Immigration

Sen. Feinstein's Westwood Office To Be Target Of Pro-Immigrant Protest

For most intents and purposes, Dianne Feinstein is a fairly progressive and pro-immigrant senator from California. But immigrants' rights groups feel she hasn't gone far enough, fast enough, especially in light of President Obama's call for comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path ... More >>

Illegal Immigrant Deportations to Slow Way Down as Presidential Election Approches: L.A. Immigrants' Rights Group Cheers

Kenn Wilson​This has the smell of a presidential campaign move if you ask us. President Obama hasn't really thrown too many bones to Latino voters during his first term as America's CEO, but he certainly needs a reprise of their support if has a shot at keeping the gig in 2012. A key issue fo ... More >>

L.A. Latinos Sue Sheriff Lee Baca for Failing to Reveal Internal 'Secure Communities' Correspondance With ICE

Sheriff Baca just got sued.​Updated after the jump: The Sheriff's Department says this is ICE's problem, not theirs. This should be an interesting lawsuit -- not only for the future of immigration reform, but for frustrated journalists who repeatedly get their California Public Records Act re ... More >>

Good News for Undocumented Workers: Legalization Leads to More Money

​Undocumented workers and those in favor of legalizing them received a dose of inspiring news when a pair of local economics professors announced the results of their recent study: Legalizing illegal immigrants will significantly increase undocumented workers' wages. But wait, that's not all.

Illegal Immigrants' 'Anchor Babies' Took $53 Million In Welfare Services In L.A. County In 2010

babypunk.netAnchor babies get paid on your dime?​Ah, the plight of the so-called "anchor baby," those children of illegal immigrants dropped on U.S. soil like a red-white-and-green flag (because we assume here that European, Asian, African and other immigrants don't do this). They're a thorn ... More >>

Critics Say Bust Of Downtown L.A.'s Club 907 Was Immigration Raid: Cops Say Two Underage Girls Were Working There

abc.net.auWas the raid on Club 907 just a document check?​The raid made headlines across town. More than 80 women were arrested after the LAPD initiated an investigation based on allegations of prostitution and lewd behavior at an old-school downtown taxi-dancing club. Two underage girls were ... More >>

Meg Whitman Wants Nicky Diaz Deported, Also Wants To Make Coats From Puppies' Fur

Ted SoquiNicky Diaz​When the Nicky Diaz story broke, Meg Whitman steadfastly refused to say whether she thought her former housekeeper should be deported. It was a no-win situation. If she said yes, she looked cruel; if she said no, then she didn't believe in the rule of law.Whether that was the b ... More >>

Sheriff Lee Baca Boasts About Booting Illegal Immigrants From Los Angeles County Jails

​Over the last four years Sheriff Lee Baca has helped to turn over 21,000 inmates to federal immigration authorities. And he's proud of it. While the LAPD has long had a controversial don't-ask policy when it comes to dealing with potential undocumented immigrants on the street, the Los Angel ... More >>

Pinalcchio: Renowned Forensics Experts Say a Pinal County Deputy's High-Profile Tale About Getting Shot After Encountering Drug Smugglers Doesn't Add Up

Arizona Boycott Exception Granted By L.A. Council

​The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to approve one exemption from its economic and travel boycott of Arizona: A Scottsdale-based company will be allowed to continue to operate the city's red-light cameras. The exemption was sought by the city's Public Safety Committee because th ... More >>

Arizona Congresswoman Urges L.A., Other Cities To Back Off Boycotts Of Her State

​An Arizona congresswoman has asked the city of Los Angeles and other governments and organizations to back off their boycotts of Arizona, arguing that the actions only "punish the wrong people," including hotel workers (translation: "Latino immigrants") in an already bad economy. In a letter ... More >>

U.S. Mayors Pass Villaraigosa's Resolution Condemning Arizona Immigration Law

​A resolution by L.A. leader Antonio Villaraigosa urging Arizona to repeal its controversial immigration law was passed this week at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Villaraigosa's document, which called the desert state's legislation "unconstitutional and un-American," also encouraged federal i ... More >>

L.A. School District Decries Arizona's Immigration Law; Board President Says It's 'Un-American'

​The Los Angeles Unified School District's board late Tuesday approved a resolution denouncing Arizona's controversial immigration law, a move that puts it in line with the city and county of Los Angeles. The move will also have the district explore how to cut economic ties with Arizona-based ... More >>

L.A. County Supervisors Vote To Boycott Arizona

​The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to boycott Arizona business and travel over the state's controversial immigration law. The vote was three to two on the powerful five member board, with Mark Ridley-Thomas casting the decider alongside the boycott's author, Gloria Mol ... More >>

1,200 National Guard Troops Heading To The U.S.-Mexico Border

The border at Imperial Beach, Calif.​The Obama administration on Tuesday pledged to put 1,200 National Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to a request by an Arizona congresswoman who complained about an influx of illegal Mexican immigrants. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Tucs ... More >>

Me Llamo Steve Poizner Y Quiero Su Apoyo

Steve Poizner has a message for that sliver of the electorate that speaks Spanish, votes Republican, opposes Pete Wilson and Prop. 187, but supports the Arizona immigration law:This is the political equivalent of a reverse triple backflip into a half somersault with no splash. English translation af ... More >>

LAPD Union Expresses Some Support For Arizona Immigration Law

​While avoiding a political endorsement, the union representing Los Angeles police on Friday argued that Arizona's controversial immigration law does not impose draconian measures outside the bounds of normal law enforcement. Police, the union says, should be trusted not to abuse the additiona ... More >>

Arizona You Too, Buddy!

L.A. City Council Approves Arizona Boycott

​The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved an economic boycott of Arizona over the state's new immigration law that would allow police to ask people they stop for proof of legal immigration status. L.A.'s move, which only councilman Greig Smith opposed, would ban official city travel ... More >>

Councilwoman Hahn Asks Lakers Not To Spend Money In Immigration-Embattled Arizona

Councilwoman Janice Hahn.​With a sweep of the Utah Jazz Monday, the Lakers would be facing a team from Arizona, the state in the cross-hairs of the Los Angeles City Council for its new law that allows cops to ask people they stop for proof of immigration status. In the face of a proposed city ... More >>

L.A. Black Group Criticizes Mayor, Council Members Over Anti-Arizona Stance (Updated)

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson.​A Los Angeles-based African-American "cultural action" organization is criticizing L.A. City Council members who support a boycott of Arizona over its controversial immigration law. (Updated after the jump with background on the group's leader). Council members Janice ... More >>

For Cinco De Mayo Lakers Game, 'Los Suns' Make Statement Against Arizona Immigration Law

Lakers.​When the Lakers face the Suns in game two of their playoff series in Arizona on Wednesday, L.A.'s hearts and minds will be with the purple and gold. But some in this half-Latino county will at least give the Phoenix team extra credit for changing its name temporarily to Los Suns in opp ... More >>

Suns Not Playing Lakers! Arizona Law Still Being Protested

​Breaking news: In our zealous pursuit of getting lots of news to you quickly we erred in stating that the Phoenix Suns were playing the Lakers Wednesday (the post, up for about a half an hour, has been deleted). In a game with San Antonio the Arizona team plans to protest its home state's imm ... More >>

As SoCal Opposition Mounts, Arizona Softens Immigration Law

The U.S.-Mexico border at Imperial Beach and Playas de Tijuana.​As the West Hollywood City Council on Friday joined a chorus of communities (Los Angeles, San Francisco) moving to oppose Arizona's controversial new immigration law, state lawmakers there softened the measure.

Mayor Villaraigosa Backs Boycott Of Arizona Over State's Immigration Law

​Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday said he backed a proposed city boycott of Arizona business over the state's recent passage of a law that would allow police to stop people and ask them for proof of their immigration status. The proposal by council members Janice Hahn, who's ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Reign of Terror Becomes Arizona Policy, Thanks to State Senator Russell Pearce and Governor Jan Brewer

Costa Mesa Mayor Proposes Arizona-Like Immigration Checks

​Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor on Wednesday proposed the city impose Arizona-like immigration checks as part of a crackdown on illegal workers in the Orange County city. Mansoor, a sometime sheriff's deputy who proposed training the city's police department to enforce federal immigration law ... More >>

Number Of Illegal Immigrants Decreased By One Million Since 2007

​The number of illegal immigrants in the United States was down about 800,000 last year compared to 2008, reportedly as a result of the recession and fewer job opportunities. The decrease from 11.6 million undocumented workers in 2008 to 10.8 million in 2009 was reported by the U.S. Department ... More >>

Going Viral (and Vile) About Swine Flu and Immigration

"Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico." These words, spoken in the tremulous, outraged voice of California radio jock Michael Savage, are typical of the "debate" that is already inflaming the airwaves and blogosphere in the ... More >>

Can America Stop the Reconquista?

Special April Fool’s Day edition

"Illegal" Is a Label of Pride, not Prejudice

Plus, stay-at-home Mexican dad gets flack from extended family

Study: Immigration-Program Cops Bust Day Laborers, Not Terrorists

The L.A. Times today profiles a study that claims a Clinton-era program that partners federal immigration authorities with local police is more likely to focus on "soft" arrests of immigrant gardeners and roofers than on serious law breakers or potential terrorists. The program, known as 287(g), is ... More >>

Broken Sanctuary

Did Elvira Arellano need to martyr herself?

Immigration Rites

Requiem for a movement. The real aliens are in Congress

Remember the Immigrant-Rights Movement?

The case of Elvira Arellano inspires L.A. organizers

Train

Minutemen vs. Bush's Moderate Side

Republicans are fighting among themselves over immigration. Will Democrats have a voice?

Minuteman Divisions

Internal squabbles tear at anti-immigrant movement

Exiled by Love

Immigration law snubs gay partners

On the Border of Hypocrisy

The unintended consequences of getting tough on illegal immigration

Ghosts in the Machine

When you're lost in El Centro's immigrant detention center you may be lost for good

From Hussein to the Hoosegow

Nation’s security complex is likely to extend time in jail for refugees like Ali Abbod, an Iraqi torture survivor

Unfriendly Skies

INS raids interfere with domestic passengers

Borderline Thinking

W., Vicente Fox and the amnesty-vs.-guest-worker debate

Inn Trouble

Unions shape new immigrant strategy

Amnesty!

Labor leads the battle to grant legal status to millions of America’s — and L.A.’s — undocumented immigrants

INS-Style Justice

Plea bargains approved, but future remains unclear for the El Centro Five

Immigrant Workers

The law that keeps them chained

Immigrants Rounded Up

INS deports hundreds in garment factory raids