Immigrant Stories: How did you come to US?

bethalin:

Another failed attempt at Irish immigration. I got my bank stuff figured out, but the study abroad office didn’t give me the right information about insurance.

Ok, so I probably shouldn’t blame them completely. I should have known that I needed the card, not just the information pamphlet. Even…

numol:

email AIR (Alliance for Immigrants Rights & Reform Michigan) is sending out:

Here at AIR, we see the issue constantly.

Racial profiling of immigrants, Latinos and Arab Americans in their own neighborhoods by Border Patrol.

Community members waiting for the bus, walking down the street, or driving to work, stopped for no reason.  One community member was told that he was stopped for acting suspicious— talking on his cell phone.

Border Patrol has even targeted churches and food pantries.

That’s not security.  That’s racial profiling and abuse.

Can you join us at the first annual Northern Borders Conference on Feburary 23rd and 24th in Detroit to help put an end to Border Patrol abuse? 

At the conference we’ll discuss the reality on the ground in the North and South, and work to build concrete organizing, legal, policy, and political strategies that we can move forward together.  This is the first conference for northern border organizations and allies, so you will have an integral role in shaping our shared work and future as a Coalition. 

Click here to register and for more information.

See you in Detroit!

-Ruth Lopez, Northern Borders Coalition Coordinator

cremerick:

Former US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jamie Haase explains the importance of legal marijuana… 

“Ultimately, it’s a futile waste of time to try and play the percentage game when it comes to an illicit commodity like marijuana, or the potential far-reaching effects that Mexico’s eternal violence will have for everyday Americans. There are too many unknowns that need to be factored in. It’s best to stick with the facts, and the facts in this case are rather simple: millions of Americans like to toke marijuana—and the amount of users is on the rise (despite law enforcement’s best efforts at cracking down). Meanwhile, violence as a result of marijuana prohibition has no end in sight and it too is also on the rise. If this trend continues, Mexico could not only crumble to pieces, but it could do so while collapsing more and more into the United States. In other words, something has got to give, and it has to give sooner rather than later before we all feel the harsh and realistic effects of our nation’s failed drug policy.”

Spurred by Republicans running for the White House, GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill are moving closer to a vote that would make English the official language of the United States. 

Republicans believe a vote on the bipartisan measure would put the Obama administration on the defensive. President Obama voted against the effort when he served in the Senate. 

GOP White House hopefuls, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), have clashed on immigration reform, but they have united on officially recognizing the English language. 

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), an ardent illegal immigration foe who has introduced the “English Language Unity Act of 2011,” sees a clear policy and political opportunity for his party.

“It’s one of those 84 percent [approval] issues. I don’t know what the [Republican] leaders have up on the board that is more popular than official English,” King said in an interview with The Hill. 

King’s measure has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the Judiciary panel, told The Hill: “I support efforts to make English the official language and may consider bringing up the issue in the House Judiciary Committee down the road.”

King’s bill, which has 106 co-sponsors, including Democratic Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.) and Mike McIntyre (N.C.), would require official functions of the United States to be conducted in English. It would also establish the English language as a requirement for naturalization. 

[Read More]

mcbudd:

Please contact us at info@riww.org if you would like to join the conversation with your colleagues in other countries on documenting the effects of anti-gay violence, discrimination, and homophobia on LGBT mental health in your country or community.

Miami, Florida (CNN)— Responding angrily to a campaign ad from Newt Gingrich accusing him of being anti-immigrant, Mitt Romney insisted during last week’s Republican debate at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville that he has no problem with immigrants.

Perhaps not. But the dishonest…

iowaimmigration:

Published January 31, 2012

Fox News Latino

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the United States’ immigration laws were outdated and in need of overhaul. In her second annual Address on the State of the Nation’s Homeland Security,…

numol:

from another email from AIR (Alliance for Immigrants Rights & Reform Michigan) — please call if you can. if, like me, you don’t live in Michigan, here’s a place that has contact info for all US Senators (link).

text of email:

Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Working Immigrant…

gyi8oyz:

DOWNLOADS BOOK

Product Details:
Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Mandarin (August 1, 1991) Language: English ISBN-10: 0749306440 ISBN-13: 978-0749306441 Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches Shipping Weight: 4 ounces A collection of seven science fiction stories by an author who won a…