Economic Refugee News: Weekly Roundup


  • Major League Baseball Player’s Association condemned Arizona’s misguided, mean-spirited new immigration law.
  • David Frum, former assistant to President W. Bush actually argues that Latinos are inferior immigrants in a piece published by CNN.
  • More proof that the people behind Arizona’s authoritarian immigration law have extremists tendencies: Group behind Arizona Law SB1070 Endorses Armed Militia.
  • The Marietta Daily Journal asks the following question on an online poll: “Should Georgia enact an immigration reform law like Arizona’s?”  Last time checked, the responses were 54% “no” and 46% “yes”.  To vote, visit their site here.
  • DIGG this story: Republican Senator John Cornyn from Texas is open to working on immigration reform;  “he told La Opinion that he is open to discussing the bill with Schumer and other Democrats, so long as the White House makes a commitment to leading on the issue”.
  • President Obama told a White House reception Wednesday that he wants “to begin work this year” on comprehensive immigration reform, warning the audience that securing the legislation will be difficult but possible.  Read the analysis on America’s Voice’s DailyKos Diary.
  • Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, joining the City Council in registering strong objections to the tough new immigration laws in Arizona, said […] that he will consider canceling city contracts with firms based in the state that agree with the crackdown.
  • New York Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter to Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer asking her to delay Arizona’s new authoritarian immigration law until U.S. Congress addresses immigration reform.  Brewer flatly denied Schumer’s request.
  • In a piece [published on The Progressive magazine] that connects Asian Americans, college students, and people with disabilities to the issue of immigration reform, Angela Kim writes from the perspective of a student leader at AKASIA, a group organized at the Korean Resource Center as part of a growing movement of directly impacted people who would benefit from changes in immigration law and from a better national understanding of how the current policies damage us as individuals, families and communities.