June 28, 2009
Sunday in Honduras
Iris, I and the family are in Honduras to visit her family and to see the ruins of Copan and the beaches of Trujillo (the site of Colombus´ fourth and last voyage). Today Max asked me what is a golpe de estado. First I had to explain the nature of the political crisis taking into consideration the regional geo-political situation of Chavez vs the US.
Next I had to explain to him that the President of Honduras wanted to extend his term which was not allowed as per the constitution. By this time Max had taken his Honduran geko out of its cage and was looking for an insect to feed it.
I decided to leave the political interpretation to CNN. We will use mango to lure the insects into a trap to feed the geko.
Posted by VisaLawyer at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2009
President Obama Leads Immigration Reform Debate Executive Branch to Shepherd Legislative Process
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Today the President, Vice President, and key cabinet members met with a bipartisan group of Senate and House leaders representing the spectrum of opinion on immigration. The White House characterized the meeting as the "launch" of a policy conversation and "an honest discussion about the issues...identifying areas of agreement and areas where we still have work to do, with the hope of beginning the debate in earnest later this year."
The President's remarks after the meeting indicate not only his full commitment to moving immigration reform forward in the coming year, but also his desire to shift the debate from inflammatory rhetoric to genuine dialogue. "But what I'm encouraged by is that after all the overheated rhetoric and the occasional demagoguery on all sides around this issue, we've got a responsible set of leaders sitting around the table who want to actively get something done and not put it off until a year, two years, three years, five years from now, but to start working on this thing right now," said President Obama.
As with other major initiatives, the President announced the formation of an immigration working group led by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Secretary Napolitano will work with members of Congress to reach solid, practical solutions.
"Today President Obama moved the ball forward on comprehensive immigration reform and changed the nature of the debate - shifting politicians from finger-pointing to problem-solving," said Mary Giovagnoli, Director of the Immigration Policy Center. "The President and key leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Senator John McCain, are ready to roll up their sleeves and work on practical legislation that solves our immigration crisis. There will be challenges, as there are in any legislative process, but the public should be reassured that we are finally moving forward in a genuine, bipartisan fashion, on a reasoned and reasonable debate on comprehensive immigration reform."
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For press inquiries, contact Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524 or wsefsaf@ailf.org
The Immigration Policy Center (IPC), established in 2003, is the policy arm of the American Immigration Law Foundation. IPC's mission is to shape a rational national conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office
A division of the American Immigration Law Foundation.
Visit our website at www.immigrationpolicy.org.
Posted by VisaLawyer at 09:58 AM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2009
Immigration Reform? Wait 'Till Next Year
Advocates, Foes Agree It's Off Obama's Radar
New America Media, News Report, Jun Wang, Posted: Jun 23, 2009
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=9f1fe7aa4caf6fca1cef2c9968914d39&from=rss
"LOS ANGELES, Calif - If there's one thing immigration proponents and foes can agree on it's this: a legislative overhaul of our immigration system has been pushed down the president's priorities list and probably won't happen this year.
That was the consensus on Thursday at a panel titled, "Are We on Our Way to Immigration Reform?" at the Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs California State University, Los Angeles.
While generally engaged in a heated argument, the panelists all agreed that the economy and healthcare are higher up on the country's priority list than immigration reform.
According to Ira Mehlman of the conservative Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), immigration is the top issue for only nine percent of Latinos."...
Posted by VisaLawyer at 04:29 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2009
ICE won't detain non-U.S. drivers in Nashville
Davidson County sheriff says arrests will continue
"The federal government will no longer detain illegal immigrants caught driving without a license in Nashville.
Instead, the federal system wants to use its bed space to house and deport the most dangerous offenders.
The change is good news to advocates who have complained from the beginning, in spring 2007, that the focus of the local immigration enforcement program is misplaced on people who are only committing traffic infractions.
In fact, one of the biggest criticism of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office has been that all offenders, from those driving without a license to those committing violent felonies, are treated to the same punishment once they are identified as illegal immigrants.
The sheriff, who has stood behind the efficacy of the program, says he will continue to screen every foreign-born person arrested, whether they go directly to federal custody or not.
"Just because the federal government is saying we need to prioritize who is detained, doesn't remove the fact they'll be held accountable in the courtroom," said Sheriff Daron Hall.
"There is no shift. We are still processing everyone for every crime."
Most of the 5,300 people sent toward deportation from Nashville's jail in the past two years spent weeks shuffled from one jail cell to another before being sent out of the country. About 75 percent of them were picked up on traffic offenses ranging from driving without a license to DUI; 25 percent were charged only with license offenses."...
at; http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200906220210/NEWS03/906220342
Posted by VisaLawyer at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE ESPERANZA NATIONAL HISPANIC PRAYER BREAKFAST
THE WHITE HOUSE, Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release, June 19, 2009
J.W. Marriott, Washington, D.C.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Buenos días.
AUDIENCE: Buenos días.
"THE PRESIDENT: It is good to see everybody here. Just a few quick acknowledgments. Our outstanding Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, is here. Please give her a big round of applause. (Applause.) The great governor of the state of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell. (Applause.) Two special members of my staff that I want all of you to get to know. First of all, we have a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships -- if you haven't already met him, Joshua DeBois is just a wonderful young man, please give him a big round of applause; he helps to organize a lot of our faith outreach. (Applause.) And our director of Intergovernmental Affairs, one of my favorite people, Cecilia Muñoz, please give her a big round of applause. (Applause.)
I want to thank Reverend Cortes for the wonderful introduction and the wonderful prayer for me and my family. I want to thank Esperanza, and all of you who worked so hard to put together the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. And I also want to join you in honoring the work of Adolfo Carrion Sr. on this Father's Day weekend -- (applause) -- on this Father's Day weekend I know that my director of Urban Affairs, Adolfo's son, is particularly proud of his dad. I also want to thank all of you for the work that you do each and every day. Through your service to your communities, you represent the very best in our country. And I'm honored to join you in prayer this morning."...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-the-Esperanza-National-Hispanic-Prayer-Breakfast/
Posted by VisaLawyer at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)