Despite the fact that earlier this week, the US Department of Justice filed suit against the state of Arizona to stop enactment of its new law, SB 1070, Legislators in at least 17 other states are pursuing similar pieces of legislation. However, most of these measures are not considered likely to pass. Yet the political […]
Brewer Cancels Mexico Border Governors Conference
July 7, 2010 By
For nearly 30 years, the governors of the states that line both sides of the United States-Mexico border have gathered together annually to issue proclamations and pledges to work together and address concerns. This year the 28th annual conference coincides with Arizona Governor Jan Brewers’ rotation as chairwoman and host of this year’s conference. The […]
Justice Department Sues Arizona Over Anti-Immigration Law
July 6, 2010 By
After much anticipation and speculation that a suit was eminent, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced this afternoon that it was filing a lawsuit against Arizona asking a federal judge to declare the state’s new anti-immigration law, SB 1070, as unconstitutional and strike it down. The defendants are named as the state and Arizona Gov. […]
President “Ready to Move Forward” on Immigration Reform
July 1, 2010 By
In a major national speech, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform but cautioned that it would only happen with support of Republican lawmakers. Acknowledging that our national immigration system is broken, the president outlined a number of components that need to be addressed in an overhaul bill. To illustrate the […]
Colbert and UFW Encourage Immigration Foes to “Take Our Jobs”
June 30, 2010 By
Jumping into the fray of the immigration debate, TV tongue-in-cheek pundit Stephen Colbert is partnering with the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) to challenge assertions that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from American workers. The “Take Our Jobs” campaign offers U.S. citizens an opportunity to apply for and fill the thousands of agricultural jobs that […]
Obama Talks Immigration Reform with Congressional Hispanic Caucus
June 29, 2010 By
President Obama is holding a meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus this afternoon to discuss immigration reform. The meeting follows on the heels of a discussion the President held yesterday with grassroots groups and labor leaders on the issue at the White House. During this meeting the President said his Administration is committed […]
Arizona Governor Calls Immigrants ‘drug mules’
June 28, 2010 By
Even the top Republicans in her own state disagree with Gov. Jan Brewer’s comments that most undocumented workers are ‘drug mules.’ Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Senator John McCain says he does not believe that most workers crossing the border in Arizona are smuggling drugs. He’s not the only official disputing the comments. The […]
An Unexpected New Ally in the Fight for Immigration Reform
June 28, 2010 By
During a speech on June 18 in Cleveland, Ohio, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka asserted that the major labor unions including Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union are backing immigration reform. Historically, labor unions have always been opposed to immigration reform, even recently having helped kill efforts in 2007. […]
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Reaffirms Administration’s Commitment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform
June 25, 2010 By
La Plaza is reporting from the NALEO conference in Denver. Even a “bitterly partisan” Congress will not deter Obama’s administration from working to pass comprehensive immigration reform Secretary Napolitano told attendees at the annual National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Denver, Colorado. “It is a bitterly divided Congress right now, bitterly […]
Nebraska City Passes Anti-Immigrant Measure
June 22, 2010 By
As reported yesterday in La Plaza , the city of Fremont, Nebraska was considering a local ordinance to make it illegal to hire or rent to an undocumented immigrant. The measure passed last night 57 to 43 percent. The new law was authored by a Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Kansas, Kris Kobach, who […]
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