Tell us why you think immigration is important on our comments.

Un grupo de senadores republicanos intentan impulsar paquete de más de 12 proyectos.  Para ellos se necesita un paquete de medidas migratorias de mano dura y enfocadas  en segurida. Lo hicieron, según ellos, “porque no podemos seguir esperando.”   más

By Rosa Rosales

Political pundits used to maintain that the American electorate was galvanized around the issue of illegal immigration. Voters, they claimed, would punish any candidate who failed to take a tough stance on immigrants and did not adamantly oppose the “A” word — Amnesty — in all its tortured definitions. More

By DAVID LEONHARDT

On June 7 of last year, a bill to overhaul the nation’s immigration system — a bill supported by President Bush and the Democratic leaders of Congress — died in the Senate. It died mostly because of grass-roots opposition, and its downfall appeared to serve as an announcement of the issue’s new political potency. For much of 2007, immigration seemed certain to play a dominant role in the 2008 presidential campaign.

After the bill failed, Senator John McCain, the early Republican front-runner whose championing of the bill had made him look soft on illegal immigration, faded in the polls. The new Republican front-runners, Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, were trading accusations over who had been nicer to illegal immigrants in the past. “It’s been wonderful,” Representative Tom Tancredo, the most emphatically anti-immigration candidate, said during a Republican debate in November, “because all I’ve heard is people trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo.”

The backlash even had a familiar feel to it. In the last few decades, the country has experienced its fourth great immigration wave. Each of the other three — in the 1850s, 1880s and early 1900s — also caused a political reaction, the first and most famous being the rise of the Know Nothing movement. History looked as if it would repeat itself, albeit in a milder form, this year.

And so it has. It’s just that the lessons of the past aren’t quite what they first appeared to be. More

Source The San Diego Union Tribune

Perhaps nowhere else could such a road sign have been born.

A ghostly silhouette of a mother, father and little girl running, their bodies leaning forward as if into the wind. The child’s pigtails fly behind her as the family dashes across a stark yellow background, accompanied by one word: CAUTION.

Caltrans posted several of these signs along San Diego freeways beginning in 1990, when the city was a funnel for undocumented immigrants headed north. The signs were intended to warn drivers they might encounter people frantically darting across lanes of traffic as they tried to evade border security.

Dozens of immigrants were struck and killed from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, some in front of horrified family members, as stunned drivers failed to stop in time.

The freeway deaths ended long ago, but the signs remain. And, in the intervening years, the silhouetted image has quietly taken on a life of its own. more

Say how so you feel out this? Speak out and write in the comments

While the plight of Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants is heart-wrenching, it’s so valuable for local residents who may be questioning the role these individuals play in our community to be reminded that this wave of 21st century immigrants is not unlike so many other ethnic and racial groups who have come to America in search of opportunity and freedom.

As a community, we clearly need a stronger dose of the balanced approach provided by responsible journalists like Eileen Kelley and the project team. We are encouraged by The Enquirer’s plans to provide ongoing coverage and insight on the issue as an important first step.

Our hope is that additional pieces will continue to raise awareness and educate readers on the local contributions of Hispanics in our community, including local efforts by individuals and organizations such as Su Casa, Centro de Amistad, the Northern Kentucky University Latino/Multicultural Center and others, to educate and support new immigrants so they can succeed and become contributing members of the community.

This is an important step toward an open community dialogue on an incredibly difficult issue – most agree that the need for immigration reform is imminent.

While The Enquirer’s Web site hosted community conversation that was very aggressive toward “illegal immigrants,” we are encouraged by The Enquirer’s intention to explore this very controversial issue.

The best we can do is to weigh in by adding our comments to the blog.We are hopeful that a balanced and fair approach to this challenging issue will continue to open the hearts and minds of all those who want Cincinnati to be a welcoming community.Harrod is president and chief executive officer of Bridges for a Just Community.

Article from The Cincinnati Enquirer