Undocumented students mobilize to win legal status
Miami Herald
WASHINGTON -- Immigration, an issue placed on the congressional backburner by attempts to revamp the nation's health care system, is percolating again as Republican lawmakers are pushing a measure that would require U.S. Census forms to include a question about the citizenship status of respondents.
An amendment by Sens. David Vitter, R-La, and Bob Bennett, R-Utah, to freeze Census Bureau funds if it doesn't add the citizenship question to more than 425 million forms before the once-a-decade count begins in April has divided Latino groups, as well as some opponents of comprehensive immigration legislation.
Vitter calls his amendment, which he hopes to attach to a Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill, necessary to try to exclude illegal immigrants from the census count so their numbers won't impact on congressional apportionment or legislative redistricting, which is based on population.
With only her face and neck poking above the dais, a 13-year-old girl Wednesday talked about how the deportation of her bread-winning father to Guatemala tore asunder her family.
“I know our lives wouldn't have been like this had our dad not been deported,'' said Ashley Guerra, of Sweetwater, citing the loss of her parents' home. “They deported him because he didn't have his papers, but I don't think that's a good reason.''
Ashley's first-hand testimony about the effects of immigration policy on her family was delivered Wednesday at Miami-Dade County Hall as local leaders and immigrant advocates gathered to study a proposal that aims to articulate a single county position on federal immigration reform.
Is The Miami Herald guilt-ridden with white man's burden, soft on crime or just muddle headed? These are among the questions raised by some readers about what they see as The Herald's squeamishness in writing about, well, that's the issue. Are they illegal aliens? Undocumented workers? Or as some say in South Texas, just plain wetbacks.
The choice is critical. In the escalating battle over immigration, all sides agree on at least this: words are power. The labels that stick become the prism through which the nation views the issue. This helps determine which side wins. So it is no mistake that a bill offering a path to citizenship for thousands of illegal-immigrant students is titled the "Dream Act" by pro-immigrant forces. Who would deny hopes and the American Dream to youths?
The opponents know verbal tricks of their own. They have managed to turn "amnesty" into a dirty word, given the failure to halt illegal immigration after the last two amnesties. "Illegal alien shamnesty, " says conservative columnist
How can even the most hardened editor not go warm and fuzzy over the Gomez brothers?
The two boys were detained to be deported to their native Colombia when student friends intervened to save them, launching an online campaign, raising money and going to Congress. They won the family's release, at least for the moment. The Gomez boys, 18 and 19, were popular students, and the younger Juan was a star. He had near-perfect grades and has just entered the honor's program at Miami Dade College.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The GOP tries mending fences with Latinos
Republican Party courting Latinos
The Latino Journal E-News, Vol. 2, Issue 4
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Republican Party has to repair fences with Latino voters in America after losing their support in the 2008 presidential election, party officials say.
Much of the Latino vote was driven toward the Democratic party by conservative Republican calls for border fence proposals and cutting healthcare options for illegal immigrants, ABC News reported Saturday.
Conservative attempts to exploit fears of illegal immigration also eroded Latino support for the GOP, Nevada Republican national committeeman Robert List said.
"I think the party needs to rethink their approach to illegal immigration," he said. "However many illegal immigrations there are is almost irrelevant -- they're here."
List said the Republicans have to consider demographic shifts in his state and in the border states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, which have traditionally elected GOP candidates: "They need to recognize that Latinos are going to be majorities in some cases."
Nevada's Latinos are being given close attention by both parties after the 2008 results. The Republicans have chosen Brian Sandoval, 46, as their front-runner for governor in an effort to attract the young Latino vote, ABC News said.
"I firmly believe that the Latino community has deep commitment to family values and are natural constituents of the GOP," List said. "We need to reclaim that voting bloc. I think we can re energize that effort among Latinos."
The Latino Journal E-News, Vol. 2, Issue 4
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Republican Party has to repair fences with Latino voters in America after losing their support in the 2008 presidential election, party officials say.
Much of the Latino vote was driven toward the Democratic party by conservative Republican calls for border fence proposals and cutting healthcare options for illegal immigrants, ABC News reported Saturday.
Conservative attempts to exploit fears of illegal immigration also eroded Latino support for the GOP, Nevada Republican national committeeman Robert List said.
"I think the party needs to rethink their approach to illegal immigration," he said. "However many illegal immigrations there are is almost irrelevant -- they're here."
List said the Republicans have to consider demographic shifts in his state and in the border states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, which have traditionally elected GOP candidates: "They need to recognize that Latinos are going to be majorities in some cases."
Nevada's Latinos are being given close attention by both parties after the 2008 results. The Republicans have chosen Brian Sandoval, 46, as their front-runner for governor in an effort to attract the young Latino vote, ABC News said.
"I firmly believe that the Latino community has deep commitment to family values and are natural constituents of the GOP," List said. "We need to reclaim that voting bloc. I think we can re energize that effort among Latinos."
Oregon Latinos seek power in numbers
Oregon Latinos seek power in numbers
By Gosia Wozniacka, The Oregonian, November 05, 2009
Like California 30 years ago, Oregon's growing Latino population is reaching a tipping point: A critical mass of Latino professionals is starting to organize and influence state and local politics.
Inspired by telltale demographics and political under-representation, Latino leaders throughout the state have formed a group to plan a summit and develop a legislative platform relevant to Latinos.
The initiative -- dubbed Latino Agenda for Action -- unites statewide community organizations and leaders to build recognition, set priorities and eventually start a research institute or similar entity to inform the public and legislators about the state's largest ethnic group.
"The demographics are clear. Latinos are part of the fabric of this community, and they're here to stay," said Consuelo Saragoza, senior adviser of public health for Multnomah County and a convener of the group. "But there seemed to be a void. A lot of people felt that we needed a statewide voice."
Latinos made up 11 percent of Oregon's population in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than half are U.S. citizens, and many families have lived in the state for several generations. Their numbers have increased most dramatically over the past three decades and keep growing, mostly because of high fertility rates, data show.
Yet only one Oregon state legislator, Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, is Latino.
Latino issues are still "off the radar in many places," said Daniel HoSang, a political science professor at the University of Oregon. Latinos need dedicated groups to champion their causes, he said, "to make sure the issues don't get lost in the shuffle," as in the case of immigration reform taking a back seat to health care reform.
"This community hasn't been a part of Oregon's consciousness," HoSang said. "It may not have to do with hostility or a political position, it's just new water."
Latino Agenda for Action, a nonpartisan effort, is out to change that. Latinos have high buying power and own businesses, Saragoza said. But they also suffer from elevated rates of teen pregnancy, high numbers of student dropouts, and limited access to health care, among others.
Latino diversity
Pockets of individuals and groups already advocate for Latinos, but tend to be small and disconnected from one another, she said. There is no larger recognizable entity that encompasses all Oregon Latinos, or that reflects their diversity. Latinos are not just Mexicans -- they also hail from Puerto Rico and countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador.
"It's important to signal to the state, to elected officials and government agencies that Latino leadership is coalescing to respond to issues and to make ourselves visible," said Andrea Cano, one of Latino Agenda's facilitators.
The response from Latino leaders has been extraordinary, Cano said, with groups from every region calling to join. Agenda organizers brought them together for a second "salon" in October. Supported by the Oregon Consensus Program at Portland State University, several committees are planning various aspects of the summit, to be held next fall.
The group is continuing to identify participants in key regions, with the hope of putting together a database of Latino leaders and organizations. Organizers are also partnering with existing groups, such as the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
What makes Latino Agenda for Action different, they say, is that it's a grass-roots approach driven by the community. Its aim is to represent and benefit rural and urban Latinos, newcomers and native-born, and to cut across generational and cultural differences, Cano said. It will include Latino artists, indigenous communities, youth and university students, as well as non-Latino allies.
The statewide summit will be a forum to gather existing research and expertise, identify priorities for the community, and develop public policy and legislation benefiting Latinos.
Research hub envisioned
A future public policy institute or research group, to be based at a local university, would be the authority on Latino issues in the state, said Carlos Crespo, professor and director of the School of Community Health at Portland State University.
"We want to be able to provide a neutral, secure place where people with different points of view can share ideas based on what the data says, and not on philosophical or political points of view," Crespo said.
Having a central place for data and policy provides continuity, which is badly missing in Oregon's debate, he said. A research institute could also help build leadership among Latinos, especially among young people.
The lag between Latino population growth and representation is partly due to Oregon Latinos' disproportionate youth population, said HoSang, the political science professor. One in every six students in Oregon schools is Latino. As they come of age, they will help shape the state's political scene, HoSang said.
Crespo and Saragoza hope the summit will set the stage and help "identify the Latino community as viable," Saragoza said.
"It's sad that such a large group is invisible, and that's why we need action and policy to solve our problems," Crespo said. "We Latinos are here, and we want the same thing everybody wants. We want Oregon to be a better place."
By Gosia Wozniacka, The Oregonian, November 05, 2009
Like California 30 years ago, Oregon's growing Latino population is reaching a tipping point: A critical mass of Latino professionals is starting to organize and influence state and local politics.
Inspired by telltale demographics and political under-representation, Latino leaders throughout the state have formed a group to plan a summit and develop a legislative platform relevant to Latinos.
The initiative -- dubbed Latino Agenda for Action -- unites statewide community organizations and leaders to build recognition, set priorities and eventually start a research institute or similar entity to inform the public and legislators about the state's largest ethnic group.
"The demographics are clear. Latinos are part of the fabric of this community, and they're here to stay," said Consuelo Saragoza, senior adviser of public health for Multnomah County and a convener of the group. "But there seemed to be a void. A lot of people felt that we needed a statewide voice."
Latinos made up 11 percent of Oregon's population in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than half are U.S. citizens, and many families have lived in the state for several generations. Their numbers have increased most dramatically over the past three decades and keep growing, mostly because of high fertility rates, data show.
Yet only one Oregon state legislator, Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, is Latino.
Latino issues are still "off the radar in many places," said Daniel HoSang, a political science professor at the University of Oregon. Latinos need dedicated groups to champion their causes, he said, "to make sure the issues don't get lost in the shuffle," as in the case of immigration reform taking a back seat to health care reform.
"This community hasn't been a part of Oregon's consciousness," HoSang said. "It may not have to do with hostility or a political position, it's just new water."
Latino Agenda for Action, a nonpartisan effort, is out to change that. Latinos have high buying power and own businesses, Saragoza said. But they also suffer from elevated rates of teen pregnancy, high numbers of student dropouts, and limited access to health care, among others.
Latino diversity
Pockets of individuals and groups already advocate for Latinos, but tend to be small and disconnected from one another, she said. There is no larger recognizable entity that encompasses all Oregon Latinos, or that reflects their diversity. Latinos are not just Mexicans -- they also hail from Puerto Rico and countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador.
"It's important to signal to the state, to elected officials and government agencies that Latino leadership is coalescing to respond to issues and to make ourselves visible," said Andrea Cano, one of Latino Agenda's facilitators.
The response from Latino leaders has been extraordinary, Cano said, with groups from every region calling to join. Agenda organizers brought them together for a second "salon" in October. Supported by the Oregon Consensus Program at Portland State University, several committees are planning various aspects of the summit, to be held next fall.
The group is continuing to identify participants in key regions, with the hope of putting together a database of Latino leaders and organizations. Organizers are also partnering with existing groups, such as the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
What makes Latino Agenda for Action different, they say, is that it's a grass-roots approach driven by the community. Its aim is to represent and benefit rural and urban Latinos, newcomers and native-born, and to cut across generational and cultural differences, Cano said. It will include Latino artists, indigenous communities, youth and university students, as well as non-Latino allies.
The statewide summit will be a forum to gather existing research and expertise, identify priorities for the community, and develop public policy and legislation benefiting Latinos.
Research hub envisioned
A future public policy institute or research group, to be based at a local university, would be the authority on Latino issues in the state, said Carlos Crespo, professor and director of the School of Community Health at Portland State University.
"We want to be able to provide a neutral, secure place where people with different points of view can share ideas based on what the data says, and not on philosophical or political points of view," Crespo said.
Having a central place for data and policy provides continuity, which is badly missing in Oregon's debate, he said. A research institute could also help build leadership among Latinos, especially among young people.
The lag between Latino population growth and representation is partly due to Oregon Latinos' disproportionate youth population, said HoSang, the political science professor. One in every six students in Oregon schools is Latino. As they come of age, they will help shape the state's political scene, HoSang said.
Crespo and Saragoza hope the summit will set the stage and help "identify the Latino community as viable," Saragoza said.
"It's sad that such a large group is invisible, and that's why we need action and policy to solve our problems," Crespo said. "We Latinos are here, and we want the same thing everybody wants. We want Oregon to be a better place."
Hispanic families could benefit from the Military Families Act
AILA WELCOMES SEN. MENENDEZ (D-NJ) INTRODUCTION OF THE MILITARY FAMILIES ACT
The Latino Journal E-News, Vol. 2, Issue 4
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the introduction yesterday by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY), and Russ Feingold (D-WI) of S.2757 The Military Families Act. The Military Families bill would grant lawful permanent residence status to immediate family members of active immigrant members of the military and veterans even when the sponsoring solider has lost his or her life in service.
"This bill will help hundreds of military families whose immigration status has been in limbo and who have been facing untold heartache and lengthy separations as they seek to be reunited,” said LTC Margaret Stock, a member of AILA. “In a time of war, it is fitting that Congress acts to ease the stress on military families. These families are key to our military members' morale and effectiveness on the battlefield and military members' recovery when they return home from the battlefield."
Under the Military Families Act (S. 2757), the Department of Homeland Security would have the authority to adjust the status of an individual to that of lawful permanent resident if the individual is a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter of an Armed Forces member who is serving or has served honorably in an active-duty status in the military, air or naval forces of the United States or the immediate relative of an Armed Forces member who died as a result of injury or disease incurred because of his or her service. The bill would also assist the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who bravely served our country and whose immigration status has been long deferred due to numerical limitations on immigrant visas.
"The Military Families Act will help ensure that families of those that have served our country with pride and valor don’t face unfair and unexpected deportation and are able to remain in this land they call home by including a path towards U.S. citizenship,” said Bernard Wolsdorf, President of AILA. “The bill is appropriate as our nation celebrates Veterans Day, and more and more immigrants continue to serve in our military – risking their lives for our country. It will protect family members and allow our nation to show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice to our country.
The Latino Journal E-News, Vol. 2, Issue 4
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the introduction yesterday by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY), and Russ Feingold (D-WI) of S.2757 The Military Families Act. The Military Families bill would grant lawful permanent residence status to immediate family members of active immigrant members of the military and veterans even when the sponsoring solider has lost his or her life in service.
"This bill will help hundreds of military families whose immigration status has been in limbo and who have been facing untold heartache and lengthy separations as they seek to be reunited,” said LTC Margaret Stock, a member of AILA. “In a time of war, it is fitting that Congress acts to ease the stress on military families. These families are key to our military members' morale and effectiveness on the battlefield and military members' recovery when they return home from the battlefield."
Under the Military Families Act (S. 2757), the Department of Homeland Security would have the authority to adjust the status of an individual to that of lawful permanent resident if the individual is a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter of an Armed Forces member who is serving or has served honorably in an active-duty status in the military, air or naval forces of the United States or the immediate relative of an Armed Forces member who died as a result of injury or disease incurred because of his or her service. The bill would also assist the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who bravely served our country and whose immigration status has been long deferred due to numerical limitations on immigrant visas.
"The Military Families Act will help ensure that families of those that have served our country with pride and valor don’t face unfair and unexpected deportation and are able to remain in this land they call home by including a path towards U.S. citizenship,” said Bernard Wolsdorf, President of AILA. “The bill is appropriate as our nation celebrates Veterans Day, and more and more immigrants continue to serve in our military – risking their lives for our country. It will protect family members and allow our nation to show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice to our country.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Ugly racial litmus tests
Ugly racial litmus tests
By Ruben Navarrette
Are we post-racial yet? Not so much.
Recently, there have been some ugly racial skirmishes. And we're not talking about the hate crimes, ethnic harassment and racial discrimination that get so much publicity. Sometimes, the harshest attacks are intraracial. They occur within the family. More....
By Ruben Navarrette
Are we post-racial yet? Not so much.
Recently, there have been some ugly racial skirmishes. And we're not talking about the hate crimes, ethnic harassment and racial discrimination that get so much publicity. Sometimes, the harshest attacks are intraracial. They occur within the family. More....
Latino students targeted by Georgia colleges
Georgia colleges recruit growing population of Latino students
By Laura Diamond, AJC
If Georgia’s public colleges are to succeed -- and the state’s economy is to flourish -- during the next couple of decades, recruiters must learn how to convince a growing group of students, and their families, that higher education is a good deal.
Already they are trying out new tactics to recruit Latino students, a group that will soon make up nearly one in four of Georgia’s college-age residents. Sheer numbers make this an increasingly desirable demographic for colleges and for the state’s economic well-being.
But reaching these students can be daunting. Recruiters and students face several obstacles financial and cultural, including language barriers, teens’ desires to support their families, a lack of knowledge about college and concerns over how to pay for it — especially if they are undocumented.
That means recruiters have to do more than just hang up posters in high school guidance offices. Instead, having learned the crucial role family plays, they go where students and their relatives are — churches, festivals, sporting events and other community gatherings.
Last month, Georgia Perimeter College recruiter Eric Cuevas waited until people walked up to his booth at Fiesta Georgia, one of the state’s largest Latino festivals. Then he approached them, talked about the two-year college and put fliers in their hands.
“If you want to get the students, you have to win over the ‘abuelas,’” Cuevas said, highlighting the Spanish word for grandmothers. “Part of recruiting these students is reassuring the mom, grandmother, uncle and everyone in the student’s life that college is the right next step.”
Enrollments will depend on how well they recruit these students, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college, experts said. Dozens of recruiters are expected at the National Hispanic College Fair taking place Wednesday at Meadowcreek High in Norcross.
Beyond college enrollment, leaders say the students' success is crucial for Georgia's economic standing.
"We are talking about our future students, but we're also talking about Georgia's future workforce," said Lisa Rossbacher, president of Southern Polytechnic State University. "It is critical to everyone that these students receive a college education. We've all had to look at how to recruit and support these students and that conversation must include the whole family."
Rossbacher chaired a task force in the late 1990s looking at how the University System of Georgia should address the growing population. In 1994, Latinos made up 1.6 percent of the enrollment at the state's public colleges and universities. Last year, Latinos made up 3.5 percent -- or 9,874 students out of the state's total enrollment of 282,978.
But in just 15 years, nearly one in four college-age students in the U.S. will be Latino, a national statistic that mirrors what is happening even more quickly in Georgia. Latinos comprised 4 percent of the state’s high school graduates in 2005, but they are projected to be 24 percent by 2022.
In response to the changing demographics, colleges hired bilingual recruiters and printed admissions and financial aid brochures in Spanish. Southern Polytechnic, Georgia State University and others set up mentoring and scholarship programs for Latino students. Georgia State, the University of Georgia and others hold special recruiting programs tailored for Latino students and their families.
Yet challenges remain. While 89 percent of Latinos questioned say college is important, only 48 percent plan to get a degree, according to a national survey released this month by the Pew Hispanic Center.
“I see so many students who are torn over whether they should go to college,” said Kim Stewart, a graduation coach at North Gwinnett High in Suwanee. “Whether it is a real need or a perception, so many feel obligated to support their families financially. And then we have some parents who didn’t get an advanced education here or in their home countries and don’t understand the need for college.”
About 75 percent of Latino students who cut their education short do so because of family obligations, according to the Pew survey.
Mauricio Chavez, a sophomore at Newton High School, filled out a postcard at last month's Fiesta Georgia to get more information about Georgia Perimeter. He completed the form in English, speaking to relatives in Spanish.
“Of course I want to go to college, but I need to take care of my family, too,” he said.
Margarita Munoz, director of GSU’s Office of Latino Student Services and Outreach, said many students lack motivation and knowledge about college. To help, her office started a program that pairs college students with high school students to help teens understand that going to college is possible, she said.
Colleges often rely on current students in other ways to help with recruiting.
"I was just like them," said Justin Fraley, 19, a student at Georgia Perimeter. "A lot of them look up to the people they see on their street. If they don’t have a doctor or lawyer or someone with a college degree on their street, how do they know they can do it?"
Fraley tells high school students about the Hispanic Connection club, which serves as a support network for Latino students and allows members to organize culture events for the entire college.
Cuevas, the Georgia Perimeter recruiter, takes care to assure families of the support in place for their children. At Fiesta Georgia he spoke with a mother and grandmother confused about the college letters their boy, a high school senior, received. None were written in Spanish.
The conversation followed a pattern that Cuevas said is typical for Latinos. While other families frequently ask about admission requirements first, he said many Latinos first ask about cost and whether the campus is safe. Then they ask if there are people who speak Spanish and who will help their child if they struggle. Only after those concerns are appeased do they ask about admission, he said.
Cuevas said many Latino families are reluctant to take on debt to pay for college. He explained spending money on college now will help students earn higher salaries later.
Undocumented students have more financial obstacles. They can attend a public college but they must pay out-of-state tuition, even if they graduated from a Georgia high school. Out-of-state tuition can be triple what state residents pay.
While the state doesn't track how many undocumented students pay out-of-state tuition, it's clear their higher costs make college much less affordable. These students are not eligible for the state's academic HOPE scholarship and their immigration status means they cannot apply for government grants or low-cost loans.
Some scholarships are available and there are foundations that award scholarships without requiring proof of citizenship. Even so, the majority of Latinos in college enroll part-time and work at the same time, according to Excelencia in Education, a national nonprofit that works to improve Latino success in college.
For his part, Georgia Perimeter's Cuevas tells parents their children will work hard and see benefits later in life. Families make him promise to protect their children, he said.
"I've had parents call me if their child gets a parking ticket," Cuevas said. "I basically hold students' and their families' hands from the first time I meet them in high school until they show up in college."
By Laura Diamond, AJC
If Georgia’s public colleges are to succeed -- and the state’s economy is to flourish -- during the next couple of decades, recruiters must learn how to convince a growing group of students, and their families, that higher education is a good deal.
Already they are trying out new tactics to recruit Latino students, a group that will soon make up nearly one in four of Georgia’s college-age residents. Sheer numbers make this an increasingly desirable demographic for colleges and for the state’s economic well-being.
But reaching these students can be daunting. Recruiters and students face several obstacles financial and cultural, including language barriers, teens’ desires to support their families, a lack of knowledge about college and concerns over how to pay for it — especially if they are undocumented.
That means recruiters have to do more than just hang up posters in high school guidance offices. Instead, having learned the crucial role family plays, they go where students and their relatives are — churches, festivals, sporting events and other community gatherings.
Last month, Georgia Perimeter College recruiter Eric Cuevas waited until people walked up to his booth at Fiesta Georgia, one of the state’s largest Latino festivals. Then he approached them, talked about the two-year college and put fliers in their hands.
“If you want to get the students, you have to win over the ‘abuelas,’” Cuevas said, highlighting the Spanish word for grandmothers. “Part of recruiting these students is reassuring the mom, grandmother, uncle and everyone in the student’s life that college is the right next step.”
Enrollments will depend on how well they recruit these students, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college, experts said. Dozens of recruiters are expected at the National Hispanic College Fair taking place Wednesday at Meadowcreek High in Norcross.
Beyond college enrollment, leaders say the students' success is crucial for Georgia's economic standing.
"We are talking about our future students, but we're also talking about Georgia's future workforce," said Lisa Rossbacher, president of Southern Polytechnic State University. "It is critical to everyone that these students receive a college education. We've all had to look at how to recruit and support these students and that conversation must include the whole family."
Rossbacher chaired a task force in the late 1990s looking at how the University System of Georgia should address the growing population. In 1994, Latinos made up 1.6 percent of the enrollment at the state's public colleges and universities. Last year, Latinos made up 3.5 percent -- or 9,874 students out of the state's total enrollment of 282,978.
But in just 15 years, nearly one in four college-age students in the U.S. will be Latino, a national statistic that mirrors what is happening even more quickly in Georgia. Latinos comprised 4 percent of the state’s high school graduates in 2005, but they are projected to be 24 percent by 2022.
In response to the changing demographics, colleges hired bilingual recruiters and printed admissions and financial aid brochures in Spanish. Southern Polytechnic, Georgia State University and others set up mentoring and scholarship programs for Latino students. Georgia State, the University of Georgia and others hold special recruiting programs tailored for Latino students and their families.
Yet challenges remain. While 89 percent of Latinos questioned say college is important, only 48 percent plan to get a degree, according to a national survey released this month by the Pew Hispanic Center.
“I see so many students who are torn over whether they should go to college,” said Kim Stewart, a graduation coach at North Gwinnett High in Suwanee. “Whether it is a real need or a perception, so many feel obligated to support their families financially. And then we have some parents who didn’t get an advanced education here or in their home countries and don’t understand the need for college.”
About 75 percent of Latino students who cut their education short do so because of family obligations, according to the Pew survey.
Mauricio Chavez, a sophomore at Newton High School, filled out a postcard at last month's Fiesta Georgia to get more information about Georgia Perimeter. He completed the form in English, speaking to relatives in Spanish.
“Of course I want to go to college, but I need to take care of my family, too,” he said.
Margarita Munoz, director of GSU’s Office of Latino Student Services and Outreach, said many students lack motivation and knowledge about college. To help, her office started a program that pairs college students with high school students to help teens understand that going to college is possible, she said.
Colleges often rely on current students in other ways to help with recruiting.
"I was just like them," said Justin Fraley, 19, a student at Georgia Perimeter. "A lot of them look up to the people they see on their street. If they don’t have a doctor or lawyer or someone with a college degree on their street, how do they know they can do it?"
Fraley tells high school students about the Hispanic Connection club, which serves as a support network for Latino students and allows members to organize culture events for the entire college.
Cuevas, the Georgia Perimeter recruiter, takes care to assure families of the support in place for their children. At Fiesta Georgia he spoke with a mother and grandmother confused about the college letters their boy, a high school senior, received. None were written in Spanish.
The conversation followed a pattern that Cuevas said is typical for Latinos. While other families frequently ask about admission requirements first, he said many Latinos first ask about cost and whether the campus is safe. Then they ask if there are people who speak Spanish and who will help their child if they struggle. Only after those concerns are appeased do they ask about admission, he said.
Cuevas said many Latino families are reluctant to take on debt to pay for college. He explained spending money on college now will help students earn higher salaries later.
Undocumented students have more financial obstacles. They can attend a public college but they must pay out-of-state tuition, even if they graduated from a Georgia high school. Out-of-state tuition can be triple what state residents pay.
While the state doesn't track how many undocumented students pay out-of-state tuition, it's clear their higher costs make college much less affordable. These students are not eligible for the state's academic HOPE scholarship and their immigration status means they cannot apply for government grants or low-cost loans.
Some scholarships are available and there are foundations that award scholarships without requiring proof of citizenship. Even so, the majority of Latinos in college enroll part-time and work at the same time, according to Excelencia in Education, a national nonprofit that works to improve Latino success in college.
For his part, Georgia Perimeter's Cuevas tells parents their children will work hard and see benefits later in life. Families make him promise to protect their children, he said.
"I've had parents call me if their child gets a parking ticket," Cuevas said. "I basically hold students' and their families' hands from the first time I meet them in high school until they show up in college."
Police Chiefs call for immigration reform
Police Leaders from Across the Country Call For Immigration Reform
The Latino Journal E-News Weekly, Vol. 2, Issue 3
Washington, DC – Leading police executives from states as diverse as California, Iowa and Texas joined a growing chorus of law enforcement officials calling for comprehensive immigration reform. The law enforcement leaders, who discussed the issue during a telephonic press conference, described how the broken immigration system damages public trust and harms public safety. They stressed the importance of getting input from state and local law enforcement as Congress prepares to take up immigration reform in early 2010.
The speakers called for reform legislation that would strengthen border security, restore the rule of law, and legalize undocumented workers in order to build relationships of trust between all residents and the police and enhance public safety.
One of the participants in the press call, Chief of Police Rick Braziel of Sacramento, CA, stated, “Our city is one of the most diverse and integrated cities in America. We celebrate our cultural heritage and differences and strive to be inclusive. We can’t afford to have a group of residents be afraid of reporting crime because they believe we may report them for deportation. To allow that fear to exist in the minds of victims or witnesses endangers them and the rest of the community and lets criminals off the hook. Without comprehensive immigration reform, we place our communities and our nation at risk. It is time for Congress to take action on immigration reform to increase public safety and encourage full civic participation from all members of our community.”
“We can’t have an officer on every corner so that we may feel safe, but we can expect every citizen to be our eyes and ears. When members of the community are afraid of the police, it is counterproductive to our mission of public safety and national security. Not calling the police because of a fear of deportation allows further victimization and harms public safety. Washington needs to address our failed immigration policies and needs to enact a comprehensive immigration reform immediately,” added Arturo Venegas, the retired Chief of Police from Sacramento and now the Project Director of the Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative (LEEI).
Sheriff Bill McCarthy of Polk County, Iowa said, “In my county we have immigrants working hard and contributing to the economy. They are part of the fabric of our communities. As we’ve seen following the government’s raid in Postville, the lack of comprehensive immigration reform is hurting local economies, breaking up families, and compromising community trust. We need to be sure that every person living here knows that they can talk to the police and report crimes. Law enforcement needs to stay focused on its mission of preventing and investigating crimes, not checking immigration status. Comprehensive immigration reform is overdue and needed from a law enforcement perspective.”
Deputy Chief Kim Lemaux of Arlington, Texas spoke about her police department’s participation in a year-long study conducted by the Police Foundation. “Here in Arlington, we came to the conclusion that the issue of immigration needs to remain the responsibility of federal law enforcement agencies. Local police agencies are already tasked with enforcing state, local and traffic laws and we need all of our resources directed at those responsibilities.” The Police Foundation’s study culminated in a report, released in April, which highlighted the fact that civil immigration enforcement diverts local police departments from core priorities and harms their ability to work with members of the immigrant community to identify and solve crimes. Deputy Chief Lemaux added, “The Arlington Police Department operates under a community-policing strategy, working to keep all of our residents vested in the safety of their community. If a group of residents fear the police, then they will not turn to officers for help, making them more viable victims. It is imperative that we are able to reach residents in every community in order for local law enforcement to focus on its core mission, fighting crime. As Congress considers the future of immigration and possible reform in the upcoming session, it is important that the needs and abilities of local law enforcement be a part of the discussion.”
The Latino Journal E-News Weekly, Vol. 2, Issue 3
Washington, DC – Leading police executives from states as diverse as California, Iowa and Texas joined a growing chorus of law enforcement officials calling for comprehensive immigration reform. The law enforcement leaders, who discussed the issue during a telephonic press conference, described how the broken immigration system damages public trust and harms public safety. They stressed the importance of getting input from state and local law enforcement as Congress prepares to take up immigration reform in early 2010.
The speakers called for reform legislation that would strengthen border security, restore the rule of law, and legalize undocumented workers in order to build relationships of trust between all residents and the police and enhance public safety.
One of the participants in the press call, Chief of Police Rick Braziel of Sacramento, CA, stated, “Our city is one of the most diverse and integrated cities in America. We celebrate our cultural heritage and differences and strive to be inclusive. We can’t afford to have a group of residents be afraid of reporting crime because they believe we may report them for deportation. To allow that fear to exist in the minds of victims or witnesses endangers them and the rest of the community and lets criminals off the hook. Without comprehensive immigration reform, we place our communities and our nation at risk. It is time for Congress to take action on immigration reform to increase public safety and encourage full civic participation from all members of our community.”
“We can’t have an officer on every corner so that we may feel safe, but we can expect every citizen to be our eyes and ears. When members of the community are afraid of the police, it is counterproductive to our mission of public safety and national security. Not calling the police because of a fear of deportation allows further victimization and harms public safety. Washington needs to address our failed immigration policies and needs to enact a comprehensive immigration reform immediately,” added Arturo Venegas, the retired Chief of Police from Sacramento and now the Project Director of the Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative (LEEI).
Sheriff Bill McCarthy of Polk County, Iowa said, “In my county we have immigrants working hard and contributing to the economy. They are part of the fabric of our communities. As we’ve seen following the government’s raid in Postville, the lack of comprehensive immigration reform is hurting local economies, breaking up families, and compromising community trust. We need to be sure that every person living here knows that they can talk to the police and report crimes. Law enforcement needs to stay focused on its mission of preventing and investigating crimes, not checking immigration status. Comprehensive immigration reform is overdue and needed from a law enforcement perspective.”
Deputy Chief Kim Lemaux of Arlington, Texas spoke about her police department’s participation in a year-long study conducted by the Police Foundation. “Here in Arlington, we came to the conclusion that the issue of immigration needs to remain the responsibility of federal law enforcement agencies. Local police agencies are already tasked with enforcing state, local and traffic laws and we need all of our resources directed at those responsibilities.” The Police Foundation’s study culminated in a report, released in April, which highlighted the fact that civil immigration enforcement diverts local police departments from core priorities and harms their ability to work with members of the immigrant community to identify and solve crimes. Deputy Chief Lemaux added, “The Arlington Police Department operates under a community-policing strategy, working to keep all of our residents vested in the safety of their community. If a group of residents fear the police, then they will not turn to officers for help, making them more viable victims. It is imperative that we are able to reach residents in every community in order for local law enforcement to focus on its core mission, fighting crime. As Congress considers the future of immigration and possible reform in the upcoming session, it is important that the needs and abilities of local law enforcement be a part of the discussion.”
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