Fixing Our Broken Immigration System

Since 2007, NDN has a demonstrated commitment to achieving a sensible immigration system that reflects the needs of the 21st century. NDN began to fight for reform by investing in a Spanish-language radio and television media campaign designed to counter anti-immigrant campaigns.  In addition to reaching out to media outlets, NDN has regularly hosted forums with members of Congress to discuss proposals to fix our current broken immigration system. Through research and polling, conducted most recently among voters in Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico, NDN has found that a majority of Americans support a legislative overhaul to fix the broken immigration system, as opposed to passing limited enforcement measures.  

Below, please find some past highlights of our work on immigration reform:

 

Blogs

NDN's Immigration Blog

2010 Highlights

Senator Robert Menendez's Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 Summary

NDN Statement on New Immigration Framework

Immigration Reform Enters a New Phase by Simon Rosenberg

Commentary on Arizona Bill by Alicia Menendez

2009 Highlights

Presentation: Making the Case for Passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform this Year

7 Reasons Why Congress Should Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform this Year by Simon Rosenberg

Video: Simon Rosenberg makes his case on why congress should pass CIR

Event: Politics & Policy: What to Expect from the Immigration Debate

Video: NDN Forum on Immigration Reform

The Census and Immigration Reform by Simon Rosenberg

Senator Kennedy and CIR by Andres Ramirez

2007 - 2008 Highlights

Event: "Immigration Reform and the Next Administration" - at the DNC in Denver

Polling: Immigration Polling in battleground states

A Responsible Immigration Policy by Simon Rosenberg

Can Democrats Seize the Opportunity the Immigration Debate Offers Them? by Simon Rosenberg

Event: NDN Bicameral Event for CIR

 

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NDN'er Alicia Menendez on The O'Reilly Factor Talking Border Security

NDN's very own Alicia Menendez appeared on The O'Reilly Factor yesterday night and I am proud to say, she more than held her own.

In a one on one debate on immigration issues she got O'reilly to admit that the border is more secure then it has ever been.

The biggest fireworks occured during the discussion of the Los Angeles School Board's recent decision to teach students about SB1070 in the context of Jim Crow laws, segregation, the internment of the Japanese in World War 2 and "the American values of unity diversity and equal protection for all."

Some background information on the Los Angeles Unified School District snafu can be found here.

During the clip,  O'Reilly holds up a press release that he says proves positive that the School Board has decided to teach children that the law is immoral. Below is the final line of the release that O'Reilly is holding in the segment.

Finally, citing its goal to provide a well rounded and quality education that exposes students to cultures that are crucial to understanding our nation, past and present, and that helps our students to appreciate the histories and cultural contributions of their own communities, the Los Angeles Board of Education also requested that Superintendent Cortines ensure that civics and history classes discuss the recent laws with students in the context of the American values of unity, diversity and equal protection for all people.

Below is the statement released by the Los Angeles Unified School board to the press regarding Fox News on the issue.

    To set the record straight.  The Board of Education never directed the superintendent to teach students that the Arizona law is un-American.  That was an inappropriate and inaccurate headline placed on the story by the either the Fox News reporter or headline writer. 

    The Board of Education did direct the Superintendent to ensure that LAUSD civics and history classes discuss the recent laws enacted in Arizona in the context of the American values of unity, diversity, and Equal Protection for all.   This very important piece of current events would be taught in our classrooms along with a number of controversial periods and laws which are a part of our history and are currently being taught in or classrooms including: slavery; Jim Crow laws and segregation; reservations and residential schools for Native Americans; the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882; the anti-Irish racism in the 19th century; racism against immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe during the 20th century; anti-Semitism; internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II and the Mexican Repatriation Program during the 1930s.

    Let’s remember that these laws were all deemed as “necessary” (in some cases for the security of our nation) during particular times in our history.  To ignore what is currently happening in Arizona would be total denial of current events and a part of our history.  At the very least it’s a discussion that should take place in the classroom.

The rest of the interview focuses on border security. I have repeatedly blogged on this issue... However Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano just wrote an Op-Ed on Border Security in the Arizona Republic. She presents a very compelling argument that the border is now more secure then it has ever been before. The full article can be seen here. And the full O'reilly Segment is below.

Special Event: MON 5/24 - Ambassador Sarukhan and Commissioner Bersin on US-Mexico Relations

On Monday, May 24th at Noon, NDN will host Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan and Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Alan Bersin for a discussion of the unprecedented cooperation between the United States and Mexico in both seizing opportunities and better managing the challenges of the region along the common border.

In addition to their general remarks, Ambassador Sarukhan and Commissioner Bersin will reflect upon the discussions this week between the U.S. and Mexican governments during President Calderon's State Visit this week.

While this is a private event, you may watch via our live webcast beginning at 12:15pm.  The event is open to the press.

 

McCain on Immigration

McCain continues to be pulled further and further right of where he once was on immigration.  This ad speaks for itself.

Uno de cada tres habitantes en EUA será de origen hispano en 2050

Indicó, sin embargo, que la intención de voto de los hispanos para los comicios legislativos de noviembre próximo está por debajo del promedio nacional, quizá por su decepción por la continua inhabilidad de Washington de abordar una reforma migratoria integral.

La manera en que los demócratas y republicanos enfrenten el tema migratorio en los próximos años, en particular tras la aprobación de una nueva ley antiinmigrante en Arizona, será clave para moldear el futuro político de la población latina, aseveró Rosenberg.

This posting is based on our report, Hispanics Rising 2010, and can also be found on impre.com.

New Policy Institute Releases New Report, "Hispanics Rising, 2010"

Yesterday, our affiliate New Policy Institute released a report by Andres Ramirez and Kristian Ramos on the rapid increase of the Hispanic population, fueled by recent waves of immigration to the United States.  You can find the Executive Summary here and the full report here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ssanchez@ndn.org.

Hispanics Rising 2010 Executive Summary

Hispanics Rising 2010 Full Report

Thanks!

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TODAY: NDN Releases Hispanics Rising 2010

Today at 12pm ET, NDN will release Hispanics Rising 2010: An Overview of the Growing Power of America's Hispanic Community, a 21st Century America report by Andres Ramirez and Kristian Ramos that examines the rapidly increasing Hispanic population in the United States and how it affects the politics and policy of our time. 

The rapid increase in the Hispanic population in the U.S. is one of the most tangible demographic trends of the 21st century. Huge waves of immigration from throughout the Americas contributed to this exponential growth, and will have lasting effects on the complexion of the United States. At 15% of the U.S. population today, Hispanics are now America’s largest “minority” group, and are projected to be 29% of all those living in the United States by 2050. The combination of the 2010 Census and the upcoming mid-term elections provides meaningful context for examining the growing influence and power of the Hispanic community.

Hispanic Rising 2010 Release on 4/27

Next Tuesday, April 27th, at 10:30am NDN will release Hispanics Rising 2010, a report on the most current trends that characterize Aerica's growing Hispanic community, at our headquarters on 729 15th Street, NW.  The previous installment in this series was released in 2008 and can be found here. Hispanics Rising 2010 builds on the findings of the previous reports, updating statistics and data to reflect the most relevant and up to date information.

Click here for more information on NDN's Hispanic Programs. 

Click here to learn about NDN's initiatives on Fixing our Broken Immigration System.


Obama praises Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes

 

Obama and FunesThis Monday, President Obama met with President Mauricio Funes of El Salvador to discuss trade, security, the environment - the three central elements of the administration's agenda for Latin America.  President Obama commended President Funes for taking bold steps to "break down political divisions within the country and move it forward with a spirit of progress" and for his "pragmatic and wise approach to the situation in Honduras".

In his remarks following the meeting, President Obama commented that the positive relations between the countries is partially due to the 2 million Salvadorians working in the United States and sending remittances back to their country, stating that the ties "provide an outstanding foundation for continuing cooperation" between the two countries." President Funes replied, stating the need to generate more jobs in El Salvador because when "people have better jobs, health, and education, they will be able to remain in [their] countries and have a better life." 

Obama also suggested interest in a multilateral project between the United States, Brazil, and El Salvador to pursue measures that would expand biofuels and energy development, which would benefit all three countries.  He also touched on regional security issues, primarily surrounding drug trafficking and gangs, emphasizing the commitment to be supportive not only in addressing the symptoms, but also the root causes of the issues.  The President closed by stressing that the relationship between the United States and El Salvador is one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, a sentiment echoed by President Funes in his remarks.

President Funes commended President Obama's new vision of how to deal with the hemisphere, and particularly Central America.  President Funes closed by saying that he hopes to have a strong alliance and strategic, equal partner in the United States.

 

 

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