09/14/09 On Friday I explained how Rep. Joe Wilson's controversial heckling during President Obama's joint Congressional address last Wednesday laid bare the ugly-as-ever, Republican illegal immigration wedge strategy for the nation to see. What's more astounding, I argued, was that key Democrats, Senators Baucus (D-MO) and Conrad (D-ND) to be specific, seemed to be validating Wilson's outburst. Republicans were scaring up a fake bogeyman – the undocumented immigrant who would benefit from taxpayer funded health insurance – and rather than pushing back with the facts, Baucus and Conrad told the American public to take them seriously.
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09/11/09 Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during the President's joint Congressional address on Wednesday has exposed—for the entire nation—one of the Republican Party's favorite political plays: the illegal immigration wedge strategy. What's more astounding, however, is that key Democrats, Senators Baucus (D-MO) and Conrad (D-ND) in this case, seem to be going along. Republicans were scaring up a fake bogeyman – the undocumented immigrant who would benefit from taxpayer funded health insurance – and rather than pushing back, Baucus and Conrad seem to be taking them seriously.
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09/10/09 It's obvious that the specter of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is being used by politicians like Rep. Joe Wilson as a divisive wedge issue-- he has become a mouthpiece for groups whose main agendas are rooted in white nationalism, fear, and xenophobia. One such organization is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), classified as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. FAIR has been lobbying Congress for years now and is storming DC this week for its annual "Hold Their Feet To The Fire" lobby days. Take Action!
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09/01/09 Today, the Washington Independent cites our analysis in a piece called "Immigration Advocates Eye New GOP Senator," and echoes our concern: "Immigration advocates are wondering what the newly chosen Florida senator-to-be, George LeMieux (R), is going to mean for their campaign for immigration reform — as well as how the pick could influence how the growing number of Latino voters view the Republican Party."
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08/26/09 For over four decades, he was a towering figure in the ongoing struggle to make our immigration and refugee policies consistent with America's finest ideals. What you may not know, however, is that he helped 200,000 of us fall more deeply in love. I'll get to that.
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08/26/09 We at America's Voice are deeply saddened to mark the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy today. He was a valiant hero to the immigration reform movement and a true champion for immigrants of all nationalities. As USA Today chronicles, Senator Kennedy spent a large part of his life's work making the American dream a reality for not just Western European immigrants, but for Asian, African, and Latin American immigrants, as well. The article quotes America's Voice Executive Director Frank Sharry, reflecting on Kennedy's many achievements in this area.
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08/25/09 Today in Immigration Must Reads…Healthcare, Arpaio, and the "Rejiggering" of American Politics....Read 'em.
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08/24/09 New Feature: Must Read News Roundups on Immigration, by America's Voice Founder and Executive Director, Frank Sharry. So lots happened last week – an eventful meeting last Thursday with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano at the White House produced a number of mixed reactions, some hopeful and some cynical. Here are a few key clips from the weekend, to get a flavor for what's happening.
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08/21/09 For the 130 immigrant advocates, business and labor leaders, and law enforcement representatives, who met with Janet Napoitano yesterday, the urgency for real reform is clear.Here are four video responses from attendees at yesterday's White House meeting on immigration reform. I took these videos directly after the meeting, as attendees were leaving the White House.
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08/20/09 Well, this ought to be interesting. In a couple hours, I'll join Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and 130 immigrant advocates, business and labor leaders, and law enforcement representatives to discuss immigration policy at the White House. This meeting comes amidst a growing chorus of criticism and concern from Latino leaders and immigrant advocates who believe that Secretary Napolitano is emphasizing the continuation of controversial Bush-era immigration enforcement tactics and downplaying the need for real, comprehensive immigration reform.
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08/19/09 You've probably heard by now that officials at the White House are convening a meeting tomorrow on immigration. The White House is hosting a discussion with advocates, religious groups, businesses and law enforcers as part of an effort to bring all parties into one room. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead the discussion. Today, the Reform Immigration For America Campaign is asking its supporters to text in their questions for Napolitano – the top three questions will be asked directly by advocates at the meeting.
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08/19/09 Today marks the start of two full weeks of action, prayer, and protest on immigration. People of faith and community leaders from across the state will join immigrant advocates from my organization, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), to mobilize for just and humane immigration reform-- and to reject the continuation of futile, Bush-style enforcement-only policies on immigration.
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08/18/09 Eight years ago, Herta Llusho came with her family to the US from Albania-- when she was just eleven years old. Herta's family came for the reason most immigrants do: in pursuit of the American dream. Today that dream has become a nightmare. Herta is due to present herself to be deported tomorrow. You can make a difference - take action.
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08/14/09 Right now, much of the nation's attention is on health insurance reform and the accompanying side-show generated by vitriolic opponents of the President's proposal. As immigrant advocates, we're all too familiar with those angry, ugly attacks. We'll no doubt see some of those characters, led by Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck, during the upcoming immigration reform debate. But we're going to be ready. Across the country, the forces supporting immigration reform have been mobilizing and adding new allies.
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08/11/09 By Guest Blogger Mario Quiroz, from CASA de Maryland: "Delay may be business as usual in Washington, but Baltimore isn't having it. Yesterday evening, amidst news that President Obama now sees immigration reform delayed until 2010, the Baltimore City Council passed a resolution-- the first like it in Maryland-- calling on President Obama and Congress to act swiftly to pass real, comprehensive immigration reform."
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08/05/09 Yesterday's New York Times blasts the Obama administration for being too slow to implement real, comprehensive immigration reform, and too quick to extend Bush-era immigration policies that have led to widespread abuse. It mentions local protests bubbling up across the country that are part of a nation-wide call to halt these violations and pass real immigration reform. MSNBC and NDN discuss Obama, the GOP, and the Latino Vote.
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08/05/09 Yesterday, DC-based think tank NDN hosted "Politics and Policy: What to Expect from the Immigration Debate," a panel discussion between NDN president Simon Rosenberg, ImmigrationWorks president Tamar Jacoby, and executive director of the National Immigration Forum, Ali Noorani.
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07/29/09 A series of events over the past several days and weeks show that the Republican Party still has not learned the lessons of the 2006 and 2008 elections. As Senator Tom Coburn might say -- they have some "splaining to do." In a remarkable and mostly unconscious display of white identity politics, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee spouted condescending questions at the president's distinguished nominee for the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor. Failing to trip her up, all but one of the Republicans on the committee voted against her nomination.
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07/27/09 Over the weekend, Senator Jon Kyl stated: "To try to do immigration reform this year would be an impossibility." He listed all the items on Congress' "already crammed" agenda to prove his point. But one item he mentioned on that agenda is the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor as Supreme Court Justice. In all probability, we'll be calling Sonia "Justice Sotomayor" before our good Senators settle in for August recess.
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07/22/09 The report makes several recommendations, including limiting the use of home raids to a last resort for targets who pose a serious risk to national security or have violent criminal records; the use of judicial rather than administrative warrants, and the videotaping of all home raids. It also calls for the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General to conduct an investigation.
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07/21/09 In another sign that momentum is building towards comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama, in remarks last Friday before Spanish language media outlets reasserted his commitment to immigration reform, saying it is Something we want to move forward on...we're going to have to keep the pressure for this to happen.
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07/21/09 Colbert may have tickled our funny bones last night, but Rachel Maddow set the record straight-- watch it. Huffington post blogger Nicholas Graham reports in 'Maddow Demolishes Buchanan's Surreal Facts About America's Racial Past (VIDEO):' "While Maddow said it would not be fair to re-litigate issues without the guest with whom they were discussed, and that it's "not cool" to talk about guests after their segment is over, she did feel the need to correct several things Buchanan stated as fact that simply were not true. "
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07/16/09 "Kos: Republicans appear to be heeding Buchanan's advice, more concerned about placating their shrinking regional white male base than in expanding their tent. Some Republicans are even concerned about that." With Senator Schumer set to drop immigration reform legislation by Labor Day, as he says, the GOP will have the biggest opportunity in the forseeable future to repair -- or further damn-- their brand with Latino voters, who overwhelmingly consider immigration reform to be an issue of both great political and personal importance.
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07/16/09 Watch Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) give a a one-minute floor speech today on the urgent need to reform our immigrant detention policies and our nation's currently unjust immigration system. Rep. Polis is quickly becoming a strong and passionate champion for real, humane, and sensible immigration reform. Watch it:
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07/15/09 The segment highlights the impressive report released last week by an indpendent Council on Foreign Relations Task Force, co-chaired by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) and former White House chief of staff (under Clinton) Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty III, which stated the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of our nation's immigration laws succinctly: "The stakes are too high to fail."
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07/14/09 Yesterday we wondered aloud about whether certain Republican Senators would cease and desist from their racial attacks on Judge Sotomayor so that, among other things, the GOP might have a chance to stop bleeding Latino voters. Looks like GOP leadership intends to do no such thing. As the Huffington Post's Sam Stein reports: "The confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor have become, in a small but significant way, a referendum on the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee."
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07/14/09 Lots of immigration sideshows last week, but here's the big picture: Senator Schumer (D-NY) announced plans to introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill by Labor Day. According to the Associated Press: "I think we'll have a good bill by Labor Day," said Schumer, D-N.Y. "I think the fundamental building blocks are in place to do comprehensive immigration reform."
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