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November 20, 2009

Hispanic lawmakers say an old adversary, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, has his fingerprints all over a push to prohibit illegal immigrants from buying health insurance plans in a new market for people who don’t get insurance through their employers.

Some U.S. Democrats see momentum building for an overhaul of immigration laws that would legalize millions of undocumented workers, but analysts say a crowded agenda and struggling economy may once again sink hopes for reform next year.

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.

Do Long Island Police Ignore Hate Crimes?

Mexican migrants are spending more money on taxes in the United States than on the remittances they send home to relatives, according to a new study by Mexico’s largest bank, BBVA Bancomer.

Ana Maria Perez Gonzalez, said to be the oldest woman in the world, died in Mexico this week. She was 119.

Part of a Cuban blogger’s essay that advocates lifting the ban on U.S. travel to Cuba was read aloud at a House Foreign Affairs committee hearing. – Yoani Sánchez

November 19, 2009

TOP Ten reasons you should watch Lopez tonight not Conan

Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Report Finds Immigrants Hit Harder During Economic Downturn than Native-Born Workers

After a 3 year trial of producing regionalized news for several top 10 Hispanic market stations via the Telemundo Production Center in Dallas, the network is reverting to producing local news. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix and San Jose will once again have locally produced news.

Nacional Records Sampler 2009 | The New Sounds Of Latin Music – 21 FREE mp3s over at Amazon – (cool!)

Ironically, Latinos should be greatful to former CNN blowhard Lou Dobbs – commentary by Albor Ruiz

When White Writers Do “Latino” Issues – It was chaos this week in the LA Weekly’s virtual mailroom, which received a deluge of reactionary attitude in regard to Christine Pelisek’s cover story “Chaos in the Casitas: Lawless, south of the border–style speakeasies get a grip on L.A.”

More Than 60,000 Americans in 45 States Organize for Immigration Reform

New Report Shines Light on Detainee Rights Violations in Minnesota

CIS Report Attempts to Erase 100 Years of Data on Immigrants and Crime

Video: Senator Menendez Speaks on Behalf of Hispanic Farmers’ Discrimination Lawsuit + update

November 18, 2009

New Report: More Than 2 Million Hispanic Households With Children Face Hunger – Hispanic households with children experiencing very low food security up almost 50%

On November 18 at 8:00 PM Eastern time/5:00 PM Pacific, all across the country people are hosting house parties with their families, friends, neighbors, churches, classmates and anyone else who supports comprehensive immigration reform for America.

Video report of Latina forced to give birth while in chains in Maricopa County, AZ courtesy of Sheriff Joe Arpaio (en Español)

California’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman told a group of supporters Tuesday that she is making an unprecedented effort to attract Latinos to the Republican party – in South El Monte

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.

Environmentalists alarmed by Puerto Rico policies – Sweeping from lush mountain rain forests to pristine beaches, a corridor of land protected by Puerto Rico’s last governor hosts dozens of rare and endangered species and was championed by celebrities who helped fight off resort proposals. – Now new Gov. Luis Fortuno has revoked the reserve as part of a drive to bring jobs and investment for the U.S. territory’s struggling economy. And activists see a broader pattern of looser protection for the island’s environment.

Deporting undocumented students affects the chances for legal return if Congress doesn’t address it in immigration reform bill

Eleventh-hour criticism is arising over President Obama’s nomination for United States attorney in northern Iowa of a prosecutor who had a leading role in the criminal cases against hundreds of illegal immigrants arrested in a May 2008 raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa. – Stephanie Rose

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.

Report from America’s Voice: The New Constituents… How Latinos Will Shape Congressional Apportionmention After the 2010 Census

November 16, 2009

15th annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza in San Antonio – more than 1,000 professional & student musicians participating – 8-day festival of mariachi competitions, workshops, presentations, serenades & concerts attracts more than 15,000 visitors annually.

Money Trickles North as Mexicans Help Relatives – reverse remittances from Mexico

Scarlet “A” will dominate immigration reform rhetoric – Greg Tejeda on immigration reform & Janet Napolitano’s speech

The first Texas Hispanic legislators didn’t want to go public when they organized some 40 years ago out of fear they might be considered “un-American.” – Today, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) is growing in influence — and raising record amounts of money — as Texas’ population turns increasingly Hispanic.

Supporters of tough U.S. sanctions against the Cuban government have given more than $10 million to congressional campaigns over the last seven years

Oregon universities try to recruit more Latino students – In 2007, Latinos made up nearly 12% of the 12th-grade class and less than 6% of freshmen in the university system. About 20% of first-graders that year were Latino.

The Obama administration will insist on measures to give legal status to an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants as it pushes early next year for legislation to overhaul the immigration system, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Friday.

Authorities say a 7-year-old boy, three women and a university professor are among 15 people who were killed in a single day (this past Friday) in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez.

Sonia Sotomayor unwittingly adds celebrity touch to Supreme Court

One of the Republican Party’s most respected and relied-upon consultants has serious reservations about two the party’s biggest names. – Alex Castellanos, a conservative media strategist and regular presence on CNN, raised questions of Sarah Palin’s viability for office and took major swipes at Florida Senate candidate Charlie Crist

November 13, 2009

ASU, ALRE release major study on Arizona’s Latino population – (direct link to report & powerpoint)

10 Latino MLB ‘09 Season Highlights – (some cool stuff here)

The ‘flea’ CNN’s Lou Dobbs couldn’t shake off – Interview with Roberto Lovato

Few Latinos in leadership positions at California nonprofits – hold only 6% of executive director positions and 9% of board seats but are 36% of the state’s population

Postville Raid: Eighteen months have passed since immigration agents raided Agriprocessors Inc. meat plant, arrested nearly 400 workers, and sent the plant spiraling into bankruptcy. – On Thursday, the plant’s former vice president – Sholom Rubashkin – was found guilty of 86 of 91 counts of financial crimes. – Verdict brings closure to many in Postville

Hispanics accounted for more than half of the 95 swine flu-related deaths in Texas in the first six months of the H1N1 pandemic, an analysis by the state health department found.

Think you’re obsessed with President Barack Obama and the many challenges he faces at home and abroad? – Well, you’re not alone. – Fidel Castro appears to have a fascination with the American leader that would make Obama Girl jealous, writing obsessively not only about his politics, but of his youth and vigor.

Dobbs’ CNN departure leaves me cold – (Gregory Tejeda’s insightful post – good read)

Federal authorities have identified more than 111,000 immigrants with criminal records being held in local jails, during the first year of a program that seeks to deport immigrants who have committed serious crimes.

GOP should take a cue from Lou Dobbs and resign their attack strategy on illegal immigration

November 12, 2009

Lou Dobbs Delivers His Head to Hispanics, But That’s Not Necessarily a Good Thing – (interesting)

First Hispanic Muppet Rosita plans to celebrate birthday with big piñata -moved to “Sesame Street” from her native Mexico in 1991, becoming its first Hispanic Muppet resident.

Men, especially Hispanics, hard hit by loss of good jobs

TOP Ten reasons Latino Sammy Sosa went from Black to White

Her Honor: A Portrait of Justice Sonia Sotomayor

“Lopez Tonight” opened to 3.1 million viewers Monday night as the new TBS talkshow also premiered on Turner nets TNT and TruTV.

U.S. State Department Sells Out Honduran Democracy for Senate Confirmations

Monterrey (Mexico’s 3r-largest city) has fired almost a quarter of its traffic police for failing tests designed to detect corruption and ineptitude. And half of Monterrey’s traffic cops were ordered to undergo more training after performing poorly on the tests. Only a bit more than a quarter were found to be completely fit for the job.

For Battered Latina Immigrants: Dwindling Resources, But Also Hope – This is the second report in a special two-part series on domestic violence in immigrant communities by Feet in Two Worlds reporters.

Initially waved off, Hispanic advocates jump into health debate – Effort centers on ensuring reform doesn’t shortchange immigrants

Goodbye to an anti-hispanic – After months of pressure, Lou Dobbs’ departure from CNN is not only a sign that the network is interested in restoring its credibility but also that immigrants and Latinos will stand up firmly to hate mongering.

BastaDobbs.com Announces Victory: Lou Dobbs to Leave CNN

November 11, 2009

Veterans Day: Saluting a Forgotten Force – Millions of Latinos are proud of their history of military service to our nation. To discover they have defended the USA against all enemies, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Afghanistan, one must cull through volumes of research, academic dissertations, or tomes of Spanish-language and Latino literature, because this history is not common knowledge.

A new study of workers at 50 hotels in the United States found that women were 50% more likely to be injured than men, and that Hispanic women had an injury rate two-thirds higher than their white female counterparts.

As many as 750,000 Latinos and Latinas served in the armed forces during World War II, according to the U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project

Melting Pop? Latin Music in America Is Sounding More Like Pop – (interesting – lots of audio to listen to)

Mexico and the Crisis of a Dependent Economy – The well-known 19th century Mexican saying—”poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States”—has become more poignant today than ever in the context of the global economic crisis.

Are All Latinos Happy that George Lopez is the New Latino Poster Boy? – By Ricardo González

George Lopez is the first Latino host on late night – Teresa Puente’s take on the 1st 2 shows

Domestic Violence In Immigrant Communities: Often Triggered by Stress and Complicated by Immigration Status – This is the first in a special two-part series on domestic violence in immigrant communities by Feet in Two Worlds reporters.

Al Horford, the Hispanic ALtanta Hawk that everyone loves – father, Tito, was the first Dominican-born player to play in the NBA

Sammy Sosa: Lighten up folks, it’s just facial cream – (this sure has gotten a lot of press)

November 10, 2009

I Might Be Mexican, but I Don’t Have to Like ‘Lopez Tonight’ – Comedian Trots Out Tired, Unfunny Ethnic Humor

Cubans Warily Test Their New Freedom To Criticize

Mexico declares flood emergency in 2 south cities – A week of torrential rain has flooded the homes of more than 200,000 people along Mexico’s Gulf coast

At least 10,000 Salvadorans are in urgent need of food aid after devastating floods and mudslides that damaged crops, destroyed homes and killed 130 people, the U.N. World Food Program

Heroic Texas Latino officer says policewoman at Fort Hood ‘erased a lot of prejudice’ – (interesting)

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus took the right stand on threatening to withhold healthcare votes

Just what America needs, another talk show – Gregory Tejeda on the Lopez show

After deferring his dream to play in the NBA, Greivis Vasquez is returning to Maryland for his senior year. But in Venezuela, they’re more interested in what comes after that.

Roberto Rodriguez: Beaten by police and running to victory – November 7 marks 30 years since he won his first police brutality trial in East L.A.

One of the largest immigration crackdowns under the Obama administration to date took place in the Twin Cities last month, when 1,200 undocumented janitors were ‘quietly’ fired from their jobs

November 9, 2009

Up next: A Latino president? – who will be the nation’s first Latino president?

Remembering Marcelo Lucero : Images and Thoughts from Vigil in Patchogue, Long Island

Many illegal immigrants deported in ‘a cloud of uncertainty’

Colombia said on Sunday it will appeal to the U.N. Security Council and the OAS after Hugo Chavez, the fiery leftist president of neighboring Venezuela, ordered his army to prepare for war in order to assure peace.

November 7, 2009

MARISA TREVIÑO: She’s one blogging Latina lista to be reckoned with!

Honduras leadership in limbo as accord dissolves

BLS: Unemployment Rate Rose to 10.2% in October; Hispanic Unemployment at 13.1%

November 6, 2009

Carmen Ortiz has been confirmed as the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, becoming the first Hispanic and the first woman to hold the state’s top federal prosecutor’s job.

A Mix of Flash and Idealism at the Latin Grammys – Glitz and heart-on-sleeve emotionality mingled, every so often, with political and social messages at the 10th annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Native American corporations, particularly an array of Alaska Native Corporations, have become major defense and homeland security contractors – responsible for a wide range of national security operations, including electronic surveillance on the border, running immigrant detention centers, and supplying security and other services in U.S. overseas wars and energy exploitation.

Latin Grammys: Calle 13 dominates with 5 awards – “Other than Calle 13, there were no other major winners. ” – Mercedes Sosa won the prize for Best Folk Album.

Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a GOP attempt to require next year’s census forms to ask people whether they are U.S. citizens – Vitter’s attempts fail

November 5, 2009

TOP Ten Latino-themed Caskets for Sale at Wal-Mart

Low Latino voter turnout in NJ and VA elections reveal a return to the old ways

Grassroots Effort to Oust Lou Dobbs Now 100,000 Strong – Latino leaders and their allies who are part of BastaDobbs.com vow to continue online campaign putting pressure on CNN to drop Dobbs

Latin Grammys honors Mexican icon Juan Gabriel – The Latin music world celebrated 100 million records sold, 1,500 songs written and 30 years of recording, all by one artist, Mexico’s beloved Juan Gabriel.

Calle 13: With the people, without a map – Calle 13 hit it big in a hurry. Unsettled by fame, MC Rene Perez set out to connect on a personal level with Latin America.

For immigrants, illness can bring a death sentence

The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated it is interested in hearing an appeal from business groups that, for the past two years, have been trying to have Arizona’s controversial employer-sanctions law thrown out. – The sanctions law, which punishes companies for hiring illegal immigrants and requires all Arizona employers to use a federal electronic system to verify the work status of employees, has been upheld by two lower courts.

Cuban Tomas Regalado was elected mayor of Miami with a pledge to control spending, limit property-tax increases and curtail development

A top Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) official confirmed that officers were conducting a training exercise at CSUN that involved members of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) earlier this semester. – Members said they were targeted and profiled by LAPD officers during their first meeting on Sept. 2. & that they were followed, harassed and intimidated by “undercover police officers” during a ceremony to welcome first-time freshmen to their organization.