Category: Immigration

Having been invited to hear Obama deliver his immigration proposal, Adrian Avila, who was undocumented until only a few months ago, reflects on the historical significance of comprehensive immigration reform.

Organizer Cesar Juarez has been advocating for immigration reform for his community for years. Deferred Action was not what he fought for, but he puts the policy in the context of his own life, and the larger call for change.

"Hecho en California" host Marcos Gutierrez explains the issues that Latino voters are closely watching in the 2012 elections.

As women debate whether they can “have it all,” some have chosen to provide for their families at all costs, even if it means leaving their kids.

Elected and community leaders met with DREAM youth at San Francisco’s City Hall to celebrate the close of DREAM Summer.

While many undocumented youth signed up for President Obama’s program deferring their deportation, others are awaiting the election results.

Recently, San Mateo County Coalition for Immigrant Rights held a county wide forum to urge decision-makers to stop reporting youth to ICE. More than 250 people attended.

On the streets of Northern California, it’s more than just a battle over turf and power but an internal issue of struggling with self identity.

In San Mateo County, youth as young as 10-years-old face deportation from contact with the criminal justice system. Youth United for Community Action gathered responses from families, lawyers and advocates on the impact on the county's practice. Learn more at: www.stopdeportingyouth.com

In the wake on Obama's "deferred action" policy, author and undocumented immigrant Juan Reyes recalls the challenges and struggles that comes with growing up as an American with no status.

Chinese immigrants share their tale of coming to America with next to nothing, how they were taught to make burritos from Mexican immigrants, and their "second home" Peking House Restaurant where they serve the San Jose community -- from longtime regular customers to homeless in the area.

Since she joined The San Francisco Foundation, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sandra Hernandez has been promoting her foundation’s efforts to help low-income communities in and around San Francisco gain access to health care and other services. As a practicing physician at San Francisco General Hospital, she has seen first hand the value of health care.

Artist and "Undocumented American" AD Avila shares his position that President Obama's new immigration policy is a hurtful one to immigrant families, through a comic and an audio description of the experiences behind the art.

Though excited when he first heard about the Obama policy that would give work permits to young undocumented immigrants, after a closer read, the author sees more drawbacks than advantages to applying.

With the DREAM Act once again compromised, the words of Langston Hughes ring as true as ever: "A dream deferred is a dream denied."

The California Catholic Conference and the Bishops of California announced their support of a new anti-deportation bill.

The heads of three of the most important, yet rarely talked about, legal institutions in the Bay Area are moving on. Author Raj Jayadev says the measure of their work can be found in the partnerships they formed with the communities they served.

New ways of collecting information – and sharing that data across government agencies – are raising concerns over privacy rights.

With an uncertainty hanging over immigrant communities from coast to coast, California could be a ray of light that breaks through the clouds.

The suicide of a Chinese-American software engineer in Silicon Valley shocked the Bay Area Chinese-American community and sparked discussions in China's blogosphere.

Photographer and author Tiburon tells one of his childhood stories, remembering an Indian ice cream vendor who would come to his neighborhood. Along the way they formed a connection through similarities of their original homelands of Mexico and India.

As part of a multimedia series called "Arriving and Becoming: The Silicon Valley Story as Told by Immigrant Elders", San Jose Spoken Word Artist, Yosimar Reyes writes about his grandfather in this piece "Mi Viejito" teaming up with Jean Melesaine with visuals of his words.

Commentator Andrew Lam considers the question raised by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice: When immigrants became the enemy, instead of America’s strength...

As part of a multimedia series called "Arriving and Becoming: The Silicon Valley Story as Told by Immigrant Elders", Stephanie Flores tells the story of struggle and happiness of her mother through a powerful photo essay and a moment of shopping.

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is poised to release his version of the DREAM Act — one that would create a legal category of second-class citizens.

The new immigration detention standards are a much-needed first step in improving the incarceration conditions for immigrants, and a long overdue move towards treating detainees with the human dignity they deserve.

While it is laudable that the Obama administration has decided to reduce funding for the immigration enforcement program, 287(g), harmful parts of it will continue to tear families apart.

As part of De-Bug's series covering the experience of immigrant elders, Adrian Avila tells the story of a former kingpin that he came across and the positive inspiration that came from what one would call a "bad guy."

Chance for permanent residency, access to federal benefits hinge on cooperating with law enforcement.

The following video previews several upcoming mini-documentaries on immigrant elders living in Silicon Valley. The project is part of a larger multimedia endeavor chronicling the story of arrival and becoming by immigrants in the region.

Demographic and economic changes may eventually mean the U.S. will no longer be the number-one destination for migrants.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) anounced that the option to exit the controversial Secure Communities program will be "eliminated" and the program will become mandatory for 2013. Under the program, local police are required to share the fingerprints of all arrestees with federal immigration authorities.

2012 could be a decisive year for the future of anti-immigration state laws, from the Supreme Court to the White House.

New America Media's top immigration pieces of 2011.

"Dreamers Adrift" comes out with episodes of everyday awkward situations that undocumented folks go through everyday. Yosimar Reyes plays in this episode of when dating goes wrong because of being undocumented.

Santa Clara County has been a leading voice in protecting the rights of immigrants in the face of escalating federal immigration enforcement. SJ Beez/Silicon Valley De-Bug presents a resource page featuring media coverage, policy memos, data, and other information on Santa Clara County’s policies regarding immigration matters.

JB, a Filipino Dream Act student came here lawfully with his family from the Philippines when he was fifteen years old. JB is 31 now. In those sixteen years since his arrival in this country one could not differentiate his life compared to anyone else living here. On November 12 JB is set to be deported back to the Philippines.

As four former Tri Valley University officials pleaded not guilty to committing visa fraud, hundreds of the sham college’s former students have received notices from immigration officials which amount to the first step in deportation proceedings.

In what has been heralded the most progressive policy in the nation, Santa Clara County today voted in a new set of guidelines for civil immigration detainers, which in effect ends the county’s collaboration with ICE.

California Governor Jerry Brown has until Oct. 9 to sign legislation which would give the state’s 41,000 undocumented students access to Cal Grants, UC grants and other state-funded scholarships for college education.

In response to the increasing number of immigrants deported for minor offenses, the DA’s offense is implementing a new approach which allows prosecutors to consider factors beyond the limited scope of the charge and sentence.

The recently formed taskforce gave a strong rebuke to the controversial Secure Communities program, yet immigrant advocates say the recommendations do not go far enough.

Silicon Valley De-Bug's Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project presents a new publication that shares the stories of eight families who changed the outcome of their criminal cases through their active participation. The book is also a guide on how communities can measurably impact their local criminal justice system.

On August 15th the California Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether California has the funds to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, AB889, giving the estimated 200,000 nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers worker protections. Local members of the California Domestic Workers Coalition met with the office of Sen. Alquist to urge her to support the bill.

An attorney with Equal Rights Advocates argues that passage of the federal DREAM Act would have a direct impact on immigrant women.

Leading up to a County Board of Supervisor vote to decide how the county will respond to a federal immigration enforcement program called Secured Communities, civil rights groups held a large informational gathering.

Weeks after SJPD announced they will bring on two federal immigration officers, they consider participation in an initiative which calls on local police and residents to be reporting agents for federal enforcement agencies.

Why are Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs in the United States moving back home?

Carlos Ponce has been selected to lead the Mexican Consulate in San Jose. In this article, he tells La Oferta Newspaper of his goal for building stronger international ties.

On some farms in California, which produce half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, the drop in undocumented immigrants can already be felt.

Shortly after the publication of his tell-all essay in the New York Times revealing his undocumented status, Filipino-American journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize winner, sat down for a one-on-one interview with New America Media.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas has pushed the immigration debate by sharing his personal journey in a New York Times article. In this article and video, Vargas shares his views on America's "identities" and his Bay Area roots in journalism.

With escalating enforcement on immigrants, Luisa Montero offers legal protections that immigrants can use if ever faced with ICE officers.

Jeysson Minota, a permanent legal resident, faced deportation, stemming from a vandalism charge due to graffiti. After four years of being in and out of detention, he was able to beat the deportation order, and stay with his family in the US.

With the city of Fremont leading the way, California marked the highest increase in Indian American’s in the country. Here are the numbers…

A 20-city tour organized by the Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) aims to energize and refocus immigrant rights supporters.

On the anniversary of Arizona’s SB 1070, California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano has introduced the Trust Act – a bill to give local jurisdictions the ability to determine their own boundaries on how they work with federal immigration enforcement.

As states across the country look to enact their own immigration laws, the immigration debate has shifted to state capitols.

The Dream Act, a pathway for undocumented students to pursue their education, has faced a rocky road, yet the students continue to persist despite an escalating anti-immigrant political landscape.

Sara Inés Calderón of News Taco says, "Latino bloggers are powerful because we have the information the mainstream media want but don’t know how to get."

Jean Melesaine interviews Aquene Aquetzalli Olmeka -- a medicine woman, smoke carrier and drummer who is an organizer for the Azteca Mexica New Year event held every March at the National Hispanic University. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the nation.

On the heels of the one-year anniversary of a historic Supreme Court decision, attorney Angie Junck and organizer Raj Jayadev share lessons learned from a case of a San Jose man who beat a deportation order.

For the past several months, legislators and anti-immigrant advocates have been pushing for changes in the Constitution to take away citizenship rights to those born in the United States.

Author Andrew Lam writes that the latest census numbers showing a rise in Asian-Americans points to a larger cultural shift in Bay Area, one that reaches across all races.

March is International Women's Month, and De-Bug will be highlighting women leaders in the Bay Area as a month long series. The first installment features the Malia Movement Company — a collective of female artists, dancers, and creators committed to being "fabulous."

AD Avila was selected as one of a handful of community leaders from around the country by the Knight Commission to present a digital story of his immigrant experience. Through his artwork and advocacy he breaks down the fear of the American immigrant.

The early months of 2011 have already registered 11 homicides in East San Jose. Young men of color have been both victims and perpetrators of the attacks. De-Bug gathered young men from the Eastside to talk about what they are seeing on the streets, and what can be done to stop the violence.

San Jose has already registered seven homicides in 2011, nearly matching half of the total killings from the previous year. The victims are often young and brown. Marcos Reyes, who lives in the same neighborhoods where sidewalk memorials are springing up, describes what it feels like to be a part of a community in peril.

Days before news broke that the City Manager had picked the Interim Chief Moore as the next San Jose Police Chief, CJA sent a letter detailing why Chief Batts was most qualified to meet their community criteria. The City Council is expected to make their decisions regarding Chief Moore on Tuesday.

An undocumented driver writes about San Jose’s towing policy changes, and why the next way to make immigrants feel safe is to change checkpoint policies.

In an unprecedented collaborative effort, the two agencies have developed an approach to help inform and assist the Latino community learn about their rights to file complaints against police officers.

When the world grows too complicated and spins out of our control, as happened in Tucson, Americans turn to a parlor game called “conservatives vs. progressives.”

Sacred Heart Community Services, one of the largest basic needs provider in the county, held a forum on the selection of the police chief. The agency also presented the findings of their survey project on community/police relations in their surrounding immigrant neighborhood in West San Jose.

The Vietnamese community of San Jose came together to discuss their criteria for the selection of the next San Jose Police Chief. The dialogue centered around officer-involved shootings and building back trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

This year marked the 40th Year of Chicano Movement in San Jose. Carlos Velazquez reflects back on the historical significance of the achievement, and the activists who made it happen.

With the county in a recession, it is those who are often heard the least from — youth and elders — who are baring the brunt of a deep economic crisis. The moment of dwindling resources though may by an opportunity for a now veteran youth movement to lead, not just for other youth, but for all generations.

An undocumented immigrant writes, "The way I look at it , I don’t need the DREAM Act for me to live my American dream. I will always be a dreamer, no matter what."

Participants at a recent press conference by SIREN — the largest immigrant rights advocacy organization in Santa Clara County — discuss the DREAM Act, scheduled for a congressional vote before the turn of the year.

Growing up as an immigrant Socorro Castaneda-Liles was told she would never go far. Thanks to a benefactor and an education at Santa Clara University she now teaches and dedicates her time providing scholarship opportunities for Latino students from working-class families.

On the heels of a Congressional vote on the Dream Act, a bill that would offer a path to legalization for some immigrant youth, one San Jose writer shares his story of being undocumented and American.

When a teenager came to the US as a refugee from Mexico, he landed in Santa Clara County in need of assistance. A Catholic Charities program was there to connect him with a family and community that welcomed him.

Duniya Dance & Drum Company and Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco will give a bhangra-folklorico performance commemorating Punjabi-Mexican fusion heritage at the Brava Theater in San Francisco.

Writer Rebecca Solomon profiles Alianza News editor Gerardo Fernandez and the challenges he faces in representing the Latino community to mainstream media and culture.

In late October the Service, Immigrants Rights and Education (SIREN), in coordination with the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, held an open forum at the Tully Library. The dialogue, held in Spanish, brought together Latino immigrant families to discuss their concerns with the police and offer selection criteria for the next San Jose Police Chief.

When California Governor candidate Meg Whitman was found to have employed an undocumented immigrant, many of the public expressed shock. Commentator Gil Villigran says what was exposed in the Whitman home speaks to a legacy of how immigrants are treated in this country.

The term "Asian Pacific Islander" has been used as a pan-ethnic term which identifies those from the Pacific Islands such as Samoa and Tonga, alongside those from the continent of Asia, such as China or Korea, as one large group. But does the lumping together help or hurt Pacific Islanders living in the U.S.?

From October 2 to 20 the Latino community can access health forums and services during Binational Health Week sponsored by the County of Santa Clara, Consulate of Mexico and community organizations.

San Jose helds its 19th Annual Mariachi Festival from Sept. 15 to 26 at the Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown. The event also celebrated Mexican heritage in California which spans over five centuries of art, culture, tradition and great music.

Dolores Huerta visited San Jose State University to talk to students and the community about the current immigration issues, accompanied by Maldef's president and members of Ozomatli.

An undocumented woman claims the GOP candidate knowingly hired her to clean her house for nine years. What might it mean for the November election?

When one new educator started volunteering at a homework center at Willow Glen library, she saw students grow in confidence and skills in the classroom. This year's budget cuts has eliminated after-school programs like hers, and she writes, the damage may cost more than we can account for.

The ancient stories of the Mahabharata are being brought to American and Indian audiences — even interacting with modern pop-culture icons — through the comic illustrator eye of Sandeep Sood.

In downtown San Jose, the Mexican community and friends celebrated the 200th year of Mexican Independence. There were parade floats, dancing, and food, but turnout was unexpectedly low due to the high entry fee for spectators.

Not all addictions get the same amount of attention, yet can still cause equally devastating impacts on families. One young author writes about how gambling addiction wreaked havoc on her family, and how she noticed similar struggles in other Vietnamese households.

The India Community Center organized a forum to discuss the phenomenon of Indian Americans returning to their country of origin.

A multi-ethnic coalition has launched "Immigrant Vote!," a statewide effort to help immigrant communities be heard on the November 2nd ballot. They will be campaigning for Proposition 24 and 25, as well as Santa Clara County's Measure A.

Arizona's anti-immigrant laws have brought the border debate to campuses across the country. At Stanford University, students are connecting with workers who maintain the campus to talk through a just vision for immigration reform.

The Mexican Consulate is recognizing Labor Rights Week from August 30 to September 6. Together with key city agencies, officials and the Department of Labor, the consulate is offering panel discussions, labor workshops and assistance to the community all week.

In North San Jose, a unique taco truck is quickly developing a fan base with its green chorizo tacos. The tacos served by Cuauhtemoc Lopez are inspired by his youth growing up in the world capital of chorizo in the city of Toluca in Mexico. Mr. Lopez talks about the difficult times he faced before becoming a successful and outstanding Taquero.

Should Savita become Sammy and Raj become Roger? Two Indian voices debate the pros and cons of "Americanizing" your ethnic identity.

The Annual Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival -- one of the most acclaimed cultural celebrations in the nation, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

Indian American seniors immigrating to the United States face the challenge of acculturation while dealing with issues of aging.

For the second year in a row, San Jose residents were able to experience the colorful dances, diverse foods and friendliness of Oaxaca in the Guelaguetza celebration on the Eastside of San Jose.

Salvadoran artist Ana Guardado explains her beginnings in San Jose and how her experiences here are represented in one of her paintings.

Artists and activists gathered recently at the Mexican Heritage Plaza to celebrate the Chicano Movement in San Jose and remember their work in connecting culture and community, art and politics, history and the generations.

Guelaguetza is the most important cultural festival of sharing and celebration for immigrants from the Southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Alianza News profiles a recent "Mini Guelaguetza" and gives us a taste of what to expect at the 2nd Annual Guelaguetza Festival to be held at the National Hispanic University in San Jose on July 25th.

With bhangra dancing, beauty and a local setting, film producer Hassan Zee brings an entertaining story that delves into veils, women's rights, and Muslim culture.

All across San Jose, futbol fans are rooting for their home country's team in the World Cup. Commentator Gerardo Fernandez says the tournament also puts on display the story of immigration that is apparent even on the field of play.

They say patriotism has its price, and this Fourth of July weekend, that's exactly what the entrepreneurial Shorty Fatz is counting on.

National Hispanic University, located in east San Jose, recently celebrated its 25th commencement ceremony. More than 150 students obtained their degrees in the institution that is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for San Jose's Latino community.

In a 9-2 vote, the San Jose City Council approved a resolution to condemn Arizona's SB 1070, but fell short of calling for a boycott.

One of the most comprehensive community service hubs in San Jose, the Mayfair Community Center has been changing lives for years. They share their latest programs and perspectives on the biggest issues today's youth face.

On May 7, 2010 several City Council members held a press conference to announce their proposed call for an end to Arizona's SB 1070.

Given today’s high cost of health care, the RotaCare San Jose Clinic (also known as the Free Clinic) is a community treasure. This nonprofit clinic provides free medical care to low-income individuals and families who have no health insurance in San Jose.

Compared with other immigrant populations in San Jose, the Vietnamese are considered newcomers. Yet this community's politics is spilling into the Silicon Valley's upcoming primary.

Each year thousands cross the US-Mexico border in search of a better life in America. In the process, hundreds would perish, go missing or get separated from their loved ones. The Mexican Consulate in San Jose helps families find and connect these families.

In indigenous Nahuatl language in Mexico, "cochitlehua-li" means "dream." It's also the name of a San Jose group ran by Latino youth to advocate for the "DREAM Act", or the AB 540, a California law which provides a path of higher education to undocumented immigrant students.