HispanicTrending

May 11, 2017
By Javier Palomarez

Donald Trump poses a dilemma for Latino leaders. As a candidate, his statements sowed fear, distrust and acrimony in our community. Now that he is president, many feel he should be denounced and obstructed at every turn, along with anyone perceived to be collaborating with him.

Recently, the Los Angeles Times published a six-part editorial on the Trump presidency. Reading through that series, one might ask: “How could any Latino vote for Trump?” Yet a significant percentage did exactly that.

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce did not support Trump during his campaign, but now that he is in the White House, my organization believes that for the sake of the work we do, we must have a seat at the table, we must continue to engage the White House and advocate for our community.

The USHCC works diligently to promote the economic interests of 4.2 million Latino-owned businesses in the United States. We provide scholarships and training to educate local leaders and entrepreneurs. We also connect small businesses with the large corporations that provide them with the contracts — and opportunities — to grow. The needs of these businesses remain the same, regardless of who is in the White House.

So we at the USHCC had a choice: Work with the current administration to promote the economic well-being of our constituency, or cut off communication and stand in protest on the outside, letting the entrepreneurial Latino community struggle without doing all we could to help.

Despite our disagreements with the president, it was an easy choice to make. We refuse to stand on the sidelines and let others dictate the terms for Latino businesses.

Some have labeled our decision a betrayal, but we believe such divisiveness does real damage to the Latino community by promoting disunity.

These are challenging times, and yet Latinos can tell many success stories. We believe our members are America’s business future. We are the most entrepreneurial group in the nation. Latinos start new businesses at three times the rate of the general populace. We should be united in promoting our needs and accomplishments in Washington.

A few weeks ago, the USHCC secured a meeting at the White House among four prominent Latina entrepreneurs and Trump. This was an important win for our group — discussing the concerns of business ownership directly with the president of the United States. The women got a chance to make their voices heard and their needs clear, and the president got a chance to see our community’s true face.

Trump’s speeches and social media postings have prompted many to label him anti-Latino, and yet we discovered that he, members of his Cabinet, and members of his family have been nothing but supportive. Don’t forget, Trump was elected in part because he is a businessman and entrepreneur who understands the challenges faced by small businesses, including Latino business owners. We believe this is why he is receptive to our concerns and our agenda.

The Latino community is not monolithic or homogeneous, and a diversity of opinions and vigorous debate are natural and healthy. But those who sow dissent have a choice: Promote new ideas and real solutions for the issues that affect us directly, or stir controversy to gain a few more Internet clicks. The attacks appear to be made without thought to the broader consequences. I ask those who wish to throw stones: What are you doing to make things better? What have you done to improve the lives of fellow Latinos and fellow Americans?

For the moment, we can’t change who’s in the White House, but we can support each other as we struggle to create opportunities for our membership, for all Latinos and the nation.

Source: Los Angeles Times

May 10, 2017
By Victor Diaz

What started in the Austin headquarters of a giant tech company is meant to impact the largest growing minority group in Central Texas.

By 2020, majority of young people in Central Texas will be Hispanic.

The giving starts with Google.org, which kicked in the first $250,000 for a fund that will help support some of Austin's most dynamic groups.

"We see it as the nonprofits that are really beginning to change the face of Austin," said Gerardo Interiano, co-founder of the Hispanic Impact Fund.

Those programs include Con Mi Madre, which helps young Latinas stay in school and graduate college. Their unique mother-daughter counseling plan doubles down on the pursuit of higher education.

"Through the program (a mother) said 'I need to go back to school. How can I be pushing my daughter forward and telling her she should get an education when I didn't do it myself?'" said Con Mi Madre executive director Teresa Granillo.

By 2020, the majority of young people in Central Texas will be Hispanic.  The Austin Community Foundation wants them to have the same economic opportunities as everyone else.

The group believes when Hispanics rise, Austin rises along with them.

"We're really focused on closing the opportunity gap here in our community and launching the Hispanic Impact Fund is just one of the ways we plan to do that," said Austin Community Foundation CEO Mike Nellis.

 And with a $500,000 already raised by Hispanic Leaders, the Impact Fund is off to promising start.

Organizers say they'd also like the Hispanic Impact Fund to help spur minority owned businesses. Their data shows only 19 percent of local businesses are owned by Hispanics.

Source: Spectrum News

May 9, 2017
By Matthew Alvarez

Texas' sanctuary cities legislation stands out among the nation as tough against illegal immigration.

The biggest impact will allow every Texas police officer and sheriff's deputy to ask if someone is in the country legally during routine traffic stops.

It will also threaten law enforcement officers with jail time if they don't cooperate with federal immigration agents.

“I feel we are going to be targeted with racial profiling,” said Ruben Ramirez, who is the District 6 director for LULAC, League of United Latin American Citizens.

Ramirez says the Hispanic community is worried about the implementation of the bill which has been signed by the governor.

“People are getting afraid to go out in the street because any policeman can go ahead and ask you for papers and that’s not right,” Ramirez said. “It’s targeting.”

The local implementation is still not clear.

Midland Police Chief Price Robinson told the Midland Reporter Telegram that he did not support the passage of SB 4 because it would create distrust in law enforcement. CBS 7 reached out to ask the same questions but the chief declined to comment.

Odessa Police Spokesperson Cpl. Steve LeSueur said the bill would not impact much of what they do, but that officers would receive additional training on the new questions they can now ask.

“Every time they make new laws, it can sometimes take several months, when we get a legislative update we will do a training on it,” LeSueur said.

Source: CBS7.com

May 9, 2017
Source: CW39.com

Everything's big in Texas, including controversy.

“There is hatred that is behind this movement.” LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Co-Chair, Isidro Garza said.

The controversy is surrounding the SB4 bill that legislation Governor Greg Abbott signed to ban sanctuary cities.

The Greater Houston Coalition for Justice said, make no mistake about it, this law is unconstitutional and an egregious assault on civil rights.

“It appears they wanted to send a message to Hispanics and we received that message. It is a message of intolerance, mistrust, xenophobia, marginalization and suspicion,” said Houston LULAC representative Augustin Pinedo.

It allows police to ask anyone they stop if they're in this country illegally and it requires law enforcement to hand over detained immigrants to the feds. It also threatens officials with jail time if they refuse.

Among the critics are police chiefs throughout Texas and the Texas Association for Business.

Some opposed to the legislation are simply saying, “See you in court!”

“Even now, LULAC and MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) are looking to file lawsuits to challenge this racist piece of legislation,” said Pinedo.

The attorney general must have predicted backlash.

Ken Paxton filed his own suit in U.S. District Court which would insure any lawsuits filed throughout Texas would have to be settled in a single court. That would avoid multiple lawsuits in various forums.

That's what you call a preemptive strike.

May 9, 2017
By Paul Rivera

As details about the passing of Senate Bill 4 spread among Hispanics in East Texas, a new issue arose.

The issue stems from the provision in the law which allows police to ask anyone who is detained about their immigration status.

Residents of Tyler's Hispanic community tell us that they are concerned that this law may keep some people from reporting crimes.

Near the intersection of Beckham Avenue and Line Street in Tyler, you'll see a mix of Spanish culture, supermarkets and people, all living in this Spanish speaking area.

You'll also find the Panaderia Nuevo Leon, it's a bakery where some are concerned about the safety of their community moving forward.  

Mirna Ortega works at the bakery and she says that's a real fear that is paralyzing many that she speaks with.

"That if you are a witness on a crime, and if you do not have any papers, if you're not resident alien, they won't come forward. They're scared that a police will ask them for their citizenship," says Ortega.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says that's not the case.

"There's a specific exclusion for people who are victims of crimes, or who are witnesses. They cannot be asked anything about immigration status unless it somehow relates to the crime," says Paxton.

It’s an explanation Ortega says not all will trust.

"If I know that I'm not a legal alien here…I will not come forward because even though they say they won't…you never know," says Ortega.

"If something were about to happen here, I think everyone would just run off, don't say anything, so I think it's scary," says Ortega.

Paxton claims that under the victim and witness protections, that argument and that issue doesn't create a problem.

Source: KLTV.com