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Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, President of Baltimore City Council.
As of approximately 7 p.m. Monday night, Latinos in the Baltimore area have much to celebrate. At that time, in a bold, unprecedented action, the Baltimore City Council gave unanimous approval to the motion to support President Obama’s proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The motion, originated by Councilwoman Spector, is the first step in the road to the ultimate goal: obtaining congressional approval of this legislation.
For months, members of the Baltimore City's Commission of Hispanic Affairs, the Latino Providers Network, Casa de Maryland, Centro de la Comunidad, Education-Based Latino Outreach, the Hispanic Business Association, the Center for Community Change and other community organizations have been lobbying with elected officials in order to gain the support of the local City Council.
Jessica Contreras, Hispanic Liaison to Mayor Sheila Dixon’s Office, believes this is a major step that will give the Latino population a renewed confidence in the city’s government. “Last year there were some [immigration] raids in the area that affected many local families. Many people in the community were afraid to even go outside,” she explained, adding that “this resolution will, at least, give a verbal support to the community and help to curb that fear. That is the biggest benefit. It’s very important that the city’s residents know that the people who represent them are there to support them.” According to Ms. Contreras, Mayor Sheila Dixon is expected to formally present her support for the resolution today. “Mayor Dixon supports the immigrant community of the city,” she said. “Our office understands that the city is growing thanks to the contributions of the immigrant population.”
Nicolás Ramos, Chair of the Baltimore City’s Commission of Hispanic Affairs, also expressed the significance of this approval. “We are very proud of that our city is being a model for other cities in the country. There hasn’t been an Amnesty program for about 20 years now, so it’s very important that the thousands of immigrants in the city and the millions in the whole country have the opportunity to obtain licenses, to pay their taxes and to work legally.”
Comprehensive immigration legislation, which would include a plan to make legal status possible for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, is a priority for this administration and more importantly, for the Latino community around the country. As of right now, one in twenty workers in the U.S. workforce is the victim of employers who ignore labor rights and seek unfair advantage over competitors by not paying workers minimum wage. Once undocumented workers join the system, they will be able to come out of the shadows, to stand up for their rights and unionize, thereby helping to ensure that the labor market is a level playing field.
Nelson A. Ortega, Executive Director of Centro de la Communidad and also a member of the Commission of Hispanic Affairs, believes that “even if this a local move, this is a clear signal of the possibilities. Immigration reform will happen. It just won’t happen overnight. There will be some fighting to do, but this is the beginning,” he says, adding: “With the exception of Native Americans, everyone in this country is an immigrant. The United States has given every immigrant group an opportunity and the new groups that have arrived need an opportunity too.”
With the approval of this resolution, Baltimore –as a city that celebrates the diversity and contributions of immigrants — is setting a precedent for other cities in the United States and sending a clear and direct message to Congress: Comprehensive Immigration Reform is needed and it needs to happen PRONTO.
![Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, President of Baltimore City Council.
[Photo ©Elianne Ramos]](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/40/9b/409bbbecd7f07683b3be87ccf4435ba9.jpg "Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, President of Baltimore City Council.
[Photo ©Elianne Ramos]")
Comments
We need enforcement. The laws have not been enforced for some time now so this problem has ballooned into a monster that is consuming us.
There's nothing wrong with the laws, except that there is no consistent enforcement. Deport illegal workers, require all workers to have a valid right to work in the US, incarcerate, then deport all criminal aliens, protect our borders and ports from re-entry.....All those laws are in the Amnesty bill from 1986 and never implemented. Enforcement of that immigration bill was never funded. Why not? Never again.
Can we build prisons in Mexico to house Mexican criminals?
Can we charge a 50% fee for every dollar sent to Mexico?
Can we Insist that all deported immigrants take their kids?
Can we make paths to citizenship require self support?
Can we ban illegal immigrant children from social services?
That would be a good start.
This is directed to the author of this piece.
Why do find it acceptable that illegal aliens are allowed to mooch off of government services? Why is it acceptable that regular folks have to pay taxes just to support illegals aliens? This is absurb. Come to the US illegally and the goverment will take care of you. Only in America!! But hey, politicians will do anything for votes!!
You idiots in Baltimore area allowing foreign nationals, illegally in this nation, to push you around and denigrate your laws and you will suffer accordingly. Spinlessness has a price. Too bad you can't act like Americans with rights. What a bunch of wimps.
Let the US adopt the same immigration laws that Mexico has right now. The only language allowed, both spoken and taught, would be English. You will go straight to jail if you are here illegally. You have no rights to owning land or property, or the right to vote. The list is long and strict. To all you illegals, if you think the US government's policy is harsh, you should see your native Mexico, the US is a country club in comparison.
I just notice that the City Council has a lot of African Americans including the President of the City Council. Way to go, more jobs denied African Americans, because of illegal aliens. You sure as hell aren't hurting anyone else, if you look at the African American unemployment rates. Oh, well, stupid is as stupid does. You will all be replaced sooner or later by hispanics anyway, or better yet, thrown headlong out of office by the African Americans you are screwing over.
News Flash: Baltimore City Council Votes to Accelerate Its Following LA County into Bankruptcy
Insanity or Limitless Stupidity?
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Illegal Immigrant Costs Soaring for Dependents
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:30
Figures from the Department of Public Social Services show that children of illegal aliens in Los Angeles County collected nearly $22 million in welfare and over $26 million in food stamps in June, announced Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. Projected over a 12 month period - this would ex
Illegal Immigrant Costs Soaring for Dependents
Second Series Of Boundary Meetings Set By Hart District
A Show Of Lights In The Night Sky
So Cal Choppers Knocked Out Of ASA Gold Softball Tournament
Jewish Community Remembers, Plans, Hopes
Sweet Charity Provides Just Desserts To Worthy Cause
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Illegal Immigrant Costs Soaring for Dependents
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:30
Figures from the Department of Public Social Services show that children of illegal aliens in Los Angeles County collected nearly $22 million in welfare and over $26 million in food stamps in June, announced Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. Projected over a 12 month period - this would ex
As an American Citizen, I am appalled at the previous anti-immigrant statements. The words are hateful and divisive and based on hatred and unsubstantiated rhetoric.
Immigrants, whether undocumented or not, pay taxes every day: at the stores, when they pay rent, utilities, and other sales taxes. No one escapes paying taxes - Find a better argument. Learn to appreciate the diversity in our U.S. culture's fabric.
Gee, big surprise that all the Mexican groups would want amnesty for millions of their pals. The motion is totally useless as it does nothing but make the Council look stupid and Un-American!! Poster Bobby is correct - you are spineless politicians! The Council should be ashamed of itself for pandering to illegal criminals and those that look the other way and support the lawless. Oshama has pushed so-called reform to the curb until next year because he knows that Americans are against it. I know the Mexicans think Obama owes them for their support but the American people will show their anger again on this issue as they did in 2007 and for his health care bill. Americans want the immigration laws enforced and the illegals deported. Those politicians who would wimp out and support illegals should resign and let patriotic Americans run your city. If this gives Baltimore confidence in their gov't, I feel sorry for the residents living there.
Alfredo, no they don't pay taxes. B.S. In millions of cases they receive what is known as earned income credit. In other words, because they have family expenses that they can't pay because they don't make enough money, the taxpayer gets to support their stay here. I don't give a rats a-- if you are an American citizen or not, we don't want socialism and Mexico for example, can go and take care of their own people. American citizens don't owe them a da-- thing!! You must be crazy??
By the way Alfredo, there is nothing at all wrong with divisiveness. Where do you get this crap? When I have an argument with a friend of mine and we don't disargee, it creates a division between our beliefs. Go preach this communist B.S. political talk to someone else. Americans are sick of it.
I meant to say that when I disagree with a friend of mine, we have a division. It's divisive. It can't be any other way. Alfredo is using socialist psycho babble to try to instill some kind of supposed guilt that American citizens should have who don't want anymore illegal immigration.
"Comprehensive immigration reform" is code language for mass amnesty for 12-20 million aliens. The American people overwhelmingly reject this and rather want our immigration laws enforced with NO form of amnesty.
And shame on the Baltimore City Council for supporting amnesty for millions of illegal foreign workers and thus spitting in the faces of millions of unemployed working class Americans!
Well I see, that this article has ignited some negative feelings and emotions rutted deep inside American culture. Well I and must Latinos, are not surprise how some of you feel,Ignorance, and prejudices are well alive in B-more and in the U.S. Most of us are already use to it, but we know that must people are not that way, only does who think that they are true Americans feel that way.
In reference to what City Council and the Mayor have done, is not really a big deal, since immigration reform is a Federal issue, there is not much Baltimore can do to change that one way or another. It does look and sound good but that is all. If the Mayor and City Council want to do something for the Latino community, they can star by having more Latino americans represented in City Hall and government agencies......
History repeats itself: Billy bob blaming others on his failures in life, whether it is the jews, blacks, latinos, etc.
But, history will repeat itself again and a comprehensive immigration reform with path to citizenship is a matter of when, not if. And it is the right thing to do! Racism always loses in America. Hey, Billy Bob, you lost: get over it! And learning a few words in Spanish will not kill you, contrary to rumors...
Only if we had guns back when Christopher Columbus docked his boat here. You would all be singing a different tune now while the British monarch was a** ramming you. Be grateful for this land and welcome others to it.
FACT: In a new piece, A Conversation about the Economic Effects of Immigration on African Americans, Professor Gerald Jaynes dispels the myth that immigrants take “black jobs” and instead suggests we find solutions on how to lift up all low-wage American workers. Anti-immigrant groups have repeatedly tried to drive a wedge between African Americans and immigrants by capitalizing on the myth that immigrants take American jobs—particularly jobs that would otherwise go to African Americans. That myth, as anti-immigrant groups present it, is simply not true, says Professor Jaynes who teaches Economics and African American Studies at Yale University.
www.immigrationpolicy.org/images/File/perspective/Gerald%20Jaynes%20071409.pdf
""""Only if we had guns back when Christopher Columbus docked his boat here. You would all be singing a different tune now while the British monarch was a** ramming you. Be grateful for this land and welcome others to it.""""
soooooo true dude, thats gotta shut some racist morons up. wait, they cant think that far. dumb asses.
What a wonderful event! Congratulations to ALL Baltimore residents. There is hope for Immigration Reform.
Talk about the truth man. We would all be in England getting a** rammed with socialized medicine no wonder they have bad teeth.
One_Native_American says:
Only if we had guns back when Christopher Columbus docked his boat here. You would all be singing a different tune now while the British monarch was a** ramming you. Be grateful for this land and welcome others to it.
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