Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) was expected to become the chair of the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee but was instead passed over for the role by the new Republican House leadership. As previously reported by La Plaza, Somos Republicans, a group of Hispanic Republicans that was organized in response to Arizona’s SB 1070, strongly opposed his […]
Obama’s Tucson Speech to Focus on Unity, House Resolution to Honor Victims and Heroes in Aftermath of Shootings
January 12, 2011 By
While President Obama prepares to address the nation tonight from Tucson during a memorial service for the victims of Saturday’s shootings, the House of Representatives plans to read a resolution on the House floor today honoring the victims and singling out a number of individuals for their heroic actions on that day. Obama will give […]
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officials Not Sold on Anti-immigrant Legislation
January 7, 2011 By
A Senate judiciary subcommittee in the South Carolina state legislature voted 3-1 on Thursday to advance an Arizona-style bill one step closer to becoming law, but law enforcement officials say the bill raises many concerns and leaves numerous questions unanswered. The full judiciary committee is expected to take action on the bill, which has been […]
Republican State Lawmakers Mark their Ground over Birthright Citizenship
January 6, 2011 By
Several Republican state lawmakers revealed their plans to repeal the right to citizenship for children born on US soil to undocumented immigrants yesterday at a press conference in Washington, DC. The news conference, in which lawmakers from Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Carolina expressed the hope that their national campaign end with a Supreme […]
The New Year and New Congress Heralds New Faces of Elected Hispanics
January 5, 2011 By
The 112th Congress of the United States gets sworn into office today, and amongst its ranks are a number of newly elected Hispanics – all Republicans. Of the ninety new members, six are Latinos, including one each from the states of Washington and Idaho. Marco Rubio becomes only the second Latino currently serving in the […]
Colorado to Participate in Secure Communities Program
January 5, 2011 By
Gov. Bill Ritter took a controversial step in the last days of his governorship yesterday when he announced Colorado will participate in the federal background check program meant to target undocumented immigrants with criminal records for deportation. Yesterday, La Plaza reported that Ritter was seeking to get Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to agree […]
Law Banning Ethnic-Studies in Arizona Goes into Effect
January 3, 2011 By
New Year’s Day marked the beginning of yet another battle that puts the state of Arizona at the center of controversy against the Latino community. January 1 is the date that House Bill 2281 went into effect making ethnic studies illegal in the state. According to the new law, classes in kindergarten through 12th grade […]
Republican Presidential Hopefuls to Skip Hispanic Forum
December 23, 2010 By
A gathering of the big names in national conservative politics early next year was to provide a forum for 2012 hopefuls to address the largest minority group in the country–Hispanics. However, fresh off of leading the way for the defeat of immigration reform in Congress, most Republicans are declining the opportunity. The Hispanic Leadership Network […]
Obama Meets with Hispanic Lawmakers to Discuss Outlook on Immigration
December 22, 2010 By
Congressional Hispanic Caucus members met with President Obama yesterday to discuss the prospects of immigration legislation in the future, which the parties present agreed are slim to nil in the next couple of years. “The reality is, we’re no longer on the House side in charge of the agenda,” said Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D- Texas), […]
Guest Blogger Series: Matt Barreto “Senators Who Opposed DREAM Act May Face Latino Roadblocks in 2012”
December 20, 2010 By
Yesterday the U.S. Senate failed to invoke cloture on the DREAM Act (HR 5281), ending the chance for any legislative accomplishments on the issue of immigration. While much of the last two years was spent addressing the issues of health care reform, and the economy, to Latino voters a third issue loomed as being equally […]
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