LULAC National Policy Newsletter 04/24/2008

LULAC uses the term "undocumented" to refer to US residents who are out of status and we may have altered the articles below to incorporate this term.

IMMIGRATION

Congressional Hispanics Knock Top Dems

USA Today

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus denounced House Democratic leaders Wednesday as "spineless" and little better than Republicans for failing to take on comprehensive immigration reform. Leaders of the all-Democratic caucus, which numbers two dozen, criticized their party leadership at a news conference for instead scheduling hearings on enforcement legislation and specific visa issues. (Read More)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... nics_N.htm


LULAC Supports the STRIVE Act Which is a Realistic and Fair Immigration Reform and a Moratorium on Raids Around the Country

LULAC Press Release

LULAC National President Rosa Rosales made the following statement today: “Over the last few months a failure to reach consensus on immigration reform has resulted in raids around the country including Texas. For this reason LULAC applauds the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for their leadership in supporting the STRIVE act today which would more thoroughly address the security and labor concerns at hand. The STRIVE Act has 75 co-sponsors.

LULAC is disappointed with the latest round of raids by the federal agents who were part of the newest initiative by the government to crack down on undocumented immigrants working in the plants of poultry producers across the country. Other industries have also been targeted. Raids in a doughnut factory in Houston and a Mexican restaurant chain in upstate New York have also led to dozens of arrests. LULAC again urges President Bush to mandate a temporary stoppage on raids. The raids do nothing to improve our immigration laws and cause fear in the communities. The process is having a negative impact on the immigrants, local communities and the economy. (Read More)

http://www.lulac.org/advocacy/press/2008/strive.html


Pope Speaks Up for Immigrants, Touching a Nerve

New York Times

Even as he was flying to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of protecting immigrant families, not dividing them.

On the other side of the issue, some members of the Catholic hierarchy said they were shocked that on the same day that Benedict and President Bush affirmed in a joint statement the need for a policy that treats immigrants humanely and protects their families, federal agents were conducting raids at five chicken plants. They arrested more than 300 immigrants accused of being undocumented workers. (Read More)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20catholics.html


Gov. Barbour signs undocumented-worker bill

Immigrants rights advocates cry foul, vow they will continue to fight

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Companies in Mississippi soon will be required to use a federal pilot program called eVerify to determine whether potential workers are legal U.S. residents, under a bill Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law Monday.

But shortly after he signed off on Senate Bill 2988, Barbour cautioned that the language needs some alterations, including adding more avenues for companies to check the residency status of new hires. (Read More)

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs. ... 80357/1002


Immigrant Troops Important To Military

Tampa Tribune

But a military eager to fill its ranks during an unpopular war welcomed him and the estimated 39,000 service personnel who are not U.S. citizens.

Their numbers amount to about 7 percent of the U.S. military. The largest share of them are from Mexico, like Huerta-Cruz, who came here at age 7 and attended Countryside High School.

Recruiting foreign nationals into the U.S. military is a practice as old as the military itself. They fought the British in the Continental Army and have served in nearly every conflict since.

Since then, dozens of noncitizens killed in action have been granted posthumous citizenship, which opens the door for relatives living here legally to become citizens more quickly. More than 660,000 people have been granted citizenship in the past 146 years because of military service, CNA said.

Against these sentiments, military recruiters use the path to citizenship as a lure to keep their numbers up. (Read More)

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/18 ... -military/


A New View of Vacant Houses

Immigrant Crackdown Changing Block for the Better, Pr. William Pair Say

Washington Post

People on both sides of Prince William's undocumented-immigration debate say Latino immigrants are leaving the county. Evidence is anecdotal, and so far it is impossible to measure the migration or whether it is driven by tough laws, economic downturn or the wave of mortgage foreclosures. Yet where opponents of the crackdown predict the ruin of the county's finances and culture via mean-spirited policy, such supporters as Pannell and Kipp envision a neighborhood rebirth rooted in simple democracy. (Read More)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02136.html


Mexicans Get Less Aid From Migrants

Downturn in U.S. Increases Poverty, Desire to Go North

Washington Post

The effects of the subprime mortgage crisis and the downturn in the U.S. economy have cascaded into Mexico, causing a sudden, precipitous drop in the flow of money sent home by Mexican immigrants and highlighting this country's dependence on its wealthier northern neighbor. (Read More)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... id=topnews


Nearly 300 arrested in immigration raids at poultry plants

Associated Press

Texas - Federal agents arrested nearly 300 people Wednesday in raids at Pilgrim's Pride chicken plants in five states,
the latest crackdown on undocumented immigrant labor at the nation's poultry producers.(Read More)

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/art ... 547b89.htm


EVENTS

Hundreds of Floridians to Demonstrate at the DNC to Fight for Their Right to Have Their Votes Counted

Don’t be fooled by all the talk that your vote won’t count. Vote, your voice will be heard

LULAC Press Release

The League of United Latin American Citizens will sponsor Florida citizens from Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and various other cities to express their outrage at not having their votes counted.

“It is a disappointment that Florida has been denied that undeniable right to vote,â€