At the urban Dallas public school she had attended since kindergarten, Karen Hernandez’ grades were mediocre. By the end of fifth grade, her parents didn’t like the direction she seemed to be heading as the precarious adolescent years neared. “She was a follower, and she was starting to hang out with the wrong crowd,” recalls her mother, Belinda Hernandez.
As her Puerto Rican immigrant mother had done with her as a child growing up in Chicago, Jennifer Bonesz sent both of her daughters to Catholic schools. Athena, 14, attended from preschool through eighth grade, and Damary, 8, from preschool through third grade.
I come from the El Paso-Juárez border communities. For the past 15 years, El Paso has been ranked as the second safest city in the nation, while, just across the border, Ciudad Juárez ranks the second most dangerous city in the world. Daily in Juárez eight to 10 people are murdered, decapitated, kidnapped, tortured, or are simply disappeared.
I come from the El Paso-Juárez border communities. For the past 15 years, El Paso has been ranked as the second safest city in the nation, while, just across the border, Ciudad Juárez ranks the second most dangerous city in the world. Daily in Juárez eight to 10 people are murdered, decapitated, kidnapped, tortured, or are simply disappeared.
"Panico." That's how Joel Navarette, the coordinator of the youth group at St. Agnes Church in Phoenix, describes the reaction to SB 1070, an immigration crackdown that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law in April.
Despite opposition from the U.S. bishops, polls have shown broad local and national support of the law and desire for similar legislation in other states.
"Panico." That's how Joel Navarette, the coordinator of the youth group at St. Agnes Church in Phoenix, describes the reaction to SB 1070, an immigration crackdown that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law in April.
Despite opposition from the U.S. bishops, polls have shown broad local and national support of the law and desire for similar legislation in other states.
The birther movement is at it again. No, I'm not talking about the fringe group that insists, in defiance of all evidence to the contrary, that President Barack Obama is not a native-born citizen.
The immigration debate is raging in America. There are an estimated 11 million illegal aliens in the United States and the proposals regarding what to do about them run the entire spectrum from "throw them all out" to "give them all Green Cards." Meanwhile there are many myths regarding who immigrates to the United States and why.
The immigration debate is raging in America. There are an estimated 11 million illegal aliens in the United States and the proposals regarding what to do about them run the entire spectrum from "throw them all out" to "give them all Green Cards." Meanwhile there are many myths regarding who immigrates to the United States and why.
"We don't have anything in Spanish or geared to the Hispanic community here. We simply don't have any Hispanics," my pastor told me. "Are the Rodriguezes, the Lopezes, and the Garcias that I know in this neighborhood Polish?" I asked.
"No; but they have been here for so long, they'd rather attend the regular Mass."
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