Editorial del New York Times: Gracias, Pero No Gracias

There are almost 12 million potential Hispanic voters in the United States. And both parties say they are eager to court their votes. So one has to wonder why the Republican presidential contenders would miss the chance to debate before the largest possible audience of Spanish-language television viewers.       

LEER COMPLETO REPORTE AQUI: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/sunday/gracias-pero-no-gracias-to-a-univision-debate.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

GOP aims to become simpatico with 50 million Hispanics

WASHINGTON – Fidelia Ramirez Friedman already has a tough time convincing Hispanics in her Pennsylvania community that the Republican Party is truly in line with their ideals

As vice president of the Pocono Republican Hispanic Association, Friedman says she constantly battles a stigma that Republicans dislike Hispanics, and tries to show them how the party's ideals of self-reliance, limited government and family values line up with their views.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-10-26/Republicans-woo-Hispanics/50944178/1

Obama's illegal-immigrant crackdown fills prisons with Hispanics

Much has been made of how this is playing out on the state level, with Arizona and Alabama among the states passing tough immigration laws.

But a crackdown, at least a partial one, has been happening at the federal level, too. A series of high-profile sweeps known as Operation Cross Check have netted thousands of what the Obama administration refers to as criminal aliens.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/1028/Obama-s-illegal-immigrant-crackdown-fills-prisons-with-Hispanics

Beyond 2012 Field, Nuanced G.O.P. Views on Immigrants

Senator Mike Lee of Utah, one of the most conservative members of the chamber, recently teamed with Senator Charles E. Schumer, the New York Democrat, on a bill that would provide three-year residential visas to foreign home buyers who invest at least $500,000.       

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/us/politics/tough-stance-on-immigrants-questioned-by-some-in-gop.html?_r=1&hp

Immigration an issue of faith, social justice, faith leaders say

SALT LAKE CITY — The intersection of faith communities and undocumented immigrants boils down to a basic Christian tenet, said the Rev. Steven R. Mitchell of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Rock Springs, Wyo.

"Jesus never turned anyone away. Neither do we," the Rev. Mitchell said.

Mark Kadel, director of World Relief Spokane, said the issue must be framed in terms of "real people."

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393202/Immigration-an-issue-of-faith-social-justice-faith-leaders-say.html

Undocumented immigrant population in the West has fallen during recession, economist says

SALT LAKE CITY — University of Idaho economist Priscilla Salant doesn't advocate one position over another in the debate over illegal immigration.

Her job, she said, is to tell the story of the numbers, which can tell a different story than the rhetoric.
For instance, some who oppose illegal immigration claim the numbers of foreign-born Hispanics in the Mountain West has radically increased in the past 10 years, which has burdened schools and social service providers.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393208/Undocumented-immigrant-population-in-the-West-has-fallen-during-recession-economist-says.html

Salt Lake summit: Harsh rhetoric may derail GOP in 2012.

Republicans at an immigration summit Wednesday in Salt Lake City said that a continuation of harsh rhetoric on the polarizing issue — notably among GOP presidential hopefuls — will cost the party the White House in 2012 — and possibly beyond.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff took it even a step further.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52790322-90/based-crops-enforcement-immigration.html.csp 

Immigration law a new embarrassment for Alabama

At a recent neighborhood meeting in Birmingham, Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell said the harsh anti-immigrant law promoted and signed by Gov. Robert Bentley is embarrassing Alabama in the eyes of the nation.

"We're solving a problem that was not a problem,'' she said, according to The Birmingham News.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/26/opinion/raines-alabama-immigration/index.html?&hpt=hp_c2

Ruben Navarrette: Romney can't play holier-than-thou on immigration

SAN DIEGO -- I have a feeling that Mitt Romney woke up this morning with a headache -- the political kind that comes when a line of attack you've used against an opponent comes back to knock you upside the head.
Luckily, Romney can get medical attention. Even if he weren't worth more than $250 million, the former governor of Massachusetts always could fall back on the health care law he signed in the Bay State.


Read more: http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_008927e2-3013-5c68-a5d4-0a17988676a4.html#ixzz1btZAkAhU

Business and Political Leaders To Gather in Utah For First-Ever Mountain-West Immigration Summit

Salt Lake City, Utah —Prominent figures from business, law enforcement, faith and government in the Mountain West will convene on October 26 in Salt Lake City to discuss the importance of immigrants and immigration to the region’s economic and cultural vitality. Key stakeholders from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho will begin to develop a common understanding of the value of immigrants and immigration to the Mountain West, and America. 

Recent leadership by law enforcement, business and faith to launch “The Utah Compact” created a unique moment in which pragmatism trumped partisanship. Regional leaders will convene for a rational discussion to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. While many agree that there is a need for a national immigration strategy, local leaders can forge a new consensus on what that means.

Keynote speakers include Mayor Paul Bridges of Uvalda, GA and syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette. In light of anti-immigrant legislation sweeping through the Southeast, Mayor Bridges will discuss the negative impact of the legislation on the Georgia economy, highlighting the value of the Mountain West’s practical approach. Ruben Navarrette will bring a national voice into the fold, sharing his views on immigration in the region and across the country.

Discussions will be organized around three topics, with a presentation on the changing demographics and voting pattern of the region:

· Economy: What role do immigrants and immigration play in the current regional economy, and how are they important to the future of the region’s economy across a number of sectors?

· Security: How does the region’s sense of public safety hinge on the relationship between immigrants and law enforcement?

· Faith: How have congregations of faith grown from and been shaped by the influx of immigrants to the region? In what ways have the problems in the immigration system affected religious communities?

WHEN: Wednesday, October 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Pacific

WHERE: Capital Ballroom of the City Center Marriott

220 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT

Top Department of Justice attorneys meet with Utah leaders over controversial immigration law

SALT LAKE CITY — A top Department of Justice attorney described Tuesday's meetings with Utah leaders over a controversial immigration enforcement law passed by the Utah Legislature earlier this year as "productive."

However, assistant attorney general Tony West, who heads the DOJ's Civil Division, gave no indication whether the federal government will intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HB497.

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393097/Top-Department-of-Justice-attorneys-meet-with-Utah--leaders-over-controversial-immigration-law.html

Feds meet with Utah officials over immigration law

Top Utah lawmakers said they’re optimistic about the federal government staying out of a lawsuit against the state’s enforcement-only immigration law after having a “productive” closed-door meeting with key U.S. Department of Justice lawyers Tuesday.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, who called the meeting at the Capitol, said he was able to go over “line by line” provisions in HB497 and believes the attorneys “see Utah is doing something different.”

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52782306-90/department-enforcement-immigration-justice.html.csp

Matt Reed: Rubio's true story beats 'exile' embellishment

It’s too bad Sen. Marco Rubio embellished his family’s immigration history to sound less like the rest of ours and more like one of Miami’s powerful Cuban political exiles.

It’s too bad because the real story of his parents’ immigration to Florida more than 50 years ago, which he described to me during his Senate campaign, is more noble and relevant to Florida in 2011.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111025/COLUMNISTS0207/310250002/Matt-Reed-Rubio-s-true-story-beats-exile-embellishment

Hispanic voters: Stick with Obama or go with GOP?

A year before the 2012 presidential election, Hispanic voters are facing a choice.

They can continue to support President Barack Obama despite being hurt disproportionately by the economic downturn or turn to Republicans at a time when many GOP presidential hopefuls have taken a hard line on immigration.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QIP37G0.htm

Gov. Robert Bentley avoiding taking the spotlight on Alabama's immigration law

Gov. Robert Bentley could have brought more decency and reason into the debate over Alabama's toughest-in-the-nation immigration law.

Instead, when HB56 passed the Republican-controlled Legislature in June, he was a strong supporter, proud of the law's unprecedented reach.

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/10/our_view_gov_robert_bentley_av.html

Few Americans take immigrants' jobs in Alabama

Potato farmer Keith Smith saw most of his immigrant workers leave after Alabama's tough immigration law took effect, so he hired Americans. It hasn't worked out: Most show up late, work slower than seasoned farm hands and are ready to call it a day after lunch or by midafternoon. Some quit after a single day.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QGERUO0.htm

Gobierno de Obama batió récord de deportaciones

Mientras la Oficina de Aduanas y Control Fronterizo (ICE) confirmaba que deportó a más de 397 mil inmigrantes indocumentados durante el año fiscal 2011 (el tercer récord consecutivo durante la administración del presidente Barack Obama), funcionarios de la Casa Blanca se reunieron el martes con líderes hispanos para escuchar sus preocupaciones mientras grupos de activistas exigían al mandatario que cambie su política migratoria de forma inmediata.

http://noticias.univision.com/inmigracion/noticias/article/2011-10-18/piden-obama-freno-deportaciones

Latinos Said to Bear Weight of a Deportation Program

A deportation program that is central to the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement strategy has led disproportionately to the removal of Latino immigrants and to arrests by immigration authorities of hundreds of United States citizens, according to a report by two law schools using new, in-depth official data on deportation cases.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/us/latinos-said-to-bear-weight-of-deportation-program.html?_r=1&hpw

Salt Lake to host four-state immigration summit Oct. 26

SALT LAKE CITY — Business, political, law enforcement and faith leaders from four western states will meet in Utah on Oct. 26 for a summit on the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.
Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette and Mayor Paul Bridges of Uvalda, Ga., who will discuss the negative impact of immigration legislation on Georgia's economy, are the keynote speakers.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705392565/Salt-Lake-to-host-four-state-immigration-summit-Oct-26.html?pg=1

What are Mormons’ views on illegal immigration?

A portion of a nationwide survey recently commissioned by the LDS Church is attempting to delve into Mormons’ understanding of illegal immigration, including whether undocumented immigrants are able to get temple recommends and be baptized into the faith.

Church officials have been largely mum on the survey, which was sent out to members via email. However, it was a wide-ranging survey of 66 questions — about six of which tackled the controversial immigration issue.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52681984-90/church-immigration-issue-lds.html.csp