Nebraska

Today’s often-heated debate focuses mostly on recent illegal entrants from Mexico, but the 87-year-old Reyes, who arrived as a boy, shows how deep-rooted many Mexicans are in the Midwest.

According to the latest census data:

• Of the more than 130,000 Latinos who live in Nebraska, 78 percent are of Mexican ancestry. And of those, more than half are U.S.-born.

• Likewise in Iowa, about 79 percent of 113,000 Latinos are of Mexican ancestry. Of those, 64 percent are natives of this country.”*

Anne Hobbs was angry. The head of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission had just learned of a Hispanic couple who said their landlord asked for their driver’s licenses — but didn’t ask the same of non-Hispanic tenants.

Hobbs said it sounded like the couple were “treated differently than everybody else because of national origin,” and sent the case to the state’s top prosecutor, hoping he would sue on their behalf under fair housing laws.

When Attorney General Jon Bruning received the case, he was angry, too — for a different reason than Hobbs.

“I’m not going to use taxpayer dollars to file lawsuits for illegal aliens,” said Bruning after learning the couple was in the U.S. illegally. “You’re not going to get a free lawyer” from his office, he said, “if you’re not a citizen of this country.”"*

The attorney general’s refusal to pursue housing discrimination complaints on behalf of illegal immigrants has become an embarrassment for Nebraska, the chairman of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission said Wednesday.

Arnold Nesbitt said the issue goes beyond the loss of federal funds because of Attorney General Jon Bruning’s position.

“We are beyond money now,” he said. “We are at how does Nebraska look to the rest of the nation? This whole incident has become an embarrassment.”"*

National immigrant rights groups are blasting Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning’s stance against giving legal aid to illegal immigrants and are laying the groundwork for a possible lawsuit.

The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund says it is investigating the issue but stopped short of saying that it would definitely try to sue Bruning.”*

A bill to deny tax incentives to Nebraska businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants has been sent to the full Legislature.

On a 5-2 vote Friday, the Revenue Committee advanced the bill sponsored by State Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha.

That action came the same day a separate committee formally reported its decision to kill Gov. Dave Heineman’s proposal to require government agencies to verify that those seeking benefits, such as unemployment compensation, be legal U.S. residents.”*

*From: http://www.omaha.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

If there was any doubt about the influence of Hispanic immigrants in Grand Island, a march through the streets erased that. Felipe Cruz was there that day. Now two years later, he’s leading the way to the ballot box.

“Voting is another way of showing our participation within the community,” said Felipe Cruz, a local Democrat.

Felipe captained his local caucus Saturday and says Hispanics made up about ten percent of the voters there. The majority of those were women at 60 percent. “*

*From: http://www.nebraska.tv
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Governor Dave Heineman is expected to appoint the next member of the Nebraska Mexican American Commission, and the commission is seeking applications from those who want the spot.

The commissioner spot opened for the Omaha area with the resignation of Ricardo Ariza.”*

*From: http://www.nebraska.tv
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project, a program of the Center for Rural Affairs at Lyons, and the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring Spanish business plan basics training in South Sioux City.

The training is for small business owners/managers or those interested in developing a business idea. The five-week training will be 5:30 Monday evenings at the South Sioux City Public Library meeting room, starting Feb. 4.”*

*From: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Hiring illegal immigrants could put businesses on the hook for costs ranging from education to welfare, under a bill introduced in the Legislature.

The bill (LG1170) brought Wednesday by Senator Tom White of Omaha would provide for the recovery of costs for public education, health care and public assistance programs used by illegal immigrants and their families, spouses or other dependents.”*

*From: http://www.kptm.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The fight over illegal immigration finds Governor Dave Heineman denying charges of racism and bigotry. He’s now considering a move that would find police in Nebraska working to enforce federal immigration laws. But critics argue it will lead to more racial profiling.

This comes in addition to the Governor’s plan to stop illegal immigrants from getting state benefits. “*

*From: http://action3news.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Nebraska’s leader is feeling heat over his plan to curb illegal immigration.

Hispanic activists are blasting Gov. Dave Heineman for a legislative proposal that targets illegal immigrants by saying it’s bigoted.”*

*From: http://www.kcautv.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

More than 3,900 people have participated in free bilingual financial and academic education classes since Centro Latino de Educacion Financiera opened its doors in 2005, according to Deborah Keating, vice president and director of community development. The center operated by First National Bank in South Omaha has also processed more than 225 home loans for low to moderate income borrowers, Keating reported.

“The Centro Latino makes the process comfortable for immigrants to learn the American banking system and the importance of establishing healthy financial habits,” Keating noted. “We walk through every component of the banking relationship so the entire process is understood.”

First National Bank’s Centro Latino offers Spanish language financial education classes that cover the essentials of savings and checking accounts, budgeting, online banking, borrowing, home loans and small business loans. High school equivalency (GED) and college preparatory classes are available through a partnership with Creighton University. In partnership with Omaha Public Schools, The Centro Latino provides academic English instruction at no cost.

“Many immigrant customers need help identifying the elements needed to establish credit and get approved for a home loan,” said Keating. “We offer banking materials in Spanish and English and help people through the financial process so that they feel comfortable with home ownership and banking in general.”

“The Centro Latino walked me through the mortgage process and helped me buy my first home,” said Antonio Jimenez, a 27-year-old Omaha resident who purchased his home last October. “They teach you how to gather the right forms and information needed to apply for a mortgage and work with you to get the best rate. I wouldn’t be in my home today if it were not for their support.”

In addition to financial services, the Centro Latino is highly involved in the community, offering meeting space to non-profits and partnerships with the Latino Chamber of Commerce, Latino Center of the Midlands, Guadalupe Festival, Juan Diego Center, St. Vincent de Paul Church and others.

“Being involved in the Omaha community helps First National Bank identify the needs of our customers,” added Keating. “The Centro Latino has become a welcoming place to congregate, learn and be a part of the community as a whole.”

For more information on First National Bank’s Centro Latino de Educacion Financiera, contact (402) 633-3541 or log on to http://www.firstnational.com.

About First National Bank
First National Bank is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc. First National of Nebraska, Inc., has grown into the largest private banking company in the United States. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have nearly $20 billion in managed assets and more than 7,500 employee associates located in 35 states. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas. “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Could a proposed legislative bill prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits make the availability of workers in Nebraska’s already tight job market even more difficult?

That could be an unintended consequence of the proposed legislation backed by Gov. Dave Heineman, Attorney General Jon Bruning and Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha, who is sponsoring the bill, said Rob Robertson of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.”*

*From: http://www.theindependent.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Gov. Dave Heineman on Friday morning submitted a proposal that would require state agencies to verify any resident applying for state benefits is in the United States legally.

“Illegal immigrants should not receive state benefits,” Heineman said in a news release. “As I travel the state, I am frequently asked about what Nebraska is going to do about illegal immigration, especially as other states have responded to the challenge. This is a measured and targeted proposal that is limited to the area over which state and local governments have control. It would help ensure that the benefits available to U.S. citizens are preserved for those who truly qualify for assistance.”"*

*From: http://www.ketv.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Governor Dave Heineman is targeting illegal immigrants in a proposal requiring state agencies to verify any resident applying for state benefits is in the United States legally.

The proposal will be introduced as a bill in the Legislature, which begins its session next week. The bill is a cooperative effort with Attorney General Jon Bruning and the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha.”*

*From: http://www.kptm.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

A year after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at the Swift & Co. plant in Grand Island, business may be back to normal, but psychologically, people are still looking over their shoulders in fear of federal agents.

On Dec. 12, 2006, ICE agents swooped down in full force on the Swift & Co. plant, arresting 252 people for violations of the nation’s immigration laws.

While the plant was up and running soon after the raid, it took more than four months for the plant to fully recover the loss of trained employees arrested by federal agents.”*

New partners may be teaming up with Columbus Public Schools to encourage Hispanic parents to participate in their children’s’ education as well as encourage Hispanic youth to advance their education and leadership abilities.

During the CPS Hispanic Advisory Committee meeting held Thursday, Pat Heimes, executive director of the Columbus Area United Way, offered assistance from United Way and its partners to help advance education and involvement from the Hispanic community.”*

The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and the College of Business Administration (CBA) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) have teamed up to conduct research and produce a report on the economic impact of immigration on the urban and rural economies of Nebraska. Christopher Decker, associate professor of economics, has been named Mammel Faculty in Residence with OLLAS and principal investigator for the project. Jerry Deichert, director of UNO’s Center of Public Affairs Research, will assist the project with census-based data.

The economic impact of immigration on Nebraska has been a matter of great speculation for a long time. Policy-makers and community agencies have often expressed the need for a rigorous assessment of such an impact which goes beyond anecdotal evidence. The research, a first of its kind in the state, is a major step toward filling this knowledge gap. “*

The Mexican banda group Intocables sells as many tickets as a James Blunt concert at the Sokol Auditorium. The pretty-boy British pop singer sold out the 1,400-capacity room last year. Intocables did the same a few months after his show. Banda is a popular dance style that is played primarily with brass instruments and has a polkalike beat.

The concerts are advertised only in Latino neighborhoods. They’re in Spanish-language newspapers. People hear about them by word-of-mouth and on Spanish-language radio stations.

If you walk down South 24th Street, you’ll see the brightly colored fliers stacked on countertops in mom-and-pop shops such as Nena’s, Don Gaby’s and La Guera — places shoppers go for oversized avocados, authentic Mexican gorditas and tejano boots.”*

“After watching Nebraska icon Tom Osborne get scorched in the GOP gubernatorial primary last year, candidates are choosing their words carefully when it comes to illegal immigration.

“There’s no question, this is an issue at the forefront of Nebraskans’ minds,” said Republican Jon Bruning, the state attorney general, who has declared his U.S. Senate intentions.

The wrong position “can drag a politician down real quick,” said John Rolfsmeyer, 56, a Democratic voter from Ravenna.”*

“Since 1985, life at UNO seems to have changed completely to Cindy Gonzalez.

However, after 20 years Gonzalez found herself back on campus with new acquaintances and a trip down memory lane. The Omaha-World Herald reporter graduated in 1985 with a degree in journalism.

New to the campus since her graduation is the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies of the Great Plains, which brought her back to campus on Sept. 27 to honor her for dedication and veracity in her coverage of Latin American community issues. “*

“The Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) has promoted Adriana Dungan to REAP Hispanic Business Center (HBC) Director. Dungan has served the Center as the REAP Northeast Business Specialist in South Sioux City, NE since May 2005. She will continue to serve the northeast Nebraska region in the near term in addition to assuming her new role.

With the HBC, REAP’s objective is to provide key business development services to rural Nebraska Hispanic entrepreneurs. Dungan’s acceptance of this new position ensures high quality service from REAP and the REAP HBC project.”

“The Nebraska Mexican-American Commission is seeking nominations for an award to be given to a family during Nebraska’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.”

“An award-winning Hispanic writer and scholar is planning to visit the University of Nebraska at Omaha this week for a lecture and book signing.”

“Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has begun airing a Spanish-language ad on radio stations in Nevada, introducing himself as a “son of a foreign father,” his presidential campaign said Tuesday.

The ad, the campaigns first media buy in the state, emphasizes Obamas religious affiliation, his call for unity and his fathers immigrant background.”