Maricopa County: Ground Zero for the Immigrants' Rights Movement

Immigration November 25th, 2008 More Special Coverage about Immigration »

The Selma of Immigrants' Rights By Andrew Stelzer, In These Times In Arizona, immigrants protest Sheriff Joe's nativist agenda. Read more »   50-something days before he takes office, people are furiously reading the tea-leaves in an attempt to gauge how Barack Obama will govern. Immigration reform advocates have high hopes, and Obama has promised to make comprehensive immigration reform a priority. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for swift action on systemic reform, however. Obama will need Republicans, who in turn need their base's support, for issues that have far more immediacy for most Americans, namely passing a monster fiscal stimulus package in the hope of jump-starting our moribund economy. At the same time, I think it's safe to expect an Obama administration to use its power to effect immediate changes where he can -- cutting back on workplace raids, reforming our extensive and often abusive immigration detention network, reviewing ICE procedures, and, perhaps most importantly, appointing intelligent and pragmatic people throughout the system. That won't be what the immigrants' rights movement is looking for, but it'll be a step in the right direction. -Joshua Holland Editor, Immigration special coverage     A Vietnamese Journey Toward the American Dream By Andrew Lam, New America Media A cliché to native-borns, the American dream nevertheless seduces the traditionally sedentary Vietnamese to travel halfway around the world. Read more »   Border Fence to Carve up Nature Reserve By Enrique Gili, IPS News The Wall is being constructed over the objections of communities living near the border. Read more »   Obama's Latino Mandate By Steve Cobble, Joe Velasquez, The Nation Latinos backed Obama by a 2-to-1 margin on election day and could be the biggest force behind a longterm, center-left political realignment. Read more »   Immigration Reform Under Obama Likely To Be Piecemeal By Marcelo Ballve, New America Media A President Obama might not be able to take on immigration reform as a top-level priority during an economic downturn. Read more »   Obama and the End of White Elite Politics By Laura Carlsen, Foreign Policy in Focus The election of Barack Obama has been heralded as proof that the United States has finally broken through the racial barrier. Read more »   What Does Napolitano at Homeland Security Mean for Immigration Reform? By Diego Graglia, Feet in 2 Worlds Napolitano's approach on immigration is fundamentally pragmatic. Read more »

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