Skeptical of Quick Action

Autor: Jimena Terán Tassinari. Licenciatura En Estudios Internacionales. Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).

Editor: Sergio Martínez Peralta. Licenciatura En Ciencias Políticas y Administración Pública. Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).

Earlier on this week, 1,000 activists attended a rally in Chicago west side, calling for reform addressing the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. The speakers included U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The Democrat says it's time to stop separating families. President Barack Obama has vowed to tackle immigration reform this year, but many activists still show skeptical about Obama’s announcement.

Many have been the ones showing support for immigrants but let’s take a look back in history. For decades, only one Latino held unquestioned public power: Edward R. Roybal, the first Latino to win a seat in Los Angeles City Council. He spent 13 years there, then moved to Congress to serve 30 years, most of that time as the region's only Latino representative.

Now the power positions held by Latinos in Los Angeles area are multiple and manifest. Besides the Mexico-born archbishop, Jose Gomez, who is in line to become the first U.S. prelate of Latino heritage to become a cardinal, there is the mayor, the speaker of the Assembly, The sheriff, a county supervisor, several members of the City Council, of Congress, of the Legislature, of Los Angeles school board. The head of the most influential civic entity, organized labor, etc.

This change between times is shown in a USC demographic study reported by the Chicago Tribune that indicates that by 1960; fewer than 10% of the people in Los Angeles County area were Latinos. And by 2008, according to federal census estimates, almost half were Latinos. This also was shown in the city of Los Angeles.

A Loyola Marymount University study of the top 100 elected positions in Los Angeles from 1959 to 2009 found that for years, only one man -- Roybal -- made the list. The numbers increased only gradually until 1991, when altered political lines and long-thwarted ambition pushed the percentage of Latino seats to 18%. By last year, 33% were held by Latinos.

All of the results found out by this studies show how much Latinos are fighting day by day to win respect and a place in the heart of America, as well as to construct their own path in order to make an impact in politics such as in social life.

While Latinos are growing stronger, some countries in which immigrants represent a “problem” meaning by these drugs or violence, are also taking actions to combat the entrance of illegal immigrants. Such is the case reported by Federal officials which report six more Illinois counties that will use a fingerprinting program that allows authorities to check the immigration status of every person booked into jail. This program was first used in 2008, and now it has spread over 19 states.

Also Arizona has been showing efforts, whose border with Mexico is the most popular point of entry for illegal immigrants into this country. But the way Arizona has been handling the issue is a aggressive, yet clever by using its own laws to fight illegal immigration. In 2006 the state passed a law that would dissolve companies with a pattern of hiring illegal immigrants. Last year it made it a crime for a government worker to give improper benefits to an illegal immigrant. Actions like these have made illegal immigrants fear to even go out for dinner, they feel threatened that while driving or doing their habitual chores they would be stopped by a police and won`t make it safely.

Both of the sides in this polemic matter are sticking strongly by their decisions and won`t be easily convinced otherwise. This is why Obama’s role is so important in the topic, why immigrants groups keep pressuring for an answer; because he has the power of the last word.

Humble enough to listen, confident enough to lead

Autor: Jimena Terán Tassinari. Licenciatura En Estudios Internacionales. Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).

Editor: Sergio Martínez Peralta. Licenciatura En Ciencias Políticas y Administración Pública. Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).

Earlier on this week a poll made by Los Angeles Times found out that the strong Californian feeling of taking off the social services from immigrants had changed and take a new way. It is mentioned that now 31% of Californians support the immigrants and cooperated with the idea of enforcing the border with a temporary worker program, and one that would combine stronger border enforcement with a path to eventual citizenship for illegal residents who perform community service, pay back taxes and learn English.

In 1994, Proposition 187 passed with almost 60% of the vote, but the earlier mentioned poll has now the population divided, in which one side agrees with the legalization suggested by George W. Bush and by Obama, as well as a guest worker program that would permit immigrants to visit the United States temporarily for jobs.

Also in California, Jane Harman member of the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 36th congressional district, expressed her discontent with an article in Times in which she said they made her look as if she was opposing and against immigrants and their acceptation in America, while it was otherwise, being her a daughter of immigrants, Harman understands and shows emphatic for them and is already working with some immigration groups such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund.

As there are American leaders which are leading the cause, and other oppressing them, there are also some leaders that make the Latino community proud. Such is the case of the new archbishop from Los Angeles. But more than a catholic leader, for the immigrants, he represents a leader that would proclaim the rights from his people. Jose Gomez which is originally from Monterrey openly supports the immigration reform and in these times of not knowing yet what to expect for the illegal immigrants, he will be playing an interesting role, being a figure of hope, taking in consideration that Catholicism is the principal religion for Mexicans and particularly this is the largest Hispanic diocese in the United States spread over Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and adding more than 4 million members, 70% of them Latino. Los Angeles would be a key place for him to be, which make up an important number of immigrants in America, according to the Census Bureau in 2008, 15% of the population was constituted by Hispanics.

This event represents a reason for union in Los Angeles which would make Latino community more confident and would bring them together in whatever they purpose. Proof is that the St. Michael Church (Jose Goméz, new home) used to be alone, until the Latino community started to grow bigger and bigger until it become one of the most visited churches, because of the fidelity Hispanic have.

In the immigration debate, there has been an event which fired up the political debate, with this I refer to the past murder of Robert Krentz a rancher from Arizona who helped immigrants who needed a place to sleep or something to eat. His dead made obvious the importance of taking care of the USA-MEXICO border because of its violence.

While in Chicago it appears that some industries are cooperating in order to make possible the immigration reform, due to the opportunity they see in the 540,000 illegal immigrants whom, as they become economically active, could have a huge impact in the economy. This was suggested by a 200-memebers area business coalition that would pursue this reform and is looking up for both the benefit of the immigrants and of the country. All of the movements that are supporting immigrants would have a very important impact when this battle over the immigration reform is over, and hopefully, Americans would recognize the human capital that they have in their very land, willing to work and live by.