Tag Archives: immigration

An open letter from Hector Uribe

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned before that Hector Uribe, the Democratic candidate for Land Commissioner, may be my favorite candidate for this election cycle. I said that because he showed early on that he had a sense of humor and wasn’t afraid to … Continue reading →

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You tell ’em, Chuck

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Charles Barkley, speaking to ESPN’s Dan Patrick, talks sense about the Arizona “Show me your papers” law: DP: You’re a resident of Arizona, I’m curious if you think baseball should get involved with the immigration law. Do you like that … Continue reading →

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Interview with Linda Chavez-Thompson

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No, I haven’t started my slate of 2010 candidate interviews yet. It’s too early for that. But I did have the opportunity to ask Linda Chavez-Thompson, the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, a few questions about immigration reform and the … Continue reading →

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HGLBT Political Caucus issues resolution in favor of immigration reform

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: GLBT CAUCUS COMES OUT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM The membership of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for a resolution (attached) making a strong statement in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. “We, as a civil rights … Continue reading →

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Latinos and the GOP

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no big surprise here. Adam Bustos, a third-generation Mexican-American, has voted Republican since Ronald Reagan ran for president. But he has been reconsidering his party affiliation since Arizona State Gov. Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest immigration law last … Continue reading →

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The Suns take a stand

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very glad to see this. In an extremely bold move, the Phoenix Suns as an organization made a strong political statement in opposition to the recent Arizona immigration bill. Discussions on taking action began last week after the bill … Continue reading →

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Not just MLB

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Basketball writer Bethlehem Shoals argues provocatively that NBA Commissioner David Stern should take a stand on the Arizona “Show me your papers” law. Enter the NBA’s éne-bé-a campaign, launched at the beginning of this season in attempt to capitalize on … Continue reading →

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More pressure on MLB over the 2011 All Star Game

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep it up. A New York congressman who called for the league to move the 2011 game from Phoenix is the latest person to push for an economic boycott against the state in protest of the new law. Companies have … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

MLBPA opposes Arizona immigration law

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. New York, NY, Friday, April 30, 2010 … The following statement was issued today by Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner regarding the immigration law recently passed by the state of Arizona. “The recent … Continue reading →

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Farmers Branch prepares to waste more money

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It sure must be nice to have all these taxpayer dollars to spend on such frivolities. [Farmers Branch] plans to appeal a court ruling against its ordinance, which would prevent landlords from renting houses or apartments to illegal immigrants — … Continue reading →

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Will Texas make like Arizona?

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If there’s been one small positive thing about the ridiculous Arizona anti-immigrant law, it’s been to remind the rest of the country that states besides Texas do crazy, inexplicable things as well. And I do believe that there’s a reason … Continue reading →

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Don’t play ball with the state of Arizona

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What Kevin Blackistone says. About 10 years ago, the NCAA made one of its most bold and upright decisions: it refused to allow any more of its postseason tournaments, like March Madness, to be held in South Carolina until the … Continue reading →

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Papers, please

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So if you were to be pulled over by the police today, say for speeding or something, would you be able to prove that you’re a citizen, as the state of Arizona will now require? I don’t know about you, … Continue reading →

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How much would you pay for those border cameras?

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Remember all those border cameras Rick Perry wanted to install so ordinary citizens in the comfort of their living rooms could help catch people entering the country illegally? How have they worked out? Perry has invested a total of $4 … Continue reading →

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The legal bills keep piling up in Farmers Branch

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ka-ching! The Bickel & Brewer Storefront law firm submitted a bill for $850,000 this week in federal court for its share of costs in the successful challenge to the constitutionality of the ordinance. A second legal team is expected to … Continue reading →

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Farmers Branch loses in court yet again

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another loss in court for the city of Farmers Branch and its efforts to make apartment owners check potential renters’ immigration status. The City of Farmers Branch enacted ordinance 2952 in 2008 but today’s decision in the U.S. District … Continue reading →

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Perry’s border shenanigans

Posted on March 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an election year, and that means it’s time once again for Rick Perry to pay attention to Texas’ border communities, by which I mean “grandstand about drug violence”. I recommend you read these BOR posts for a sense of … Continue reading →

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Please count everyone

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves was in Laredo on Monday trying to ease some anxiety among residents there about the upcoming Census. Border counties, flush with residents fearful of being turned over to immigration agents, are historically among the … Continue reading →

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Salvation Army changes its policy

Posted on December 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Salvation Army of Houston will no longer require Social Security numbers from those seeking Christmas gifts, the organization announced today. “It was never our intention to offend anyone with our registration requirement to provide a Social … Continue reading →

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Toys for tots with valid ID

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is what you call bad holiday publicity. The Salvation Army and a charity affiliated with the Houston Fire Department are among those that consider immigration status, asking for birth certificates or Social Security cards for the children. The point … Continue reading →

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Farmers Branch single member Council district lawsuit appealed to SCOTUS

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A lawsuit on behalf of three Hispanic plaintiffs in Farmers Branch to force the creation of single-member City Council districts, which was filed last April and dismissed in November, will be appealed to the Supreme Court after the Fifth Circuit … Continue reading →

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No quorum for Lawrence’s Council meeting on 287(g)

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Three City Council members fell short of forcing a vote Wednesday on the city’s participation in a controversial immigration screening program after the rest of their colleagues skipped a special meeting. The city secretary counted only three members — … Continue reading →

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Who’s ready for the Census?

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The good news is that Houston is in pretty decent shape, at least as far as big cities go, in being ready for the 2010 Census. The bad news is that a lot of other big cities aren’t ready at … Continue reading →

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Change in course on 287 (g)

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes a change in course on how the city wants to deal with undocumented immigrants. Mayor Bill White is distancing himself from a controversial federal program that trains local law enforcement to identify suspected illegal immigrants, saying this … Continue reading →

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Corruption on the border

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting article from the AP about official corruption along the US-Mexico border. An Associated Press investigation has found U.S. law officers who work the border are being charged with criminal corruption in numbers not seen before, as drug and … Continue reading →

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Parker’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tis the season for Mayoral candidates to send out position papers on various issues. I’ve gotten a couple in my mailbox in the past few days and want to spend a little time examining them. First up is Annise Parker’s … Continue reading →

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City or county?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Like Nancy Sims, I was at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce candidate forum yesterday morning. And like Nancy, I thought this bit was one of the more interesting parts of the debate. Several questions focused on city finances and … Continue reading →

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The immigration question in the Mayor’s race

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Man, we need comprehensive immigration reform we can all live with. The city’s plans to step up cooperation with federal authorities in efforts to deport illegal immigrants is garnering new debate in the 2009 mayoral contest. Latino advocates have pressed … Continue reading →

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Irving ordered to switch to single-member Council districts

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A federal judge has ordered the city of Irving, Texas, to switch to single-member City Council districts because their current at-large system was in violation of the Voting Rights Act. U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis issued the ruling Tuesday in … Continue reading →

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Berman not running for Governor

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s too bad, because it means the Republican primary won’t be as mean, nasty, and bats-in-the-belfry crazy as it could have been. But while Leo Berman won’t be in the race, Bermanism will be. Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Leo … Continue reading →

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Will Perry bow to Berman?

Posted on June 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Leo Berman, who’s been threatening to run for Governor so he can personally deport anyone who looks like an undocumented immigrant, is now offering a deal to Governor Perry where he’d drop out and endorse the Governor in … Continue reading →

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Berman says he’s in for Governor

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Finally, the Republican primary for Governor becomes interesting. With plans to join the GOP primary with Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said today he wil announce as a candidate for governor … Continue reading →

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Outside agitation

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve got to agree with Stace here: Why should anyone in Houston care what some outfit that’s based in Spring thinks about anything related to Houston politics or policies? Last I checked, the citizens of Spring don’t vote in Houston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Brown and Locke spar over education

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

At a Mayoral forum on Thursday, Gene Locke and Peter Brown get into it over the school system. Gene Locke, the former city attorney, targeted Councilman Peter Brown’s recent statement to the Chronicle that Houstonians should consider forming an urban … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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