Defendant Ordered to Write About Immigrants Hardships

Portland, Oregon

Background
A 37 year old homeless man, Harold Denson, was collecting cans on the property of a car dealership. The manager of the car dealership is a Ukrainian immigrant. Denson's bag, which he was using to collect the cans, broke so the manager approached him with another trash bag asking him to clean the area. Denson first thanked the manager and then proceeded to yell telling him the car dealership was on "American Soil", and to go back to his own country. He also threatened to cut him with a box cutter.

Prior to the sentencing, Judge Ramras met with Denson and suggested an essay idea where he will have to write and reflect on the hardships of immigration. Through the essay, Denson is asked to put himself in their shoes to understand some of the challenges o what it might be like for immigrants coming to this country. Denson was willing, and happy to do so.

Why?
The judge hopes that Denson will understand the impact on his actions on the victim and immigrant communities through compassion, learning, and understanding.

article: https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/immigration-and-emigration

Businesses Fall At The Other Border

The immigration Policies that have been implemented to control the United States's southern border are also making it harder to cross up north. The restaurants at the Canadian border are struggling to stay open. There is also a mall where most of the stores closed after Canadians stopped coming to shop. The city of Massena use to be the economic engine of the entire country, not it's just a shadow of what it used to be. According to Customs and Border Protection data, Massena border crossing has dropped almost a quarter because of tighter federal immigration enforcement over the past 2 years.

Canadians do not feel safe to cross to the United States anymore. Someone said, " they are being treated like criminals, not like the interdependent friends and trading partners they've always been". The Canadian government criticized the more aggressive efforts by Custom agents. Tourists and Canadians who once regularly would go to the U.S have stopped because of the harassment. This unfortunately affected the border shops and restaurants.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/nyregion/canada-border-new-york.html

Immigrants Welcome In Minneapolis

On Thursday night rally in Minnesota, Donald Trump made some remarks about refugees not having the ability to be in any city or state without the consent of a governor or mayor.

Mayor Jacob Frey from Minneapolis, replied to Trump's comment through  a tweet regarding the situation. "Consent given. Immigrants and refugees are welcome in Minneapolis,"wrote mayor Jacob Frey.
He argued how immigrants and refugees have helped more making that state a better place to live and work at than what Trump has ever done in his presidency.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/11/minneapolis-mayor-jacob-frey-trump-refugees-welcome-my-city/3941324002/

Term "Illegal Alien" Banned

Last week, new guidelines were released from the City's Commission on human rights in New York City. These were based on the issue of discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and housing based on someone's immigration status or assumption of someone's immigration status.

These new guidelines bands the discrimination and or harassment towards someone because of their use of another language or limited English proficiency. Among this, the term "illegal alien" is also banned when it is used to demean or harass an individual. In order to ensure this, a fine of up to $250,000 was instituted as well if the offense is committed. Another guideline that was implemented towards this issue that will be a violation of the law is the action of calling ICE on someone as a discriminatory measure.

These measures were implemented with the hope to "combat the federal government' rhetoric of fear and xenophobic policies that have threatened health and well being of immigrant communities".


https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/463767-new-york-city-bans-term-illegal-alien-institutes-fines-up-to-250k

Hispanic Heritage Month In the Age of Trump

September 15 marked the start of Hispanic Heritage month which runs through October 15. This celebration of Latinx culture began in 1968 under president Johnson, and Ronal Reagan extended it to a full month. Ever since then it has been a tradition celebrated annually. In theory, it is a time where one celebrates and honors the achievements of Hispanic Americans. However, Latinx live their culture and carry their pride everyday.

Despite the celebration, we are living under the most anti-Hispanic administration in modern history. Donald Trump's antipathy towards this community has been well-documented. Based on a study by the Pew Research Center, this has caused Latinos to have serious concerns about their place in the United States under Trump than under past administration. Many have agreed that it has become more difficult to live as a latino in the U.S. in recent years.

Hispanics are rightfully feeling fearful and targeted because of their ethnicity. Even though, this community believes they feel less welcomed in this country, many have shown to continue fiercely believe in a country that doesn't always believe in them which is the greatest act of resistance of all.

Article

Is Trump Administration Targeting Advocates?

Roland Gramajo, a Houston activist, is being held in federal custody pending deportation proceedings after drawing attention to ICE. He is a local advocate in the Guatemalan community. In order to suppress fear about recent immigration raids, he organized a town hall meeting. To this meeting he not only invited community activists from all over the country, but even invited members of congress. In addition, he also invited officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcements for the sole purpose to inform the community of they have if they were to be confronted by authorities.

However, three weeks after he held the meeting, he is now facing deportation. This has rekindled concerns, and people are worried that the Trump Administration may be targeting advocates as part of their crackdown on illegal immigration. Many are now wondering if it was not for this meeting Gramajo held, and the attention he gathered, if he would not be facing deportation now.

article

The End of the American Dream?

Andrew Yang, a 44year older entrepreneur, who is one of 10 candidates who made the cut for the democratic third presidential debate spoke about the American Dream in an interview with CBS. He expressed how he loves the idea the American Dream because he lived it with his family. His family immigrated, however when he was asked if he still believed in the American Dream still he said he was a numbers guy. Apparently based on the numbers it says that you have a 50/50 chance of doing better than your parents if you were born in the 90's. That chance use to be 93% if you were born in the 40's or 50's,  so the American Dream is dying. Andrew Yang blames a lot of this on the rise of AI and automation. He thinks immigrants are being scapegoated for economic problems that there is that has nothing to do with immigration, but automation. He believes this will lead to wide spread disappear.

Article