I am a half-Latina, half-white, lifelong Ohio citizen. Having grown up in southwest Ohio, I was used to being called derogatory names because of my ethnicity. This should be no surprise, given that Ohio is not new to the fight against hate (our state has had a troubling history of discrimination against African-Americans, new immigrants and even Appalachian migrants). However, I fear that hate is becoming more elusive under the guise of anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Nationwide, hate crimes against Latinos have increased over 40 percent in the past decade. It is no coincidence that these crimes correspond with the steady rise in the anti-immigrant movement in the past decade. In Ohio, there are 27 hate groups and eight nativist extremist groups, all of which are designated as such by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Sadly, Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for hate crime incidents.
As these organizations continue to control the immigration debate with falsehoods about immigrants, the real message is more subtle; that is one of fear of "the other." This threatens not just immigrants, but all Americans. The foundational ideology of America is that "all men are created equal." Yet these hate groups are testing this ideology by advocating the singling out of groups that are "undeserving" of constitutional protections and the American dream. As a Latina, I am disturbed by the increase in public buy-in to the anti-immigrant messages. But as an American, I am even more disturbed by the erosion of the very values that have made this nation great. History teaches us that America's strength is our diversity, and our weakness is the fear of diversity. These hate groups jeopardize our progress as a nation and a state by playing on those fears.
Florentina Staigers, Columbus
Published: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - See Cleveland Plain Dealer Post Here with Comments
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
CIR Resolution of Expression passes unanimously in Columbus
Last night, Monday - July 21, 2010 the Columbus City Council unanimously passed a Resolution of Expression to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. About 30 CIR organizers, activists and supporters were present to hear the presentation. The resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Charleta Tavares and signed by Councilpersons; Andrew Ginter, Troy Miller, Eileen Paley, Priscilla Tyson, and President ProTempore, Hearcel Craig.
While non-binding, the resolution shows that the Columbus City Council understands the need for CIR and speaks very loud for the leadership of the Columbus.
This is another victory for our fight for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Ohio. Thanks to all who made it happen!
Ruben Castilla Herrera
Monday, June 21, 2010
City of Columbus Resolution on Comprehensive Immigration Reform to be Introduced TONIGHT - Monday, June 21, 2010
Below is the copy of the Resolution to be presented tonight to City Council. Speaking on behalf of the community on the resolution:
Jeffrey Cohen - Dept. of Anthropology - Ohio State University -
Virginia Lohmann Bauman - Church World Service
Gus Shihab - Immigration Attorney
Hope to see a crowd of supporters tonight!
Ruben Castilla Herrera
__________________________________________
City of Columbus
File Name
To support comprehensive immigration reform and urge action from Congress and the Ohio General Assembly to support the needs of Columbus as well as other cities and towns as we integrate immigrants into Ohio and American community.
Title
To support comprehensive immigration reform and urge action from Congress and the Ohio General Assembly to support the needs of Columbus as well as other cities and towns as we integrate immigrants into Ohio and American communities.
Body
WHEREAS, immigration is a federal responsibility and a comprehensive approach to solve our broken immigration system is necessary to meet the goals of ensuring a thriving and secure community and economy in Columbus and throughout the State of Ohio and the nation; and
WHEREAS, protecting the human and civil rights of immigrants and citizens is paramount to the success of Columbus, the State of Ohio and all communities in America as we move forward in the 21st Century; and
WHEREAS, the inability of government at all levels to reach consensus on a solution to immigration has created financial, cultural and political strains in communities across America; and
WHEREAS, immigration reform must occur in a comprehensive, thoughtful manner that focuses on improving homeland security, helping integrate immigrants into the community and alleviating the costs of providing services such as public safety, language services, housing, health, education, and social services; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a process whereby undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. may earn legalized status through payment of appropriate fees, back taxes, background checks, absence of criminal or gang activity, consistent work history, and the ability to meet, English and civics requirements will provide a means for communities to provide greater stability for our newest residents; and
WHEREAS, Congress should increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to provide communities with the necessary resources they need to detain criminals; and
WHEREAS, this Council supports a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that keeps families together, upholds our values as Americans, promotes economic growth, and provides a long-term solution to the immigration system; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL:
That this Council requests that Congress enact comprehensive immigration reform that addresses: (1) border security and interior enforcement; (2) workplace enforcement; (3) guest workers; (4) legalization of undocumented workers currently in the U.S.; (5) a path to citizenship for immigrants now in the country; and (6) resources to local and state jurisdictions to alleviate the local impacts of delivering services to new immigrants.
That this Council requests that Congress provide adequate federal funding to help communities integrate new residents into their communities.
That this Council urges the Congress of the United States and the Ohio General Assembly to adopt Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation that includes the framework outlined in Section 1 of this resolution and further urges their opposition to legislation that undermines the principles of said Section.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the U.S. Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, members of the Ohio General Assembly, Governor of the state, Ohio Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.
Jeffrey Cohen - Dept. of Anthropology - Ohio State University -
Virginia Lohmann Bauman - Church World Service
Gus Shihab - Immigration Attorney
Hope to see a crowd of supporters tonight!
Ruben Castilla Herrera
__________________________________________
City of Columbus
File Name
To support comprehensive immigration reform and urge action from Congress and the Ohio General Assembly to support the needs of Columbus as well as other cities and towns as we integrate immigrants into Ohio and American community.
Title
To support comprehensive immigration reform and urge action from Congress and the Ohio General Assembly to support the needs of Columbus as well as other cities and towns as we integrate immigrants into Ohio and American communities.
Body
WHEREAS, immigration is a federal responsibility and a comprehensive approach to solve our broken immigration system is necessary to meet the goals of ensuring a thriving and secure community and economy in Columbus and throughout the State of Ohio and the nation; and
WHEREAS, protecting the human and civil rights of immigrants and citizens is paramount to the success of Columbus, the State of Ohio and all communities in America as we move forward in the 21st Century; and
WHEREAS, the inability of government at all levels to reach consensus on a solution to immigration has created financial, cultural and political strains in communities across America; and
WHEREAS, immigration reform must occur in a comprehensive, thoughtful manner that focuses on improving homeland security, helping integrate immigrants into the community and alleviating the costs of providing services such as public safety, language services, housing, health, education, and social services; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a process whereby undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. may earn legalized status through payment of appropriate fees, back taxes, background checks, absence of criminal or gang activity, consistent work history, and the ability to meet, English and civics requirements will provide a means for communities to provide greater stability for our newest residents; and
WHEREAS, Congress should increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to provide communities with the necessary resources they need to detain criminals; and
WHEREAS, this Council supports a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that keeps families together, upholds our values as Americans, promotes economic growth, and provides a long-term solution to the immigration system; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL:
That this Council requests that Congress enact comprehensive immigration reform that addresses: (1) border security and interior enforcement; (2) workplace enforcement; (3) guest workers; (4) legalization of undocumented workers currently in the U.S.; (5) a path to citizenship for immigrants now in the country; and (6) resources to local and state jurisdictions to alleviate the local impacts of delivering services to new immigrants.
That this Council requests that Congress provide adequate federal funding to help communities integrate new residents into their communities.
That this Council urges the Congress of the United States and the Ohio General Assembly to adopt Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation that includes the framework outlined in Section 1 of this resolution and further urges their opposition to legislation that undermines the principles of said Section.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the U.S. Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, members of the Ohio General Assembly, Governor of the state, Ohio Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Resolution to be Presented at Columbus City Council Meeting Monday - June 21, 2010
CALL TO ACTION!!
TODAY!! - June 21, 2010, Councilwoman and CIR supporter Charleta Tavares will be introducing a non-binding resolution at the Columbus City Council Meeting supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform on a national level. Reform Immigration for America and other individuals have been working with her office on this resolution.
It is important that as many CIR activists and supporters attended the Council Meeting. The meeting begins at 5:00 PM. Reform Immigration for America will be holding a Press Conference after the Resolution is voted upon. We do have the support we need for it to pass!
Columbus will be the second city in Ohio to pass such as resolution. Cleveland passed a similar resolution last month. Toledo has a resolution pending.
It is important to spread the word and work on turn-out for at City Council Chambers.
1.The Columbus City Council Meeting begins at 5pm.
2.The meeting is located at City Hall - 90 West Broad street, Columbus, OH 43215. (However the entrance into the building is from Front Street).
3.Once you enter the building you will sign in at the security guards station (Please note that you will need to have identification when signing in).
Please spread the word. For more information contact:
Ruben Castilla Herrera
Ohio State Director
Reform Immigration for America
rherrera2457@yahoo.com
Columbus is about to jump back into the immigration debate.
SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 02:50 AM
BY ROBERT VITALE
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A month after Mayor Michael B. Coleman touched off a nationwide backlash by banning city-worker travel to Arizona, City Council members are poised to endorse immigration reforms that would both tighten U.S. borders and grant legal status to undocumented workers now in the country.
Councilwoman Charleta B. Tavares will sponsor a resolution on Monday that calls on Congress to "solve our broken immigration system" and urges federal and state lawmakers to help cities pay for the services they provide for immigrants.
"It's a message to Congress: You are responsible, and all 50 states need uniform immigration policies," Tavares said. "It should be done in a comprehensive way, not a piecemeal way."
Four other council members - Hearcel F. Craig, Andrew J. Ginther, A. Troy Miller and Priscilla R. Tyson - are co-sponsoring the resolution, ensuring its passage.
President Michael C. Mentel cannot attend Monday's council meeting, spokesman John Ivanic said. Councilwoman Eileen Paley isn't listed as a sponsor, either, and wasn't available for comment.
Tavares' resolution echoes Coleman's call last month for "comprehensive immigration reform," but it goes far beyond his support for rules that would let immigrants become U.S. citizens.
Among its suggestions:
• Reforms should address border security, as well as enforcement inside the country and within U.S. workplaces.
• Provisions should let undocumented immigrants with clean criminal records earn legal status by paying fees and back taxes, having steady work and meeting English-language requirements.
• Changes should keep families together, protect immigrants' human and civil rights, and "uphold our values as Americans."
Many of the resolution's stands have been proposed by the National League of Cities.
Coleman's Arizona travel ban came in response to that state's new law, which allows police to demand documentation if they suspect people who they've stopped for other reasons are in the country illegally.
rvitale@dispatch.com
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/06/19/copy/city-to-push-immigration-reform.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Fairfield supports Arizona-type immigration reform Mayor: ‘Something has to be done’
This is the letter from Fairfield Mayor Ron D'Epifiano to Governor Ted Strickland which he read at last nights Fairfield City Council Meeting (Jun 14, 2101). Stay tuned for details on the meeting
Monday, June 14, 2010
SW Ohio Action Alert: The Fairfield, OH City Council will be meeting tonight to further their Anti-Immigrant Political Agenda!
Meeting Place: 5350 PLEASANT AVENUE
FAIRFIELD, OHIO 45014
FAIRFIELD, OHIO 45014
Time: 7:00pm
Below is the latest available 1st person report:
"There is no vote or ordinance to be brought up for a vote.
The mayor and council plan to read and sign a letter addressed to Sheriff Jones, the Governor and President in support of Sheriff Jones and his actions.
He was emphatically against not allowing people to be here "illegally", as he said they should "do it the right way".
I asked him to watch the trailer for "9500 Liberty" and explained how a Virginia community passed laws similar to those in Arizona, which they later repealed due to the economic impact (they now have one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country), and the increased cost to staff and run the police department in effort to enforce the laws.
He did not agree to watch the movie or consider my feeble attempts."
UPDATE: The apparent reason as to why this is not on the meeting agenda is because the Mayor is set to raise the issue as a "private citizen"...even though he is the Mayor: Mayor Ron D'Epifiano, 513- 829-4939.
"I spoke with the Mayor. He said that he is going to offer a letter to the governor and president in support of Sheriff Jones’ and Courtney Combs’ efforts. He said the letter will be offered not as Mayor, but as a private citizen letter. He is asking the council members to sign in private capacities as well.
He claims that he has done research on the impact of illegal immigration. He started spouting talking points about diseases brought into the country from immigrants. He then talked about uninsured drivers having accidents. He claims he has friends who are legal immigrants from non Hispanic countries. He said he is a first generation US citizen.
I asked if he saw that offering such a letter at a council meeting, while sitting behind a sign saying Fairfield Mayor didn’t look like an official act. He disagreed. I asked him if he had asked the Hispanic Chamber their views. He said no. I asked him if he cared if Hispanic business owners would feel unwelcome. He did not respond."
Action: If you have input on these policies and an interest in Ohio immigration politics:
PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL PERSONS; EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO SUCH ACTIONS!
Mike Snyder, First Ward: 513-703-0355, msnyder@fairfield-city.org
Marty Judd, Second Ward: 513-615-5190, mjudd@fairfield-city.org
Mitch Rhodus, Third Ward: 513-829-0111, mitch@zoomtown.com
Terry Senger, Fourth Ward: 513-829-5712, tsenger@fairfield-city.org
Tim L. Abbott, Council Member at Large: 513-829-9921, tabbott@fairfield-city.org
Tim Meyers, Council Member at Large: (Phone Unavailable), tmeyers@fairfield-city.org
Mike Oler, Council Member at Large: 513-829-4003, moler@fairfield-city.org
*ALL NUMBERS & E-MAILS ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY AT: http://www.fairfield-city.org/council/biographies.cfm
Brought to you by your friends at LULAC
Leo J. Pierson
Saturday, June 12, 2010
WTVN Officials Apologize for Words
Talk-radio's plan to give away trip to Phoenix seen as insensitive
Saturday, June 12, 2010 02:50 AM
By Encarnacion Pyle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A local talk-radio station has apologized for insensitive language it used to promote a giveaway of a trip to Phoenix after Columbus' mayor suspended city travel to Arizona to protest a new immigration law, city and community representatives say.
Columbus officials said WTVN (610 AM) pledged this week to work with the city to build better community relations after the controversial promotion.
The apology reportedly came on-air last week and during a meeting with community leaders on Tuesday. The promotion, which ran in May, characterized Phoenix as a city "where Americans are proud and illegals are scared." It also suggested that the winner could spend the weekend "chasing aliens."
The giveaway offended many advocacy groups, including Reform Immigration for America, which held a news conference denouncing the promotion.
Jose Luis Mas, chairman of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, said he's pleased that WTVN admitted a mistake.
"It was a lame attempt at humor at the expense of a vulnerable community," Mas said.
Mike Elliott, program director at WTVN, didn't return several phone calls.
Officials with the radio station and its parent company, Clear Channel Communications, met with community representatives this week to hash out their concerns, said Napoleon Bell, executive director of Columbus' Community Relations Committee.
He said in an e-mail that the commission sent a letter to WTVN this week expressing its "condemnation of the language used in the promotion."
When the controversy first erupted, Elliott said the company did not plan to apologize and disagreed that the promotion contained racial overtones. He said the contest was created to capitalize on the debate kicked up by Mayor Michael B. Coleman's travel restriction last month.
Although the incident divided the community, Mas said, it should be celebrated as a learning opportunity.
"I think a lot of people misunderstand the challenges facing immigrants," Mas said.
epyle@dispatch.com
SEIU, Labor Unions call on Voinovich to Show Leadership on Immigration Reform
By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio
Jun 10, 2010 4:22:04 PM ET
Workers took to the streets of downtown Columbus to reject enforcement-only policies and Arizona’s racial profiling copycat laws in Ohio. Instead, these activists – coalition partners of Reform Immigration for America -- are pushing for comprehensive immigration reform that would protect all workers and boost our economy.
According to the Immigration Policy Center, comprehensive reform would yield huge gains for the American economy – up to $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
After the rally at the Statehouse, the group headed to the office of retiring Republican Senator George Voinovich to ask him to take leadership on immigration reform and help his party find real solutions instead of pushing costly and ineffective policies that do nothing to actually fix our broken immigration system.
Last year, the U.S. spent $18.1 billion on immigration enforcement, as reflected in the U.S. Homeland Security budget report. “In this deeply troubled economy, we need to do everything we can to jump start a recovery,” said SEIU District 1199 President Becky Williams. “Immigration reform is the only way to stop the current immigration crisis and boosts our economy at the same time.”
Studies have shown that if all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Ohio, the state would lose $4.0 billion in expenditures, $1.8 billion in economic output, and approximately 25,019 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group. “We need Senator Voinovich to actively push for immigration reform for the benefit of working people. The time is now, let’s strengthen our economy!” said Williams. “Senator Voinovich can show the leadership and courage that Ohio’s workers need by pushing for comprehensive immigration reform.
We must not stand-by as states pass piece-meal legislation or enact Arizona racial-profiling copycat laws,” said United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1059 President Becky Berroyer. “This broken immigration system divides families, harms workers whether documented or undocumented, and delays an economic recovery for workers. Reform, not raids, will strengthen Ohio’s workplaces and boost our economy.”
One step that Senator Voinovich can take right now is to co-sponsor the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The DREAM Act would provide an incentive for immigrant youth to stay in school. By reducing dropout rates, our economy stands to benefit greatly.
According to one RAND study, the increased contribution to the economy from an immigrant who graduates from college is nearly $9,000 more than one who drops out of high school. The DREAM Act would also result in higher incomes and contribute greatly to increased consumer spending and investment.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
LULAC Strongly Opposes Hartman's Proposal to Cut Indigent Care
Aiding Wealthy Sports Teams by Taking From the Poor is Shameful
CINCINNATI, OH--The Cincinnati Council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) strongly opposes Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartman's proposal to cut indigent care funds. Commissioner Hartman would have these critical resources rerouted to what he calls a "broken Stadium Fund." Based on his proposal, Commissioner Hartman would reroute $110 million, which is currently used to provide critical healthcare services to indigent individuals at University Hospital. Those monies would be used to subsidize a mismanaged Stadium Fund.
University Hospital has efficiently used these funds for more than half a century to provide a safety net for our region. Mr. Hartman inappropriately justifies his proposal via our newly passed national health care legislation. However, emergency services cannot wait until our federal and state bureaucracies resolve the details of a national health care bill, which will likely not be fully functional until 2014. LULAC will not stand silent on this issue so long as our local government seeks to prioritize entertainment and supposed needs of wealthy sports teams ahead of the value of the lives of our community's less fortunate.
LULAC urges leaders from across Greater Cincinnati to join together in our efforts to protect those lives which will be impacted by such an irresponsible action.
Please show support; call these Hamilton County Commissioners TODAY:
Greg Hartman: 513.946.4405
David Pepper: 513.946.4409
Todd Portune: 513.946.4401
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
Toledo Free Press Needs Reality Check
In a recent article entitled "Protecting the Borders," Toledo Free Press President Tom Pounds criticizes Toledo City Councilmen Adam Martinez and Joe McNamara for their proposed resolution condemning Arizona's SB 1070. Mr. Pounds's arguments just don't hold up. His main point is that the situation in Arizona is happening 1,700 miles away; why would we want to get Toledo involved?
If Toledo and other cities don't get involved in this issue, the issue will come to them. As the OAC has pointed out, we will likely face an issue on the ballot in 2011 which would codify and mandate Arizona's style of immigration enforcement here in Ohio. Statewide. Including Toledo.
If you share the view that heavy-handed local immigration enforcement, racial profiling and general disregard for the US Constitution is something that happens only "over there," frankly you need to wake up. This is already happening in your own backyard.
The following is the text of an email that I sent to Mr. Pounds in response to his article. I'm still waiting for a response.
Dear Mr. Pounds,
I respect your views on the proposed nonbinding resolution by Toledo City Council. However, I think your argument that this is not a Toledo-relevant issue (or even Ohio-relevant) deserves a second look. You correctly point out that Representative Combs is pushing legislation in both the Ohio House and Senate. The reality is that he is not the primary force behind the bills. He is working closely with Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones to bring not only legislation, but a ballot-initiative for 2011.
Sheriff Jones's record on local immigration enforcement speaks for itself. He has worked with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which is designated as a "Hate Group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center as well as the Anti-Defamation League. Recently he was sued and subsequently settled out of court for alleged misuse of his 287(g) program, which deputizes local law enforcement to enforce Federal immigration policy. He and Combs recently visited Arizona, and have publicly advocated for Arizona-style policies in Ohio. I invite you to check the Ohio Action Circle blog for more information about the proposed ballot initiative herehttp://ohioactioncircle.blogspot.com/2010/06/sheriff- jones-plans-to-bring-arizona- to.html
Clearly this is something which will very soon be thrust onto the statewide scene (I would argue that it already has). Furthermore, this is inherently Toledo-relevant due to Toledo's proximity to Ohio's international border with Canada. US Customs and Border Patrol has jurisdiction to set up checkpoints up to 100 miles from our international border. Their Ohio outpost in Marblehead (50 miles from Toledo) has recently been placed under scrutiny by Toledo organizations FLOC and ABLE in a lawsuit alleging racial profiling and harassment of legal residents and US citizens. Article here: http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2009/121809/Border.htm
The argument that these laws encourage racial profiling is not hyperbole; it is reality. The policies are being challenged before our courts, and there is already data to back it up. Clearly this is not an issue unique to Arizona, and I think we'll see more city councils in Ohio begin to take up similar resolutions.
Respectfully,
Nick Torres
Ohio Grassroots Organizer
Reform Immigration For America
Monday, June 7, 2010
Butler County Featured on NPR's Latino USA
Latino USA, a weekly podcast on NPR, is always recommended listening. The most recent installment, however is particularly noteworthy. Above you'll hear a segment in which reporter Lygia Navarro travels to Butler County to interview several residents of the area and even Sheriff Jones. Check the Latino USA website to hear the podcast in its entirety.
This is yet another reminder of the attention (both positive and negative) which Ohio has received and will continue to receive as this year's election cycle develops. In the report, local community members comment on the discrimination directed toward Latin@s in recent years, and Professor Jeff Timberlake from the University of Cincinnati talks about his research showing distinct anti-Latin@ sentiments among Ohioans. All of this, despite the fact that Ohio has one of the lowest immigrant populations in the country.
It's still nice to see that our story is gaining exposure to a wider national audience.
Guest Post by Director of the Mason Project on Immigration
Migration and the Challenges of Global Belonging
BY DEBRA LATTANZI SHUTIKA
Original Post Published June 1, by the GMU Global Studies Review Blog, Globality.
I began working with immigrant communities in 1995, focusing primary on new destinations. New destinations are those communities that are experiencing significant immigration, but have had little or no prior history of being locations of migration and settlement. I began my work in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the “Mushroom Capital of the World.” Mexican men had been migrating seasonally to and from Kennett Square for years to pick mushrooms. In the early 1990s, these Mexican men began settling permanently with their wives and children. When the project began, I assumed that most of my time would be spent with the Mexican nationals who were the center of my study, as was typical of most students of immigrant communities.
Within a few months of starting my project, I realized that if I wanted to understand the lives of immigrants, I would have to study their American-born counterparts as well. I did not realize that this simple act of inclusion would produce an innovative approach to the study of transnational migration. I was simply following up on something that several Mexican families had mentioned: that the American residents in Kennett Square had a significant influence on the lives of their immigrant neighbors, even in a social context where the two groups rarely interacted.
Central to the workings of any new destination are the feelings of belonging that immigrants and native-born residents associate with the places they call home. Although many migration scholars have worked to understand the lives and experiences of recent immigrants, few have seriously considered how immigration changes the lives of the citizen population. As immigrants from around the globe settle in new and diverse places in the U.S., the question of belonging has become more central to the debate on how we live together.
Belonging is a basic human need (Baumeister & Leary 1995; Young et al 2004; Mulgan & Johnson 2007; Mulgan 2009); it is negotiated through interpersonal relations. It is a process through which “people reflexively judge the suitability of a given site as appropriate given their social trajectory and their position in other fields” of experience (Savage, Bagnall & Longhurst 2005: 12). The majority of academic discussions about belonging focus on how immigration is transforming the nation. Wider national debates on issues of multiculturalism, citizenship, and immigrant integration often dominate discussions on what it means to belong to a community or the nation. Based on my work in new destinations, I believe that questions of belonging should be considered from the point of view of local citizens rather than from the top down. From this perspective it is possible to examine local attitudes about community change and consider how migration affects local understandings of tradition, local history, and cultural norms.
In new destinations, issues of belonging often become a two-fold challenge. Local social contexts shift with the introduction of the new population, making new destinations “new” for newcomers and longer-term residents alike. Immigrant residents are understandably struggling to belong, but the same can be true for those who have lived their entire lives in what has become the new destination. In many instances, longer-term residents experience a type of localized displacement, a feeling that their “home” is no longer a familiar and predictable place, thus making it difficult to embrace the changes taking place around them.1 Kennett Square’s longer-term residents reacted to the changes in their community with a sense of privilege. Because they were “here first,” they frequently assumed that their residential longevity justified local divisions of power and the subordinate position of recent immigrant settlers. As a group the longtime residents dominated social relations, controlled local resources and worked to control residents’ access to various places in town for recreation and socializing. They also had the ability to control the circumstances of that access.
The events in Kennett Square were not atypical. Indeed, I found a similar (albeit much more extreme) situation in Manassas, Virginia just three years ago. The social contexts of new destinations like Kennett Square and Manassas are interesting and complex. They are communities in transition where everyday life can be thrilling, but also often exasperating depending on a person’s tolerance for change. The longer-term residents in new destinations often complain that their communities have been permanently transformed by immigration, and they can no longer reliably expect that their new immigrant neighbors will speak English or share the same cultural beliefs and community values. When they feel displaced, native-born residents often find it difficult to embrace the changes taking place around them as their community transforms. In the most extreme circumstances, some longer-term residents find their changing communities threatening and frightening. This type of localized displacement is often expressed as through acts of intolerance and sometimes nativism. In the most extreme instances, new destinations have become virtual battlegrounds where long-term residents insist the must “take back” their communities.
Activities that are designed to “take back” a community can take many forms. In Kennett Square it involved community dialogues where the nature of community was discussed and plans for incorporating Mexican families took shape. In other locations, like Manassas, anti-immigrant citizens formed “Help Save Manassas,” and lobbied county supervisors to pass local ordinances that would apprehend and remove undocumented immigrants from the community.
In practice, these responses had very different effects. The anxiety that was associated with migrant settlement in Kennett Square during the 1990s has waned significantly. While there are still misunderstandings about migrants and occasional acts of intolerance toward Mexican residents, for the most part residents have come to terms with a new Kennett Square identity as a multi-ethnic community. In Manassas the county ordinances effectively alienated the immigrant population. While completing fieldwork there in 2008-2009, I found that many immigrant families decided to leave in response to the new laws, some abandoning their homes to foreclosure. Others remained, but were less likely to participate openly in the community. In the most extreme cases immigrants told me that they were reluctant to leave their homes and were mistrustful of their American neighbors.
Many new destination communities have emerged in the U.S. in the last twenty years, but only a handful have had notably intolerant responses to immigrant settlement. While it is possible that communities might eventually work through the disruptions and change without intervention, in circumstances where the transition has been antagonistic or hostile, there are ways to facilitate the transition in new destinations that are constructive and can foster community solidarity. As a folklorist I have advocated the initiation of cultural documentation projects that can be used to help communities with this process.
The first step is to recognize that adaptation to new migrant settlements involves change from newcomers and longtime residents alike, and adapting to these changes can be difficult. While this may seem obvious, when citizens speak out in opposition to immigration, they often complain that their fears about changes in their communities are not acknowledged and that they feel displaced. Unfortunately, the concerns about migrant settlement and community change are often couched in strong anti-immigrant and sometimes nativist discourse. The result is that when citizens express feelings of displacement they are disregarded because the broader message expresses intolerance and disregard for the needs of the immigrant community.
I do not advocate tolerance for the expression of racist or nativist sentiment, and I recognize that in every community there are individuals who oppose immigrant settlement because they abhor cultural difference. However, the residents of new destinations are people whose lives have been dramatically and irrevocably changed by immigrant settlement. The communities that they built, the world that was once familiar and predictable, is gone, and the anxiety that they feel about those changes is honest and understandable. It is important to distinguish between legitimate concerns and racist tirades. Racist statements and policies cannot be tolerated. Having worked in new destination communities for many years, I also know that discounting the concerns of citizen residents out of hand only serves to heighten their fears and often has the effect of polarizing the community.
My second recommendation is to institute programs that shift the focus of the community from the past, which is often idealized and viewed nostalgically, and to encourage residents to envision a shared future. I do not think it an accident that both Kennett Square and Manassas are communities that have storied pasts. Long-term residents in both communities often lamented that immigration was disrupting their historic identity. In these instances, any number of interventions might be employed, such as community dialogues to address local concerns. Shared projects that are designed to bring newcomers and long-term residents together with a common goal can also be useful. The strategies of cultural conservation, such as a community-wide oral history project, can help residents document and preserve the past that they once knew, but also chart a new direction for the future of the community.
Some communities will make the transition to becoming a new destination smoothly, while others will need assistance in order to process their transition in order to see their future differently. New destinations pose particular challenges as immigrants and their longer-term neighbors adapt to one another and their new home. Projects that work to foster a sense of belonging can help residents learn to accept and appreciate the community they have rather than pining for the one they have lost.
Debra Lattanzi Shutika is Associate Professor at the Department of English at George Mason University and Director of the Mason Project on Immigration.
REFERENCES
Baumeister, Roy F., and Mark R. Leary. 1995. The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. In Psychological Bulletin 117, no. 3 (May): 497-529.
Mulgan, Geoff. 2007. Belonging–local and national. In Britishness: Towards a Progressive Citizenship, ed. Nick Johnson. London: The Smith Institute. 60-68.
———. 2009. Feedback and Belonging: Explaining the Dynamics of Diversity. Migration Information Source. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/print.cfm?ID=718.
Savage, Michael. 2005. Globalization and Belonging. London: Sage.
Young, Anne F., Anne Russell, and Jennifer R. Powers. 2004. The sense of belonging to a neighbourhood: can it be measured and is it related to health and well being in older women? In Social Science & Medicine 59, no. 12 (December): 2627-2637.
ENDNOTES
- Localized displacement is a term used to reference the nearby relocation of residents after a natural disaster has permanently altered the landscape (Levine, Esnard and Sapat 2007). I use the term here to signify the perceptions of displacement and loss expressed by longer-term residents in Kennett Square. [↩]
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sheriff Jones's Quest to Bring Arizona to Ohio
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones recently took a trip to Cochise County, Arizona to visit the US-Mexico border and speak with local proponents of enforcement-heavy immigration measures like the recently passed SB 1070. His trip has been widely publicized, being covered in local papers as well as Fox News, and even NPR’s Latino USA. He even brought media along with him.
His infamous infatuation with immigrant incarceration (try saying that 5 times fast) is nothing new to Latino Ohioans. Butler County is currently the only place in Ohio that operates under the 287(g) program to deputize local law enforcement as federal immigration agents. Jones was recently sued by a resident of Butler County in connection with abuse of the 287 (g) program--the result of which was a $100,000 settlement to the victim.
However, Jones’s exploits have not been limited to Butler County. He has worked closely with state legislators from his area, attempting to expand the 287(g) program statewide, institute an English-only policy for Ohio, and most recently to ban the receipt of Worker’s Compensation for injured undocumented workers. He has also worked closely with groups like FAIR, an anti-immigrant organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
In a recent interview, Jones revealed that he is now working with Bay Buchanan and a “DC-based group” to bring Arizona’s SB 1070 to Ohio as a voter-initiative for the 2011 ballot. This DC group is presumably Team America PAC, a conservative group with ties to white supremacists and founded by Tom Tancredo. When Tancredo was a Colorado congressman, he supplied a wealth of anti-immigrant sound bites.
So what does this mean for Ohio? Jones and Combs have two options for their ballot initiative: an amendment to the Ohio Constitution or a voter-initiated statute (law). Right now, indications are that this will be a proposed law, not a constitutional amendment. This means that Jones and company have until the end of December 2010 to collect and file a number of signatures equal to 3% of the total voter turnout from the last governor’s election. If this is filed by November 2, the number is 120,638.
If the Ohio Secretary of State validates the signatures, the proposed statute is delivered to the Ohio General Assembly. The House and Senate have four months to pass it as written, pass it with amendments, or fail to pass it. If the version is passed as written, it becomes law and is not subject to the governor’s veto. If an amended version is passed, or if the General Assembly fails to pass it within four months, Jones and company would have 90 days to collect and file additional signatures equal to 3% of the electorate from the last governor’s election. If this requirement is met, the statute goes to the ballot at the next election.
These numbers are based on the election in 2006. However, as 2010 is an election year for the governor, voter turnout in November 2010 has the potential to impact the number of signatures needed to file this petition. In addition, we will need to work with state legislators to ensure that this statute does not advance through the General Assembly. In the past, Jones’s legislation has passed the Republican-run Senate and died in the Democratic-led House. This trend could change if the Democrats lose control of the House in November.
This is all the more reason why Latino's and the immigrant-friendly community need to show their force at the polls in November. Short of organizing a counter-ballot initiative, this is the surest way to defeat Jones and company.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
They Apologized! Your Letters Made a Difference! - Letter from NCLR
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Friday, June 4, 2010
Press Release - LULAC Highlights Strength of Diverse Community Effort, Gains 2nd Seat on Clear Channel Advisory Board
Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 365-4553 mobile
June 4, 2010
Radio Station General Manager Apologizes for the Insensitivity of the Promotion
| Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, called on Ohio radio station WTVN-AM and its parent company Clear Channel Communications to apologize for the distasteful contest held last week urging callers to win a free trip to Arizona and “spend a weekend chasing aliens and spending cash in the desert.” LULAC along with other national organizations will file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A coalition of Columbus community members including LULAC Ohio joined together in rejecting the insensitive promotion and advertisement on Clear Channel's WTVN 610 Radio Station, which depicted Mayor Coleman on a Green Card in a trip giveaway to Phoenix, Arizona last week. Organizations that came out against this action include: LULAC Ohio, LULAC – Columbus Councils, NCLR, Reform Immigration for America, Empleos y Employment, Ohio Hispanic Coalition, Casa de la Cultura Hispana, Colombianos en Ohio, The Horn of Africa Rescue Committee (SomaliCommunity), Victoria Motors, University Area Enrichment Association, DJVU Latin Fusion, Jewish Family Services of Columbus and Latino LeaderShift Initiative. On June 2nd, Station Manager of WTVN, Brian Dytko, went on air to publicly state, "We do not condone violence of any kind. We apologize for our actions here. We are always striving to engage our community on important issues of the day and sometimes we do a better job than others, but we always take the input of our community seriously." “We stood up to racial profiling and bigoted messaging inferred by WTVN’s promotion,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “This is clearly the chilling effect of what is happening in Arizona with SB 1070. We believe that our community must respect and protect all people. We will file a complaint with the FCC and ensure that threats made against the community are dealt with urgently.” “LULAC will continue to engage and develop our long-term relationship with Clear Channel” said Ohio State Director Jason Riveiro. “We have an advisory board with Clear Channel in Cincinnati and we will now be present on the advisory board in Columbus. This will help to ensure that these types of hurtful and insensitive issues do not reoccur in the future.” LULAC will have a meeting with Brian Dytko, General Manager of the station next week. |
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now
By Ezra Escudero
Published on Friday, Jun 04, 2010
Akron Beacon Journal
I am an American. More than that, I am also a first-generation American, born to parents of Mexican origin. Most important, I am an individual who loves his country and his heritage and feels deep pride in both. Unfortunately, the politics surrounding our nation's immigration policy now threatens to drive a wedge between the two.
While it is important to re-establish a system of law and order in regard to illegal immigration, it is equally important that all immigrants, regardless of legal status, are treated with dignity and respect. During the terms of two governors, Bob Taft and Ted Strickland, I had the honor of serving as the director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. In this position, I worked to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the legislative mandates that directly influence their day-to-day lives. However, my experience has also given me a distinct perspective on the challenges of tackling a difficult issue that has only worsened.
The current immigration system is broken. Individuals outside of our country want to pursue the American dream, but our immigration process makes that goal impossible. As a result, many enter our country illegally, some through extreme measures. However, these undocumented workers often do not find a promised land. Unscrupulous employers across the United States are creating a sub-class of workers — actually, modern-day indentured servants — who only continue to struggle. Additionally, this illicit labor force means that American citizens, who also face increasing tough economic times, are denied a fair chance at jobs.
Immigration policy is not an issue that can be decided on a state-by-state basis. During my service as Ohio's director of Latino Affairs, I also provided leadership and counsel for Latino affairs agencies in 17 other states. That experience solidified my belief that our fractured immigration process affects all of the states in our nation and that it will take all of our lawmakers working together to truly accomplish meaningful reform. Without action at the federal level, however, any effort on a state-by-state basis will only serve to further fragment an ineffective and worsening system.
The federal government must choose to tackle immigration reform now and in a way that allows the varied passionate beliefs on all sides of the issue to voice their questions and concerns. The answer is not to blindly accept illegal immigration through blanket amnesty, nor is it to eject all immigrants from our country.
The solution lies somewhere between the two, and it is the responsibility of our federally elected officials to work together to balance the need to protect American livelihoods while at the same time ensuring the ability of those who simply wish to provide a better life for their families to do so within the framework of the American legal system.
Our law enforcement resources are spread thin enough without extraneous expenditures on prosecuting possible illegal immigrants on every corner of America's streets. Common-sense solutions must prevail over knee-jerk reactions. Immigrants are not the enemy. Instead, they deserve the opportunity to seek American citizenship — according to our laws. But, in order to do so, our laws must first be just.
Being a U.S. citizen is a privilege. And it's one that Americans take for granted every day. The immigrants who try so desperately to cross our borders do so because they believe that our country will provide them with a better life than the one they left behind. Their dedication should be a lesson to all of us to truly appreciate the situation into which we were born.
I have a profound belief in the rule of law and a profound belief that our society should allow each individual to achieve his or her true potential. Unfortunately, our current immigration policy undermines the former and diminishes the latter. As an American, I believe the system must be changed. As an individual whose political loyalties tend toward the Republican side of the political divide, I hope and pray the partisan politics will not stand in the way of needed reform.
My personal motto is ''Don't ever be satisfied. Always look for ways to make things better and don't be afraid to take risks.'' I hope our federal elected officials of both parties are up to that challenge and choose to address comprehensive immigration reform yet this year.
Comprehensive immigration reform will help to secure our borders, reflect our current economic realities and enable immigrants to earn their place in our country.
The time to act is now.
Escudero was the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs from September 2003 to December 2009, and served as the founding chairman of the United States Council on Latino Affairs from 2008 to 2009.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New Report Shows NE Ohio suffers for a Lack of Immigrants
June 3
Article By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer
With the region's cultural diversity at its lowest point in 100 years, Northeast Ohio's economy lags the nation's. That's no coincidence, according to a report that highlights a missing ingredient. High-skill immigrants, mighty drivers of the New Economy, are conspicuously absent.
"Today, only five percent of the residents in Greater Cleveland are foreign-born," compared with about 33 percent in 1920, when the city was booming, notes the report commissioned by the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland. A lack of diversity places Cleveland in sharp contrast with America's rising cities, where immigrants play key roles as innovators and job creators, according to the analysis by researcher Becky Gaylord, a former editorial writer for The Plain Dealer.
Gaylord's report details steps the region can take to regain its lost status, including welcoming the world. It suggests creating an international welcome center that would help attract new talent and investment.
A sense of urgency threads the 75-page report. Cleveland is bleeding population and jobs and faces missing out on the global economy. With an average age near 40, Northeast Ohio is one of the oldest, least diverse, least educated regions in America.
"If Greater Cleveland could get and keep more immigrants, it would boost brain power, create businesses, revive neighborhoods and incite youthful innovators," the report states.
You can find the full report on the federation's homepage, jewishcleveland.org.
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