Help Baby Boomers! Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now!

America, we need to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now! We need workers and taxpayers to help us as our Baby Boomers enter their Senior Years. Look at the chart. Even now, Seniors (60+) outnumber every other age group except for school age children. By 2028, Aging Seniors will be over double the size of most other age groups.
The U.S. will be facing massive Labor Shortages starting in the next Five Years, particularly in the Medical and Healthcare fields. These jobs cannot be outsourced overseas. These jobs must be done here, in America.
There will be a massive need for Elder Care homes and facilities. Many small business will grow and thrive in these fields as long as we have workers who are trained and will do the jobs.
However, there are two obstacles our country needs to overcome in order to fill the demand:
1. People in America to do the jobs: We need young, hard working people.
2. Education and Training: We need to start them on their Training and Career paths now.

We must start our efforts now. We should encourage our children to enter into the Medical Field. Additionally, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Dream Act will allow us to increase our number of U.S. Workers. The Dream Act will allow us to encourage young people to enter into the Medical Field.

The Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) addresses Educational and Training needs for ALL Americans, including New Americans brought in through CIR.
If we work together to find solutions, we can meet our future needs. This includes encouraging our children/young people to become trained and educated in these careers, not only for their sake but for all of our sakes, especially for WE BOOMERS.

The President's policies have saved us from the DEEP CHASM created by Republican policies. CIR, the Dream Act, ACA and other Presidential Policies will help guide us to resolving our job shortages in the future.

Fulfilling the DREAM with SERVICE!

WASHINGTON -- A group of young undocumented immigrants ramped up a push this week for the ability to join the military, with about 20 visiting recruiting offices on Thursday to ask about enlistment.
Undocumented immigrants are barred from enlisting. But these young people all came to the United States as children and are now trying to gain legal status. Under a recent directive called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals they are allowed to work -- now they want President Barack Obama to allow that work to be in the military.
The first groups visited recruiting offices in New York and Hanford, Calif., on Thursday, and others will do the same in other cities in the coming weeks, organized by advocacy groups Dream Action Coalition and Let Us Serve.
"For myself, I live in New York City and after 9/11, it was very personal for me," said César Vargas, 28, executive director of the Dream Action Coalition and one of the undocumented immigrants who visited the New York recruiting office. "For me, it was really about serving my country and to really send a message to a lot of people who oppose the Dream Act or immigration, for them to see who we are, that we are as American as they are."
Michelle Rodriguez, 26, is also hoping to enlist. She came to the United States from Mexico 21 years ago, and is now earning her bachelor's degree with hopes of attending nursing school. She decided after the Sept. 11 attacks that she wanted to join the military, and her goal is toy become a nurse in the Marines. It would be possible to serve in the military with a U-Visa, she said, but she wants to join as soon as she can.
"It would mean fulfilling one of my dreams. It's one of my dreams to be able to serve," she said. "I think I have what it takes to be a Marine."

Mr Etch-a-Sketch Romney FLIPS AGAIN on IMMIGRATION!

On Monday night, Mitt "Etch-a-Sketch" Romney told the Denver Post that Young Dreamers who receive temporary work permits to stay in the United States under President Obama's executive order would NOT be deported under a Romney administration. Etch-a-Sketch said, "the people who have received the special visa that the President has put in place, which is a two-year visa, should expect that the visa would continue to be valid. I'm not going to TAKE something that they've purchased. Before those visas have expired we will have the full immigration reform plan that I've proposed."

Do any of us believe a WORD that Romney says? Naaahhhh!But this sure will drive the ANTI Latino Right Wingers Crazier than they already are!! (LOL)

Dream Come True: For young immigrants, avoiding deportation to cost $465

Washington (CNN) -- Young Dreamers can start applying on August 15 for two-year deferrals from deportation for $465 in fees, a top immigration official announced Friday.

The announcement gives the first details of the Obama administration's policy change announced June 15 that provides Dreamers who came to the United States as children a path to an employment authorization card without fear of getting deported.
Under the new policy, people younger than 30 who came to the United States before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military can get a two-year deferral from deportation as well as an employment authorization card.
Participants must be able to prove they have lived continuously in the United States since June 15, 2007 -- five years before the change was announced -- and must have entered the country without inspection or had their lawful immigration status expire.

Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the application process will include providing biometric information and undergoing a background check. Applicants who commit fraud in the application process, pose a security threat or have been convicted of serious crimes will be ineligible and subject to prosecution, he said.
In all other cases, according to Mayorkas, information submitted in the application process will not be used for immigration enforcement.
A senior administration official said the goal is to maximize participation by eligible young illegal immigrants, so a strong privacy policy is important.
Other details announced Friday made clear that while successful applicants would avoid deportation for two years, there is no mechanism involved that would speed up or ease their path to full citizenship.
Conservative (Republican/TeaParty) critics of the new policy said it amounted to a "backdoor" amnesty by the Obama administration to appease Hispanic supporters angered by the lack of comprehensive immigration reform since the president took office.
The policy change was in essence an administrative step to mimic some provisions of the DREAM Act backed by Obama and Democrats that was blocked by Republicans in Congress.
In announcing the change on June 15, President Obama said it will make immigration policy: "more fair, more efficient and more just." Noting children of illegal immigrants "study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods, befriend our kids, pledge allegiance to our flag," Obama said that "it makes no sense to expel talented young people who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans."
In the conference call Friday with reporters, the senior administration official said the fees charged for applications are intended to cover the cost of implementing the policy change. No general fee waiver exists, but an exemption may be granted in exceptional cases, such as homelessness or disabilities, the official said.
The official also warned people that applications will only be accepted starting August 15, and warned that anyone who offers to expedite the process or start it earlier would be unauthorized and likely running a scam.

Romney Hiding From Previous Statements About Vetoing Dream Act! Right Wingers Up in Arms Against Dream Policy!

Watch this Video. A few months ago, while he was still pandering to the far right crowd, Romney brazenly stated that if he was elected President and if President Obama passed the Dream Act, he would VETO it on his 1st day of office. Since President Obama announced his Dream Policy, Romney - who has been attempting to pander to Latinos, has been ducking questions on whether he will VETO the President's decision. On this morning's "This Week with George Stephanopolous, Tim Pawlenty claimed Romney never said it. These Republicans forget about videos when they try to etch a sketch their lies.
We all know the Republican's agenda. Romney said he wants all 11M to Mass Self Deport themselves. That's on video too, but Pawlenty forgot that comment as well. 
In fact, most of the right wingers are ANTI Latinos and against the Dream Act. They strongly support the racial profiling bills like sb1070.
Right now, many of them are up in arms against the President's new DREAM policy. Romney's Immigration Advisor Kris Kobach is angry. Kobach said the new policy is “illegal” because it violates a section of the 1996 Immigration Reform Act. “What the president is describing is a policy that we will refuse to initiate deportation proceedings,” which Kobach said goes against current law.
HINO Marco Rubio is rescinding his Bogus DREAM Act proposal. As we all know, his Bogus proposal would have never been introduced due to the hate-filled rhetoric of Anti-Latino Republicans and it was merely Rubio's attempt to pander to Latino Voters.


To be expected, Arizona Republican Governor (La Bruja) Jan Brewer calls the Dreamer Policy "Outrageous" and "backdoor amnesty." Racial Prsaofiler Arpaio has denounced it.
Republican former Prez Candidate Rick Santorum said President Obama was "arrogant" and this was a "grab for power."
Nutty Republican Sarah Palin said our President was "pandering."
Zealot rep. from Iowa Steve King said the policy "meets the definition of amnesty."

For these Republican zealots who are opposed to this new policy, President Obama said he called on Congress Friday to send him a bill that would address the issue. "I've said time and time and time again to Congress, send me the Dream Act, put it on my desk, and I will sign it right away," he said. "Both parties wrote this legislation."

Dream Student Elizabeth Olivas Earns Legal Status and Graduates with Honors!

Dreamers: You too can earn Legal status. Read about Elizabeth Olivas. If you are like Elizabeth, talk to an Immigration attorney. If you don't know an Immigration Attorney, go to your local Catholic Church and ask for their recommendations to find one.
(CNN) -- The Indiana high school student who was in danger of missing her graduation ceremony because of a visa mix-up in Mexico returned home early Friday morning. The smiling teen was met at the Indianapolis International Airport by her Dad and all of her family members, balloons and signs.


"Now I can continue to pursue my dreams," Elizabeth Olivas, 17, told reporters.
High school student Elizabeth Olivas had faced a three-year ban from the United States. Her attorney, Sarah Moshe, had said the U.S. State Department approved a waiver, allowing Olivas to return home and deliver the salutatorian speech at Frankfort High School on Saturday.

Elizabeth was an undocumented immigrant who was brought to the United States by her parents when she was 4. She traveled to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, last month to beat a deadline to apply for a visa. According to immigration laws, children of immigrant parents have until 180 days from their 18th birthday to leave the United States for their country of origin and apply for a visa. The consulate in Mexico granted Olivas an appointment for May 4. Her attorney, Moshe, calculated on two different legal calendars that the 180th day would fall on April 17, so Olivas departed for Mexico that day so not to miss many of her classroom courses in America. But at her May 4 appointment, Olivas was told she had left the United States on the 181st day.
The calendars her lawyer Moshe used did not account for the leap year. The mix-up could have meant Olivas would be banned from the United States for three years, living with her grandparents in Juarez until she could apply again.
"The waiver was approved, and we just finished issuing and printing her visa," read a statement from the U.S. State Department, according to Moshe. "We gave her the visa packet and she will be left the Consulate Thursday, visa in hand!. Congrats and best of luck to Elizabeth and her family! She is very lucky to have such a great team working on her behalf."
Olivas' father is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He filed an immigrant visa petition for his daughter to gain legal status. The petition process began years ago, but the process was slow, Olivas said. She said she had been "essentially begging for an appointment."
"The problem was we couldn't secure an appointment at the consulate," Moshe said.
In the six weeks since Olivas' arrival in Mexico, she participated in classes remotely with her laptop and kept her grades up during the final weeks of school.
Her only hope to return to Indiana quickly was a 400-page parental hardship waiver that she presented to U.S. consulate officials Thursday. Her appeal argued her diabetic father would suffer from being apart from his daughter.
Now back in the United States she plans to apply for permanent resident status.
Steve Edwards, principal at Frankfort High School, called Olivas a "phenomenal kid."
"She is a mentor to those younger than her," Edwards said. "There is just not a bad thing to say about Elizabeth. She's an awesome girl."
Olivas' medal and diploma were presented to her on Saturday, he said.
"Regardless of this whole process, she graduated on Saturday," Edwards said. "She gave her speech in front of the crowd. We are all so proud to see her graduate."

Forgotten Dream: Romney Fails to Mention Dream Act to Latino Audience!

In the past, Mitt Romney has said he supports finding a solution for undocumented students. But you wouldn't know it from his Wednesday speech on education to Latino business leaders, where the issue went untouched, forgotten, leaving some audience members concerned that he simply doesn't have a plan.

Romney has been flip flopping on the Dream Act all year. He said in January that he would VETO the current version of the Dream Act, which passed the House and was defeated by Republicans in the Senate in 2010.
In March, he flipped and said he could support other efforts to help the Dreamers, including an ambiguous bill proposed by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio with NO path to citizenship for the students.

However, Romney AGAIN FLIPPED in April saying he wasn't supporting the proposal, instead he told reporters, "I'm taking a LOOK at his proposal; it has many features to commend it, BUT it's something that we’re (just) studying,”

Flip Flop Romney's failure to mention the Dream Act, or similar legislative efforts, wasn't the only missed opportunity to discuss education issues important to Latinos. Romney also did not address the education gap between Latinos and students in general, an issue his campaign and the Republican National Committee have highlighted in outreach efforts.


The Romney campaign did not respond to requests for comment on why the candidate's speech skipped these important issues.

Romney and Rubio Flip Flop, Belly Flop to Destroy the Dream!

In recent weeks, as Romney has inched closer to the nomination, speculation has increased about Rubio becoming the VP nominee. Why? For the obvious reasons. Republican leaders are finally realizing that their base's rabid obsessions with Mass Self Deportation of millions of Latinos is OFFENDING Voting Latinos.
These Republican Leaders figure they will win back, or at least split the Latino vote if a Latino surname is on the GOP VP Ticket. Of course HINO Marco Rubio hasn't done them or himself any favors by flip flopping first AGAINST then FOR Arizona's racial profiling bill sb1070. HINO Rubio has also been quick to jump on the band wagon for Romney's "Self Deportation" gimmick.
Romney has embraced the far right in his attempt to gain the GOP Presidential candidacy. He has joined forces with the heinous K-K-Kris Kobach, the author of sb1070 and member of the Hate Group F.A.I.R, sponsored by the infamous extremist John Tanton. Over the past few months, Romney and Rubio have both spewed their rhetoric AGAINST the Dream Act.
In recent weeks, however, as Romney's nomination appears to be inevitable, suddenly Rubio has had some sort of awakening. In mid-March, he appeared on Geraldo Rivera's radio show (see/hear video) and Rubio suggested he might support a watered-down version of the Dream Act. You heard it right, the Dream Act. Rubio said, "I do want to help out these kids. The Dream Act is a way to help them out.” He told Rivera that he wouldn't support their becoming Citizens, but he WOULD support these deserving students in staying in the U.S. legally and permanently. (What a Belly Flopper!)
Some of the Dreamers are falling for Rubio's bologna. As I said to one hopeful Dreamer, "This looks like a ruthless ploy by HINO Rubio to split up Latino voters. There is no chance in hexx of a bill like this ever passing. His own side would immediately Hate it and throw it out. He is merely pandering to you in the most blatant "used car salesman" mode. Looks like you and Rxxxx and others fell for it."
Of course she didn't like hearing this and threatened to ban me from her Wall. Nevertheless, I told her the truth.

But then again.....She is a Dreamer. What if her Dream came true? What IF Romney, so famous for his Flip-Flops, flops again on Immigration. He's done it before. Maybe this time, if Romney and Rubio are elected, they MAY keep their promises to the Dreamers and to Latinos. They may even pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Oh what would Kris Kobach say? What would Roy Beck of NumbersUSA say? What would Alipac say? What would John Tanton say? What would Bad Anon say? They can Kiss their Dreams of Mass Deportation GOOD-BYE! Roy Beck -- Keep those Gumballs Ready! With Flip and Belly on the ticket, they're sure gonna rise!!! (listen to Rubio on Geraldo's show -- Rubio was talking about your rhetoric!) Yippee!! Hurray!! The Flip Flopper and the Belly Flopper are on the Ticket and they are begging for the Latino vote the only way they know how! By promising Latinos the DREAM!!! (or are they?) No one will know! Flip Flop. Flop Flop. Belly Flop!!

Guest Voz Latina Lista: Marco Rubio – Latino or Tea Partino

Guest Voz Latina Lista — If the rumors circulating on Capitol Hill are true, the GOP thinks they have an Ace up their sleeves on how to at least split the Latino vote in the November presidential election.
Now that Mitt Romney has won both Arizona and Michigan, no matter how marginally, talk is that he’s pretty much accepted as the party’s nominee for president. The second piece of business for the candidate is to choose his running mate — though it sounds like the GOP leadership is doing that for him. Their choice seems to be Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

According to an article in The Hill, Sen. Rubio seems to be vetting himself for possible selection:
"And campaign fundraising reports show that Rubio spent more than $40,000 in the last six months of 2011 to get himself researched by a public affairs firm. "

According to the article, the most notable Democrats who have declared war on Rubio are Sen. Harry Reid and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.). Both questioning Rubio’s lack of support for traditionally seen Latino issues like the DREAM Act and immigration reform.

The Republican strategy to have Rubio as a vice president nominee to split the Latino vote would make sense in any other election — but this one. The collective Latino community has come together in a bipartisan way to urge right-wing conservatives to address immigration reform by starting with passage of the DREAM Act.

Time and time again, Rubio has frustrated those efforts.

Romney has already categorically declared that he would not sign a DREAM Act into law. So it’s obvious, aside from the fact that he agrees with Romney, that Rubio, as a vice president, serves nothing more than a carrot on a stick to get Latinos to vote for the GOP ticket by appealing for a sympathetic vote based on identity politics than party platform.

Unfortunately for the GOP though, this clever strategy won’t work.

The DREAM Act is the one issue that unites Latinos on both sides of the aisle and the GOP’s constant demonization — by labeling it amnesty; and stalling tactics — by saying they don’t agree with the “fine” points of the bill — doesn’t already sit well with most Latino Republicans who have been continuously rebuffed by their party when urging their peers to support the DREAM Act.

By the time the GOP convention in Tampa, FL comes around, when choice for vice president will be announced, Rubio’s name may have already been withdrawn from the hat if a new Latino-based campaign against the Florida senator garners enough steam between now and then.

Called “No Somos Rubios” (We are not Rubios), the campaign highlights Marco Rubio’s like-minded thinking on the DREAM Act as that of his potential running mate, Mitt Romney.
Felipe Matos, campaigner for Presente Action, called Marco Rubio “the anti-Immigrant son of immigrants, who supports Arizona’s racist SB-1070 law, rejects the DREAM Act and thinks that Latinos won’t notice that he’s closer to the Tea Party extremists than he is to Latinos on immigration and other key issues.”
Cynthia Arevalo, an immigration attorney and Florida representative of Somos Republicans, a Latino GOP organization that recently announced its support for Gingrich, said, “As a child of immigrants and as an attorney who has to listen daily to the tragic stories created by anti-immigrant policies supported by Marco Rubio, I think it’s utterly ridiculous to think that he will ‘deliver’ Latino votes. Latinos are not stupid.”

And they’re just getting started.
Tomorrow is a National Day of Action for the DREAM Act as part of the No Somos Rubios campaign with events planned in Washington DC, Arizona and Florida. At the Washington event, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez, a frequent critic of Rubio, will participate by calling on Rubio to support the DREAM Act and immigration reform.

A focal point of the campaign is posing a rhetorical question to the Florida senator: “Marco Rubio – Latino or Tea Partino?”

It’s a question that for many Latino voters has already been answered but for others who hold out hope for a change of heart, well, as they say: people can always “dream.”

GOP Debate Has All White Audience - Meanwhile, Latinos Protest for Dream Act Outside!

MESA, Arizona — Latino students and supporters rallied outside the Arizona Republican presidential debate on Wednesday to protest that ALL of the Republican Candidates’ oppose the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act allows certain non-citizen youth to apply for residency and citizenship after graduating from high school and completing two years of college or the military. It passed the House of Representatives in 2010 and received a majority of votes in the Senate, but failed due to a Republican filibuster.

Patriotic Latina Eva Longoria Blasts Romney for his Cruel Attacks on the Dream Act

As Romney lied and pandered to Latinos, begging for their vote in Florida last week, Patriotic Latina Eva Longoria criticized the candidate over an issue dear to her heart and to the Latino community. Friday afternoon, the day after a Republican debate in Florida, Longoria tweeted:

TeaParty Republican Sen. Cornyn Smashes Dream Act which Leads Latino Dream Student to Commit Suicide!

TeaParty Republican Sen. John Cornyn from Texas led the charge to defeat the Dream Act! This led a "straight A" Latino Dream Student to commit Suicide!

Before you read this story, please get out your handkerchiefs. This is a very sad story about a promising young Latino student whose life was shattered and ended early -- due to the hate-filled attacks led by Tea Party Republicans!

This is a true story about a young Latino Boy. His name was Joaquin Luna, aged 18, a straight A student. When Joaquin was six months old, he and his family, including his parents and five siblings, crossed the Texas/Mexico border without visas and travelled about 40 miles north to Mission, Texas, just on the US side of the border.

As a young student, Joaquin studied very hard. His parents taught him about the American Dream -- if he studied and worked hard enough, he could achieve the American Dream!

As Joaquin grew older, he heard all of the hate-filled rhetoric by the Republican Tea Partiers and he grew more and more concerned about not having a social security number. He became afraid that due to these Hate Mongers, he would never find a job. Joaquin talked about this often with his brothers and sisters, and often cried at night, realizing that even if he gained a good college education, he would never be able to find a decent job or be able to support a family of his own.

Joaquin followed the news and politics very closely. He read newspapers detailing all of the angry talk and hate filled rhetoric by the Republican Tea Party members and by Republican politicians like TX Senator John Cornyn who spewed his Hate Talk to defeat the Dream Act. He also read about the Hate Bills like sb1070 in Arizona and the Georgia and Alabama Hate Bills that passed harsh immigration laws that racially profiled ALL Latinos!

Joaquin's brother Carlos Mendoza said, "Joaquin became very sad. He said the people passing these laws had no heart! How could they leave so many kids without parents and destroy so many lives?"

Last year, when the Dream Act failed to pass the US senate, Joaquin's heart became saddened. Carlos said, "Joaquin got depressed real bad. Every one of us, we all get depressed. Some of us can handle it, some of us can't. Joaquin couldn't."

Last Friday, all of the Hate Filled rhetoric surrounding the Immigration debate became too much for young Joaquin. Early in the morning, Joaquin put on his best Sunday Suit, white shirt and black skinny tie, the same outfit he wore every Sunday without fail to the Pan de Vida church in downtown Mission, Texas. As his brother Carlos put it: "Joaquin dressed himself to go to God."

Then Joaquin went into the bathroom, into the shower, then shot himself.

Joaquin left behind a note that explained why he ended his young, promising life. Joaquin spoke of his desperation at the Hate Filled WALL blocking out his future and preventing him from attaining his Dreams.

A wall reserved for the undocumented Latino immigrants in America.

John Cornyn on the DREAM ACT

California Passes Dream Act!

California passed a new law, AB 131 - known as the California Dream Act and will become effective January 1, 2013. "Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking," Brown said in a statement from Sacramento. "The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."

Currently, Dream students in California must pay resident tuition rates if they graduated from a state high school and are actively seeking to legalize their immigration status, officials said. The other half of the California Dream Act was signed into law by Brown in July and allows undocumented immigrant students to receive privately funded scholarships administered at public universities and community colleges.

That law, called AB 130, was needed because the University of California and California State University systems avoided giving the private scholarships to their undocumented students, citing vagueness in laws, said the legislative aide to California Dream Act's author, state Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles).

Cedillo called Saturday's signing "historic" and path-breaking for the United States -- coming at a time when many states such as Alabama and Arizona are passing aggressive laws targeting undocumented immigrants. Some of those laws are being challenged in court.

"The signing of now both parts of the California Dream Act will send a message across the country that California is prepared to lead the country with a positive and productive vision for how we approach challenging issues related to immigration," Cedillo said in a statement.

"Today, Ana and Maria Gomez, Jaime Kim, David Cho, Pedro Ramirez -- and thousands of other students who are some of the best and brightest in California -- have been told by our governor and legislative leaders that you are welcome here, that you have something to contribute, that you can be proud of what you have accomplished and that your talents and ambition will not go to waste," Cedillo said.

Under AB 131, qualifying Dream students will be eligible for state Board of Governors fee waivers, student aid programs administered by a college or university, and the state aid Cal Grants program for state universities, community colleges, and qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California, according to Cedillo.

The California Dream Act differs from a proposed federal bill called the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors -- or DREAM -- Act, which would create a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children under the age of 16 and have lived in the United States for at least five years, obtained a high school or General Education Development diploma, and demonstrated "good moral character," according to a White House fact sheet.

President Obama FINALLY supporting measures to ONLY target Felonious Criminals! Will Stop Deporting DREAM Students and Workers!

At Last! As I've long suggested to our President: STOP Targetting DREAM Students and workers for Deportation. Focus the Deportations ONLY on the Felonious Criminals! IF this policy is successful, then we will Finally see an Accomplishment towards POSITIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM! We at ITWAMA will keep you posted on the Progress!
CNN Reports: Administration says it will conduct case-by-case review on deportation
Washington (CNN) -- In a move that could shake up the U.S. immigration system, the Department of Homeland Security is going to begin reviewing all 300,000 pending deportation cases in federal immigration courts to determine which individuals meet specific criteria for removal and to focus on "our highest priorities." DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said the review will enhance public safety. "Immigration judges will be able to more swiftly adjudicate high priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons," Napolitano wrote Thursday in a letter to assistant majority leader Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and 21 other senators including Indiana Republican Richard Lugar.

In April, Durbin and Lugar sent a letter to Napolitano asking her to stop deportations of immigrant students who could earn legal status under the the DREAM Act -- legislation that would give children of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship through military service or college education. Napolitano said the Obama administration has frequently pointed out "it makes no sense to expend our enforcement resources on low-priority cases, such as individuals... who were brought into this country as young children and know no other home."

Officials say immigration court dockets are clogged, putting public safety in jeopardy, costing money, resources and time. They want to see DHS enforcement resources diverted from illegal immigrants who don't have criminal records to individuals who pose a threat to public safety and national security. A senior administration official, who requested anonymity because details of the policy change had not yet been announced, told reporters 79% of deportations involve people without a criminal record -- people who have just entered the country illegally or had been previously deported and re-entered.

Napolitano said the new policy change would not negate reforming immigration laws and "will not alleviate the need for passage of the DREAM Act," which would give legal status to illegal immigrant students who attend college or join the military. She added, "President Obama has called the DREAM Act the right thing to do for the young people it would affect, and the right thing to do for the country."

But the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) (the group the ADL says is RACIST!), which advocates changing policies to decrease the number of immigrants coming to the United States (aka MASS Deportation), said in a statement on its website that the action by the Obama administration "amounts to an administrative amnesty and a sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration policy without approval by Congress."

FAIR President Dan Stein said in the statement, "In essence, the administration has declared that U.S. immigration is now virtually unlimited to anyone willing to try to enter and only those who commit violent felonies after arrival are subject to enforcement." Under the new process, a DHS and the Department of Justice working group will develop specific criteria to identify low-priority removal cases that should be considered for prosecutorial discretion, including cases with minors, the elderly, pregnant and nursing women, victims of serious crimes, veterans and members of the armed services and individuals with serious disabilities or health problems.

Durbin expressed support for the Obama administration announcement, saying in a written statement that it was "the right decision" specifically as it relates to students. "These students are the future doctors, lawyers, teachers and maybe, senators, who will make America stronger," Durbin stated. "We need to be doing all we can to keep these talented, dedicated, American students here, not wasting increasingly precious resources sending them away to countries they barely remember." Durbin's statement added that when reviews of individual cases result in cases being closed, those individuals "will be able to apply for certain immigration benefits, including work authorization." Durbin's statement did not elaborate on that aspect of the policy change, beyond saying such applications for benefits would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network, an organization advocating improved rights for day laborers, praised the move. "The administration had earned the President the title of 'Deporter-in-Chief.' We hope the statement today announcing review of the current caseload of victims of indiscriminate enforcement is carried forth," the group said in a news release.

Baptists support Dream Act

KETK News reports: There is one issue in the fight over illegal immigration that comes very close to pleasing both Republicans and Democrats. It’s summed up in a bill called the Dream Act. And now, it has support from a group that might surprise you.

Richard Land is a familiar figure to both Baptists, and TV audiences being a regular guest on talk shows whenever public policy and faith issues collide. He heads the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention the second largest Christian body in the US. He also favors the Dream Act.
“The Dream Act is aimed precisely and specifically at thost people who haven’t broken the law. These people are innocent,” Land told KETK.

Dr. Richard Land and the SBC have also been largely associated with the Republican Party over the years.
But he has announced that, with restrictions, he can support a bill written by Democratic Senator Richard Durbin. “Well, It seems to me, why would people not support the Dream Act if it’s a clean act,” he says. “It gives people who are here in an undocumented status, through no fault of their own, the ability to earn their way to full legal status by serving honorably in our military and defending the country, or by going to college and getting degrees and becoming productive members of society.”

The Dream Act would extend essentially an amnesty to young people whose parents brought them into the country illegally, and who ultimately graduate from a four year college or serve a hitch in the military.
But Land says, the bill must be accompanied by a couple of restrictions… “”We have to secure the border and secure the workplace first,” he warned.

Land also says we have to face reality about those who are already here. “What we have now is a mess,” he told us. “And it’s a mess by virtue of the government not enforcing the law for 20 years. I had a congressman say to me, well, it’s wrong not to enforce the law. And I said yes you’re right. And it’s also not to have enforced the law for 20 years and all of a sudden say retroactively, well, we’re going to enforce the law. You let somebody work here for 20 years, establish a family here, establish roots here and then say ‘you’ve been breaking the law here for 20 years. We haven’t said anything, but now you have to go home.’ That’s not fair.”
KETK asked Land about the response he’s gotten from his membership. He says the sentiment is running about 80-20 in favor of the Dream Act. It is divided mainly along age lines with older Baptists being more disapproving than younger ones.

Message to President Obama:Replace Dan Pfeiffer.Yuppies Like Him JUST DON'T GET IT! You willLOSE Latino Votes IF You Don't Resolve These Dream Issues!

Dream Student Felipe Matos of the Trail of Dreams blog talked to White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer (obviously out of the loop in understanding Minority issues) about two lies, yesterday:
(1) Obama "hears from DREAM Act Students all the time," and
(2) Apparently President Obama believes he "does not have the executive authority" to stop the deportations of DREAMers. (This is WRONG! He DOES Have the Authority)

Mr. President: YOU NEED the Latino Vote. We need a President who will support us from:
1. HATE CRIMES against ALL Latinos
2. Supports the DREAM ACT and is willing to stand Up to Republicans opposing it.
3. Staffs people who study and understand Immigration issues. (Hint: Pfeiffer CLEARLY does not!)

My suggestion to President Obama:
1. FIRE Pfeiffer. Find someone who understands the issues!
2. ACT NOW TO ENACT THE DREAM ACT!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Senator Menendez introduces the "Military Families Act"

Sen. Robert Menendez introduced a bill today which will allow the families of active duty military service members to gain legal status. If passed, this bill will allow our soldiers who are putting their lives on the line for ALL of US to not worry about their own flesh and blood, who happen to be undocumented, being deported.
"I just can't believe that you can risk your life for America, and America can't let you stay united with your family," the New Jersey Humanitarian Democrat said at a press conference. "It seems to me that's more than a fair trade-off."

The Military Families Act, which so far has zero (hatefilled) Republican supporters, will grant legal permanent residence to the immediate family members of the brave and courageous military men and women in active duty. Like the DREAM Act, a bill that would grant legal status to immigrants who entered the United States as children if they go to college or join the military, the idea is to narrow the pool of undocumented beneficiaries to the most sympathetic few, in hopes that the hate-filled, anti-Latino GOP will not decry the bill as their so-called "amnesty."

Menendez already has support in the upper chamber from pro-immigration reform Democrats Harry Reid (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), Michael Bennet (Colo.) and New Yorkers Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. He is also circulating the bill to other senators.

Menendez acknowledged the passage of this bill will be a steep uphill climb for Humanitarian and Patriotic immigrant-friendly legislation in this Congress, which so far has done NOTHING to support resolving our broken Immigration issues. The Democrats in Congress have done next to nothing in resolving these issues -- during and since the lame-duck session. During the lame duck session, when the Dems had the majority, the DREAM Act was filibustered in a 55-41 vote. It FAILED because five Hate filled Democrats broke with the rest of the Dems to vote against this Humanitarian bill. (shameful!)

But Menendez asked some legislators on the other side of the aisle to consider supporting this Patriotic and Humanitarian bill because it would benefit OUR Troops. "I am hopeful that we will get some of our Republican colleagues," he said. "It's very limited in scope, it's about OUR Military Men and Women."

Senator Menendez added the bill will help with recruiting because people will see it as a way to "serve my country and also save their family." Menendez said his legislation will benefit America! Menendez said the bill could be paired with border enforcement provisions to make it more palatable for Senate Republicans, most of whom hatefully argue "no amnesty." Senate Democrats may use a similar strategy with the recently reintroduced DREAM Act, which the very Patriotic and Humanitarian Sen. Menendez also supports. He added, "If Republicas decide to be reasonable in that respect -- and it brings an opportunity for the DREAM Act -- it will be a very positive opportunity for America, and we'll be supporting our Military Families."

Guest Voz - Sen. Michael Bennet: Keeping the DREAM Alive

Guest Voz - Sen. Michael Bennet: Keeping the DREAM Alive
Late last year, the U.S. Senate tried but failed to muster the courage or the votes necessary to pass the DREAM Act -- a narrowly missed opportunity for lawmakers to put politics aside and do the right thing for our country and our economy. But despite the failure of the past year, there's still reason to hope. Today, I joined Sen. Dick Durbin in re-introducing the DREAM Act in the Senate, reviving the effort to allow some of the best and brightest young students to give back to the country they call home through military service or by getting a college degree.

The DREAM Act is by no means a silver bullet. Washington must take action to provide a common-sense fix to our broken immigration system that secures the border, cracks down on employers who willfully break the law and requires the undocumented to pay a fine, pay their taxes, learn English and pass criminal background checks. We have waited far too long to reform our immigration laws. Washington inaction has come at the expense of our families, small business owners, farmers and students.

But in the absence of comprehensive reform, we should work to boost our economy, strengthen our Armed Forces and help hard-working kids fulfill their full potential by passing the DREAM Act. The American people support the bill, and so does a majority of the U.S. Senate. But for many kids, the clock is ticking. The Administration can and should act now to grant deferred action to exemplary students who meet the rigorous requirements for eligibility under the DREAM Act. Not only will these children be better off for it -- our country will be better off as well.

When I was superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I saw the potential of some of our best and brightest students cut short, punished for the actions of others -- kids who had grown up and done well in our school system, and kids who know no other home but America. This is unacceptable.

A student who has excelled in the classroom should have the opportunity to attend college and become a productive, taxpaying member of society. Upon receiving a college education, these youth will be able to transition into higher paying jobs and will be paying their fair share in taxes. In fact, a recent UCLA study concluded that DREAM Act participants could contribute as much as $3.6 trillion to the U.S. economy during their working lives.

If we are going to get our fiscal house in order, we need to make sure we are getting the full return on our investment and not closing the door on new tax revenues as these young people become contributors to our economy. The DREAM Act will require these young people to pay their fair share of taxes. We are acting against our own financial interests by keeping these youth in uncertain legal status.

And if we fail to pass the DREAM Act, we are also acting against our own national security interests by denying patriotic youth the ability to serve in our military. According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, about 35,000 non-citizens serve and 8,000 permanent resident aliens enlist in our Armed Forces every year. The DREAM Act represents an opportunity to assist with military recruiting and readiness.

With the reintroduction of the DREAM Act, Congress once again has the chance to do the right thing... but it needs some nudging. That's where you come in. I need your help. Will you take a moment to submit an online video telling Congress why you support the DREAM Act? Will you share your story? And just as important, will you encourage your friends and family to do the same?

Supporting the DREAM Act is not only the right thing to do; it is also a practical solution. We owe it to the taxpayers who have invested in the education of these youth, the teachers who have fostered their development, and military leaders who can benefit from these new recruits to move forward on the DREAM Act without delay.

Guest Voz - Frank Sharry of America's Voice: We (Latinos/Humanitiarians) Will REMEMBER Those That Voted Against the DREAM Act/Latino Students!

Yesterday morning, in a procedural vote requiring 60 votes to advance the legislation, the U.S. Senate voted for the DREAM Act by a 55-41 margin, effectively shutting the doors of opportunity to thousands of bright and talented young people who grew up in America and wanted to give back to the country they call home.
Guest Voz - Frank Sharry Executive Director of America's Voice: “Yesterday morning we won a majority of votes in the Senate. Last week we won a majority of the votes in the House. But because of a Republican filibuster we needed 60 votes to pass DREAM and we fell short. To those who did the right thing and voted for DREAM, you had our back and we’ll have yours. But to the majority of Republicans and the handful of Democrats who voted against the best and the brightest of the Latino immigrant community, your vote against DREAM will be remembered as long as you are in politics. Many of you have expressed your sympathy for the DREAMers. But today we did not need your sympathy. We needed your vote.

As disappointed as we are in those who slammed the door of opportunity on talented young people who are Americans in all but paperwork, we are buoyed by the nationwide outpouring of support for this cause, the unprecedented mobilization in support of DREAM across the nation, and the leadership and courage of the DREAMers who came to Washington to insist on making their DREAM come true.

Where do we go from here? We will continue fighting, organizing, mobilizing and educating. We will continue to build an ever more powerful movement. We will continue to speak up and speak out for immigrant youth, for immigrant families, for immigration reform that embodies the best of our ideals rather than the worst of our fears.

We get stronger every day. We may have lost this battle, but in the war between justice and injustice, inclusion and exclusion, courage and cowardice, victory is not a matter of if, but a matter of when.”

President Obama said Failure to Pass the DREAM Act "Incredibly Disappointing!"

President Obama called the Senate’s failure to pass the DREAM Act today “incredibly disappointing.” The bill failed to clear a Senate filibuster by a five-vote margin, dashing immigrant youth’s hopes of finally winning passage of a bill that would have benefited hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants. “As I said last week, when the House passed the DREAM Act, it is not only the right thing to do for talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own, it is the right thing for the United States of America,” Obama said in a statement. “There was simply no reason not to pass this important legislation. But my administration will not give up on the DREAM Act, or on the important business of fixing our broken immigration system,” said Obama, whose administration last year deported a record 392,000 people. Yesterday, senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security said that while they support the DREAM Act, they would not stop deporting DREAM Act-eligible youth in the event of its failure.

The DREAM Act would allow young undocumented immigrants to get on a long road to citizenship if they have a clean criminal record and dedicate two years to the military or higher education. There are an estimated two million undocumented youth in the country, and the Migration Policy Institute calculated that around 850,000 people would benefit from the DREAM Act. Every year, an estimated 65,000 undocumented youth graduate from high school.

“These young people are the next generation of doctors and lawyers, engineers and teachers, Congressmen and Senators—they must be part of the only nation they’ve ever called home,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin in a written statement after today’s vote, adding that he would not abandon the DREAM Act. “As long as they are determined to be part of this great nation, I am determined to fight for them to call America home,” Durbin said. “As long as I am Member of Congress, the DREAM will be kept alive.”

The bill has been in existence for nearly a decade, though the particulars of it have changed through the years and steadily narrowed who would be eligible for citizenship under it. The DREAM Act has come up for a vote in Congress multiple times, most recently in 2007, and failed to clear filibuster threats in the Senate every time. It passed the House earlier this month.

“The DREAM Act would have reduced our deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years, and would have created a pool of qualified patriots willing to defend our country at a time when our service members are exhausted by multiple deployments,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “But Republicans decided instead to play politics and waste the talent and commitment of these young men and women who want to give back to America.”

But Reid should have scolded members of his own party, too. Five Democrats—Sens. Max Baucus, Mark Pryor, Jon Tester, Ben Nelson and Kay Hagan—voted against the DREAM Act. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, did not vote.

“Our youth immigrant movement is not over,” said Felipe Matos, an undocumented immigrant who walked 1,500 miles from Miami to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to rally support for the DREAM Act. “We will keep organizing to defend the human and civil rights of all people.”