As an email was circulating this afternoon alerting Oklahoma educators that State Rep. Randy Terrill, known for authoring some of the most punitive anti-undocumented immigrant legislation in the nation, was going to try yet one more tactic to "sneak" his "English Only" bill into law:

Oklahoma Republican Representative Randy Terrill

Email text:

Representative Randy Terrill, author of last legislative session's well-known anti-immigration HB1804, failed this session to gain support for a "Son of HB 1804," in which he planned to impose additional sanctions and restrictions, including requiring schools to report the number of illegal immigrants enrolled to the state and strengthening tools for law enforcement.

When Terrill faced strong opposition from the business community to "Son of HB 1804," he dropped it and decided to focus instead on making English the official language of Oklahoma.

He missed the deadline to submit his Official English bill, but on March 13, he openly acknowledged in an article by Oklahoma City NEWS 9 staffer, Amy Lester, that he plans to take a bill sent to the House from the Senate, completely gut it, and turn it into his English as Oklahoma's official language bill. His strategy is also to use the legislative tactic of "suspending the rules" - especially effective when there are few members on the House floor - and adding his "Official English" as an amendment to a Senate bill (the content of the bill does not matter - he can add his amendment to any bill).

an interesting study estimating the long-term impact of Oklahoma's punitive HB 1804 bill meant to drive out undocumented immigrants was released.

The findings create a less than OK state of affairs.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency currently has over 30,000 undocumented immigrants in detention. There are plans to build more detention facilities in the coming year to house the many immigrants the federal government plans to take into custody.

The following is an excerpt from "It's a Family Affair, a piece that explores the ramifications of US detention policies of undocumented immigrants.

Margarita Huerta made a bad decision.

Some will argue that this mother of four made a bad decision when she decided to live illegally in the United States as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.

Others will say she made a bad decision when she decided on December 14, 2007 to leave her children in her car, after running out of gas alongside a busy North Texas highway while she walked to get help. On her return, she learned that her 5-year-old daughter had tried to follow her and had darted into the heavy traffic, only to be rescued by passing Good Samaritans -- who called the police.

Regardless of either decision, or more precisely because of both of them, Margarita found herself placed in the Collin County jail where she was charged with child endangerment and slapped with a criminal charge plus a detaining order by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to clear her for deportation proceedings.

This month, three months after she was first arrested, Margarita will finally be released from the detention center but won't be seeing her children. Instead, she'll be loaded on a transport and taken back to Mexico.

Margarita's treatment and length of detention are not unusual - it's how the United States treats undocumented immigrants in custody. In fact, Margarita is one of the lucky ones. She only had to be separated from her family for three months and she was only an hour away from where they lived. Too many in her shoes are not as fortunate.

In fact, the automatic detention and prolonged stays behind bars for undocumented immigrants, especially women, is a practice that makes no sense -- even in the face of accusations that undocumented immigrants are flight risks.

In this high-tech age, there are proven better ways to keep tabs on nonviolent non-criminals than keeping them behind bars separated from their families.

The way the U.S. handles immigrant detentions has triggered attention from the global humanitarian community, the United Nations (U.N.) and immigrant communities and activists throughout the country who all agree there is a better way to treat a population whose only vice is being illegally in the country to work their way out of the poverty they were born into.

Finish reading It's a Family Affair.

From all accounts, Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a calculating law enforcer. Just the kind high-crime cities want in combating drug dealers, murderers, rapists, robbers, pedophiles, etc. Except those kinds of criminals are not Arpaio's specialty. He prefers the nonviolent type — people who actually have not created a criminal offense but a civil offense by being in the country illegally.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
(Source: azcentral.com)

For some reason, Arpaio feels undocumented immigrants are more dangerous than those who actually do physical harm on society, and that's why he's tied up his force to descend on a particular section of Phoenix, in broad daylight, to "enforce" those who were "driving brown."

Before New Mexico Governor, and former Democratic presidential candidate, Bill Richardson officially endorsed his one-time opponent Barack Obama today in Portland, Oregon, the blogosphere and the mainstream media were questioning his motives.

The Clinton campaign just dismissed the endorsement as "insignificant."

Yet, in light of his own state voting for Clinton over Obama, Richardson's endorsement of Obama was the right thing, and some might even say predictable action, for this former candidate to follow.

Yet anyone who really knows Latino voters, realizes that Richardson's endorsement alone won't sway Latinos to cast their votes for Obama.

If that was the case, Richardson would still be in the race.

Things are heating up along the South Texas border and it's not because it's spring.

Ever since Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced that his department was intent on seeing a physical barrier built along the Texas-Mexico border within a given time frame, he's encountered one barrier after another in trying to get people to see things his way.

Residents have been taking to the streets on a weekly basis to protest the federal government's insistence that a physical barrier is what is needed to keep the country safe.

The latest group is the region's school officials.

From college presidents to school superintendents, officials are facing the government in federal courts and giving a failing grade to the border fence.

And while school is in session in the federal courts of South Texas, another group took a petition to another court — the Supreme Court — to clarify once and for all Is Chertoff Above the Law?

From all news accounts, Univision, the lone giant among U.S. Spanish-language broadcasters, is on course to go mainstream.

We first caught a hint of this when they paired up with CNN for the presidential debates. Now, Univision is creating a content partnership with the technology review site CNET and teaming up with Viva Vision, a mobile entertainment content provider.

Obviously, Univision is embarking on an ambitious plan to grow viewers and visitors.

So when news broke today that Univision had contributed $1,000 in PAC funds to the committee of a known opponent of unauthorized immigrants, the Friends of Cliff Stearns, eyebrows just didn't arch. As one friend in an email to Latina Lista wrote,

"Unbelievable! I’m sitting here with my mouth hanging open and I’m not shocked by much anymore."

Today was a historical day in Barack Obama's run for the Democratic presidential nomination and for the country as a whole.

For the first time, a presidential candidate delivered a speech on the racial divide of this country from a PERSONAL perspective. Not as someone who watches it from the sidelines but who has lived it.

Yet, what became painfully obvious as Obama delivered his speech and cited historic examples of racial division and oppression in this country is that there is a legacy of racial discrimination in this country that is being kept alive by a generation for whom color defines and confines a person.

Which is ironic considering that the bulk of Obama's supporters are what are known as the Millenial generation for whom diversity is not just a word but a way of life, and for whom many color is not as simple as black or white, but white and "some other race."

Today is the five-year anniversary of a war that when viewed through the lenses of history will not be kind to the people who perpetrated it. That's a given.

But what is not a given is the future course of involvement, we as a nation, must pursue with regard to Iraq.

So far, in this war, 11% of American casualties have been identified as Latino/a soldiers. It is the second highest percentage after white soldiers at 74.73%. African Americans comprise 9.4% of casualties, Asian - 1.4%; American Indian or Alaskan Native stands at 1.02% and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander is at
1.12%.

In an unprecedented act of unity, several congressional candidates from eight states have joined with several retired high-ranking military officials to be the first signers to a document that has five goals:

1. Responsibly end American military engagement in Iraq.
2. Restore Constitutional checks and balances.
3. Utilize diplomatic power.
4. Address humanitarian concerns.
5. Restore military might and dignity.
6. Restore media independence.
7. Create a new U.S.-centered energy policy.

All of these components are tied into a document that debuted today as A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

Last week, Latina Lista posted an item on the SAVE Act — a piece of legislation that is falling along the same lines as state legislation in being extremely punitive and trying to intimidate whole communities through stepped-up deportations and a government sanctioned media campaign.

Well, Latina Lista friend and colleague Man Eegee from Latino Politico, was in Washington over the weekend and found out the latest status of the SAVE Act.

by Man Eegee

Met with some congressional staffers yesterday and took the opportunity to ask about the SAVE Act, which the GOP is itching to get pushed through the House for a vote to create a wedge issue for the election campaign. Pro-migrant bloggers have been concerned that the enforcement-only campaign would be pushed forward with this egregious piece of legislation - continuing to separate parents from their children, incarcerate entire families without due process, etc.

According to my primary source, who asked to remain anonymous, the Dem. leadership …

(Click here, to read what Man Eegee uncovered about what the Democratic leadership is planning to do regarding the SAVE Act.)

By Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. On March 6, 2008, she addressed a group of over 50 women, including leaders, foreign ministers, lawmakers, first ladies and top European Union and U.N. officials at the International Women's Day Conference in Brussels.

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner believes women need to be given a larger role in helping solve global conflicts. In the following speech that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner shares with Latina Lista readers, she outlines her vision for the future role of women in global security.

We are here to draw the world’s attention to the link between security and women’s empowerment.

Women are often the most vulnerable members of society, subject to discrimination and abuse like harmful traditional practices or punishment by stoning. And they are at disproportionate risk from the security threats facing humanity. That holds true not only for the traditional security threats of poverty, conflict and disease, but also for the ever-expanding range of non-traditional security threats such as climate change, terrorism, religious extremism and international crime.

Violence against women is often a deliberate tactic in conflict. The horrific stories emerging from places like the Congo of systematic rape and families too afraid to send their daughters to school or their women to work in the fields shock us all. And at times of crisis women bear the brunt: as I saw for myself when I visited Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Tsunami or we are currently seeing in the Middle East.

But our focus today is not only on women as victims. Women also display the most extraordinary strength and resilience in conflict and crisis. They hold the social fabric together when other ties fray and have a particular talent as peace builders. They are improving human security through innovative and courageous activities in some of the darkest corners of our planet.

When news first hit the wires today that China had released their assessment of the U.S.' record on human rights, the reflex action within the United States was to dismiss it.

(Source: CNN)

After all, it's China — the biggest country dedicated to communist ideals and for many in the world, the worst violators of human rights themselves. It is the land of the one- child family policy, the Tiananmen Square massacre and the place where human rights activists are jailed with increasing frequency.

It is also the host of the August Olympic Games.

Since China always seems to make the list in U.S. reports on global violators of human rights, China's stab at creating a government sanctioned document turning the tables on the US is seen by everyone as nothing more than getting even with the US.

Yet, China's report, the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2007, is more than just a retaliatory document. It chronicles some very real issues that underscore the point that we don't have to look any farther than our own communities to find the kind of violations against human rights that we see so easily in other countries.

When it comes to solving the issue of illegal immigration, people are being duped into thinking that all the fault lies with businesses.

After all, if jobs weren't offered to undocumented immigrants they wouldn't come, right?

Not exactly.

The vast majority of people who risk their lives and savings to enter the U.S. illegally come not knowing where or if they will find a job. The difference between them and the 7.381 million people who are officially unemployed in the nation is that undocumented immigrants have no pride but to survive and they will accept jobs that — yes, again with the cliche — most Americans won't do.

However, it's not a cliche. It's a fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has documented in their Employment Situation summaries.

The immigration system is broken.

That phrase has been used so often in the immigration reform debate that it’s now a cliché.

(SOURCE: jewishworldreview.com)

Yet it stands to reason that if the immigration system is broken, it can’t be the only system broken. There are other systems that are impacted, whether directly or indirectly, by illegal immigration which also are in need of massive overhauls.

One such system is our judicial system. It is a system that suffers from just as many abused, obsolete, inadequate processes and practices, as well as, loopholes that states and counties have learned to manipulate it to the extent that the U.S. has held the dubious distinction over the past several years of being the country with the highest prison population rate in the world.

Now, it seems it’s just getting worse.

Obama supporters are a focused, passionate group — too bad their focus has to be so narrow and their passion is only for one man rather than charting a new course for the political system.

Last month, Latina Lista reported on a study that cited how 80 percent of Latino youth said that if Obama was not a presidential candidate in the November presidential election, they would not vote.

Since it was commissioned by the Obama camp, many critics of the report felt this was just another attempt at campaign propaganda to boost Obama's profile among voters.

Unfortunately, the study was only the tip of the proverbial political ice berg.

Over the last several months, Latina Lista has posted numerous posts about the strong efforts of some Texas border residents who are fighting back against the federal government's insistence that the country will be safer with a physical barrier dividing Mexico and the United States.

Because of these residents pushing back against the government's strong-arm tactics to build a fence and the fact it's an election season, progress has been made in just a few short months.

Rio Grande, border between Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
(Source: Bryan Woldridge)

Suddenly, politicians are seeing the "luz" (light), not to mention the potential votes, and voicing their beliefs that maybe a wall/fence is not the solution some in Congress believe it is.

To say that the fight against Big Government is taking a toll on Washington is an understatement but the fight is forcing people from every walk of life to look at the region in a whole new light.

One of those people is Nat Stone and for him pictures speak more than just a thousand words.

As was seen in the Texas primary, Latino voters are a significant voting bloc. Both Clinton and Obama can cite support from Latino voters as factors in their electoral gains in their respective bids for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Yet, just as Latinos are not a homogenous group, not all Latinos are Democrats and not all Latinos necessarily agree with the platforms of either Obama or Clinton.

(Source: LA Times)

So that leaves John McCain.

A man who at one time sponsored a bill on immigration reform and now can't seem to distance himself far enough from it.

A man who has always been perceived to be a friend to the Latino community and now — is strangely silent.

A man who needs to carry 50 percent of the Latino vote if he wants to be President.

This morning in Texas, after a long night of vote tabulations and "two-stepping," one irrevocable fact has emerged: The Latino vote made a difference for both Clinton and Obama.

Hillary Clinton celebrates her sweep of Texas and Ohio at victory party in Ohio.
(Source: foxnews.com)

Though Clinton has been declared the winner by garnering 51% of the vote versus Obama's 48%, it's clear from reports that the area Clinton poured the heart and soul of her campaigning — South Texas — proved to be what tipped her win. (Yet, until early voting results are registered, the official winner is still not known, as well as, who has won the majority of Texas delegates.)

It's important to note that in South Texas Clinton did well with ALL age groups. It's reported that she even won the majority of the Millenial generation (18-29).

And the reason why isn't too surprising.

Today, Texas is seeing the kind of unbridled excitement that first showed itself at the Obama rallies when upwards to 18-20,000 would show up to hear the Illinois senator speak.

(Source: Getty Images/Houston Chronicle)

And so far today, the excitement hasn't diminished — even with North and West Texas blanketed by a dusting of snow.

Different media blogs from around the state are keeping an eye on the pulse of Texas voters and are reporting essentially the same thing: far more Democrats voting, more Republicans switching parties to cast a vote in the Democratic race and tales of potential dirty deeds!

Latino voters have long been characterized as loyal supporters or, in some circles, followers, depending on your view of loyalty and Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is counting on the latter here in Texas in her quest to snatch the Democratic nomination away from rival Sen. Barack Obama next week.

An excerpt from "Not Your Madre's Texas Primary" written for Spot-on.

Clinton is hoping - more likely praying - that Texas Latinos follow the lead of our California and New York primos (cousins) and hand her a majority win over her rival. But her campaign is learning the hard lesson that a win in Texas depends, not on yesterday's loyalties, but a new reality -- the "M" factor.