03/31/10
The Supreme Court, in a vote of 7-2, has ruled that a lawyer for an immigrant charged with a crime has an obligation, constitutionally, to tell the client that a guilty plea carries a risk that he will be deported.
In Padilla v. Kentucky, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Jose Padilla, a legal permanent resident and army veteran who has spent approximately 40 years of his life in the United States, could not take back a guilty plea – one that was made after counsel assured him that pleading guilty to a drug charge would not lead to his deportation.
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Blog Archives
March 2010
Written in March 2010
03/31/10
New polling of Latino voters reveals that 1) this group is among the least energized heading into the 2010 elections; and 2) progress on comprehensive immigration reform is key to re-energizing these voters.
Latino Decisions researcher and Stanford University professor Dr. Gary Segura highlighted and analyzed the findings:
Among all the key constituents in the 2008 Obama victory, Latino voters appear to be among the least enthusiastic about voting in the 2010 midterm.
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03/31/10
As the scandal over leaked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memos continues to unfold in the Spanish-language press, leaders of grassroots organizations are calling for the firing of ICE director John Morton. Meanwhile, Republican support for immigration reform remains elusive, and eight states celebrate Cesar Chávez Day.
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03/30/10
Today, a group of grassroots leaders are demanding that the Obama Administration fire John Morton, the head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security.
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03/30/10
In light of the recent, um, developments this week, I'm wondering if RNC Chairman Michael Steele will be keeping his hard-won meeting with grassroots Latino and immigration reform advocates on Wednesday. These community leaders staged a sit-in at the RNC last Monday, just one day after 200,000 people from across the country traveled thousands of miles to march for real immigration reform in Washington, D.C.
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03/30/10
Today, the opinion pages of the Spanish-language press assess the prospects for immigration reform -- and note that more demonstrations are underway.
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03/29/10
Lots happened over the weekend, so here’s a quick roundup of immigration news from around the interwebs. More March For America highlights: First and foremost: you just have to laugh (potentially out loud) at NPR’s take on the Roy Beck/Numbers USA mime incident: “SAGAL: It was an immigration throw down. When anti-immigration activist Roy Beck [...]
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03/29/10
The Spanish-language press covers demonstrations in California for immigration reform; reactions to the discovery of deportation quotas at ICE; and reviews of immigration-related appearances on Sunday talk shows.
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03/25/10
As the health care debate comes to a close, there's no better time to introduce comprehensive immigration reform. Hundreds of thousands of immigrant rights supporters from all over the country congregated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday to demand immigration reform in 2010. It was the largest political rally to be held since President Barack Obama moved into the White House.
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03/25/10
The Spanish-language press leads today with the Arizona House of Representatives' passage of a bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants, but the effects of last Sunday's March for America and other local events for immigration reform--including a protest outside Republican National Committee headquarters--continue to receive a significant amount of coverage.
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03/24/10
The President and Congress promised real immigration reform right away and it has yet to be delivered. For the hundreds of thousands of families who are still being torn apart each year, this is unacceptable. It was an honor to share the day Sunday with the 200,000 men, women and children who came to Washington to demand change this weekend, and I am emboldened to keep fighting for real immigration reform. Our movement is strong and it continues to grow!
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03/24/10
Tonight at 8 PM ET, How Democracy Works will be premiering the first part of it's twelve part program on HBO2. The series, which documents the course immigration reform has taken over the past 8 or so years is described vividly by the filmmakers: "...that's what we believe this series turned out to be: twelve discrete films about several dozen fascinating people in all kinds of places, each connected by a commitment to change the way that the United States handles the bedrock national identity issue of immigration."
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03/24/10
Today, the Spanish-language press reports on statements from high-level Obama Administration officials reiterating the President's commitment to reform immigration policy, a new survey showing deep support for reform among religious voters and a bill in Arizona that would criminalize the undocumented.
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03/23/10
Over the weekend, the Spanish-language media dedicated extensive coverage to the March for America on Sunday in Washington. Reporters focused on the delegations from around the country that came to Washington to participate in the massive march, President Barack Obama's taped address to the attendees reiterating his commitment to immigration reform, and leaders' rejection of current policies of raids and deportations. Univision.com and ImpreMedia.com, among other sites, have photo galleries and videos from the event.
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03/23/10
Coverage in the blogosphere is still picking up after Sunday's historic health care vote, but here's an initial roundup of blogging on Sunday's massive rally and march or real immigration reform. Stop back for more stories and photos from the march throughout the week.
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03/22/10
As the President himself stated: "Events like these remind us that real change doesn't start in the White House or the halls of Congress. It starts with people like you in communities across this country, standing up and making your voices heard." I think we could say yesterday was a good start.
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03/21/10
As the buses leave Washington to return to Florida, New York, and as far away as California, here are some of our photos from the day. These are mostly crowd shots -- over 200,000 people came out to call for real immigration reform, economic justice for workers, and to keep families together.
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03/21/10
Today's the day. Tens of thousands of people are registered to come to the National Mall for today's immigration reform rally, called the March For America. Over 800 buses are pouring in from acrossthe country, and several of the top voices in the blogosphere will be blogging and tweeting directly from the rally. This post will be updated throughout the day, with news and stories from what's happening here in Washington, so stop by again soon!
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03/19/10
With tens of thousands of people heading to Washington for the March for America this Sunday and the news of a bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation from Senators Schumer and Graham, there's a lot of news to track today – here's a quick recap for the folks at home.
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03/19/10
On the eve of Sunday's march, other stories attracting the attention of the Spanish-language media include an op-ed from Senators Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham sketching the outline of a bill for comprehensive immigration reform, and another round of raids being undertaken by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona.
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03/18/10
In June, I met with members of both parties, and assigned Secretary Napolitano to work with them and key constituencies around the country to craft a comprehensive approach that will finally fix our broken immigration system. I am pleased to see that Senators Schumer and Graham have produced a promising, bipartisan framework which can and should be the basis for moving forward. It thoughtfully addresses the need to shore up our borders, and demands accountability from both workers who are here illegally and employers who game the system.
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03/18/10
This week has seen mounting pressure on President Obama to make good on his promise to reform our dysfunctional immigration system. From key community organizers who are planning this Sunday’s March for America to the first Member of Congress to endorse then-Senator Obama’s presidential bid, here are a few important voices on the matter. Congressman [...]
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03/18/10
Sunday's March for America continues to dominate the Spanish-language media, while calls for an end to deportations and a challenge from Senator Patrick Leahy are also in the news.
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03/17/10
OK, no, not really. I'm Irish, folks! Well, a quarter anyway. Ok not really a quarter, there's some German and French in there somewhere, too.. just don't tell my Indian (dot, not feather) and Dominican ("Spanish") sides. The point is I've got freckles gosh-darn-it. Well, in the summertime mostly. Whatever. Look, it's St. Patrick's Day, and I'm an Irish mutt...
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03/17/10
As the drumbeat toward Sunday's March for America continues, the Spanish-language media also covers yesterday's press conference announcing the launch of the national Esperanza for America campaign, and developments in several states regarding immigration raids and enforcement.
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03/16/10
The tipping point is here. The time has come. In all political and social movements there comes a moment when the confluence of events is so powerful they just can't be ignored or dismissed. The long-running effort for comprehensive immigration reform is one such movement and its moment of truth is at hand.
Our immigration system is badly broken and a majority of Americans support reform. The White House supports it. Most Democrats and some Republicans are prepared to vote for it. Only a vocal minority oppose it.
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03/16/10
Today features several op-eds and columns in the Spanish-language press about this Sunday's march. Meanwhile, all are urged to participate in the Census, and controversies continue over old and new programs to deport immigrants from jail.
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