ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Una nueva encuesta muestra que la mayoría de los Hispano-Americanos tiene un sentimiento de optimismo sobre sus finanzas, pero también cree que el racismo y el crimen están empeorando.

Los datos son aportados por una encuesta reciente de la W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Sylvia Monzano es directora de Latino Decisions, firma que elaboró la encuesta llamada "El estado de la familia latina 2014" (The State of the Latino Family 2014). Ella asegura que una de cada dos personas encuestadas declaró que sus finanzas personales han mejorado en los últimos cinco años.

"Así que, aunque más de la mitad de los hispanos ganan menos de 40 mil dólares al año -dijo-, vemos una actitud brillante y de cara al futuro."

Monzano dice que la encuesta muestra que tres de cada cuatro hispanoamericanos son "optimistas" o "muy optimistas" sobre el futuro de sus finanzas. Agrega que la mayoría percibe que tiene acceso a un cuidado de la salud accesible, y que la educación y la igualdad de oportunidades han mejorado en los últimos cinco años.

Por otra parte, la mayoría también declaró que el racismo hacia los hispanos, el crimen, la violencia y la posibilidad de tener una casa a precio accesible han empeorado.

Albino García, director ejecutivo de La Plazita Institute en Albuquerque, afirma que la discriminación hacia los hispanos se ha intensificado en todo el suroeste, a raíz del acalorado debate nacional que se ha suscitado en torno a la inmigración.
 
"La 'invasión' de la población inmigrante, etcétera. Para mí es una gran propaganda -comentó-. Ha creado un mayor aislamiento y polarización hacia gente ya de por sí vulnerable."

Agrega que se da cuenta de que la discriminación es mostrada como una forma de patriotismo por gente que pregona estar protegiendo su país por tratar de bloquear la entrada de inmigrantes a los Estados Unidos.

Vínculo a la encuesta (en inglés): http://ww2.wkkf.org/2014/FocusArea/RacialEquity/WKKF-State-of-Latino-Family-2014.pdf


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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


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Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


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