Articles about immigration
Leading Off (8/9/10)
1. Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm has released her draft budget, and as expected, the cuts run deep. The good news: under Suhm’s proposal, the city tax rate will remain the same and no police or firefighters will be cut (though they will face furloughs and pay cuts). The bad news: 440 city employees will be let go, there’s no money for routine street repairs, trash pickup at parks will happen less frequently, recreation center hours will reduce their hours, and the library system will lose $10 million in funding.
2. In 2009, Parkland Hospital welcomed 11,071 new little American citizens, part of the 60,000 babies born statewide each year to undocumented immigrants. That number represents about 16 percent of the total births statewide, statistics that are sure to make Texas a center of the debate on the 14th Amendment that has been raised as we head towards the November elections.
3. Michael Joseph Paprskar has lived what he calls a “cursed life.” I think most readers of his dramatic life story will just be surprised that a scary dude like Paprkar is still walking the streets. The drama begins in in the 1950s when Paprskar slashed the face of sailor in the backseat of car during a dispute about a bottle of whisky, and it continues with a triple murder in the 1970s (including a four year boy) and three more recent attacks. In all of these incidents, Paprskar claims, he was merely acting in self defense. He was never looking for trouble; trouble found him.
County Jail Guard Allegedly Here Illegally
Maria Elva Ross was part of Sheriff Lupe Valdez’s quality assurance team. Oops.
Leading Off (6/28/10)
1. The Dallas Morning News reports on a great contradiction in U.S. immigration policy: we offer illegal immigrants education in our public schools, only to forbid them to obtain jobs after graduation. That includes 50,000 to 70,000 young men and women a year nationwide, and up to 16,000 in Texas.
2. The Huffington Post has picked up this story: two Dallas men were killed after guns were introduced to a dispute about “an upcoming World Cup soccer game.” Ridiculous and senseless, though when I first read the headline, I figured it had something to do with Carlos Tevez’s absurd offside goal, and I could imagine the flaring tempers. But the dispute happened before any of yesterday’s games, which is even more ridiculous and senseless.
3. This seems like a poor decision: the funeral of David Brown Jr., son of Dallas Police Chief David Brown and the man who authorities say shot and killed two men in a Lancaster apartment complex, including a police officer, had a police escort. The city manager says she is going to investigate the decision to give Brown’s funeral a police escort, and there was talk of a possible protest, which now seems to be on hold.
Edward Retta: Domingo Garcia and his “Cronies” Don’t Represent Dallas Hispanics
As a group of LULAC activists–including lawyer Domingo Garcia–shove off today by bus to protest’s Arizona new illegal-immigration law, local Hispanic leader Edward Retta again is questioning Garcia’s right to speak for DFW Latinos.
Retta, who says he too is working for immigration reform as co-chair of the Jewish-Latino Alliance in Dallas, takes issue with a post here the other day in which Garcia dismissed Retta as a “Republican” who’s not really interested in justice for immigrants.
Retta’s e-mail to FrontBurner, which follows on the jump, says that he’s an independent, not a Republican–and that Garcia represents a small, noisy minority that plays the “victim card.”
Garcia: March Skeptics Pushing Own Agenda
Lawyer Domingo Garcia is brushing off criticism that the involvement of activists like him held down the turnout at last weekend’s March in Dallas for immigration reform. The charge was made in a DMN op-ed Wednesday by Edward Retta, who wrote that “when certain personalities are preeminent, many Hispanics turn away.”
Retta is one of “four or five Hispanic Republicans” who don’t want immigration figuring in the November elections, said Garcia, buttonholed last night at the annual FightNight bash at the Hilton Anatole. Even if last Saturday’s turnout was “only” 25,000 or 50,000, Garcia said, it was still “the second-largest demonstration ever in the state of Texas.” In 2006, as many as half a million marched for immigration reform in Dallas.
Hutchison’s Two-Step on Arizona Immigration Law
Asked about Arizona’s tough new law against illegal immigration, this state’s two GOP senators continue to dance a fancy Texas two-step. Blame the situation on the feds; decline to take a position on the new law. When we raised the issue with Kay Bailey Hutchison (pictured) at a Saturday fund-raising bash for Dallas Summer Musicals, Texas’ senior senator sounded not unlike her Senate colleague John Cornyn.
Hutchison: “It’s unfortunate that the federal government hasn’t done its job enforcing the borders. While we’ve got to have security, we also need to be very careful to avoid racial profiling.” Your correspondent: “But will the feds ever tackle the problem?” Hutchison: “Yes, but I think we need to do it in pieces …” Your correspondent: “So, do you think the Arizona law goes too far then?” Hutchison, laughing charmingly, walking away: “I’m here to support the Summer Musicals, not give an in-depth interview.”
Huckabee Wary of Arizona Immigration Law
Unlike some of his fellow Republicans, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee isn’t a fan of Arizona’s tough new immigration law, which some would like to see adopted in Texas. States and localities shouldn’t have to do the feds’ job of protecting the borders, the former GOP presidential candidate said here yesterday. Previously he said that Hispanics are right to be “offended” at the prospect of being stopped indiscriminately in Arizona and asked for documentation.
In Dallas to address a pro-life dinner sponsored by the Missouri-based Vitae Foundation, Huckabee listened as a reporter pointed out that, under the new Arizona law, police have to have stopped a person for some legitimate apparent legal violation–they call it “lawful contact”–before asking for his or her immigation papers. So, what’s wrong with that? “If there’s probable cause, then I think they’re off the hook,” Huckabee said. “I still think there’s some concern that somebody could just come up and say, ‘Can I see your documents?’ “
Leading Off (4/26/10)
1. “Denver’s Revitalized Downtown Gets More Hip By the Minute,” reads this travel piece in the DMN. You see, remaking a downtown isn’t rocket science – Denver pulled it off. Now let’s see, what makes a downtown hip: bike trails, bike rentals, a theme park, kayaking in downtown, and a stadium for a major sports franchise. Hmmm, now let’s look at Dallas. No bike trails, no bike rentals. Kayaking does happen sometimes a mile or so from downtown in the Trinity River. And Dallas has a theme park and stadium. Oh wait, no. Those are in Arlington. (And for those wondering about American Airlines arena, Victory doesn’t count as downtown. If you’ve ever noticed, there’s a highway in between downtown and Victory. Didn’t Ross Perot Jr. see that?)
2. Farmers Branch officials will fight the court ruling that the law the city passed banning the rental of houses or apartments to illegal immigrants is unconstitutional, because Farmers Branch is a town of ”law and order,” says Mayor Tim O’Hare.
3. Don Hill doesn’t have much to say headed into his 18 year sentence for leading a corruption scheme at Dallas City Hall. How about “sorry I made a mockery of your government, taxpayers.”
Tab on Farmers Branch Ordinance Fight Could Total More than $5 Million
So we all know the Farmers Branch story: Town passes ordinance regulating rentals to illegal immigrants in 2006. It is challenged in court, and begins making its way through the appeals process. The last judge to hear it was U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle, who ruled against it.
And today, the Dallas Morning News reports that the town could face a legal bill of more than $5 million before all is said and done. The town has its own legal fees – which are totaling so far around $3 million — and now Bickel & Brewer has submitted a bill for $850,000 in federal court for its share of costs incurred in the latest challenge.
Hazleton, Pa., had already passed a similar ordinance to the one passed in Farmers Branch (Hazleton passed its in July 2006, Farmers Branch in September 2006). Which leads me to this question: Regardless of your feelings regarding immigration, is it fiscally responsible to engage in a fight that is already being waged in another town, when that fight will probably end up before the Supreme Court anyway, and you’ll eventually have a definitive answer?
Mega March Spawns Unimaginatively Titled Sequel, Mega March 2010
Since there still hasn’t been much movement regarding immigration reform, Hispanic activists have decided to march on City Hall again. It’s happening May 1, and they’re expecting a crowd about a third of the size of the 2006 edition. That said, unless you’re actually planning on joining the demonstration, which starts at Santuario de Guadalupe Cathedral and goes on to City Hall, May 1 would be the day to stay out of downtown. But it’s a Saturday so, unfortunately, you were probably already planning to do that. Anyway, now would be a good time to revisit Rod Davis’ story “The Mexican Invasion.”
Leading Off (2/1/10)
1. The City Council’s Economic Development committee will get an update on the Downtown Dallas 360 plan today. Which plan, you ask? I know, it is hard to keep track. This is the one that kicked-off last October and is focused on building connectivity downtown. Though I’m plan-weary, I like the approach of the 360 team. Not so Car Free in Big D. The blog drags out nifty, homespun graphics to prove the tough truth: the real downtown solution, dismantling the highway ring, will never happen.
2. It’s 2010, and we shall all be counted. Except perhaps not all of us. The Washington Post reports that in a number of major U.S. cities, including Dallas, the census’ efforts to reach out to immigrants are inadequate.
3. I ran into an old friend a few weeks ago who is finishing up nursing school. That’s good, I said. I heard nursing is recession-proof. Not so, reports the Star-Telegram. And the tough times trod on.
“Thousands” Of Illegals “Flooding” Into Texas!!
Be very, very afraid. NBC5 doesn’t cite any source except unnamed “experts,” so the numbers are highly suspect, but the gist of the story is that Oklahoma has gotten tough and California is shedding jobs, so immigrants are moving to Texas. That, I take it, is a Bad Thing. So be careful out there. After all, one person quoted in Lisa Beck’s story says, “All they want is to work.” See that! They’re after your job! Don’t let them have it!
Aside: The top of the page on the NBC5 site a banner reads: “Locals are thrilled about hot magazine spreads.” We’re thrilled locals are thrilled. The November issue is on sale now. Show your thrill by buying one.
NYT Editorial on Dallas Tickets for Drivers Who Don’t Speak English
The New York Times today runs an editorial about the 39 tickets that Dallas police officers have issued to drivers since 2007 for not speaking English. My heart swells with pride.
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