‘Qué Pasa’ in Immigration: Calls for Firing at ICE; Gibbs Talks Reform; Happy Cesar Chávez Day!

America's Voice Blog

Posted 03/31/10 at 10:41am

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, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs comments on immigration reform, and eight states celebrate Cesar Chávez Day.

Calls for firing at ICE. Several pro-immigrant groups have called for ICE director Morton's ouster in the wake of last weekend’s scandal over leaked internal memos containing quotas for deportation. In an analysis titled “If the Administration can’t pass immigration reform, it can at least fix DHS’ problems,” EFE reporter María Peña writes:

“If the situation doesn’t improve, authorities might achieve the goal laid out in 2003 in ‘Operation Endgame’: deporting all undocumented immigrants over the next decade.”

Other headlines:

EFE: “Pro-immigrant groups demand Obama fire ICE chief”

Diario las Américas (Miami): “Quotas set for deporting illegals”

El Nuevo Herald (Miami): “Calls to dismiss immigration policy chief”

La Voz (Houston): “Pro-immigrant groups ask Obama to fire ICE chief”

La Tribuna Hispana (Long Island): “The Obama Administration’s new treason against immigrants”

El Informador: “Hispanics ask immigration official to resign”

La Tribuna Hispana (Long Island) and Al Día (Philadelphia) publish the column “El hielo de ICE,” by Rafael Prieto of America’s Voice, which discusses the problems facing ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the discovery of the leaked memos, first reported in the Washington Post.

Gibbs talks reform. News agencies Notimex and EFE reprint statements from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs to the effect that immigration reform still needs Republican support. Meanwhile, a column titled “Failing the country with a ‘no’” in El Diario Las Américas (Miami) refers to Lindsey Graham’s recent maneuvers on immigration reform.

Happy Cesar Chávez Day! An editorial and an article in La Opinión (Los Angeles) pay homage to deceased civil-rights leader Cesar Chávez, whose birthday today is celebrated as Cesar Chávez Day in eight states.

In other news... Al Día (Dallas) reports on two demonstrations held in that city for immigration reform, and Catholic newspaper Vida Nueva (Los Angeles) reproduces Cardinal Roger Mahony’s address at the March for America on March 21st.

America's Voice has started a new series, “‘Qué Pasa’ in Immigration,” to bring Spanish-language coverage of immigration and politics to a wider audience. Look for daily roundups (in English) of some of the best Spanish-language news.

Don't forget to check out the latest Spanish-language reporting and analysis on immigration over at MaribelHastings.com.