AlterNet.org: Immigration

How Alabamaâ€™s Extreme Anti-Immigration Law Could Cost The State Billions of Dollars

Michele Waslin, Immigration Impact — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

The harsh law could cost Alabama up to $11 billion in GDP and nearly $265 million in state income and sales tax, a new report found.

Representative Lamar Smith's Assault on Immigrants

Frank Sharry, America's Voice — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Smith claims the President is ignoring immigration laws, but the Obama Administration has deported more undocumented immigrants than any other in history.

More and More States Introduce Costly Anti-Immigration Bills

Seth Hoy, Immigration Impact — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Despite the devastating consequences of state immigration laws in Alabama and Arizona, legislators in other states have introduced similar enforcement bills this year.

After Nevada Caucus, Democrats and Republicans Bet on the Latino Vote in November

Maribel Hastings, Huffington Post — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

Republicans bet that Obama's failure to pass immigration reform will cut his Latino votes, while Democrats bet that Republican anti-immigrant rhetoric will work in his favor.

Romney's Anti-Immigrant Stance Could Destroy the Nation's Economy

George Bauer, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:01 PST

Romney's call for harsh 'self-deportation' policies like Alabama enacted in 2010 are an economic prescription for disaster.

Civil Rights Groups Call on Alabama Automakers to Oppose Harsh Anti-Immigration Legislation

Elena Shore, New America Media — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Civil rights groups are turning to a new potential ally in the fight against Alabamaâ€™s harsh immigration law: the stateâ€™s top automakers.

Report: "Enforcement-Only" Immigration Strategy Still an Utter Disaster

Michele Waslin, Immigration Impact — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:01 PST

The result has been undermining human rights, devastating families and communities, hurting local economies and placing unnecessary burdens on all Americans.

New York Muslims Fight Back Against Police Department's Institutionalized Paranoia About Islam

Alex Kane, AlterNet — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:01 PST

Muslim community leaders say Islamophobia is deep-seated in the New York Police Department.

New Hampshire City Debates Moratorium on Refugees

Valeria Fernandez, New America Media — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:01 PST

Members of the cityâ€™s Bhutanese community say they are opposed to a decrease in refugees, citing the economic contributions that they have made in the city of Manchester.

The Real Goal of Arizonaâ€™s Book-Banning Thought Police: Harass Latinos

Rinku Sen, ColorLines — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

The ban on Mexican American Studies in Tucson high schools has led to "offensive" books--including Shakespeare's The Tempest--being removed and locked in a warehouse.

DHS Pumping Money into Drones for Domestic Surveillance, Hunting Immigrants and Seizing Pot

Tom Barry, AlterNet — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:01 PST

DHS has little to show for its drone spending spree other than stacks of seized marijuana and a few thousand immigrants who crossed the border without visas.

Struggle for Immigrantsâ€™ Rights Highlights Split Within Organized Labor

Michelle Chen, In These Times — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

ICE officers' union resists reform measures to controversial Secure Communities program, while AFl-CIO wants to end it

How Legal Pot Could Save Thousands of Lives? Hint: Stop Feeding the Mexican Death Cartels

Jamie Haase, AlterNet — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:01 PST

For over forty years, ganja has been the steadiest and most reliable source of income for Mexican traffickers, and itâ€™s still the primary substance that lures most dealers.

Justice Dept. Finally Cuffs Sheriff Joe Arpaio, But Not the Policy That Made Him

Julianne Hing, ColorLines — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

A three-year investigation found rampant racial profiling and widespread discriminatory policing in Arpaio's Arizona county.

Inside Our Supposedly "Humane" Immigrant Detention Centers

Seth Wessler, ColorLines — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:01 PST

The interiors of detention centers might as well be black sites, cast off the political map except for the rare instances of abuse so egregious that they blip onto our radar.

Will Latinos Who Disapprove of Obama's Immigration Policy Vote for Him in 2012?

Seth Motel, Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew Hispanic Center — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

Despite Obama's strong showing among Latinos when compared with potential 2012 Republican rivals, he has suffered a decline in his overall approval rating as president.

â€œFree Pancho!â€: the Occupy Movement Steps Up for Immigrant Rights

Cloee Cooper, Imagine 2050 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

Occupy Oakland and the Free Pancho campaign were successfully pressured Pancho's release from ICE.

The Arc of the Universe Might Be Bending Toward Justice; But We Still Have to Fight Like Hell in 2012

Rinku Sen, ColorLines — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:00:01 PST

If we avoid triumphalism, get explicit about race and keep fighting, we can make the most of movement potential in the coming year.

Filming Against Odds: Undocumented Youth â€œCome Outâ€ With Their Dreams

Anne Galisky, Feministe — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:01 PST

A director discusses her first film.

Racial Profiling, Republican Candidates, and Rights Violations: the Immigration Debate at Year's End

Kari Lydersen, In These Times — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:01 PST

Sheriff Joe Arpaio isn't the only one keeping immigration policy in the headlines--here's a look at the stories that made news as 2011 drew to a close.