ICE gets slammed at Congressional Border Issues Conference

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

“What happens on one side of the border affects the other side. Mexico and the United States are separated by a border, but both communities share a goal of helping all of our peoples,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the 13th Annual U.S. - Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference, where panelists gathered to talk about topics such as Comprehensive Immigration Reform, drug and weapon trafficking, and the Merida Initiative. 

Among the panelists was Geraldo Rivera, host of “Geraldo at Large” on the FOX News Channel who said that instead of sending troops to the U.S./Mexican border, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) needs to start focusing on catching criminals and stop raiding processing plants where people are just there to work. “The immigration debate in this country has been so poisoned, and it’s become so racist in many ways.... We have distorted policy so that it hurts our national security. We have a totally competent law enforcement agency to deal with these criminals,” Rivera said. Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed with Rivera saying that unnecessary ICE raids are not the American way and that they must stop.

Pelosi talked about the need for comprehensive immigration reform saying that we need it soon. “It would secure our borders, it would protect our workers, it would prohibit the exploitation of workers coming into our country, it would unite our families,” she stated. Pelosi said that she is sending Congressmen to Mexico to see how our nations can work together. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also be traveling to Mexico to show support. 

Rivera also expressed his support for the Dream Act, which states that undocumented young people could be eligible for a conditional path to citizenship in exchange for a mandatory two years in higher education or military service. In order for the undocumented young person to have the chance to become an American citizen, they must demonstrate good moral character to be eligible for and stay in conditional residency. Rivera said, “You want to stimulate the gross domestic product? Let’s get these Latino youngsters graduating high school.... But to take kids who are getting A’s and say they can’t get in-state tuition in college because they’re not documented, It’s preposterous, it’s un-American, it’s Anti-American.... Get Dream passed.”

Pelosi also discussed the Merida Initiative, saying that $300 million would be given to Mexico as part of the omnibus bill that was passed last week. “Every person who comes here with that determination, with that optimism, with that hope, with those family values and sense of community and spirit of faith, every person who comes here, certainly from the Hispanic community, when they come here they make America more American,” she concluded. 

14,000 people a day face losing their health insurance

The Center for American Progress Action Fund and Health Care for
America Now, held a teleconference to release new reports which
stated that health care is the biggest component of our economy and
it is necessary to restore the nation's prosperity. "About 14,000 people lose health insurance everyday, and this is what we can expect as long as the job market remains in crisis," said Judy Feder with the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Director for Health Care for America Now, said that the public shouldn't be scared by the fear-marketing which the insurance industry and drug companies are using to protect their profits. "We're quiet sure that the public will understand that they can't continue to rely on private health insurance's ability to charge them whatever they want and to raise premiums four times as much as wages and that they need the government to be a rule maker and offer them a choice for a public plan as an alternative for private
insurance," Kirsch said.

Dr. Mai Pham, National Physicians Alliance, stated that patients who are
sick don't want to see doctors and can't take their medication and "It
makes no sense to choose such suffering and sickness and expense over
health if we can avoid it,” he concluded.

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Anita Weiss: Women's Rights in Pakistan

Anita M. Weiss, Professor in the Department of International Studies
at the University of Oregon, spoke today about women's rights in
Pakistan at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. Weiss
stressed the importance of getting women's rights developed in Pakistan. Educating more women was a main issue Weiss spoke about and
the creation of more schools for female education was presented
as a solution. She discussed the fact that only 4% of girls in Pakistan reach the education level of the ninth grade.

Weiss described the fact that Pakistan's government is working on solutions
that will improve the status of women, but that more action is necessary.

Professor Weiss described three steps that need to be implemented in
order to strengthen women's rights in Pakistan. The first step focuses
on the legislature and the need to create more laws that support women. The second step describes the need to increase women's participation in political
elections, both within political candidates and voters.

Weiss discussed the importance of involving more women in the
political sphere, to be able to integrate women more in society.
The third step focuses on women's economical rights, such as the right
to earn an individual income. If the economical rights are improved,
women's status will raise in society.
By involving more women in the grass-roots levels, the problems and
solutions can be presented from the group that is affected and more
efficient ideas can be created.

Weiss also pointed out that by improving women's rights in Pakistan,
it will not only help the women, but also the country's development.
The U.S. can help Pakistan in this area by working with both the
Pakistan government and with different Non-Governmental-Organizations  (NGO's).

The both can be assisted by the United States through economic
resources and also with the knowledge of equality and women's rights. One
example of this is the area of judicial rights.

Obama Administration Needs To Work With Latin America

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Sergio Bendixen, President of Bendixen and Associates; Dr Cynthia McClintock, Professor of political science and international affairs, and director of the Latin America and Hemispheric Studies Program at George Washington University, Eric Farnsworth, Vice-president of the Council of Americas and Ray Walser, senior policy analyst for Latin America in The Heritage Foundation's Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy studies, gave testimonies today before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

The witnesses created a lot of attention, with people lining up outside to hear the testimonies on "U.S. Policy Toward Latin America in 2009 and Beyond".

Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), said: "You can tell by the way the room is filled today the interest in the Western Hemisphere".

Subcommittee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) opened the hearing by welcoming Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL) as the committee's new Ranking Member and then outlined some positive steps he would like the Obama administration to pursue.

"First and foremost, I believe that President Obama's participation in April's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago would send an extremely positive message to the heads of the state from Latin America, to the Caribbean. Second, as Chairman Berman moves forward with foreign aid reform and the Obama administration prepares its FY 2010 budget, it is essential that we increase funding for countries in the Western Hemisphere...Third, cooperation between the US and Brazil significantly expanded during the Bush Administration. This relationship needs to be further deepened under President Obama...Fourth, we must continue to support our friends in Mexico through the Merida Initiative...Fifth, I would urge President Obama to focus on Ecuador and Paraguay...and sixth, we must continue to support disaster recovery efforts in Haiti", Engel said.

Chairman Engel then went on to discuss the attacks in a synagogue in Caracus, Venezuela.

"On Monday, I sent a letter, along with 19 of my colleagues, to President Chavez urging him to end the bullying and harassment of the Jewish community in Venezuela and to extend the community the robust protection it deserves in light of the threats it faces. The Venezuelan government must quickly change its tune with regard to the country's Jewish community".

Dr McClintock said: "In Lationobarometer surveys between 2000 and 2005, approval ratings of the United States fell by more than 20 points in Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia; more than 30 points in Mexico and Uruguay; and more than 40 points in Argentina, Paraguay, and Venezuela".

Ray Walser commented on America's dependence on the oil industry, with Congressman Ron Klein (D-FL) backing up his argument and stated that America needs to stop "buying oil from a country {Venezuela} that is hostile to our interests".

The committee also discussed the American economy and its ability to assist Latin American countries. Sergio Bendixen said: "We need to be realistic. Not only about what our friends want but what Latin America wants...we have economic limitations".

Other issues the committee discussed were the desires from the Obama administration, the April 2009 summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, human rights in Cuba, immigration, drugs control and free trade.

Eric Farnsworth suggested in his testimony that Brazil and Mexico should be allowed to join the G8. "Listening to Latin America is important...the rest of the hemisphere also has good ideas".

Chairman Engel said: "We cannot ignore our own backyard".

The committee hearing ended after 120 minutes as Congress was called to vote.

Mall Merchants Make a Buck off of Obama

Before the Inauguration takes place, Merchants on the National mall play to the popularity of Barack Obama.



Reporting from the University of New Mexico Journalism Program