On Tuesday, Mississippi followed in the steps of Arizona when the state Senate passed a measure that would allow law enforcement officers to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws if there is reason to suspect that they are in the country illegally. As previously reported in La Plaza, Bill Chandler, the director […]
Guest Blogger Series: Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez “Who are Republicans Listening to? Not Latinos”
As featured in the The Huffington Post: In the past two months two prominent Republican leaders hosted national conferences to address what many call the Republican’s Latino “problem.” Former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s group, The Americano, held its first Hispanic Conference in Washington DC in December and just this past week, former Governor Jeb Bush’s first […]
Florida’s Anti-Immigration Law Receives Cold Response
The wave to replicate Arizona’s controversial anti-immigrant bills that helped shape the political victories of several Republican candidates including Florida’s Governor Rick Scott, is biting into a sharp dose of reality in his home state. Writing in the Sun Sentinel last week, columnist Aaron Deslatte recalls one of Scott’s tough-on-immigration campaign ads: “Rick Scott backs […]
Latinos Drive Reapportionment Yet Increased Representation Uncertain
The first glimpse of the 2010 Census Data about a month ago revealed the obvious, states gaining congressional seats were those whose populations were fueled by growth in the Latino population. Despite this fact, it remains uncertain how much representation Latinos will actually gain in effect. The country saw an increase in population by 10% […]
Obama Announces Plans to Bring Cuba One Step Closer to Democracy
The White House said on Friday that the President has directed that changes be made to regulations and policies governing travel and cash sent to Cuba. “The President believes these actions, combined with the continuation of the embargo, are important steps in reaching the widely shared goal of a Cuba that respects the basic rights […]
Unity Rally to Take Place in Response to Neb. Lawmaker’s Proposed Measure
Hundreds of people from central Nebraska and Omaha are expected to gather at the state Capitol on Wednesday to show their opposition to an Arizona-style immigration proposal. The protest called the “Unity Rally for the Good Life” is being organized by the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights. “Such a law is unconstitutional and runs counter […]
GOP Attempts New Plan to Better Reach Hispanics
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is heading efforts to help salvage what is left of his party’s reputation with Hispanics after months of highly charged anti-immigrant rhetoric in hopes that gaining favor with this voting bloc will help Republicans win back the White House in 2012. As reported by La Plaza, The Hispanic Leadership Network […]
Mississippi Official Calls Proposed AZ-style Law a Burden
A proposed law before the Mississippi legislature that is similar to Arizona’s anti-immigrant SB 1070 could be a “burden” to law enforcement agencies in the state according to the head of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS). During a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Judiciary A Committee, MDPS Commissioner Stephen Simpson declined to take […]
Obama Gives Rousing Speech in Tucson Underscoring Unity
President Obama honored the victims of Saturday’s shootings at a memorial service Wednesday night in Tucson with an emotive speech in which he called on “America to be as good as she imagined it.” Speaking at the University of Arizona the President elected to give anecdotes of the victims and recognize the heroes that sprung […]
Anti-Immigrant Republican will not Chair Subcommittee on Immigration
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) was expected to become the chair of the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee but was instead passed over for the role by the new Republican House leadership. As previously reported by La Plaza, Somos Republicans, a group of Hispanic Republicans that was organized in response to Arizona’s SB 1070, strongly opposed his […]