“Further from the country we aspire to be”

Today, the decision (or indecision) of 8 justices has changed the fate of thousands of immigrants in the United States. Since the decision was split 4-4, the previous ruling against the Obama administration’s immigration plan was withheld. The plan was simple: certain undocumented immigrants would be given the opportunity  to live in the U.S. for 3 years and acquire legal work here. The argument of the 25 states who called for the halt on Obama’s plan was that if these immigrants were allowed to stay in the U.S. for the 3 years they were promised, states would have to pay to support them. What they should have been thinking, however, is how the immigrants would support the states for those 3 years.

Domestic Violence Perpetuated by Deportation Threats

The threat of domestic violence plagues people  of all race and culture, however, there is a major problem happening in the world of immigrants. The issue being this: threats of deportation are being used as a way to trap immigrants in abusive relationships.

Small Business Week = Immigrant Appreciation Week

Last week was National Small Business Week. I think we can all agree that small business is vital to our country and, in many cases, represents The American Dream. With all the naysayers out there condemning immigration and blaming the problems of our country on the plethora of immigrants we harbor, it’s not often that immigrants are thanked. However, in light of last week’s celebration of small business, I think we should also be celebrating immigrants. The statistics of immigrants in small business may surprise you. Thanks to Immigration Impact, we have  these fun facts:

The Cost of being Lost in Translation

I’m sure you knew this, but the United States does NOT have an official language. While it’s true that most of us speak English, it is not a requirement to live here. In fact, in 2012, 14% of the US population were Spanish-speakers. For this reason, (not to mention basic human decency) I find it unsettling that there are still instances of discrimination in the judicial system against Latinos. The First Parish Court of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana has recently been exposed for their discriminatory actions by the Southern Poverty Law Center, who has filed a complaint to the U.S. Justice Department. The circumstances leading up to this complaint seem to be a case of favoritism and exclusion.

Bonds or Bracelets: Which is the lesser of two evils?

Let’s talk bondage…getting a bond after being detained can feel like a God-send. It can also feel like a nightmare once you realize the bond is several thousand dollars that you don’t have. This is a reality for so many immigrants who simply cannot afford to pay thousands in cash. If they have family here in the US, chances are the money is going to keeping their lives going, and if they’re here alone, they’ve been out of work while being detained, not leaving much for bond money. You’re thinking there has to be a better way, right? Well, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California agrees with you (you’re so smart) and has filed a class-action lawsuit against the federal government.

Extraordinarily high standards means deportation for two LSU alumni

What qualifies as “extraordinary” in today’s world? Surely you can’t just be an educator, an entrepreneur, a professional musician, or be highly recommended by peers in your field. But what if you were all of those things, and possibly more? Yuliyan Stoyanov, a Bulgarian national, satisfies all of the aforementioned attributes, as well as having a degree in violin performance from LSU and a Ph.D. in musical arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He and his wife, also a Bulgarian national, have received nearly $500,000 in scholarships to pursue their musical education and have played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Josh Groban, and in 10 countries around the globe. Their continued education granted them student visas during their studies and after graduating, they decided to apply for an O-visa.

Trump Agency pays foreign model wages below poverty line

Donald Trump has made several loud statements in opposition to immigration. In fact, on his website you can find a section titled “Put America’s Workers First,” with a subsection on increasing prevailing wages for H-1B’s. It’s a pretty typical move, but what Mr. Trump seems to have forgotten is that his own company, Trump Model Management, has been using the H-1B visa for years to lure in exotic models and pass them through the border without a hitch. He has hired roughly 30 foreign models in the past 8 years.

Senior Immigration Judge thinks 3 and 4 year olds can defend themselves in court

 

♫ I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way ♫

I think senior Justice Department official and Immigration Judge Jack H. Weil may have taken Whitney Houston’s lyrics a little too literally…

In a 4-hour deposition that was meant to sway the court to believe that juvenile immigrants do not need to be provided legal representation, Judge Weil made the assertion that juveniles can represent themselves in immigration proceedings. When I think of juveniles defending themselves I’m thinking maybe a 17-year-old kid who has at least taken a civics class, probably thinks he’s got the law down-pat and Judge Weil is just sick of these kids coming in acting like tough guys. That’s almost somewhat reasonable (but not really).

Undocumented Aliens Balance the Budget

With primaries underway and presidential hopefuls battling it out in full swing, talks of the budget issues in America are abundant. Here in Louisiana, lawmakers are working to close a $900 million deficit with the most likely solution being an increase in sales tax. Speaking of sales tax, what about immigration? Okay, okay, I realize they don’t sound all that related, but think about it.

Marco Rubio: Fair Weathered Friend

 

Last Thursday Marco Rubio made a promise: a promise to Americans as their “future president” and a promise to immigrants as their Friend? Foe? Ally? Adversary?