Immigration news: Russian is third most common language in Oregon; local govs hack reform


Vitali Bobrisev is a 74-year-old immigrant from Moldova. Like many Russian-speaking immigrants he lives in a tight-knit community in East Portland. Here, he laughs with friends at a volunteer event to clean up a local garden where he grows his own produce. (Melissa Binder/The Oregonian)

By Andrea Castillo | acastillo@oregonian.com
on May 20, 2014 at 7:30 AM

IMMIGRATION NEWS




Good morning, readers. There wasn't not much local immigration news last week, but here's what I've been reading:

Regional

Common language: Russian is the most commonly spoken language, behind English and Spanish, in Oregon -- the only state where Russian is so popular. The Oregonian

More than 50 victims who were bilked out of nearly a half-million dollars saw the start of justice Tuesday when Celia Perez was sentenced to federal prison.

Immigration fraud: A federal judge in Idaho sentenced Celia Perez, 40, to five years and 10 months in prison on two counts of federal mail fraud. Perez posed as an immigration attorney handling difficult cases, and scammed more than 50 people out of nearly a half-million dollars. The Times-News

ICE holds: Seventeen counties in Washington have changed their policy regarding ICE detainers so far. King 5 News
RELATED: How Local Governments Are Hacking Immigration Reform The Atlantic

National
Emergency shelter: Border authorities in South Texas have been overwhelmed by a surge of young, unaccompanied illegal migrants, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to declare a crisis last week and move to set up an emergency shelter for the youths in San Antonio. New York Times

Military enlistment: A top U.S. Department of Defense official said Monday that President Barack Obama's administration might allow young immigrants living in the country illegally to enlist in the military. Chicago Public Media

Picking tobacco: Children younger than 18 can't buy cigarettes in the U.S., but can legally work in tobacco fields starting at age 12. A new report from Human Rights Watch says the practice is hazardous and needs to be stopped. NPR

--Andrea Castillo

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-no...ian_is_th.html