Are Latinos turning on Obama?

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."

Controversial congressman, champion for reform, visits Clt

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)

WATCH LIVE: Obama makes case for immigration reform

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.

Video: Second grader prods first lady on immigration

Little girl asks if president is "taking everybody away" that doesn't have papers like her mom.

First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Washington-area school yesterday with Mexican first lady Margarita Zavala.

While sitting in a circle with other students and the first ladies, the young girl expressed concern about her mother’s legal status. Here is the brief exchange:

Student: "My mom said, I think that she says that, Barack Obama is going to take away everybody that doesn't have papers."

Obama: "Yeah, well, that's something that we have to work on, right? To make sure that people can be here with the right kind of papers, right? That's exactly right," she said.

Student: "But my mom doesn't have any."

Obama: "[W]ell we have to work on that; we have to fix that and everybody's got to work together in Congress to make sure that happens."

The school did not release the name of the student.

Immigration officials said this morning that they will not deport the little girl’s mother.

“ICE is a federal law enforcement agency that focuses on smart, effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes criminal aliens who pose a threat to our communities," Matthew Chandler, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said in an e-mail to news outlets. "Our investigations are based on solid law enforcement work and not classroom Q and As.”

The Census Boycott is on…

Some clergy call on illegal immigrants to boycott the Census. “This is a matter of moral principle,” Miguel Rivera, leader of the boycott, says.

The National Coalition Of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders called for the boycott last year in an effort to push leaders to pass immigration reform.

Now Rivera, president of the coalition, says it's in the best interest of millions of illegal immigrants to “exercise their right to free expression maintaining themselves silent and not exposing themselves further.”

The group estimates more than 3 million illegal immigrants won’t cooperate with the Census.

The U.S. Constitution calls for a nationwide count every 10 years. The data is used to distribute some $300 billion to state and local governments and adjust congressional representation.

Census officials say its critical that every resident be counted, and that immigration status is not part of the query.

An undercount could affect millions of dollars coming to the Carolinas for roads, schools and hospitals. It could also determine whether either state gains a congressional seat.

The pastors however say political representation and federal money don't matter to illegal immigrants, who can't vote and don't get to enjoy many of the benefits of living here.

Here are excerpts from a letter Rivera sent out this morning:

"The Census boycott is on. This is a matter of moral principle and pastoral care.

Congress will not move forward with legalization, there is no moratorium on executing raids and deportations.

It is in the best interests and the welfare of millions of undocumented immigrants, to exercise their right to free expression maintaining themselves silent and not exposing themselves further…

… We recognize that the Census is important, but its own importance and accuracy, converts itself into a weapon of families destruction."

…Only a Cease and Desist on Raids and Deportations would move us to call the boycott effort to stop.

File photo: Radio host Jorge Medina asked listeners last year if they'll participate in Census. Many said they'll boycott.

Immigration fights healthcare hangover

Steve Breen's political cartoon says it all. A heavily bandaged elephant lies in a bombed crater. A barely standing donkey, with a broken arm, tells an immigration advocate, "Could we at least wait for the craters to stop smoldering?"

The Observer ran the cartoon on Sunday. Click here to see more of Breen's work.

Washington is reeling from the battles over health care and is not likely to take up another thrashing fight with mid-term elections on the horizon.

The same day the House passed its health care reform bill, tens of thousands of activists and supporters took to the Washington Mall demanding the administration take up immigration reform.

Some advocates said they almost cried listening to a videotaped message from President Obama pledging to “do everything in my power to forge a bipartisan consensus this year on this important issue.”

Advocates for immigration reform say there will never bean easy time to do immigration reform. Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. said the time to act is now. The legislative puzzle will only get more complicated.

“Some liberals want the immigration reform movement to be patient,” he writes. "There is nothing new there. Some of the left said the same thing during the civil rights movement.”

Many political watchers, however, feel immigration reform is pretty much dead this year. As Spanish-language journalist and pundit Rafael Prieto told me last year, few legislators will risk their political career for illegal immigrants in this political climate.

My colleague William Douglas at McClatchy Newspapers pointed out that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, didn’t even mention immigration reform when listing Obama’s post-health care agenda.

Even South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said as much stating that the recently passed health care legislation had “poisoned the well” for any bipartisanship on future legislation this session. He said this after joining Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, to release a bipartisan framework for comprehensive reform that would give millions of illegal immigrants a path to legalization yet also provide tougher enforcement.

Charlotte caravan heads to D.C.

They're calling for immigration reform. But can such a controversial issue pass in today's political climate?

More than 800 people from Charlotte will travel to Washington, D.C. Sunday morning to join 10s of thousands rallying for immigration reform.

A caravan of 15 buses will leave Charlotte at midnight for the rally that will take place on the National Mall.

Ruben Campillo, state director for Reform Immigration for America, said more than 3,000 people from North Carolina will be at the rally.

“The message is simple,” he said. “We want to demand that the president and congress keep their promise to pass immigration reform.”

President Barack Obama promised to push reform in his first year of office. It's now year two and advocates have grown frustrated.

Supporters say there is still time to pass an immigration bill before the November elections. But the White House says nothing can happen without strong bipartisan support.

The rally is likely to be overshadowed by the House of Representatives if they vote that day to overhaul healthcare legislation.

Latino turned out in great numbers to help elect Obama. Now some leaders are cautioning the president and congress that their continued support may depend on passing immigration reform.

"We are still interested in seeing the Democrats succeed, and see Mr. Obama succeed," Jorge-Mario Cabrera, of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, told Reuters. "However, we also are telling Congress and the president that this particular promise is so essential to our community’s well-being, to our families’ well-being, to our nation’s well-being, that if it’s not kept, we will remember in the November elections."

In response, the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, which opposes giving illegal immigrants a path to legalization, called on supporters to visit their lawmakers and “and flood DC offices with calls, e-mails, and faxes opposing Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty.”

William Gheen, president of ALIPAC, cited past efforts to pass immigration reform in 2006 and 2007 failed. He said most Americans want increased enforcement against illegal immigration. "We have beaten them before and we will defeat them again," Gheen said. "We hope that more Americans fighting Washington on other issues will take notice of our past expertise in stopping out of touch lawmakers from making nation destroying mistakes."


Associated Press contributed.

Photo: Demonstrators in front of Dallas City Hall in support of fair immigration reform laws Sunday, April 9, 2006 in Dallas. (AP Photo/Fort Worth Star-Telegram,D.J. Peters)

The "quote, unquote" immigration debate in 2009.

It's been quite a year for the immigration debate. Here are just a few quotes culled from some of the biggest stories of 2009 that we covered in This Land. Thanks for making it a successful first year for the blog.

Happy New Year!


"It’s pro-family, pro-jobs and pro-security. And the time to pass it into law is right now. " Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D -IL) introducing his 600 page bill on Dec. 15 to reform the nation's immigration laws.

"He's not the devil, but he is certainly a man who is right now not making it easy to understand why he's making the public-policy choices that he is." -- Former CNN host Lou Dobbs talking about President Obama to Fox’s Bill O’Reilly on Nov. 17 after leaving the cable news network.

“In the middle of one of the worst recessions in American history, our N.C. Community College Board decides to help illegal immigrants enroll in college when our state unemployment rate is 11 percent.” - Ron Woodard, director of NC Listen. In a Nov. 30 email regarding voters in a Civitas Institute competition selecting a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to enroll in N.C. community colleges as the year’s worst bill.

"You go to work every day and if you make a mistake, you got a colonoscopy coming from the command staff." -- Senior Cpl. Glenn White of president of the Dallas Police Association, in October after 20 Dallas police officers wrongly gave $204 traffic tickets to some drivers who didn’t speak English.

"He's out having a taco." -- ESPN announcer Bob Griese on Oct. 24 in response to a query from a fellow announcer asking where is Juan Pablo Montoya. Griese received a one-game suspension for the comment.

“It’s all politics.” - Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaking to the press on Oct. 6 after the federal government stripped his office of its authority to patrol for illegal immigrants.

"You lie!" - U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson shouted to President Obama during his address before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9.

“I can tell you that within our organization there are real racists." Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, which advocates for greater immigration restrictions, in a July 10 meeting with advocates in favor and against immigration reform.

"There are extremes in our coalition who really are for open borders; who really are for emptying the jails. And you know we get tagged with them. They get wrapped around our neck the same way the hate crimes get wrapped around Roy’s neck." -- Douglas Rivlin formerly of the National Immigration Forum in a July 10 meeting with advocates in favor and against immigration reform.

"At the end of the day, if we're going to achieve legalization of a major share of the undocumented, we realize there will have to be some give and take over worker verification. We're not against it necessarily if all of the other pieces of immigration reform fall into place." -- Mike Garcia, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877 in Los Angeles.

"I was just trying to save lives. We're not asking permission from the United States to save people's lives. We never have, because we know they'd say no." -- Walt Staton, 27, a volunteer with the humanitarian group No More Deaths who was convicted of littering on federal land because he left jugs of water for illegal immigrants walking through the desert.

"It’s not an ethnic thing. If you look at how people in East Charlotte live. They eat in these restaurants. We're known for the restaurants. The community is supporting the restaurants. We’re trying to market the restaurants. So for the whole community to be labeled as not accepting of Latino people and diversity it is a slap in the face." - Ed Garber, chairman of the Eastside Political Action Committee, who says allegations are off base that the clampdown on the taco trucks operating on Central Avenue is a form of ethnic discrimination.

"The idea was great if we had the money. It was basically an add-on. But if the funding is not there, it's not there." - Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens County Republican on a planned hotline to accept complaints about illegal immigrants not being set up in South Carolina.

We can't continue with a broken immigration system. It's not good for anybody. It's not good for American workers. It's dangerous for Mexican would- be workers who are trying to cross a dangerous border. It is putting a strain on border communities, who often times have a deal with a host of undocumented workers. And it keeps those undocumented workers in the shadows, which means they can be exploited at the same time as they're depressing U.S. wages. - President Barack Obama in a White House press conference about his first 100 days in office.

24 tweets for 24 hours of immigration debate

A congressman introduced his immigration bill and set the webosphere on fire this week.

Supporters and opponents of the Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D -IL) bill were quick to join in as news continued to break and stoke interest among those on their side of the debate. The hundreds, if not thousands, of posts on blogs, emails, and Twitter started even before the congressman introduced his bill, which he called "pro-family, pro-jobs, pro-security."

Gutierrez's proposed bill would legalize undocumented immigrants who registered with the federal government, pay a $500 fine, learn English, and pass background checks, among other requirements. They would then be eligible for a six-year visa, followed by a green card.

And on Twitter, where users chatter, gossip, lecture, and opinionate in 140 character bursts, you can see just how emotional this debate will. Here are 24 selected tweets that I pulled from the 24 hours following when Gutierrez introduced his legislation.

@MicEvHill: Gutierrez begins to cite bible verses in support of his bill, saying that the immigrant community has turned the other cheek time after time 1:10 PM Dec 15th

@ALIPAC: Amnesty Legislation Filed TAKE ACTION NOW !!! www.alipac.us #AFIRE #illegalimmigration illegal immigration aliens http://bit.ly/77rO4C 1:26 PM Dec 15th

@JuanSaaa: @repgutierrez says he has 80 votes to kick start his #immigration bill, compared to 40 as he proposed the project last time. #ri4a Dec 15, 2009 01:36 PM GMT

@mkolken: @RepGutierrez Thank you for standing up for the rights of others!!! We are behind you!!! #immigration #ri4a #cir Dec 15, 2009 01:38 PM GMT

@NumbersUSA: Everyone at NumbersUSA is learning about social media! RT @insideyourhalo: @numbersusa http://yfrog.com/4apfivj 2:36 PM Dec 15th

@jrsusa: #Immigration reform debate is no place for bigotry http://bit.ly/8xHLio #CIR Dec 15, 2009 02:47 PM GMT

@RI4A: all i want 4 xmas is #immigration reform! RT @CAUSAOregon: @weareoneamerica Rally celebrate bill b4 holiday http://tinyurl.com/y9psnxs #ri4a
Dec 15, 2009 03:44 PM GMT

@ALIPAC: Immigration bill backers try again despite jobless rate http://bit.ly/8SKDaR #illegalimmigration #tcot #AFIRE 3:54 PM Dec 15th

@GrayRiv: Plz read, #digg and RT: #Immigration: The next nasty, necessary fight: http://bit.ly/6JU2A0 #RI4A #hcr #p2 #topprog #du1 #dnj Dec 15, 2009 04:28 PM

@RI4A: Gutierrez: "Immigrant blame game is constant." Enough with the scapegoating! #CIRASAP #immigration #ri4a Dec 15, 2009 06:09 PM GMT

@JessicaNWood: Really good! "An Immigration Time-Out" http://bit.ly/7XS57v #AFIRE #immigration #noamnesty Dec 15, 2009 06:15 PM GMT

@ObamaBeenLying: RT @SeniorBuzz FIGHT BACK AMERICANS! The House is debating AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS. http://bit.ly/7gyS2q #immigration #tcot #teaparty PLZ RT Dec 15, 2009 06:45 PM GMT

@desidyke: @gaysifly It comes down to the Senate and the deals being struck between Schumer and Graham forces. Long ways to go. #immigration Dec 15, 2009 09:05 PM

@dandyxands: Petition @RepGutierrez to include #lgbt families in his #immigration reform bill! http://act.ly/1j8 RT to sign #actly #topprog #ri4a #p2 Dec 15, 2009 09:16 PM

@TRUTHINHISTORY: Tough road for immigration bill - - POLITICO.com: http://bit.ly/8ulig9 We might as well annex Mexico? #tcot #noamnesty Dec 15, 2009 09:16 PM


@NCLISTEN: Bill to provide amnesty to 11 mil illegal aliens introduced in the House http://bit.ly/6bpRfj #AFIRE #ConsNC #noamnesty #NC 11:35 AM Dec 16th

@ChronInaug09: Democrats unveil new immigration plan; GOP says it's a job killer: The following report was written by Gary Martin ... http://bit.ly/5eEV4Y Dec 16, 2009 01:41 PM


@worldorganizers: Gutierrez immigration reform bill introduced and buried in the papers and already being pronounced "dead on arrival." Inauspicious start. Dec 16, 2009 01:44 PM

@bobney: Here we go Amnesty around the corner--Dems move to overhaul immigration - http://shar.es/a8M3P Dec 16, 2009 01:44 PM GMT

@SmackdownFan: Pelosi says no vote on immigration bill til Senate passes a bill http://tinyurl.com/yelpms3 #AFIRE Dec 16, 2009 01:45 PM GMT •

@FrancoOrdonez: Is Congressman's #immigration bill doomed? Gutierrez bill not likely to make it far, but that’s not the point. #CIRASAP http://ow.ly/Mu7Z 1:55 PM Dec 16th

@angelamkelley: #Immigration Reform Will Enhance Economic Recovery: We Can’t Build a Strong Economy on Top of a Broken Immig System http://bit.ly/7xd5vS Dec 16, 2009 02:58 PM GMT •

@BayouPerspectiv: Immigration Policy Must Put the Needs of American Workers at the Forefront http://bit.ly/8YY1m8 Dec 16, 2009 03:18 PM GMT •

@llguy: Show me the federal government can control illegal immigration and then we'll talk. #politics #immigration

Photo: AP, Fibonacci blue

Is Congressman's immigration bill doomed?

The Democrat's immigration bill is not likely to make it far in the political process, but that may not be the point.

Saying the time for waiting is over, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D -IL) introduced his 600 page bill Tuesday that includes greater enforcement of immigration laws, employment verification, family reunification programs, and a path for legalizing millions of illegal immigrants. He has encouraged his most ardent supporters and millions more who are tired of waiting for congress to fix what President Obama called the country's broken immigration system.

Standing before activists chanting "Si, se puede," Gutierrez said the bill was "pro-family, pro-jobs and pro security."

But as one of the most vocal and well known advocates in the fight for reform, Gutierrez is an easy target for pro-enforcement groups. They're already using the news to build up their own base by painting him as a liberal who has introduced the expected “amnesty bill.”

Frankly, it appears Gutierrez is taking one for the team. He could propose building a 50-foot-wall, but many Americans consider Gutierrez and his supporters out-of-touch with our nation’s laws and ongoing woes with high unemployment. He’s sure to build up his base and win supporters in diverse cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. But it'll be tough to make headway in North Carolina and across middle America.

Gutierrez’s bill already has nearly 90 co-sponsors, but all are Democrats.

He may not have an expectation that his bill will make it that far. But he’s definitely teeing up the debate so immigration is near the top of the political agenda once healthcare is resolved. And he sets the discussion. His bill becomes what future bills introduced will be judged upon.

Keep an eye out on Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) who are reportedly nearing completion on a less liberal, bipartisan bill expected to be introduced early next year.

The reality is any bill on such a divisive issue is going to be a tough sell - especially so close to midterm elections. Think back to September and the fury over illegal immigrants that Joe Wilson caused when he yelled those infamous two words, "You Lie."

Photo: AP

ICE fights criticism, reveals Obama's quandary

A top immigration official responded to criticism of a program to remove dangerous illegal immigrants.

John Morton, an assistant secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wrote in a letter to the New York Times that a new federal fingerprinting program has led to the identification of more than 11,000 arrested illegal immigrants “charged with or convicted of serious crimes like rape and murder.”

His letter was in response to a Times editorial last month calling for immigration reform and saying that it was wrong for Janet Napolitano, President Obama's homeland security secretary, to “boast” about the program known as Secure Communities. (The Mecklenburg County Sheriff will soon be using the program in conjunction with its 287(g) program.) The Times editorial board said Napolitano failed to point out that minor violators were also caught up in a program that is aimed at more serious offenders.

"Laws must be enforced, but doing it this way hurts the innocent, creating a short line from Hispanic to immigrant to illegal to criminal. Having brown skin, speaking Spanish, seeming nervous in the presence of flashing police lights — none of those things say anything about whether you are here illegally or not, are deport able or not. But any one of them can be enough to get you pulled over in jurisdictions across the country” -- The New York Times editorial board.

Obama says he wants a similar form of immigration reform that the Times editorial board calls for. Napolitano and Morton point out that reform is necessary, but not, as Morton wrote, “without also providing smart and effective enforcement tools.”

The back and forth highlights the two public faces Obama is trying to present as he seeks to curry favor with opposing sides of the immigration debate.

To pass any immigration reform bill, Obama needs to convince citizens that 1.) it’s necessary and good for the country to allow law-abiding illegal immigrants a chance to earn legal status and 2.) that the government can actually control the borders and curb immigrant-related crime.

As can be seen by the Times editorial board, it's not going to be easy.

"President Obama has repeatedly assured 12 million illegal immigrants that he will fight to give them the chance to earn the right to stay. His administration should not undermine that noble effort by carelessly lending credibility to the view that the future citizens living and working among us are a class of criminals."

Photos: AP

Congressman outlines plan for immigration reform

U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, presented his vision for a new comprehensive immigration reform bill Tuesday at a rally on the west lawn of the United States Capitol.

He spoke in front of thousands of immigrants who came to the capitol to calling for comprehensive immigration reform. He plans to introduce a full bill in the coming weeks.

His proposal focuses on a path to legalization for illegal immigrants, but also includes proposals for protecting immigrant workers, better employee verification systems, and stronger border enforcement.

“We need a bill that says if you come here to hurt our communities, we will not support you, but if you are here to work hard and to make a better life for your family, you will have the opportunity to earn your citizenship,” Gutierrez said. “We need a law that says it is un-American for a mother to be torn from her child, and it is unacceptable to undermine our work force by driving the most vulnerable among us further into the shadows.”

Critics say Gutierrez’s proposal amounts to an amnesty proposal for those who broke American laws.

"Amnesty sends a message that you’re a sucker to play by the rules," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which promotes stronger immigration enforcement, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Congressman Gutierrez released on his website the following outline of the core principles that he will use in his reform bill:

– Pathway to legalization for illegal immigrants
– Effective border enforcement
– Humane interior enforcement
– Protecting immigrant workers
– Stronger verification systems
– Family unification
– Updated visa system
– Agriculture jobs
– Access to college for undocumented students

Photo: Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., speaks at a rally for immigration reform on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Think Tank launches immigration series…

As the immigration debate heats up, a Washington, D.C.-think tank breaks down the issues.

Few question the need for an overhaul of our nation’s immigration policies. The debate is how to do it and what compromises each side willing to make. The Brookings Institution put its experts on the case. They look at several key aspects, including policy, changing demographics, fair and effective laws, and economic, political and social obstacles.

Click here to take a look…

'Within our organization there are real racists'

An advocate for greater restrictions on immigration says his group and others must fight racist members. Meanwhile, an advocate for comprehensive reform, says they also have extremists in their ranks.

One thing about getting those with opposing views into a room is the conversations that can develop. That was the case Thursday at the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C. when organizers set up a panel on advocacy work that included Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, who advocates for greater immigration restrictions, and Paco Fabian of America's Voice and Douglas Rivlin of the National Immigration Forum, both advocates for comprehensive reform.

Towards the end of a nearly two-hour conversation, the two sides opened up about playing politics and some of the challenges they face dealing with extremist members who can derail their efforts.

"I can tell you that within our organization there are real racists," Beck said.

Beck said some NumbersUSA members were angry late last year when he condemned the murder of an Ecuadorian man in Long Island, N.Y., allegedly by a group of teenagers who in the middle of a drinking binge decided to "beat up a Mexican."

"Sadly, out of 900,000 people we still had a dozen people who thought we were awful for standing up for the guy," he said. "They said 'well, he may not have been whatever, but he was illegal so he deserved to be killed.' There are people who think that.”

Rivlin said his group has dealt with similar problems.

"There are extremes in our coalition who really are for open borders; who really are for emptying the jails," he said. "And you know we get tagged with them. They get wrapped around our neck the same way the hate crimes get wrapped around Roy’s neck."

(Beck jokingly motioned like he was tugging at a chain around his neck.)

Its part of the political game, said Rivlin. And each side does its best to use the opposing groups' own extremists as an advantage.

"As advocacy groups, we're always saying we're in the middle and we're fighting for the middle. And we're always dealing with the extremes in our coalitions and always trying to characterize them as the extremes in their coalition. That is just the way Washington works."

Photo: David Paul Ohmer

Common ground over Diet Coke

When I saw two of the leading voices on opposing sides of the immigration debate share the same can of Diet Coke, I thought maybe there’s a chance for compromise after all.

Our hosts at the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C., started our program off strongly by inviting pro-enforcement advocate Jerry Kammer of the Center for Immigration Studies to sit with pro-immigrant rights advocates Tamar Jacoby of ImmigrationWorks USA and Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress.

Each side took expected stances, but it was interesting to hear them discuss their strategies in more human terms.

Kammer talked about the country we're leaving for our grandchildren. He said the United States can't sustain its current rate of population growth, and he raised concerns that we could lose our large middle class if we inherit a more Mexican-like social structure dominated by disparate upper and lower economic classes.

Kelley talked about learning from the failed effort to pass reform in 2007 and taking tips from their opponents to build more middle-America support. She characterized as similar to "walking over Niagara Falls with an umbrella and a stiff wind." She expressed optimism, however, that some reform bill could be ready by next spring.

Kammer and Jacoby, who split a Coke, did appear to agree on the benefits of Wednesday's announcement that the Obama administration will award federal contracts only to employers who use federal databases to verify employees' immigration status.

"The business community welcomes workplace enforcement," said Jacoby, who represents employers backing reform. "Ultimately though it has to come with a legal pipeline to get the workers that America needs for future economic growth."

The Center of Immigration Studies has long supported the program, known as E-Verify, but it was surprising to hear Jacoby's support when many immigrant rights groups have lobbied against the program.

It may be a small thing, but on this issue where extreme views dominate, it's nice to see signs of shared interest – even if it's over a pop.

Photo: shstrng

New tactic: suing the President

More than 100 kids have sued President Obama over the deportation of their parents.

The children, all born in United States, charge the deportations will cause "extreme, grave and irreparable hardship" and therefore amount to civil rights violations against them as U.S. citizens.

They're are asking the court to suspend the deportations of their parents until Congress overhauls U.S. immigration laws. The case is set to go to trial in August.

Click here to read the 51-page complaint.

Nora Sandigo, chief executive officer of Miami-based advocacy group American Fraternity, filed the suit in on behalf of the children in U.S. District Court in Miami. At a rally yesterday, Sandigo said she is frustrated that the Obama administration hasn't done more to address immigration reform, according to the Associated Press.

"Today these children's voices are not heard, but tomorrow these U.S. citizens will be voting," she said.

Acting U.S. attorney Jeffrey H. Soman asked the court to dismiss the case on grounds that Sandigo didn’t properly file her case.

The suit was originally brought against the Bush administration, but was dismissed.
Alfonso Olviedo, the children's attorney, told our colleagues at the Miami Herald that the case would most likely be dismissed again, with the court citing that it is an inappropriate forum.

Even if dismissed, Sandigo said her group will continue to fight. Children at the Miami rally said their families risked losing their homes and some children are suffering psychological and physical hardship.

"My grades went from A's to C's when my mom had to leave," Ronald Soza, who is named in the suit, told the Associated Press. Ronald’s mother was deported to Nicaragua last year.

Photos: (Top) Obama File AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, (Above) Ronald Soza, 10, left, and his sister Cecia, 12, right, at protest for the deportation of their mother. LYNNE SLADKY/AP / STF

Local call for immigration reform

Immigrant rights groups from around Charlotte are joining forces to fight for immigration reform.

Dozens of advocates waved flags and held signs at a gathering Friday in Marshall Park calling for legislation that would give illegal immigrants a chance to live and work legally.

Ruben Campillo, a member and advocacy coordinator for the Latin American Coalition said they want to hold President Obama to his promise to address immigration reform.

“We all recognize our current immigration system is broken,” he said. “… Let's do the right thing and fight for a fair treatment and practical solution that benefits us all.”

Opponents say giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship is a form of amnesty.

Ron Woodard, director of NC Listen, which advocates for stronger immigration enforcement, says the country's immigration policies exist because America cannot possibly accept all the immigrants who want to come to the country.

“People who come to America illegally are not only breaking the law, but are also jumping in the front of the line of others waiting their turn to come here legally,” he said.

To read the full article, click here.
to read it in Spanish, click here.

Video of the rally.

Obama: " We can't continue with a broken immigration system"

In a press conference yesterday from the White House about his first 100 days in office, President Barack Obama reiterated his intention to make immigration reform a priority in his first year in office.

Responding to question about his immigration reform strategy, Obama had this to say:

We can't continue with a broken immigration system. It's not good for anybody. It's not good for American workers. It's dangerous for Mexican would- be workers who are trying to cross a dangerous border. It is putting a strain on border communities, who oftentimes have a deal with a host of undocumented workers. And it keeps those undocumented workers in the shadows, which means they can be exploited at the same time as they're depressing U.S. wages.

In the meantime, what we're trying to do is take some core -- some key administrative steps to move the process along, to lay the groundwork for legislation, because the American people need some confidence that if we actually put a package together, we can execute.

So [Homeland Security Secretary] Janet Napolitano, who has great knowledge of this, because of having been a border governor, she's already in the process of reviewing and figuring out, how can we strengthen our border security, in a much more significant way than we're doing?

If the American people don't feel like you can secure the borders, then it's hard to strike a deal that would get people out of the shadows and on the pathway to citizenship, who are already here, because the attitude of the average American is going to be, well, you're just going to have hundreds of thousands more coming in each year.

On the other side of the debate:

The Obama administration also reiterated its plan to pursue employers who knowingly hire and exploit illegal workers. Guidelines sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents yesterday call for imposing fines and pressing criminal charges against employers who break the law, according to the Associated Press. The priority is to go after employers, but the policy says agents will continue to arrest illegal workers as long as local US attorneys commit to prosecuting cases against their employers.

Napolitano has said the agency will focus on ``renewing a priority on employers who are making money off of these illegal immigrants and giving them jobs that should be going to American workers.''

In 2008, ICE brought criminal charges against 135 employers and 968 workers.