Five years ago, in Phoenix, AZ, during the memorable visit and concert of international musical star, Manu Chao, Film Director Alex Rivera took this video of Manu Chao performing the beautiful song titled “El Viento” in front of Tent City, the infamous jail of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. We’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to release…
DetailsDuring his State of the Union address this year, President Obama said, “It is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement–and fix our broken immigration system.” In the same speech, the president emphasized his executive power to take action when Congress will not. But Congress is threatening another impasse on immigration. And while Capitol Hill plays politics, Obama refuses to use his executive authority to halt the deportation of more than 1,100 immigrants per day.
DetailsIs the President’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security anti-immigrant? The truth is that nobody knows. Nobody has bothered to ask. Here’s what we do know: Jeh Johnson comes from the Pentagon; he has little experience with the issue of immigration; and he favors legislative (as opposed to administrative) changes to the immigration…
DetailsAs President Obama reflects on his trip to Arizona on Jan. 25, he has some soul searching to do. In recent months, the President has displayed a schizophrenic approach to immigration as he attempts to straddle impossible opposites. He gives lip service to legalization but doubles down behind policies that criminalize. The Department of Homeland Security, headed by Arizona’s former Governor, has made conscripting states into immigration enforcement a centerpiece strategy while the Department of Justice sues states for usurping federal authority. Within the white house, it would seem that constitutional rights and discriminatory deportation programs are in a tug of war.
DetailsIf President Obama mentions immigration at all during his state of the union address, he will likely do so very briefly. In an election year, whatever he says will be an attempt to reconnect with disillusioned Latino voters who, by and large, see the president’s record as one who promised the stars on immigration reform, but subsequently delivered more deportations than any president in history.
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