Must Read News

Today, the AFL-CIO will host a forum in Los Angeles to debate immigration reform. La Opinión reports that the meeting, which will be held in LA’s historic Olvera Street neighborhood, will feature Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA); Bishop Alexander Salazar of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; LAPD Chief Charlie Beck; Angélica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA; and Maria Elena Durazo of the AFL-CIO.

For the second day, today’s top story is Hispanic discontent with President Obama’s cursory mention of immigration during his State of the Union address; many outlets also quote Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the president, assuring Hispanics that Obama remains committed to immigration reform…”We’re not willing to give up,”stated Jarrett. “This was true last year and it’s still truer after the elections in Massachusetts.”

A large number of Spanish-language news outlets today ran State of the Union headlines expressing disappointment among Hispanics and immigrants over what they described as the lack of detailed discussion, or any sort of vigorous defense, of comprehensive immigration reform in President Barack Obama’s address last night. BBC Mundo headlined its article: “Hispanic disappointment over Obama’s speech” (“Decepción Hispana ante discurso de Obama”)

America’s Voice is starting a new series to bring Spanish-language coverage of immigration and politics to a wider audience. Look for daily roundups (in English), of some of the best Spanish-language news. “The EFE and AFP news agencies report that President Obama’s State of the Union address will focus on the economy. At a demonstration held in front of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. yesterday, activists protested President Obama’s neglect of his campaign promise to the Hispanic community to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality, as reported by Notimex and La Opinión.”

Here are some of the best immigration tidbits from around the internets today — oh, and leave us some Friday comment love if you get a second. Andrea Nill at the Wonk Room reports on Lou Dobbs’ sprint to dump the toxic brand image he’s built up for himself on immigration. Maegan La Mala at Vivir Latino posts video and the new findings that immigration reform would be a 1.5 trillion dollar stimulus to the economy. Dave Neiwert points out the hypocrisy of Glen Beck’s “pre-emptive defense of the coming wave of anti-immigrant bigotry.” (Check out the updates.)