LULAC Supports the STRIVE Act Which is a Realistic and Fair Immigration Reform and a Moratorium on Raids Around the Country

LULAC National President Rosa Rosales made the following statement today: “Over the last few months a failure to reach consensus on immigration reform has resulted in raids around the country including Texas. For this reason LULAC applauds the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for their leadership in supporting the STRIVE act today which would more thoroughly address the security and labor concerns at hand. The STRIVE Act has 75 co-sponsors.

LULAC is disappointed with the latest round of raids by the federal agents who were part of the newest initiative by the government to crack down on undocumented immigrants working in the plants of poultry producers across the country. Other industries have also been targeted. Raids in a doughnut factory in Houston and a Mexican restaurant chain in upstate New York have also led to dozens of arrests. LULAC again urges President Bush to mandate a temporary stoppage on raids. The raids do nothing to improve our immigration laws and cause fear in the communities. The process is having a negative impact on the immigrants, local communities and the economy.

Early on April 16, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carried out raids on poultry processing plants owned by the Pilgrim’s Pride Company in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas and West Virginia. Of the total number of workers arrested, 58 were released under supervision for humanitarian reasons such as childcare or medical issues.

In a keynote address to the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), an organization founded in 2003 by the Mexican government, I stressed key issues pertaining to Immigration reform, concerns over the latest round of raids and the newly created LULAC National Commission for Immigrant Affairs (LNCIA). LULAC has twenty members that are part of the IME delegation.

LULAC supports strengthening our borders, strengthening interior enforcement, employment verification and earned legalization for hardworking immigrants that want to contribute to this great nation and will continue to work for a comprehensive immigration bill that is fair and just.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.”*

• Ricardo Salinas Breaks Ground for What Will Be the Most Modern Television Studio in Latin America – Mexico City
• Brazil replaces Mexico as China’s top market in Latin America and boosts its surplus as well.
• LULAC has redesigned their website – (look much better imho – on a tech note there are a few RSS problems)
• LULAC is asking a judge to prevent Ohio state officials from canceling the registrations of more than 40,000 vehicles apparently driven by undocumented immigrants. – filed the lawsuit against state officials in Franklin County Common Pleas Court this morning.
• ICE audit plan for employers includes El Paso, draws criticism from rights group
• LatAm Immigrants Are Changing Spain, Sociologist Says
• The current global crisis will cause the number of poor people in Latin America to rise by 9 million to 189 million this year, the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean said in a report presented on Thursday.
• ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton announces 1,000 new workplace audits to hold employers accountable for their hiring practices
• The leader of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Latin American division, Vicente Trius, is leaving the company after having served less than five months in the position.
• Beginning with the 2009-2010 season, Terra will stream select games live throughout Latin America, in both Spanish and Portuguese
• New Report Shines Light on Detainee Rights Violations in Minnesota
• The Associated Press on Wednesday announced changes in its Latin America and Caribbean operations, closing a service limited to Puerto Rican news within Puerto Rico while adding editors and reporters elsewhere for the expanding Spanish market in the Americas.
• Money Transfer Service to Latin America – ATMCASH launches online and over the phone money transfer service to Latin America
• Reviewed: Gringo: A Coming-of-Age in Latin America, by Chesa Boudin
• The Utah Forensics Team is hosting a debate Thursday centered around the issue of immigration reform in Utah. – The event, titled “Broken Borders: Debating the State of Immigration,” will feature Tony Yapias, the former director of the Utah State Office of Hispanic Affairs; Utah Reps. Mike Noel and Chris Herrod; and Dee Rowland, a government liaison for the Utah Catholic Diocese
• Trend Toward Smaller Families in Latin America – The number of people per household in Latin America will fall by 18 percent by 2020, according to a study released in this capital Tuesday by consulting firm Euromonitor International.
• Hundreds of defendants awaiting trial for violent crimes in Dallas County have been deported by federal immigration officials and then set free in their home countries. – The practice goes back to at least 1991 and includes the release of murder, kidnapping and child rape suspects.
• From a group calling themselves Electronic Civil Disobedience comes the Transborder Immigrant Tool, a simple mobile application intended to aid and abet border-crossers from Mexico to the United States by mapping the safest routes to take. – This GPS app is built to work on the cheapest cell phones available.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs Joins LULAC in Supporting the 4th Annual Hispanic Veterans Summit
• The Center for American Progress applauds Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s push to move forward with the congressional debate.