by Nezua, TMC Mediawire Blogger

The immigration discussion is sometimes reduced to symbols or a war of “sides,” be it on blogs, comment threads, or conference calls between legislators, media outlets, and activists. But it’s important to remember what this fight is about: People. In last week’s Wire, we covered the White House’s June 25th meeting with lawmakers, during which an intention to address immigration reform was formally announced. The meeting yielded much celebration and discussion by advocacy groups and activists alike, but waiting for reform does not change the situation on the ground. This week, we look at everyday situations—from students who are deported upon graduation to the growing number of hate crimes—that make a clear argument for reform now, not later.

RaceWire’s Julianne Hing reports on the “good immigrant/bad immigrant” fallacy inherent in even the DREAM Act’s terms:

When the DREAM Act is passed, heck, when immigration reform gets passed, people in this country will feel so magnanimous. But families will still get torn apart because we insist on dividing immigrants into two camps: the good and deserving, and the bad and unworthy.

Hing writes this in reference to the case of Walter Lara, a child of immigrants, who wasn’t aware of his undocumented status until attending college. He was nearly deported this July, but managed to stay thanks to a “a frenzied couple months of multi-pronged organizing” and petitioning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Hing calls Lara’s halted deportation a “pyrrhic victory” for the movement. [Here, I'd also add Vivir Latino's commentary on the Good Immigrant/Bad Immigrant narrative.]

The phrase “comprehensive reform” is used by media, activists. and politicians alike, but what does it actually mean? Will comprehensive reform include aid to those fleeing military corruption in Mexico? Or will our immigration policies keep them at bay with a wall or more border troops? In Mother Jones, Richard Bowden writes of reporter Emilio Gutiérrez Soto’s flight from the Mexican Army and appeal for asylum in the U.S., even though “no Mexican reporter has ever been given political asylum.” The U.S. supports Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s harsh Drug War policies, and yet our policies have forced this migrant and many others North, where they often end up in detention. With truly “comprehensive” reform, we could resolve this glaring hypocrisy.

In the video below, Gutiérrez Soto speaks about his belief in the U.S. justice system, and his hopes for the future.

Writing for RaceWire, Michelle Chen reports on Utah’s newly introduced law that requires home childcare providers to show proof of immigration status in addition to normally-required background and safety checks. There is no argument that childcare standards are necessary. But laws like this don’t take the realities on the ground into account. “Utah’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants threatens to throw off a critical balance between quality and accessibility,” writes Chen. The move will cause many to lose their jobs, “while pushing families to seek out less-regulated care.”

In the absence of a definitive immigration policy, restrictionists use convoluted rhetoric to muddy facts. Walter Ewing, posting at Alternet, warns of the “Green Xenophobia” employed by hate groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Ewing handily debunks one of FAIR’s “special reports” that ties greenhouse gases to immigrants. Simply put, the greenhouse gases emitted by the U.S. are “a function not of population size, but of the degree to which we as a society rely upon fossil fuels, power plants, industrial processes, and automobiles.” Ewing also reminds us that John Tanton, an “uber nativist” is responsible for creating FAIR, and several other anti-immigrant groups (like NumbersUSA, and CIS.)

Finally, reporting for the Progressive, Yolanda Chávez Leyva writes a stirring appeal to our better natures as individuals, and collectively as a nation in “Recent Attacks on Immigrants Tell Us Who We Are.” She asks, “What kind of nation are we that allows our youth to stalk and kill others for being ‘different’?” and then draws a line. “It’s time that we take the anti-immigrant rhetoric and its fear-mongering leaders for what they are — not protectors of this nation but destroyers.” It’s hard to argue with that.

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about immigration. Visit Immigration.NewsLadder.net for a complete list of articles on immigration, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy and health issues, check out Economy.NewsLadder.net and Healthcare.NewsLadder.net. This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of 50 leading independent media outlets, and was created by NewsLadder.

Also featured at The Sanctuary, Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, Open Salon, DailyKos, Open Left, FDL, Rabble, MyDD …

[For those new to UMX, The Weekly Immigration Wire is a weekly (paid) article I write for The Media Consortium. It is a column that runs on a few other sites (see end of post) and is written with a more formal voice than other blog posts found on UMX. Note: this was published on July 2, I was just late posting it at UMX.]

After postponing twice, President Obama finally met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on June 25 to discuss moving immigration reform legislation forward. The meeting was applauded by activists and advocates for immigration reform, as the issue seemed to have stalled, and the acrimonious tone of the debate has proven deadly.

All parties emerged from the meeting with positive feelings about the prospect for progress, as I heard on last Friday’s White House debriefing conference call. A confluence of positive factors are contributing to the momentum: Major labor leaders are united for reform, Democrats are leading much of Washington, and voters in the U.S. clearly want to see reform passed. President Obama made his intention to pass reform very clear and the White House predicts the process will begin late this year or early 2010.

New America Media calls the meeting a hopeful beginning, but makes it clear that nothing is guaranteed this year—despite the pressing need. And we can’t wait too long for reform to begin. 2010 is the beginning of the 2012 Presidential election cycle and the issue could be “too easily politicized” at that time.

Wiretap Mag’s M. Junaid Levesque-Alam writes that, while Obama complimented Senator John McCain for taking risks, he seemed averse to boldly stating what he hoped to see or would stand behind; that “nothing [Obama] said indicated significant political movement” on the issue. But, Levesque-Alam hypothesizes that Obama’s caution is related to tension caused by “core contradictions not simply between but within the political parties.” The immigration issue is contentious, even among members of the same party.

GritTV and The Nation teamed up to present a panel asking Is Immigration Reform Dead or Alive? (video). The panelists discuss a potential future in which immigration reform does not pass. Their predictions make a grim scene, centered around the horrors of a growing detention industry. Children are incarcerated in these facilities. Over 90 people have died in detention and they are damaging families. Guest Ravi Ragbir, now a member of Families for Freedom, spent two years in a detention center. Ragbir’s young daughter was so disturbed by the sight of her father in shackles that Ragbir requested she no longer visit while he was detained.

A Truthdig article titled America’s ICE Backwards Approach to Immigration details the broken legal system that further clouds the immigration process. Over 200,000 immigration cases are backlogged and the number of government attorneys who argue for deportation has risen by 35%, stressing the court system accordingly. Add a declining number of judges and a sharp increase in the number of border guards and the result is a setting where “the equivalent of death penalty cases” are heard “in a traffic court setting,” according to Judge Dana Leigh Marks, the president of the National Association of Immigration Judges.

New America Media also explores the results of a study that finds a low rate of crimes are committed by the undocumented, which is a stark contrast to the accusations of right-wing pundits. The undocumented population in Utah grew from 70,000 to 110,000 in the last four years, according to a new study released by the Sutherland Instituate, but the number of incarcerated undocumented increased by only 28. That’s 28 people, not percent. In fact, the crime rate for undocumented immigrants in Utah is only 3.9% and dropping.

Finally, RaceWire’s Michelle Chen reports on the impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on Mexican Americans who want to deliver children using a midwife. The Initiative, which went into effect yesterday, “requires Americans passing across the Canadian and Mexican borders to have a valid U.S. passport or passport card.” Previously, only a valid driver’s license was required. This is yet another policy that refuses to recognize the long pattern of movement over the border area, and is culturally antagonistic to Mexican Americans.

Law indicates humankind’s attempt to be just; it is an extension of a civilization’s morality. Immigration reform must come soon; it is a moral duty. It must pass not just for the benefit of the undocumented community, but so we can live up to our national ideals, and also, to decisively stave off a destructive energy made possible by the lack of humane law.

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about immigration. Visit Immigration.NewsLadder.net for a complete list of articles on immigration, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy and health issues, check out Economy.NewsLadder.net and Healthcare.NewsLadder.net. This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of 50 leading independent media outlets, and was created by NewsLadder.

Also featured at The Sanctuary, Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, Open Salon, DailyKos, MyDD, Open Left, In These Times, FDL, Racewire, Rabble, America’s Voice…

TODAY IS THE DAY of México’s midterm elections. While Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa is not on the ballot, his policies are under scrutiny. Support for or against the National Action Party (PAN), FeCal’s party, will be interpreted as approval or disapproval for his violence-heavy policies. Of course, that’s assuming the vote tallies are legitimate. For one thing, it’s expected that turnout will be low, and that could have a lot to do with the way the last vote went. As with George W. Bush’s “presidency,” many will simply never accept the validity of the controversial election results, and some of that group surely has lost belief in the process, altogether.

It’s far too much to try and weave all the backstory together here, but since El Grito, we’ve talked about these things. Even many times in my TMC posts I’ve come back to them. But come on, we need to. The body count under FeCal’s “crackdown on the cartels” stylie is over 10,000 now! This is one of those cures that kills the patient.

Unsurprisingly, this latest outgrowth of the “War on Drugs” is much applauded by US powers, from our President to CNN—which describes the weave of systems and families that benefit from the drug trade as “cartels that have taken hold of Mexico, spreading corruption, fear and violence to all corners of the nation.” You could say the same for the police or military forces, though.

Fact is, too many make a living fighting those who make a living off of drugs…which is only possible due to the harsh criminalizing stance both the US as well as México have on drugs in the first place. It’s an outdated stance that harms many humans. Encouragingly, it seems people are beginning to act to change this.

Will the vote today reflect the awareness of the People, or the will of the global Oligarchy? Will anyone believe the results? Does the vote even matter?

This weekend, let’s swing las caderas for those in Honduras. The coup they suffer under now is not a happy matter. But you and I, we believe in justice and the People winning out over oppressive forces in the end, and we must keep hope alive in our hearts and bodies til then.

Enjoy your viernes, gente!

Ted Hesson, the online editor of Long Island Wins sent me this gem. He further notes via email that he has “verified by phone that the email was sent by Melissa Jaramillo.” Melissa Jaramillo is Glenn Spencer’s secretary. Glenn Spencer is the leader of American Border Patrol, and the sage who bestows us with ideas such as “”Mexican culture is based on deceit,” and “Chicanos and Mexicanos lie as a means of survival.”

Below is reprinted the full letter sent from American Border Patrol’s Melissa Jaramillo to ALIPAC founder William Gheen, and without any edits:

First – this email is from me and me alone. I am using my personal email

address to send it as I am NOT writing on behalf of any organization. No one
asked me to write this email. We are in America and we still have Freedom of
Speech. Know that Freedom of Speech does not include libel and slander.

Second – you using the murder of that poor girl to attack others and solicit
funds shows me how disgusting your character is. You didn’t give two-shits
about that girl or that incident until Shawna was arrested. Instead of
attacking and blaming everyone, send that girls family some money and apologize
for not trying to help psycho girl get better. Instead, you created a movement
for everyone to show hatred towards her. What did you expect would happen after
you were done “ruining her” and made sure that not just the opposition hated her
but those within the movement hated her as well. You really gave her nothing
left to live for. While Shawna had a thug with a gun to kill people, you are no
different, you just use a different media. Yes – you are no better than she!

You’re such a liar. Why is it so hard for you to keep your facts straight?

You wrote:
~ “While Spencer denies knowing what Chuck Stonex (Forde’s Executive Officer in
her group MAD) was up to, he admits that Stonex came to Glenn Spencer’s American
Patrol HQ from another state, was treated to BBQ, left that property to treat a
gun wound. Furthermore, we find the admission that Spencer was in phone contact
with Stonex after he left the BBQ to be highly suspicious and indicates that
Glenn Spencer also knew that someone had been shot and that Stonex was going to
treat a wound! ” ~ end quote

You’re so full of it. I haven’t the time to set all of your claims in your rant
straight, but I will on this one paragraph. Chuck did not leave the BBQ to
treat the wound. Chuck came to the BBQ AFTER treating the wound. He called in
the morning to say he wasn’t going to make it to the BBQ. He did make it – he
showed up late. He stated an animal had been hurt. Glenn was not in contact
with Chuck after Chuck left. We find Chuck’s involvement questionable as well
and he is no longer welcome at the ranch.

Glenn did not like Shawna. Glenn was not in phone contact with Shawna earlier
this year. I was. I never had an issue with Shawna. I believed he rape story.
I saw the paperwork from the hospital. So shoot me for befriending somebody
that was just a bit off. Attack me and leave Glenn out of it. I find you to be
a little off as well. I find there is something wrong with you. You lack
character and integrity. You are not trustworthy and I think you are a bit
psychotic. There must be something wrong with you, as your vicious and
continued attacks against others fighting for the same cause is nothing but
destructive for the movement and they make you look obsessed. That’s it, you’re
obsessed with the destruction of anyone who does not bend to your will. God, I
hope you don’t have a wife or children – especially teenagers because they have
a mind of their own. I believe it is your actions and the actions of those like
you who helped to drive Shawna over the edge. Go after her family – they knew
of her plans. Go after the MM in Colorado – they knew of her plans. None of
them tried to talk her out of it or stop her. You did nothing to stop her
either. Hell, not even you thought she would end up doing something so
atrocious. Furthermore, it is not aiding and abetting to have a brief chit chat
with somebody who came by out of the blue. Believe you me, had I known about
the incident in Arivaca and the Shawna was wanted for questioning, I would have
shut the door in her face and contacted the authorities.

Stop your lies and retract your libel for your own good.

And another thing – I choose my friends. I talk to who I want to talk to.
Nobody chooses them for me and nobody tells me who I can and can not talk to -
not even Glenn. I am my own person with my own thoughts. Search your forum and
find the disclaimer I made when I first signed up that says my views and
opinions are my own and not those of American Border Patrol. Ken Dreger does
the exact same thing. He’s a member of your org, does that mean he speaks on
behalf of you everytime he posts? Does he speak on behalf of MCDC or BPAUX
everytime he posts? Do his views and opinions reflect those of ALIPAC? Ask him
if a person can be a member of an org yet speak on their own behalf. I bet you
and he disagree on that point.

Do you think Bush will be charged with something for his false military record
claims? What’s your thoughts on that? Let’s play the guilt by association
card, shall we? That’s the card you are playing against Glenn and that is the
exact same card that will have all anti-illegal immigration organizations balmed
for the murders. We’d only seen her a few times last year, but you want to
blame us for what she did or accuse us of aiding her? Then I accuse you of the
same thing. I accuse you of attacking her so viciously that you sent her over
the edge and made her do what she did. How’s that?

The caution: Think very carefully and be sure to be clear on the facts. Think
about what you are doing and know that it is wrong and it is a crime. I find
your statements to be libelous and your actions to be harrassing and I, as an
individual and not as a spokeperson for any organization, will not tolerate such
behaviour.

I am generally a nice person and I like to help people in need. I have 6
children, am a full-time college student, take care of an uncle who can not take
care of himself and run a teen’s auto shop – most of that with the help of my
husband.

I am too busy to play your games. Be well William and end it here. If you
continue, things will only get bad for you. The media and opposition are
soaking all of this up right now and they will use it against all orgs in the
movement. You know it and I know it. Now get on with the real mission -
immigration.

Warmest Regards,
Mel

Ken – I’m sorry to use you as an example, but you’re the only one I could think
of who posts of his own free will and not on behalf of any org and you state it
perfectly clear.

Ouch.

On June 25, President Obama met with a bipartisan panel of lawmakers to discuss immigration reform. Before this meeting, the general sense among progressive factions had been a growing sense of unease that the White House might not address the issue promptly, as promised.

Stalling on this issue would not only be devastating to the immigrant populations at risk, but also to Latinos: according to FBI statistics, hate crimes against Latinos – regardless of immigration status – rose by almost 35% between 2003 and 2006. Concurrently, Right wing pundits profit by portraying immigrants as The Unclean, Leeching, Invader Within—and not without consequences. A recent report by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund connects the rise in hate crimes against the Latino community to the tone of the ongoing immigration debate.

The line that separates hatemongers from allies or ostensibly neutral parties is blurring more every day. Anti-immigration groups like FAIR, CIS, and NumbersUSA claim beneficent ideals, and yet are designated as hate groups by watchdog organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Progressives spend a fair amount of time pushing back against anti-immigrant Republican politicians like Tom Tancredo, but when Democratic politicians themselves buy into the idea that they need to sound “tougher” on immigrants, they not only pose a danger to the Latino community and to the Immigrant community, but also to the credibility of the progressive movement. Senator Chuck Schumer illustrated this perfectly in his June 24th speech calling for the use of “illegal alien” over the term “undocumented.” President Obama calls sternly for immigrants to “learn English” and “go to the back of the line.”

When Democrats concede that the proper starting point is fear and revulsion of the Alien Other, they adopt the lens of xenophobia and feed the toxic environment in which race-based violence is bred.  This stance is not productive nor is it rooted in truth.

US citizens, rather than having their basest impulses massaged, could be reminded of how many people within the US already speak Spanish. Or how these ethnocentric utterances sound to those of us with pride in our Spanish names. This nation’s inclusive ideals allow for the many thriving communities within our borders that speak mostly Greek, or Chinese, or Hebrew.

“Go to the back of the line” is an intentionally punitive and domineering phrase. But instead of stroking our desire to dominate the new outsiders, we would benefit from a discussion on the many ways in which “the line” has broken down. From human trafficking rings in which foreign nationals are lured into exploitative US jobs, to foreign-born soldiers denied earned citizenship, the system is overwhelmed with a backlog of over 200,000 cases.

Even if rationalized as standard political posturing, any validation of language and ideas promoted by fringe elements that act violently todefend a “disappearing culture” from “illegals” cannot be excused. This type of theater fools no one. The Right wing commentariat sees these statements for what they are: empty gestures. When Democrats mimic the methods of the extreme Right, they start from a place of weakness. Further, with this hypocrisy, they send a message that they do not believe in themselves or their cause. If they did, they would dare to advance a progressive agenda without resorting to a bullying tone. United States citizens respect power, but also honesty. When Barack Obama spoke earnestly to us about race, we were riveted. There was much talk of moving forward, of a greater awareness being given the nation, of the first black US president helping to take us there. Progressives and Democrats ought to not miss opportunities for educating the populace.

Solutions are impossible without an honest accounting of what is at play. For example, do Democrats really think that more troops at the southern border are the answer to the economic problems in México? Is the implication that our armies will fend off the unceasing lines of poor and hungry migrants? Much like addressing the undocumented with “tough talk,” the answer to social fluctuations is not force.

Who will give the Democrats a tough talk? Who will tell them that in order to rise above the well-entrenched practices of the Right, they will need to be daring, intelligent, and original? Who will assure them they possess the ability to be both honest and victorious?

But you know what? We don’t need to go that far back to tell those stories, either. Because exploitation and abuse of brown people is, sadly, The Neverending Story upinhyeah.

Bank of America is accused of exploiting Latino immigrant customers is the title of this chapter:

Gabby Ornelas, a former teller at the giant Bank of America Corp Ornelas was instructed to use her Spanish language skills and Latina heritage to sign up customers for as many kinds of banking services as possible, she said — services that led to lucrative fees for the bank and financial entanglement for many customers.

“We were coached every day to push multiple checking accounts, credit cards and debit cards even when the customer didn’t understand how to use them,” said Ornelas, who lives in Landover Hills, Md., a town with a large immigrant population and a per-capita income of less than $19,000.

In one case, she described a Central American mother of three who came back to see her at the bank, distressed about $300 in overdraft fees incurred after Ornelas persuaded the woman to open a second checking account.

Ornelas and eight of her colleagues leveled the accusations in recent interviews. They are being backed in their whistle-blowing by the Service Employees International Union, which is trying to organize BofA, the nation’s largest bank.

Bank of America officials flatly rejected the allegations, saying their policies are legal, adhere to industry standards and are helpful to customers, including immigrants seeking a toehold in the United States.

Yeah, a toehold, all right. That’s what they’re giving immigrants. They are giving them a blue sky, and deed on a cliff. Oh, and a toehold. Bank of America. Say it again. Bank of AMÉRICA.

Ornelas and three other former BofA tellers, all Latina women, said they and their co-workers were repeatedly instructed to seek potential new Spanish-speaking customers outside the bank. Some were instructed to go to embassies where recent emigres often wait in queue for visa and passport services.

—Bank of America is accused of exploiting Latino immigrant customers

Stay classy, elitist structures of exploitation and greed.

(Title of post taken from Bob Marley song Babylon System)

For now I’ll crosspost the New America Media (NAM) op ed I was sent by NAM and asked to publish. And I’ll also say that I’m definitely more in line with NAM’s op ed than I am with the strategerizing from some of these cats that were on the phone call or even with Chuck Schumer and his whole Sound Meaner When Talking About Immigrants line. (Not that he doesn’t deserve support for what he’s doing to advance this issue in the first place (Yay Chuck!) but I’m really hoping he’s not doing it for strokery but because he knows he is representing the ideals of the US, the wishes of his constituents, and more importantly, doing what is  humane and right among humans.)

As a final note, I’ll add that the White House, the advocacy orgs, Chuck Schumer, and reportedly, President Obama personally are all quite confident they will act upon legislation late this year or next year. (That phrase about “late this year or next) is used a few times, so I tend to think the WH plans on actually moving the legislation next year, but still—). Also on board are the major union leaders like AFL-CIO. It’s a pretty rare atmosphere, it seems. So that is very exciting. Again, there’s more to say on all of this, but I don’t want to get out in front of this op ed too much more. It’s a good op ed and isn’t afraid or too shy to stand up for the whole moral enchilada. So that’s a refreshing and welcome change.

Time for Immigration Reform Is Now

The White House and members of Congress must move quickly on enacting a just and humane immigration reform package that will reunite families, reinvigorate the economy, and remove the term “illegal or undocumented immigrants” from the dialogue in this country. Ethnic media, which reaches over 60 million adults in the United States, calls on Congress to move decisively on immigration reform because there are few issues as important to the nation’s well-being as an overhaul of the inefficient, inhumane and economically debilitating immigration system. More importantly, we are also urging our readers and viewers to contact their Senators and Congressmen and let them know that immigration reform must be a national priority.

The immigration system is broken not just for 12 million undocumented immigrants, but also for specialized workers blocked from joining the American economy because of narrow quotas, and mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who must wait for years before being reunited with their families.

Our nation needs comprehensive immigration policies that will replace a broken system of raids and roundups with one that protects all workers from exploitation, improves America’s security and builds strong communities. It’s time to end the division between workers, which has allowed big business to exploit both sides. Clearly, working-class citizens and immigrant workers have much in common – dreams of better homes, education for their families and quality healthcare.  There is more that brings us together, than separates us.  United we can be a strong force for change, changes that that bring more workforce safety and humane conditions.

Immigration is often portrayed as an explosive, divisive issue. In reality it’s not. Since the repeal of the national origins quota system in 1965, which discriminated against certain immigrants, a consensus has been building towards an immigration system that respects the country’s core values. These include economic opportunity, equality under the law regardless of ethnic background, and an embrace of the world’s most innovative, energetic and ambitious workers. Now, with the country facing serious competition from workers abroad, it’s more important than ever to create a world-class immigration system. It’s for the good for families, good for communities and good for America.

Ben

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I’ll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You’ve got a friend in me
(you’ve got a friend in me)

Ben, you’re always running here and there
You feel you’re not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don’t like what you find
There’s one thing you should know
You’ve got a place to go
(you’ve got a place to go)

I used to say “I” and “me”
Now it’s “us”, now it’s “we”
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don’t listen to a word they say
They don’t see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I’m sure they’d think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben

Harlem:

London:

SF Bay Area: