Detained and Deported: Failed By a Broken Immigration System
Please join me tomorrow for this lunch and learn session hosted by JCUA, and its Immigrant Justice Strategy Team. JCUA – IJST is one of the groups I am working with to raise awareness about the push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Detained and Deported: Failed by a Broken Immigration System, Reflections and Testimonies on why we need Reform; [...]
State of the Union
I wonder when immigration will be addressed. Lots of references to commissions and agenda items. Jobs, taxes, schools, college, healthcare reform, even a shout out for child obesity. Recovery program. Housing. Government spending. Campaign Funding. Supreme Court. Confirmations. Iraq. Military withdrawal. Military families. Haiti. Civil rights. Hate crimes. Gays in the military. Equal pay.
Finally – [...]
Its been too long…
Sorry for the hiatus. There is so much going on. Its time for me to get back to chatting about what’s going on out there. Comprehensive Immigration Reform, will it come to fruition? Immigration has come up in the health care debate, the disaster in Haiti, whether it stimulates job creation. It was an issue [...]
Does USCIS even read its own information?
Many of you likely heard that 2 different immigration programs were scheduled to sunset on March 6, 2009. Someone in my office and I were busy debating what exactly does the term sunset mean. Is sunset the last day the program is valid or the first day the program expired? Well let’s look at the [...]
Congratulations to Mike Quigley
Today, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won the Democrat Primary for the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois 5th District. This seat has been a democrat stronghold for a long time, making his likely victory in the actual election a foregone conclusion. None the less when reviewing the candidates I was surprised to see how [...]
Fan of the NY Times Editorial Position on Immigration
I continue to be amazed by the Editorial Board of the NY Times. While so many keep ignoring Immigration Issues, they continue not only to keep it on the front burner, but to keep getting it right. In this morning’s issue they again implore President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano to be smarter on [...]
Immigration Benefits for Same Sex Couples?
We have been watching for this for a long time. Currently even if people are legally married elsewhere, or even in a US state that recognizes same sex marriage, the US immigration system will not extend immigration benefits to the couple. We have been trying to encourage people to at least apply and then when denied [...]
Could this be the end of 287(g)?
I can hope can’t I? “New Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has ordered a broad review of immigration enforcement policies, including 287(g). A report released last week by Justice Strategies offers arguments for eliminating the program.” NAM (March 3, 2009). 287(g) is the program that allows local law enforcement organizations to partner with federal agencies. [...]
Congress is Schizophrenic (on Immigration in the Stimulus Bill)
Are they trying to help or hurt? I know I am not saying anything revolutionary, but the reality is I am convinced even they don’t know for sure. When it came to the Stimulus Bill there were sadly only two (2) immigration cross overs and they were both of the restrictive kind. The first thankfully [...]
Let’s Get Immigration Right II
I am begining to think I could work for the NY Times Editorial Board. They did it again. On Sunday they issued the following:
The country needs to control its borders. It needs to rebuild an effective immigration system and thwart employers who cheat it. It needs to bring the undocumented forward and make citizen taxpayers [...]
Go Rep. Gutierrez
Rep. Gutierrez will be leading a campaign across the country to get Immigration Reform back on the table. I hope people come out in support everywhere. We need people to remember that the time is now. I know the economy has trumped all, but cant people see that immigration helps the economy. It helps with [...]
Driver’s Licenses?
Why is it that something people need to function and be safe is the place people think they can fight immigration. In Illinois we have motor voter which registes people to vote when they get a license. So manypeople have their futures ruined by this overbroad attempt to compel voting. In Texas even people entitled [...]
Maybe there is hope for the Raids to End
So the first ICE raid since Pres. Obama took over just took place in Seattle, WA. It looked like more of the same policies. But then Sec. Napolitano said that she wanted to review the raid. There is a light at the end of tunnel. I am hopeful that this craziness ends. We need to [...]
Here we go again….
Its the confirmation hearings, which means its time for immigration to come up in relation to the nominees. So we are discussing CIR, enforcement, right to counsel – right? Wrong…. Instead we are discussing whether your housekeeper or nanny was in status, whether you paid taxes, they had employment authorization..etc. Can you believe that these [...]
Finding a Sense of Who We Are…
The editorial board of the NY Times has gotten it right again. I find myself saying this over and over again. In this mornings edition they talk about how we can figure out who we are if we bring rationality back to the immigration discussion. It is time to stand up and admit that the policies [...]
Homeland Security Recruitment Show
What was ABC thinking when they agreed to air a reality show about the Customs and Border Protection workers? Instead of a real picture of the gross misconduct and unfair practices these power maniacs utilize, we see crazy people who get excited about finding drugs, pull guns on kids, and think everyone is a terrorist. [...]
Why do you hate me?
That is a question someone asked me today as I visited Mexico. They want to know why the US will not let them visit, will not let them live. All they want a better life for their family. As bad as we think it is for us in the economic turmoil of the US, we [...]
Let’s Get Immigration Right
As we look ahead to the new year, we have a lot of hope. There are pragmatists being appointed to immigration related positions in the new government. Gov. Napolitano and Gov. Richardson along with Rep. Hilda Solis bring a lot of years of straight talk and recognition that the same old things do not work. [...]
Help me please…
Someone, anyone, talk about the increasing attitude in this country. When things get tough immigrants are the scape goats. We suffer beatings, and are even killed. We need to be careful, and so do the leaders. Talk about us…we can even help resolve the dire economic situation. Retirement visas, penalties for comprehensive reform, etc.
Cool Heads Should Prevail
Let’s hope that cooler heads prevail and some of the bad policies go out, and new ideas come in. The Editorial Board of the NY Times has summed it up correctly again.
