Politics. On Point.

This is a developing story. The president's Proclamation  today cites numerous attempts to 'reach across the aisle' for solutions to the immigration crisis facing the U.S.  Previous administrations have asked for 'commonsense reforms'. Today, President Biden, via Executive Order, opted to suspend entry of any noncitizen seeking asylum into the United States across the southern border. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a)) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that, absent the measures set forth in this proclamation, the entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation under circumstances described in section 2 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of the Un...

  AUTHORIZING MAVERICK COUNTY, TEXAS, TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE A VEHICULAR, PEDESTRIAN, AND RAIL BORDER CROSSING NEAR EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO Image source .   By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America (the "President"), I hereby grant permission, subject to the conditions set forth herein, to Maverick County, Texas (the "permittee"), to construct, maintain, and operate a vehicular, pedestrian, and rail crossing located on the United States border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, as described in the "Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge Presidential Permit Application" dated October 17, 2023 ("October 17, 2023, Application"), by the permittee to the Secretary of State and determined to be complete on February 5, 2024, in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 535d and associated procedures.      The term "Border facilities" as used in this...

The Trump administration continues to institute policy that dehumanizes people fleeing refuge and asylum who want to enter the U.S.  More and more reports show gruesome,  terror-like practices at the Texas-Mexican border. Children, as young as one year-old, are being taken from their mothers. One reporter told of a child being ripped away from its mother as it was being nursed. Reporters took to the White House briefing room on Thursday to ask about such border practices and were met with a non-chalant, empathetic-less response from Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Brian Karem , Editor of The Montgomery County Sentinel , took Huckabee-Sanders (a parent of young children) to task asking her if she any "empathy" for what was happening to the children at the border. What happened next had many shaking their heads in disdain. Here is a readout of that exchange as prepared by Democracy Now! Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders : “Hey, Brian, I know yo...

**Update** President Obama spoke at Del Sol High School to announce actions he plans to take to reform the country's immigration policy.  Click here to view. President Obama is set to address the nation Thursday, November 20, to lay out the executive actions he's taking on America's immigration system. Many are expecting that the president will allow illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. and will assist those wanting a path to citizenship with obtaining citizenship status, "the right way." For many undocumented immigrants, immigration reform is a very real issue; one they hope will be resolved quickly. Protest have occurred across the country from Latino Americans, the demographic immigration reform heavily emphasizes, urging the president to cease the deportation of illegal immigrants. Said Jose Cabellos at a campaign event in 2013, (see at 1:11 video mark here ), "We want comprehensive immigration reform.  Right now families are being ...

First, let me just say how lovely First Lady Michelle Obama looked when she spoke at the  League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) earlier this week, wearing a lovely summer blue and white (sleeveless, of course) flowered dress. Mrs. Obama was on hand at New York's Hilton Hotel to remark about the importance of education, but she also spoke very briefly on the issue of immigration, saying "all these issues must be addressed at the same time." Said the first lady, "I know that education is one of so many pressing issues on your plates right now. With a broken immigration system hurting so many of our families and neighbors, some of you may be wondering why I decided to focus on education today.  But what I know from my own life experiences is that if we truly want to lift up our next generation," she continued, "we must tackle all of these issues at the same time. That is actually one of the greatest lessons of LULAC's history." ...

Many of us are aware of the divisive rhetoric over the so-called issue of 'illegal' immigration and  immigration  reform. As the two political sides continue to debate over what to do about an issue that seems to have no end in sight, nor the chance of going away, one person wants America to see the issue in a slightly different, dare we say, human way. Take a look at "The Secrets of Strangers" by Honduran-born TV host Rosci Diaz .   The video, posted on You Tube on June 10th, comes on the heels of recent reports stemming from the  transport of underage illegal immigrant s and how they are being treated in detention, or 'holding' centers while waiting to be processed. Diaz tries to show the fear and anguish that is imposed upon undocumented people living in the U.S. The issue of illegal immigration reform is believed to partially be the reason Rep. Eric Canto r (R-VA) lost his seat as House Majority Leader during this week's Virginia primaries...

It would seem that (unfair) voter ID laws would be the next big thing President Obama tackles after the Affordable Care Act, instead of illegal immigration. What's going on in North Carolina (and most likely other states around the country) compromises American citizens' natural right to vote. Reports have surfaced that voting practices are being put into place to discourage certain voter populations from voting. For example, the right to vote on Sundays is being challenged in some states.  Having students register to vote in the state where they attend college is another tactic, as is requesting an ID or a voter's birth certificate.  We know that young people came out in droves during the 2008 election. Making students register to vote where they attend college may discourage some young voters. Many people vote on Sundays after church, the only day they have free to do so due to working during the week.  Closing polling places on...

Interesting 'pool' report today from Brian Hughes of the Washington Examiner as President Obama meets with members of his revamped, reorganized, and restructured Cabinet (we're waiting for the 2013 photograph).  The president aluded to what remains his top priorities going into his second presidential term. Hughes writes in: President Obama on Monday convened the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, highlighting some “familiar faces,” “new faces” and “familiar faces in new positions.” Pool was ushered in to the meeting at 1:08 p.m. and the president’s remarks at the top of the gathering lasted roughly four minutes. Sitting to the president’s right were Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan . To the president’s left were new Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and (outgoing) Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood . Obama singled out Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Hagel, who were recently confirmed by the Senate. ...

What better day than July 4th, Independence Day, to become a bonafide U.S. citizen? To twenty-four U.S. active duty service men and women, today is one to be proud of. President Obama looks at active duty military as they take the oath of citizenship.  Photo/CD Brown. "With this ceremony today, and ceremonies like it across our country, we affirm another truth", said President Obama.  "Our American journey, our success, would simply not be possible without the generations of immigrants who have come to our shores from every corner of the globe.  We say it so often, we sometimes forget what it means: we are a nation of immigrants."  Oluwatosin K Akinduro, a native of Nigeria has been living in the US for twenty-two years since the age of six. He currently serves in the Army National Guard.  Today upgrades his status from permanent resident to U.S. Citizen. "Today is a big day for me", Akinduro said.  "It's another monumental m...

Mending our nation’s immigration policy, to make it more fair, more efficient, and more just. President Barack Obama gave US workers a slap in the face today when he announced that illegal immigrants will be able to stay legally in America and find work. Work, that for millions of Americans who are here legally, can't find. This is the president's latest gift to the Latina community. Throughout his presidency he has consistently pandered to the demands Latinas.  He's spoken at several events featuring Latinos such as the Forum On American Latino Heritage, and the Congressio​nal Hispanic Caucus Institute 34th Annual Awards Gala. Speaking in July of 2011 to the National Council of La Raza  the president made remarks about having many Latinos working in his Cabinet.  "Right off the bat, I should thank you because I have poached quite a few of your alumni to work in my administration .  They're all doing outstanding work.  Raul...

Talks a Bold Talk On Immigration and Education Last week Virginia senator Richard Saslaw received kudos from the Hispanic Leadership Alliance at their annual scholarship banquet where five Latino students were awarded college scholarships by the group started by Fairfax County educators. Saslaw says he has been a strong advocate for immigrants. Virginia senator, Richard Saslaw, accepts the '2011 Leader of the Year' award from the Hispanic Leadership Alliance. Photo/CD Brown. "This nation was raised by immigrants', said Saslaw. "If you take a look at all the technological advances in the last century, a lot of been made by immigrants."  Naming off a few contributors: Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein, Edwin Teller, and the founder of Intel, Saslaw said "the list is endless." However, the immigrants Saslaw was referring to weren't subjected to the interrogation that Latinos and other people of color have experienced in their relentless pur...

President Obama met with influential leaders of the Hispanic community to discuss the importance of fixing the broken immigration system, education, and his deep disappointment that Congressional action on immigration reform has stalled and that the DREAM Act failed to pass in the U.S. Senate after passing the U.S. House with a bipartisan majority in December.  Emilio Estafan, Lili Estafan, and Don Francisco, a Chilean television personality on the Univision network, pose at theWhite House. Photo/CD Brown.  Statement from White House Press Office  The President talked about the broken immigration system, including concerns he heard about when he met with leaders from the law enforcement, faith and business sectors last week. The President reiterated his concern that we educate the best and brightest but then ship that talent overseas or expel talented young people who have grown up as Americans and want to further their education or serve in our military. The President rei...

Or Is It? When Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central, showed up on Capitol Hill this week to attend a session on illegal farm workers hosted by the United Farm Workers, he drew the largest crowd seen at a hearing, at least by Congress member John Conyers.  Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert Conyers, in his "I run Congress" persona complimented Colbert on his celebrity appeal to bring people out to participate in politics, saying he couldn't remember when a hearing drew such a crowd, but respectfully asked the comedian with the sudden political conscience to leave the room after for offbeat comments that included him saying, "I don't want my tomatoes picked by a Mexican.  I want them picked by an American." Colbert's comments also included him saying, "America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean g...