Morning NewsTaco

Monday August 6, 2012

As two politicians ascend, new sway for Latinos? (CNN):  This week, Latinos experienced their own version of “Super Tuesday.” That was the day it was announced that San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro had been chosen to deliver the keynote speech at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. It marks the first time that a Latino has headlined the event, and it’s a huge story.

Castro Will be Important for Democrats (Daily Political):  Hispanics across the country are praising the choice of Julian Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio, to give a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in September.

Mitt Romney ad in Spanish attacks health care law (The Boston Globe):  In his first Spanish-language spot heading into the general election, Mitt Romney vowed to end “Obamacare’’ on Day One of his presidency — a bold and risky message he continues to deliver to Latino voters, who overwhelmingly back the federal health care law.

Anaheim Community Calls for Peace, a Diverse Police Force (Fox News Latino):  After a spate of police shootings sparked days of protests, the central theme at a public hearing in Anaheim was peace. Speaker after speaker at the Anaheim City Council meeting Thursday night called for calm after the violence, hoping that weeks of anger over the police shooting of an unarmed Latino man had subsided.

Hispanic lawmakers unhappy with Charlotte contracts (Politico):  Hispanic lawmakers are peeved at the Democratic National Convention Committee for not hiring more Latino-owned businesses for next month’s convention. Upset over the lack of contracts, Hispanic lawmakers exchanged heated words Wednesday with a top DNCC official in a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill. Afterward, Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) suggested that DNCC Chief Executive Steve Kerrigan should be fired if things don’t improve.

Gay Latino Politicians Flexing their Political Muscle (Fox News Latino):  At a time when same-sex marriage again is on the national front-burner — with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney saying it should be banned through a constitutional amendment, while President Barack Obama endorsing same-sex marriage and the topic expected to be part of the 2012 Democratic National Convention — four openly gay, Latino political candidates who are poised to win office this fall are hoping for the chance to push to make same sex marriage legal.

Latinos may shift Arizona politics (Yuma Sun):  The high birth rate of Hispanics could turn Arizona politics on its head in less than two decades, a new study is predicting. The report Tuesday by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University says that all those children being born to Hispanic parents in the state will be eligible to vote when they turn 18. And study authors say that, based on prior voting patterns, they are unlikely to register as — or vote for — Republicans.

Latino group sues Florida county over redistricting (EFE/Fox News Latino):  A Latino civil-rights group is suing the authorities of Central Florida’s Orange County for discrimination against the Hispanic community by imposing a new electoral map on the region.

States passing fewer immigration laws in 2012: study (Reuters):  U.S. state legislatures passed fewer immigration measures this year because lawmakers’ priorities shifted to balancing budgets and U.S. courts were weighing how much authority states have to enforce immigration laws, according to a study released on Monday.

“The Establishment of a Latino-Jewish Coalition: What do the Numbers Say?” (Latinovations):  Even as Latinos and Jews today appear to lead parallel lives, they seem to share a common vision of what national imperatives ought to be. Certainly, the establishment of a political coalition between both communities can have a determining effect on the future face of this nation.

Who and Where the DREAMers Are (Immigration Policy Center):  A new analysis casts some much-needed light on the question of exactly who might be eligible for the Obama Administration’s “deferred action” initiative for unauthorized youth who were brought to this country as children. This initiative, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on June 15, offers a two-year, renewable reprieve from deportation to unauthorized immigrants who are under the age of 31; entered the United States before age 16; have lived continuously in the country for at least five years; have not been convicted of a felony, a “significant” misdemeanor, or three other misdemeanors; and are currently in school, graduated from high school, earned a GED, or served in the military. Immigrants who meet these criteria are commonly referred to as “DREAMers” because they comprise most (though not all) of the individuals who meet the general requirements of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.

Representative Lamar Smith and Unauthorized Immigrant Crime (Huffington Post):  A recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report claims many unauthorized immigrants identified, but not deported, under the Secure Communities (SCOMM) program went on to be re-arrested for other crimes. The CRS report’s findings, however, are not a secure basis for any policy conclusions concerning immigration.

Tattooed Immigrants Claim First Amendment Issue After Being Denied Green Cards (Huffington Post):  As reported by the Wall Street Journal in the above video, an increasing number of immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America have found their green card applications denied. The reason? U.S. officials maintain they pose a security threat as the tattoos are symbols of criminal gang affiliation.

Illegal immigrants need $465 for DREAM, but no lawyer (USA Today):  An estimated 800,000 illegal immigrants across the country can start gathering their birth certificates, high school diplomas and military records to show that they qualify for a new Obama administration program that can grant them deportation reprieves.

US to weigh gay relationships in deportation cases (Huffington Post):  Amid pressure from Democratic lawmakers, Homeland Security officials reiterated Friday that a foreigner’s longstanding same-sex relationship with a U.S. citizen could help stave off the threat of deportation.

Latino leaders, friends, honor Lupe Ontiveros at funeral (NBC Latino):  Family and friends of the late actress Lupe Ontiveros, including prominent Latinos in the arts and government, gathered at the St. Hilary Church of Perpetual Adoration to say goodbye to an actress who reached great acclaim, yet never forgot where she came from or what she represented.

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