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Migration and economy: young Latinos who will vote for the first time in the US seek change

Peninsula 360 Press

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2024.02.01

Migration and economy: young Latinos who will vote for the first time in the US seek change

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7PRnejQBII[/embedyt]

Por Península 360 Press con información de Raúl Ayrala.

Cada 30 segundos en Estados Unidos un latino cumple 18 años. En 2022 unos 34.5 millones de hispano-estadounidenses se volvieron aptos para votar. En 2024 el número podría incrementarse, siendo la migración y la economía los temas más apremiantes para este sector votante, uno que busca un cambio en la manera de cómo se maneje al país.

Pero, ¿cuáles son las expectativas, esperanzas e ilusiones de estos jóvenes latinos votantes? Península 360 Press platicó con dos jóvenes que votarán por primera vez en elecciones presidenciales este 2024.

“Como inmigrante yo pienso que las cosas más importantes para mi comunidad es la reforma migratoria. La última vez que se pasó algo así fue en 1986 y ya estamos a tiempo de que algo nuevo pase para toda la gente que sigue indocumentada en este país y se merece una oportunidad”, señaló Sarahí Espinoza Salamanca.

¿Cuál es lo que más te preocupa ahora?

“La verdad, la economía. Como yo trabajo en la construcción y desde hace tiempo ya no hay mucho trabajo”, dijo Adrián Espinoza.

However, a pending issue with youth is student loans.

“Ahorita tenemos el tema muy pendiente, os prestamos de cuando vas a la universidad. Muchos jóvenes normalmente con DACA o que son nacidos aquí, inclusive muchos de ellos dependen de esos prestamos para pagar su colegiatura porque sus padres no lo pueden hacer. Entonces, al graduarse esperan que, ya sea el presidente que tenemos actualmente o el que siga, pueda perdonarles esos prestamos para que puedan seguir sus vidas porque muchos se gradúan con unos prestamos muy altos, unos se elevan hasta los 100 mil dólares, entonces es muy difícil para ellos que empiecen su vida normal, porque tienen que pagar esa deuda enorme”, subrayó Sarahí.

Para apoyar a estos jóvenes es necesario entenderlos, situación nada fácil para los próximos candidatos a la presidencia.

“Si me gustaría ver a un candidato más joven”, destacó Adrián, al tiempo que Sarahí destacó el miedo al cambio por parte de quienes podrían dirigir al país.

“Pienso que la gente que está ahorita en la presidencia ya tiene ideas muy antiguas y miedo al cambio, y lo que ocupamos nosotros como comunidad latina es cambio. La gente que ahorita ya está más mayor como que está muy acostumbrada a como se hacen las cosas y pues tiene que cambiar eso”, dijo la joven votante.

En ese sentido, consideró que, desafortunadamente, de los dos candidatos que potencialmente son los que van a ser parte de esta carrera, los jóvenes no creen en ninguno de los dos, “entonces la gente dice que en vez de elegir al mejor de los dos peores, mejor no van a elegir a ninguno”.

La situación no pinta sencilla, pues no hay entusiasmo por un sector que, sin duda, debe alzar la voz en pro de toda la comunidad latina que no puede hacerlo, debido a su estatus migratorio.

“El gobierno tiene también que ayudar a su gente”, apuntó Adrián.

“Si, va a ser difícil e, inclusive yo, siendo mi primera vez votando por un presidente, dijera usted pues no va a ser una lección fácil y voy con mucho gusto a votar por mi presidente en el cual creo, no va a ser así y es desafortunado porque por ser la primera vez (debería) estar entusiasmada por ir a votar, desafortunadamente en esta elección no va a ser algo así, a menos que alguien más salga y diga yo voy a correr por la presidencia, pueden cambiar las cosas, pero así como vamos ahorita parece que va a estar un poco difícil”, subrayó Sarahí.

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San José, one step closer to prohibiting homeless people from camping near schools

Peninsula 360 Press

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2024.02.01

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By Brandon Pho. San Jose Spotlight.

Policymakers in the Bay Area's largest city agreed Tuesday to ban homeless people from camping near schools, despite pleas from advocates and concerns from City Hall about how to carry it out.

City council members voted unanimously to draft a policy allowing police to tow vehicles parked within 150 feet of K-12 campuses, despite city administrators questioning how they will implement the new law. City officials warned that the policy could require enormous resources to enforce and run afoul of the state vehicle code. Council members responded by ordering city leaders to pressure Sacramento to change the state law — another drain on the city’s limited resources.

Under the council's direction, the city will also draft an ordinance banning oversized vehicles from public roads deemed dangerous by an engineering study. City officials were ordered to draft a separate policy for towing vehicles from streets where overnight parking is prohibited.

The council members, led by Mayor Matt Mahan, said the city's policies are toothless and only allow law enforcement to impose fines.

“San Jose has taken on far more than our fair share of oversized vehicles from Santa Clara County,” Mahan said at the meeting. He added that other communities, especially wealthier ones like Saratoga, have much stricter bans on the books. “If we stand alone and don’t enforce the law, we’ll be the only place in the county that will have all the RVs.”

The discussion comes after six months of debate and intense public pressure to find solutions to the city's homeless crisis.

While students and parents say they have been threatened, stepped on needles and feel unsafe walking to school, homeless advocates warn that a blanket ban criminalizes homelessness and piles more costs on people who are already displaced. City officials have identified Independence High School, Shirakawa Elementary School and Challenger-Berryessa School as the three most affected school campuses.

Dozens of speakers lined up for and against the proposed bans. Dozens of students at KIPP San Jose Collegiate charter high school said the encampments make walking to school scary. Homeless advocates, on the other hand, accused politicians like Mahan of stoking fear to fuel a narrative linking homelessness to crime.

San Jose resident Debra Townley said she was living in her vehicle with a child.

“My son was in school at the time and I needed to park close to the schools so I could get him to school,” Townley said at the meeting. “I find it very disturbing that we’re going to ban an entire class of people who are trying to survive.”

KIPP sophomore Sophia Le said homeless residents have wreaked havoc on her school.

“We’re just kids in San Jose trying to have the best school experience. How is that going to be possible when my school has to constantly make repairs every time a member of the RV community trespasses on campus?” she told the meeting.

Mahan responded that keeping RVs more than 100 feet away from schools does not criminalize them. Reducing homelessness on the streets — or at least the appearance of people sleeping outdoors in Silicon Valley — has been a cornerstone of the mayor’s political platform as he seeks reelection in March.

All councilors, except Dev Davis, who was absent, seemed to agree.

Deputy Mayor Rosemary Kamei acknowledged that people in Silicon Valley are struggling to survive. Driven by the global tech industry, San Jose consistently ranks as the most expensive place in the U.S. to rent and pay monthly bills.

“We all deserve to be safe and there is no one on this stage who would disagree with that,” Kamei said.

When council members begin budget talks this spring, they will consider a broader policy to ban RVs in more parts of the city. Other ideas that surfaced in a city report Tuesday included convincing private property owners to allow RV parking and having the city buy RVs from homeless people in an effort to help them afford an apartment.

City leaders estimate that San Jose is home to 850 inhabited vehicles and up to 1,500 residents could be affected by the policy. In its most recent homeless count, San Jose counted more than 6,500 homeless people in 2022.

Councilman Bien Doan, who was once homeless, took issue with long-term RV strategies proposed by city leaders — keeping RVs only in industrial areas. He said pushing homeless people to the outskirts of San Jose tarnishes poorer neighborhoods.

“I feel like I was caught off guard by all of this,” Doan said, adding that policies like the RV ban would “hurt and hurt (his) district.”

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Undocumented people can also start businesses

sandra martinez

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2024.01.31

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Undocumented people can also start businesses

Listen to this note:

Renaissance brinda la oportunidad de impulsar y apoyar a la comunidad latina que desea emprender un negocio propio, cualquier persona tiene acceso a la capacitación y el proceso de emprendimiento con tan solo el número de identificación, por lo que no importa el estatus migratorio, lo que hace que, cualquier persona, incluso indocumentada, pueda emprender un negocio.

En la unidad móvil de Península 360 Press, Manuel Ortiz realizó una entrevista a Teresa Pérez, gerente de programas de la organización Renaissance, transmitida durante el programa Península 360 Radio en colaboración con Marcos Gutiérrez de «Hecho en California», donde explicó que Renaissance, es una organización sin fines de lucro, que ha ayudado durante más de 35 años a las personas que enfrentan barreras económicas a lograr la autosuficiencia financiera a través del espíritu empresarial, y de esa manera creen sus pequeñas empresas.

La organización busca apoyar principalmente a la gente de bajos recursos, sobre todo mujeres y gente de color, ofreciendo servicios gratuitos como talleres, guía de uno a uno con instructores que tiene especialidades, apoyo para crear paginas web, plan de mercadotecnia, entre otros programas integrales y talleres de desarrollo de habilidades, que impulsan a construir negocios sólidos.

La forma de financiamiento es a través del condado y las ciudades donde ofrecen sus servicios, por lo que el dinero del gobierno es lo que les permite seguir trabajando.

Así, se enfocan en brindar sus servicios en el Área de la Bahía, en el norte y sur de San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Francisco, Half Moon Bay y algunos lugares más.

En East Palo Alto, específicamente, se cuenta con clases presenciales y también con horas de café, que es un espacio brindado a la comunidad para acercarse a consultar información financiera, capacitación o asesoría.

“La gente latina, es muy emprendedora, busca siempre, cómo vender algo para tener un dinero extra para apoyar a su familia, pero muchos no se dan cuenta que es la forma en que pueden emprender y ser los dueños de su propio negocio y dejar de trabajar para otra gente”, comentó Teresa Pérez.

También existe gente inmigrante que no tiene seguro social, y cree que tienen las puertas cerradas, pero no, solo se necesita su número de identificación para abrir un negocio, aprender sobre los permisos y licencias y de este modo comenzar a proveer para su familia.

Teresa Pérez agregó que, para que un negocio pueda prosperar, se necesita conocer la estructura del negocio, hacer un plan del negocio y estar capacitado para llevarlo a cabo, por lo que la fundación les da estas herramientas para llevarlas a la práctica.

De igual maneta, cuentan con clases completas para implementar un plan de negocios, donde se aprende finanzas, mercadotecnia, procedimientos de licencias, permisos, recursos humanos y más.

Además, comentó que durante la pandemia los servicios se realizaron de manera remota por lo que existió dificultad para llegar a la comunidad latina que fue la más afectada, porque no contaban con los recursos para la nueva modalidad como servicio de internet o una computadora.

“Lo más importante es darse cuenta que un dueño de negocio no esta solos, hay más gente que está en los mismos caminos que tú”, finalizó Teresa Pérez.

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California mobilizes ahead of next round of storms, urges preparation

Pamela Cruz

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2024.01.31

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California mobilizes ahead of next round of storms, urges preparation

The Governor Gavin Newsom The U.S. Department of Health has activated the State Operations Center to coordinate a statewide response ahead of the next round of incoming storms that are expected to bring significant impacts across the state, and has also urged residents to prepare.

Beginning Tuesday night, a series of storms will sweep across the state over the next 10 days and are expected to bring significant rainfall, strong winds, deep snow, as well as possible flash flooding and power outages.

The State Operations Center in Mather is being activated to coordinate a unified response to these storms among state, local and federal agencies.

Newsom also ordered the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to lead an early, proactive effort to pre-position state personnel and equipment in communities most at risk of damage before the worst of the storms arrive.

The state is also taking steps to prepare for potential flooding by activating the Flood Operations Center for increased coordination and utilizing California spillways when necessary.

According to the National Weather Service, a significant series of weather systems will impact the state beginning this week, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall, accumulating snow in the mountains and wind gusts of 60 to 70 miles per hour.

Precipitation will begin in far northern California on Tuesday and spread to the rest of the state on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This weather pattern will continue in the coming weeks, with above-normal precipitation expected across the state, especially in Southern California.

“The state is working around the clock with our local partners to deploy life-saving equipment and resources across the state. With more storms on the horizon, we will continue to mobilize all available resources to protect Californians,” Newsom said.

Authorities call for 5 things to keep in mind that you can do to stay safer:

Stay connected. Californians are reminded to dial 311 for help or questions. If you are experiencing a critical emergency, call 911. Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts, including evacuation warnings and advisories. Go to CalAlerts.org to sign up for alerts from your county officials. Check in with loved ones and neighbors.
Get your information from trusted sources. During a disaster, it's critical to have accurate information. Check emergency management or state and local government websites and social media accounts for reliable information specific to your area. Local news outlets and meteorologists are also a good source of information. Be wary of posts from unknown sources on social platforms or from online 'experts' without credentials.
Prepare for high winds. Before a high wind event: remove dead trees or overhanging branches near structures, remove loose roof material, bring unsecured items from patios and balconies, secure outdoor items that could blow away, securely close windows and secure exterior doors. During a high wind event: take cover next to a building or under a shelter, stay away from windows, stay away from roads and railroad tracks, avoid elevated areas such as rooftops, watch for flying debris.
Travel safely. Avoid non-essential travel during the peak of the storm expected on Sunday and Monday. If you must drive, download the QuickMap app or visit QuickMap (ca.gov) for up-to-the-minute information on road conditions, traffic, closures and more. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood water. Turn around, don't drown! Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you over and one foot of moving water can sweep away your vehicle.
Be prepared for power outages. Take inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Keep your devices charged. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs if the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for each member of the household. Also, plan accordingly for potential water outages.

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Young man steps up and helps safeguard Bay Area marine life

Pamela Cruz

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2024.01.31

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Young man steps up and helps safeguard Bay Area marine life

Chase Loveless Young Steps Up and Helps Safeguard Bay Area Marine Life — Chase Loveless is a junior at Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco, California, and at a young age has raised awareness in his community about the environmental impact of batteries, thereby safeguarding marine life in the Bay Area. Credit: Rustic Pathways

Chase Loveless is a junior at Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco, California, and at a young age has raised awareness in his community about the environmental impact of batteries, thereby safeguarding marine life in the Bay Area.

His passion for sustainability led Chase to successfully organize a battery collection drive within his K-12 community, collecting over 70 pounds of used batteries, equivalent to over a thousand individual AA batteries.

The project not only prevented potential damage to the Bay, but also demonstrated the tangible impact of local youth initiatives.

“San Francisco is surrounded by water and the bay is an integral part of my community. Marine life that thrives in the bay is exposed to toxic chemicals from illegal disposal of harmful products, most commonly batteries. My project aimed to raise awareness about the toxicity of batteries and their negative impact on the environment,” said the young man from the Climate Leader Fellowship program.

Chase said he brainstormed how he could help protect the Bay Area, and decided he would hold a collection of used batteries throughout his K-12 community.

Once the collection was complete, he said, he properly disposed of the batteries at a local recycling company called Recology. “I collected over 70 pounds of batteries that could have ended up in the Pacific Ocean if they weren’t disposed of properly.”

Once Chase Loveless finished the collection, he said, he properly disposed of the batteries at a local recycling company called Recology. “I collected over 70 pounds of batteries that could have ended up in the Pacific Ocean if they weren’t disposed of properly.” Credit: Rustic Pathways

But not everything was easy, because according to Loveless, the biggest challenge she had to face was connecting with her community so that others would know about her project.

“I created a social media page where I posted vital information about the project, with updates and informative posts educating about the toxic chemicals found in batteries and the effects they have on the environment. Additionally, I posted another informative slide that was projected daily on our school’s television screens,” she said.

“This allowed more students who are not present on social media to connect. This helped me maximize the number of batteries we collected from homes across San Francisco. The batteries that were collected were a testament to how our community can come together to help stop climate change.”

Chase Loveless achieved his goal through the Climate Leaders Fellowship, a leadership program provided by Rustic Pathways, which he said helped him realize that he is a person who can create change, even if the challenge seems daunting.

“I’m so proud of everyone coming together to get rid of this common household item. The 70 pounds of batteries we collected is equivalent to over a thousand individual AA batteries. This is a huge amount of batteries that could have impacted my environment, and I’m proud of how I used my close-knit community to bring about change.”

The Climate Leaders Fellowship is a teen enrichment program that leads high school students to investigate the effects of climate change in their own communities and find ways to combat the problem at the local level.

The virtual volunteer program is offered in collaboration between Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation.

Students can apply for the Climate Leaders Scholarship at the following link, https://rusticpathways.com/young-climate-leaders-fellowship, the program is accepting applications until February 4.

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East Palo Alto warns of storms that will affect the area this week

Pamela Cruz

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2024.01.31

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East Palo Alto warns of storm that will affect the Bay Area this week — El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional emitió un pronóstico revisado, señalando una mayor confianza en una tormenta que afectará el Área de la Bahía. Foto: P360P

Este lunes, el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional emitió un pronóstico revisado, señalando una mayor confianza en que una tormenta importante azote el Área de la Bahía, incluido East Palo Alto, con fuertes lluvias y emitió un aviso de fuertes vientos.

Se espera que los impactos de las tormentas más fuertes azoten nuestra región desde el miércoles por la noche hasta la madrugada del jueves, señaló la ciudad en un comunicado.

Si bien el riesgo de inundaciones sigue siendo bajo según el pronóstico revisado, el pronóstico señala una pequeña probabilidad (0-5%) de que un caudal de arroyo sea lo suficientemente alto como para causar potencialmente una repetición de la inundación de la víspera de Año Nuevo de 2022.

En ese sentido, destacó que el pronóstico también rastrea una serie de tormentas que seguirán a la de esta semana. Con el suelo ya saturado por tormentas anteriores y las fuertes lluvias previstas para esta semana, se alienta a la comunidad a registrarse para recibir alertas de emergencia en https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert and prepare for advancing storms.

La ciudad informó que tiene sacos de arena disponibles para recoger en 150 Tara Road; o puede usar las palas, la arena y las bolsas para llenar sus propios sacos de arena si no hay bolsas prefabricadas disponibles.

Los residentes afectados por el estancamiento de agua en las calles del vecindario o las inundaciones del año pasado deberían considerar prepararse antes de las lluvias del miércoles.

La ciudad reiteró que continuará monitoreando los pronósticos y las condiciones, y el personal está listo para responder en caso de que las condiciones cambien.

De igual manera, explicó que el equipo continúa estacionado en el puente Pope/Chaucer, y la ciudad está preparada para desplegar equipo adicional en caso de que sea necesario retirar rápidamente los escombros en otros lugares del arroyo durante un fuerte flujo de lluvia.

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The People's Chamber: new financial system that connects and invests in communities

sandra martinez

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2024.01.30

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The People's Chamber: new financial system that connects and invests in communities

Con la finalidad de dar inclusión financiera digital, conectando los sistemas de bancos con los pagos comunitarios y utilizando tecnología innovadora, The People's Chamber seeks to be a new financial system that opens opportunities for all la comunidad al beneficiarse del crédito y no sólo para quienes reciben remesas.

Detrás de este proyecto está la Asociación Mexicana de Cooperativas de Crédito del Sector Social (AMUCSS) y su apuesta de 30 años por una inclusión financiera real y justa para el desarrollo de las pequeñas comunidades.

AMUCSS lidera una red de 140 bancos comunitarios en todo México, que cubren 34 lenguas indígenas, y el 60 por ciento de los clientes finales de su red son mujeres de regiones marginadas, por lo que conocen de cerca las necesidades de las comunidades mexicanas.

The Fundación Interledger apoya el proyecto como una forma de impulsar al sistema financiero a través de su tecnología para trabajar directamente con los grupos históricamente marginados, y busca aumentar el acceso a los servicios financieros digitales abogando por la adopción de una red monetaria de código abierto, impulsada por el Protocolo Interledger (ILP).

La Cámara de la Gente también incluye un grupo de activistas y especialistas financieros orientados a la justicia social, de esto modo, todos los mencionados se reúnen para echar a andar el gran proyecto financiero que apuesta por el crecimiento de las pequeñas comunidades aisladas donde nadie ha invertido durante años.

Hoy en día, los medios de pago son el sector financiero más importante que requieren los mexicanos, el mercado exige cada día más los pagos por transferencia y pagos digitales, dejando a un lado a aquellas comunidades que no lo ejecutan.

Isabel Cruz, presidenta de AMUCSS, comentó que este proyecto “es una necesidad para las comunidades, al tener 160 millones de remesas que llegan a los mexicanos, más lo apoyos sociales que son 600 millones de pagos al año y los envíos de dinero que hacen las personas que emigran a otros estados del país”.

Por el momento, el proyecto se encuentra en proceso de autorización por parte del Banco de México y se espera sea aprobado este año 2024.

¿Cómo funciona?

A través de una red tecnológica, se vinculan los bancos locales entre ellos para crear un sistema total financiero, con posibilidades de invertir, pagar, prestar y recibir dinero, dándole la oportunidad a la comunidad de realizar más movimientos financieros en un mismo lugar.

La Cámara utiliza la tecnología Mojaloop de última generación para generar un ecosistema de pagos seguro y eficaz. Por su parte, las instituciones sólo tienen que hacer una conexión sencilla con la Cámara para poder beneficiarse de todos los servicios financieros que ofrece.

Al conectar las instituciones financieras rurales al sistema de pagos nacionales, la gente podrá tener las remesas en una cuenta de ahorro en lugar de recibirla en efectivo, lo que permitirá tener capital adicional para que la institución a cargo de cada comunidad pueda prestar localmente e invertir cada persona en nuevos proyectos productivos que promueven el desarrollo regional.

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Two arrested in Redwood City on multiple charges, including vehicle theft

Pamela Cruz

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2024.01.30

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The Redwood City Police arrestó a dos personas por múltiples cargos, entre ellos por robo de vehículo.

El pasado 27 de enero, agentes del Departamento de Policía de Redwood City (RCPD) localizaron una camioneta estacionada en el área de las calles Buckeye y Chew que parecía haber sido robada. Utilizando la base de datos del sistema de cámaras Flock del departamento, los oficiales pudieron confirmar que esta había sido sustraída.

Los oficiales contactaron a dos sujetos, uno de los cuales fue observado ingresando al vehículo robado.

Los residentes de Redwood City, Oswaldo Mayen García (25 años) y Scott Huhtala (66 años), fueron detenidos en el lugar.

Una investigación adicional determinó que había otros dos vehículos robados, una camioneta y una motocicleta, que también estaban estacionados en la misma zona.

Se determinó que Mayen García era sospechoso de los tres robos de vehículos, por lo que fue arrestado y acusado de tres cargos de robo de automóvil.

En tanto que Huhtala estaba en posesión de metanfetamina, parafernalia de drogas y una orden judicial menor, razones por las cuales se le emitió una citación y se le liberó del lugar.

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US faces its worst border crisis ahead of presidential elections

sandra martinez

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2024.01.29

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US faces its worst border crisis ahead of presidential elections

The US faces its worst border crisis ahead of the presidential elections — Facing a border crisis, where much remains to be done and the political and social circumstances facing other countries increase the flow of migrants to the southern border seeking to enter the United States, it will be the next administration that will have the task of improving the conditions of immigrants, betting that the Democratic Party will be a more viable option.

The United States is facing a border crisis due to the increase in immigrants who, as a result of the economic situation in their countries of origin or because of climate change, have been forced to go in search of the American dream. The issue becomes urgent in view of the upcoming elections, where Democrats are concerned that the situation will be politicized.

According to figures from the U.S. Border Patrol (CBP), in the first week of December 2023, 9,923 people were detained daily trying to cross from Mexico to the United States.

Of these figures, according to the CBP, 2,398 are Mexican and 7,525 are of other nationalities, so it was estimated that 307,000 people would be detained at the border by the end of 2023 (of which almost 75,000 would be from Mexico).

However, immigrants are currently coming from all over the world (52 percent), unlike a few years ago, when the majority came from Mexico and Central America, and “that is a great difficulty,” assured Angela Kelly, Senior Advisor for Policy and Partnerships at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Immigration Council (AIC), during a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services.

“Immigration has changed in recent years, it has changed in the form and the number of encounters, this means that if the border patrol were to deal with all the people who are coming in, before they would have said it was impossible, but today it is 4,000 or 5,000 a day, the numbers we see now are up to 11,000,” said Angela Kelly.

President Joseph Biden is expected to use his authority to create a legal path for protection in order to enter the country, considering that there are key points that can improve the movement of migrants, including how to better serve more of those seeking asylum, since the daily flow far exceeds the capacities of immigration agencies, said Angela Kelly, while acknowledging that the problem will continue.

Kelly stressed that it is important to recognize that new avenues and policies have been created to provide immigrants with more options, but in practice the expected results have not been achieved.

Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America's Voice, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights, said the lack of immigration reform is partly the reason for the current severe immigration crisis, as the country's immigration system has not been updated in recent years, although efforts have been made to fix and improve it.

The expert highlighted that the main reasons that have driven the increase in the flow of migrants on the southern border are the unstable economy of their countries of origin and the impacts of climate change, so not everything is centered on the policies of the United States.

Cárdenas added that America is an immigrant nation, as more than 80 percent of American voters accepted a progressive option, “America wants a compassionate legal system.”

“We are facing a significant threat. Trump has already said that he will carry out large-scale deportations and imprisonments, so they have already given an idea of what they are going to do. We must understand that this goes beyond our communities, beyond our immigrants. They are a threat to us,” said Cárdenas.

Lupita Martinez from the Coalition for Human Rights of Immigrants (CHIRLA), which is made up of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change at the national level to achieve a just society that fully includes immigrants.

“We have seen many children who arrive very tired from the journey, from all the traveling. We have medical care waiting for them, as well as people who support us as translators, and we take them to a welcome center so they can rest and eat.”

In this way, they seek ways to support and help migrants who are sent to other various states of the American Union, welcoming them and supporting them to make their journey and stay easier.

CHIRLA received the first truck in June 2023 and to date more than 39 trucks of people have been served.

Likewise, he commented that only 3 percent of migrants who arrive in the country stay in Los Angeles, so they seek to guide and support them so that they reach their destinations. The way they work is through collective support, donations and other organizations that promote the work carried out.

Experts agreed that there is still much to be done and that the political and social circumstances facing other countries increase the flow of migrants to the southern border seeking to enter the United States to obtain a better quality of life, so these phenomena will continue to be present, and it will be the next administration that will have the task of improving the conditions of immigrants, betting that the Democratic Party will be a more viable option.

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The number of complaints about attacks on the Muslim community in the US grows by 178%.

Pamela Cruz

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2024.01.29

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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today released new civil rights data showing it received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim protests and anti-Palestinian hate.

The country's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization said the figure represents a 178 percent increase in complaints received in the last three months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

Among this subset of complaints from October to December, she said, employment discrimination (19 percent), hate crimes and incidents (13 percent) and educational discrimination (13 percent) were the three most reported categories.

“In the face of relentless hate and false smears, American Muslims, Arabs, and a broad coalition of Jews, Christians, African Americans, Asian Americans, and others continue to call for justice for Palestine,” CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said in a statement. “This coalition knows that the way to stop the hate is to end the apartheid, occupation, and genocide taking place in Palestine.

“Despite this disturbing wave of prejudice against Muslim, Arab-American and Palestinian communities, we are witnessing an impressive resilience in the face of intolerance,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

On Friday, CAIR welcomed a preliminary ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's principal judicial body, which finds South Africa's genocide charge against the Israeli government plausible, allows the case to proceed, and orders the Israeli government to take various steps to prevent genocidal acts and report back to the ICJ within a month.

CAIR called the figures in its latest data release for December “astonishing.”

Earlier in 2023, CAIR had reported that 2022 showed the first drop in incoming complaints to the organization since it began tracking data in 1995.

This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the Cali Fornia State Library.

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