Morning NewsTaco
Monday May 14, 2012
Sheriff Joe Arpaio Allegedly Not Only Harrassed Latinos But Ignored Crime (The Atlantic): Before the United States Supreme Court issues its ruling in Arizona v. United States, the justices should take a few minutes to read the Justice Department’s new civil rights complaint filed Thursday against Maricopa County and its notorious sheriff, Joe Arpaio. In fact, there ought to be a constitutional requirement that the justices do so before they finally tell us what they think about the core provisions of Arizona’s anti-immigrant statute, SB 1070.
Latino Vote Could Use Some Marketing Help (Click Z): The media has been extensively covering the importance that Latinos will play in deciding the next election. Organizations like Latism and the Ya Es Hora (“it’s about time”) coalition are helping empower Latinos to play a more active role and vote. Latinos might play a critical role in choosing the new American president, but in order for that to happen, there’s still a long way to go to increase civic engagement and participation.
Are Democrats Falling For Rubio’s Trap On The DREAM Act? (TPM): As he prepares to release his scaled-back version of the DREAM Act, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is simultaneously laying the groundwork to blame the White House for its impending failure — and Democrats appear to be falling into his trap. It’s election-year jujitsu for Rubio, who is helping the GOP court Hispanic voters and keeping the door open to the vice presidency.
In Florida, Registering Voters A Whole New Game (NPR): In Florida this year, there are tough new restrictions on groups that conduct voter registration drives. The restrictions already appear to be having an impact on the number of people who are registering to vote.
Minority contracts fall for first time in decade (Washington Post): U.S. government contracts to black-and Hispanic-owned small businesses fell last year for the first time in a decade, declining at a sharper rate than awards to all companies.
58 percent of voters targeted in noncitizen hunt are Hispanic. Whites, GOP least likely to face purge (The Miami Herald): Hispanic, Democratic and independent-minded voters are the most likely to be targeted in a state hunt to remove thousands of noncitizens from Florida’s voting rolls, a Miami Herald computer analysis of elections records has found.
Some Ala. farmers plant fewer crops, say immigration crackdown drove away workers to pick them (Washington Post): Some Alabama farmers say they are planting less produce rather than risk having tomatoes and other crops rot in the fields a second straight year because of labor shortages linked to the state’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Deportations an Issue in Texas Sheriff’s Race (Fox News Latino): The federal government’s Secure Communities program, which expedites the deportation of undocumented immigrants under police custody, has become an issue in the sheriff’s race here in Travis County, Texas. According to John Sisson, a former Austin Police Department lieutenant who is challenging incumbent Sheriff Greg Hamilton in the Democratic primary, the way S-COMM is now being run has a negative impact on Hispanic immigrants.
White Supremacy on the Rise in New Mexico Jails (Fox News Latino): New Mexico’s prisons are seeing a rise in white supremacist gang memberships as some white inmates seek protection from largely Latino gangs, state officials say. Membership in white supremacist gangs has nearly doubled in state prisons over the last 10 years, officials say, and they worry the numbers may continue to rise.
Feds Indict Latino Gang that Terrorized Undocumented Immigrants (Fox News Latino): A federal grand jury indicted almost two dozen members of a Latino gang that victimized undocumented immigrants who do their business in cash and are reluctant to go to law enforcement because of their immigration status.
Emphasize English-only learning from early age (Austin American-Statesman): Instead of bilingual education, why not teach English as a second language or offer intensive instruction in English that emphasizes learning to read and write in English? English is the international language of commerce and the language of our schools. Some students are able to learn in two languages at once, but it is unfair to expect most children to do so.
‘Desperate Housewives’ Series Finale: 10 Latinos Who Helped Make The Show Must-See TV (Huffington Post): The popularity of the Gaby character made it possible for other well-known Latino actors to guest star on the show, including veteran actors like Tony Plana (“Ugly Betty”), Maria Conchita Alonso and Lupe Ontiveros, as well as many others.
