BROAD COALITION URGES SWIFT PASSAGE OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT ON THE EVE OF EXPECTED HOUSE VOTE Esteban

Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will cause local law enforcement to take hate crimes more seriously. The federal government will become involved in hate crime cases if they feel the local law enforcement is not able to deal with it adequately. This act will also urge victims to report any hate crimes to law enforcement.
http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/57028/

A chance for the U.S. to renew ties to Mexico

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090415_A_chance_for_the_U_S__to_renew_ties_to_Mexico.html


By Eric Zolov
President Obama's visit to Mexico tomorrow is an opportune moment for a new strategic vision of U.S.-Mexican relations. As Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador to the United States, recently put it, "It's time for the U.S. and Mexico to stop playing checkers and start playing chess."

That will require more American honesty about our role in issues such as immigration, as well as acknowledgment of Mexico's strengths as a newly vibrant democracy.

From 1938 to 1968, the United States and Mexico built what proved to be one of the most durable partnerships in the hemisphere. It began with the Mexican expropriation of foreign oil companies in 1938, which prompted a cry for U.S. intervention from Standard Oil and other American business interests. But President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized that broader strategic interests - namely, retaining Mexico as an ally on the eve of war in Europe - trumped the narrower interests of big business.

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Anabel Arrazola

Border arrests drop to 1970s levels

With the economy in tatters and security beefed up at the U.S.-Mexico border, fewer people are willing to cross illegally. Arrests in the last five months are down 24% from the same period last year.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-border8-2009mar08,0,5387682.story

New program encourages low-income L.A. residents to open bank accounts

The initiative aims to help 10,000 people end their dependence on check-cashing outlets before the end of the year by reducing the cost and simplifying the process of banking.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-payday25-2009mar25,0,6022311.story

Huntington Beach girl can stay in U.S. during custody dispute

Federal panel overturns a district court decision that would have sent her from her mother to live with her father in Mexico. None of the three is a U.S. citizen

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigrant-custody19-2009mar19,0,1679933.story

Thomas Perez Will Bring Needed Leadership as Head of Civil Rights Division at U.S. Department of Justice

Obama selected a Latino to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. Maryland's secretary of labor, Thomas Perez is awaiting approval by the senate for his nomination. He has strong support from MALDEF.

Here's the Article: http://maldef.org/news/releases/civilrights_031909/

National Coalition Launches Unprecedented Campaign to Ensure Census Achieves Accurate Count of Second-Largest U.S. Population Group.

Since the US Census Bureau has had trouble in the past keeping track of the growing Latino community, LULAC is teaming up with many Organizations to launch a campaign Ya Es Hora iHagase Contar!. This campaign is a community education initiative that will use various froms of media to get the information to the Latino Community regarding the census.

Here's the article
http://www.lulac.org/advocacy/press/2009/census.html