American Jewish Committee
Latino & Latin American Institute
Issue 46. Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
IN THE NEWS
LATINO-JEWISH AGENDA
Take Action Now: Oppose Flawed Immigration Bill
AJC is making a call to its members and partners to urge their Representatives to oppose the Save America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R.4088), which is currently pending in Congress. The solution to America’s broken immigration system must include strong, fair and effective enforcement coupled with humane reforms that protect families, ensure workers’ rights, and end marginalization of immigrant communities. Rather than reflecting this delicate balance the SAVE Act undermines our national security and erodes American values.
AJC and its chapters nationwide have engaged the community with poignant editorials and advocacy outreach at the federal and state level.
Boston
In Boston, the Latino-Jewish Dialogue met on March 14th with Richard Chacon, the State Director of the Office of Immigration. More than 25 people attended the event, including the top Jewish lobbyist on immigration issues, Latino heads of non-profit social service agencies, the editor of El Planeta newspaper and other leading members of both communities.
Long Island
In Long Island, AJC joined the ACLU, the Long Island Immigrant Alliance and other labor and civic leaders in opposition to State Resolution 1105, which would punish contractors and other licensees for employing undocumented immigrants. At a press conference on March 13th, Assistant Director Melissa Sostrin stated that it’s AJC policy to support a comprehensive, sensible solution to immigration reform at the federal level. If passed, critics fear that the bill could lead to discrimination against legal and documented workers, as found by the General Accounting Office.
Phoenix
Arizona Area Director for AJC Rabbi Maynard Bell and a group of major Arizona Latino leaders, including Tommy Espinoza of NCLR, Roberto Reveles of Somos America, and local immigration activist Danny Ortega were interviewed on March 12th by the noted Latino entrepreneur Tom Castro of Border Media Partners, LLC, a Houston-based network of Spanish language radio stations, for a book that he is writing on the struggle for immigration reform. An op-ed by Rabbi Bell was also published by the Arizona Republic. “Them against us is not the way” unmasks the anti-immigrant rhetoric that prevails in the ongoing debate.
The State of Latin American Jewry Discussed in New York
AJC’s ACCESS and the Latino and Latin American Institute teamed up with "Judíos Latinos," a NY-based group of Latin American young professional Jews, for a discussion on “Uncertain Roads: Latin American Jewry Today” led by Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Latino and Latin American Institute. More than 60 people attended the event on February 20th and follow-up meetings are already in the making.
Chicago Chapter Meets with Alderman Manny Flores
AJC staff and top lay leaders met with Chicago Alderman (city council) Manny Flores on March 7th, a leading figure in municipal politics, to discuss Jewish-Latino relations, anti-immigrant sentiment in media and environmental concerns. Also, on March 14th, Sylvia Puente, Director of the Institute of Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame discussed her recent trip to Israel with members of the chapter’s board during a private briefing. Puente’s trip and recount focused on Israel’s policies and for immigration integration program.
Engaging the Latin American Diplomatic Community in Florida
The Consuls of Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados were among the group of 19 diplomatic representatives who attended the luncheon honoring the members of the South Florida’s Consular Corps. AJC’s Executive Director David Harris, spoke about the current challenges faced by the global community.
El Salvador Consul Discusses Issues faced by the Latino Community in Long Island
On March 13, AJC Long Island board members Les Bennett and Ron Goldstein and chapter director Caroline Levy met with Lorena Rendon de Argumedo, the Consul General for El Salvador for Long Island and Connecticut to discuss issues facing the Salvadoran and other Latino populations in the region. Also attending the luncheon were representatives of the Latin America Chamber of Commerce, the Salvadoran Alliance; the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce; PRONTO; the Community Development Corporation of Brentwood; and the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association. Future programs include educational seminars on the Long Island and New York state governmental structure and the importance of registering to vote.
Labor Issues from the Latino and Jewish Perspective
The San Diego Latino-Jewish Coalition hosted a discussion on Latino and Jewish perspectives on local labor issues. Featured speakers were Lorena Gonzales, Secretary, Treasurer and CEO of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council and Donald Cohen, Co-founder and President of the Center for Policy Initiatives.
Guatemala Recognized for Playing Constructive Role in the Establishment of the State of Israel its
An award was presented by AJC’s Atlanta Chapter to the Consulate of Guatemala in recognition for its role played towards the establishment of the State of Israel in 1947. The chapter also partnered with a number of Latino organizations to host a program on citizenship and immigration for the Atlanta community. Guests included the Honorary Consuls General of Honduras and Guatemala, among others.
MONTHLY FEATURE
AJC Appeals to Cable TV Executives: “Stop the Hate against Immigrants”
The American Jewish Committee joined the National Council of la Raza (NCLR) in its “We Can Stop the Hate” campaign, by urging the heads of major cable television networks to ensure that the background of certain so-called immigration experts appearing on news shows is revealed to the viewing audience.
AJC penned a letter to Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide; Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of FOX News Corporation; and Phil Griffin, executive-in-charge of MSNBC voicing its concern about major television programs providing a microphone to individuals and organizations that promote hate, support vigilantism, white supremacy, or even violence in the immigration debate.
AJC pointed out specifically that Lou Dobbs Tonight, The O'Reilly Factor, and MSNBC News Live offer national platforms to spokespeople who represent known vigilante or hate-promoting groups, including Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Project and Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
AJC’s letter also noted that spokespeople espousing vigilantism and fear regularly appear on nightly news programs. They often speak in code, calling immigrants "criminals," "an army of invaders," and "diseased"; and children born to immigrants are referred to as "anchor babies." Many talk show hosts and commentators parrot this hate speech on their broadcasts.
AJC, the oldest human relations organization in the U.S., has been a longstanding advocate for fair and open immigration, and a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. Read the response from media executives.
QUOTES AND FIGURES
Six in Ten Hispanics Say Immigrants Should Play by the Rules
A new study conducted by the New American Dimensions, an L.A. multicultural research firm, finds a majority of Hispanics feel unfairly singled out on immigration issues. Nevertheless, six in ten believe that Hispanic immigrants should "follow the rules and come to the U.S. legally."
Contrary to how they are portrayed by anti-immigration activists, a majority of respondents -- particularly more recent arrivals -- feel strongly that immigrants have an obligation to learn English. However, despite a desire to integrate, nearly half of Hispanics worry about themselves or family members being deported.
The survey consisted of a telephone survey of 1,000 Hispanic respondents between the ages of 18 and 64. Highlights of the study, which is available at http://www.newamericandimensions.com, include:
- Despite common perceptions, Hispanic immigrants were significantly more in agreement than those born in the U.S. that immigrants should learn English if they plan to stay in this country. While 80% of the foreign born agreed, only 60% of the U.S. born.
- Half of respondents felt that "Hispanics are often treated like second class citizens in the U.S." One-half of respondents also agreed that the media does a very poor job of showing the Hispanic experience in America.
- Seven in ten feel that illegal immigration has benefited the U.S. economy and six in ten feel that it has benefited U.S. society overall. Six in ten felt that the United States has a moral obligation to grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants.
- Half of Hispanic adults, about one in five Hispanic immigrants, are U.S. citizens. Among citizens, 83% expressed an intention to vote in November. Of the non-citizens, seven in ten stated that the recent debate about immigration has made them more interested in pursuing citizenship.
- 55% of Hispanic citizens consider themselves Democrat, 24% Independent and 13% Republican. When asked for whom they would vote if the U.S. presidential election were held today, 36% said Hillary Clinton, 21% Barack Obama and 6% John McCain.
Information partly taken from New American Dimensions and Hispanic PR Wire
LATIN AMERICA AND MIDDLE EAST PERISCOPE
AJC HIGHLIGHTS
Executive Director's Blog: Hamas - Words and Deeds
"Ignoring or glossing over the true nature of Hamas – or seeking to reinvent it from a distance as a misunderstood, responsible negotiating partner – isn't the way to go," writes David Harris at the Jerusalem Post blog. READ BLOG.
Latino and Latin American Institute in Spain
Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC's Latino and Latin American Institute, traveled to Spain and met with Spanish government officials, Jewish community leaders, and journalists. AJC has an international partnership agreement with the Federation of Spanish Jewish communities.
Argentinean Government Officials and Opinion Leaders travel to Israel
A group of five Argentinean government officials, deputies and journalists traveled to Israel with Project Interchange during the first week of March. Dina Siegel Vann, AJC’s Latino and Latin American director headed the delegation, which met with Israeli government officials and experts. The trip was the result of an AJC – AMIA (Argentina’s Jewish umbrella organization) partnership.
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