America's Voice Blog

Posted 04/30/09 at 01:40pm

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.”

The political gap is growing, as other groups draw together. RaceWire’s Michelle Chen reports on the Black Immigration Network, “the first national network concerned about immigration issues and racial equity issues surrounding both African Americans and immigrants of African descent.” This Network is important because it bridges historical tensions between the two communities. And as Chen makes clear, there are people who exploit such divides to their own benefit.

The effects of the Iraq war, while a much quieter subject in today’s news cycle, are still playing out. AlterNet’s Nina Berman tells the tragic story of Iraqi refugees who are struggling in the poor U.S. economy and lack adequate help to get ahead. Omar Ibrahim is one such refugee who came to Texas in 2008. He is still jobless and family back in Iraq doesn’t quite understand. “They know that America is a dream,” Ibrahim says, “but it is a bad dream.”

Finally, in an inspiring show of activism, Public News Service’s Mary Kuhlman reports on two nuns who engages in civil disobedience at a Chicago ICE detention facility to draw attention to the fight for human (immigrant) rights. Obama’s 100th day marked their “tipping point,” after more than two years of prayer vigils. They needed to try something different. The nuns’ agenda? Making it possible for detained immigrants to see religious workers. Immigrants, many of them asylum seekers, are isolated even from their families. In this particular case, the women’s actions paid off.

At play today in our immigration debate are warring philosophies of who a “people” are and what we owe each other for simply belonging to the same human family. On one side, frothing, fearful punditry stoke division and hostility. And on the other, fearless and brave activists champion for our better natures. It is no small battle.

This post is a weekly feature by Nezua, The Media Consortium Immigration Blogger, with links to independent, progressive reporting about immigration. Visit Immigration.NewsLadder.net for a complete list of articles on immigration, or follow Immigration NewsLadder on Twitter

Comments

Here is good way to gain Online Degree now you can get Online Degrees and Online Phd more ccna, cisco, mcitp training, MCSE training and Life Experience Degree and and online degree programs 778899

ibm lenovo 92p1156 ac adapter20v 3 25a   gateway nv53 nv5300 ac adapter19v 4 74a   compaq presario v6000 ac adapter65w 18 5v 3 5a   panasonic toughbook cf w4 ac adapter16v 4 5a   dell inspiron 1500 ac adapter19 5v 3 34a   lenovo thinkpad 41n8460 ac adapter20v 45a   gateway nv54 nv5400 ac adapter19v 4 74a   compaq presario v6100 ac adapter65w 18 5v 3 5a   panasonic toughbook cf w5 ac adapter16v 4 5a   dell vostro 2510 ac adapter90watt 19 5v   lenovo thinkpad x200 ac adapter20v 3 25a   gateway nv56 nv5600 ac adapter19v 4 74a   compaq presario v6200 ac adapter65w 18 5v 3 5a   panasonic toughbook cf w8 ac adapter16v 4 5a   toshiba satellite u405 ac adapter19v 4 74a   lenovo thinkpad x201 ac adapter20v 3 25a

laptisor de matca de vanzare
The article is very interesting, but some issues still remained less affected. I hope that a future article and will reveal things behind the scenes, things that show us the true face of this.auto hibride and pret miere de albine

LX1010B Digital Light MeterLX1010B   Mastech MS8264 Digital MultimeterDigital Multimeter   LX1330B Digital Light MeterLX1330B   Wireless IP Cameraeasyn Wireless IP Camera   Mastech MS8221 Digital MultimeterMastech MS8221   HY3003D DC Variable Power SupplyHY3003D   HY3005F-3 DC Variable Power SupplyHY3005F-3

air jordans 2011,air jordans 2011
vibram fivefingers,vibram fivefingers
christian louboutin,christian louboutin
discount ugg boots,discount ugg boots
factory adidas,factory adidas
NT011.1105

kids nike shox shoes whte/yellowis the most lethal football ground war boots for love, can provide the striker scored high accuracy. It adopted the unique kids nike shox sale black/redtechnology, can let players attack follow one’s inclinationsly, not to sacrifice accuracy for cost. When exposed to the ball, kids nike shox shoes white/blackbesides the instep to produce sustained pressure,kids nike shox shoes white/blue ball at high speed precision realize perfect. In addition, the plastic memory foam make war boots a smoother surface in direct shot can enhance strength and accuracy.kids nike shox shoes white/red curved surface of central fins, each fins are pertinently Settings slash and size, let players can better control the ball to.

I visit this site and acquainted with this.This site publish most useful and valuable article.I read this post and find lot of things.I am really happy for reading and knowing this post. 43422

surrounding both African Americans

d, Kahn, and therefore released. But Thompsons lawyer waitress still claim 4, there Jordan Retrosare still air jordan flight 45 plenty of evidence that Kahn Jordan Retro 12 Air Jordan Retro 12 violated the Jordan Retro 1 waitress, including some photos and with air Jordan Retro 1 bruises and other Jordan Retrosph…

Submit a comment

Please enter the word you see in the image below: