Democracia-Ahora.org
Democracia Ahora - sister advocacy organization of the national non-partisan Hispanic civic engagement program, Democracia U.S.A. - is committed to advancing federal and state legislation vital to Hispanic communities. Democracia Ahora's work on legislative issues is grounded in our commitment to the basic principles of equality under the law and opportunity for all. Democracia Ahora seeks to educate, empower and engage established and new citizen advocates on the issues that matter to their families, their communities, and their country.
Check out Democracia Ahora's blog to find out the latest on immigrant rights issues and read commentary from Democracia Ahora staff and supporters on the Great Immigration Debate as well as other issues affecting Hispanics nationwide.
Our Issues
We support: Comprehensive immigration reform that respects and reflects our values and history as a nation of immigrants. The key components to any effective, realistic, long-lasting immigration reform bill must include a path to earned legalization, a temporary worker program, and a family reunification program. Any legislation missing these core components will lead to another generation of disastrous immigration failures.
We oppose: Mean-spirited, anti-immigrant legislation, like the House immigration bill, H.R. 4437. H.R 4437 would make criminals out of hard working immigrants and humanitarian workers, make local law enforcement act as immigration agents, and make our country weaker. H.R. 4437 is a textbook enforcement-only bill that mirrors the failed policies of the past two decades. This bill poses a threat to immigrants, citizens, families, businesses, communities, and the spirit of the Constitution. H.R. 4437 and similar type proposals are nothing more than a cynical political ploy aimed to win votes by scapegoating those without a voice.
Click HERE to see how your representative voted on HR 4437.
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Oct 27, 2008: Democrats or Republicans, Latinas Are Swaying the Vote (WashingtonPost.com)
They use lipstick as a beauty accessory and a political weapon. At home, they're the boss. They keep in touch via Facebook. When they call to ask for your vote, in English or Spanish, you hear their children in the background. They say what matters this election are education, taxes, health care, immigration reform and "values."
Oct 1, 2008: Statewide immigration raids result in 1,157 arrests (LATimes.com)
Federal immigration agents arrested more than 1,150 people in the largest collective sweep by specialized enforcement teams in California, authorities said today.
Sep 4, 2008: Immigrants and the GOP (The Wall Street Journal)
While the Democrats were in Denver nominating Barack Obama, Republicans were busy writing their party platform. Not surprisingly, immigration was a sticking point. And while some of the more extreme proposals, such as denying citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens, were defeated, the platform committee did vote to wall off Mexico.
Aug 26, 2008: No One Should Have to Stand in Line for 10 Hours to Vote (NYTimes.com)
Everyone complains that young people don’t vote, but consider the experience of students at Kenyon College in Ohio in the 2004 election. Officials in Knox County, Ohio, provided just two voting machines for the school’s 1,300 voters. Some students waited in line for 10 hours, and the last bleary-eyed voter did not cast a ballot until nearly 4 a.m.
Aug 26, 2008: Hundreds of Workers Held in Immigration Raid (NYTimes.com)
LAUREL, Miss. — In another large-scale workplace immigration crackdown, federal officials raided a factory here on Monday, detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.
Aug 25, 2008: ICE Detainee Death Highlights Continuing Government Mismanagement and Neglect (America's Voice)
Washington, DC – Despite a “massive crisis in detainee medical care” according to internal government documents, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff does not seem to grasp the gravity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) failure to uphold basic standards in the treatment of detainees. The New York Times quoted Secretary Chertoff saying that in “the population of any detention facility, whether it’s a state prison, federal prison, you’re going to get a certain number of deaths.” While acknowledging that “negligence or mistreatment” must be punished, Secretary Chertoff’s remarks do not begin to acknowledge the shocking revelations associated with the death of detainee Hiu Lui Ng, or the fact that deaths such as Mr. Ng’s have been an all-too-frequent occurrence in ICE detainment facilities recently.
Aug 19, 2008: Savage: "America is being overrun by an invasion force from Mexico" (MediaMatters)
Aug 19, 2008: Savage: "America is being overrun by an invasion force from Mexico" (MediaMatters.com)
Michael Savage claimed that "America is being overrun by an invasion force from Mexico that'll soon take over the country." After noting a news report stating that immigration, higher birth rates among immigrants, and an aging white population are responsible in part for America's changing demographics,
Dec 26, 2007: Tom Tancredo Hired Illegal Laborers to Renovate His McMansion (AlterNet.org)
When Republican Representative Tom Tancredo isn’t railing against the “scourge” of illegal immigration on the presidential campaign trail, he relaxes in the 1053 square foot basement recreation room of his Littleton, Colorado McMansion.
Dec 11, 2007: New SPLC Report: Nation's Most Prominent Anti-Immigration Group has History of Hate, Extremism (SplCenter.org)
The country's leading anti-immigration organization — whose leaders have testified repeatedly before Congress and are frequently quoted in the media — has ties to known racists and a long track record of bigotry, according to a new report released today by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
Dec 7, 2007: Republicans try to win back Hispanic voters (OrlandoSentinel.com)
Aug 6, 2007: Can Two Kids Alter Immigration Law?
Jul 25, 2007: Two Cities Diverge on Immigration (NY Times)
New Haven and Hazleton, Pa., two Northeastern cities led by descendants of Italian immigrants, are just 200 miles from each other on a map. But they are worlds apart when it comes to dealing with illegal immigration.
Apr 3, 2007: Democracia Ahora
discussing the scourge of "La Cuca Gotcha" via Youtube.
Mar 27, 2007: (Blog) La Cuca Gotcha!
Last Thursday, I traveled to Newark (known affectionately as “Brick City”) to attend a press conference called by New Jersey State Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. Caraballo, who along with other Hispanic members of the New Jersey Assembly, is calling for the end of “La Cuca Gotcha,” a promotion by the Jersey Guys that asks listeners to report undocumented residents to the radio station, imagine that, or federal authorities.
Mar 21, 2007: (Blog) Congressman says Immigration Legislation Coming This Week
Comprehensive immigration reform legislation is scheduled to be introduced in Congress this week. It was one of the immigration reform-related tidbits I picked up this past weekend at the United States Hispanic Leadership Conference where some of the most prominent names in immigration spoke.
Mar 21, 2007: (Blog) DJ's Game
The Jersey Guys, the radio DJs who are encouraging listeners to report undocumented immigrants in an effort they call “Cucha Gotcha” and Rat-a-Rat
Nov 2, 2006: A Tale of Two Countries: Attacks on Immigrants in a Nation of Immigrants
A brief history of nativism and anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States.
Nov 2, 2006: Snapshot: The DREAM Act
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (S.2075) addresses certain barriers that immigrant communities face when trying to help further the education of their children.
Nov 2, 2006: Issue: The DREAM Act
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would address certain barriers that immigrant communities face when trying to help further the education of their children. Democracia Ahora understands that education is the key to success. Without the DREAM Act, bright students would continue to be left behind.
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