Immigrant Day; Atrocious Alabama immigration law signed; Report shows that immigrants strengthen economies 5.14-5.21

Immigrant rights activists rally around immigrant day
Monday was immigrant day. Advocacy organizations like The California Immigrant Policy Center and allies are rallying to pressure policymakers to pass progressive immigration policies and advocate against anti-immigrant policies such as SComm and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.

Alabama governor signs harshest immigration law
Last week, Alabama governor Robert Bentley signed what is likely to be the harshest immigration law yet. The new version (HB658) keeps the main parts of the original bill (HB56), like requiring police to verify the immigration status of anyone they suspect is undocumented and requiring schools to track students’ immigration status.  Like the original bill, it will result in racial profiling and denial of students’ right to an education. To make matters worse, HB658 added a new provision that will marginalize and make life even more unjust for undocumented immigrants: it requires the state to publish the names and photos of all undocumented immigrants who appear in court.

S&P reports finds that immigrants strengthen economies, do not weaken it
A new report from Standard & Poor’s finds that cities with large numbers of immigrants experienced economic growth. Specifically, the report found an increase in per-capita income, improved credit ratings and found a stabilizing effect on labor markets. The report provides evidence that rejects the commonly promoted idea that immigrants harm  economies.

Black, Latino and Asian babies are now the majority among newborns
Census data reveals that for the first time in U.S. history, more than half (50.4%) of the nation’s babies are Black, Latino or Asian.

Women Farmworkers and Sexual Violence, 5/7-5/16

Cultivating Fear: A Report on Farmworker Women and Sexual Violence
Human Rights Watch’s  new report details the abuses suffered by farmworker women in fields by compiling interviews with farmworker women, social service providers, health workers, police, and others in New York, California, and North Carolina. The interviews describe the toxic social environments the fields can become. These conditions are a result of weak labor protections and immigration laws. With few protections, sexual assault and sexual violence are a common experience for farmworker women.

Civil Right Organizations Oppose House GOP version of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization
VAWA is up for its third reauthorization. It is a bill that provides money to prevent domestic violence and protect victims. One important component of VAWA is the U-Visa which gives temporary legal status to victims of certain crimes, including domestic violence. The senate version of the bill passed 68-31 with 15 Republicans voting for it. The house measure has been modified by the GOP to reduce provisions concerning confidentiality of immigrant women applying for the U-Visa, eliminating provisions for LGBT individuals, and eliminating a provision that would allow abusers to be held accountable in Native American courts. Planned Parenthood and other civil rights organizations strongly oppose the GOP version of the reauthorization for VAWA.

US Border Patrol unveils 2012-2016 Strategy
The US Border Patrol has released a new strategic plan to prevent immigrants from entering the United States. With immigration reaching a net-zero, the Border Patrol may have felt pressured to rebrand its mission. The strategy continues a policy of border militarization using sophisticated weaponry, pushing migrants into the most dangerous border crossing areas.

Immigration Reform: Auction for Work Permits
This week UC Davis economist Giovanni Peri proposed an alternative to comprehensive immigration reform by auctioning work-permits. Instead of deciding visas by family connections, the visas would be purchased by employers. Highest bidder wins the workers. There would be a set quota of visas given out every quarter. Permits would start at $1,000 for low-skilled workers (farmwork, poultry processing, etc.), and $7,000 for high-skilled workers (tech).  Peri argues “It (work permits) would certainly generate more awareness and clarity on the economic value of immigrants.” Visas given to family members, and thus, family reunification would decrease with Peri’s proposal.

Tags: Border Militirization, border patrol, CIR, Farmworkers, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, VAWA, Work Permits

EVENT: 67 Sueños Mural Fundraiser @ La Peña May 19th

On May 19th youth from 67 Sueños will be holding a fundraiser at La Peña in Berkeley to raise $ for a mural they are creating this summer. If you don’t know about 67 Sueños, it’s time to start paying attention! They are a bunch of high school students out of Oakland working on migrant justice.  They’ve been involved with various art projects and actions, and you can read more about that at 67suenos.org. It should be enough to say that they are a group of dedicated young people doing the good work.

Now, about that mural. It will be the 2nd mural created by this group, the first one can be found at 9th and Mission in San Francisco. The first mural was about the dangers at the border, and is full of color, symbolism, and is just striking in its beauty. We expect more of  the same from the second mural, this time though, the focus will be on immigrant women’s health. The mural elements and stories will be generated from interviews conducted by the 67 Sueños youth.

Come out and support this inspiring group as they bring out immigrants womens health to the forefront with their art! Event starts at 6p and La Peña is only a few blocks away from the Ashby BART station.

Tags: 67 Sueños, La Peña, Murals, Women's Health

May Day coalitions hit the streets, VAWA struggles through Congress, Latino students face challenges in AL

Immigrant rights, Occupy and activists take to the streets on May Day 2012
This May Day, known in the U.S. as both a day to celebrate labor and immigrants rights struggles, activists representing many different movements took to the streets.  Reports suggest that there was less emphasis on immigrant rights and a smaller immigrant presence in the many actions from New York to Oakland.  However, the solidarity may help to connect the many issues that affect immigrant communities.  For example, one participant in a queer and immigrant contingent in New York commented: “Against the backdrop of national LGBTQ immigrant rights organizing, marching in solidarity and voicing protest on May Day felt crucial and particularly powerful.” Another observer highlighted the power of the queer and immigrant rights protests as In These Times’ Michelle Chen comments, “Occupy might provide a platform to tackle cross-cutting issues of human rights, labor rights, globalization, and the expanding police state.”

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) faces another hurdle in the House  
The importance of cross-movement solidarity is on display in the current effort to reauthorize VAWA.  Despite traditionally having been a bipartisan bill, VAWA has faced opposition by Republicans because of provisions specifically to protect immigrant, queer, and Native American women.  After passing the Senate, the House has now introduced a version that exclude these critical protections.  VAWA is a critical protection for immigrant women victims of domestic violence who may otherwise not seek help for fear of deportation.

Latino students in Alabama have high absentee and withdrawl rates
The U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division has sent a warning letter to the state’s department of education that the impact of the state’s anti-immigraiton law may be illegal. The chilling effect of this law is clearly very powerful; although the provisions that require students to report their immigration status have been blocked by federal courts, Latino students now have the highest rates of absenteeism and withdrawal.  Student records show that, 14% of Latino students have withdrawn from schools since the law went into effect.

Los Angeles program offers health insurance to undocumented restaurant workers
Developed by an organization of restaurant workers and a local community clinic, ROC-MD will provide restaurant workers, predominantly undocumented and uninsured, with preventative medical care for just $25 a month.  Other health insurance programs for low-income workers, such as Medicaid and the new insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, exclude undocumented immigrants solely because of status.  ROC-MD is the first program in the nation and an innovative response to the unjust gaps in the health insurance system.

Supreme Court case of SB 1070 failed to address the rights of immigrants
New York Times commentator Linda Greenhouse highlighted the principal shortcoming of the argument against SB1070 with her commentary this week.  Disgusted with the solicitors and justices who spent the hearing “toying” with the elements of SB 1070, she points out that they failed to address the human rights problems with the law.  She writes that the focus seemed to become “which of two sovereigns, the United States or the state of Arizona, has the right to make the immigrants’ lives difficult.”

 

The Supreme Court, Electoral Politics, and Changing Immigration Trends, April 24- May 1

The US Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of Arizona’s 2010 anti-immigration law SB 1070. Although a ruling is not expected until June, there is a widespread sense that the Court will uphold the law’s central component. While this current case turns on state vs. federal control over immigration policy, some speculate that if the law is upheld appeals will be filed based on issues of racial/ethnic discrimination.

The case is being watched closely, by states that have enacted or are considering similar pieces of legislation, by immigrants rights groups, and by agricultural and business organizations that have raised increasing concerns over the laws’ unintended economic consequences.

Meanwhile, immigration continues to play a central role as the presidential campaigns get fully underway. Marco Rubio, Republic senator from Florida, campaigned with Mitt Romney ahead of what some predict will be a vice presidential candidate. The move is seen by many as an attempt to bring Latino voters into the Republican party, despite polling showing 70% support for Obama.

Obama’s campaign – seeking to ensure that Latino supporters are not prohibited from registering or voting in November – is responding to the numerous new voter registration laws in states like Florida by providing training for campaign workers to guarantee that registration drives are in compliance.

A report released by the Pew Hispanic Center shows that Mexican immigration to the US has slowed significantly, reversing a decades long trend. The causes of this include discriminatory laws, increased border security and deportation, high unemployment, and declining birth rates, among others. However, while the overall trend in immigration is shifting, significant challenges remain; this year found a large increase in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border, straining the capacity of the shelter and legal system to provide adequate services and legal rights to these minors.

Tags: AZ, Marco Rubio, Migration, Net Migration, Pew Hispanic Center, Supreme Court, Voter ID Laws

In the News 4.16 – 4.24: Border Patrol brutality; Supreme court examines Arizona’s law on Weds.

PBS episode exposes the brutality of border patrol, PBS, 4.20.12
As part of its Need to Know investigative reporting, the PBS episode exposes the border patrol’s inhumane treatment of people crossing the border. The episode shows footage of the brutal tasing and fatal beating of Anastasio Hernández, who had been a resident of San Diego for 25 years. Additional media outlets, including Democracy Now, have also recently covered this horrific event, which occurred in 2010. The report raises serious concerns and problems with the Department of Homeland Security, a system that lacks accountability and humane treatment.

Supreme Court examines whether immigration is a state or federal matter, LA Times, 4.21.12
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will examine Arizona’s anti-immigrant law SB 1070, which encouraged other states like Georgia and Alabama to pass similar and even more hostile laws against immigrants. The issue at hand is not whether these laws violate human rights, but whether states have the authority to pass and enforce legislation around immigration, a topic that has been in the past a federal matter. The Center for American Progress has compiled various resources to help advocates understand the potential effects of this decision.

Net migration from Mexico falls to zero and has perhaps even reversed, Pew Hispanic Center, 4.23.12
The Pew Hispanic Center’s report finds that between 2005 and 2010, 1.4 million Mexicans migrated to the U.S. while 1.4 million Mexican immigrants and their U.S. born children migrated to Mexico. The findings suggest that that the pretext for anti-immigrant policies is unfounded.

164 Anti-Immigration Laws Passed Since 2010? A MoJo Analysis. Mother Jones, April 2012
2011 saw a higher number of laws against undocumented immigrants than in 2010 due to five states passing bills similar to Arizona’s SB 1070. Some states passed 11 or more laws ranging from driver’s license eligibility to mandating that employers use E-verify. Mother Jones’ analysis also exposes how private-prisons like Corrections Corporation of America and GEO reap profits from anti-immigrant laws.

Arizona official targets Mexican-American studies at universities ,Colorlines, 4.18.12
Previously, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal led the attack to disband the Mexican-American studies program at Tucson Unified School District. He now is targeting similar programs at universities and colleges. One faculty member says “This is Arizona…And I firmly believe they want to eliminate a world view, from the schools all the way to the university level.” Eliminating these programs would eliminate not just a world view, but recognition of the social, cultural and economic contributions of Mexican and Mexican-Americans to Arizona and the nation.

Economic strategy in Georgia welcomes immigrants*. [*Only applies to detention centers]

Georgian economic strategy welcome immigrants*.( *Only applies to detention centers), The Nation, 4.10.12
As Georgia’s state legislature advances anti-immigrant laws, one small impoverished county tried to stake its future on immigrants. The annual per-capita income in Irwin county is just under $15,000, creating a need for any type of economic growth. However, they are not talking about bringing in immigrant labor to work in poultry processing or in farming. Local leaders wanted to bring in the immigrant detention business. County leaders tried to sell the idea of a detention facility to ICE, even though the location is less than ideal. Irwin County is far removed from legal services and other similar facilities in rural Georgia have been plagued with human rights abuses. With millions of dollars at stake, leaders of Irwin County are only considering the bed-spaces they might be renting to ICE. Illustrating the how the detention industrial complex pits a poor community against immigrants.

Nine Undocumented Immigrants Die in Car Crash, AP, 4.12.12
Last week, a teenager crashed a van with undocumented immigrants in Southern Texas. The teen was stopped at a border checkpoint, at which point several passengers escaped, leading border agents on a chase. The teen drove away in the van, only making it three blocks before crashing, tossing the remaining passengers from the van. Three went to hospital, nine died in the accident. In court proceedings he said that he was forced to drive the van because of threats by smugglers. The tragedy demonstrates the intersection of two immigration policies: 1) the economic situation that drives immigrants to enter hazardous situations, 2) militarized border leading to dangerous border crossings. The 15 year old boy has been charged with 9 counts of murder.

Camouflaged men gun down two immigrants at the border, LA Times, 4.13.12
In another demonstration of the danger at the border, two men in camouflage opened fire on a Chevy pick-up truck Northwest of Tucson, Arizona. The truck was carrying 20-30 undocumented immigrants when attacked. Two of the men in the truck died: one was from Toluca, Mexico, and the other from Guatemala. Although exact cause for the attack has not been determined, authorities are pointing blame to the lawless nature of the drug smuggling and border crossing common in the area.

Obama pledges to do more comprehensive immigration reform in his second term, The Hill, 4.14.12
“I can promise that I will try to do it in the first year of my second term,”  said Obama when interviewed by Univision on comprehensive immigration reform. He faces the challenge of building support among Latinos, while explaining immigration policies, such as deporting over one million immigrants in the first three years of his presidency. Candidate Obama made a similar promise about enacting immigration reform his first year of office while he was running for president in 2008.

Tags: 2012 Presidential Election, Border Crossing, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Detention, Georgia, Obama, Texas