In the midst of the continued economic recession, the US Census Bureau will begin a massive count of all persons residing in the United States. Based on this count – one that includes legal permanent residents, long-term visitors, and undocumented residents – the federal government will be distributing more than $400 billion dollars throughout the US. It is estimated that each person counted represents $2,200 yearly to the state, funding that at the local level is put into healthcare, schools, job training centers, and public works projects.
But the distribution of that funding to the Rio Grande Valley depends on an accurate population count, which has not been easy in the past. It is estimated that during the 2000 Census, 45 percent of households in Hidalgo County did not mail in their census forms, meaning hundreds of census workers had to be sent out to persuade them to fill them out. Since the distribution of that funding is based on population counts, if the Valley is undercounted again, we lose out on our proper share of that funding.
Census data also helps determine political representation. The bigger our state’s population, the more seats we have in the US House of Representatives. And with the US Congress redrawing the congressional districts map to include more districts in heavily Hispanic populated areas, an accurate count in the Valley could mean more political representation in Congress for our often neglected region.
Here’s our first guest post from Thomas Kobylecky (who also just recently became a LUPE member!):
The term “Extreme Hardship” is all too familiar to those of us who have been struggling with current immigration laws. But for those who are not, it is a term that was introduced with immigration legislation in 1996, The Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Along with other tightenings of our immigration system, this act created 3 year, 10 year, and permanent bars for illegal aliens from re-entering the country.
* If the alien has been here from 3 months to a year when applying for a visa, they are given 3 years bar. A waiver is available with a letter of “Extreme Hardship” from a U.S. citizen or legal resident family member.
* If the alien has been here over a year, they are given a 10 year bar. A waiver is available with a letter of “Extreme Hardship” from a U.S. citizen or legal resident family member.
* If the alien has been here over a year, returns to Mexico, then re-enters the U.S. without inspection again, they are given a permanent bar. There is no waiver available until 10 years are spent outside the U.S., regardless of family ties with a U.S. citizen or legal resident. The IIRAIRA act gave new felony classification to these cases.
“Extreme Hardship” is something that must be proven to the USCIS, before undocumented family members of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents can return to the U.S. “Extreme” hardly sounds like a word that should be part of any serious legislation. Webster’s dictionary defines “extreme” as- A: existing in a very high degree. B: going to great or exaggerated lengths. C: exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected. The fact that it is in legislation means that it is supposed to mean the same thing the day it was written as it does today.
The word “Extreme,” however, is obviously a rubber word, expanding or contracting in its implications, depending on what is considered “ordinary” for the day. Things that were considered “extreme” yesterday are increasingly considered ordinary today. More importantly, it is implied how the immigration officer who is dealing with the case wants to imply it, which brings me to another aspect of the IIRAIRA Act.
The personalities behind some of the nation’s top immigrant rights groups describe the life experiences that inspired them to join the fight for comprehensive immigration reform. New America Media spoke with Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress, Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum, Andrea Black of the Detention Watch Network, Clarissa Martinez of the National Council of La Raza, Frank Sharry of America’s Voice and Karen Narasaki of the Asian American Justice Center.
People are angry and disappointed that there hasn’t been significant change in immigration policy and this frustration was clear in people’s voices, signs and calls for reform at the convention. But more powerful was the general sense of urgency for the need to take action and the determination for change. That’s why more than 700 Texans came together in Austin to rally on Saturday for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Hundreds signed onto a letter urging President Obama to use his leadership and work with Congress to pass CIR that would unify families, respect civil liberties and human rights, and end the raids & deportations. The goal is to get 50,000 signatures on the letter, which will be delivered to the White House during the immigration reform march that’s being put together by RI4A.
Families testified about the unjust separation of families due to deportation & detention. Community organizations and advocates voiced their concerns about the erosion of due process, workers’ rights and basic human rights in the current immigration system. Police officers discussed the troubling 287(g) program and why they have refused to take part. Students spoke out the lack of affordability and access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. Keynote speaker, Ali Noorani, put the fight for immigration reform in a national context:
About 100 community members from the Valley attended the event as part of the Equal Voice Network, a coalition of groups working for immigration reform, along with housing, economic, education & worker justice:
The message from Texas is clear: COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW! It’s good for the economy, good for security and good for families!
In solidarity with the national interdenominational effort through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, ARISE held a prayer vigil this morning to call attention to the urgent need for justice in the immigration reform system.
The national vigils are all calling on Congress and the Obama administration to push forward legislation that will keep families together, create pathways to citizenship and protect all workers’ rights.
A representative from Senator Cornyn’s office, Ana Garcia, came to support along with a representative from Rep. Hinojosa’s office. ARISE gathered more than 1,000 signatures in support for CIR and presented them to each of the representatives to share with Senator Cornyn and Rep. Hinojosa.
Ana Garcia, Rep from Sen. Cornyn's office, receives signatures for CIR
Together we sang No Nos Moverán (We Shall Not be Moved) in honor and remembrance of those who are suffering injustice because of our broken immigration system:
In celebration of Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court’s passage of a resolution in support of immigration reform, the Equal Voice Network held a press conference at the Court to applaud our commissioners.
Here’s a picture of the signed resolution that demonstrates the Court’s commitment to obtaining comprehensive immigration reform by sending letters to President Obama and our members of Congress.
Commissioner Oscar Garza attended the event and shared a few words regarding his commitment to working towards humane immigration reform and how important the issue is to his Valley constituents.
The Equal Voice Network organizations involved with getting the Hidalgo County resolution passed included LUPE, Proyecto Azteca, ARISE, Southwest Workers’ Union, Proyecto Juan Diego and Proyecto Libertad.
That’s Javier Parra, an organizer with LUPE, appearing in front of the Commissioners’ Court of Hidalgo County to push for passage of a resolution in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Hidalgo County commissioners adopted this resolution and have confirmed their commitment to obtaining humane immigration reform. The commissioners realize the vital role immigrants play in our economic, social and cultural life in the Valley – including the $400 million that immigrants contribute to Texas as a whole. You can read the 1 page resolution by clicking here: Immigration Reform Resolution
A coalition of organizations with Equal Voice for America’s Families put together this resolution and successfully worked for its passage in Hidalgo County. Next, the Equal Voice network will be presenting a similar immigration reform resolution to Cameron County. Hopefully they too will sign on to affirm their support and symbolize the urgent need for immigration reform!
Today, The Monitor came out with a story on a recent lawsuit to challenge the Texas law allowing undocumented students access to in-state tuition. The article mentions both sides for and against the issue, but unfortunately many readers have decided to chime in with hateful “against” comments instead of actually trying to understand this complex issue that affects thousands of students in our country.
I want to take a minute to address these comments as straightforwardly as possible – I hope that readers will put away their bias for a few minutes and see this issue from a logical, economic and humane perspective.
First of all, let’s go over what the current law actually states since there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what’s being offered to undocumented students. The Texas law (House Bill 1403) allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition and ability to apply for financial aid if they qualify by meeting the following criteria:
1) graduated or the equivalent from a Texas high school
2) resident in the state for at least three years as of the date of high school graduation or receipt of the equivalent of a high school diploma
3) registration no earlier than the fall of 2001 as a student in a postsecondary institution
4) sign an affidavit stating the intent to file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest possible opportunity.
In case you missed it, here’s what President Obama said regarding CIR in the State of the Union:
“And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system – to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nations.
In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America; values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still. Every day, Americans meet their responsibilities to their families and their employers. Time and again, they lend a hand to their neighbors and give back to their country. They take pride in their labor, and are generous in spirit. These aren’t Republican values or Democratic values they’re living by; business values or labor values. They are American values.”
I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed that President Obama’s speech barely mentioned immigration reform, or that even the mention of it came near the end of a long speech. Yet, I can say that I remain hopeful for the passage of CIR legislation. We cannot give up. This is just an indicator that we need to step up our game in demanding humane immigration reform from Congress. It’s a reminder that we need to work even harder and make even more noise to show our Members of Congress and the White House just how urgent immigration reform is to millions of families, and of course how important CIR is to the well-being of our economy.
Moving forward, here at LUPE we understand more than ever the need to mobilize our base while getting new folks involved with the most pressing civil rights issue of our time. One important event coming up is our Immigrant Rights convention in Austin on February 20th. Head on over to the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance site to get more details if you’re able to attend! We will be calling on our Senators and Reps. to seriously take the lead on immigration reform – we, the voters, are closely watching and demand action now.
I want to close with a quote from Howard Zinn (1927-2010) that has helped me stay hopeful during these troubling times, and I hope it inspires you to keep fighting the good fight:
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places-and there are so many-where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
NEW AMERICANS IN THE LONE STAR STATE
Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are Growing Economic and Political Force in Texas
Washington D.C. – The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an important part of Texas’s economy, labor force, and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. Immigrants accounted for nearly 1/10 registered voters in the state and more than 1/5 of all workers. With the state working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Lone Star State.
Highlights from Texas include:
* Immigrants made up 16.0% (or 3,828,904 people) of Texas’s population in 2007, which is roughly the total population of Los Angeles, California.
* 30.9% of immigrants in 2007 (or 1,185,001 people) in Texas were naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.
* Latinos accounted for 36.0% (or 8,605,577) and Asians 3.4% (or 812,749) of Texans in 2007.
* The 2008 purchasing power of Latinos totaled $175.3 billion and Asian buying power totaled $33.5 billion in Texas in 2007.
* If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Texas, the state could lose $69.3 billion in expenditures, $30.8 billion in economic output, and approximately 403,174 jobs.
Founded in 1989 by labor rights activist César Chávez, La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) is committed to building stronger, healthier communities where people have the power to effect social change through community organizing and civic engagement.
Join us! Read our blog to get involved with LUPE's work in the Valley for comprehensive immigration reform, improving life in the colonias, labor rights as well as healthcare & education. Tell us what you think, leave comments and get engaged!
