Obama Says Immigration System Is “Broken,” But Provides No Map For Reform
The president’s speech on immigration was eloquent, but it left many questions unanswered.
The president’s speech on immigration was eloquent, but it left many questions unanswered.
A star biology student interested in cancer research gets a reprieve after his arrest by immigration authorities while trying to board a plane from San Antonio, TX to Boston.
The immigration reform movement is at a fork in the road: fight for the DREAM Act as a standalone bill or continue the battle for comprehensive legislation.
June 1st was marked by more acts of civil disobedience in New York City, as the pressure for legislators to move on immigration ramps up.
Young protesters and immigrant activists are increasingly turning to acts of civil disobedience, knowing that the result may be deportation for undocumented demonstrators.
Arizona’s tough new immigration law, and the debate over immigration reform continue to dominate the headlines of Spanish-language media.
The Dream Act would have direct economic benefits that would “boost the American middle class,” a new study says.
Youngsters who are pushing for legislation that would allow undocumented students to become legal residents will hold events across the country next week to continue pushing for the bill’s approval.
Saying “the time for waiting is over,” Rep. Luis Gutierrez announced his comprehensive immigration reform bill, “the product of months of collaboration with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress.”
News Briefs From New England Hispanic Newspapers
BOSTON, Massachusetts – Hispanic and Jewish groups have launched a joint campaign to stop “hate crimes targeting Latinos and the anti-immigrant rhetoric entering the mainstream.”
The Anti-Defamation League , representing the Jewish community, together with Latino Professional Network (LPN) recently organized a public event to announce the initiative.
Diego Portillo, the president of LPN who has lived in Boston for the past 10 years said, in an interview with El Planeta, that he has seen discrimination against Hispanic Immigrants increase in the past few years.
El Mundo reports that organizers claimed that hate mongers have rallied around situations such as the Swine Flu outbreak and the nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, to demonize and scapegoat Latinos and other groups.
There will be periodical Latino/Jewish roundtables, starting in August, to advance partnerships between the Latino and Jewish communities. A “Declaration of Partnership” will be published next week, in both Spanish and English, in El Mundo .
New program from Children’s Hospital Boston aimed at the Latino Community
BOSTON, Massachusetts. – Children’s Hospital Boston recently launched Milagros Para Niños (Miracles for Children) , the hospital’s first-ever fundraising campaign specifically aimed at the Latino community.
“This pioneering initiative aims to raise money and awareness to support Children’s clinical care and research for its increasingly diverse patient population,“ according to a news release from the hospital.
Out of 500,000 children that use the Hospital every year, 100,000 (20%) are Latino. At the Martha Eliot Health Center in Jamaica Plain, which is owned and operated by Children’s Hospital, 65% of the patients are Latino, according to El Mundo.
“The Latino community is very important for Children’s and we are proud to serve all families in need of our services,” said Sandra Fenwick, the hospital’s president and chief operating officer.
The fund-raising campaign will culminate with Children’s serving as the first-ever charitable partner for the Comcast Latino Family Festival at Fenway Park, which will be hosted by El Mundo Newspaper and the Boston Red Sox Foundation on Sunday, August 2nd, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
8th Massachusetts congressman to sponsor DREAM Act.
LYNN, Massachusetts. – Members of the Student Immigrant Movement met with Congressman John Tierney last Monday to discuss the DREAM Act. After the meeting Tierney agreed to co-sponsor the bill, according to Boston weekly Siglo21.
Tierney’s commitment brings to eight the number of Massachusetts congressional representatives sponsoring the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act . The act would provide a path to citizenship to about 65,000 undocumented young adults that have been in the U.S. for 5 years, have graduated from high school, and want to go to college or enlist for military service. They must also show proof of “good moral character.” (click to see USCIS (formerly INS) questionnaire to determine “moral character”). Additionally the DREAM Act would also return to states the authority to determine whether to grant in-state tuition to state residents regardless of immigration status.