Thread: Immigrants describe needs to legislators

Immigrants describe needs to legislators
By JONATHAN ROOS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


September 27, 2005



A number of Des Moines-area immigrants, some with the help of translators, stepped forward at a public hearing Monday night to tell state lawmakers about concerns over driver's licenses, workplace abuses, and health care and education needs of their children.

About 100 people, including representatives of church and community action groups, attended the meeting at East High School with legislators on the New Iowans Interim Study Committee.

The 11-member panel will hold three more public hearings around the state to gather information from immigrants, refugees and migrant workers about difficulties they have experienced and how state government may be able to help.

Driver's licenses: Dora Sedeno, a neighborhood activist, appealed to legislators to make Iowa driver's licenses available to undocumented immigrants.

"Most of the new Iowans . . . just want to be like you. They just want to drive in the streets that you drive ?Grand Avenue, 14th Street, whatever street. . . . And all they want to do is be able to drive there safely, just like all of us do. . . . They need to be able to take their children to school when it's really cold, or just to be able to get to that job that they really need to get to, because if they don't, they get fired for not coming."

Education: Jesus Sanchez, a farmworker who has lived in Iowa 11 years, said the inability of undocumented students to receive federal financial aid or in-state tuition for college is a barrier to higher education.

"I have my family here with my wife and four children. . . . I know a lot of families that have come here with children, that have come here when they were very small. These families have students that have a lot of talent; they get good grades," Sanchez said. "They could contribute a lot to Iowa. But unfortunately they have to discontinue their studies because they don't have Social Security numbers. You, the Legislature, have the opportunity to help the community and to help these students."

Health care: Dr. Jose Angel, a Cuban American who came to Iowa at age 3, said many of today's immigrants are bringing their families to Iowa. Making sure the children, especially, have health care should be a priority.

"Iowa has a unique opportunity to address health care issues. We don't have a lot of money, but we have a very potent state when it comes to trying to do the right thing," said Angel, who started a Des Moines clinic that now has about 700 patients, and a large percentage of them are uninsured.

Public safety: Perry Police Chief Dan Brickner said his community, where more than 30 percent of the population is Hispanic, is looking to hire a bilingual police officer.

"We'd love to have a Latino, bilingual person that would come work for us on the Perry Police Department, that would help us be more effective in relating to that portion of our community," Brickner said.
Hurricane help: Cotrena Ussin McIntyre, a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, suggested a one-stop "shop" for handling the transportation, health care and housing needs of hurricane evacuees in the Des Moines area.

"If everyone works together, we can get everyone out of the hotels and into affordable housing, and we will become productive citizens of the state of Iowa," she said.

What's next: A second public hearing will be held today at Arrowhead Educational Building, ABC Conference Room, 824 Flindt Drive, Storm Lake.

Two more meetings are scheduled for next week: Oct. 4, Advanced Technology Center, Room 121, Indian Hills Community College, 626 Indian Hills Drive, Ottumwa; Oct. 6, West High School cafeteria, 3505 W. Locust St., Davenport. All meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Legislature's response: The opinions shared by new Iowans at these public hearings could influence the agenda for the 2006 legislative session. Lawmakers say they'd like to find bipartisan solutions to immigration issues. However, it could be tough reaching agreements on politically sensitive topics in an election year.

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs. ... /1001/NEWS


Demand Demand Demand. I am demanding that our government takes care of this, now.[/quote]

Hurricane help: Cotrena Ussin McIntyre, a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, suggested a one-stop "shop" for handling the transportation, health care and housing needs of hurricane evacuees in the Des Moines area.

Great idea. We'll charter buses and you'll be back in Mexico before you know it.

Health care: Dr. Jose Angel, a Cuban American who came to Iowa at age 3, said many of today's immigrants are bringing their families to Iowa. Making sure the children, especially, have health care should be a priority.

And who does the good doctor think is PAYING for this?

My head is about to explode after reading this bologna.

How about making a one-stop shop for deportation? If they don't belong here because they are illegally here, then they shouldn't be recieving a dime.