Which Side Are You On ?

  Which Side Are You On ?

The Border is Invading America.  August 29,2025.  NY Times. Opinion.  Jean Guerrero. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/opinion/immigration-border-politics.html?unlocked_article

 Press title. Americs's Border Politics Are Coming for Your Rights. 

This piece is a misinformed application of a series of bankrupt, unrealistic political  arguments. 

Each of what is said is relatively accurate.  But, what is not said, is far more important. Yes, the Democrats did not do enough on immigration during the last  two decade. But, the fascist currently in power not only are worse, their movement is organized to destroy U.S. democracy, not only to oppose more immigration.  Yes, the author notes the terror, but that terror is connected to a political project of taking over the nation.  It is not only terror against immigrants. 

So, take each of the points argued and listed as Democratic Party weakness. But, what is not said. Well, Obama tried to pass the Dream Act, when it failed he created the Dreamers where 640,000 achieved some legality. The Democrats failed to pass real immigration reform- in part because of the arguments like those in the piece.

Biden, on day 1, tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform. It would have covered about 13 million.  It failed. Others tried to pass the Farm Modernization Act, it would have covered 3 million plus.  It failed.  Biden dismantled the many horrendous practices of Trump 2016-2020;

Who has been admitted.- and not considered in the essay ?  By my count is 4,700,000 in H-1 B, H-2A, refugees, Temporary Protected Status, refugees, and more. I am not arguing each of these programs were good.  When claiming there is little difference between the Democrats and the MAGA Crowd, you do need to count. 

I am uncertain if the author’s purpose is the support the MAGA claim that the actions of the Democrats on immigration are not significantly different that the current  militarized terrorism in the streets. This is a dangerous false argument supporting the destruction of our democratic constitutional order.

Or is there some other purpose ? I don’t know.  

But, this is a perspective being promoted on line particularly in right wing circles. The argument is neither right nor left.  It is nihilist and based  ignoring substantial history of change in immigration policies during the last two decades and upon totally unrealistic political perspectives and how change is made in the U.S.  The argument has contributed to the 40 year failure to adopt realistic political reform. 

Dr. Duane Campbell.  40 years engaged in the struggle for immigrants’ rights.

Author, Choosing Democracy – a practical guide to multicultural education.  1996- 2010.  Allyn and Bacon. 

 

 

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Democratic Progress in Mexico

 

Last week, Mexico's official statistical agency reported that 13.4 million people had been lifted out of poverty during AMLO's 2018-2024 government.

The main factors were a steady rise in the real minimum wage, year after year, and the "social programs" -- direct government payouts to people.

So for example AMLO instituted a pension for everyone over 65. It is a modest amount, and some complained that, in keeping with his administration's slogan "Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres" [For the good of all, first the poor], it should have been means-tested. But he said no, let's just do it, give all seniors a debit card and every couple of months, put some money in it. 

Likewise "scholarships" -- in reality just payments to families -- as a bribe for students to go to school. Again, the debit card does the trick.

And to make sure everyone can get one, the government has created what is in essence a huge consumer national bank, El Banco de Bienestar -- quite literally,  "The Welfare Bank." Now it is promoting a scheme for Mexicans in the United States to send remittances to the debit card of relatives in Mexico at a lower cost than competing services like Western Union.

President Claudia Sheinbaum (who took over last October) has kept expanding these programs, starting  with a pension for women beginning at age 60. For women from indigenous peoples, it already started. For other women, those aged 62 have started as well, the younger women start next year, as the government's redistributive capacity expands.

At the same time, Dr. Sheinbaum reported this morning in her daily news conference that foreign direct investment for the first two quarters of 2025 was a record-smashing $34+ billion, doubling the record set by the last full year of a neoliberal government in 2017 with then-President (now Spain resident on account of Spain forbids extradition of people like him) Enrique Peña Nieto.

This while Mexico's economy has become increasingly government-led: joint public-private infrastructure projects such as a railroad land canal between the Atlantic and Pacific to supplement and/or provide an alternative to the Panama Canal. It means cargo ships larger that Panama can handle could arrive on the West Coast, the containers put on trains to cross to the Atlantic, where their cargo could be redistributed so containers headed to Houston or New Orleans could go on one ship, those destined for Europe or the East Coast another.

Why do I suspect this is really important? Because that 13.4 million figure is truly astonishing after decades of neoliberalism during which the number of poor kept rising.

Last Sunday, trying to get material for Radio Migrante's Monday show, I kept doing Internet searches looking for major media in English that had covered it, or even minor media, and found nothing.

On Monday I finally found this on the Guardian: 

‘Historic’: how Mexico’s welfare policies helped 13.4 million people out of poverty

Immigration Resources in and near to Sacramento.

 

We are excited to share that the California Immigration Project (CIP) has officially launched! CIP is a new nonprofit organization committed to providing free, high-quality immigration legal services and community advocacy throughout California.  We’re also excited to share that the Sacramento FUEL Program, formerly housed at CRLA Foundation, will now be housed at CIP. We are honored to continue this vital program with the goal of ensuring access to legal education and services. We are deeply grateful to our AOD attorneys and dedicated volunteers, whose commitment makes this work possible. As we begin this new chapter together, we look forward to the continued impact we will make as a team.  The formation of CIP marks an exciting new chapter that builds on our many years of client-centered advocacy as members of CRLA Foundation’s immigration team – the majority of which came together to launch this new organization. For nearly a decade, our team has been privileged to provide free immigration legal services, education, and capacity building in the Sacramento, Central Valley, and Fresno regions. Becoming an independent organization allows us to strengthen our commitment to providing legal services to immigrant communities, while enabling CRLA Foundation to focus on its role as a State Bar support center. Our guiding principle has always been – and will continue to be – doing what is best for our clients and the communities we serve. At a time of unprecedented fear in our communities and escalating attacks on immigrants’ rights, we carry our work forward through CIP with both urgency and optimism, and we are confident in our team’s ability to meet the challenges of this moment with compassion, skill, and dedication.We look forward to collaborating with you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of immigrant communities across California. The FUEL Network is able to provide $90,000 in grants through funding from the City of Sacramento. These grants are distributed across FUEL Partners to develop and support educational and free legal services for Sacramento community members. Organizations apply and a Selection Committee of volunteers review the applications.  We are excited to announce our new 2025-2026 FUEL Subgrant Partners!  Afghan Labor Advocacy Network  AfriPeace Development Foundation  Project ANAR- Afghan Network for Advocacy and Resources Iranian-American Cultural & Educational Center(BAMDAD Radio) International Rescue Committee La Familia Counseling Center NorCal Resist Opening Doors Inc. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services World Relief - Sacramento Our amazing partners support our educational and legal services, they provide the following services free of charge to Sacramento Community Members: Emergency Consultations at ERO Immigration Legal Consultations Legal Representation for Individuals who do not have Cases in Immigration Court Know Your Rights Presentations  Family Emergency Preparedness Assistance Presentations Community Support Groups and Counseling Services for Survivors of Trauma  Psychological Forensic Evaluations for Immigration Applications  Community Outreach on FUEL Services Updates on Changes to Immigration, Policy (e.g. Tabling Events) Please visit our website for more information on services provided by our partners!

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