Last month, after a quick, quiet, morning vote approving approximately $600,000,000.00 in border security funding, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office issued a statement calling for “comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, cracks down on unscrupulous employers, and requires those here illegally to get right with the law, learn English, pay taxes, pass criminal background checks, and go to the back of the line.”
A week-or-so later, Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) echoed Senator Reid: “We have to know who’s here. They have to register. They have to pay a fine. They have to have a background check. They have to be law-abiding, working; and I think those people get in the back of the line and are given the opportunity to earn legalization.”
Thus, what was once a “path to citizenship” for unauthorized immigrants living in the United States became, for a time, “earned citizenship.” Now, it seems the language of legalization has again shifted to a “back of the line” citizenship.
So, what is back of the line citizenship? No one I talk to seems to know (or at least, is willing to discuss) anything specific about the changing terms of extending citizenship to the estimated 12-14 million unauthorized immigrants currently living in the United States. However, the legalization side of comprehensive immigration reform indicates that legislative decisions may be underway regarding what “the line” for documentos might look like. [Read more →]
Imagine trying to get on the internet to view your favorite websites and not being able to reach the content that you typically find because certain sites have been prioritized by your provider. Or imagine having to pay to access certain sites on top of what you already pay for monthly internet service. This gets to heart of the net neutrality debate, and it is an issue that bloggers, blog readers, and anyone who enjoys freely surfing the internet for information, communication and commerce should care about because sites like this one could be affected especially when we provide information about campaigns that challenge the traditional media such as “Basta Dobbs” or even the DREAM letters campaign raising awareness about undocumented students.
Last week a new coalition, Latinos for Internet Freedom “LIF”, was formed to fight for internet freedom and to support the concept of net neutrality. Over 40 local and national groups comprise this coalition from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists to more local groups like the New Mexico Media Literacy Project and CARECEN. These groups realize that our livelihood depends on an open and free internet that allows us to communicate, organize, and challenge the traditional propaganda machines.
If you notice, some of our community’s most prominent or noted civil rights organizations have not joined the newly formed LIF coalition. Notably absent are NCLR, MALDEF, and LULAC. However, this should not be a big surprise since big telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon tend to be high level donors to these organizations. But since many of the grassroots organizations do work that fits in line with and supports the stated goals of the larger Latino organizations, I would hope that they (the holy trinity of NCLR, MALDEF, and LULAC) will eventually join this fight.
My name is Lizbeth Mateo and I am undocumented. On May 17th, on the 56th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, I, along with Mohammad Abdollahi, Yahaira Carrillo and two others, became the first undocumented students to risk deportation by staging a sit-in inside Senator McCain’s office in Tucson, Arizona, to demand the immediate passage of the DREAM Act. As a result of that sit-in we were arrested, turned over to ICE, and we now face deportation.
I came to this country when I was fourteen-years-old from Oaxaca, Mexico. It was the late nineties and Mexico was, and is still, facing one of the worst socio-economic and political periods in recent history. For my parents – a taxi driver and a stay-at-home-mom that were struggling to make ends meet- it was clear that they would have to choose between seeing their children starve and get sick, or risk it all, leave everything behind and relocate the family to Southern California with hopes of a better future. In 1998 we moved to Los Angeles and have lived here, since.
Their choice and sacrifice paid-off. I didn’t only become the first one in my family to graduate from high school, but a couple of years ago I became the first one in my family to graduate from college. I graduated from California State University, Northridge and I am currently in the process of applying to law school. My dream is to become an attorney and defend the most vulnerable in the courts of law.
Life as an undocumented student has not been easy, it’s been filled with tough choices and a lot of uncertainty. At one point I felt like the only way to fulfill my dream of higher education was to leave my family behind and go back to Mexico. But California had become my home and so I chose to stay despite the uncertain future ahead. Against all odds I enrolled in college, and it was there that I first learned about the DREAM Act. From the moment I heard about this piece of legislation I decided to work hard and advocate for its passage. It’s now been seven years since that day and the DREAM Act has yet to become a reality.
Every culture has a different take on what ‘excellence’ means. In Western culture, we tend to borrow many of the meanings of our ‘virtues’ from the Greek thinkers or the Hellenic cultural tradition. Western cultural tradition constantly or continuously seeks or strives for ‘excellence’ in life’s everyday quests: academic, professional, artistic or spiritual. Latinos’ western cultural tradition can be traced to the Greek concept of ‘arete‘ which loosely translates as ‘virtue’ or ‘excellence’ . This concept derives from the Greek or Hellenistic outlook on life among the Athenian aristocracy where accomplishment was invariably praised. In our modern day culture, the individual is always praised for outstanding achievement beginning in pre-school or earlier. This continues right through college and into professional life. Team effort or accomplishment is equally praised.
Yet, there are cultural differences in the way the concept of excellence is approached that should be pointed out. For example, the Jewish tradition is noteworthy in explaining the constant demonstration and celebration of ‘excellence’. The Jewish concept of striving for excellence is inherently different than the Greek ‘arete’. The Greek concept, which we Latinos seem to emulate, is that every social class has its own icon of perfection and all should strive to be that perfect individual (in strength/beauty/intellect etc). Whereas in Judaism, according to Rabbinical thinking, one does not stress trying to be the pinnacle of strength/beauty/intellect etc. because these are God given gifts and it is not always within an individual’s capabilities to be the strongest, prettiest, smartest individual within a group. Rather, Judaism stresses utilizing those God given gifts to the limit of one’s ‘potential’.
On July 20th, 2010, I was arrested in the office of Senator John McCain fighting for the DREAM Act.
I am one of the thousands of students who would qualify for this legislation. I was brought to the United States at the age of four and have been here ever since. I consider myself to be a good student, and I always strive to be a good example for others. I have been waiting for the DREAM Act to pass since it was first introduced in 2001, and this year I decided that I couldn’t stand by and wait another year. I decided to fight for my DREAMs.
I can no longer watch as politicians gamble with my future and the futures of my friends, family, and even strangers who are in the same position as I am. This is why I, along with 20 other DREAMers, decided to take action and fight for what we believe is right; thus, we decided to conduct sit-ins at various senators offices and urge them to take action on the DREAM Act. We can not stand by as another class of outstanding students graduate without being able to fulfill their DREAMs.
I have been taught that America is the land of opportunity, yet I have been denied the opportunity to contribute back to society and continue with my education. I put my life on the line by participating in this action but I strongly believe it is worth it, because all I’m asking for is an opportunity to DREAM.
Because of the sit-in I have to return to Washington DC for my trial on October 1st, 2010. During the trial I will continue to fight for what I believe is right. I need to be able to make it back to DC for this date, however, I’m running out of funds. Please help me continue my fight so that I can make it back to DC for my trial on October first.
If I can’t make it by then, I’ll have a warrant for my arrest and the risk of deportation will be higher. I don’t want to go back to a country that I don’t know. America is my home, the country I would fight for, the country I would die for. Please help me remain with my family and friends. Please help me stay home.
This is just a Wednesday roundup of what is going on in the Latino political sphere. I will be adding more comprehensive blog posts within the next few days.
Randy Parraz, the Latino candidate for the Democratic nomination for Senate in Arizona, finished last. I commend him for trying, but it will be interesting to watch Rodney Glassman challenge John McCain, who ended up winning his primary after facing a tough challenge from a more conservative J.D. Hayworth. I actually met Glassman last month at Netroots Nation, and I must admit that he’s a pretty charming guy. Glassman likes to remind all of the Latinos that Congressman Grijalva and Dolores Huerta have endorsed him. I can’t wait to see him juxtaposed to McCain. Hopefully, they debate just so we can have that visual of the young, energetic Glassman next to the cranky, nearly 74 year old McCain. But Glassman still has an uphill battle.
A report recently came out by the Center for Responsible Lending that shows in California, Latinos borrowers constitute nearly half of all foreclosures in the state. The Central Valley has the highest concentration of foreclosures. I had blogged about the foreclosure crisis in relation to the Latino community last year in a two part blog post here and here if you are interested.
Last week, Mario Obledo, one of the founders of MALDEF and then Governor Jerry Brown’s head of the California Health and Welfare Agency during the 1970s died of a heart attack at age 78.
President Obama is scheduled to be in El Paso, Texas on August 31. Given the President’s increasing deportation rate and militarization of the border, I see how this event could be an opportunity for the community to voice concern.
My name is Carlos and I’m a 23 year old undocumented immigrant from Caracas, Venezuela. I want to legalize my immigration status in this country through the passage of DREAM Act this year. For too long have I lived in the U.S. without papers. It has been over 20 years, now. I want to legalize my immigration status in order to fulfill my dreams of becoming a young professional in architecture.
There are obstacles in my daily life that make it extraordinarily difficult to pursue a career in architecture. Fortunately, because of my determination to continue my studies after graduating high school in 2005, I’m currently a student in Miami Dade College. It has not been without great difficulty. For many years it felt as if all the potential I developed in high school was for nothing.
I am the perfect example of other students in similar situations whose voices have been silenced by the fact that we are not truly accounted for. We are afraid of speaking up because doing so might affect our immigration status in this country and possibly even lead to deportation. I myself felt this way for several years, but after dealing with my status for so long, I now consider it a duty to speak up for myself and for other youth in my shoes.
I remember that dark and cold feeling of shame, fear and hopelessness.
After the death of my mother–the person I was closest to in my life–I’d constantly ask myself what is to come of me? Where is my life going? If it wasn’t for her strength and desire to see me succeed, I would not have devoted myself to this cause in her memory. If it wasn’t for her love–her incredible affection transcending my existence–I would not have been able to conquer the fear of being undocumented. My love of humanity has manifested itself through the fight for immigrant rights.
That’s why I was one of four undocumented youth that participated on a 1500 mile walk from Miami, FL to Washington D.C. known as the Trail of Dreams.
I encourage you to present this letter U.S. Congress, Mr. President, so that the voice of one undocumented immigrant echoes the voice of millions. I hope that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus can have the vision to push for the DREAM Act this year. It would be be a dream for so many families, fathers and mothers just like mine, to see their children on the path towards legalization and professional degrees.
I consider it a colossal loss for society that young Americans, such as myself, find it extremely difficult to continue our studies after high school graduation. We are unable to work legally, unable to join the Armed Forces, unable to legally obtain a driving license, and unable to apply or receive most scholarships. Economically supporting our families under these circumstances is impossible.
Our legalization would greatly contribute to our communities and make this country a better place. As young professionals we would open businesses, create jobs, pay taxes, and play a much stronger role rehabilitating the economy, just like any other hardworking U.S. citizen.
Please give us the opportunity to contribute to the only country we know as our home, Mr. President. Please step up and help us pass the DREAM Act, this year.
Arizona’s primary is tomorrow, and while many people are focusing on the John McCain and J.D. Hayworth race on the GOP side, there is an up and coming Latino candidate on the Democratic side, Randy Parraz.
Randy Parraz entered the Democratic race in late April challenging the establishment candidate Rodney Glassman right after SB 1070 was passed. Parraz has a history in community organizing, working in labor and civil rights. He assisted in establishing the National Strawberry Commission for Workers Rights for strawberry pickers and was recently the Arizona State Director for the National AFL-CIO.
The Arizona Bilingual Magazine has a pretty comprehensive biography of Randy Parraz in its July issue. One point that I think is compelling about Parraz is that he has the academic credentials to go toe to toe with the establishment pols. Worth noting:
“Who is Randy Parraz? The quick answer to this question is that Parraz is the real deal, a civil and labor rights activist who has a proven record of fighting for our community.
There’s something about making your mama proud, about seeing her filled with pride after all her hard work for your future pays off at your college graduation. Randy graduated not just once, but three times from the nation’s top universities!
After completing his undergraduate work at UC Berkeley, Randy went to get his law degree from one of the most prestigious law schools in the nation, the Boalt Hall School of Law at Berkeley. As if this wasn’t enough, Randy then attended and graduated from the nation’s top school, Harvard University, with a Masters degree from the John F.Kennedy School of Government.
It was at Harvard that Randy Parraz first met Cesar Chavez, and little did he know how much his future work would continue what Chavez had started. Even though a world of wealth awaited someone with such a distinguished educational background, with degrees from both Berkeley and Harvard, Randy decided to use his knowledge to fight for justice for the hard-working American.”
So, what is back of the line citizenship? No one I talk to seems to know (or at least, is willing to discuss) anything specific about the changing terms of extending citizenship to the estimated 12-14 million unauthorized immigrants currently living in the United States. However, the legalization side of comprehensive immigration reform indicates that legislative decisions may be underway regarding what “the line” for documentos might look like.
Every culture has a different take on what ‘excellence’ means. In Western culture, we tend to borrow many of the meanings of our ‘virtues’ from the Greek thinkers or the Hellenic cultural tradition. Western cultural tradition constantly or continuously seeks or strives for ‘excellence’ in life’s everyday quests: academic, professional, artistic or spiritual. Latinos’ western cultural tradition can be traced to the Greek concept of ‘
Randy Parraz entered the Democratic race in late April challenging the establishment candidate 
