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Federal judge blocks Ala. illegal immigration law

2011-08-29T16:12:00.002-04:00

A federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Alabama's new law cracking down on illegal immigration, ruling Monday that she needed more time to decide whether the law opposed by the Obama administration, church leaders and immigrant-rights groups is constitutional.

Here is the full story from AP:

Federal judge blocks Ala. illegal immigration law

By JAY REEVES, Associated Press – 1 hour ago

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Alabama's new law cracking down on illegal immigration, ruling Monday that she needed more time to decide whether the law opposed by the Obama administration, church leaders and immigrant-rights groups is constitutional.
The brief order by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Blackburn means the law — which opponents and supporters alike have called the toughest in the nation — won't take effect as scheduled on Thursday. The ruling was cheered both by Republican leaders who were pleased the judge didn't gut the law and by opponents who compare it to old Jim Crow-era statutes against racial integration.
Blackburn didn't address whether the law is constitutional, and she could still let all or parts of the law take effect later. Instead, she said she needed more time to consider lawsuits filed by the Justice Department, private groups and individuals that claim the state is overstepping its bounds.
The judge said she will issue a longer ruling by Sept. 28, and her temporary order will remain in effect until the day after. She heard arguments from the Justice Department and others during a daylong hearing last week.
Similar laws have been passed in Arizona, Utah, Indiana and Georgia. Federal judges already have blocked all or parts of the laws in those states.
Among other things, the law would require schools to verify the citizenship status of students, but it wouldn't prevent illegal immigrants from attending public schools.
The law also would make it a crime to knowingly assist an illegal immigrant by providing them a ride, a job, a place to live or most anything else — a section that church leaders fear would hamper public assistance ministries. It also would allow police to jail suspected illegal immigrants during traffic stops.
Finding a way to curtail public spending that benefits illegal immigrants has been a pet project of Alabama conservatives for years. Census figures released earlier this year show the state's Hispanic population more than doubled over a decade to 185,602 last year, and supporters of the law contend many of them are in the country illegally.
Isabel Rubio, executive director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, which is among the groups that sued over the law, hopes Blackburn will block it entirely but was happy with the temporary reprieve.
"We are pleased that Judge Blackburn is taking more time to study the case," she said.
Republican Gov. Robert Bentley said he would continue to defend the law, and GOP leaders in the House and Senate praised Blackburn — a Republican appointee — for taking time to fully consider the law.
"We must remember that today's ruling is simply the first round in what promises to be a long judicial fight over Alabama's right to protect its borders," said House Majority Leader Micky Hammon of Decatur. "To put it in sports terms, it is the first half-inning of the first game of a seven-game World Series."
While the Obama administration contends the state law conflicts with federal immigration law, state Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, contends the federal government isn't doing its job enforcing immigration laws. Beason said that he spent years researching immigration law to help write the 70-plus page law, and that it's unrealistic to expect a judge to go through it all in a few days.
"You just can't do that," he said.

Colombian officials to visit Charlotte

2011-08-19T12:57:00.001-04:00

By Naty Rive

Colombian officials will visit Charlotte next week as part of the South American country's efforts to boost tourism and change the perception of Colombia and promote the city of Medellin.

Safety concerns are dropping and tourism is on the rise in Colombia. Visitors are being lured to the country by its pleasant year-round weather, picturesque coastal towns, and big-city museums that feature the work of locally bred artists like Fernando Botero.

Medellin is the country's second largest city. About 2 million people live in the city tucked in the northern Andes of South America. Once home to the most dangerous Colombian cartels, Medellin has undergone quite the evolution. It's now one of the country's safest and most modern big cities.

Representatives from Medellin's urban renaissance program, Sos Pais, will give a two-hour free public demonstration starting at 5:30 p.m., Tues., Aug. 23, at the Mint Museum. A second presentation will be given at 6 p.m., Wed. Aug. 24 in Sykes Auditorium at Queens University.

By zeafra

“In addition to discussing the culture of Medellin, we are excited to share with the people of Charlotte how our city has transformed and is now a destination spot for education, financial and urban renewal projects,” says Maria Teresa Betancur, Program Coordinator, Sos Paisa.

For more information on Sos Paisa, visit www.sospaisa.com

U.S. eases stance on deporting immigrants

2011-08-19T12:10:00.002-04:00

As administration amends deportation policy, critics call it back-door amnesty for those here illegally.

FROM THE PRINT EDITION:

By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Aug. 19, 2011

Protesters say thousands
deported each year. GETTY

The Obama administration announced Thursday it plans to focus its deportation efforts on more dangerous illegal immigrants, a move that gives undocumented Charlotte students like Elver Barrios hope.

As part of the policy change, the Department of Homeland Security intends to review the cases of approximately 300,000 illegal immigrants facing deportation orders.

Those without criminal records who are found to be a low priority because they are students, were brought here as children, or have long family ties to the country could be released and granted a work permit.

If Barrios were ever to be arrested, he believes this policy change could allow him to stay in the country he's lived in since he was 14.

"This could be my chance to stay here," said Barrios, 20, who graduated from West Mecklenburg High School and is originally from Guatemala. "Every day I go out, even when I go buy the groceries, I risk getting arrested."

The policy change comes at a time when President Barack Obama has come under fire from some of his greatest allies.

Latino advocates have grown increasingly frustrated with the president. Obama has promised to reform the nation's immigration laws, yet advocates say his administration has continued to allow thousands to be deported annually after being arrested for minor offenses.

The Department of Homeland Security must focus its resources on removing those who have been convicted of major crimes and are threats to national security or public safety, said Secretary Janet Napolitano.

"Doing otherwise hinders our public safety mission - clogging immigration court dockets and diverting DHS enforcement resources away from the individuals who pose a threat to public safety," she wrote in a letter to a group of senators supporting new immigration legislation.

Critics charged the Obama administration with implementing a back-door amnesty policy.

Under the guise of setting priorities for immigration enforcement, the White House is overhauling the nation's immigration policy without congressional approval, said Dan Stein, president of FAIR, which advocates for greater immigration enforcement.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said having a backlog and prioritizing deportations is nothing new.

"This policy goes a step further granting illegal immigrants a fast track to gaining a work permit where they will now unfairly compete with more than nine percent of Americans who are still looking for jobs," he said in a statement.

In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced it was encouraging agents to use "prosecutorial discretion" for undocumented immigrants who are seeking college degrees.

The authorities are now instructed to give "particular care and consideration" to individuals "present in the United States since childhood" and whether that person has a criminal record.

Erick Velazquillo

Erick Velazquillo, a 22-year-old Central Piedmont Community College student, was brought to the country illegally when he was 2 years old. He was placed into deportation proceedings last fall after he was arrested for driving without a valid driver's license.

Last month, just weeks before he was expecting to be deported, immigration officials dropped their deportation case.

But they didn't alter his status. With this policy change, Velazquillo is hopeful he can rest a little easier - and be able to get a work permit.

"It gives me a status that I've never had before," he said. "It will give me a work permit. It will help me to contribute more to the country than just being here. It would make things so much easier."

Lacey Williams, the youth civic engagement organizer at the Latin American Coalition, questioned how the policy will be implemented.

"At first blush it's great news, it certainly has great potential," she said. "What we're anxiously awaiting is how this announcement will trickle down. How will it affect people in deportation proceedings now? What will happen to them tomorrow, next week?"

Others said the administration is trying to dress up a problem rather than fix it.

Velazquillo and other undocumented students still will be living in the country illegally, said Domenic Powell, a spokesman for the Raleigh-based NC Dream Team, a group of students who advocate for undocumented youth.

"It's not a solution," he said. "There seems to be a benefit to it, but it's fleeting. They can work, but for how long? They need to find a permanent solution."

The Associated Press contributed.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/19/2537858/us-to-ease-rules-for-deporting.html#ixzz1VUTwDC5A

Matthews doctor heads to Haiti to open medical clinic.

2011-08-09T12:09:00.002-04:00

Will Conner is returning to Haiti.

The Matthews doctors is traveling with 10 students and doctors to northern Haiti with more than 3,000 lbs of medicine and medical supplies. They left this morning aboard a Hendrick Motorsports Plane. They will be traveling to Camp Louise, a small community near Cap-Haitien on the northern coast, where they will be opening a medical clinic.

Diversity training on court's agenda Tuesday

2011-08-03T10:49:00.000-04:00

(FROM THE PRINT EDITION)

Diversity training on court's agenda Tuesday
By Franco Ordoñez

fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Aug. 03, 2011

Mecklenburg County court officials, including Chief District Judge Lisa Bell and members of the District Attorney's office, took part in diversity training Tuesday led by the Mexican Consulate of Raleigh.

Consul General Carlos Flores Vizcarra spoke to some 50 judges, lawyers, interpreters and clerks about issues affecting the local Mexican community.

He highlighted the rapid growth of the Latino population in the Carolinas. North Carolina had the second-fastest growing Latino population between 1990 and 2008, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia. South Carolina had the eighth-fastest growth rate.

Flores Vizcarra lobbied for greater acceptance of the "matricula consular" - IDs that are issued to Mexicans living in the U.S. by the Mexican consulate. He also sought to clarify confusion over Latino names and surnames.

"My plea is that we go about understanding the presence of Mexicans in a more civilized manner," Vizcarra said. "Not to buy into the prejudices and stereotypes some people have. I can tell you most Mexican immigrants are hard-working people."

The group also sampled authentic Mexican dishes such as tamales and tacos provided by a local restaurant, Fonda las Cazuelas.

Language issues are only one challenge for the courts, Bell said. There are cultural differences. And Latinos, including illegal immigrants, are often more vulnerable to crimes, she said. The courts also must face the impacts on children when parents are deported.

"The population we're dealing with now is not the same as it was 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or even two years ago," she said. "So as a court system we need to learn how to adjust to meet the needs of a changing population."

The event was part of a series of discussions organized by the Trial Court Administrator's office via a $3,000 grant from Charlotte-based Justice Initiatives.

Titled Strengthening Community Relationships, the goal is to build social capital by bridging gaps between diverse communities and the court system.

Said Trial Court Administrator Todd Nuccio: "We're trying to build public trust and confidence."
Franco Ordoñez: 704-358-6180. Follow him on Twitter @FrancoOrdonez.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/03/2499911/diversity-training-on-courts-agenda.html#ixzz1Tyf7Ejm5

CPCC student's deportation dropped

2011-07-30T10:50:00.009-04:00

(FROM THE PRINT EDITION)

CPCC student's deportation dropped: ICE officials end efforts to send undocumented CPCC student Erick Velazquillo back to Mexico, for now.

By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Saturday, Jul. 30, 2011

Erick Velazquillo, a 22-year-old Central Piedmont Community College student living in the country illegally, was working on translating all his school transcripts. He thought he was going to be deported back to Mexico.

Now immigration officials have dropped deportation efforts, his attorney confirmed Friday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreed to administratively close his case, but it's not terminated. It could be reopened at any time.

"He's safe for right now," said attorney Janeen Hicks Pierre. "We're definitely out of the line of fire. ... No one is going to come to his house and arrest him. But where we go from here, we're not sure."

Hicks Pierre thanked ICE for offering to close the case, but noted Velazquillo's status is unchanged. He still has no documents and is unable to work legally.

The South Mecklenburg High School graduate moved to the United States with his parents when he was 2. He's never been back, he says.

Last October, Velazquillo was arrested for driving with an expired license and taken to Mecklenburg County jail. He was identified as an illegal immigrant and placed into deportation proceedings.

For help, he turned to a statewide group of young activists, many in the country illegally themselves. The Raleigh-based N.C. Dream Team launched a national campaign on his behalf. More than 1,000 calls and emails were made to federal officials on his behalf. Nearly 3,000 people signed a petition calling for his case to be deferred.

"We're happy. It's a victory," said 24-year-old member Domenic Powell, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Hopewell High. "It means more undocumented youth need to come out and fight their deportation. If you fight it, you can win."

The Obama administration has deported almost 800,000 people in the last two years.

ICE officials did not immediately respond to questions about Velazquillo's case. But this month, ICE Director John Morton announced the agency was encouraging agents to use "prosecutorial discretion" for illegal immigrants who are seeking college degrees.

Authorities are now instructed to give "particular care and consideration" to individuals "present in the United States since childhood."

The N.C. Dream Team cited the so-called Morton memo at rallies and had supporters call the director as well as their elected officials.

"Erick took his situation into his own hands," said member Viridiana Martinez, 25, of Sanford. "He took this public. There is power in that. All of a sudden it's something you can't ignore."

Hicks Pierre said she would continue to work with immigration officials to see if Velazquillo's status could be changed so that he could work and study without concern of reprisals.

Velazquillo and his family said they still fear he could be arrested and deported at anytime.

"It's not enough," said his sister, Angelica. "He still can't work. He was arrested and put in jail. We're going to pretend nothing happened? It doesn't seem realistic. It shows the problem with the policy. This is not good enough. This is not a solution."

Franco Ordoñez: 704-358-6180. Follow him on Twitter @FrancoOrdonez.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/30/2491179/students-deportation-dropped.html#ixzz1TyfqQnDz

Asian-American photographer hosts first photo exhibit.

2011-07-14T14:04:00.004-04:00

Asian-American photographer Andy Chen will host his first Charlotte photo exhibit tonight at the Evergreen Studio in Uptown.

Chen will display 27 of his photos taken over three summer between 1985 and 1988. Chen, who co-owns a commercial photo studio, said the photos taken of lifeguards on the New Jersey shore represent “beauty and nostalgia.” “These pictures are from an eternal time,” he says. “A time when we were all young and we were going to live forever.” The one-night free exhibition, called Avalon, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Brevard Court studio.

For more information on Chen visit his website at http://www.indigocharlotte.com. More info on Evergreen can be found at Evergreenstudio1.com or by calling 704-807-7819.

CPCC student facing deportation will be honored at vigil

2011-07-07T14:55:00.003-04:00

Latino advocates will be hosting a vigil at St. Peter's Catholic Church Friday night for young illegal immigrants like Erick Velazquillo, a 22-year-old Central Piedmont Community College student facing deportation.

Velazquillo, who graduated from South Mecklenburg High, was featured in a recent Observer story on young people like himself who are part of a national push by young people to the front of immigration reform.

Velazquillo was arrested in October. The charges: failing to dim his headlights and driving without a valid license. The group is asking for the public’s help to petition lawmakers to have Velazquillo’s case deferred. He says his last court hearing is on July 19, when an immigration judge will decided whether he should be deported. The group will also be calling for passage of "the Dream Act," a legal change that would make it easier for young people to become U.S. citizens if they attend college or join the military.

Opponents of the Dream Act say students like Velazquillo should be confronting their parents instead of making demands on the American people.

"Every illegal immigrant who gets into college here is going to displace a U.S. citizen because there are not enough seats," said Ron Woodard, head of NC Listen, which advocates for greater immigration enforcement. "The right thing to do is not disenfranchise an American citizen."

The vigil will begin at 6 p.m. at St. Peter's Church on South Tryon Street. For more information on the vigil, call 704-281-9911.

Photo: Angelica Velazquillo and her brother, Erick. In the U.S. since he was 2, he faces deportation for a traffic violation. Kevin Ziechmann - kziechmann@charlotteobserver.com

Immigrant hangs hopes on 'Dream Team' to stay

2011-07-01T10:54:00.002-04:00

FROM PRINT EDITION

Immigrant hangs hopes on 'Dream Team' to stay Young activists back CPCC student's deportation appeal.

By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Jul. 01, 2011

A 22-year-old Central Piedmont Community College student facing deportation has placed his future in the hands of a group of his peers - also young, also here illegally.

Erick Velazquillo says they're his last hope to stay in the country that's been his home since he was 2.

Velazquillo, who graduated from South Mecklenburg High, was arrested in October. The charges: failing to dim his headlights and driving without a valid license. He is now in the process of being deported.

On July 19, he'll ask an immigration judge and federal prosecutors to not send him back to Mexico.

He said two Latino organizations and several lawyers advised him not to fight for fear he would receive greater immigration penalties.

Instead, he turned to a statewide group of young activists, known as the "N.C. Dream Team."

The Raleigh-based group, whose slogan is "Undocumented and Unafraid," thinks it can help. Velazquillo's case is their first Charlotte initiative.

Inspired by the Civil Rights movement, the Dream Team is part of a national push by young people to the front of immigration reform.

They've confronted legislators, launched hunger strikes, and even announced their illegal status to draw attention to their demands.

They are calling for passage of "the Dream Act," a legal change that would make it easier for young people to become U.S. citizens if they attend college or join the military.

And they say they are fed up with established Latino advocates whom they accuse of botching earlier bipartisan support for the act.

"We've had enough," said N.C. Dream Team co-founder Viridiana Martinez of Sanford. "We know we're taking risks, facing arrest every time we come out. But we have to speak out for ourselves. Because if we don't do it, someone else is going to do it. And that has gotten us nowhere."

The group formed last summer during a 13-day hunger strike in Raleigh to draw attention to the Dream Act. The name stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.

Velazquillo learned of the group through his sister, Angelica. She attended the Dream Team's "coming out" rally in March, and shared her brother's story with the members.

The Dream Team plans to broadcast Velazquillo's appeal to their 1,100 N.C. supporters. But as many as 10,000 people are likely to learn about Velazquillo through the group's affiliated networks nationwide.

Erick Velazquillo, who is studying to be a nutritionist, said he's never been back to Mexico.

"It is scary," he said. "The only people I know over there are my grandmother who is 72 and my grandfather who is 74. ... What am I going to do?"

Discretion over deportation

The Obama administration has deported almost 800,000 people in the last two years. While the Dream Act failed last fall, the administration has made it clear that they don't want to deport college-age students who have not committed major crimes.

Some 800,000 established immigrants - including about 51,000 in North Carolina - would be covered by the act. But the bill has languished in Congress for 10 years.

Two weeks ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced it was encouraging agents to use "prosecutorial discretion" for young illegal immigrants who are seeking college degrees.

The authorities are now instructed to give "particular care and consideration" to individuals "present in the United States since childhood."

Team has allies, sees 'bully'

The Dream Team includes some U.S.-born allies.

Domenic Powell grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Hopewell High.

The 24-year-old, whose mother is Mexican-American, helps run the group's blog and media relations.

Powell, a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, said his reasons for becoming involved are simple: "I don't see how you can remain silent when this is happening to your friends."

In January, member Loida Ginocchio-Silva, 23, confronted U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan during a visit with constituents.

"Your vote against the Dream Act was a denial to our existence," she said in the exchange caught on video. "It was a denial to my future."

Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, told Ginocchio-Silva that she supported the Dream Act, but as part of a comprehensive reform package.

Hagan did not answer specific Observer questions about the Dream Team. She was one of five Democrats who voted to block the Dream Act in December. But comments from her staff indicate a possible softening of her position.

"Her mind is open to any sensible, bipartisan initiative that moves the country and North Carolina forward," spokeswoman Stephanie Allen said. When state Rep. Dale Folwell, a Winston-Salem Republican, sought to collect immigration data on K-12 students, the Dream Team dubbed him "North Carolina's biggest school bully."

Folwell said the goal of the measure, which was dropped, was to show the costs of educating illegal immigrants.

"People get tired of the simplicity of this, but $1 spent on an illegal is $1 taken away from a law-abiding citizen."

Ron Woodard, head of NC Listen, which advocates for greater immigration enforcement, said the students should be confronting their parents instead of making demands on the American people.

"Every illegal immigrant who gets into college here is going to displace a U.S. citizen because there are not enough seats," he said. "The right thing to do is not disenfranchise an American citizen."

Team's success and arrests

The Dream Team has been inspired by recent successes.

The group led a campaign on behalf of Fredd Reyes, a Guilford Technical Community College student who was awaiting deportation in Georgia.

Reyes was released in November after federal officials received more than 3,500 emails in his behalf.

Some traditional Latino groups say they applaud the young people's drive but question their methods.

Maudia Melendez of Jesus Ministry in Charlotte said the students take too many risks.

"I don't want to see their future broken because of what they're doing," she said. "Once you announce you're undocumented ... they can come and get you."

In April, two members of the Dream Team were arrested in an Atlanta demonstration. Martinez and Jose Rico, a student at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, joined five other undocumented peers who sat down in the middle of a street and announced they were in the country illegally.

"We're not ashamed anymore," Rico, 21, told the Observer. "We need to tell everyone that we exist, that we're undocumented, and put a face to the issue." News researcher Maria David contributed.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/01/2420335/immigrant-hangs-hopes-on-dream.html#ixzz1TyguAgfP

Students plan rally at Obama's Charlotte campaign headquarters

2011-06-30T12:37:00.004-04:00

A Charlotte youth group affiliated with the Latin American Coalition is calling on President Obama to sign an executive order that would halt deportation of many college–aged illegal immigrants.

The United 4 The Dream youth group will be rallying Friday at 5 p.m. in front of Obama’s re-election headquarters on Elizabeth Avenue.

The Obama administration has said that congress should pass the Dream Act, which would allow some young illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship if they attend college or the join the military.

Advocates now want the president to use his authority to stop the deportations of certain groups, including students who would be eligible for the Dream Act.

For more information on the rally, call 704-941-2542 or visit www.latinamericancoalition.org.

Could N.C. be the toughest immigration state?

2011-06-10T15:04:00.004-04:00

Five immigration enforcement bills gaining momentum in the N.C. General Assembly could, if passed, make the state one of the toughest places for illegal immigrants to reside.

One bill prevents foreign-born residents from using their home country’s IDs as legal identification. And another requires all businesses to check the legal status of new employees using a federal system called E-Verify.

The proposed measures would bring North Carolina in line with Arizona and Alabama, considered the states with the strongest immigration laws.

Each of the N.C. bills have passed at least one house. If approved, they’d be sent to the governor’s desk for her signature.

Check the status of each bill:

House Bill 33 – Consular Documents Not Acceptable as ID
H36 – Employers/Gov. Contractors Must Use E-Verify
HB744 Safe Students Act

Senate Bill 205 – No Benefits For Illegal Aliens
S303 – Real ID Compliance/ Limited Duration Licenses

The apparent progress of the N.C. bills reflects similar efforts sweeping across the nation as some states seek to take more active roles in enforcing immigration restrictions. But immigration advocates, as well as President Obama, say the issue should be handled at the federal level.

On Thursday, Alabama legislators appeared to take the title of toughest immigration enforcers from Arizona when the governor signed a new law, that among other things, makes it a crime to give an illegal immigrant a ride.

Most of the new immigration laws, whether those proposed in Alabama, North Carolina, or Georgia, are modeled after laws passed in Arizona last year.

More states could follow suit depending on the outcome of a Supreme Court decision on the most controversial aspects of the Arizona bill. The country’s highest court is expected to look closer at the Arizona law after a federal judge ruled some parts unconstitutional, including requiring police to check the immigration status of people detained if there is reason to believe he or she is in the country illegally.

Last month, the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to back another Arizona law that requires companies to check employee status that is similar to the E-Verify bill proposed in North Carolina.

File photo: Demonstrators supporting and opposing Arizona's Immigration policy (Annie Tritt/The New York Times)

Latino arts festival kicks off tonight

2011-06-03T14:03:00.002-04:00

The Latino cultural festival "Con A de Arte" is returning to Charlotte this weekend.

Latino artists will be featured at a series of events, including tonight's South End gallery crawl and at the Gil Gallery/Coffey and Thompson Gallery on Morehead Street.

On Saturday, the work of more than a dozen painters, visual artists, and photographers, will be featured from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the main Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in Uptown.

These events are free and open to the public.

For more information visit, artsicharlotte.org.

Immigration game changer?

2011-05-26T15:24:00.005-04:00

The Supreme Court backs Arizona on law that punishes businesses hiring illegal immigrants.

The 5-3 ruling is a victory for groups who support greater immigration enforcement at the state level. And it’s a blow to immigration advocates who say immigration enforcement should only be handled
by federal authorities.

Read the decision here.

Arizona passed the Legal Arizona Workers Act in 2007. It requires companies use free federal databases, such as E-Verify, to check the documentation of employees. It also gives the state the right to suspend the licenses of business that “intentionally or knowingly” violate those verification requirements.

"Arizona has taken the route least likely to cause tension with federal law," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts, who authored the decision. "In exercising that authority, Arizona has taken the route least likely to cause tension with federal law...it relies solely on the Federal Government’s own determination of who is an unauthorized alien, and it requires Arizona employers to use the Federal Government’s own system for checking employee status."

No doubt legislators across the country are going to now take a closer look at this bill. Many legislators, including those in North Carolina, have discussed or introduced bill that would give states greater authority in enforcing immigration laws.

Roberts was supported by his four conservative colleagues.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said permitting states to make E-Verify a mandatory program improperly puts states in a position of making decisions that directly affect expenditure and depletion of federal resources.

"Because state laws requiring use of E-Verify frustrate the significant policy objectives underlying this decision, thereby imposing explicitly unwanted burdens on the Federal Government," she wrote, "I would hold that federal law impliedly preempts the Arizona requirement."

Are Latinos turning on Obama?

2011-05-23T14:26:00.005-04:00

Are President Obama's public pledges and desire to pass immigration reform and/or the Dream Act enough for Latinos to vote for him in 2012?

It was interesting watching Obama ride the wave of support after a successful Bin Laden mission to El Paso, Texas this month to push again for immigration reform – a measure even some of the most staunchest advocates feel is not going to happen before the election.

Several pundits and editorials accused Obama of pandering to Latinos as he starts his campaign on what is expected to be a very highly contested election

The Latinos who count immigration reform as their most important issue are not likely going to switch over and vote for a Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney or any other Republican candidate. However, those Latinos could certainly stay home on election day, which could prove costly.

The Latino vote was critical in the 2008 presidential election, Hispanics voted for Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of more than two-to-one, 67 percent versus 31 percent, according to an analysis of exit polls by the Pew Hispanic Center. The Center’s analysis also found that 9 percent of the electorate was Latino, as indicated by the national exit poll.

And think about the prized 29 electoral votes in Florida, which many see as a potential game changer.

In 2008, Obama won 57 percent of the Latino vote in Florida, a state where Latinos have historically supported Republican presidential candidates. President Bush carried 56 percent of the Latino vote in Florida in 2004.

And many Latinos are disappointed in the president for failing to follow through with campaign promises on immigration reform.

“What I can guarantee is that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I’m promoting,” Obama said in an interview with the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision in 2008.

No doubt Obama’s handlers are thinking of these statistics as they scheduled speaking engagements advocating for immigration reform. But will they resonate with Latino voters?

Many advocates, including U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, have been urging Obama to use his authority to act independently and stop deportations of some groups of illegal immigrants, including undocumented students and the parents of children who are U.S. citizens.

"When the president of the United States decided there was possibly going to be an act of genocide in Libya, he bombed Gadhafi's forces," Gutierrez told the Observer on a visit to Charlotte earlier this month. "He didn't call anyone in Charlotte or Chicago. He didn't call the Congress of the United States. ... He used his discretion."

So Obama caught the ire of some Latino advocates when he launched a new campaign ad pushing the Dream Act. The ad asks his supporters to give their email address and zip code. When they click on the button “I’m in” it takes them to Obama’s campaign website.

“Obama, END Our Pain before you start your campaign!,” the headline read on United We Dream.

The authors go on to write:

"We are tired of politicians either bashing us or praising us without ending our pain. After the president's speech we knew he was on campaign mode, but these ads just brought insult to our ever-growing pain of achieving the American Dream. Until Congress passes the DREAM Act, the President has the full authority to enable us to temporarily come out of the shadows, work and contribute to our country."

Haitians given another 18 months to remain in Charlotte

2011-05-17T11:38:00.000-04:00

Haitian nationals, including those who arrived illegally, residing in the United States prior to the 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010 can remain in the country through Jan. 22, 2013.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals living in Charlotte and across the United States.

Currently, approximately 48,000 Haitian nationals with TPS reside in the United States. According to the Census, 370 Haitians live in Mecklenburg County, but members of the community say the numbers are really in the thousands.

Temporary protected status is granted by the Homeland Security agency in cases of emergencies to allow people from a nation torn by war or disaster to receive temporary safe haven in the United States until the US government deems that it is safe for them to return.

“In the extended aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, the United States has remained fully committed to upholding our responsibility to assist individuals affected by this tragedy by using tools available under the law,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Providing a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti is part of this administration’s continuing efforts to support Haiti’s recovery.”

Killed neo-Nazi leader conducted armed 'border patrols'

2011-05-11T11:50:00.000-04:00

The story of an up-and-coming leader of the National Socialist Movement illustrates how some in the white supremacy movement use immigration as "potent neo-Nazi talking point."

Jeff Hall, a California man who was killed earlier this month, used the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment to attract new members, including skinheads and Klu Klux Klan members, according to a story in today's The New York Times.

Hall, 32, apparently spent much of his time on armed "border patrols." A photo in the article shows him teaching a member to pull a knife from his belt before a patrol. He bought night vision goggles and a ham radio license. According to the Times, he also bragged that he was teaching his 10-year-old son to use night vision equipment and shoot a gun.

His son has been accused of shooting his father after the boy was found with a handgun near his father dead on the living room couch. Details on the shooting are slim. Police say the killing was intentional, but motives are not clear, according to the Times.

You can read The New York Times story here. And don't miss their multimedia slideshow on their photography blog, Lens. They gained incredible access into the lives of the movement.

The photo above is of Virgil Griffin, the former Imperial Wizard of the Mount Holly-based chapter of the Klu Klux Klan in Gaston County.

We wrote in 2007 how the The Ku Klux Klan's once-diminishing numbers are increasing as the group exploits fears over illegal immigration, according to organizations that track hate groups.

Griffin, who died two years ago, said then that he had not seen membership grow so fast since the 1960s, when he joined. He said immigration was the No. 1 issue among the younger members.

Edward Fincher, 21, who is standing behind Griffin in the above photo, agree. A colonel in the Griffin Knights, he said he's concerned about illegal immigrants taking over. He's worried about his two kids being forced to learn Spanish in school and it's getting more difficult to find work.

According to the Times, a group of Hall's supporters will spread his ashes on the border during a patrol.

Top Photo: 2/8/2007 - Virgil Griffin, Imperial Wizard of the Cleveland Knights of the Ku Klux Klan poses for a portrait with two members of his "security detail", Donnie Fincher, 54 (right) and his son, Edward Fincher, 21. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

Obama's immigration speech from El Paso

2011-05-11T09:41:00.003-04:00

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery

Immigration and Border Security

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

El Paso, Texas

Hello, El Paso! It’s great to be back here with all of you, and to be back in the Lone Star State. I love coming to Texas. Even the welcomes are bigger down here. So, to show my appreciation, I wanted to give a big policy speech… outdoors… right in the middle of a hot, sunny day.

I hope everyone is wearing sunscreen.

Now, about a week ago, I delivered the commencement address at Miami Dade Community College, one of the most diverse schools in the nation. The graduates were proud that their class could claim heritage from 181 countries around the world. Many of the students were immigrants themselves, coming to America with little more than the dreams of their parents and the clothes on their backs. A handful had discovered only in adolescence or adulthood that they were undocumented. But they worked hard and gave it their all, and they earned those diplomas.

At the ceremony, 181 flags – one for every nation represented – was marched across the stage. Each was applauded by the graduates and relatives with ties to those countries. But then, the last flag – the American flag – came into view. And the room erupted. Every person in the auditorium cheered. Yes, their parents or grandparents – or the graduates themselves – had come from every corner of the globe. But it was here that they had found opportunity, and had a chance to contribute to the nation that is their home.

It was a reminder of a simple idea, as old as America itself. E pluribus, unum. Out of many, one. We define ourselves as a nation of immigrants – a nation that welcomes those willing to embrace America’s precepts. That’s why millions of people, ancestors to most of us, braved hardship and great risk to come here – so they could be free to work and worship and live their lives in peace. The Asian immigrants who made their way to California’s Angel Island. The Germans and Scandinavians who settled across the Midwest. The waves of the Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, and Jewish immigrants who leaned against the railing to catch that first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.

This flow of immigrants has helped make this country stronger and more prosperous. We can point to the genius of Einstein and the designs of I. M. Pei, the stories of Isaac Asimov and whole industries forged by Andrew Carnegie.

And I think of the naturalization ceremonies we’ve held at the White House for members of the military, which have been so inspiring. Even though they were not yet citizens, these men and women had signed up to serve. One was a young man named Granger Michael from Papua New Guinea, a Marine who deployed to Iraq three times. Here’s what he said about becoming an American citizen. “I might as well. I love this country already.” Marines aren’t big on speeches. Another was a woman named Perla Ramos. She was born and raised in Mexico, came to the United States shortly after 9/11, and joined the Navy. She said, “I take pride in our flag … and the history we write day by day.”

That’s the promise of this country – that anyone can write the next chapter of our story. It doesn’t matter where you come from; what matters is that you believe in the ideals on which we were founded; that you believe all of us are equal and deserve the freedom to pursue happiness. In embracing America, you can become American. And that enriches all of us.

Yet at the same time, we are standing at the border today because we also recognize that being a nation of laws goes hand in hand with being a nation of immigrants. This, too, is our heritage. This, too, is important. And the truth is, we’ve often wrestled with the politics of who is and who isn’t allowed to enter this country. At times, there has been fear and resentment directed toward newcomers, particularly in periods of economic hardship. And because these issues touch on deeply held convictions – about who we are as a people, about what it means to be an American – these debates often elicit strong emotions.

That’s one reason it’s been so difficult to reform our broken immigration system. When an issue is this complex and raises such strong feelings, it’s easier for politicians to defer the problem until after the next election. And there’s always a next election. So we’ve seen a lot blame and politics and ugly rhetoric. We’ve seen good faith efforts – from leaders of both parties – fall prey to the usual Washington games. And all the while, we’ve seen the mounting consequences of decades of inaction.

Today, there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Some crossed the border illegally. Others avoid immigration laws by overstaying their visas. Regardless of how they came, the overwhelming majority of these folks are just trying to earn a living and provide for their families. But they’ve broken the rules, and have cut in front of the line. And the truth is, the presence of so many illegal immigrants makes a mockery of all those who are trying to immigrate legally.

Also, because undocumented immigrants live in the shadows, they’re vulnerable to unscrupulous businesses that skirt taxes, pay workers less than the minimum wage, or cut corners with health and safety. This puts companies who follow those rules, and Americans who rightly demand the minimum wage or overtime or just a safe place to work, at an unfair disadvantage.

Think about it. Over the past decade, even before the recession, middle class families were struggling to get by as costs went up but incomes didn’t. We’re seeing this again with gas prices. Well, one way to strengthen the middle class is to reform our immigration system, so that there is no longer a massive underground economy that exploits a cheap source of labor while depressing wages for everyone else. I want incomes for middle class families to rise again. I want prosperity in this country to be widely shared. That’s why immigration reform is an economic imperative.

And reform will also help make America more competitive in the global economy. Today, we provide students from around the world with visas to get engineering and computer science degrees at our top universities. But our laws discourage them from using those skills to start a business or power a new industry right here in the United States. So instead of training entrepreneurs to create jobs in America, we train them to create jobs for our competition. That makes no sense. In a global marketplace, we need all the talent we can get – not just to benefit those individuals, but because their contributions will benefit all Americans.

Look at Intel and Google and Yahoo and eBay – these are great American companies that have created countless jobs and helped us lead the world in high-tech industries. Every one was founded by an immigrant. We don’t want the next Intel or Google to be created in China or India. We want those companies and jobs to take root in America. Bill Gates gets this. “The United States will find it far more difficult to maintain its competitive edge,” he’s said, “if it excludes those who are able and willing to help us compete.”

It’s for this reason that businesses all across America are demanding that Washington finally meet its responsibility to solve the immigration problem. Everyone recognizes the system is broken. The question is, will we summon the political will to do something about it? And that’s why we’re here at the border today.

In recent years, among the greatest impediments to reform were questions about border security. These were legitimate concerns; it’s true that a lack of manpower and resources at the border, combined with the pull of jobs and ill-considered enforcement once folks were in the country, contributed to a growing number of undocumented people living in the United States. And these concerns helped unravel a bipartisan coalition we forged back when I was a United States Senator. In the years since, “borders first” has been a common refrain, even among those who previously supported comprehensive immigration reform.

Well, over the past two years we have answered those concerns. Under Secretary Napolitano’s leadership, we have strengthened border security beyond what many believed was possible. They wanted more agents on the border. Well, we now have more boots on the ground on the southwest border than at any time in our history. The Border Patrol has 20,000 agents – more than twice as many as there were in 2004, a build up that began under President Bush and that we have continued.

They wanted a fence. Well, that fence is now basically complete.

And we’ve gone further. We tripled the number of intelligence analysts working the border. I’ve deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the skies from Texas to California. We’ve forged a partnership with Mexico to fight the transnational criminal organizations that have affected both of our countries. And for the first time we are screening 100 percent of southbound rail shipments – to seize guns and money going south even as we go after drugs coming north.

So, we have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement. But even though we’ve answered these concerns, I suspect there will be those who will try to move the goal posts one more time. They’ll say we need to triple the border patrol. Or quadruple the border patrol. They’ll say we need a higher fence to support reform.

Maybe they’ll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat.

They’ll never be satisfied. And I understand that. That’s politics.

But the truth is, the measures we’ve put in place are getting results. Over the past two and a half years, we’ve seized 31 percent more drugs, 75 percent more currency, and 64 percent more weapons than before. Even as we’ve stepped up patrols, apprehensions along the border have been cut by nearly 40 percent from two years ago – that means far fewer people are attempting to cross the border illegally.

Also, despite a lot of breathless reports that have tagged places like El Paso as dangerous, violent crime in southwest border counties has dropped by a third. El Paso and other cities and towns along the border are consistently rated among the safest in the nation. Of course, we shouldn’t accept any violence or crime, and we have more work to do. But this progress is important.

Beyond the border, we’re also going after employers who knowingly exploit people and break the law. And we are deporting those who are here illegally. Now, I know that the increase in deportations has been a source of controversy. But I want to emphasize: we are not doing this haphazardly; we are focusing our limited resources on violent offenders and people convicted of crimes; not families, not folks who are just looking to scrape together an income. As a result, we increased the removal of criminals by 70 percent.

That is not to ignore the real human toll. Even as we recognize that enforcing the law is necessary, we don’t relish the pain it causes in the lives of people just trying to get by. And as long as the current laws are on the books, it’s not just hardened felons who are subject to removal; but also families just trying to earn a living, bright and eager students; decent people with the best of intentions. I know some here wish that I could just bypass Congress and change the law myself. But that’s not how a democracy works. What we really need to do is keep up the fight to pass reform. That’s the ultimate solution to this problem.

And I’d point out, the most significant step we can take now to secure the borders is to fix the system as a whole – so that fewer people have incentive to enter illegally in search of work in the first place. This would allow agents to focus on the worst threats on both of our borders – from drug traffickers to those who would come here to commit acts of violence or terror.

So, the question is whether those in Congress who previously walked away in the name of enforcement are now ready to come back to the table and finish the work we’ve started. We have to put the politics aside. And if we do, I’m confident we can find common ground. Washington is behind the country on this. Already, there is a growing coalition of leaders across America who don’t always see eye-to-eye, but who are coming together on this issue. They see the harmful consequences of this broken system for their businesses and communities. They understand why we need to act.

There are Democrats and Republicans, including former-Republican Senator Mel Martinez and former-Bush administration Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff; leaders like Mayor Michael Bloomberg; evangelical ministers like Leith Anderson and Bill Hybels; police chiefs from across the nation; educators and advocates; labor unions and chambers of commerce; small business owners and Fortune 500 CEOs. One CEO had this to say about reform. “American ingenuity is a product of the openness and diversity of this society… Immigrants have made America great as the world leader in business, science, higher education and innovation.”

That’s Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, and an immigrant himself. I don’t know if you’re familiar with his views, but let’s just say he doesn’t have an Obama bumper sticker on his car.

So there is a consensus around fixing what’s broken. Now we need Congress to catch up to a train that’s leaving the station. Now we need to come together around reform that reflects our values as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants; that demands everyone take responsibility.

So what would comprehensive reform look like?

First, we know that government has a threshold responsibility to secure the borders and enforce the law. Second, businesses have to be held accountable if they exploit undocumented workers. Third, those who are here illegally have a responsibility as well. They have to admit that they broke the law, pay their taxes, pay a fine, and learn English. And they have to undergo background checks and a lengthy process before they can get in line for legalization.

And fourth, stopping illegal immigration also depends on reforming our outdated system of legal immigration. We should make it easier for the best and the brightest to not only study here, but also to start businesses and create jobs here. In recent years, a full 25 percent of high-tech startups in the U.S. were founded by immigrants, leading to more than 200,000 jobs in America. I’m glad those jobs are here. And I want to see more of them created in this country.

We need to provide farms a legal way to hire the workers they rely on, and a path for those workers to earn legal status.

Our laws should respect families following the rules – reuniting them more quickly instead of splitting them apart. Today, the immigration system not only tolerates those who break the rules, it punishes the folks who follow the rules. While applicants wait for approval, for example, they’re often forbidden from visiting the United States. Even husbands and wives may have to spend years apart. Parents can’t see their children. I don’t believe the United States of America should be in the business of separating families. That’s not right. That’s not who we are.

And we should stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents – by denying them the chance to earn an education or serve in the military. That’s why we need to pass the Dream Act. Now, we passed the Dream Act through the House last year. But even though it received a majority of votes in the Senate, it was blocked when several Republicans who had previously supported the Dream Act voted no.

It was a tremendous disappointment to get so close and then see politics get in the way. And as I gave the commencement at Miami Dade, it broke my heart knowing that a number of those promising, bright students – young people who worked so hard and who speak to what’s best about America – are at risk of facing the agony of deportation. These are kids who grew up in this country, love this country, and know no other place as home. The idea that we would punish them is cruel and it makes no sense. We are a better nation than that.

So we’re going to keep up the fight for the Dream Act. We’re going to keep up the fight for reform. And that’s where you come in. I will do my part to lead a constructive and civil debate on these issues. We’ve already held a series of meetings about this at the White House in recent weeks. And we’ve got leaders here and around the country helping to move the debate forward. But this change has to be driven by you – to help us push for comprehensive reform, and to identify what steps we can take right now – like the Dream Act and visa reform – areas where we can find common ground among Democrats and Republicans to begin fixing what’s broken.

I am asking you to add your voices to this debate – and you can sign up to help at whitehouse.gov. We need Washington to know that there is a movement for reform gathering strength from coast to coast. That’s how we’ll get this done. That’s how we can ensure that in the years ahead we are welcoming the talents of all who can contribute to this country; and that we are living up to that basic American idea: you can make it if you try.

That idea is what gave hope to José Hernández, who is here today. José’s parents were migrant farm workers. And so, growing up, he was too. He was born in California, though he could have just as easily been born on the other side of the border, had it been a different time of year, because his family moved with the seasons. Two of his siblings were actually born in Mexico.

They traveled a lot and José joined his parents picking cucumbers and strawberries. He missed part of the school year when they returned to Mexico each winter. He didn’t learn English until he was 12. But José was good at math, and he liked it. The great thing about math was that it’s the same in every school, and it’s the same in Spanish.

So he studied hard. And one day, standing in the fields, collecting sugar beets, he heard on a transistor radio that a man named Franklin Chang-Diaz – a man with a name like his – was going to be an astronaut for NASA.

José decided that he could be an astronaut, too.

So he kept studying, and graduated high school. He kept studying, earning an engineering degree and a graduate degree. He kept working hard, ending up at a national laboratory, helping to develop a new kind of digital medical imaging system.

And a few years later, he found himself more than 100 miles above the surface of the earth, staring out the window of the Shuttle Discovery, remembering the boy in the California fields with a crazy dream and an unshakable belief that everything was possible in America.

That is what we are fighting for. We are fighting for every boy and girl like José with a dream and potential just waiting to be tapped. We are fighting to unlock that promise, and all that it holds not just for their futures, but for the future of this great country.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Hispanic man arrested. Deputies mistake tortilla dough for cocaine

2011-05-10T13:14:00.005-04:00

A man heading through the NC mountains was charged with possession of 91 pounds of cocaine, but apparently he was only carrying tortilla dough and cooking flour, according to news reports.

Just odd.

Antonio Hernandez Carranza was arrested on May 1, when a Buncombe County deputy pulled up to his stopped car on the side of Interstate 240 with its hazard lights on, according to Fox Carolina. He was allegedly on his way to see family in Johnson City, Tenn.

Carranza allegedly drove away when police approached and led the officers on a three mile chase. After narcotics dog smelled something in Carranza's baggage, officers checked the bags and determined it was cocaine. But, according to Fox Carolina, when a State Bureau of Investigation lab tested the materials, the results were negative for narcotics. It was actually tortilla dough and cooking flour.

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan said the cocaine charges against Carranza were dropped, but he did plead guilty to failure to stop for officers.

White House hosts English education seminar in Charlotte

2011-05-06T12:51:00.001-04:00

White House officials will be in Charlotte next week to discuss how to better teach English to children who have limited English skills and/or learning it as a second language.

Jose Rico, deputy director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and Joanne Urrutia, deputy director the Office of English Language Acquisition, will lead a two-day meeting starting Monday with teachers, parents, administrators, community organizations, and policy makers at the Doubletree Hotel on Yorkmount Road near the airport.

Organizers say the meetings, part of the series “National Conversations on English Learner Education,” are part of an effort “to share best practices, challenges and recommendations for educating English language learners.” Previous meetings have been held in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Input from the meetings will help guide policy development for limited English proficient students.

Each session will be streamed online.

To register or for more information, visit http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/meetings/2011elconversation/.

WHAT:
National Conversations on English Learner Education

WHEN:
Monday, May 9, 2011 1-5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

WHERE:
Doubletree Hotel Charlotte Airport, 2600 Yorkmont Road, Charlotte

WEBCAST: http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/meetings/ncelecharlotte

Urban League Young Professionals Announce 2011 Leadership Awards

2011-05-06T10:30:00.002-04:00

Mayor Anthony Foxx to be honored at Young Professionals’ fourth annual event

The Urban League of Central Carolinas Young Professionals Auxiliary is rolling out the red carpet for the 2011 Leadership Awards. The ULCCYP will host the 4th Annual Leadership Awards event Saturday, May 21st at the Omni Hotel, 132 E. Trade Street.

Organizers say this year’s award recipients have demonstrated a commitment to professional and personal development, philanthropic opportunities, and community activism. They are:

Nepherterra Estrada, Partner and Director of Public Relations, Pride Public Relations
The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte
Mr. Rod Garvin, Consultant, Business Development and Marketing

Several students will also be honored. Alisha Carter, a senior at West Meck High School and Deborah Hugh, a senior at South Meck High School will receive scholarships in the amount of $2500 each from Bi-Lo. Carter has been accepted to High Point University and Hugh will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall.

All proceeds from the 2011 Leadership Awards will benefit the Urban League of Central Carolinas’ Urban Youth Empowerment Program. Current event sponsors include Coca Cola, Enterprise Holdings, Inc, Events/com, Fifth Third Bank and GoodWorks.

Advance tickets are $35, two for $60, and $45 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.urbanleaguecc.org or at the Urban League of Central Carolinas. For more information, call 704.373 2256 ext 205 or email info@urbanleaguecc.org.

Being Black and Latino

2011-04-19T12:10:00.000-04:00

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores race in Latin America in a new four-part series beginning tonight on PBS.

Gates notes that the vast majority of the 11.2 million Africans brought to the New World were taken to the Caribbean and Latin American. And they were kept as slaves far longer than the slaves brought to the United States. Only 450,000 came to the United States, he says in a Q&A posted on the PBS website.

“That’s amazing. All the rest went south of Miami as it were. Brazil got almost 5 million Africans. In part, this reflects our ignorance as Americans who don’t know that much about the rest of the world. But also, it is in part the responsibility of the countries in South America themselves — each of which underwent a period of whitening.”

In the series, Gates explores their stories and legacy of colonialism and slavery through Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Peru.

Here in North Carolina, we've seen this first hand. A large number of the Mexican population in the Carolinas is of African descent as was documented in a 2008 exhibit by the Afro-American Cultural Center in Charlotte.

The exhibit highlighted African descendants in Mexico and how some have migrated to the South, particularly to Winston Salem.

“I'm a Blaxican," Magdaleno Salinas, a native of Guerrero now living in Winston-Salem, said in an exhibit documentary.

If you're wondering where you recognize Gates. He's the Harvard professor who helped spark a national conversation on race relations and law enforcement after his 2009 arrest at his Massachusetts home by a Cambridge police officer who was responding to a call about a possible break-in. President Obama later intervened and said the police “acted stupidly” in arresting Gates. He later extended an invitation to both Gates and the officer to share a beer with him at the White House.

The PBS series airs tonight at 8 p.m.

Video: PBS
Photo: The photography of Romualdo Garcia was featured in the 2008 exhibit at the Afro-American Cultural Center. PHOTO COURTESY AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

Helping victims of Japan

2011-04-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

Several local international groups, including the Wells Fargo Asian Connection, Carolinas Asian-American Chamber and the International House, are teaming together to host a dinner on Thursday to support earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

The March 11 disaster killed more than 12,000 people and officials fear the number could more than double. More than 100,000 people are reportedly still homeless a month later.

Tickets are $75 for the 6 p.m. dinner at Kalu Asian Kitchen. Only the first 100 RSVP’s will be confirmed so get in touch early.

For more information, email apatel823@gmail.com

Top Photo: AP -- Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

Center photo: AP -- A stranded elderly woman is carried on the back of a Japanese soldier after being rescued from a residence at Kesennuma, northeastern Japan, on Saturday March 12, 2011, one day after a giant earthquake and tsunami struck the country’s northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

Controversial congressman, champion for reform, visits Clt

2011-04-15T12:25:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Congress’s leading voice for immigration reform – and therefore a very controversial one – will meet with Latinos in Charlotte next week to draw attention to deportations and the toll they’re taking on immigrant families.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, is on a 20-city tour he is calling the "Campaign for American Children and Families." He's also calling on President Obama to finally deliver immigration reform.

North Carolina's illegal immigrant population remained steady last year at about 325,000 people, after taking a slight dip the year before.

"The fear and dissatisfaction in immigrant and Latino communities is palpable and both parties shoulder some of the blame," said Gutierrez, who last year introduced an unsuccessful immigration reform bill. "Headed into an election year, the issue I am hearing about most is the record-setting pace of deportations, the price families and communities are paying, and the failure to make progress on immigration."

An estimated 11.2 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, including 325,000 in North Carolina, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Charlotte was chosen because of its large and growing immigrant population as well as being the city that will host the 2012 Democratic Convention. The Latin American Coalition will host the visit.

During a stop last week in Boston, Gutierrez urged the president to use his authority to act independently of Congress and establish a policy that would let illegal immigrants remain in the country while immigration policy is overhauled, according to The Boston Globe. And he warned that Obama risks losing the support of the Latino community, which supported him in 2008.

“For too long, our movement has been tied to one party,’’ said Gutierrez. “Listen, this issue is greater than the Democrats, the Republicans, or any one party. This is a human rights issue.’’

The Charlotte event will be held April 20 at 6:30 p.m. at St Paul Baptist Church on Allen Street near Uptown. For more information, call 704-759-6503 or email rcampillo@latinamericancoalition.org.

Photo: Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., right, surrounded by families who have members facing deportation, in Washington, D.C. last month announces the "Campaign for American Children and Families" tour. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Dances of India returns..

2011-04-14T14:12:00.002-04:00

The popular Dances of India, the colorful showcase of 2,000-year-old Indian classical and folk dances, will hold its 10th annual performance on April 30 at the Halton Theater.

I caught up with the group’s leader, Maha Gingrich, to talk about the group’s evolution. Here are excerpts:

For those unfamiliar with Dances of India, how would you describe it?
Dances of India will highlight classical dance styles of India, such as Kuchipudi and Bharatha Natyam from South India and the Kathak dance style from North India. We will also showcase the high energy folk dances from different regions. Our signature dance, Unity in Diversity will show the similarities between Indian dances and other international dance styles.

How did Dances of India start?
It started as a community outreach initiative during “Thursday Recital Series” of CPCC’s Arts and Communication division. CPCC wanted to celebrate and support the diversity that exists within our community and the college.

How has the program changed over the years?
We first presented our show in a small 150 capacity auditorium on CPCC’s central campus. Due to the demand for the show, the next year we moved into the Pease Auditorium with 450 capacity. Now we are in the beautiful Halton Theater that is designed for performing arts with 1,000 plus capacity. Each year, the community surprised us with their support and incredible turnout.

How do you find your dancers?
All of our performers are local to the Charlotte region. They have been training in these classical dance forms for six to eight years. Many of the local artists from CPCC and other dance groups participate each year according to the theme being presented.

What special things do you have in store for this year's performance?
Each year we have done different themes such as stick dances, clapping dances, animal dances, festival dances, etc. that are common in many parts of the world. This year we want to showcase the basis of any dance -- rhythm and emotions. This is going to be a unique presentation using international instruments and dance styles.

Will you have a solo performance this year? What can you tell us about your dance?
My teacher from my childhood Mrs. Sumathy Kaushal came to visit and taught me this incredible and powerful dance of Lord Shiva. Due to my head injury two years ago, I was not sure if I will be able to perform this dance filled with nonstop rhythms, vigor and unbelievable footwork. In spite of my apprehension, I look forward to performing this dance in a dance drama form with 10 other dancers with unique costumes and masks.

Congrats on your 10 year anniversary. How does it feel to have been successful for this long?
I feel honored to present this show to our Charlotte region. It is due to the support and encouragement of CPCC and the community that we had nine years of sold out shows. I hope the community will join us in celebrating the 10th year anniversary with the same enthusiasm.

For tickets ($10 for adults), call 704-330-6534 or visit tix.cpcc.edu.

White House official to meet with local Muslims, Latinos

2011-04-13T13:01:00.001-04:00

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez will visit Charlotte on Thursday as part of President Obama's initiative to reach out to minority groups.

Jibril Hough of The Islamic Center of Charlotte said Perez, who also leads the department's Civil Rights Division, will meet with local Latinos and Muslims to learn about the community's concerns and instances of possible hate crimes.

Hough said the Muslim community in Charlotte has never had such a high ranking official request to meet with them in an effort to ensure the community's concerns about civil rights are being addressed.

“A meeting such as this is going beyond the typical 'lip service' that we often get from D.C.” Hough said.

Perez is also expected to meet with students and faculty at the Northwest School of the Arts, the Latin American Coalition, the Mecklenburg County Bar, Charlotte School of Law, and the John S. Leary Association of Black Lawyers while in Charlotte.

CLT professor: Laws solely can't solve immigration problems

2011-04-12T11:32:00.001-04:00

A local professor investigates the political and social impacts of immigration in the South in a new book, “Irresistible Forces.”

Greg Weeks, associate professor of political science and director of Latin American Studies at UNC Charlotte, teamed up with his father, John R. Weeks, a geography professor at San Diego State University, for the five year investigation. The result: a 185-page examination of Latin American migration into Southeast, which has the fastest growing immigrant population. And how it may impact the political future of the South.

Weeks, who also authors the Latin American politics blog Two Weeks Notice, combed through hoards of government data, including from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

The main point of the book, Weeks says, is that to craft any immigration policy that will actually achieve its goals, leaders must take into account demographic dynamics both here and in Latin America.

“We should not view immigration as something we can turn on or off with new laws,” Weeks says. “There are much broader forces at work.”

“Irresistible Forces” starts off by stepping back to look at the current economic recession and how, since 2008, some economist have predicted that unemployed migrants would eventually return to their home countries in Latin America.

“Developers were no longer building at the same rate and thus not hiring every day, wealthier Americans began cutting back on services they used to pay others to do, and no one seemed to know how far away the light at the end of the tunnel might be. In fact, the problem of undocumented immigration might almost take care of itself. The phrase “self-deportation” came vogue as reporters began scouring the country to find people who might be leaving, and as headlines grew more and more lurid. It all makes perfect sense except for one problem: the argument is wrong. Most migrants are, in fact, choosing to stay….”

The father and son team go on to explain many factors affect immigration -- and a bad economy is only one of them. They discuss the historical background of Latin American migration, policy and demographic changes that incurred, the role of Latin American governments, and the changes in the South and the political ramification that will accompany them.

“As a new immigrant gateway region, the future of the South will hinge at least partly on how it incorporates and successfully integrates the existing and latent political, economic, and cultural strengths of the Latino population.”

“Irresistible Forces” came out in January. It can be purchased in most outlets online, including Amazon.

Latinos to clean Charlotte streets

2011-04-08T11:32:00.000-04:00

Hundreds of Latinos, armed with litter sticks and garbage bags, will hit the streets Saturday to help clean the city.

Some 500 volunteers are expected to take part in the sixth annual citywide cleanup organized by Jesus Ministry. Maudia Melendez, head of the non-profit that works with immigrant communities, says the event is intended to help create awareness in the Latino community about American culture and combat negative stereotypes.

"We believe that everybody should give a little bit to the city where we live," she said. "We also want to raise awareness in our communities that we need to keep our city clean."

Melendez said that Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful and the Mexican Consulate will be supporting the event.

On Saturday, teams of volunteers will be dispatched to more than a sixteen streets and major city roadways, including Elizabeth Avenue, Eastway Drive, Harris Boulevard, Sugar Creek Parkway, and South Boulevard, among others.

"This is something that everyone should do," Melendez said.

Volunteers will be gathering at 8 a.m. Saturday at Statesville Road Baptist Church. For more information, contact Jesus Ministry at (704) 532-8703 or email info@jesusministrytoday.org.

File photo: Dana Romanoff for the Charlotte Observer

NC illegal immigrants released from Atlanta jail

2011-04-07T16:50:00.000-04:00

Two illegal immigrants from North Carolina have been released from jail after being arrested Tuesday for their participation in an Atlanta sit-in to protest laws and proposed laws that bar illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

Viridiana Martinez of Sanford said shortly after being taken to jail with the six other undocumented students who were arrested, immigration officers arrived and asked them to sign forms. All of the participants refused. She does not know why ICE did not take further action.

“We definitely felt privileged—not everyone who is undocumented is treated the way we were,” she said. “we are not sure why we were not detained.”

Martinez and Jose Rico, a student at Wake Tech, are part of the NC Dream Team, a state-wide group that advocates for immigrant rights. They were among seven undocumented students arrested in an act of civil obedience intended to raise awareness of new legislation in Georgia (and proposed in North Carolina) that bans illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

For earlier coverage on the sit in, visit here and here.

Undocumented NC students arrested during sit in

2011-04-05T16:35:00.005-04:00

Two illegal immigrants from North Carolina have been arrested and could face deportation after staging a sit in this afternoon in downtown Atlanta to protest laws that bar illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

Supporters say Jose Rico, a student at Wake Tech, and Viridiana Martinez of Sanford, were arrested with five other undocumented students who were protesting recently proposed legislation in Georgia and North Carolina.

The students were taken to an area jail. The supporters said the Atlanta jails participate in Secure Communities, which identifies and places illegal immigrants into deportation proceedings.

A vigil will be held tonight outside Atlanta Detention Center for the seven undocumented youth who were just arrested.

“I’m doing this because our communities are living in fear,” Rico said before the rally.

Organizers say more than 200 supporters from Georgia, the Carolinas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, among other states, are in Atlanta supporting the rally.

Rico is a member of the NC Dream Team, a state-wide group that advocates for immigrant rights. He is a student at Wake Tech in Raleigh and plans to transfer to NC State. After excelling in high school being accepted to numerous colleges, Rico could not afford to go to school because of the out-of-state tuition that undocumented students are required to pay. Rico wants to become an engineer.

The students are part of The Dream is Coming project, which was created to advocate for the Dream Act, legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for certain young people who were brought here at a young age. It has failed to pass congress several times, most recently in December.

“Fifty-one thousand undocumented youth had their dreams torn apart when our senators voted against the Dream Act," Rico said. "They are trying to criminalize our existence.”

The young students have started using civil disobedience as a tool in their fight, including a high-profile sit-in at the Tucson offices of U.S. Sen. John McCain, when some of them were arrested. They have likened their struggle to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and say they are bolstered by support from some of the leaders of that movement.

Legislators in North Carolina are considering banning illegal immigrants from attending public colleges and universities. Two bills in the NC General Assembly, HB 11 and HB 343, would ban illegal immigrants from attending the state's public colleges.

Viridiana Martinez, who came to the United States when she was 7-years-old and lives in Sanford, will also participate in the sit in. Last year, she was one of three undocumented young women who participated in a thirteen-day hunger strike with the hope of encouraging Senator Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, to support the Dream Act. The Dream Act succumbed to a Senate filibuster after several key Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill.

“Rallying and protesting are no longer enough,” Martinez said. “Remaining in the shadows is no longer acceptable.”

Associated Press Contributed.

NC students risk arrest and deportation

2011-04-05T14:04:00.002-04:00

Two illegal immigrants from North Carolina will risk arrest and deportation when they stage a sit in this afternoon in downtown Atlanta to protests laws that bar illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

“I’m doing this because our communities are living in fear,” said Jose Rico, one of two participants from North Carolina.

They will be joined by six other undocumented students from across the country.

Organizers say more than 200 supporters from Georgia, the Carolinas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, among other states, are in Atlanta supporting the rally.

Rico is a member of the NC Dream Team, a state-wide group that advocates for immigrant rights. He is a student at Wake Tech in Raleigh and plans to transfer to NC State. After excelling in high school being accepted to numerous colleges, Rico could not afford to go to school because of the out-of-state tuition that undocumented students are required to pay. Rico wants to become an engineer.

The students are part of The Dream is Coming project, which was created to advocate for the Dream Act, legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for certain young people who were brought here at a young age. It has failed to pass congress several times, most recently in December.

“Fifty-one thousand undocumented youth had their dreams torn apart when our senators voted against the Dream Act," Rico said. "They are trying to criminalize our existence.”

The young students have started using civil disobedience as a tool in their fight, including a high-profile sit-in at the Tucson offices of U.S. Sen. John McCain, when some of them were arrested. They have likened their struggle to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and say they are bolstered by support from some of the leaders of that movement.

Legislators in North Carolina are considering banning illegal immigrants from attending public colleges and universities. Two bills in the NC General Assembly, HB 11 and HB 343, would ban illegal immigrants from attending the state's public colleges.

Viridiana Martinez, who came to the United States when she was 7-years-old and lives in Sanford, will also participate in the sit in.Last year, she was one of three undocumented young women who participated in a thirteen-day hunger strike with the hope of encouraging Senator Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, to support the Dream Act. The Dream Act succumbed to a Senate filibuster after several key Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill.

“Rallying and protesting are no longer enough,” Martinez said. “Remaining in the shadows is no longer acceptable.”

Associated Press Contributed.

Selene didn't realize her immigration status until middle school

2011-04-01T14:29:00.010-04:00

Some 75 people, mostly students, marched through Uptown Thursday protesting newly introduced state legislation that targets immigrants living in the country illegally.

One student, Selene, a 17-year-old junior in Charlotte, told the crowd about learning her immigration status while in middle school.

"When I was six years old my parents decided to come visit my moms’ family in the United States. I was young and excited about the trip. I had never really met all of my family members.

The time spent here was great and when the vacation was coming to an end my parents decided to stay longer because they felt that learning a new language would be a great opportunity for my sisters and me. At that time the immigration laws were not as tough and stringent as they are now. I grew up thinking that the United States was my home, and that everyone around me was my friend.

When I entered middle school I began to realize the situation that I was in. I started hearing all of the negative and racist comments that people were saying about my race. I learned what the true meaning of being undocumented in this country was and how I would be impacted by that.

I’ve always been a good student in school, my parents place a very high value in education, and therefore I try my hardest everyday, so that they can be proud of me. I’m currently in the top 12 percent of my class and my biggest dream is to attend UNC Chapel Hill in order to later become a lawyer and hopefully one day a Supreme Court Justice. It saddens me to see that the country I call home is fighting so hard to get rid of me.

All I want is to give back the community that has sheltered me since such a young age. I want to be able to go to college, so that later I can help those in need, especially my family members. I don’t see why people want to deny me the right to an education. The economy is in a very rough spot right now. Why not let me help restore the community?

All that the Latino youth are asking for is to be partners in order to help rebuild our collective community. I’m ready to start standing up for what I know I deserve. I work hard daily and I think that anyone who wants a chance to improve their future should be given that chance. We will not give up the fight and I will go to college and be the best person I can be!"

'My name is Elver and I'm undocumented and unafraid.'

2011-04-01T10:30:00.002-04:00

Students told their personal stories of finding out they were living in the country illegally during an Uptown rally Thursday to protest recent legislation directed at immigrants.

A couple students shared their speeches with me. Here is one from Elver, 19, who graduated from a Charlotte-Mecklenburg High School in 2009.

'My name is Elver and I'm undocumented and unafraid.'

Yes I am undocumented and I’m not afraid of what people might think because it is not a crime, and I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just working like most people in this country. I didn’t choose to come to the United States, my parents made that decision for me because it was safer for me to live here in the states than in my own country with violence and the killing every day. That’s not what parents want for their kids, and that’s not what my parents wanted for my future.

I came here when I was 14 years old, and when I arrived I didn’t speak any English, I had to adapt to a whole new society, and teachers and staff told me that I couldn’t go to college or do well in school because I was “illegal”, and I couldn’t speak the language. To their surprise I graduated in the top 11% of my class in June of 2009, and now ever since I graduated I have been fighting hard for the right of education, the right to higher education for the undocumented students like me and 65,000 other students that graduate each year from high school in the nation that cant go to college because they’re undocumented. And bills like the HB 343- it is basically racial profiling, and is somebody’s way to kick us out this country which to many is our only and 1st home country.

But is up to us the people, the youth and it is in our hands- the power of change, the power of the people, the power to make the voices of those whose voices are not being heard. In your hands is the future of us the undocumented youth. The youth are the future of the United States but we are also the present and we have to show that we can and we have to power to make change. Therefore I want to ask you to come out the shadows, undocumented youth, come out and let’s show the community of Charlotte that we exist and that we are youth with dreams just like any other U.S citizen. Let’s show the community of Charlotte that the undocumented people and our allies are stronger than before, and we are one voice, the voice of change and the voice of the future. "

Immigrant students march in Uptown against new bill

2011-03-30T16:23:00.008-04:00

More than 50 students are expected to converge on Marshall Park tomorrow to protest recent state legislation they feel targets Latino communities, encourages racial profiling and will ban undocumented immigrant students from attending public colleges.

Advocates are particularly concerned about House Bill 343 : Support Law Enforcement/Safe Neighborhoods introduced this month by Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow.

Some advocates say HB 343 is the most egregious bill against immigrants ever introduced in the NC General Assembly.

The bill, among other things, instructs officers to determine the immigration status of those arrested or detained, makes it illegal to transport undocumented people in a vehicle, and bans illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

Organized by United 4 The Dream, a youth-led advocacy group within the Latin American Coalition, marchers will meet in Marshall Park at 5:30 and then march through Uptown Charlotte.

Elver Barrios, co-founder of United 4 the Dream, says that HB 343 will force out many bright students who just want to work and be given the chance to contribute.

“We are tired of always being pushed back and targeted…,” said Barrios. “We did not choose to come to the United States but our parents made a choice to bring us along to give us opportunities that we would’ve never had in our home countries. Now that we are here and we have made this our second home, we will not give up the fight.”

For more information, contact 704-941-2542.

Charlotteans demonstrate for Libya

2011-02-22T12:39:00.003-05:00

Dozens of Charlotte area residents with ties to Libya, Bahraini, and Yemen will hold a join together tonight (Feb. 22) as a sign of solidarity with the people protesting in their homeland.

Inspired by the successful ousting of the authoritarian presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, masses of Libyan people have been engaged in uprisings over the last several weeks. Human rights groups say that more than 200 people have died.

Charlotte organizers plan to meet Uptown at Marshall Park on East 3rd street at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the groups Facebook page or call (919) 413-1816.

Charlotte professor heads to Cairo

2011-02-11T11:51:00.003-05:00

An Egyptian-born Queens professor is headed to Egypt today. Mohammed el-Nawawy is expected to land in Cairo tonight.

El-Nawawy, a professor of communication, is working on a new book about political blogging in Egypt. He plans to travel to the center of the protests Tahrir Square to talk to some of the bloggers who helped started this protest.

“I’m going to speak to some of the bloggers that I talked to before and get some feedback on how social media has affected their work on the ground,” he said.

“It’s history in the making,” he said. “To capture a slice of it will be interesting.”

El Nawawy plans to return to Charlotte on Tuesday, Feb. 15. On Wednesday, he plans to meet with the community at Myers Park Baptist Church to discuss the trip and also sign copies of another book, "Islam Dot Com: Contemporary Islamic Discourse in Cyberspace," which el-Nawawy co-authored with Sahar Khamis.

Charlotte groups to discuss white nationalist controversy

2011-02-04T13:38:00.004-05:00

Groups concerned about racial prejudice will hold a discussion forum at the West Boulevard Library tomorrow.

Leonard Zeskind, president of the Kansas City-based Institute for Research & Education of Human Rights and author of "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream" will be a guest speaker.

The forum is in response to controversy this month over first amendment rights and a white nationalists' organization, American Renaissance, decision to call off its conference that was planned to be held in Charlotte.

You can read some of the Observer's coverage about the cancelled conference here and here. And here are some photos.

Organizers of Saturday's forum said attendees will be given an opportunity to participate in a discussion about why a coalition of groups opposed American Renaissance coming to Charlotte. The hour and a half session will start at 1 p.m. at the library located 2157 West Boulevard.

Candlelight vigil tonight for Egypt

2011-01-29T12:06:00.002-05:00

Dozens of Charlotte area residents with ties to Egypt will hold a candlelight vigil tonight (Saturday, Jan. 29) as a sign of solidarity with the people of Egypt. They will meet at 6:30 in Marshall Park in Uptown.

For more information, contact (704)258-0304.

Trouble in Egypt stirs Charlotteans
By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011
Charlotte area Egyptians are watching the protests raging in Cairo and across Egypt with a mix of concern and anticipation.
Mona Baset of Charlotte immediately worried about her cousins' safety when she learned police were lobbing tear gas and using water cannons against protesters in her relatives' neighborhood near the 6 October Bridge in Cairo. She checked her cousin's Facebook page and found he had been posting messages supporting the protests.
"I thought that was very brave of my cousin to post that," she said. "People are concerned, but there is a sense of hope that there is going to be some change. I really think that people there have been living under such an oppressive government."
Baset, whose parents moved to the United States after they were married in 1960s, said she was glad to find out her many aunts, uncles and cousins were safe before the government cut off most of the country's Internet and cell phone service.
The unrest in Egypt has come after weeks of turmoil across the Arab world that has already toppled the authoritarian president in Tunisia.
The protesters in Egypt are seeking a similar result, hoping to overthrow their President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power since 1981.
Mohammed el-Nawawy, an associate professor of communication at Queens University of Charlotte who is from Egypt, called it an "historic moment."
El-Nawawy, who has studied the role of the media and Internet in the Arab world, described the protesters as mostly educated, middle-class youth who have used social media sites and the web to cut through restrictions on freedom of expression and political activism.
He said the government's effort to quash the movement by shutting down the Internet is too late.
"This is the point of no return," he told the Observer Friday. "These are young people who are insisting on making things happen now. Now the regime is forced to take action."
Baset's parents moved to Texas in 1969 to attend grad school, but also for many of the same reasons that the people today are protesting.
"It was a similar situation where it was just so oppressive," she said. "They felt that if they stayed there they didn't think they'd have the opportunities. They decided to leave and never looked back."

'I didn't go to Haiti to help their government. I went for the people.'

2011-01-28T11:40:00.001-05:00

School nurse Angel Bunce spent her holiday break treating cholera patients in Haiti. I included parts of her story in my article about Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian relief agency run by Franklin Graham. The 48-year-0ld nurse from Monroe High School's account is very touching. I was really bummed that I couldn't include more in the original story.

The beauty of the web is I can share more of it here. Here are more excerpts from what she told me.

To read more of the published accounts from local relief workers visit home page for This Land. And also take a look at the Observer Special Reports page on Haiti.

Why did you got Haiti in the first place?

When the earthquake hit, I watched the news coverage with horror. The images were like nothing I had ever seen before. As a nurse, I wanted to go to help. The next morning, I was asked to go to Haiti. I didn't realize it but a teacher that I work with is from Haiti and still has family there. I had to apply for my passport, get the needed immunizations etc before I could go. We went to Haiti in June just as the schools there were starting to reopen.

When I say schools, you probably imagine something similar to what we have here. But, what I found was tarp draped over a wooden frame with desks sitting on a wooden ground. Goats ran freely through the "school." There was no running water, electricity, or air conditioning. The smell of sewage was overwhelming. The technology was an old, black chalkboard. But the kids were smiling and playing games. They were happy to be back in school. They started their day in prayer reciting the Lord's Prayer in their Creole language.

I was touched by how thankful the people were. Instead of being bitter for what they had lost or they were praising God for all that they still had. They were quick to smile and quick to hug. They didn't complain but when asked directly, they all voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of response from their government. This was when I saw their lack of hope, the sadness. Many of the people were still living in tents six months later (if they were lucky). Many others lived on the streets, or under makeshift tents. How do you raise a family in an area 8-by-10 feet? How do you wash your hands or use the bathroom. These people didn't even have the most basic necessities. When I left Haiti that time, I prayed to be able to return.

When the Cholera outbreak occurred in October, I couldn't help but wonder if the children that I saw had been sick or even if they were still alive. I knew in my heart I had to go back to Haiti. It was then that I got an email from Samaritan's Purse to go with them to work in the Cholera clinics.

As a school nurse, I am off work during the Christmas season. So, I gladly agreed to go back. When I mentioned it to my coworkers , three other school nursess agreed to go with me. I went December 27th through January 4th. While there, I worked in the cholera clinic in Cite Soleil.

How are you reflecting on the anniversary of the Jan. 12 earthquake?

I worked in the triage tent while in the cholera Clinic. It was where the sickest of the sick were brought for immediate IV fluids. I saw mothers walking for hours, carrying their babies and children, to get help at the clinic. Having a mother hand over her near lifeless baby to me, a school nurse from North Carolina in hopes, that I could get an IV started that would allow her baby to receive the life saving fluids was.....is very humbling. Finding an IV on such sick, malnourished, dehydrated babies and children is not an easy task. What a feeling to be able to get an IV started and watch a baby "come back alive."

More amazing was to be able to place that baby back into their mama's arms. Since I returned home, my mind has played a near constant recording of the many miracles I witnessed. To fully appreciate the "miracles", you would have to see it for yourself.

The clinic is nothing more than large tents and barn like shelters. There are flies everywhere. The smell of bleach used to decontaminate is so strong that sometimes it takes your breath away. It is hot and the hours are long. The patients are lined up on wooden cots with holes in them that allow them to go to the bathroom when they are too weak to get up.

There is no privacy for them, no call bell, no meals served. Family members help by emptying the bedpans and they bring in food. These conditions would be considered inhumane, unlawful, and disrespectful in this country. In Haiti, it's the best there is.

I never heard any complaints; instead songs of praise filled the air as familiar hymns are sung loudly in the Creole language. Doctors and nurses from the U.S., Canada, and U.K join in, singing in English. It's a happy time in a harsh environment and lives are being saved both physically and spiritually.

Another experience I had came from working closely with the "Porters". S.P. has employed Haitians to carry the sick from the street to the tents or from tents to tents. Frequently, I would have to call out to the "porter" to come pick up my patient from triage and carry them to the admission tent. I'm from the south and I do have that southern drawl. It became a joke to them (friendly kidding) to see if they could imitate me calling out for the "porter". They taught me some simple Creole phrases (stand, sit, and Can you walk). They loved hearing my southern drawl in their language. I didn't mind their kidding. In fact, I taught them to say, "Haaaay Ya'll".

What do you see as the successes and challenges in Haiti?

When you look around Haiti with the devastation still there from the earthquake, it's hard to find anything to say that is "successful." But, when you travel through the city of Port-au-Prince, you can't miss the blue S.P. tarps that are everywhere. One thing that I personally see as a challenge is people no longer want to give money to help the people in Haiti. I hear over and over that the money "isn't getting to the people". My response to that is I too feel it is true that Haiti's government is not doing all that they can for their people. That being said, I didn't go to Haiti to help their government. I went for the people. I just can't ignore what is happening there. I just can't.

'I left Haiti leaving small pieces of my heart behind'

2011-01-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

The Observer asked relief workers who traveled to Haiti in the aftermath of last year’s earthquake to share their reflections about the experience. To read more of the published accounts from local relief workers visit home page of This Land. And also take a look at the Observer Special Reports page on Haiti.

Debbie Jonas (photo: blue shirt holding green bag) is a 41-year-old physician assistant with the Conner Family Health Clinic in Matthews. She traveled Dr. Will Conner and a team of Charlotte doctors and nurses in February Cap-Haitien working at a 65-bed hospital that was converted into a 250-bed MASH unit to help treat earthquake victims. She treated 16 patients -- almost each one with amputations -- in a concrete classroom that had been converted into a medical ward.

"One year ago the earthquake that decimated the country of Haiti provided a rare and precious opportunity for me to see first-hand the strength and optimism of the Haitian people. Below is an account of my experience in Haiti:

In times of global crisis, people are able to truly witness the very best people have to offer. February 18th was the beginning of a journey in which I was able to witness the very best people had to offer. Through the gracious generosity of Hendrick Motorsports – our medical team was flown directly into Cap Haitian for a week-long, medical relief effort for the refugees of the Haiti Earthquake.

Our team was fortunate to serve at the Sacre Coeur medical compound in the small town of Milot, Haiti. Outside the gates of a make-shift medical compound, Milot appeared to be a simple rural Caribbean town: Dense green foliage, banana trees, dirt roads, street vendors trying to sell their wares to passer-bys. But within the walls of this make-shift medical compound existed an entirely different world.

I had 16 patients in my unit – a concrete classroom building that had been converted into a medical ward, and the adjoining side had an additional 28 patients – practically each one with amputations. Each morning I entered Salle A and greeted my women, 'Bonjour mes amies' – and without fail they would each greet me back. These women were lovely, graceful, appreciative, dedicated to getting better, and strong. I mentioned on more than one occasion to my teammates that we could learn many lessons from these women: How to face adversity with faith and strength; Living in the moment; Focusing on all of the blessing they had versus all of the losses they had sustained.

Our morning began with an hour commute to Milot and we began seeing our patients by 7:30-8:00 and would work straight through until 5:00 each afternoon – the commute back was considered dangerous after dark so our days were limited to daylight. The time flew by – rounding on patients, assuring their pain was being controlled, dispensing medications, reading notes from the specialists the day before, consulting with the physical therapy team, administering mid-day meds, dressing changes. The days flew by….then night would come and worry would set in…..would they receive their pain meds through the night? Would they receive their injections of Lovenox to prevent blood clots, would the women get any rest, or would they continue to have horrible nightmares about the earthquake that rocked Haiti?

Solange, a 23 year-old female, sustained a fracture in her lumbar spine, resulting in paraplegia. During the aftermath of the quake she was stuck in the rubble with so much pressure on her pelvis that when she was pulled from the rubble, her entire backside was torn off as she was pulled to safety. This woman was in excruciating pain when we arrived – a challenge in any setting but worrisome in a setting of primitive medicine.

Jean-Pierre Azir, a 30 year-old female sustained a fracture to her left femur and arrived in Milot, with the hardware of an external fixator attached to her thigh. This woman and her four children survived the quake, only to be separated so that she could receive the medical treatment to repair her leg correctly. Her youngest child is 4 months old.

Anne-Marie Milieu, was a 41 year old female who had suffered a right femur fracture, damage to the nerves in her left forearm, a scalp laceration, and an injury to the popliteal artery that required surgery. This woman who had serious wounds worked through her physical therapy exercises every single day without fail, and only admitted to discomfort from the exercises, with persistent prodding.

These are just three snapshots of hundreds upon hundreds of patients from the Haiti earthquake. Each of these people had their own story of loss and survival. And while all of their injuries were different, and their prognoses varied from case to case, one thing was certain – there was hope in their eyes. Hope that their bodies would heal. Hope that they were receiving the very best medical care Haiti had to offer. Hope that Haiti will change for the better. Hope that people will never forget Haiti.

I left Haiti leaving small pieces of my heart behind with each of my patients, but these gracious souls gave small pieces of their hearts to me to take home. So while my heart is whole again – it is forever changed."

Photo: Jeff Siner, The Charlotte Observer

Dad reminds kids to remember how lucky they are

2011-01-19T11:50:00.002-05:00

Charlotte doctor Marc Lewin, 45, spent a week in Haiti last February working at a 65-bed hospital that was converted into a 250-bed MASH unit to help treat earthquake victims. At the time, Lewin (photo, center) wrote this touching letter to his kids to help explain why he felt moved to use his skills in country they knew little about.

On the eve of the one year anniversary, he's written them another letter -- this time from Charlotte. He said he wants his kids Max, 9, Kate, 8, and Charlie, 6, to know that there are people around the world who are in need of help and, that in Haiti, people are still suffering. He also wants to reinforce that they should be grateful for all that they have.

Here is what he wrote:

January 2011

Dear Max, Kate and Charlie, my wonderful children:

It’s been about one year since I wrote to you from Haiti. I hope you remember that I went there after a terrible earthquake that killed and injured a lot of people. I went with a team of other doctors and we worked hard to help as many people as we could in the time that we were there. All of the people I took care of had suffered terrible injuries like losing arms and legs. I wrote to you about how much the unfortunate people there appreciated our coming to help and what a wonderful experience it was to be able to go there and help them.

I am writing to you now to tell you about what has been happening since then in Haiti. Life is still very difficult for most people there. Most of them are poor and many of them are sick. So many people who lost their homes in the earthquake one year ago are still living outside in tents where it is not safe and very hard to keep clean. In such conditions, diseases tend to spread. One of these diseases is called cholera and in the last few months, thousands of people have died from it including many children. This is especially terrible because simple things like clean homes, good food and vaccines could have prevented so many of these people from dying.

So you see that things that we don’t even think about much like our wonderful, safe home and fresh water and food are things that many people in the world need and don’t have. I know you realize that my team and I went to Haiti and helped a lot of people and came home but I want you to be aware that the people in Haiti and many other poor countries all over the world still need our help. The team that I went to Haiti with is still trying to help. We are currently planning to build a medical clinic so that we can keep going back to help the wonderful Haitian people.

Although it was very difficult for me seeing the terrible tragedies that happened to people in Haiti, it was really a wonderful feeling helping them. In fact, there is no greater thing you can do in your lives than help others. When bad things happen to me here in Charlotte, I always think back to the unfortunate people I worked with in Haiti (and India and Africa on other trips) and I realize that my problems are really very small in comparison.

I hope that all three of you realize how lucky you are to live in a place where you are free and safe and also to have food and water whenever you want. I also hope that you will take the opportunity whenever possible to help people less fortunate than you throughout your lives.

Love,

Daddy

Charlotte connections continue to grow in Haiti.

2011-01-17T10:30:00.002-05:00

Karen Goins-Byrnes, 44, a Nascar sports marketing consultant, approached the Charlotte medical team at the Port-au-Prince airport.

Byrnes returned last week from their trip educating residents on cholera. She traveled with members of her church, Gold Hill Road Church of Christ in Fort Mill.

I asked Byrnes to reflect on her trip. This is what she wrote.

“My first trip to Haiti was just a few months after the earthquake. I anticipated seeing people that were distraught and hopeless and it would be my job to lift their spirits. Boy was I wrong. In spite of unbelievable devastation and human suffering, I was introduced to a country of people that were strong, persevering, full of hope and even joy. How could this be? Instead of me lifting their spirits, they lifted mine.”

This week I had the good fortune to return to Port-Au-Prince and Cap Haitian, Haiti on the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake. Now the people of Haiti are dealing with a second disaster, the Cholera epidemic.

We are distributing 4,000 dropper bottles containing two ounces of bleach. Eight drops of the bleach will treat one gallon of water and make it suitable for drinking. Each two-ounce dropper bottle will treat and provide approximately 250 gallons of drinking water to Haitian families. We have already distributed enough to treat 1,000,000 gallons of water. The trip has been such a success; we have pledged 16,000 more dropper bottles, which will treat 4,000,000 gallons of water.

Our church has been doing work in Haiti for over 10 years. Our team leader, Tim Mastenbrook, has made 48 trips in just 25 years. Our church works with about 150 churches in north Haiti and even more in south Haiti. This network of churches guarantees that the efforts actually reach the people.

The ultimate solution to the Cholera epidemic is wells and latrines in these communities to provide clean drinking water and safe disposal of sewage. We are trying to raise the $6,000 needed for a well and the $2,000 needed for a latrine to place in 10 Haitian communities with the greatest need. Each location would provide clean drinking water and safe disposal of sewage for 1,000-2,000 people, half of those being children.

I know there are many people in the U.S. that do not sympathize with Haiti, but there is no way you can understand the situation without seeing it first hand. They do not have the resources that we have in the U.S. There are no landfills and no trash service, so there is trash everywhere. There are no water treatment plants or sewage systems, so they suffer from Cholera. There are no public schools so many children grow up illiterate. The Haitian people are very hard working, but there is no commerce, so there are no jobs. We live in a country where there are programs, resources and elements to ensure success. None of that exists in Haiti.

I hope I have the good fortune to visit Haiti every year. Seeing the country reminds me of all my blessings. Being with the people reminds me that happiness is a state of mind, not a set of circumstances. Anyone who visits Haiti to help the people will discover that they help themselves and are forever changed."

Photo: Goins-Byrnes spending time with children at a Port-Au-Prince orphanage.

'You are now my only family'

2011-01-16T14:20:00.002-05:00

One of the most touching moments of this trip was when the Charlotte medical team, led by Dr. Will Conner, first visited the home of 4-year-old Jacky Delva and his mother, Chella Michel.

They live with Nadége Pierre and her three children Jovanny, 13, Christopher, 7, and Oliver, 2.

On the eve of the January 12, 2010 earthquake, Pierre tearfully read by candlelight a letter that she had written to Natalie Conner.

If it wasn’t for Natalie, who with her husband are helping support the two single-mothers as well as paying for their childrens’ education, Pierre said they would be living on the street.

The letter is posted below. Here are a few roughly translated excerpts.

“After the earthquake that devastated Haiti, I believed that my life was not worth living. I had truly lost my mind because I had lost my family, my house, my friends. I could not fee my children. And we did not have a place to live."

"… Thanks to people like you Madam Laurence and Donald, you have put me back on my way. You have given me another chance and hope for a better life…"

"…Thanks to your help. You have taught me that despite the difficult times of life that God will always put a person of good heart and good will to help you."

"You are now my only family.”

In September, Jacky and Michel moved in with Pierre and her three children, Jovanny, 13, Christopher, 7, and Oliver, 2. Jovanny was another one of Conner’s former patients at Sacre Coeur Hospital where a Charlotte team worked in February.  For seven months, Nadége Pierre, 33, had no idea her daughter was alive, and even held a funeral.

It was until after the Jovanny’s remembrance ceremony when Laurence Desvignes, who was then with the International Committee of the Red Cross met Jovanny, who had suffered a brain injury, at Sacre Coeur. Desvignes eventually tracked down Nadege Pierre in Port-au-Prince and brought her to the north to reunite with her daughter.

Natalie Conner and Desvignes, who also met at Sacre Coeur, worked together to help find the two displaced families housing in Cap-Haitien. And with the help of Donald Chaudry, the Conners’ guide and closest friend in Haiti, the Conners have continued to support Pierre and Michel’s families.

Photo: Nadege(right), Christopher, 7, and Oliver, 2 as well as Jacky, 4, his cousin, and their neighbor wave goodbye to the Charlotte medical team.

Charlotte relief workers look back

2011-01-14T12:05:00.003-05:00

"I can't believe it has been a year already. January 12, 2010 was one of the worst days of my life, but it made such a strong impact on my life at the same time." -- Dr. Sherma Morton, Charlotte Obgyn

The Observer asked relief workers who travelled to Haiti in the aftermath of last year’s earthquake to share their reflections about the experience. We’ll publish responses online and in the newspaper over the next week.

Louise Rogers, 47, Charlotte, Obstetrician – Gynecologist

The Charlotte doctor traveled to Cap-Haitien with the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti in February for a two week relief trip. The team worked at Sacre Coer Hospital in Milot, a 65-bed hospital that was holding more than 250 earthquake victims. She was in charge of evacuee tents that each contain roughly 30 patients.

1. Why did you go to Haiti?

"I had visited Haiti in 2006 and 2007 and the friends I made had been directly impacted by the earthquake and even though I wasn’t able to help or see them while I was there in 2010 I felt like I was reaching out to them. I also thought that as a surgeon my skills would be helpful caring for earthquake victims."

2. How are you reflecting on the anniversary and the experience you had?

"Being involved with HHFoH has ensured that I have continued to think of Haiti regularly throughout the last year. I am glad that the anniversary has come so that Haiti’s problems will be on the minds of most Americans again. People continue to ask me about my trip and my experiences and sharing the same stories and pictures helps reassure me that people in the US still care about Haiti. Due to my work schedule and other commitments I haven’t been able to go back to Haiti but there are many people who express an interest in going and I hope to encourage others to go and see what Haiti is like while I stay home and work to help rebuild Haiti from here (for now)."

3. Is there any one person or thing that has held the majority of your thoughts?

"I think about the patient at Milot who was a young girl, paralyzed from a spinal injury who was taken by the British neurosurgeon to join the long term care facility they have a few miles from Milot. I hope and am fairly certain that she is doing well. However, I keep remembering that he said he had 40 people to consider for the one spot in their facility.

There are hundreds of paralyzed patients in Haiti and who is taking care of them? Where are they? Have they died from lack of care? I just can’t imagine the average Haitian being able to handle the problems that come with a paralyzed family member. In the US, we have institutions and home nurses and physical therapists that help and it is still remarkably difficult. How are people with no shelter and minimal funds able to do it? I’m afraid that some of these patients have been left to die."

4. What do you see as the successes and challenges in Haiti?

"The success is that Haiti is still on the minds of the international community. The challenges are huge – the lack of organization and success of the Haitian government and people themselves makes me wonder if they will ever have a better life despite our help.
It’s a lot easier for me to pay my taxes in the US when I see how our governments provides for us. I wish the Haitian government could do more for the Haitian people but I don’t have much optimism that will happen."

Sabrina Joline-Ellis, 22, dental student at Meharry Medical

The Charlotte dental student originally from Haiti traveled to Cap-Haitien with the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti in February for a two week relief trip. The team worked at Sacre Coer Hospital in Milot, a 65-bed hospital that was holding more than 250 earthquake victims. Joline-Ellis worked in the pediatric unit with some 45 kids.
"I remember being in my dorm room and hearing a knock at my door. That knock would change my life forever. My suitemate came in to tell me that there had been an earthquake in Haiti and I needed to call home. After hearing about the disaster in 2010, I teamed up with HHFoH to provide any medical and emotional support needed. When I got there, I was placed in the pediatric ward and intensive care unit where I translated, changed wound dressings, administered some medicine, told stories, danced, cried, and realized who I really was. I think about how no matter how much we try, we are still a long way from rebuilding the Haiti I knew a long time ago.
The people of Haiti have been suffering for a long time, and now we are rebuilding- literally-brick by brick. Since my trip to Haiti, My friends and I have been collecting and sending clothes for those still being hospitalized and those just in need.
Some may ask me with the earthquake anniversary coming up, how do I feel and what do I think about? Thing is, I think about it every day. I think about Dove, Sandia, Yvelene, and how it’s because of them I am pursuing a career in pediatric dentistry. I think about reuniting babies with their parents and protecting those who were possible orphans. I think about how my grandfather’s house was literally 57 steps away from the hospital where we were trying to save lives. Like I said before, I don’t wait until January to think about what happen. I’m reminded of it every day when I look at myself in the mirror. The earthquake impacted my life majorly. It made me stronger."

Dr. Sherma Morton, 32, an obgyn from South Charlotte.
Sherma Morton's family is from Haiti. The Charlotte doctor traveled to Cap-Haitien with the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti in February for a two week relief trip. The team worked at Sacre Coer Hospital in Milot, a 65-bed hospital that was holding more than 250 earthquake victims. Morton was one of the only doctors in the women’s unit.
"I can't believe it has been a year already. January 12, 2010 was one of the worst days of my life, but it made such a strong impact on my life at the same time. I initially thought losing my Godmother in the quake would have been enough to shake my foundation, but actually being able to go there and helped teach me more then all my medical training could.
I am Sherma Morton, an obgyn in Charlotte who was blessed with the opportunity to go with the group HHFOH to Haiti last year. I remember when we just got there, my heart bled for the victims. I didn't think I could have done anything to impact the people of Haiti. Little did I know when I landed back in Charlotte I would be the one that would be forever changed.

The people that endured but still persevered gave me hope and drive to do more with my life. I was humbled by my grief and enlightened by their strength. I am forever grateful for the time, but I felt horribly guilty for leaving. For having water, food, a place to lay my head, my limbs and for my life. For something that made no sense to have happened it made my life's purpose very clear. That was my year in a nutshell and I wouldn't change a moment of my growth. I just pray my country will have the same monumental growth as I did.

Keep praying for Haiti and don't forget them."

Thomas Hall, 47, Waxhaw, Paramedic
The Fort Mill paramedic traveled to Cap-Haitien with the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti in February for a two week relief trip. The team worked at Sacre Coer Hospital in Milot, a 65-bed hospital that was holding more than 250 earthquake victims. He took over organizing EMT helicopter response.
"Back in January after the earthquake I felt the need to help. I have responded to natural disasters on several occasions as a paramedic and thought my experience could be helpful. I learned about the trip being sponsored by Haitian Heritage and Friends of Haiti and was able to go with HHFoH to Haiti in February.

During my time there I did med-surg nursing and helped coordinate patients being transported in and out by helicopter. Our time and work there was exhausting, but very rewarding. Once back from Haiti I became involved with HHFoH and started to understand the long term needs in Haiti. One need I noticed was the lack of emergency services. The ambulances we saw were not equipped and the drivers had no first aid training, they were only the driver.

With HHFoH we were able to purchase a used ambulance and equip it with donated emergency medical equipment. I was able to return to Haiti in September to provide first aid training to the drivers and provided training to doctors and nurses that will respond with the ambulance on calls for help. We have purchased another ambulance that we are preparing to be used as a mobile clinic in some of the communities out in the country that does not have access to medical care. I plan to return to Haiti in March to help with the initial set-up of the mobile clinic.

The greatest successes would be the overall response to Haiti from the medical community as a whole; from the initial response to the continued support given for the cholera epidemic. (Personally it's the ambulance and the training we provided and knowing it will be used to make a difference). The greatest challenges are going to be the lack of healthcare infrastructure that's needed to meet the needs of their citizens. This causes them to rely on international response. From the stand point of HHFoH, it's finding the funding and resource to continue the work that we have started. So we can assist in building the healthcare infrastructure that's needed."

Hayes Woollen, 47, family physician with Charlotte's Presbyterian Medical Group
The Charlotte doctor traveled with Dr. Will Conner to help the injured in Cap-Haitian last February. Worked at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Milot, a 65-bed hospital that held more than 250 earthquake victims. He was in charge of an evacuee tent for roughly 30 patients
"One year ago, I watched with my family the news of the earthquake in Haiti. I've known Dr. Will Conner most of my life, and it didn't surprise me at all that he felt called to go help.

I was pleased when Will called me a couple weeks later to see if I would be able to join him and a group to go to Hospital Sacre Coeur in Milot, Haiti. I remember telling a few friends in Charlotte that I was going ... and within a few days, checks began pouring in from all over to help with medical supplies. Charlotte has a big heart.

When we arrived at the hospital in Milot, I was the doctor assigned to tent #4. My first patient was Joseph Edelyn, (a young man) who all the staff called "Light" because of his infectious smile. Joseph was a double amputee, whose family had been killed in the earthquake when his home was destroyed. He had nowhere to go, no family to reach out to, and yet his gentle optimism seemed to light up the entire tent. I just remember how gracious he was. He thanked everyone around him and thanked God for being alive.

Later, when our team returned to Charlotte and my children ran up to me at the airport, I remember getting very emotional as I told them about Joseph and our trip to Haiti. We have so much to be thankful for, and I am grateful for meeting my friend Joseph and giving me a new perspective.

I also remember Laurant, our 85-year-old patient who developed pneumonia and went into respiratory failure on our second day at the hospital. He was intubated and my friend, Mac, sat with him throughout the night in the ICU, monitoring his vitals...The next day, we prepared his family for the worst, and yet Laurant showed his own strength and determination by pulling through. It's unusual to live past age 60 in Haiti. To meet someone as strong and wise as Laurant was a gift.

My favorite follow-up e-mail was from my nurse in Haiti: "Tell Dr. Hayes Joseph was walking on a temp prosthesis and crutches and that Laurant is like a new man, totally with it and sitting up and feeding himself...."

The experience in Haiti changed me. It gave me new perspective on my life... We have so much to be thankful for. I look forward to my next trip back to Haiti so that I can take a long walk with my friend Joseph."

Local advocates saddened that Dream Act blocked

2010-12-19T11:21:00.004-05:00

Vianey Hernandez was crushed.

The young advocate with Action NC's youth group, Dare To Dream, was among the many supporters of the Dream Act hurt yesterday when Senate Republicans blocked an effort that would have given hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal residency if they enrolled in college or joined the military.

“It breaks my heart, that my best friend and my little sister are being denied a future. We were all brought here when we were little and this is all we know.”

Jose Canales said “this makes me mad; just because I’m a U.S. citizen I can go to college and friends I’ve known my whole life can’t.

Hector Vaca, a community organizer with Action NC, said the hopes and dreams of millions of youth around the country were crushed as the United States Senate voted 55 to 41 to limit debate and bring the Dream Act to a vote.

"These are not the actions of public servants who claim to represent the will and interests of the American people."

He and other North Carolina advocates were particularly disappointed that Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, voted against the act. She was among five Democrats who joined 36 Republicans in blocking it.

Canales however said this will not discourage him.

"I will work harder to make their American dream come true too. 2011 is the year we make those old politicians in Washington care about us young people.”

Could Dream Act actually pass this time?

2010-12-09T10:29:00.005-05:00

Charlotte supporters are cautiously ecstatic that the House passed the bill.

The fate of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act now rests with the Senate. Supporters and Opponents are on edge.

The Dream Act has been on the Congressional table since 2003. The last time the Senate voted on the Dream Act was in September when it failed to get the necessary 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster.

That vote was 52 to 44. The vote this morning is likely to be as close.

The House surprised many by passing the measure. Some 38 Democrats joined Republicans voting against the measure, but eight Republicans voted for the measure.

William Gheen, president of ALIPAC, called those Republicans “turncoats.”

“The he chances amnesty will pass the senate in the morning and become law are very high,” he said in an email to members. “To many Americans are relaxed by these unfounded assurances.”

Supporters of the Dream Act meanwhile are cautiously ecstatic.

Locally, students have been rallying around the Dream Act, telling their stories and organizing their peers to make calls to their representatives. Students have sent over 100 letters to Senator Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, alone urging her to support of Dream Act, according to the Latin American Coalition.

Votes by Democrats like Hagan will be key in this vote.

Hagan told the Observer in September that she felt the Dream Act should be considered in the context of comprehensive immigration reform, not as a stand-alone bill."

Lacey Williams, the Youth Civic Engagement and Advocacy Organizer at the Latin American Coalition, said the vote was encouraging.

“The fate of thousands of young students' futures is on the line tomorrow. All eyes are now on the Senate.”

UPDATE 11 a.m.: The Senate voted 59 -40 to postpone a decision on the Dream Act. A new vote is expected week.

Photo: C.M. GUERRERO, EL NUEVO HERALD -- Undocumented students march in downtown Miami in support of the DREAM Act.

Puerto Ricans celebrate holiday

2010-12-08T16:27:00.002-05:00

The Puerto Rican Cultural Society of Charlotte is hosting its 3rd Gala Parranda Navideña. It's a Christmas Party. n Friday, Dec. 10, at the South Charlotte Banquet Center in Ballantyne.

The 7:30 p.m. to midnight event will include authentic food, music and dancing. Live music with Orquesta Mayor and Los Coquies de Charlotte. Proceeds will fund the new 2011 PRCSC Scholarship Program. Tickets are $50.00 per person for non-prcsc members and $45 for members. They can be purchased online at www.prcscnc.com. For more information, visit the website or call (980) 230-5759.

"Join us for a great evening of authentic PR food, music and dancing," said Maggie Giraud
President of the Puerto Rican Cultural Society

What will Charlotte look like in 2020?

2010-12-03T16:43:00.005-05:00

A group of Hispanic entrepreneurs are seeking to find out.

The National Hispanic Entrepreneurs’ Organization has invited Mayor Anthony Foxx, AT&T NC president Cynthia Marshall, and Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber, among others, to meet at Discovery Place Tuesday evening to discuss Charlotte’s future over the next decade.

Some 200 people are expected to attend the 6:30 p.m. event. The panelist will discuss increasing and retaining jobs, education, energy sources, and building a stronger community.

Juan Pablo Giometti, president of the NHEO, said that he hopes to capture the spirit around the schools documentary "Waiting for Superman" and encourage people to take a greater role in improving their community.

"The core of the program is about the demographics change, and how minorities should get prepared to succeed in the knowledge economy," he said.

Confirmed speakers include:

Anthony Foxx, Mayor, City of Charlotte (Sustainable Charlotte. Smart Grid)

Cynthia Marshall, President, AT&T NC (JET Agenda: Jobs, Education, Technology)

Bob Morgan, President, Charlotte Chamber (Charlanta, Powerhouse Mega-Region)

Miguel Galarza, President and CEO, Yerba Buena Construction Engineering (Giving Back)

Juan Pablo Giometti, President and CEO, NHEO (Accelerating Social Impact)

Richard Purcell, Community Development, NHEO (Building a Global Community)

Julius Hollis. Chairman and CEO, Alliance for Digital Equality (Bridging the Digital Divide)

Robert Corbin, PhD, VP of Learning Experiences, Discovery Place (STEM Education)

Franco Londono, NHEO Entrepreneur, Singer and Songwriter (Living with Purpose)

Juliana Luna, NHEO Entrepreneur, Luna's Living Kitchen (Future Food)

For more information, visit Nheotalks1.eventbrite.com or call (704) 909-7945.

Q&A: An undocumented student's journey to get a degree

2010-12-03T12:25:00.003-05:00

Four years ago, Sem Moreno was one of the first Charlotte students to openly discuss his immigrant status when explaining how difficult it was for undocumented students like him to further their education.

The Concord High graduate was able to continue his education with the help of supporters, but he says thousands can’t and won’t unless Congress passes bills like the Dream Act. As Congress continues to debate the bill that would give young illegal immigrants a chance at residency status if they attend college, we caught up with Moreno, now 24, to talk about his long battle to continue his education.

You wrote a book in 2004 called "Do Not Leave Us Behind" about the perspectives from 15 Hispanic students like yourself who have grown up in the U.S., but have limited opportunities because of their immigration status. You even sent a copy to President Bush. The situation today is pretty much the same. Still no Dream Act. Do you feel you were left behind?

In terms of the legislative bill proposal, Dream Act, things seem to be about the same and stuck in congress. No, I do not feel left behind. Personally, I feel I defied time and fate by fulfilling my purpose and ambitions.

How were you able to continue your college education without legal residency?

I was fortunate to receive financial assistance from non-profit organizations and from Queens University of Charlotte, a private institution, from which I obtained my degree.

You were one of the first students to come out about your residency status and advocate for yourself. You knew the risks. You could have been deported? Why take the chance?

The media has given us, immigrants, a deteriorating name and portrays our image as negative or as that of a criminal. Because we rarely hear about the contributions and accomplishments of the Latino community I decided to share my story hoping for you to see the other face of America, immigrants, from a different perspective.

Today, more students are following your lead. Should they be more concerned about the possibility that they could be deported?

No. I believe students should be more concerned about becoming skilled professionals than fearing deportation.

Why is it important for them to speak out?

It is imperative for these students to speak out because change will not happen unless they take the lead. Legislators must know 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools across America each year who are unable to attend higher education.

Are you continuing to do advocacy work?

Lately, I have been playing the role of a spectator as supposed to that of a gladiator. Last year I started exploring opportunities to further my education in a different country.

How do you feel that the Dream Act has yet to be enacted?

A whole generation of bright individuals is being placed in limbo. And I am disappointed that congress has not been able to pass this bill since 2001.

The Dream Act is currently being discussed in Congress. Do you think it has a chance of passing before the end of the lame duck session after which new legislators take over?

I think the Dream Act has the same possibilities of passing now as it did 9 years ago.

What's next for you?

Canada is next for me. I have been accepted in a M.Sc. program in immunology (research) at the University of Manitoba. I will be living in Winnipeg. After completing my graduate program I would like to continue doing research and to teach at the college level.

Would you like to return to the Charlotte?

Charlotte is like home to me. It would be great to visit the many people who supported and believed in me throughout my 10 year journey in the U.S.

Students gather tonight for Dream Act Vigil

2010-12-02T13:55:00.002-05:00

Students plan to meet outside U.S. Senator Kay Hagan’s Charlotte office this afternoon at 5 p.m. in hopes of urging her to support the Dream Act.

The Dream Act is up for debate as Congress attempts to push through several initiatives during the lame duck session before new legislators arrive next year. The Dream Act would give thousands of young illegal immigrants who have attended U.S. high schools a chance to gain legal residency if they attend college or serve in the military.

Hagan told the Observer in September that she felt the Dream Act should be considered in the context of comprehensive immigration reform, not as a stand-alone bill."

Advocates say as many as 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school with no options to further their education. The Dream Act has received some bipartisan support. There is more sympathy for the kids who supporters say shouldn't be punished for the errors of their parents.

But opposition is strong. Those against the Act argue passing it will only add more incentives to illegal immigrants to come here and create unfair competition with U.S. citizens and residents for college seats.

“In less than a decade, this reality could easily double or triple the more than 2.1 million green cards that will be immediately distributed as a result of the dream act,” U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions wrote in his report, “Ten Things You Need To Know About S.3827, Dream Act.”

The vigil:

What : Candlelight Vigil for Broken Dreams
When: December 2, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Where: Outside Senator Hagan’s Charlotte office.
Who: United 4 the DREAM and NC Equals
Contact: Elver Barrios, United 4 the DREAM, 704-726-3346; Lacey Williams, NC Equals, 904-571-7800

Bluegrass meets Mariachi...

2010-10-08T13:52:00.002-04:00

Some things can only happen in the south....

The musical traditions of mariachi and bluegrass will meet in a free one-hour concert this evening at the Great Aunt Stella Center on Elizabeth Avenue, near Central Piedmont Community College in uptown Charlotte.

I can't say I know much about bluegrass or mariachi music. But the organizers offered an interesting and educational write up about the background of both musical styles.

Here is an edited excerpt:

Back in the 1930s, two tradition-based stringband styles came of age - bluegrass in the U.S. South and mariachi in central Mexico. Today both are part of the New South musical landscape of Charlotte, NC.

The evening's bluegrass ensemble brings several of this region's top pickers together on stage for the first time. Guitarist Jack Lawrence tours internationally with flatpicking legend Doc Watson and as a soloist. Glen Alexander on fiddle captured first prize at Galax this summer, his third win at that prestigious fiddlers festival. David Grant on bass is best known his work with Charleston's Southern Flavor. Randy DeBruhl on Scruggs-style banjo won the top banjo prize at Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN.

The bluegrass music that they'll play is often thought of as "traditional," but a better description would be "tradition-based." In the late 1930s and 1940s, Southern fiddle music moved from the family farm to cities and the new medium of radio. Kentucky farm boy Bill Monroe, playing first on Charlotte's WBT then on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, speeded up old-fashioned picking and added the punchy new sound of the five string banjo as played by North Carolina innovator Earl Scruggs. Performed by polished professionals decked out in matching outfits and cowboy hats, bluegrass swept the South and won eager listeners beyond.

Like bluegrass, mariachi has deep roots in rural stringband playing, then came to town in the 1930s. It may have been born in the state of Jalisco in central Mexico, where instrument makers developed two special variants on the Spanish guitar - the vihuela, smaller and higher-pitched, ideal for the rhythmic chording that drives mariachi, and the giant bass guitarrón, fretless with gut strings that project a solid thwump. The rhythm players supported the lead instrument, the violin. Then in 1934 a Jalisco band, Mariachi Vargas, moved to Mexico City to play for the inauguration of beloved "peoples' president" Lázaro Cárdenas. Musical director Rubín Fuentes added trumpets for punch, dressed his players in stylized charro cowboy uniforms with embroidered waist-length jackets, and forged a polished sound that took all of Mexico by storm.

Gabriel Sanchez, from the town of Toluca (between Jalisco and Mexico City) leads Mariachi Los Gavilanes ("The Sparrowhawks"). His trumpet is joined by the violin of Eifrain Martinez, Rogoberto Silva on guitarrón, and Anzelmo Alaweter and/or Alfredo Jimenez on vihuela. Each played in bands elsewhere in the U.S. - Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles - before getting together here in Charlotte.

The event is part of the regular monthly gathering of the Charlotte Folk Society. It's free and open to the public. It's being sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Arts & Science Council, and co-sponsored by Levine Museum of the New South and Latina 102.3 FM / Norsan Multimedia.

Parking is also free. Doors open at 7 pm and the music starts at 7:30. Questions? Visit www.folksociety.org or call 704-563-7080.

Duke professor films the immigrant journey

2010-10-07T10:40:00.001-04:00

Anthropology professor Charles Thompson's documentary traces the path of thousands of Guatemalans who migrated to one small town in Florida.

The professor and filmmaker teamed up with The North Carolina Council of Churches to make “Brother Towns/Pueblos Hermanos.” It tells the story of two towns Jacaltenango, Guatemala and Jupiter, Florida that have been linked by immigration.

Click here to visit the film's website and watch a 12 minute preview.

Thompson will be showing the film as part of a statewide tour starting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Levine Museum of the New South. He was kind of enough to answer some questions about the film.

How did the idea for this film come about? The first Maya person I met was a refugee who came to Pittsboro, NC, where I lived and worked full time on a farm in 1982. I helped teach him English and to learn to drive. From the friendship that developed between us, the refugee, Victor, who later became a US citizen, invited me to live and work in his hometown. By the time I was ready to go, I had returned to graduate school and was already thinking of writing my dissertation about Central America.

Is there a universal theme or story that you're trying to tell? Yes, boiled down to its essence, the story is that we are all family. Borders divide us, but our stories intertwine through unlikely meetings and suddenly we realize that only accidents of birthplace and history are what make our lives different. What if I had been born down there?, as one person in the film asks. It's a simple, but profound, question. Suddenly, if we're paying attention, the idea of pulling up on bootstraps and how one comes by the privilege of wealth become quite complicated. Should we receive everyone in need with open arms? If we do that, we risk being overwhelmed. Perhaps. But wouldn't the availability of jobs, if slim, curtail any additional people trying to come? If one can't make a living somewhere, then one leaves for another option, no? That's what immigration is about for Guatemalans. It's happier to be with family and in one's birthplace, but necessity drives them.

Immigration is obviously a controversial subject. Some will refuse to see the film on the grounds that they'll feel its advocating for people breaking the law? Oh, there are many protesters in the film who get their fair say. This isn't a one-sided diatribe by any means. But it is a study in the meaning of humanitarianism. Do anti-immigrant protesters have good points? Of course! I'm not a filmmaker who makes fun of people who disagree with me. Regarding legalities, we have to look long and hard at ourselves and ask hard questions such as, "why do Latinos harvest our food?" This isn't about people robbing jobs. It's about people being recruited for the worst jobs in society because we want cheap food and we've been willing to look the other way as long as it helps our bottom line. Immigration comes because of a push from the home country but also because of pulls from the receiving country. And I believe there has long been an active pull from the US to Latin America because we know we can get good help that will work cheap and not complain. We're complicit in this arrangement and to blame the workers now when our economy goes sour is simply immoral, especially when it means sending people back into harm's way or separating families, or taking possessions from an immigrant who has worked hard to make a living.

For people who refuse to go see the film, what would you want to say to them? People who "refuse" to see the film have closed not only their minds, but their hearts. I'd say to them, let not your hearts be ruled by the spirit of fear, but by love and concern that doesn't simply extend to an arbitrary line in the sand, but to all the human family. If you could know the Guatemalans I know, you'd see that often it is we who are impoverished by surrounding ourselves with barriers to others. I was a stranger there, and they took me in and made me their family. I think the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible is a good place to turn. Remember that the man left on the side of the road for dead was rescued and tended to by one who was looked down on in Israel. Samaritans were immigrants -- they were those suspected of ill then. The man left on the side of the road learned something else besides what his society was saying then: about who his neighbor is, and who is his brother. Brother Towns -- sister communities. Think about it as if the positions were reversed. As if you were born there.

For people who come to see the film, what do you hope they take away from it? A deeper look into the lives of a few of the millions whose situations are intertwined with our own. It's not just a story of "them." It's a story of us - all of us.

Twitter shines light on local immigration debate

2010-10-06T12:50:00.008-04:00

"@Meckcommish: 'It's halloween time..... Be scared little Democrats....... Bill James is coming.....' "

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James (right) tweeted that message in the midst of a controversial debate over whether the county should report illegal immigrants who seek public benefits for their U.S.-born children.

Commissioner Jennifer Roberts(left) questioned whether James was gloating. In response, James tweeted that he was just reflecting the commentary from the Democrats 'warning' the public about what may happen if Republicans took control of the board. Commissioner George Dunlap had suggested that if Republicans took over the board, the commission would have more people who supported James’ views and perspective.

It was just a taste of the back and forth that was occurring online at the same time of the emotional debate in the government center. When it comes to public meetings, the popular social media service,Twitter, has opened up an entirely new window giving us all another peek into the workings of our county government -- or at least the minds of some of our elected officials.

It's quite interesting to follow, but the one question is should elected officials be playing with their computers/smart phones at all during these meetings? Commissioners don’t typically make comments during public feedback. Should they be tweeting during them? What do you think?

James(@meckcommish) is the most prolific Twitter user among commissioners. (You will need to follow James in order to see his tweets.) He was criticized last night for focusing too much on his Twitter account instead of the conversation. But also Commissioner Jennifer Roberts(@CommishJennifer), who left the meeting early because of a sick child, Commissioner Karen Bentley(@BentleyCommish)(right) and Commissioner Neil Cooksey(@CommishNeil) weighed in online.

“You know, Twitter is great for providing a direct response without all of the back and forth,” James wrote during the meeting.

Here is a rough breakdown of a sample of tweets from last night’s twitterfest. There were simply too many to add all of them. I did my best to capture the conversation in order as it occurred. You can see the entire conversation by linking on the commissioners’ individual Twitter accounts.

(Observer Reporter) AprilBethea: #meckbocc moving up discussion of item 20 in whether county should report undocumented family members of those receiving DSS benefits
AprilBethea: James: action item about "reporting, not deporting," county has obligation to ensure, participate in national security of country
AprilBethea: James amends motion to send letter to dept of Homeland Security & obtain info on how we can privately report info we have to them.
AprilBethea: Cooksey seconded the motion
AprilBethea: Cogdell asks James for "civility in his comments." Came after James says he doesn't know if there are "Osama wannabes"
AprilBethea: James counters, calling out Cogdell for comments about James
Meckcommish: Are the Democrats soft on immigration?
Meckcommish: If individuals are illegal how can we not make sure that they are not terrorists.
Meckcommish: We are to 'comply' with the law by ignoring possible terrorists?
Meckcommish: Not sure where you got the idea that my ancestors were from the Mayflower. My ancestors were from Jamestowne.
Meckcommish: You know, Twitter is great for providing a direct response without all of the back and forth.
Meckcommish: "Change we believe in' - The premise that illegals are entitled to welfare & National Security takes a back seat to law breakers.
Meckcommish: # What illegal acts? Disclosing the NUMBER of illegals on welfare?
Meckcommish: Go Arizona !
CommishJennifer: Bill James wants NC to act like Arizona. So we can get sued by the Federal Govt too? RT @meckcommish: Go Arizona !
Meckcommish: Win or lose - the issue won't go away no matter the result tonight
Meckcommish: Timothy McVeigh?
Meckcommish: Everyone is upset about disclosure but none of them even care about the law.
Meckcommish: The only one that can put a child on the 'wrong path' are the illegal parents.
Meckcommish: parents would be deported with the anchor babies. Happens all the time.
Meckcommish: And the speakers are done. Now for the roasting !!
Meckcommish: I have a dream. That the US will be safe and not scared to enforce the law.
CommishJennifer: #meckbocc. Commissioner Murrey suggesting we add Comprehensive Immigration Reform to our federal legislative agenda. Good idea.
CommishNeil: I am puzzled by the assumption that the children of deported aliens would stay in the community.
Meckcommish: I have a dream. That the US will be safe and not scared to enforce the law.
Meckcommish: It's halloween time..... Be scared little Democrats....... Bill James is coming.....
Meckcommish: Illegal is illegal.
Meckcommish: Anchor Babies is offensive? Why?
Meckcommish: I think turning over the list to ICE would make the US safer
Meckcommish: I would have put it on regardless of the election. The timing was the disclosure of the numbers on welfare
CommishNeil: Cogdell: "Partisanship interferes with good government."
CommishJennifer: Is Bill gloating? RT @meckcommish: It's halloween time.... Be scared little Democrats....... Bill James is coming.....
Meckcommish: @CommishJennifer Not 'gloating' - just reflecting the commentary from D Commissioners 'warning' the public
BentleyCommish: We should not blindly follow federal law when we understand the devasting impact of illegal immigration on our local government.
AprilBethea: RT @MeckCounty: Board says no to Item #20 - asking feds to tell the County how it can report names of illegals who seek County services.

ICE says they'll evaluate, but adds immigration is a federal responsibility

2010-10-06T11:14:00.002-04:00

Immigration officials say they're prioritizing their work by first focusing on dangerous criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to our communities.

U.S. Immigration officials were responding to Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James’ original proposal to have Mecklenburg County DSS alert immigration authorities when they’ve identified an illegal immigrant who has applied for public benefits for their U.S. born child. Doing so would violate a memorandum of understanding with Department of Homeland Security.

"ICE welcomes partnering with state and local law enforcement and will evaluate this proposed ordinance, but generally believes that enactment of immigration laws is a federal responsibility,” said Ivan Ortiz, a spokesman for ICE.

Last night, after a contentious debate, Mecklenburg County commissioners blocked a scaled-down version of the proposal to seek federal advice on how the county might report undocumented families of U.S.-born children who receive welfare benefits.
James faced dozens of passionate protesters who charged him with playing dirty politics. James said it was a matter of national security.

"We don't know if they're Osama wannabes," he said.

French Ambassador to visit Charlotte

2010-10-05T13:30:00.001-04:00

The Ambassador of France to the United States, Pierre Vimont, will visit North Carolina to meet with elected officials and business leaders to explore new opportunities of cooperation with France.

Vimont first meet with Gov. Perdue in Raleigh and then travel tomorrow to Charlotte to give a talk on trade relations between France and the United States. The talk is being sponsored by the French-American Chamber of Commerce of North Carolina and the Alliance Française of Charlotte.

Vimont will then stay the night in Charlotte and give a presentation at the Charlotte World Affairs Council on French-American cooperation regarding global issues, such as global warming, the fight against terrorism, non-proliferation and disarmament. While in Charlotte, he scheduled to also meet with Jim Rodgers, CEO of Duke Energy, and Chuck Noski, CFO of Bank of America.

Some 3,000 French people live in North Carolina. France exports almost 3 billion dollars worth of goods and services to the U.S. Southeast, mostly in transportation equipment, industrial machinery, wood products, chemicals, electric and electronic products. More than 170 French companies have invested and created new jobs in the region— 60 in North Carolina alone.

Mecklenburg official: DSS should flag illegal immigrants

2010-10-05T10:24:00.003-04:00

Commissioner Bill James' proposal is aimed at families of U.S.-born kids who get public benefits.

From the paper:

By Franco Ordonez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com

The fiery national debate over the cost of illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children will land at the feet of Mecklenburg county commissioners Tuesday night when they discuss a proposal to report undocumented family members of U.S.-born children receiving public benefits.

Commissioner Bill James wants the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services to "ignore state and federal regulations" and alert immigration officials and/or the sheriff's office when it suspects an illegal immigrant has applied for welfare or food stamps for their U.S.-born children.

"We're handing out benefits with a wink and a nod and using 'anchor babies' as cover," James said.

James said he wants to ensure that the illegal immigrants identified are not a national security threat.

Jennifer Roberts, the commissioners' chair, and fellow Democratic commissioner Dumont Clarke said Monday that James's proposal has little chance of passing.

Critics say his plan is against the law and would ultimately hurt U.S. children who rightfully deserve those public benefits. Jess George, executive director of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte, called it "reprehensible."

"Bill James's words continue to be charged with this very anti-immigrant sentiment," she said. "Conflating immigrants with terrorists is not only erroneous and ill-informed, but it also perpetuates the language of hate that continues to be infused in the immigration dialogue."

Under the 14th Amendment, citizenship is automatically granted to children born in the United States. This summer, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joined several other Republicans when he proposed introducing a constitutional amendment to deny citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.

A recent study from the Pew Hispanic Center found the number of U.S. children with at least one undocumented parent went from 2.7 million in 2003 to 4 million in 2008. More than 70 percent of all children of illegal immigrants are U.S. citizens.

DSS says 5,635 families out of the 61,074 families receiving food stamps in Mecklenburg include at least one unauthorized immigrant. Public benefits to the children of suspected illegal immigrants made up $2.7 million, or 3.4 percent, of the $77 million in total payments to Mecklenburg residents in July, including welfare, food stamps and Medicaid.

DSS checks eligibility for welfare benefits with the help of a federal system known as SAVE. It can also identify an applicant's immigration status.

DSS Director Mary Wilson said the agency is prohibited from reporting an applicant's immigration status to federal authorities unless it knows of a formal order of deportation.

James's resolution would "require DSS to disclose to the Sheriff/ICE/Homeland Security the details of ANY individuals within their files who have been determined to be illegal under the SAVE program."

James said his move was spurred by an e-mail from a DSS staffer who reported that an illegal immigrant mother of a U.S.-born baby can receive 13 months of Medicaid coverage for their newborn and $200 a month in food stamps for the baby.

"We can't lose sight of the fact that these are U.S. children," Wilson said. "The fact that they're born to illegal immigrants is a separate issue. But we're providing benefits to U.S. children."

Sarah Preston, policy director for the ACLU of North Carolina, said if commissioners approve James's motion, they would be opening the county to the risk of expensive litigation.

Similar ordinances around the country, including one in Hazleton, Pa., have been declared unconstitutional and have cost their communities millions of dollars in legal fees, she said.

Roberts said she plans to vote against the measure. She said it's not a good use of taxpayer money in tight economic times to provoke a lawsuit when the county is following federal guidelines and protecting U.S. citizens.

James said the county should not be intimidated by the possibility of lawsuit.

"From my perspective, I'm very comfortable to go to court and have them explain that they know people are breaking the law yet don't submit them to homeland security."
Editor's note: Comments have been disabled because of repeated violations of site policies. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.

The GOP's "Pledge to America" on Immigration

2010-09-29T10:22:00.001-04:00

You've probably heard about the Republican Party's “A Pledge to America." The pledge includes several points on immigration. Read the full pledge here. Below are the excerpts on immigration.

OUR PLAN FOR NATIONAL AND BORDER SECURITY
Providing for the common defense is a not just a priority or political imperative – it is a Constitutional duty. National security is more than just war fighting: it is protecting our citizens, bringing certainty to an uncertain world, supporting those who volunteer in the service of their country and defend our way of life, using every tool to protect Americans from threats at our borders....

Establish Operational Control of the Border: We must take action to secure our borders, and that action starts with enforcing our laws. We will ensure that the Border Patrol has the tools and authorities to establish operational control at the border and prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from interfering with Border Patrol enforcement activities on federal lands.

Work with State and Local Officials to Enforce Our Immigration Laws: The problem of illegal immigration and Mexican drug cartels engaged in an increasingly violent conflict means we need all hands on deck to address this challenge. We will reaffirm the authority of state and local law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of all federal immigration laws.

Strengthen Visa Security: To stop terrorists like Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Christmas Day bomber, we will require the Department of Homeland Security to review all visa applications at high-risk consular posts and prevent aliens from attempting to avoid deportation after having their visas revoked.

Kudos to Professor Greg Weeks at UNC Charlotte who posted these on his blog. Weeks feels these measures would “entail larger government, more spending, and more judicial activism.”

What do you think?

UPDATE: 400 show up to Mexican mobile consulate

2010-09-27T10:20:00.001-04:00

Hundreds of Mexican nationals lined up in the Concord High gymnasium Saturday to apply for Mexican passports and other forms of Mexican identification. Another 30 people protested outside.

Mexican nationals like Adriana Mercado, 18, and Florinda Chela, 20, came with family members to renew their passports and a matricula consular so they could use them for identification and on trips to Mexico.

Consular officials said when Mexican nationals return home, they need valid passports to get back into Mexico. The matricula consular card serves as a second form of picture ID to be used primarily in the U.S. The card also provides proof of identity when enrolling children in school, applying for credit or getting an individual tax identification number from the IRS so Mexican nationals can pay U.S. income tax.

Outside the school, protester James Johnson, president of NCFIRE - short for North Carolinians for Immigration Reform and Enforcement - said he objected to the event being held on school property. He also questioned why the program was necessary.

"If they're in the country legally to start with, they already have the proper documentation," he said.

Read the rest of Kathy Haight's story on the event here.

Colbert testifies (sarcastically) before congress

2010-09-24T18:55:00.002-04:00

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert testifies in front of congress on the conditions facing migrant farm workers. He delivered quite the sarcastic remarks and angered several legislators who feel the comic disrespected their work on an important issue.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif, invited Colbert to testify at a hearing on giving undocumented farm workers the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture. Colbert talked about what he called his "vast experience" on the issue after spending a day as a migrant worker on a farm in upstate New York.

The video of his opening statement is above. Here are a few highlights:

"This is America. I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan, and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

"America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables.... "Now, the obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables. And if you look at the recent obesity statistics, many Americans have already started."

"My great-grandfather did not travel across four thousand miles of the Atlantic Ocean to see this nation overrun by immigrants. He did it because he killed a man back in Ireland. That's the rumor."

"I'll admit I started my work day with preconceived notions of migrant labor, but after working with these men and women ... side by side in the unforgiving sun I have to say -- and I do mean this sincerely -- please don't make me do this again. It is really, really hard."

"Maybe we could offer more visas to the immigrants, who lets face it, will probably be doing these jobs anyway."

ICE won't attend Mexican consulate event.

2010-09-24T14:48:00.005-04:00

Immigration officials have been alerted to the Mexican consulate’s visit to Concord tomorrow to help its citizens apply for passports and IDs.

Ivan Ortiz, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency’s Homeland Security Investigations unit and the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations were contacted. They will not however attend.

“ICE will not have a presence at the event,” he said.

Groups that support greater immigration enforcement plan to protest the mobile consulate event at Concord High School.

Protesters contacted Concord School Board and ICE. They requested that the agency register illegal immigrants.

Officials of the Mexican consulate said no U.S. documents will be provided. They said they will be providing Mexican passports and IDs that can be used only in Mexico. They said Mexican nationals are returning home and need proper Mexican passports and IDs to get back into the country.

Mexican consulate braces for CLT protest

2010-09-24T13:14:00.008-04:00

The Mexican Consulate expects protests Saturday when it brings its mobile offices to the Charotte area. Members of the consulate's Raleigh staff will be at Concord High School Saturday morning to help Mexican citizens living in the Carolinas apply for Mexican passports and other forms of Mexican IDs.

NCFIRE has called for its supporters to protest the event.

James Johnson, President of NCFIRE, which advocates for greater immigration enforcement, said in an email that the event is designed for one purpose only -- to "document the undocumented." He says that people in the country legally already have the necessary legal documentation to be here, including passports, green cards, and student visas.

At least one protest supporter has emailed members of the Concord School Board in protest. He also said that he has contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Officials of the Mexican consulate said no U.S. documents will be provided. They said they will be providing Mexican passports and IDs that can be used only in Mexico. They said Mexican nationals are returning home and need proper Mexican passports and IDs to get back into the country.

Democrats pay for ad calling for Ariz.-style crackdown

2010-09-23T14:06:00.002-04:00

When it comes to illegal immigration, N.C. Democrats often appear to side more with Republicans than their own party.

The N.C. Democratic Party is paying for a mailer in a state Senate race that calls for "bringing the Arizona immigration crackdown to North Carolina."

Our friends over at the News & Observer report that the mailer was sent on behalf of Senate candidate David Redwine of Shallotte (photo, left), who is in a hot campaign with Republican Bill Rabon of Southport for the seat held by retiring Sen. R.C. Soles.

The mailer reflects another example of how dicey the immigration issue is for Southern Democrats. While the views of urban Democrats are more in line with President Obama, rural Democrats must cater to a more conservative constituency that sees immigrants as competitors for jobs.

I reported last year that polls showed illegal immigration as one of the top concerns among N.C. voters. North Carolina has an estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants.

While U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, a Charlotte Democrat, said at the time that he supports working toward a comprehensive bill that puts undocumented immigrants on a path toward legalization, other Carolinas Democrats in Congress hold positions more like Republicans.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, says she supports comprehensive reform, but has also said she "strongly opposes amnesty" and called illegal immigration "a threat to our nation's security and economy."

U.S. Rep Heath Shuler introduced a bill last year that would require employers to enter a federal program, known as E-Verify, that checks if workers are in the country legally.

U.S. Rep Kissell, whose 8th District includes parts of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union counties, joined Shuler when he introduced his E-Verify bill. He said last year that people he speaks with repeatedly question " 'What part of illegal don't we understand?' "

Andrew Whalen, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said the crackdown mailing reflected the views of Redwine, not the party, according to the News & Observer.

"I think the mail piece specifically is a plank in David Redwine's platform on which he is running for the Senate," Whalen said. "There are many viewpoints and many different candidates in the Democratic Party."

The mailer features a photograph of Redwine, a former state House leader, outside a prison talking with a prison guard. The headline reads: "David Redwine wants to throw the book at CEOs who just won't quit hiring illegal immigrants."

In the mailer, Redwine calls for new fines on corporations that knowingly hire illegal immigrants and jail time for CEOs who are repeat offenders.

The Dream Act and Colin Powell's immigration bomb

2010-09-20T13:57:00.010-04:00

A recap of the latest news on The Dream Act. Legislators will debate the merits of adding the controversial measure to the defense bill this week. The Dream Act would give some illegal immigrant students a chance to become citizens if they complete two years of college or military service.

Colin Powell drops immigration bomb
Associated Press
Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell says illegal immigrants do essential work in the U.S. and he has firsthand knowledge of that -- because they fix his house.

Dream Act has little chance this time around…
Los Angeles Times
The chances that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can deliver on his promise to move the so-called DREAM Act toward passage in the Senate this week range from slim to none. But the announcement that it would be added as an amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill has energized pro-immigrant groups, even as it underlines the fact that there'll be no comprehensive immigration reform any time in the near future. Not this year, certainly, and probably not next year either.

Editorial supports Dream Act
Chicago Tribune
Every year, 65,000 youngsters who are here illegally graduate from high school to an uncertain future. They don't qualify for most scholarships, student loans or resident tuition rates; they also can't legally work here. Those who can afford tuition hesitate to apply for fear of being deported. With no ties to any other country, most end up staying and working underground. U.S. taxpayers, meanwhile, are deprived of the talent and legal labor of hundreds of thousands of young men and women they paid to school.

If we can't amend, enforce:
Los Angeles Times
It would be nice to get rid of the anachronism of birthright citizenship, but that may be practically impossible. So here's an alternative idea: How about enforcing the immigration laws we've got? ...The worst offender, however, has been the Obama administration, which seems to be doing everything in its power to ensure that those numbers continue to rise. It has pushed for amnesty, refused requests to beef up border enforcement, made it difficult to detain illegal immigrants pending deportation proceedings, and waged an all-out courtroom war against legal efforts to slow illegal immigration in Arizona.

Poll results show most in state want illegals barred from public colleges
Athens Banner-Herald
Two-thirds of Georgians want to bar illegal immigrants from attending the University of Georgia and other public colleges, even if they pay out-of-state tuition, according to results from a recent poll. Sixty-seven percent of people polled last week by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research for the Georgia Newspaper Partnership favor a law requiring proof of legal residency to attend a Georgia college or university, while 22 percent opposed such a law and 11 percent were undecided.

Low poll numbers for Obama on hot topic
Orange County Register (California)
Most U.S. voters disapprove of President Barack Obama's handling of illegal immigration, according to a recent national poll by Quinnipiac University. The poll showed that 60 percent of respondents disapproved of his handling of illegal immigration, while 25 percent approved and the rest didn't know.

Photo: Immigration activists held a rally in May on the campus of the University of Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James, Chicago Tribune / September 20, 2010)

Hatch, former co-sponsor, opposes Dream Act

2010-09-16T14:13:00.005-04:00

U.S. Sen Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, says Congress must "regain the faith of the American people" before taking up the Dream Act.

He said congress must first concentrate on securing the border and creating jobs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said this week that he wants to add the Dream Act as an amendment to the upcoming defense policy bill.

The act applies to young people who came to the country when they were under 16 years of age and have been in the country five years. These students would have a chance to apply for citizenship if they complete two years of college or military service.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Utah Sens. Hatch and Bob Bennett both plan to vote against the Dream Act.

Bennett said he would stand with Reid if the Senate voted on the Dream Act separately from the defense bill.

“I support the Dream Act as free-standing legislation, but putting it in a bill that has a number of objectionable aspects is not something I support,” he said.

Bennett and Hatch are among a handful of Senate Republicans who have previously supported the Dream Act despite some conservatives criticizing the proposal as a form of amnesty.

AP PHOTO

Obama vows to fight for Dream Act

2010-09-16T11:15:00.002-04:00

The Senate has “chance to do the right thing,” the president told the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday. Obama said the bill would help young people in the country illegally a chance to attend college or serve in the U.S. military.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said this week that he wants to add the Dream Act as an amendment to the upcoming defense policy bill.

The act applies to young people who came to the country when they were under 16 years of age and have been in the country five years. These students would have a chance to apply for citizenship if they complete two years of college or military service.

It’s a tough time for any kind of immigration reform. According to recent polls, most residents seem to be in favor of sending everyone home.

The Dream Act however has some bipartisan support. There is more sympathy for the kids who supporters say shouldn't be punished for the errors of their parents.

Opponents have come out in force against the Dream Act. They argue passing it will only add more incentives to illegal immigrants to come here and create unfair competition with U.S. citizens and residents for college seats.

"The Dream Act would provide amnesty for millions of illegal aliens under the age of 30 who claim they entered the US when they were young and claim they intend to go to college," said William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC.

Even supporters of comprehensive immigration reform are a bit nervous. They fear that if the law passes, they may have lost one of their strongest trump cards for passing a more in-depth comprehensive policy that they feel is needed to fix the broken immigration system.

President Obama told the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala that he would do whatever it takes to support the act’s passage.

An excerpt:

"Now, the Senate is going to have a chance to do the right thing over the next few weeks when Senator Reid brings the DREAM Act to the floor. Keep in mind, in the past, this was a bill that was supported by a majority of Democrats and Republicans. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t receive that same kind of bipartisan support today. I’ve been a supporter since I was in the Senate, and I will do whatever it takes to support the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ efforts to pass this bill so that I can sign it into law on behalf of students seeking a college education and those who wish to serve in our country’s uniform. It’s the right thing to do. We should get it done. "

SC town drops plan to ban illegal immigrants

2010-09-09T13:16:00.002-04:00

A town near Charleston will not ban illegal immigrants from living in the community.

Summerville town councilors voted 4-3 to table an ordinance requiring renters to prove they are American citizens or in the country legally, according to the Associated Press. The ordinance would have required a verification form be filed with the town.

Several council members warned that the ordinance could lead to lawsuits that could cost the town millions.

Councilors voted 3 to 3 on tabling the motion. Mayor Berlin Myers cast the deciding vote.

Some 45,000 people live in Summerville.

Councilman Walter Bailey said last month that the idea was prompted in part by the Obama administration's challenge of the new Arizona immigration law.

A federal judge has blocked key aspects of that Arizona law, but Bailey says his Summerville ordinance is different enough to where he doesn't think the judge's ruling applies.

Charlotte ICE gang team honored

2010-09-03T16:44:00.005-04:00

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement gang unit in Charlotte received law enforcement’s Special Achievement Award by the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association.

The NCGIA recognized the ICE gang unit, officially called the Operation Community Shield Task Force, for its success in reducing gang activity throughout the state.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, when the Operation Community Shield Task Force was established, the unit has arrested more than 186 gang members, associates, and immigration violators encountered in the company of gang members or in residences of gang members at the time of their arrests.

The Operation Community Shield Task Force has identified numerous transnational gangs, including Malditos and Mara Salvatrucha 13, operating in North Carolina and the surrounding states.

“We are honored to receive this award from NCGIA and will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to disrupt gang activities,” said Delbert Richburg, assistant special agent in charge of ICE’s HSI office in North Carolina.

Latinos to pick up litter across city

2010-09-03T11:12:00.003-04:00

Fifth annual event Saturday expected to draw 400 volunteers who will work in teams.

From the Paper:

By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com

Hundreds of Latinos, armed with litter sticks and garbage bags, are expected to hit the streets Saturday to help clean the city.

Some 400 volunteers are expected to take part in the fifth annual citywide cleanup organized by Jesus Ministry. It's intended to help the Charlotte community educate local Latinos on American culture - and to combat negative stereotypes.

"The Latino community is concerned about the place that we live in," said Maudia Melendez, head of Jesus Ministry. "We are part of the tapestry of the community. And we need to make sure that we've contributed - even in little ways - like keeping the streets clean."

Volunteers will be concentrating on trash and recycling, but Melendez said there is a greater message with their work.

The Latino community cares about ridding the streets of all types of garbage, whether it's litter or crime.

On Saturday, teams of volunteers will be dispatched to more than a half-dozen sections of the city, including uptown, Elizabeth Avenue, Central Avenue, and Sugar Creek Road to pick up litter and recyclables.

Jake Wilson, executive director of Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful, is helping coordinate activities and providing tools for the group.

"It's just tremendous for the Latin community to give back and take ownership of some of the (areas) that need cleaning, throughout Charlotte and the county," he said. "If we had more communities like this it'd make my job a lot easier."

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Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/03/1663882/latinos-to-pick-up-litter-across.html#ixzz0yTnTxKHV

American Muslims Launch PSA To Counter Anti-Islam Sentiment

2010-09-02T13:30:00.007-04:00

A new public service announcement by a Muslim-American group promoting tolerance features a doctor, a police officer, a little girl, someone who is deaf, and a Phillies fan.

They're all Muslims. And they emphasize they're all Americans.

"I don't want to take over this country," the people say in the ad. "I don't support terrorism of any form."

The group behind the ad, My Faith My Voice, says the PSA is part of a grassroots effort by American Muslims from across the country to present their voice on issues affecting Muslims and Islam in America.

I haven't seen it broadcast in North Carolina yet, but I'd be interested to know if someone else has seen it played in the Carolinas.

Flow of illegal immigrants in N.C. falling

2010-09-01T16:01:00.005-04:00

A new study finds that the number of illegal immigrants in North Carolina has dropped more than 100,000 people since 2006.

The Pew Hispanic Center reports that about 250,000 illegal immigrants live in North Carolina. That's a significant drop from the 390,000 illegal immigrants the Pew Hispanic Center estimated to be living in the state in 2006.

The state numbers reflect a nationwide trend that show the number of illegal immigrants has dropped 8 percent to 11.1 million.

The new estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center reports that the decrease represents the first significant reversal in the growth of the illegal immigrant population over the past two decades.

The center's analysis also found that the most marked decline in the population of unauthorized immigrants has been among those who come from Latin American countries other than Mexico. From 2007 to 2009, the size of this group from the Caribbean, Central America and South America decreased 22%.

Other major findings of the report include:
• Unauthorized immigrants accounted for 28% of the nation’s foreign-born population in 2009, a decline from 31% in 2007.
• Mexico accounted for 60% of unauthorized immigrants in 2009, or 6.7 million people. Other Latin American nations accounted for 20% of the total, or 2.2 million people. South and East Asia accounted for 11% of the total, or 1.2 million people.
• In 2009, 59% of unauthorized immigrants resided in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois and New Jersey. However, the share living in those states has declined from 80% in 1990, as unauthorized immigrants have dispersed to new settlement areas.
• Nearly half of unauthorized immigrants living in the country in 2009—47%, or 5.2 million people—arrived in 2000 or later.
• The number of male unauthorized immigrants peaked in 2007 at 6.3 million and declined to 5.8 million in 2009. The number of female unauthorized immigrants, 4.2 million in 2009, is roughly the same as it was in 2007.
• The number of children who are unauthorized, 1.1 million in 2009, declined slightly over the decade. By contrast, the population of U.S.-born children with at least one unauthorized parent nearly doubled from 2000 to 2009, when they numbered 4 million.
• There were 7.8 million unauthorized immigrants in the labor force in 2009, or 5.1% of the total. The size of the unauthorized labor force peaked in 2007 and declined in both 2008 and 2009. There were 7 million unauthorized immigrants employed in March 2009.
• States with the largest shares of immigrants in the labor force are Nevada (9.4%), California (9.3%), Texas (8.7%) and New Jersey (8.7%).
• The unemployment rate for unauthorized immigrants of all ages in March 2009 was higher than that of U.S.-born workers or legal immigrants—10.4%, 9.2% and 9.1%, respectively.

Charlotte ambulance delivered to Haiti hospital

2010-08-20T10:04:00.000-04:00

It took six weeks to get the ambulance out of customs, but a Charlotte ambulance was finally delivered to a Haitian hospital this week.

Members of Charlotte’s Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti delivered the ambulance to staffers at Justinien University Hospital in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The ambulance with over 200,000 miles was formerly used by Mecklenburg county's emergency medical service department.

The Charlotte rescue team purchased the vehicle for $3,000 this spring as part of a county auction. It was transported by ship to Haiti in June, but got stuck in customs because of incomplete paperwork.

“What a bliss,” Dr. Jean Gracia, medical director of Justinien University Hospital, wrote in a thank you letter to the team and city of Charlotte. “...My staff and the patients are very grateful and lucky to have organizations like yours thinking about their well-being when they are most vulnerable. The quality of care has improved tremendously due to the newly received donations.”

Fort Mill paramedic Thomas Hall, a member of the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti, will travel back to Haiti in the coming weeks to help train Justinien staff on how to use and operate the ambulance.

For more information about the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti, or to help, visit hhfoh.org or contact sabinesg@hotmail.com.

Does 14th Amendment apply to illegal immigrants?

2010-08-16T14:30:00.004-04:00

This is not the first time that the law that gives 'birthright citizenship' to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants has come under fire.

We wrote about efforts by U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal of Georgia to change the law last year.

But a new effort has gained steam recently since S.C. Sen. Lindsey Graham waded into the controversy. It’s quite a move for the Republican Senator who has long worked with Democrats in search of a compromise on immigration reform.

The newest research on the "birthright citizenship" debate by the Pew Hispanic Center estimates 340,000 of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 were the offspring of unauthorized immigrants.

In editorial by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the writers argued that the United State simply needs to enforce the 14th Amendment's plain language. They say the second clause of the 14th Amendment (emphasis added below) straightforwardly denies birthright citizenship to newborns of illegal immigrants:

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Pew found that illegal immigrants comprise slightly more than four percent of the adult population of the U.S., but because they are relatively young and have high birthrates, their children make up a much larger share of both the newborn population (eight percent) and the child population (7 percent of those younger than age 18) in this country.

The Center for Immigration Studies took a look at the Pew’s findings. The enforcement advocacy group found that not only was the U.S. border porous for adult illegal immigrants, but also for young illegal immigrants.

“Mentioned, but not stressed, in the media coverage of the Pew study is one fact: there are 1.1 million foreign-born children of illegal alien parents. They are all 17 or younger. The strong implication is that almost all of them are in illegal status,” David North wrote for the Center.

North said most probably entered as toddlers without inspection along with their parents. Others may have come on tourist visas that expired.

"These 1.1 million children are a quiet proof of the laxity of our border controls," he said.

Man accused of raping children flagged as an illegal immigrant

2010-08-12T11:35:00.003-04:00

In case you missed it, here is a link to my colleague's story about the Charlotte man who is accused of raping children ages 7 and 8. After receiving a tip from one of our frequent posters, Ghoul, we contacted the sheriff's department and learned that they had an immigration detainer on Ricardo Velasquez. One of our cops reporters, Cleve Wootson, took it from there.

Man accused of raping children ages 7 and 8
Suspect who's jailed in south Charlotte case has also been flagged as an illegal immigrant.

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
cwootson@charlotteobserver.com

A man accused of raping two children in south Charlotte Sunday night has been flagged as an illegal immigrant in Mecklenburg jail.

Ricardo Velasquez was in jail late Wednesday. He was given a $170,000 bond but was also being held by immigration authorities after sheriff's deputies identified him as an illegal immigrant under the 287(g) program.

Velasquez, 40, was charged with two counts of rape on a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and two counts of first-degree sex offense on a child. The children were ages 7 and 8, according to a police report.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/12/1616484/man-accused-of-raping-children.html#ixzz0wPG8CeoK

SC town seeks to stop illegal immigrants from moving in

2010-08-11T11:33:00.006-04:00

A town near Charleston is considering a proposal that would prevent illegal immigrants from living in the community.

Summerville town councilors are expected to consider an ordinance today that would prevent illegal immigrants from living in the town of 45,000 people and in most cases keep them from working here, according to The Post and Courier.

Councilman Walter Bailey says the idea was prompted in part by the Obama administration's challenge of the new Arizona immigration law.

A federal judge has blocked key aspects of that Arizona law, but Bailey says his Summerville ordinance is different enough to where he doesn't think the judge's ruling applies.

Charlotte resident: 'Why I am boycotting Arizona'

2010-08-10T15:33:00.006-04:00

There has been a lot of talk about people boycotting Arizona following passage of its tough new immigration law. Some of those people include Charlotte residents Edith Garwood and her family.

They had been planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, but decided to cancel the trip once Arizona passed a law that made illegal immigration a crime and required police to check the status of immigrants believed to be in the country illegally. (A federal judge has since temporarily blocked the police requirement until it can be studied further).

Garwood wrote a letter to the Arizona hotel where the family planned to stay and explained why they were canceling. She shared the letter with me and also explained to me the reasoning behind her decision.

Why cancel your trip?
We decided to change our vacation plans because once I heard about SB1070, I was afraid for members of my family and brought it up for a vote one night at dinner. Although we are all U.S. citizens, there are members of my family with darker skin and anyone who looks into SB1070 can tell that it could be easily abused and most likely would be abused. Why go to a place where there was any chance of being harassed simply based on our looks?

Why write a letter?
We decided to go elsewhere and make a point that we were specifically boycotting the state so I wrote a letter to notify the resort that we would not be coming for a week of vacation. Boycotts don't do any good unless you let the target know why people aren't buying something. We realize Arizona has some serious and legitimate issues to deal with, but SB1070 is not a well thought-out law and not the solution.

How does the recent decision by a federal judge to temporarily block some of the more controversial parts of the law impact your plans?
The judge's decision hasn't changed our minds because the injunction only puts a hold on some aspects of the law; it doesn't suspend the law completely or guarantee that the abusive parts would not return. Also, the wide support of the law in Arizona makes Arizona look like a place not welcoming or accepting of diversity or those who may look different, so why go there when there are other great areas in America to visit?

May 29, 2010

Hyatt Pinon Pointe
1 North Highway 89A
Sedona, Arizona
1-928-204-8821

To Facility Manager,

My family had been planning a ‘Grand Canyon vacation’ since December 2009. After some research, we knew we wanted to stay in Sedona because of its beautiful landscape and convenience to many activities in the area.

I started searching Sedona facilities because we have a family of five (5) made up of two adults and three (3) teen-agers – so we needed plenty of space. I had sent an email to my husband saying that I had found the perfect location – the Hyatt Pinon Pointe resort.

I looked up the email and this is what I had written, “There was one place that stood out as having everything we might want to be comfortable with three teen-agers and I've copied in the link below. It has two bedrooms with plenty of beds/sofabeds, it has a kitchenette, washer/dryer, pool, great view and near tour companies. Going thru a pkg. it was around $#,### for five, but doing it on my own and getting a better flight for us would be $#,### - not a whole lot more. This figure includes round trip for five, 7 nights in the resort and a mid-size car for a week. We would have to add on food and tours. “

Then I included link and the question, ‘Make reservations?’ But as I was in the process of doing all this, I was also reading about the Arizona legislation SB1070. I understand the complexity of the situation and the issues the state faces in trying to combat crime, especially by those who cross the border without papers. I understand that this nation faces some real problems that require some real solutions, but I believe SB1070 is a short-sighted and basically racist piece of legislation that can only lead to more problems.

Our family was ready to spend several thousand dollars in your state this month, much of it at your facility, but we cannot in good conscience support a state with such legislation. I do regret it is your business that has to suffer, but money talks and if enough people who feel like I do at least let the businesses know why they are not coming this summer, maybe the businesses will contact their elected officials to report the negative results and demand change.

I realize you are probably very busy at this moment with guests, but I wonder how many others would have come to Arizona and your facility, but just haven’t taken the time to write and let you know that they are not coming. Boycotts are more effective when the business/state you are boycotting is made aware of the fact that you are boycotting so this is my official notice that we had made up our minds and had really wanted to vacation in Sedona, AZ this summer, but cannot do so with a good conscience and so are boycotting the state and by extension – your business.

Thank you. May SB1070 be repealed and a more just and fair solution be found soon so those of us who want to visit your great state can do so without hesitation.

Edith Garwood
Concord, NC

Charlotte student crosses borders for immigrants

2010-07-30T13:02:00.006-04:00

Saul Flores, 20, is walking, hitchhiking, and photographing a 4,000 mile journey that many immigrants take to reach the United States every day.

The Harding High graduate hopes to raise awareness about immigration and money for an impoverished school in his family's hometown in Mexico. The rising N.C. State senior took a moment along his journey to talk with me about his goals.

What possessed you to do such a thing?
It is a perilous, dangerous, and sometimes mortal walk that many people, including my family, have been making for years. It is overlooked and disregarded when immigration issues are brought up in our media.

When did you start and how long will the trip take?
My trip began on May 17th, 2010, in Quito, Ecuador, and will continue through early August. I plan, and hope, to make it back into the United States by the start of the new semester at my university.

Where are you now?
I arrived in Atencingo, Mexico last night and have scheduled to stay here until Friday morning. I´m then heading to Juarez, Mexico to finish my series of photographs on the Latino cultures.

What’s your plan for today and the next few days?
Here in Atencingo, my plan is to study, evaluate,and understand the education system of Atencingo. I will be assessing the school the money raised is to benefit. At night, I will be contacting local and national newspapers, radio and television stations in Mexico and in the United States. It is a hard time for the Latino culture, it is my goal to shed light on the realities of our countries.

How far are you from your final destination?
My walk will finish in Arizona as a protest towards the new Senate Bill 1070 that will soon go into effect. I have been traveling for the past two months and anticipate reaching Arizona within the next 10 days.

How are you getting around?
Opportunity and faith have been my guide. I have crossed countries by canoe, hitched along the Pan-American Highway, and hopped behind buses to reach all of my destinations.

Where are you sleeping?
Anywhere that is dark and I can close my eyes. So far I have stayed in huts with indigenous groups, camped outside Mayan pyramids, slept on hammocks, and found floor space along the Carribean Sea. There´s nothing better than to sleep to the sounds of the ocean.

What are you eating?
Exhaustion and nerves made me loose my appetite about a month ago. But here in Atencingo, with my grandmother, I have eaten more than on my whole trip.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve seen or heard?
Living with the KUNA, an indigenous group in Panama, has taught me to see an environmental lifestyle untouched by foreign influence or commercial products.

What’s been the biggest challenge so far?
Mental exhaustion is worse than anything, I am my biggest challenge. However, I did manage to make contact with a blue poison dart frog while crossing the Darien gap. It numbed my right leg and upper lip for a couple of days.

What's next for you?
Once arrived in the United States, I am looking for locations to display series of photographs and exhibit my journey of ¨The Walk of the Immigrants.¨ As well as sell prints to local businesses and companies. I hope to hear from local galleries in North Carolina, Arizona and in New York.

To learn more about Saul’s trip, and his photography, visit refiningthelines.com.

Video: Where are your papers?

2010-07-29T10:42:00.007-04:00

Local actors stage a street performance to poke fun and raise questions about Arizona’s controversial new immigration law.

If you’re walking past Trade and Tryon Streets today between noon and 1 p.m., you may be asked for your "papers" by a small group of actors. The local troupe, led by screenwriter Glenn Hutchinson, plans to use some subtle guerrilla tactics to get the lunch crowd's attention.

“We don’t want to be to confrontational,” Hutchinson said. “But hopefully that will stop someone to say what are you talking about.”

Hutchinson says the play dramatizes how Arizona’s SB 1070 could lead to racial profiling and violate the Bill of Rights. Local actors include Cecilia Becerra, Javier Gonzalez, Nuri Antomarchy, Patrick Mawn, Sarah Provencal, Cindy Kistenberg, and Holly Howell.

A federal judge took a large swipe at the law yesterday when she blocked two of the most controversial sections. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton's injunction affects a requirement that police determine the immigration status of people they stop and think are in the country illegally. She also forbade the state from charging anyone with failure to possess immigration documents, a crime under the new law.

Hutchinson said yesterday afternoon that he was “happy to be under the stress to rewrite the play,” but added that the struggle for immigrant rights is far from over. The Arizona governor and supporters of the law expressed confidence that the law would be upheld under appeal.

An uptown rally opposing the Arizona law is still scheduled for tonight at 6:30 in Marshall Park.

Charlotte relief worker: Haiti continues to need help

2010-07-20T11:30:00.002-04:00

It’s been six months since the earthquake and relief efforts continue. Results have been mixed as millions remain homeless. Most are living in tents during the summer hurricane season. Sabine Guerrier, president of Charlotte’s Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti, recently returned from her group's third stint of relief work. I asked her about what she’s seeing on the ground.

How do you feel things are progressing?

Not as well as I would have expected. Six months after, its still baffling to me that we’re not done with the cleanup. How are we going to start the rebuilding effort? People are still buried under the rubble. People are still living on the streets. We’re past due to start the rebuilding. Why is it taking so long? They should have the equipment. They have raised the money. Why are we not doing it?

What are the greatest needs at this point?

You have a long list of needs, but it's still medical and housing. You still have people in the hospitals. You still have people needing care. People also need a lot of the mental and psychological care. People are scared. Also, housing is an issue. We’ve talked a lot about the tent cities around Port-au-Prince. But many people have left the city and moved to other parts of the country where housing was already inadequate. Especially right now with hurricane season, how are the tents going to help those people?

Last month, you were to deliver an ambulance from Charlotte. What is it now?

Right now the ambulance is still in customs. And it's in customs because of paperwork that we need to worked out. There were mistakes done that need to be fixed. We’re hoping if we get the right paperwork and signatures, over the weekend, hopefully by next week, we’ll get the ambulance.

People can see the ambulance in the shipyard when they’re walking on the street. And they can’t understand why we’re donating something free of charge and it's not being used. They’re starting to ask a lot of questions.

What other things are you’re working on?

The first thing is trying to send a crew to Haiti to train the medical workers on how to use the ambulance with the additional supplies we sent. Next, we’re working on a rehab center for handicap earthquake victims and continuing to build housing for the displaced. We’re also trying to find a handicap accessible van. There are a lot of people who are now handicap.

What should people consider when they think about Haiti?

It’s not over. A lot of people think it’s over. That the country has gotten better with all the donations that have been collected. But it's far from over. It's going to take years. A lot of support, both internationally and internally, a lot of collaboration to get Haiti back on its feet. The challenge is that people are tired of giving. They feel they've given enough. And they don’t see enough results. Haiti continues to need help. And those that most need the help are not receiving it.

For more information about the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti, visit their website at http://hhfoh.org. On Thursday, the group will be at the Bank of America's 10th year Diversity Cultural Fair. It will be held from 11:30 to 2 p.m. in Founders Hall at the Bank of America Corporate Center.

Colombians celebrate independence at Plaza Fiesta

2010-07-18T11:20:00.005-04:00

The local Colombian community will celebrate its independence from Spain today at Plaza Fiesta Carolinas in Fort Mills, S.C.

The celebration includes traditional Colombian art, music and food.

"Orqueta Mayor" will perform. The five-hour festival begins at noon and is free to the public.

Ariz. Governor: State under federal attack

2010-07-06T18:23:00.004-04:00

Governor Jan Brewer fired back at the federal government Tuesday saying the Department of Justice is suing the people of Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law.

Earlier today, the federal government announced it was filing suit to try and stop Arizona's tough new immigration law.

Brewer called the lawsuit a waste of tax payer funds.

“As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels," she said in a statement. " Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice.”

Brewer said the Arizona law is designed to complement the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The law makes it a crime to be an illegal immigrant in the state and gives law enforcement officers the authority to question the immigration status of people who they stop and suspect might be illegal immigrants.

“The irony is that President Obama’s Administration has chosen to sue Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law and not sue local governments that have adopted a patchwork of ‘sanctuary’ policies that directly violate federal law.”

U.S.A. vs. Arizona: Read the Suit

2010-07-06T15:03:00.013-04:00

The federal government has filed suit to try and stop Arizona's tough new immigration law.

The suit contends that the Arizona law interferes with the federal authority over immigration. The Arizona law set to go in effect later this month allows polices officers to question suspected illegal immigrants about their immigration status.

Here is a copy of the suit posted by Politico.com.

And for comparison, here is a link to the Arizona law.

Photo: steakpinball

Charlotte is still alive in the World Cup.

2010-07-02T12:38:00.012-04:00

The USA soccer team may have been knocked out, but Charlotte is still very much in the tournament.

Grab your favorite red, gold, and green outfit. Our next big game is against Uruguay at 2:30 p.m. -- well kind of.

My colleague Rogelio Aranda pointed out to me yesterday that Charlotte has a sister city in Ghana and Germany – two World Cup quarter finalist.

Kumasi, Ghana is one of our most recent Sister Cities. The relationship became official in 1995. Pronounced Koo-MA-si, it is Ghana’s second largest city. It is part of region known for its ancient African royalty, according to the Charlotte International Cabinet, which oversees the sister city relationships.

Krefeld, Germany has been a Sister City since 1985, according to international cabinet. It’s an industrial town on the west bank of the Rhine River near Holland. Krefeld is known as "silk and velvet" capital of Europe.

Charlotte's sister cities relationships are part of the international cabinet’s efforts to continue to encourage citizen diplomacy through educational, cultural and civic exchanges.

It may not sound as good as cheering USA! USA!, but it's fun to know that Charlotte is still very much vested in this great international tournament.

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Does Obama have congressional support needed to pass reform?

2010-07-01T11:01:00.006-04:00

That's a big question mark.

When Mexican president Felipe Calderon visited the White House in May, President Obama said he didn't have enough congressional support to pass immigration reform.

"The political challenge is, is that I have confidence that I can get the majority of Democrats, both in the House and the Senate, to support a piece of legislation of the sort that I just described. But I don’t have 60 votes in the Senate. I’ve got to have some support from Republicans."

It will be interesting to hear whether something has changed between then and now.

WATCH LIVE: Obama makes case for immigration reform

2010-07-01T10:42:00.005-04:00

At 10:45, President Obama is expected to make his case for providing a path to legal status for some 11 million illegal immigrants. Obama is speaking at American University's School of International Service.

Watch the speech live by clicking here.

You can also watch the speech here.

World Cup & NASCAR: If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying

2010-06-29T21:15:00.002-04:00

Sometimes the difference in winning is what you can get away with....

They say soccer is a gentleman's sport played by thugs. I was thinking about that adage this weekend while ESPN was recaping the much celebrated "hand-of-god" goal by Argentina's Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup. It reminded me of another adage, this one from NASCAR, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”

I can’t think of any other two sports where cheating is so openly considered part of the game -- and sometimes celebrated.

The blatant phantom soccer injuries are one thing, but I’m wondering whether we’ll see any type of repeat of the famous hand-ball goal that helped Argentina win the 1986 tournament.

The goal has been long celebrated in Argentina. Arguably the world's greatest player ever, Maradona, now Argentina's coach, himself called the goal divine intervention.

NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus didn't claim divine intervention when he was caught fiddling with the aerodynamics of the No. 48 car. Just about everyone else in racing however seemed to shrug their shoulders as if to say, "That's racin."

Bending the rules has been part of NASCAR since its beginnings. Crew chiefs have tweaked tricked up stock cars and used nitrous oxide gas for extra horsepower. The sports roots date back to a time when bootleggers were trying to outrun the law.

One of those former bootleggers, racing legend Junior Johnson, told a reporter in Florida a few years ago that “Anybody who runs legal is gonna run behind…. It's not cheating…It's being competitive."

Of course, soccer and NASCAR are far from the only sports that have been permeated by cheating.

Think about all those Tour de France riders needing blood transfusions, pill popping track athletes, and steroid injecting baseball players. The NFL busted New England Patriots coach Bill Belicheck for videotaping the New York Jets defensive signals.

Still, I'd say, the practice is not as openly accepted as on the soccer pitch and racetrack.

In this year's World Cup, one of the likeliest candidates to pull off a hand of god goal would be Argentina's current star player, Lionel Messi. Often touted as the best player of his generation, Messi shares many traits with his coach. They both played internationally for Barcelona, wore No. 10 for the Argentina national team, and can dance with a soccer ball like few others on the pitch. And Messi even already has his own hand ball goal scored in a critical game while playing for Barcelona.

Messi has long struggled to get out from under his coach's shadow. And, in this tournament where the expectation is to win at any cost, he has yet to score a goal with his feet.

"Strange" election gives residents in Hispanic community 6 votes

2010-06-15T15:20:00.011-04:00

"What happened to - one man, one vote?"

A friend mentioned this story of a New York City suburb that gave residents six votes in a Port Chester election. Odd, but apparently true.

Yes, voters could give all six votes to one candidate. And that’s exactly what some did.

Resident Arthur Furano flipped the lever six times for his favorite candidate, according to the Associated Press.

It’s the first election for village trustees since since 2006, when the federal government alleged the existing election system discriminated against Hispanics. No Latino had ever been elected to any of the six trustee seats despite the village being nearly half Latino.

Federal Judge Stephen Robinson said that violated the Voting Rights Act, and he approved a remedy suggested by village officials: a system called cumulative voting, in which residents get six votes each to apportion as they wish among the candidates, according to the Associated Press.

Even Furano admitted it was strange.

"I'm not sure I liked it,” he said. “All my life, I've heard, 'one man, one vote.'"

N.C. relief worker tells of pain and inspiration in Haiti

2010-06-14T14:01:00.000-04:00

"I have been told not to care so much…But the day I ignore blatant child neglect and abuse I will know that I have failed as a human being."

Lauren Falduti, 23, joined a Charlotte relief team on their latest trip to Haiti to help with earthquake relief.

Members of the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti will be in northern Haiti for two weeks. They delivered an ambulance and more than 41,000 pounds of supplies to the devastated nation still reeling from the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Falduti emailed me this weekend about working in the pediatrics unit at the Justinien Hospital in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. She and another relief worker from Atlanta have worked together to try and save the life of an abandoned little boy who they believe has cerebral palsy. He was receiving very little care until Falduti took it upon herself to help him.

Here are excerpts from her message:

"There is one patient in particular who has stolen my heart. He was abandoned in the street and brought to Justinien where he has been laying in a crib for 2 weeks. We think he has cerebral palsy and are guessing he is between 6-10 years old. Because he was abandoned and is unable to speak, we have no idea what his name is, so I named him Michael after the archangel.

…When I met him I truly believe he had given up all hope of survival- he was catatonic and unresponsive. I thought he was in a vegetative state. Imagine having no one love you or hold you as a child- it is utterly heartbreaking.”

... For the past couple of days I have been feeding my sweet Michael and have told the head of pediatrics about him. Luckily the head Dr. ordered the nurses to feed him, but they still only seem to feed and diaper him when I am there to make pressure them to do so. It is still a daily struggle to get them to change his sheets and the other day after I left the hospital he had diarrhea and was forced to sleep on his soiled sheets all night.

Two days ago I was at the end of my rope! I was told Michael had begun to run a fever and immediately began to cry. I wanted to scream… I felt so hopeless. I felt God's righteous anger at the abuse of His precious child welling up inside of me.

… I have been told not to care so much. I have been told to separate myself from Michael. But the day I ignore blatant child neglect and abuse I will know that I have failed as a human being. Ignoring Michael would be enabling the abuse, and I refuse to do such a thing.

… I am attaching a photo of Michael and I listening to my Ipod yesterday. I held him and rocked him while I sang him the song "For Good" from the soundtrack of the Broadway play, WICKED. At the very moment when I sang the words "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good," my darling Michael looked me in the eyes and smiled! I love this child SO MUCH!"

Charlotte team returns to Haiti

2010-06-07T13:55:00.002-04:00

A Charlotte team of relief workers returned to Haiti this weekend to deliver an ambulance and more than 41,000 pounds of supplies to the devastated nation still reeling from the Jan. 12 earthquake.

With support from Myers Park United Methodist Church and Presbytery Church of Charlotte, five members of the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti team returned to the northern region of the country. The doctor, physical therapist, EMT, and project manager left on Friday. They will return June 19.

“The need is still there,” said Sabine Guerrier, who is leading the group.

(This is one of two groups that I followed during my second trip to Haiti in February. You can read more of our coverage on their work here.)

In addition to delivering the ambulance and supplies, Guerrier said the team will also provide medical training to about 15 local doctors and nurses, operate a mobile clinic, which will travel to nearby villages to provide medical care and deliver other supplies.

Guerrier said the team is also working with federal representatives and a local mayor to receive approximately 10 acres of donated land, which will be used to build housing and a rehabilitation clinic.

The team purchased the used ambulance this spring with more than 200,000 miles for $3,000 at a city of Charlotte auction.

It was serviced and repainted before being driven to Miami last month where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for delivery to Haiti.

Guerrier said the ambulance will be donated to Justinien University Hospital, a public hospital in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The struggling hospital does not have an ambulance.

"What a bliss," Dr. Jean Gracia, medical director of Justinien University Hospital, wrote in a letter to the team and city of Charlotte. "... My staff and the patients are very grateful and lucky to have organizations like yours thinking about their well-being when they are most vulnerable."

Photo: Fort Mill paramedic Thomas Hall(right) drove the ambulance to Miami where it was loaded onto a cargo ship headed for Haiti.

NC faith leaders meet on immigration

2010-06-02T11:14:00.001-04:00

State clergy will meet in Charlotte tomorrow to discuss the theological and practical sides of the immigration debate.

Seeking to encourage constructive dialogue, clergy members are expected to discuss the controversial Arizona immigration law and how they relate with local enforcement efforts such as Mecklenburg County’s 287g program.

Chris Liu-Beers with the NC Council of Churches, which is sponsoring the event, says faith communities are at their best when they address controversial issues head-on in a thoughtful and respectful way.

“Congregations are on the front lines of the immigration debate – offering English courses, meals, job training, and pastoral care to people facing very challenging situations,” he said.

“From Hostility to Hospitality: Immigration and People of Faith” is part of a statewide clergy breakfast series on immigration.

The breakfast will take place Thursday morning, June 3, at Myers Park Baptist Church on Queens Road from 8:30-10:00am. Speakers include Rev. Steve Shoemaker of Myers Park Baptist Church and Lori Fernald Khamala with American Friends Service Committee.

“As people of faith, we are united in the belief that every person is a child of God and that we are called to offer hospitality to our neighbors,” Liu-Beers said.

Lawmakers propose English-only drivers' tests

2010-05-28T14:54:00.005-04:00

Critics say the bill unfairly targets immigrants and refugees.

The new bill introduced Wednesday would require those taking a drivers test to speak or read and write English.

Republican State Representative Harold Brubaker of Randolph, who introduced the bill with Rep. Julia Howard of Iredell, says the bill will make the roads safer and save taxpayers’ money.

"If you speak Chinese or Russian and can't read our signs and can't speak English, it's an absolute safety issue, and I think that needs to be addressed," Brubaker told WRAL-TV. "People getting driver's licenses in North Carolina should be able to speak English."

The Division of Motor Vehicles currently offers the written driver's tests in 10 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Opponents say the legislation would hurt legal residents, political refugees, foreign exchange students, and even U.S. citizens who have limited English skills.

In 2006, the N.C. legislature voted to make it impossible for illegal immigrants to renew their driver's licenses.

The bill is similar to ones being considered in states such as Georgia and Tennessee. In Alabama, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James said if he is elected he will order state driver license exams be given in English only.

One of James’ campaign ads states: "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it."

STATES OFFERING TEST ONLY IN ENGLISH:
* Arizona
* Hawaii
* Kansas
* Maine
* New Hampshire
* Oklahoma
* South Dakota
* Utah
* Wyoming

Source: ProEnglish.org

North Carolina eyes Arizona immigration law

2010-05-27T11:35:00.011-04:00

A state senator says North Carolina should consider an immigration policy similar to Arizona's new law that makes it a crime to be in the country illegally.

The move adds North Carolina to a list of some 20 states reportedly considering introducing bills similar to Arizona's controversial law. Recent polls show that more than 60 percent of Americans support the law.

Senator Don East, a Surry Republican, introduced his resolution, S1349, this week to consider legislation that requires immigrants carry identification that proves they’re in the country legally. Twelve Republican senators, including Senator Bob Rucho of Matthews and Austin M. Allran of Hickory, have signed on to co-sponsor the resolution.

East, a retired police officer, told the Mount Airy News he introduced the resolution because he wants to make sure the federal immigration laws are obeyed in North Carolina.

“If the federal government’s not going to follow the federal statute, let the states do it,” he told the newspaper.

An estimated 350,000 illegal immigrants live in North Carolina and 70,000 in South Carolina.

Legislators in South Carolina introduced similar resolution that would direct state law enforcement to check the legal status of people they suspect to be in the country illegally.

At least 20 other states are considering following Arizona and proposing similar legislation, according to the Immigration Policy Center.

With federal legislation stalled in Washington, state legislatures are tackling immigration issues at an unprecedented rate, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In the first quarter of this year, state legislators in 45 states had introduced 1,180 bills and resolutions relating to immigrants and refugees, according to NCSL. As of March 31, 2010, 34 state legislatures had passed 107 laws and adopted 87 resolutions; 38 bills were pending signatures on governors’ desks.