano said in remarks before the House Judiciary Committee. ‘‘But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case.’’
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A changing landscape as immigrants transform Main Streets

Downtown sections of many towns are not very busy, new immigrants are starting businesses and bringing life and customers to the areas.   - - Donna Poisl

Article by: ALLIE SHAH

Somalis flocking to southern Minnesota towns are the latest immigrants opening new businesses and transforming downtowns in outstate cities.

Once the henna artist arrives, business will really take off, Yonis Hajisaid said.
One of downtown Willmar's newest entrepreneurs, he owns the Nuura Shop, the latest Somali-owned business to open in downtown Willmar in the past five years.

The change from a barber shop to a henna and perfume parlor is a sign of how new immigrants are transforming business districts outstate just as they have along some main streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Mount Kisco 'cultural competency' program's goal: immigrants' integration, not assimilation

Police, churches, hospitals and community groups are working together to help immigrants better understand the community they live in.   - - Donna Poisl

by ALEX WEISLER

MOUNT KISCO — In working with the village’s approximately 4,000 immigrants, Neighbors Link Executive Director Carola Otero Bracco said the goal is integration, not complete assimilation.

It’s a fine line, but that distinction — encouraging immigrant communities to interact with institutions on their own terms — is at the core of an innovative “cultural competency” training program developed by local organizations.
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Law school grad caught up in immigration debate

This would be such a shame if this man can't get his license. We need people like him to stay and work here and pay taxes, etc.  - - Donna Poisl

By HOWARD MINTZ/MediaNews Group

The endless rows of almond orchards dotting the landscape in Durham just outside Chico meant a future for Sergio Garcia's family.

His father, a Mexican immigrant, harvested the cash crop, shaking the trees for bounty 12 hours a day through hot summer months. As a teenager, Sergio Garcia worked alongside his father, helping out when he wasn't rising to the top of his high school class and positioning himself for college and, later, law school.

But the nation's wrenching debate over illegal immigration has now engulfed Garcia's path to success. He is at the center of an unprecedented California Supreme Court case that will determine whether the state bar can grant an undocumented immigrant a card to practice law in California.
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Q&A Guide to Arizona v. United States
How the Supreme Court Ruled on SB 1070 and What It Means for Other States
 
For Immediate Release

July 25, 2012

Washington, D.C.—One month ago today, the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Arizona v. United States, which invalidated three provisions of the immigration law known as “SB 1070” and left a fourth open to future challenges. More than any matter in recent history, the case settled a range of important questions regarding the role that states may play in the enforcement of federal immigration law. As a result, the ruling will affect not only SB 1070, but the fate of other state immigration laws being challenged in court and the odds of similar laws passing around the country.

Today, the Immigration Policy Center releases an updated version of its Q&A on Arizona v. United States, which discusses how the Supreme Court decided the case and what the ruling means for immigration laws in other states. As debates over the ruling continue, understanding the basis for the Court’s opinion will prove critically important in furthering a rational discussion on the implications of the decision.

To view the Q&A Guide in its entirety, see:
How the Supreme Court Ruled on SB 1070 and What it Means for Other States (IPC Special Report, July 2012)
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 For more information, contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202- 812-2499.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is preparing to sue President Obama to stop his DREAMer relief policy.

from Adam Luna

If you don’t know him, King is one of the noisiest anti-immigrant characters in Congress.  But in the GOP, his policy views are standard fare -- all the way up to their nominee for President, Mitt Romney.

Romney has vowed to veto the DREAM Act, called Arizona a model for the nation, and wants millions of immigrants to “self-deport.” But since President Obama announced his popular new DREAMer relief policy, Romney hasn’t said a thing about it.  Nada. Silencio.

Now, Congressman King is threatening to sue President Obama for giving DREAM youth a chance to get work permits and contribute to our country.

It’s time Mitt Romney comes clean: does he stand with the majority of Americans who believe DREAMers deserve relief?  Or does he stand with the likes of Steve King?  Please take a minute to tell Mitt Romney that it’s time he tells the truth.

I’m confident that DREAMer relief is here to stay. Our movement is too strong to lose this victory that we, following the lead of the DREAMers, fought so hard for. But the American people deserve to know if opposing DREAMer relief is one more check on Romney's already dismal record.

The media seems to have let Romney off the hook -- but that doesn’t mean you have to.  Click here to tell Romney what you think.

Sincerely,
Adam Luna
United States Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce To Open Regional Office In Dallas, TX

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is proud to announce the grand opening of a new regional office in Dallas, TX. This office, the first of its kind for the organization, is located in the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB), which serves as the official sales and marketing arm for the city dedicated to attracting conventions and visitors to Dallas.

"As the top visitor destination in the state with a diverse population base and a strong business reputation, Dallas is the perfect location for the USHCC's first regional office," said Phillip Jones, DCVB President and CEO.  "We've collaborated on many initiatives, including the 2010 national conference held in Dallas, and we look forward to a long, mutually beneficial partnership.

Dallas is ranked 3rd in the nation in terms of highest concentration of Fortune 500 company headquarters. The Dallas metro-plex is home to various USHCC corporate partners including: American Airlines, AT&T, BNSF Railways, Comerica Bank, ExxonMobil, FedEx, Frito-Lay, Moneygram International, Rent-A-Center and 7-Eleven. The Dallas economy is the sixth largest in the United States, with a 2010 gross metropolitan product of $374 billion and a thriving Hispanic population.

"The vision for this regional office is to extend the USHCC's presence as the premiere organization representing the voice of Hispanic business in America. An office in Dallas will allow the USHCC to quickly galvanize its resources for the benefit of our partners." says USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez. "We anticipate great successes from this office and look forward to opening more like it in key cities across the country."

"The selection process for the new home of the regional office was an extensive one," explains USHCC Chairman Nina Vaca. "There were several cities that were great contenders for this office, but Dallas topped the list in nearly every category. We look forward to building new relationships in the city and strengthening existing ones. The welcome from our friends and partners has been overwhelming and we are happy to call Dallas our 2nd home."

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of over 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that combined generate in excess of $465 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers and business associations in the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit http://www.ushcc.com.

SOURCE United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Chadwick Vale, +1-202-715-0478, cvale@ushcc.com

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Immigrant CAN guides teens adjust to American life

This organization, started by an immigrant, helps immigrant students with mentoring and tutoring programs and English lessons.   - - Donna Poisl

Written by Elisa Eiguren

When Ali Yusuf immigrated to America from Somalia in 1998, he was 19 years old and understood no English.

Fourteen years later, he has a degree in international relations from St. Cloud State University and works as a claims representative in the Social Security office in St. Cloud. He isn’t selfish with his success.

Yusuf also is executive director of the Immigrant Community Access Network, a St. Cloud organization that aims to teach immigrants that anything is possible. The group had its grand opening July 7.
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INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION COALITION NEWS

Click the HEADLINE to read stories from this week from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
Keeping Immigrant Families Together is "Critical," First Lady Says

The First Lady believes this is a major reason for immigration reform and new laws.   - - Donna Poisl

from LatinoFoxNews

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama argued on Spanish-language television that a second term for President Barack Obama is vital for moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform.

"There is nothing more critical than keeping families together and that is why Barack has been fighting so hard for comprehensive immigration reform," she said in an interview with Univision news anchor Maria Elena Salinas.
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Talented immigrants and America's skilled-worker shortage

The author of this article came here as an immigrant and understands all sides of the discussion about immigration laws.    - - Donna Poisl

from Russell Sarder, OpEd Contributor

I came to the United States 21 years ago, having left my home country of Bangladesh to attend a premier university and pursue the American Dream. I started a business that promotes the values of lifelong learning. Currently, I am the CEO of NetCom Learning, a multimillion-dollar business, which has been listed in the Inc. 500 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation.

As both an immigrant and a CEO, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of immigrants to the future of our nation, and how attracting and retaining the best talent is especially important during a recession. However, for many immigrants today, my dream cannot be reality. There is no entrepreneur's visa, and there is a drastic shortage of visas for skilled workers. That drives many of the world's brightest, most creative and innovative minds abroad.
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Funding cuts to silence AmeriCorps program that helps immigrants learn English

This funding cut is serious, citizens complain that immigrants won't learn English and yet 4,000 adults will have to give up their classes.    - - Donna Poisl

By JAYME FRASER, Seattle Times staff reporter

More than a dozen programs in King County that teach basic English to adults could lose teachers because of recent cuts in federal funding.

The loss could affect as many as an estimated 4,000 adults taught by AmeriCorps members at sites ranging from St. James Cathedral and the King County Jail to Seattle Central Community College and the Metrocenter YMCA downtown.

A national service organization started in 1994, AmeriCorps relies on grants from an organization called the Corporation for National and Community Service, which partners with the federal government to pay stipends to volunteers who perform community service.
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THIS WEEK IN IMMIGRATION

Click the HEADLINE to read stories from this week from the Immigration Policy Center.

We see all immigrants as legal or illegal. Big mistake.

This article is very interesting, it explains that we could use a new system with some middle ground between legal and illegal.    - - Donna Poisl

By Roberto Suro

A century ago, the immigrants from across the Atlantic included settlers and sojourners. Along with the many folks looking to make a permanent home in the United States came those who had no intention to stay, and who would make some money and then go home. Between 1908 and 1915, about 7 million people arrived while about 2 million departed. About a quarter of all Italian immigrants, for example, eventually returned to Italy for good. They even had an affectionate nickname, “uccelli di passaggio,” birds of passage.

Today, we are much more rigid about immigrants. We divide newcomers into two categories: legal or illegal, good or bad. We hail them as Americans in the making, or brand them as aliens fit for deportation. That framework has contributed mightily to our broken immigration system and the long political paralysis over how to fix it. We don’t need more categories, but we need to change the way we think about categories. We need to look beyond strict definitions of legal and illegal. To start, we can recognize the new birds of passage, those living and thriving in the gray areas. We might then begin to solve our immigration challenges.
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Poll: Obama’s immigration policies rate highly with Florida voters

Two thirds of Florida voters approve of the order to keep young immigrants from being deported.   - - Donna Poisl

from The Capitol Column | Staff

A Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9 poll released Friday shows that the majority of Florida voters favor President Barack Obama’s recent executive order allowing young undocumented immigrants to seek a path towards citizenship.

The poll shows that 66 percent of voters in Florida are in favor of the immigration policy shift, while 28 percent oppose the president’s move and 6 percent are undecided. That could be crucial for the president when he faces presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney who would like to keep the election focused on the slumping economy.

Mr. Obama’s immigration law applies to foreign nationals who were brought to the U.S. as young children.
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Friday, July 13, 2012

Immigrant files proposed class action suit over U.S. gay marriage ban

Immigrants are suing for their civil rights regarding immigration and marriage.   - - Donna Poisl

Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Philippine immigrant filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking a legal right to stay in the United States based on her same-sex marriage to an American.

The suit seeks to win for gays and lesbians the same immigration rights as heterosexual couples. The group that helped file the suit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called it the first proposed class action of its kind.

Plaintiffs Jane DeLeon, an immigrant from the Philippines, her son Martin Aranas, 25, and DeLeon's U.S. spouse Irma Rodriguez challenged the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
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Mayor Emanuel introduces ordinance to make Chicago an immigrant-friendly city

Chicago wants to be the most welcoming city for immigrants. Chicago is a terrific city, here is another reason for that.    - - Donna Poisl

BY: JOHN PRESTA

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his intention to introduce a Welcoming City Ordinance that builds on efforts to make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the country by incorporating basic protections for undocumented Chicagoans who have not been convicted of a serious crime and are not wanted on a criminal warrant.

“This Welcoming City ordinance will make Chicago a national leader in welcoming those who play by the rules, contribute to our economy and help make Chicago the incredible city that was envisioned by its first immigrant settlers,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This will prevent law abiding Chicagoans from being unfairly detained and deported, and will ensure that Chicago is a welcoming, multicultural global city where people have access to services they need to contribute to our city.”
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Where They Stand: Obama, Romney On Immigration

This NPR report is easy to read and very informative.    - - Donna Poisl

by LIZ HALLORAN

Below are President Obama's and Republican challenger Mitt Romney's policies and proposals regarding immigration. NPR will be comparing the two candidates on various issues in the run-up to the November election. If you have suggestions for other issues you'd like us to explore, please leave a note in the comments section below.
Click on the HEADLINE above to read the side by side comparison of the two men about immigration.
Life of an Illegal Immigrant - A Tangled Path to Residency

from Katie Rucke, Mint Press News

We just published a story on a Mexican immigrant who came to the U.S. illegally and found himself in a small southern Minnesota town. In an effort to humanize and educate the public about becoming a legal immigrant and a citizen we shared the story of Carlos and Katie Garcia.
Click the headline link to the article.

Thanks much,
Katie Rucke
Mint Press News
Chicken Little in the Voting Booth: The Non-Existent Problem of Non-Citizen “Voter Fraud”
 

For Immediate Release

July 13, 2012

Washington, D.C. – Without much evidence to support their claim, legislators across the country have introduced a string of restrictive voter ID laws with the intention of curbing “voter fraud.” The only problem is that there is no problem. Election experts agree that modern-day voter fraud is a very rare occurrence in the U.S., leaving many to speculate that supporters of these restrictive laws are using “voter fraud” legislation to disenfranchise large groups of voters—i.e. racial minorities, immigrants, and low-income voters—who may vote for the “wrong” candidate.

Today, the Immigration Policy Center releases an updated Fact Check that dispels the myth of voter fraud and provides much-needed context to this “solution in search of a problem”:

"At least 180 restrictive bills introduced since the beginning of 2011 in 41 states," according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Bills requiring voters to show photo identification in order to vote were signed into law in Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, Alabama, Kansas, and Tennessee also required voters to present proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote.

“Government records show that only 24 people were convicted of or pleaded guilty to illegal voting between 2002 and 2005, an average of eight people a year," according to a report by Project Vote, The National Journal also points out that “a five-year investigation by the Bush Justice Department…turned up virtually no evidence of widespread voter fraud.”

According to Lorraine C. Minnite, an expert on voter fraud, allegations of voter fraud “shrewdly veil a political strategy for winning elections by tamping down turnout among socially subordinate groups” such as racial minorities, immigrants, and the poor.

To read the Fact Check in its entirety, see:

Chicken Little in the Voting Booth: The Non-existent Problem of Non-Citizen “Voter Fraud” (IPC Fact Check, updated July 2012)
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For more information, contact Seth Hoy at shoy@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7509

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Without IDs from home, Mexicans struggle in US

Lack of identity is a common problem in poor and remote towns of Mexican states, these people can't get US IDs without their birth certificates.   - - Donna Poisl

from Associated Press

NEW YORK — She was born in Mexico and lives in the United States, but Laura Rocio Ordonez does not officially exist in any country.

She can't open a bank account or get married. She is invisible for both governments. Ordonez, 40, not only lives illegally in the United States but also lacks Mexican identification documents.
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Immigration Reform Is Education Reform

Here is another reason to pass the DREAM Act (or better), it helps all education, not just the kids who are in college.   - - Donna Poisl

FROM ALYSSA GRANACKI

Teaching in an area teeming with immigrant families, people often inquire how many of my students are undocumented. I typically side-step the question because it requires me to admit that I lie to my students. I lie whenever I stand in front of my seventh graders, and say: "Work hard and you can go to college anywhere you want and be anything you want to be." The truth is that their education, their career, their life will be influenced by immigration status.

As a part of Teach For America, I believe that the Achievement Gap can be closed. However, in addition to schools and teachers, immigration status is another pervasive component of the Achievement Gap. Teaching students from undocumented families has convinced me that we must consider the DREAM Act not only part of immigration reform, but also part of education reform.
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Dreamer relief coming in August

from Mahwish, America’s Voice Education Fund

This August, Mandeep Chahal and her fellow DREAMers will be able to start applying for temporary legal status because of a new policy announced by President Obama.

Just last year, Mandeep, a college honors student, was nearly deported. Now, not only can she finally live without the fear of being separated from her family and friends, but she’s on the verge of being able to work and get a driver’s license.

Click here for a message from Mandeep about how the new policy will change her life.

Do you remember the excitement when we stopped Mandeep’s deportation? Together, we rallied with her friends and family to demand that immigration officials stop her deportation, and -- just hours before her 1:00 am flight to India -- we won!

Though it was an exhilarating moment, we knew that Mandeep’s life was still on hold and that she wouldn't be able to work. Additionally, there were millions of young people who, like Mandeep, needed relief.

You and DREAM leaders around the nation demanded that President Obama allow all DREAMers to apply to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation. And when President Obama made his announcement last month, we won the biggest victory the immigration reform movement has seen in 25 years.

Eventually, an estimated 1.4 million DREAMers will benefit from temporary legal status for at least two years, during which time we will fight tirelessly for permanent reform.

That wouldn’t have happened without your commitment to some of our society’s most cherished principles: fairness and opportunity.

We will need to make sure that the new policy is implemented correctly, and we must keep fighting for a permanent pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and their families. In the meantime, be sure to check out Mandeep’s message.

Thanks,
Mahwish
America’s Voice Education Fund

National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) Applauds Administration Announcement to Give Administrative Relief to "Dreamers"

 PRESS RELEASE


WASHINGTON, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) applauds the announcement by Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, to provide relief from removal or from entering removal proceedings to some "Dreamers" and to provide them with work permits.

The beneficiaries of this announcement are individuals whom are out of status but were generally brought to this country by their family through no fault of their own.  Hispanic community advocates and the NHCSL have long sought approval of the DREAM Act, which would allow these children and young adults pursuing an education or serving in the military to adjust their status.  The announcement today is much more limited and will provide relief on a case by case basis to those individuals meeting certain criteria.

The new initiative will focus on several key criteria in order to be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings on a case by case basis.  The individual must be under the age of 30; must have come to the U.S. under the age of 16; currently enrolled in school, graduated from high school or have obtained their G.E.D.; have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Services; and must not be convicted of a felony offense, a significant or multiple misdemeanor offenses.

"However limited, this announcement moves us in the right direction," said State Representative Minnie Gonzalez (CT), President of the NHCSL.  "This announcement gives us hope of one day achieving the goal of Congress passing the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform into law."

"This is a very positive development and we credit the Administration for agreeing that they indeed have administrative authority to provide relief," said State Representative Catherine Miranda (AZ), Chair of the NHCSL Immigration Task Force. "We must enforce our immigration laws humanely or we will see the pattern that has repeated in my home state of Arizona, Alabama and other states where civil rights are trampled and our economies suffer."

For more information visit www.nhcsl.org.

SOURCE  National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators

 CONTACT:  Nelly Robles, +1-202-434-8070

Temporary And Permanent Residency Visas

The linked article provides an in-depth explanation of the varying visa types that immigrants can apply for, whether they’re looking to come to the U.S. on a temporary or permanent basis. The article was provided by EB5Investors.com, which is hosting its first annual Southern California EB-5 Conference on July 30th in Newport Beach, California, featuring Congressman Lamar Smith.  - - Donna Poisl

Written by: EB5Investors.com Staff

There are a number of visa options available for foreign nationals who wish to come to the United States for a short stay, for an extended duration, or for permanent residence.

Visas can be broken down into two general categories: (1) temporary visas, which allow foreign nationals who meet certain criteria to enter the United States for a specific purpose, and (2) permanent residency visas, which allow foreign nationals to enter the United States and remain there indefinitely or permanently.  There are several types of visas within each general category.  The information below offers a basic description and summary of requirements of some of the more commonly-known temporary and permanent residency visas.
Click on the HEADLINE above to read the rest of this article and find more about the conference! 

Monday, July 09, 2012

INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION COALITION NEWS

Click the HEADLINE to read stories from this week from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
THIS WEEK IN IMMIGRATION

Click the HEADLINE to read stories from this week from the Immigration Policy Center.

Cabrini Immigrant Services of New York helps city's newcomers

Immigrants need a service like this in every city and they need to use it.    - - Donna Poisl

from NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Cabrini Immigrant Services of New York has a new name, but the mission remains the same: Helping the city’s newest arrivals find a better life.

It was called Cabrini Immigrant Services when the Cabrini Sisters, members of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus order and operators of the Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation Services, founded the group in 1999 to provide services to immigrant families on the lower East Side.

But CCNR was unable to come to terms with a new landlord after its lease expired in April, and the Cabrini Center was forced to close its doors last month. That left Cabrini Immigrant Services to change its name and assume all responsibility for its programs and finances.
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Advocates warn immigrants of scams

Such a shame, as soon as there is a new plan, the frauds and cheats come out.    - - Donna Poisl

By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun

WASHINGTON —— Immigrant advocates are warning people who plan to apply for a work permit under a new federal immigration policy to beware of scammers and hold off on taking any formal action until more details emerge about how the program will work.

The policy shift, which President Barack Obama announced June 15, will allow some immigrants who are illegally in the U.S. to apply for work papers. But advocates say the Department of Homeland Security faces difficult questions in implementing the plan and is still months away from doing so.

The groups, including Casa de Maryland and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, are also reaching out to Hispanic neighborhoods to warn of con artists who pose as lawyers offering to help immigrants navigate regulations — for a fee. The problem has become pervasive in immigrant communities across the country.
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Some good news, for a change, for immigrants in New York and beyond

I hope immigrants realize how much good news there has been in the past weeks.   - - Donna Poisl

by Albor Ruiz

With the release of Humayan Chouwhury, President Obama's 'Dreamers' decision and the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, its been a good three weeks for immigrants locally and nationwide

In the desert of hostility many immigrants struggle through every day, the last three weeks have been a refreshing oasis of good news.

Last Sunday night, after nearly one year deprived of freedom by immigration authorities, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the dreaded ICE -- released Humayun Kabir Chowdhury, a decent, hardworking taxi driver and a family man.
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Obama urges immigration reform at citizenship ceremony

July 4th and a citizenship ceremony is a good combination to talk about immigration reform.  - - Donna Poisl

By NBC's Shawna Thomas

WASHINGTON – In a moving naturalization ceremony in the East Room of the White House, 25 active members of the military declared their allegiance to the United States and became U.S. citizens on Wednesday.

The group hailed from countries ranging from the Ukraine to Cameroon to Honduras. President Barack Obama used the event to highlight his recent immigration announcement and renew the call for comprehensive immigration reform.

The president proclaimed that “America’s success demands comprehensive immigration reform” and that a “Dream Act,” legislation that would give young illegal immigrants a path toward permanent residency, was still necessary.
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Immigrants celebrate July Fourth by combining native, American traditions

I love these stories, they explain how our present traditions started. They all came from the immigrants of the time.    - - Donna Poisl

BY LIDIA DINKOVA, SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

Nothing says July Fourth in South Florida like a Nicaraguan family gathering over carne asada and gallo pinto, a Pakistani family munching on chicken biryani while watching fireworks, and Chinese Americans enjoying a traditional sweet soup dessert at a park.

“We have people from all over the world living in Miami,” said Carlos Borges, who emigrated from Brazil more than 20 years ago. “People come and bring their food, their colors, their culture.”
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Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Hispanic Vote Has Partnered With National Voter Registration Day And Turbo Vote To Register, Educate And Engage Young Voters In Five Key Battle Ground States


PRESS RELEASE


WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Hispanicvote.com has partnered with National Voter Registration Day and Turbo Vote to register, educate and engage young voters.

On September 25, 2012 Hispanic Vote will join volunteers, civic groups, and other organizations from around the country for the National Voter Registration Day. This single day of coordinated field, technology and media efforts will create pervasive awareness of voter registration opportunities (www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org).

Turbo Vote's tagline is that "Turbo Vote makes voting as easy as renting a DVD from Netflix," said Seth Flaxman, Executive Director of Turbo Vote. "What Turbo Vote does is streamline the voter registration and absentee ballot request process using the Internet and good old U.S. mail. All in all, it's a pretty handy tool that uses the Internet to make the complicated voting process easier" (www.turbovote.org).

"Hispanicvote.com has become a leading digital and media platform with more than 18,000 followers on Hispanic Vote's Facebook fan page, and over 3,000 twitter followers discussing political campaign conversations," said Dennis Garcia Founder of Hispanic Vote.

"Hispanic vote will focus on the five key battleground states: Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Virginia, where Hispanics comprise 13% or more of the electorate. In Virginia it is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 Hispanic registered voters that could make the difference in the closely contested 2012 Senatorial and Presidential elections," concluded Garcia.

For more information on Hispanic Vote please visit www.hispanicvote.com or follow along on Twitter and Facebook.com.

Contact:
Laura Ramirez Drain
202.250.0887
Lramirez@hispanicvote.com

25 American History Facts Most Students Don’t Know

Read this article, very interesting. Maybe adults don't know either.
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No one-size-fits-all approach to wooing Hispanics
        
Hispanics all have their own reasons for voting for a candidate, like all other groups.   - - Donna Poisl

by JERI CLAUSING

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In New Mexico, Tomasita Maestas says she will pick the presidential candidate who has the best plan to fix education and the economy.

In Arizona, Mexican immigrant Carlos Gomez backs Republican Mitt Romney because he's more conservative on social issues than his Democratic opponent.

In Miami, Colombia native Luna Lopez probably will vote for President Barack Obama now that he's decided to halt the deportation of many illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

The reasons that Hispanics give for choosing between Obama and Romney are just as diverse as the countries that they or their ancestors once called home, suggesting there's no one-size-fits-all approach to courting the nation's fastest-growing minority group.
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Commentary: Children in the shadow of the immigration fight

The girl in this story is the perfect example of the kids who are helped by the new decision by the Obama administration.    - - Donna Poisl

ISSAC J.BAILEY, The Myrtle Beach Sun News

I knew a young lady for four years before she had the courage to come out to me.
I never suspected her secret.

She was smart.
She worked hard.
She stayed out of trouble.
She got herself educated.
She was talented.
She didn’t fit the stereotype.
She was in this country without the proper documents. She finally told me with a face red, tears dripping off her cheeks.

She was a juvenile when her parents brought her here.
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Don't put immigration reform on the back shelf

If President Obama is reelected, we must push for immigration reform to be at the top of the agenda.   - - Donna Poisl

By MIKE JONES Associate Editor

The good news for those supporting some progress in immigration reform is it deflected the attention of the hardliners away from stifling any immigration reform and turned it to finger-wagging and spinning the court's decision to uphold President Obama's health care law.

The bad news is, it deflected attention away from immigration reform.

When the justices knocked down most of Arizona's draconian immigration law it offered the opportunity for those genuinely concerned about fair, and needed, reform to apply the pressure directly where it belonged - on Congress and the president.
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Drop in immigration clouds future of school for Spanish speakers

For so many years, there were too many Spanish speakers in the schools, now there aren't enough.    - - Donna Poisl

By Grace Rubenstein

English and Spanish alternate seamlessly in the classrooms at the Mission Education Center in San Francisco. Decorative signs identify objects that in other schools would seem too basic to name: "clock" and "door."

This public elementary school has for 40 years served children who have just arrived from Latin America and speak only Spanish, who beyond its walls are out of their element in almost every way.

Those students are dramatically fewer now. As the flow of immigrants from Mexico has dwindled in recent years, the school's enrollment has plummeted from a high of 264 students in the mid-2000s to 72 this past spring.
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