America's Voice Blog

Posted 04/30/09 at 12:45pm By Jackie Mahendra

LIVEBLOGGING TODAY, STARTING at 2PM EST: Senate Hearing on Immigration Reform

END OF LIVE BLOG - CHECK BACK FOR LINKS, PICS, VIDEO, AND ANALYSIS SOON.

Eliseo and Wade5:30 PM: Schumer concludes the hearing saying that it's not going to be easy, but I think we're going to get something done. Thank you. 

5:25 PM: Kobach: "I could only get behind an Amnesty where everyone goes home for 10 years." Kobach cites Republican 2008 election strategy that included a "secure-the-border-first" philosophy on immigration as proof that that's what the American people want. That worked really well.

5:24 PM: Henderson: "I would agree that legalization is a challenge, but that the public will embrace it. Greater challenge is to convince public that this process won't have to be repeated again and again." Henderson discusses issue of a secure form of ID that's viable and safe." 

5:22 PM: Schumer: "Even though Kobach thinks so, it's not amnesty if you pay a fine and have to go through a system." Medina: "this ain't Ronald Reagan's amnesty, it's earned legalization where people have to learn English, etc., to become citizens."

5:20 PM: Schumer: what's our biggest stumbling block, politically, to passing immigration reform? Meissner; the idea that we're rewarding people being branded "lawbreakers."

5:18 PM: Meissner discusses with Schumer and Medina the likelihood that a commission will work.

5:15 PM: Kobach says that enforcement is going well, quotes the Center for Immigration Studies, one of the organizations in John Tanton's anti-immigrant network. Interesting that the U.S Immigration Reform PAC, also part of the John-Tanton network with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, gave $10,000 to Kobach during the 2003-2004 election cycle, according to CQ Moneyline. Easy to see where the Amnesty-only talk comes from. [UPDATED]

5:05 PM: Schumer: how frequently should immigration levels be adjusted since it could be politically problematic to have Congress adjusting constantly. Meissner: But if we don't we end up where we are. We have to adjust. Schumer: how will the commission be trusted, and do labor unions want no future flow? Medina: absolutely not, we just want oversight and a way people get here legally and aren't exploited.

5:02 PM: Biggest tension all day: Schumer  smacks down Kobach testimony, saying that he just calls it "Amnesty, and that's that." Asks what the other panelists think about the formulated solutions by the diverse witnesses.

4:59 PM: Kobach talking about terrorism and Rumpelstiltskin (yes, Rumpelstiltskin). Need for biometrics.  

4:55 PM: Professor Kris Kobach now testifying - the tone is so markedly different than the rest of the hearing. Describes comprehensive reform as "Amnesty," undocumented migrants as "illegal aliens" and so on. Says that USCIS is not able to handle what would be needed to legalize the 12 million undocumented men and women living in our nation. While correct that USCIS has been backlogged, interesting that there is solution to upgrade or update it from Kobach. Interesting that Kobach is now saying that USCIS are the only experts who can handle this project (as opposed to contractors, etc), after essentially calling the agency incompetent.

UPDATE: TEMPORARY RECESS FOR A VOTE 

4:30 PM: Henderson: need better anti-discrimination laws, increased workplace standards, skills trainings, etc., for low-skilled workers. "Us vs. them wedge politics hurt everyone in the long run." Immigration restrictionists show little concern for African American community.

4:25 PM: LCCR's Wade Henderson argues that it is a "civil rights issue of profound significance." Motives count, and we must consider why most people came here, and whether people are law-abiling and wanting to play by the rules. These are incredibly challenging times, and Congress has a lot on its plate. Immigration reform in 2009 is also pressing - it makes sense economically as well as morally. The needs of low-wage workers has been neglected. Economic insecurity is keenly felt in the African American community, but that does not mean that African Americans oppose reform. We need policies that promote native-born opportunities and protect workers from being exploited and under-cutting all workers. 

4:20 PM:  SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina shares his personal story of coming to the US in the 1950s, and frames the desires of immigrants and workers in our country. Speaks about the unified proposal of Change to Win and AFL-CIO to enact real immigration reform that re-focuses on our priorities not our prejudices. Says that the labor movement endorses a better way to bring in future workers that is based on sound policy instead of politics.

4:15 PM: Meissner concludes that immigration system must be more flexible, which could be achieved through a standing commission on labor needs. Congress needs a way to more systematically adjust immigration levels to promote economic growth and competitiveness in the future.

4:10 PM: Doris Meissner, a Senior Fellow of the Migration Policy Institute, speaks about the "pause" in immigration right now due to our economy - historic opportunity to enact needed reforms that will allow immigration to contribute to our recovery and our future as a nation. Says that key elements of reform include not just border enforcement but employer enforcement that works (which does not just mean E-Verify). Meissner argues for a phased legalization program that first does a background check (to weed out any criminal records) and then allows immigrants to earn citizenship. Past failure was tied to forgetting that immigration flows can change, and that we need to provide for that.

4:05 PM: Schumer introduces second panel, including SEIU's Eliseo Medina.

UPDATE: SCHUMER INTRODUCES PANEL 2

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Posted 04/30/09 at 12:40pm By Web Team

Weekly Immigration Wire: Swine Flu Infecting Immigration Debate

Note: This is a weekly feature by Nezua, TMC MediaWire Blogger

swine fluIt’s no shock that those long-opposed to All Things Immigrant are using the Swine Flu outbreak—which has mostly affected Mexicans at this point—to ratchet anti-immigrant rhetoric up to an irresponsible level. It’s disappointing though, especially because the last few weeks saw more rational dialogue emerging in media coverage. This week’s Wire examines the voices talking about immigration both in the media and on the ground, from those recycling age-old “eliminationist” rhetoric to those who put their own bodies on the line to fight for inclusive justice.

In AlterNet, Joshua Holland uses history to contextualize virulent statements hurled by anti-immigrant pundits like Michael Savage. Holland deftly debunks numerous anti-immigrant, right-wing myths using a historical lens: By tying the source of contagion to immigrants, today’s pundits are echoing age old patterns that “contributed to a series of pogroms in which thousands were burned alive” in 14th Century Europe. Just what are today’s pundits saying? Savage asks “Could this be a terrorist attack through Mexico?” Michelle Malkin, Bill O’ Reilly and Neil Boortz agree: “[W]hat better way to sneak a virus into this country than give it to Mexicans?” shrieks Boortz.

While Colorado lawmakers aren’t using such frantic hyperbole, they are doing nothing to dispel the state’s reputation as heavy-handed when it comes to immigration enforcement. On Monday, the Democratic-controlled state legislature introduced a non-binding Joint Memorial that requests the use of DNA technology and expanded local police powers to “identify, arrest, and detain” immigrants. If granted, the request would allow the state to use “biometric identification—like DNA tracking—and federal databases to create in enforcement dragnet,” according to Erin Rosa of The Colorado Independent. Rosa also reports on scary developments in enforcement technology that attempt to mend the gap between the federal government’s lack of reform and the needs of each state.

Not all harsh enforcement measures result from a lack of federal legislation. A Republican-led Congress passed a law in 1996 restricting the ability of immigrants to challenge the legality of their deportation,” as Rochelle Bobroff and Harper Jean Tobin report for New America Media. The measure is pointedly cruel: It allows courts to proceed with deportation even if an asylum-seeker will be endangered upon their explication. Though there is a provision that the courts can use to rule otherwise, this law represents yet another policy that needs to be revisited when the White House negotiates humane and effective reform.

Writing for AlterNet, Frank Sharry reports on the divide deepening between moderate Democrats, who are “ready to tackle common sense reform” and Republican “hardliners.” “While Democrats seem to be making headway,” Sharry writes, “The Republican Party continues to be dogged by Minutemen hard-liners who oppose practical solutions.”

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Posted 04/30/09 at 11:19am By Paco Fabian

President Confirms Immigration Reform Priority as Schumer Panel Explores Way Forward on Immigration

obamaAt last night's White House press conference, President Obama again re-affirmed his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform, citing the need to fix our very broken immigration system. As CNN reports, in "Obama pushes for immigration reform:"

President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he wants to work with members of Congress, including former Republican presidential rival Sen. John McCain, to revive efforts at immigration reform.

"We want to move this process," Obama said at a news conference on his 100th day in office. "We can't continue with a broken immigration system. It's not good for anybody."

Obama said he hopes a working group of lawmakers will begin crafting details of what would be in reform legislation and that he expects the process to be under way within the year.

Well, today, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Citizenship will hold a hearing entitled: "Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009, Can We Do It and How?"  The hearing is the kickoff of the immigration debate in the 111th Congress and shows continued momentum toward movement on real immigration reform this year.

Under the leadership of the Subcommittee's Chairman, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Subcommittee will hear from an array of prominent witnesses who will share their perspectives on the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform.  Witnesses will include former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan; Montgomery County, MD Police Chief Thomas Manger; evangelical Pastor Joel Hunter of the Northland Church in Central Florida; Eliseo Medina, International Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Wade Henderson, President and CEO of  the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights(LCCR); and Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and former Commissioner of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

At the request of Ranking Member Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the panel will also hear from a business representative who supports comprehensive immigration reform, Jeff Moseley, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, as well as the notoriously anti-immigrant Kris Kobach, who works with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).  FAIR has been labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

Cornyn's choice of witnesses reflects the schism in the Republican Party between moderate voices of reason and anti-immigrant extremists.  While the 2008 election results should have delivered a final death blow to the Republican immigration wedge strategy, many in the GOP continue to cling to the mass-deportation approach. 

Meanwhile, new national polling numbers show that the American people strongly support comprehensive immigration reform and expect President Obama to follow through on his campaign promise to address the issue. 

We'll be live-blogging today's hearing right here at www.AmericasVoiceOnline.org/Blog, starting at 2 pm EST.

Posted 04/29/09 at 12:45pm By Frank Sharry

Putting Out the Fox Fire on Immigration

FiresTomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform will likely throw a wrench in Fox News' latest proclamation on immigration – and butcher a good bit of the conventional wisdom floating around here in Washington to boot.

Last week, FOX News' Trish Turner said of the upcoming hearing:

This radioactive topic always lights the Republican fires as well, a dangerous political weapon against Democrats.

OK, Trish, point taken – immigration fires up the more extreme elements of the Republican base.

But, let's not forget that since those fires were lit, the GOP lost control of the House, the Senate, and the White House. Even GOP stalwarts like Mitt Romney have changed their tune on immigration reform.

See, they know the fire is actually burning up the GOP.

FOX need only take a look at the new breakdown of the Senate, the chamber holding the hearing tomorrow, to get the message. In 2006, when the GOP's anti-immigrant fires were so brightly lit, the GOP had 55 Senators.

Today, there are 41. Actually, make that 40, with Senator Specter switching teams.

Senator Schumer, who is chairing the hearing, chaired the DSCC during the two cycles when the Democrats picked up those seats. Unlikely he’ll be handing Republicans a “dangerous political weapon” to use against his own, eh?

But then again, what do I know? Fox reports, you decide. ---

Note: Cross-posted at Daily Kos.

Check out the America's Voice Blog starting at 2pm EST tomorrow - Thursday, April 30th- for live blogging of the Hearing.

Posted 04/28/09 at 12:37pm By Paco Fabian

As Specter Switches Parties, GOP Must Craft Survival Strategy

As Chuck Todd reported on MSNBC today, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has decided to switch his party affiliation:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

With Specter joining the Democratic Party, Todd is basically arguing:

The GOP better come up with a story about how they can be considered a national party when they can't keep a moderate Republican like Specter in the party. This was a survival decision by Specter because he has been chased out of the party by rank and file Republicans.

What could the GOP's national survival strategy look like? Oh I don't know, let's try a sane immigration policy, for starters.

Stay tuned for more on Specter's immigration stance later today.

 

Posted 04/27/09 at 06:15pm By Jackie Mahendra

Warning: Toxic Immigrant Blame Game Tied to Pandemic Paranoia

ToxicAs usual, right-wing media is off blaming immigrants for everything wrong with the world. To recap: yes, swine flu is wreaking havoc in Mexico and has taken over a hundred lives there. Yes, it is a major disaster that needs to be tracked, treated, and contained - and our government is working to do that. But no, Michelle Malkin, swine flu is not the fault of immigrants living in our nation.

Kudos to Media Matters for some great analysis of the air-borne paranoia (call it blame the immigrants fever) at play:

Following an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and subsequent confirmation of dozens of cases in the United States, conservative media personalities have baselessly blamed Mexican immigrants for spreading the disease across the border, continuing their long-standing trend of scapegoating immigrants while discussing major news stories. However, Rear Adm. Anne Schuchat, M.D., the interim deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's science and public health program, stated in an April 26 media availability: "I know that we have confirmation of disease in people who have traveled to Mexico, and I don't know the numbers, but I know that that is definitely the case in some of our cases, and that's an important factor to consider." Indeed, several media reports on U.S. swine flu patients indicated that they had recently traveled to Mexico.

Examples of conservative media figures blaming Mexican immigrants for the spread of swine flu into the United States include:

  • During the April 24 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage stated: "Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico." Savage also stated, "If we lived in saner times, the borders would be closed immediately." Savage went on to theorize that the outbreak might be part of a bioterrorism threat: "[C]ould this be a terrorist attack through Mexico? Could our dear friends in the radical Islamic countries have concocted this virus and planted it in Mexico knowing that you, [Homeland Security Secretary] Janet Napolitano, would do nothing to stop the flow of human traffic from Mexico?" Savage continued: "[T]hey are a perfect mule -- perfect mules for bringing this virus into America. But you wouldn't think that way, would you? Because you are incapable of protecting America's homeland, Napolitano." Savage also stated: "How do you protect yourself? What can you do? I'll tell you what I'm going to do, and I don't give a damn if you don't like what I'm going to say. I'm going to have no contact anywhere with an illegal alien, and that starts in the restaurants." He added, "I will have no any illegal alien workers around me. I will not have them in any of my properties, I will not have them anywhere near me."

  • During the April 27 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Neal Boortz asked: "[W]hat better way to sneak a virus into this country than give it to Mexicans? Right? I mean, one out of every 10 people born in Mexico is already living up here, and the rest are trying to get here. So you give -- you give -- you let this virus just spread in Mexico, where they don't have a CDC." Boortz went on to say: "So if you want to get that epidemic into this country, get it going real good and hot south of the border. And, you know, then just spread a rumor that there's construction jobs available somewhere, and here it comes. Because we're not gonna do anything to stop them from coming across the border."

No xenophobia there.

Listen to the whole clip from Media Matters:

Posted 04/27/09 at 09:50am By Frank Sharry

Gillibrand vs. the Minutemen: The New Politics of Immigration as Senate Begins Debate

senate

Note: Cross-posted at the Huffington Post.

As we look ahead to Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on common sense immigration reform, with a star lineup that includes former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Dr. Joel Hunter of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and SEIU's Eliseo Medina, it's time once again to take stock of the emerging new politics of immigration.

Two major trends rise to the forefront:

Moderate Democrats appear ready to tackle common sense reform, while Republican extremists stand poised to drive the GOP further into the political wilderness by continuing to demagogue on immigration.

But let's start with Rahm.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told Latino journalists back in February:

“The arrow is pointing in a different direction in relation to immigration politics in this country." 

Recent support from key Senate moderates illustrate Rahm’s case.

Take newly-appointed Senators Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).  While her record on immigration wasn't always pretty, as Senator of New York, Gillibrand (D), has traveled the state listening to constituents’ views about the need for comprehensive immigration reform.  This month, she turned the page and announced her support for the DREAM Act, a core piece of reform legislation that would allow immigrant children who have grown up in America but lack immigration papers to go to college and legalize their status, arguing:

America is the only home many of [these students] know, yet they are being denied the opportunity to achieve their full potential.  This legislation says that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will have the opportunity to get a good education and earn their way to legal status.  

This week, Senator Bennet (D-CO) also expressed strong support for common sense immigration reform.  During a series of town hall meetings, Bennet said that he has spoken with farmers, health care officials, and law enforcement in Colorado who want Congressional action on the issue.  Though he acknowledged that the politics of immigration reform are still “frail” in Colorado, his vocal support for reform is a clear sign that pragmatic politicians are rejecting the Tancredo approach to immigration policy

So what's this about the Minutemen?

While Democrats seem to be making headway, the Republican Party continues to be dogged by Minutemen hard-liners who oppose practical solutions.  Yesterday, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps founder Chris Simcox announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, challenging Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in the 2010 elections.  Simcox is a single-issue demagogue who opposes McCain because of his role as a leader in the fight to enact comprehensive immigration reform.  Unfortunately, Simcox is not the only Minuteman running for office.  Illinois Minuteman Rosanna Pulido ran as the Republican nominee in Illinois’ 5th district (ironically, for Rahm Emanuel's old seat), and garnered less than a quarter of the vote in her dramatic defeat. 

Indeed, Pulido's predictable loss (this is a woman who compared Muslims praying to dogs sniffing butts) follows an analysis conducted by America’s Voice in the last election, which revealed that in 20 of 22 battleground races where immigration was an issue, the candidate supporting a more comprehensive approach to immigration reform won.  In addition, candidates who spent significant campaign resources on immigration attack ads gained little- and often suffered- as a result of pandering on the issue.

As Bill Maher suggested in a recent column, The GOP: divorced from reality, now is the time for the Republican Party to denounce the extremists within it, especially when it comes to immigration. He argues, "To paraphrase George W. Bush, either you're with them or you're embarrassed by them." Luckily, there is a rapidly-growing contingent of Republicans in the embarrassed column.

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Posted 04/24/09 at 08:50am By Web Team

Heeding the Call to Care for Our Neighbors

Cross with Sunsent

By guest blogger, Yvette Schock, of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.

People of faith around the country and the world marked the holy feasts of Passover and Easter this month. 

They gathered to hear again sacred stories that tell of both slavery and the struggle for freedom. Stories of sojourners traveling in strange lands, of suffering and death, and of the hope and promise for new life. These stories are not told as mere rehearsal of past events or in anticipation of events to come, but to remind listeners of the call in every time to show compassion and care for neighbors, sustain hope in the face of struggle, and seek justice.

Hearing the call to care for their neighbors and seek justice, many people around the country marked their holy feasts this year by meeting with their representatives in Congress to tell them of their concern for their immigrant neighbors, and to ask what they will do to work for humane, compassionate, and comprehensive immigration reform.  

One group of youth leaders from Neighborhood Ministries in Phoenix, Arizona met with Rep. Ed Pastor (D, AZ-04).  They had been especially moved by what they learned about the experiences of immigrant youth and decided to focus their advocacy on the DREAM Act, proposed federal legislation that would allow immigrant students to pursue higher education:

After a year-long journey deeper into our poor immigrant community, into their struggles, pain, and strength, as a group of young people, we decided the DREAM Act was the most appropriate policy we should focus on.  High school and a few college students led the entire meeting.  We presented our findings, told our stories and asked Pastor how he could, with us, help lead. 

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Posted 04/23/09 at 02:55pm By Web Team

Weekly Immigration Wire: Building Up to Change

Note: This is a weekly feature by Nezua, TMC MediaWire Blogger

MonumentAs the U.S. moves closer and closer to enacting immigration reform, the situation on the ground is evolving as well. Nothing is static for an issue that touches so many people across so many communities. This week’s wire follows up on trends observed last week: holding mainstream media accountable, enforcement tactics, and immigration’s positive effect on the economy.

But if you’d first like to get up to speed on immigration reform fundamentals, stop over at Feministing’s interview with Christine Neumann-Ortiz. (And definitely don’t miss Feministing’s call to action to stop the infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio.)

Last week, the Wire highlighted the importance of  holding mainstream media accountable—especially when it comes to giving proper context to quoted sources. This week, Texas Observer’s Melissa del Bosque writes that “[t]he truth differs wildly from the perception.” when it comes to the actual political situation in Mexico and the image cultivated by mainstream media. While some outlets continue to develop an image Mexico as lawless and volatile, the actual scenario is not as dramatic.

Following up on enforcement tactics, Marcelo Balivé, writing for New America Media, explores the “backlash against immigrants” that “continues to rage countrywide.” According to Balivé, anti-immigrant sentiment is bleeding over into American perceptions about Mexican culture, “casting a pall on all Hispanic immigrants, whether they entered the country illegally or not.”

On a more positive note, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) head Janet Napolitano’s recent statements that ICE will henceforth target employers rather than workers is a move in the right direction, though she gives no indication of how that might manifest on a practical level. Napolitano also admits that there will be “no halt to arrests of undocumented workers.”

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Posted 04/23/09 at 01:57pm By Jackie Mahendra

Few Call For Census Boycott on Immigration, Most Support Full Latino Participation in 2010

Census WorkerA call by some Latino pastors this month to boycott the 2010 Census, unless immigration reform passes, could have dramatic and undesired consequences. 

That is why the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and a range of national Latino advocacy organizations are speaking out in support of full Latino participation in the Census.

While the impetus of the proposed boycott centers on urging Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, the endgame could indeed be disastrous, if it means that Latinos and their families are not counted in 2010.

An article in the Washington Post today countered claims that Census information might be wielded to pinpoint and arrest individuals who are in the United States illegally or whose family members are undocumented, a concern cited by the boycott’s leader:

While he alleged that state and local governments have unfairly interpreted census data to target or marginalize immigrant groups, Rivera could not cite specific documented examples of federal manipulation or improper sharing, which is prohibited by law and punishable with fines and up to five years in prison, according to Census Bureau spokesman Stephen Buckner.  

In addition, the nation’s largest Hispanic Christian organization today called for all to be counted by the census. In a press statement, Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, Vice President of Social Justice for the organization, argued for community participation this way:

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) and the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Christian Leadership believe that Latinos, regardless of faith or legal status, should participate in the 2010 U.S. Census.

For our communities, the benefits of participating in the census are essential to accurate representation, allocation of resources, and to gauge how our community continues to grow. The clear majority of Latino advocacy and faith organizations support the efforts of the U.S. Census Bureau to count each person in America in 2010, including the traditionally undercounted Hispanic population.

Here’s the deal: Latino communities deserve to be counted in our nation’s Census.

Any effort to block them from doing so, no matter how well-intentioned, should raise serious red flags for those concerned about making sure all of our communities receive full representation and vital resources.

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