Two reports with bearing on the immigration debate were released in Washington yesterday: an Urban Institute study finding that three-fourths of the 5.5 million children of undocumented parents were born in the United States and live under the fear that their parents will be arrested, separated from them or deported.
Today, much of the Spanish-language coverage of yesterday’s community meeting in Los Angeles focuses on Rep. Luis Gutierrez’ (D-IL) comments, and in particular his call to attend a march in favor of comprehensive immigration reform on March 21st.
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”)
