Filner says 'Pay up!'

Congressman Bob Filner has introduced the Pay for All Your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act, H.R. 4021. Filner said the act would require the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse medical providers for uncompensated care for undocumented persons detained by the border patrol and federal immigration officials.

Filner said the act would help hospitals, doctors and ambulance providers while Congress continues to debate immigration policy reform.

Mexican network adds English lessons

Both President Bush and Governor Schwarzenegger have said immigrants should learn English if they want to gain citizenship, and several states have made the language official.

Now TV Azteca, a network in Mexico City with Spanish-language affiliates in the United States, is adding English lessons to its schedule to help immigrants assimilate to the U.S., according to Copley News Service. The lessons wll air in many southern cities including San Diego on Sunday mornings.

The network told Copley News the purpose of the lessons is to provide instruction in basic English to prepare immigrants for typical situations like shopping or going to the doctor. It also said these skills are necessary to get better jobs.

Some have criticized TV Azteca's perceived agenda. One told Copley News the lessons only aim to help immigrants earn more money to funnel out of the U.S. economy to Mexico, not to help them assimilate to U.S. culture.

According to the Census Bureau, about 34 million people speak Spanish at home nationwide.

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Campaign urges thousands of immigrants to register in time for elections

The National Council of La Raza has launched ya es hora Ciudadanía!, Now is the time--Citizenship!. The campaign is an effort to inform, educate and motivate 200,000 legal residents in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. to register for citizenship in time for the 2008 presidential elections.

According to NCLR, the movement is spreading across the nation and is now active in 23 cities. NCLR said it expects the number of applications submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to reach one million by the end of the year.

Nonprofit organizations and immigration attorneys affiliated with the campaign will address barriers to citizenship including lack of information, lack of exam and language preparation and cost.

Citizenship fees increased 69 percent in July, according to the council.

Tancredo ad scares immigration to the center of presidential debate

In an advertisement aired this week, Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo said there is a bigger consequence of unsecured borders than "20 million who've come to take our jobs": terrorism.

While the scare tactic is nothing new, the ad seems to have reinvigorated the case for increased border security amidst more popular arguments related to jobs and the economy.

The ad features images of destruction that appear to be the results of terrorist attacks. The ad has been pulled from YouTube because it was deemed inappropriate for some viewers.

In an interview with Wolf Blitzer, Tancredo countered accusations that the ad is an outrageous attempt to make gains in the polls; Blitzer said Tancredo's approval ratings hover around 1 percent. Tancredo said in the interview the ad was meant to force other candidates to address immigration as a national security issue in their campaigns.

Tancredo is a congressman from Des Moines, Iowa.

Learning from Katrina: Civil rights in disaster relief

While reports of discrimination against Latinos and other minorities at relief sites for last month's fires made the news, the National Council of La Raza applauded steps taken by the American Red Cross to better serve minorities and immigrants.

NCLR, a national Latino civil rights organization, said in an email to its affiliated groups that the Red Cross showed significant progress during the wildfires in serving Latinos since Hurricane Katrina. According to program manager Eduardo Cusicanqui, NCLR and the Red Cross have had an ongoing dialogue since Katrina, in which NCLR has urged the relief organization to train volunteers in serving diverse populations, including speaking second languages.

Cusicanqui said the Red Cross didn't provide enough Spanish-speaking volunteers last month, but praised its effort to address immigrant and minority needs. Cusicanqui said the Red Cross immediately contacted NCLR to encourage its affiliated local organizations to attend a meeting with city leaders as representatives of the Latino and immigrant community.

NCLR did, however, back claims of discrimination at relief sites. It said the ACLU and Immigrant Rights Consortium report "Firestorm" accurately detailed accounts given by alleged victims and witnesses.

An NCLR report from the Katrina disaster accused the Red Cross of not being experienced in serving diverse populations. It also reported that FEMA shelters turned away Mexican-American evacuees because their ethnicity was associated with illegal immigration. According to the report, some families with mixed citizenship (the children are American-born but the parents are in the country illegally) did not receive government assistance they were entitled to because conditions for eligibility were unclear and unavailable.

"In the Eye of the Storm: How the Government and Private Response to Hurricane Katrina Failed Latinos"
Immigrant Eligibility for Disaster Relief

New report details discrimination during fires

The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties and San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium are calling for the formation of a task force to set policies and standards that ensure humanitarian principles are upheld in disaster relief efforts. The groups released a report today reviewing the "treatment of vulnerable populations during the San Diego fires."

The report was largely a response to alleged discrimination and intimidation directed toward immigrants at the Qualcomm evacuation site. The report also details similar cases at other evacuation sites, discrimination against other ethnicities at evacuation sites, and alleged wrongdoings of law-enforcement officials when dealing with the media and residents returning home.

The report also called for more trained Spanish speakers to assist in emergency relief and an end to identification checks at evacuation sites.

Sheriff uses pink cuffs to tackle red-hot issue

Mariposa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been dubbed "America's toughest sheriff" by Arizona residents. In an ABC Nightline package that aired this week, Arpaio seemed to tout his prisons as the model for tough punishment: outdoor tents erected in the desert sun because his cells are overflowing, inmates wearing prison stripes and humiliating pink underwear and suspects apprehended with pink handcuffs.

Arpaio told Nightline he's an "equal-opportunity enforcement and incarcerator." He said he locks up everyone.

But the "Do not enter illegally" signs on his sheriff vans and the hotline he created specifically for tips related to illegal immigration have lead some to believe he's only looking to lock up illegal immigrants.

According to ABC, Arpaio has taken it upon himslef to apply federal laws regarding immigration to a recent Arizona mandate that says it's a criminal offense to bring illegal foreign nationals into the state. Arpaio said migrants are accessories to the crime and encourages his deputies to use minor traffic violations as impetus to arrest them.

According to ABC, deputies set up traps near locations where employers are known to pick up migrant workers to catch illegals in "routine" traffic stops.

The report bordered on charging Arpaio with racial profiling. He countered, saying illegals commit more crimes.

Police in Pheonix and Mesa, Ariz., told Nightline their statistics refute Arpaio's claim and crime is actually worse in Arpaio's sector.

"Sheriff Joe" video
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Photos courtesy of ABC

Illegals receive medical care for burns

The Union-Tribune reported that 11 out of 18 fire victims at UCSD Medical Hospital are Mexican nationals in the country illegally. They are suspected of crossing the border illegally and facing the Harris fire last week. UCSD told the Union-Tribune doctors are required by law to continue treatment despite extensive costs and the patients' immigration statuses. The individuals can only be deported back to Mexico, even for medical treatment, if a doctor declares them fit for travel.

According to the Union-Tribune, San Diego County hospitals spent $619 million in uncompensated care last year. About 15 percent of that was spent on undocumented immigrants.

Hospitals do receive some federal funding to cover such costs, but many are calling for the Mexican government to share the cost of treating the fire victims, many of whom will require extended care.

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Congressman thanks "Los Bomberos"

About 60 firefighters from Mexico crossed the border to assist U.S. firefighters with the wildfires last week, according to the Associated Press. Congressman Bob Filner met a group of the men called "Los Bomberos." He said he was "awestruck" by the support from the local, national, and international communities. The visiting firefighters returned to Mexico Oct. 23 to battle blazes in Tecate and Ensenada.

Latino evacuees report discrimination

Some Latino evacuees reported unfair treatment, including unequal distribution of supplies, at Qualcomm this week after two families were turned in to immigration authorities. Three families were accused of stealing supplies from the evacuation site; two could not produce identification and were turned over to border patrol. About 25 families who are in the country illegally left Qualcomm shortly after the incident. The families suspected of stealing said they only took what they had already been given, including children's toys and Gatorade.

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Fire fuels illegal crossings

The Harris fire burning near Tecate and Campo has not stopped some Mexican nationals from crossing into the United States illegally. The U.S. Border Patrol said six illegal immigrants were rescued by firefighters Monday and were hospitalized with burn injuries. U.S. officials have asked the Mexican government to warn its citizens of the dangers of crossing into the fire zone. More than 200 people have been arrested for crossing the border illegally since the fire began on Sunday.

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DREAMs won't come true in Senate

Senate scrapped legislation last week that would have granted amnesty to 360,000 high school graduates who came to the United States illegally. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, would have given these youth conditional citizenship if they attended two years of college or served two years in the military. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., withdrew the proposal after it faced increased opposition from senators on the left and right. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he plans to push the bill through Senate by December.

DREAM Act
Union Tribune editorial

New law provides shelter from landlord queries

Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill this morning that makes it illegal for local governments in California to require that landlords check the immigration status of potential renters. This law counteracts an ordinance the Escondido city council tentatively approved last year, which would have made it illegal for landlords to rent to illegal immigrants. The new law will go into effect Jan. 1.

More on AB 976

Filner speaks at Blackwater rally

"I think [Blackwater USA] thought they were putting this thing in Duncan Hunter's district. Blackwater, you're gonna have to deal with my army." Congressman Bob Filner spoke to an army of protesters in lime-green "Stop Blackwater" T-shirts about plans to put a training facility in the 51st district.

Congressman Bob Filner spoke at a rally of nearly 150 people protesting plans to build a Blackwater USA training facility in Potrero Sunday afternoon.

"Blackwater is a black mark on American democracy," Filner said.

Filner called private Blackwater security forces mercenaries and accused the company of war profiteering. Residents said they are concerned with increased traffic, noise, and the environmental impact of the proposed site.

Residents also said the local planning committee approved the project without consent from the public. Residents will vote in a recall election on Dec. 11. If committee members are removed from office, the new committee will readdress the issue and might advise the county board of supervisors not to approve the project. The board of supervisors has final authority on the matter.

A smaller group presented their opposition at the rally. Luyisa Wildey, who lives within a mile of the site, said Potrero residents were invited to initial planning meetings, and that Blackwater and the county have addressed the concerns of residents in their plans. She also said Blackwater will provide needed jobs and give back to the community.

Iraq calls for removal of Blackwater

Photo courtesy of The Union Tribune

U.S. needs immigrant labor force, Calderón

President Felipe Calderón said the United States and Mexico should "build bridges and not fences" on "Good Morning America" this morning. He told Diane Sawyer the U.S. government's plan to build a 700-mile fence, which would cost billions of dollars, would cripple the U.S. economy by creating a labor shortage.

Calderón mentioned farmers in Washington, whose apples have not been harvested because there aren't enough laborers. New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Wisconsin secretary of agriculture both said industries in their regions would "collapse" without Mexican immigrants.

According to "Good Morning America," the White House is rewriting legislation that placed limits on employers who hire immigrants in order to save the season's harvest.

Though Calderón criticized U.S. immigration policy, he told Sawyer he appreciated Bush's failed efforts to reform the immigration policy last year. He also said he expects the Mexican economy to improve within a decade, greatly decreasing the number of people crossing the border for jobs.

"Speaking With Mexico's President" video
"Mexicans in America" video
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More on apple harvest

Photo courtesy of ABC

Fed pushes for quantity over quality

A leader of Local 1613 of the National Border Patrol Council said he is looking into rumors that the border patrol academy is pushing new agents through its program and making it nearly impossible to fail. These accusations come when the federal government is pushing for 6,000 new hires under Operation Jump Start.

The San Diego border patrol union said several new agents aren't adequately prepared, citing recent incidents in which new agents weren't familiar with the proper amount of force to use when apprehending suspects in the field. The source would not specify injuries or poor conduct.

Changes in the academy's program include increasing the age limit for agents from 37 to 40 and shortening training from 91 days to 81. Officials at the academy also said recruits are having trouble with the Spanish courses, as many are now from out of the border region.

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Filner's court date postponed

Congressman Bob Filner is now scheduled to appear in court for misdemeanor assault and battery charges on Dec. 4.

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No 'sanctuary' for Giuliani from Romney attacks

The term "sanctuary city" has taken center stage after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney aggressively questioned Rudy Giuliani's stance on immigration enforcement at the city and state levels.

A sanctuary city is one that prohibits its law enforcement officers from arresting and questioning people about their immigration status solely for the purpose of immigration enforcement. Romney says cities that support the policy become "magnets" for illegal immigrants and says he would cut funding for cities that adopt the policy. Proponents of the policy say it increases trust and cooperation with authorities in immigrant neighborhoods.

San Diego has not been named a sanctuary city. Many cities in the county try to combat illegal immigration by requiring documentation from employers hiring day laborers or limiting who landlords can rent to. National City mayor Nick Inzunza faced much criticism last year after proposing that National City become a sanctuary city.

Commentary: Save me from Romney ads
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GAO says no to those from controversial nations

After releasing a report that shows nearly 10,000 immigrants from countries supporting terrorism were granted permanent residency since 2000, the Government Accountability Office has asked to alter the Diversity Visa Program that brought them here.

The GAO recommended the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs bar foreigners from these countries from participating in the visa lottery aimed at increasing immigration from areas with low rates of travel to the United States. This would include all countries on the government's list of states that sponsor terrorism: Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea.

The Bureau told the Associated Press that it agrees with the recommendation in principle, but is concerned for those fleeing from oppressive regimes. Limiting the countries that can participate in the lottery also diminishes the program's goal of diversity.

Ted Kennedy defended the program from a previous attempt to amend it saying, "The purpose is...to preserve our very heritage as a nation of immigrants and a true melting pot. Unlike other visa categories, the diversity visa is not about who you know, or to whom you are related. It is a totally unique program because anyone with a high school degree or two years of meaningful work experience can apply." Read more of Kennedy's defense here.

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Filner faces House Ethics Committee

The House Ethics Committee announced today that it would conduct an inquiry into Congressman Bob Filner's alleged assault on a United Airlines employee last month. Filner is due to appear in court on October 2.

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Border Authority Act

Hope remains for Congressman Bob Filner and other representatives in the border region after HR 3246 failed to pass in the House on Monday. That's because HR 2068, the Southwest Border Authority Act, remains in the House and at the top of the border representatives' agendas.

Both bills address the need for economic development in regions that suffer from chronic unemployment and poverty far above the national level. If passed, HR 2068 would establish the Southwest Border Authority, which would create programs and allocate federal funds allocated by the act.

The bill was introduced in April, and Filner's district office says it will be a top priority in the coming months.

HR 3246, the Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act would have focused on multiple regions throughout the United States. It didn't receive a two-thirds vote to pass. Congressman Brian Bilbray (CA-R) voted against the bill. Duncan Hunter (CA-R) was absent for the vote.

Overview and Introduction

Bob Filner's office in Chula Vista acts as the "eyes and ears in the community," said District Chief of Staff Humberto Peraza. The purpose of the office is help the 51st District House Representative and self-proclaimed "Border Congressman" serve his constituents by representing constituents who bring cases to his staff concerning citizenship or other needs dealing with federal agencies. The staff also hits the pavement to seek out those issues concerning residents most, so they can inform the Congressman, who might present such concerns before Congress and propose a legislative solution. Staff members are each assigned to one or more of the following issues or geographic locations: health care, labor, Sentri passes at the U.S.-Mexican border, immigration, veterans' affairs, military, African American, Latino, Jewish, Asian-American, Muslim and gay communities and the cities of Chula Vista and National City.

Veterans' affairs and immigration remain at the top of the staffs agenda, because of Filner's position as the Chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and his district's location next to the border.

This is an important office in San Diego County, because it helps represent and speak on behalf of a large portion of our county. Furthermore, our location makes immigration a hot-button topic. Immigration debates have always been present but continue to escalate as elections near. The 51st District office communicates the needs of the area closest to the border to Congress, where legislation can be introduced that might drastically change the border region and immigration policy.

Filner's Web site