Immigration

Immigration Prosecutions Hit New High

Posted by Shemuses from Washington Post

Critics Say Increased Use of Criminal Charges Strains System.

Federal law enforcement agencies have increased criminal prosecutions of immigration violators to record levels, in part by filing minor charges against virtually every person caught illegally crossing some stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to new U.S. data.

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Proposed immigration changes 'racist,' B.C. protesters say

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

About 70 people gathered in Surrey, B.C., on Sunday to protest a controversial government bill that would give more power to the federal immigration minister to approve or deny immigration applications. Bill C-50, which will amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, is a "racist policy" and, if passed, will endow Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley too much arbitrary power, said Tammy Sadeghi, a spokesperson for the protesters.

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Raids a Reminder of Historical Backlash Against Immigrants

Posted by Shemuses

I'm not "the sky is falling type" but if I were an undocumented immigrant, that's definitely how I'd feel right about now. Immigrant communities around the country are being attacked by ICE, the criminal justice system, legislators, vigilante groups, and the list goes on. Between Iowa and California alone, nearly 1,200 families have been torn apart and possibly destroyed by raids leading to detention, deportation and incarceration. 



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Burger King Caves!

Posted by Shemuses

After years of resistance, Burger King finally joined fellow fast food giants McDonalds and Yum! Brands in meeting farm worker demands for decent wages and working conditions. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Burger King announced on Friday that the fast food chain will begin paying a penny more per pound of Florida tomatoes in order to boost wages for tomato harvesters. A penny more per pound actually raises wages by 75 percent, if you can believe that. Until now, the standard rate has been about 45 cents for a 32-pound bucket.

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Border Agents, Lured by the Other Side - NYTimes.com

Posted by Shemuses from New York Times

The smuggler in the public service announcement sat handcuffed in prison garb, full of bravado and shrugging off the danger of bringing illegal immigrants across the border. "Sometimes they die in the desert, or the cars crash, or they drown," he said. "But it's not my fault." Raul Villarreal, a United States Border Patrol agent at the time, in a Mexican advertisement against smuggling. He is now wanted on suspicion of helping smugglers.

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Latino Activists Face Death Threats in Georgia

Posted by Shemuses

Threats of death and lynching that used to be directed at civil rights leaders in the 1960s are now being targeted at immigrant rights activists in Georgia. Advocates say state lawmakers are partly to blame for creating an environment in which immigrants are treated as less than human.

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Immigration Reform Under the Next U.S. President

Posted by Shemuses

One might assume that achieving comprehensive immigration reform would be easy once the next president is elected. After all, the three main candidates all support comprehensive immigration reform and Democrats are likely to hold the majority in Congress, so this should be a piece of cake, right? Don't hold your breath, was the sentiment conveyed by Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, while speaking at a conference at Georgetown Law School this week. When the new administration takes power in January, immigration will not likely be their first burning issue.

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