Dem lawmakers to Obama: Use executive tools to aid immigrants
By Mike Lillis - 05/25/11 01:19 PM ET
A group of liberal Democrats is urging President Obama to put his money where his mouth is regarding immigration reform. The lawmakers, led by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), say the president has prioritized the issue in sound but not in action.

While acknowledging that Congress has failed to enact any meaningful immigration reforms in recent years, the Democrats say the White House has similarly failed to use its own tools to ease the hardships on those affected. They're asking Obama to scale back his aggressive deportation policy, particularly in cases when children are seeking an education or families would be split apart. "While we must work to pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken system, we must also stop needlessly deporting the parents and the spouses of U.S. citizens — and others who are here, who are studying and working and raising families and contributing to our country," Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) told reporters Wednesday outside the Capitol.

"We are asking the president — who we know is on the side of the immigrants — to use his power now to stop these deportations," she said.

Gutierrez, who in March launched a national tour to bring the stories of illegal immigrants to 20 cities, announced Wednesday that he's adding 10 more cities to the tour. The purpose, he said, is "to have their stories heard until they finally penetrate the White House and we finally penetrate the consciousness of the president."

Naming steps the White House could take immediately, the Illinois Democrat promoted deportation deferrals for roughly 1 million illegal-immigrant students who would have been eligible under the DREAM Act, a Democratic bill creating a pathway for legal status for some college students and military personnel.

The DREAM Act bill passed the House in December, but failed in the Senate, not having the support to defeat a GOP filibuster.

The Democrats are also urging Obama to clarify the parameters of "extreme hardship" cases, a designation allowing those targeted for deportation to remain in the country. Current immigration law has no specific definition for extreme hardship.

"The president should define extreme hardship today," Gutierrez said. "He has the power. We don't need any more legislative action here [on that issue]."

Brittney Babo, a registered nurse living in Ridgeley, W.Va., said Wednesday that she recently filed for the extreme hardship waiver on behalf of her husband of more than four years, Serge, who was deported to his native Cameroon last August. Appearing with their two young children, Babo urged Obama to meet with families like hers who have been torn apart by current immigration laws.

"You're moving in the right direction," she said to Obama, "but it's not enough."

The Democrats said cases like Babo's are clear indications that current immigration laws are harming the country more than improving it.

"Are we better off for snatching the father of these children away from his family?" Schakowsky asked. "What sense does this make?"

It's not that Obama has ignored the issue; earlier this month, the president visited El Paso, Texas, where he delivered a headline-grabbing speech calling on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including the DREAM Act.

"There is a consensus around fixing what’s broken," he said. "Now we need Congress to catch up to a train that’s leaving the station."

The president in recent weeks has also met with lawmakers, business leaders and religious figures in search of an immigration-reform solution that's eluded presidents of both parties for years.

Gutierrez said he was "happy and delighted" that Obama has the issue on his radar, but also charged that there's much more the White House could be doing.

"Do we really need a courtroom to prove that this mother is going to live in extreme hardship?" Gutierrez asked, referring to Babo. "The administration can do something right away."

Last month, Gutierrez warned that he could withhold support for Obama next year if the White House doesn't fight harder for immigration reform.

Since taking over the White House more than two years ago, Obama's Department of Homeland Security has cracked down aggressively on illegal immigrants, with deportations approaching 400,000 annually under his watch, according to Schakowsky.

In El Paso, the president defended the tough enforcement.

"Regardless of how they came, the overwhelming majority of these folks are just trying to earn a living and provide for their families," Obama said. "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."

Critics, including the Democrats who spoke out Wednesday, said he needs to pay more attention to the human toll of his deportation policies.

"These are families, they are not criminals," said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.). "The laws are broken, but it doesn't mean that we continue to break up families."

Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) also appeared at Wednesday's event.

Santana blasts Ga. for 'cruel law'
Politico
May 15, 2011 06:45 PM EDT
Iconic guitarist Carlos Santana didn’t exactly ask the leaders of Georgia and Arizona to change their evil ways but he came awfully close.

Santana on Sunday used the occasion of baseball’s annual Civil Rights Game at Turner Field in Atlanta to excoriate those states for passing legislation aimed at illegal immigrants.

The 63-year-old native of Mexico, on the field to be honored with a Beacon of Change Award, said: “The people of Arizona, and the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

On Friday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed an immigration bill that was meant to crack down on undocumented immigrants in his state, much in the vein of a law signed last year in Arizona by Gov. Jan Brewer. Similar legislation was also recently signed into law in Utah.

According to the Associated Press, Santana elaborated on his opinions after receiving his award.

“It’s a cruel law, actually,” he said.

“This is about fear. Stop shucking and jiving. People are afraid we’re going to steal your job. No we aren’t. You’re not going to change sheets and clean toilets,” he said.

“If people want the immigration laws to keep passing, then everybody should get out and leave the American Indians here,” he said.

Among those also in attendance for the event in Atlanta were Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Ernie Banks, actor Morgan Freeman, singer-actor Harry Belafonte, former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.

Banks received the Beacon of Life Award from Jackson, and Freeman received the Beacon of Hope Award from former Brooklyn Dodgers pitching great Don Newcombe. Aaron was also honored at the game, which was followed by a 3-2 Atlanta Braves victory over Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Santana, who emigrated to San Francisco in the 1960s, released his first album in 1969 and appeared at Woodstock that same year. He became a star at least partially due to the 1970 film “Woodstock,” which showcased his band's searing performance of “Soul Sacrifice.” Among his hits: “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Winning” and “Smooth.”

MLB Speaks Out
Players, managers, and officials across Major League Baseball have been been courageously speaking out against SB 1070:

Carlos Beltrán (New York Mets–OF)

“I’m against this law. There are a lot of Latinos who come here and try to have a better future. It’s hard for the people who come here from Mexico to this country.” — July 20, NY Daily News

Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals–1B)

“I’m opposed to it. How are you going to tell me that, me being Hispanic, if you stop me and I don’t have my ID, you’re going to arrest me? That can’t be.” — July 12, USA Today

Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee Brewers–P)

“If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott.” — July 12, Associated Press

José Valverde (Detroit Tigers–P)

“To me, it’s the stupidest thing you can ever have. [...] Us Latinos have contributed so much to this country. [...] We’re the ones out there cleaning the streets. Americans don’t want to do that stuff. [...] As a public figure and with the heart I have, this affects me a lot. Because they’re not thinking about the children this effects. We’ve accomplished our goals. But what about the young kids who have only been here for a year or for months? They’re unable to make their way in the world.” — July 12, MLB.com

Miguel Batista (Washington Nationals–P)

“Because I have an accent, you have a right to ask me for my papers? Because I’m not blonde with blue eyes? What do you actually base the stereotype on to have to ask me for my papers?” — July 12, ESPN

Jerry Hairston Jr. (San Diego Padres–2B/SS)

“It’s not right. I can’t imagine my mom — who’s been a U.S. citizen longer than I’ve been alive, who was born and raised in Mexico — being asked to show her papers. I can’t imagine that happening. So it kind of hits home for me.” — July 12, ESPN

Edwin Rodriguez (Florida Marlins–Manager)

“I will tell you, as a minority, I’m concerned about the law.” — July 12, ESPN

Heath Bell (San Diego Padres–P)

“If Adrian is voted in next year and doesn’t go, I wouldn’t be surprised if I wouldn’t go to stick up for my teammate. [...] I have a lot of friends that are not white. Sometimes you need to stick up for your friends and family.” — July 12, ESPN

Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays–OF)

“We have to back up our Latin communities.” — July 12, Associated Press

Joakim Soria (Kansas City Royals–P)

“They could stop me and ask to see my papers. I have to stand with my Latin community on this.” — July 12, Associated Press

Jorge Cantú (Florida Marlins–3B)

“This hits me in the heart. I do not accept it. It’s a shame. It is sad news for my country, but not only Mexicans. Latin people. It’s just a shame for all those people here looking for a better life. They are looking for a better standard of living, and this knocks down their dreams. It is really upsetting.” — May 17, Miami Herald

Augie Ojeda (Arizona Diamondbacks–SS)

“If I leave the park after a game and I get stopped, am I supposed to have papers on me? I don’t think that’s fair.” — May 17, Miami Herald

Michael Young (Texas Rangers–3B)

“You can quote me. It’s a ridiculous law. And it’s an embarrassment for American citizens.” — May 12, Sporting News

Frank Francisco (Texas Rangers–P)

“I put myself in that situation and it is scary. No way you are going to carry your passport everywhere you go because that is a very important document and, if you lose it, you endanger your ability to work. This [law] does not feel like America to me.” — May 12, Sporting News

Alexei Ramírez (Chicago White Sox–SS)

“I’m against it.” — May 6, Sports Illustrated

Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres–1B)

“It’s immoral. They’re violating human rights. In a way, it goes against what this country was built on. This is discrimination. Are they going to pass out a picture saying “You should look like this and you’re fine, but if you don’t, do people have the right to question you?’ That’s profiling.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Ozzie Guillén (Chicago White Sox–Manager)

“I’m not going. I have to support my people, people I believe in.” — May 1, NY Post

César Izturis (Baltimore Orioles–SS)

“It’s a bad thing. Now they’re going to go after everybody, not just the people behind the wall. Now they’re going to come out on the street. What if you’re walking on the street with your family and kids? They’re going to go after you.” — May 1, ESPN

Rod Barajas (New York Mets–C)

“If they happen to pull someone over who looks like they are of Latin descent, even if they are a U.S. citizen, that is the first question that is going to be asked. But if a blond-haired, blue-eyed Canadian gets pulled over, do you think they are going to ask for their papers? No.” — May 1, NY Times

Scott Hairston (San Diego Padres–OF)

“I definitely disagree with it, can’t really see anything positive about it, and I just hope it doesn’t lead to a lot of chaos. It just wasn’t necessary to pass a bill like that.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Joe Saunders (Los Angeles Angels–OF)

“We’re behind you guys 100%.” — May 1, LA Times

Bobby Abreu (Los Angeles Angels–OF)

“You’re not going to be on the street every time with your passport, because you’re afraid you might lose it.” — May 1, LA Times

Yorvit Torrealba (San Diego Padres–C)

“This is racist stuff. It’s not fair for a young guy who comes here from South America, and just because he has a strong accent, he has to prove on the spot if he’s illegal or not. [...] I don’t see this being right. Why do I want to go play in a place where every time I go to a restaurant and they don’t understand what I’m trying to order, they’re going to ask me for ID first? That’s bull. I come from a crazy country (Venezuela). Now Arizona seems a little bit more crazy.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Adrián Beltré (Boston Red Sox–3B)

“For an older guy, we can handle it. But you have guys 17 or 18 years old there for spring training. If they forget their papers, something could happen.” — May 1, FGNPR

José Guillén (Kansas City Royals–DH)

“I’ve never seen anything like that in the United States, and Arizona is part of the United States. I hope police aren’t going to stop every dark-skinned person. It’s kind of like, wow, what’s going on.” — April 30, Yahoo Sports

Kyle McClellan (St. Louis Cardinals–P)

“The All-Star game, it’s going to generate a lot of revenue. Look at what it did here for St. Louis. It was a huge promotion for this city and this club and it’s one of those things where it’s something that would definitely leave a mark on them if we were to pull out of there. It would get a point across.” — April 30, CBS News

MLB Players’ Association President Michael Weiner

“The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.” — April 30, CNN

Workers must unite for better immigration policy
By Richard Trumka - 04/28/11 09:22 AM ET
--thehill.com--

Arizona and Wisconsin may seem like a world apart. But they have more in common than you think. In these states and many others, working people – immigrant and native-born alike – are under fierce attack by corporate-backed politicians.


From Arizona laws that mandate racial profiling to Wisconsin laws that strip workers’ rights to collectively bargain for a middle class way of life, working families everywhere are under assault. Corporate CEOs and the politicians they finance benefit from creating a toxic environment where immigrants, public employees and working men and women are scapegoated for all the problems we face. They tell us immigrants steal our jobs – hoping we forget the millions of American jobs they ship overseas. They say firefighters and policemen are overpaid – hoping we ignore Wall Street’s colossal bonuses, million-dollar salaries and endless corporate greed. They say immigrants don’t pay taxes – hoping we don’t notice that corporations like GE and Exxon Mobil rake in billions in profit and pay nothing in taxes.

Never mind the $11.2 billion in taxes immigrants just paid in 2010 alone. For years, immigrant families have been unfairly targeted and scape-goated. We should never forget that today’s immigrants are tomorrow’s new Americans. The policies and attitudes that divide working people only set us further back.


As we work together to achieve common-sense immigration reform, we must also ensure that today’s immigration enforcement policies treat our nation’s immigrants with the respect they deserve. We need to support them when they take the same steps new immigrants have always taken when they arrive in this country – improving our economy by obtaining an education, enriching our nation’s workplaces by working hard and having a collective voice, and bettering our communities by advocating for safe neighborhoods.





Too many of today’s immigration enforcement policies run counter to these important goals. Last year, ICE deported almost 393,000 people from the U.S.– at a cost of nearly $5 billion. The current administration has deported the highest number of immigrants in the history of the United States—separating mothers from their children, expelling college students and tearing apart America’s working families. When we deport a DREAM Act-eligible student, destroy a unionized workplace, or deport a mother pulled over for going 35 mph in a 25 mph zone because of ICE’s misnamed “Secure Communities” program, we tear up the foundation that allows tomorrow’s new Americans to have the opportunity to achieve their own American success stories and contribute to our great nation.


While President Obama’s commitment to comprehensive immigration reform is vitally important, so much more can and should be done now to help ensure a solid foundation for tomorrow’s new Americans. The president can announce a policy of allowing DREAM Act-eligible young people to stay in America until Congress passes comprehensive immigration legislation – so we can stop deporting the next generation of America’s doctors, teachers and engineers.


President Obama can direct ICE not to interfere in workplaces where workers have fought to improve conditions or are currently doing so. ICE should target employers that exploit workers, not employers trying to do the right thing. And the President can implement a humane and common-sense new prosecutorial discretion policy in keeping with ICE’s existing enforcement priorities.


For five years now, immigrant communities around the country have responded to the scapegoating and broken policies by taking to the streets on May Day to demand fair treatment, respect and a voice. These events have brought out hundreds of thousands of people — immigrants, clergy, and working families – everywhere from small towns to our largest cities. These rallies are driven by the same spirit of activism and commitment that drives working people in Wisconsin and every other community that is now fighting back against partisan, political attacks.


Now, as in past years, working people from Arizona to Wisconsin are standing together on May Day to remind the President and Congress that the fight for workers’ rights and immigrant rights are cut of the same cloth. On May 1, working people – immigrant and native born alike – will speak in one voice to fight for better wages and benefits, job security and safer workplaces for everyone. Together, we urge the President to use his power and provide the leadership to fix these broken immigration policies.


We have a choice to make: Do we want a generation of new Americans who will become our nation’s workers, leaders, neighbors, and voters to succeed? Or the tragedy of denied Americans – immigrants who do the right thing, but are denied the opportunity to become new Americans by our broken immigration policies?

Richard Trumka is the president of the AFL-CIO.

State ignorance confused for State rights
--politico--
SCOTT WONG | 4/27/11 3:13 PM EDT Updated: 4/28/11 12:38

“It is a mistake for states to try to do this piecemeal. We can’t have 50 different immigration laws around the country,” Obama said Tuesday in an interview with Atlanta-based WSB-TV. “Arizona tried this and a federal court already struck them down.”

The ACLU, one of a handful of groups that sued Arizona last year to block the law from taking effect, has vowed to legally challenge attempts by states to pass so-called “copycat” immigration legislation. And other SB 1070 opponents are warning cash-strapped states that they’ll have to dig deep into their coffers to defend the laws.

Thanks to the controversy surrounding the Arizona immigration law that allows authorities to ask for proper documentation if a person appears to be in the country illegally, some Major League Baseball players - many of whom are Hispanic - have said they will boycott the All-Star game if the situation is not resolved.

By Dominic Genetti
Hannibal Courier-Post
Posted Apr 19, 2011 @ 03:07 PM

A note to fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks, bring your cameras to the games and take a lot of pictures because you may not see your favorite player in the All-Star Game.

For those fans who are curious, the “Mid-summer classic” will be held in Phoenix this season but the turnout in the stands won’t be an issue as much as the turnout on the field. Thanks to the controversy surrounding the Arizona immigration law that allows authorities to ask for proper documentation if a person appears to be in the country illegally, some Major League Baseball players - many of whom are Hispanic - have said they will boycott the All-Star game if the situation is not resolved.

And I don’t blame them one bit.

Phoenix is a very diverse city and for a law to be in place that would allow police or any public authority to ask for proper papers is wrong, wrong, wrong. It is racist and stereotypical for lawmakers to even consider such a law and for the stars of Major League Baseball to come out and say that they would boycott the 2011 All-Star game is very noble. It’s one thing for citizens to come out and protest, but when popular athletes of such a diverse game like baseball step up to the plate and say that they won’t participate in the All-Star game just because Arizona government is considering the immigration law is quite the statement. Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is one of the players said to be avoiding the game.

But what really grinds my gears is that the head honchos of baseball wouldn’t even take the concerns of fans and players to heart when they said the All-Star Game would not be relocated. The statement will be huge if Hispanic ballplayers stick to their word and avoid the game entirely, but think of the statement that will be made if MLB removed the game from Phoenix all together. It won’t happen.

Big baseball fans like myself have to be reminded from time to time that our widely loved national pastime does have a business side and at this point especially MLB as a business more than likely has put too much money into having the All-Star Game at Phoenix’s Chase Field (the home stadium of the Diamondbacks) and to move the game to another city would be very costly. There are logos, marketing and local events that go into promoting the All-Star Game along with countless other things. A relocation is now, unfortunately, out of the picture.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig received a 100,000 signed petition to have the All-Star Game moved out of Arizona - and while I see the business side of his decision to keep the game in Phoenix - the commissioner could’ve at least considered it. Instead he put his foot down immediately and didn’t even go over the pros and cons. The game is scheduled for Phoenix and that’s where it’ll stay. He could’ve told reporters that he’s considering moving the event to another city; Kansas City would’ve been a nice relocation since they’re hosting the game in 2012. And there were plenty of other options. Washington, D.C. hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since the second generation of the Washington Senators played there before leaving for Texas; the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays haven’t even hosted an All-Star Game since they came into existence in the ‘90s.

The newer stadiums have been the top picks recently for the All-Star Game, but considering the situation in Arizona, any stadium would’ve done just fine, even if the ballparks in Florida are shared with football and played under a dome. Washington has a new stadium, again, a perfect setting, the nation’s game from the nation’s capitol.

I’m disappointed in Selig because he showed no sensitivity to the issue, but I loudly applaud the Hispanic players. Their absence will say much more than anyone could imagine. I hope a solution comes soon, Monday’s upholding of the Arizona immigration law in federal court in San Francisco already says a lot, but it’s not enough, the law needs to disappear.

You have my sympathy Arizona baseball fans, just be sure to clear the cards in your camera and take tons of snapshots, chances are some of the players that only come to Arizona for one road trip a year won’t be back, even if elected an All-Star.

Five arrested in All-Star protest
August 12, 2010, 4:46 PM ET
The Associated Press


MINNEAPOLIS -- Police arrested five protesters outside the quarterly meeting of Major League baseball team owners in Minneapolis. They were among 100 people who gathered outside a downtown hotel Wednesday, trying to deliver petitions to commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Arizona because of that state's new law cracking down on illegal immigrants. They say an event that could pump $60 million into Arizona's economy belongs elsewhere.

Police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer said Thursday the five were booked into the Hennepin County Jail for trespassing after they refused to leave. Selig said last month he considers the law a political issue and has shown no sign that Major League Baseball will move next year's All-Star Game out of the state. He declined to comment on Thursday.

US police chiefs pan Arizona immigration law
23:25 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 0:25 UK
--bbc.co.uk--

A group of US police chiefs has told US Attorney General Eric Holder that Arizona's controversial immigration law could increase crime. The law requires police officers to question people about their immigration status during a "legal stop", if the officers have reasonable suspicion the person is in the US illegally. The chiefs said it would take resources away from the fight against crime. They warned it would break down trust between the police and the community. In an hour-long meeting with the US attorney general, nine police chiefs expressed their concern over the controversial law due to come into effect in Arizona on 29 July. (cont...)

Suns protest Arizona law
By ANDY BARR | 5/4/10 6:27 PM EDT
--politico.com--

The Phoenix Suns on Tuesday announced that they will be wearing an alternative jersey identifying them as "Los Suns" during Wednesday's playoff game to voice the team's disapproval for Arizona's tough new immigration law. Robert Sarver, the team's managing partner, said in a statement that the alternative uniforms will be worn during Wednesday's home playoff game against the San Antonio Spurs in order to voice opposition to the law that Sarver said is not the "right way" to handle immigration reform. The Suns won the first game of the series Monday night. (cont.)

Consequences could follow illegal immigration law
New York congressman calls for Major League Baseball to pull 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona

By Kevin Baxter, --Chicago Tribune--
10:01 p.m. CDT, April 29, 2010

Anger over Arizona's new immigration law spread to baseball Thursday with a congressman's call to pull next year's All-Star game out of the state and a protest outside Wrigley Field, where the Diamondbacks opened a four-game series against the Cubs. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-New York) said baseball "should not pass up the opportunity" to oppose legislation critics believe will lead to racial profiling and other civil-rights violations. "Baseball and the Latin community, it's a close relationship," Serrano said in a telephone interview from the House floor. "Latinos, they will be the ones, more than anyone else, who will be stopped on the street in violation of their constitutional rights. … States (that) make those decisions need to know that there are consequences to those decisions." (cont.)

S.F. attorney, supervisor urge All-Star Game move from Phoenix to protest immigration law
Friday, April 30, 2010
--SanFransiscoBusinessTimes.com--

San Francisco’s top attorney and a city supervisor are urging Major League Baseball to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix to another city to protest Arizona’s recent passage of the nation’s toughest immigration law. City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Supervisor David Campos wrote to baseball’s commissioner that Arizona’s new rule “has provoked a national outcry from religious leaders, constitutional scholars and public officials from across the political spectrum.” Arizona’s law, Herrera and Campos wrote, is a “prescription for racial profiling, discrimination and harassment — regardless of conduct, and regardless of citizenship — that is unprecedented in modern America.” (cont.)

Players, coaches speak out against immigration measures.
--AP--ESPN--
May 1, 2010, 3:05 AM ET

NEW YORK -- Given a chance to take part in the 2011 All-Star game at Arizona, Ozzie Guillen insists he won't go. "I wouldn't do it," the Chicago White Sox manager said Friday. "As a Latin American, it's natural that I have to support our own." Guillen joined a growing chorus of opposition to Arizona's new law that empowers police to determine a person's immigration status. The state is home to all four major team sports, hosts half the clubs in spring training and holds top events in NASCAR, golf and tennis.

The Major League Baseball players' union issued a statement condemning the law. A congressman whose district includes Yankee Stadium wrote a letter to baseball commissioner Bud Selig urging him to pull the All-Star game from Phoenix. The World Boxing Council took a step to limit fights in Arizona. (cont.)