Mark a step toward bipartisan solutions: On Thursday, bipartisan legislation that would help address the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border was introduced in both houses of Congress.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona), along with Texas Reps. Henry Cuellar (D) and Tony Gonzales (R), introduced the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, report Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Daniel Gonzalez of the Arizona Republic.
"Congress must enact commonsense measures that relieve the bottlenecks in our immigration system and allow our DHS agents to focus on their national security responsibilities," Gonzales said, per Elizabeth Thompson of the Dallas Morning News. "We must take steps towards creating an immigration system that allows people to safely and legally come to the United States."
Thompson notes that the bill drew support from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "The only way that meaningful policy changes will be enacted is if Republicans and Democrats work together to achieve those results for the American people," said Neil Bradley, the Chamber's chief policy officer.
Welcome to Friday’s edition of Noorani’s Notes. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s vice president of strategic communications and your guest editor today. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected].
SPEAKING OF BIPARTISAN — On a 94-1 vote, the Senate on Thursday passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to fight the increase in hateful acts toward Asian Americans, reports Savannah Behrmann of USA Today. "We will send a powerful message of solidarity to the [Asian American and Pacific Islander] community that the Senate won't be a bystander as anti-Asian violence surges in our
country," said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who spearheaded the bill, before the vote. The bill "underwent several bipartisan changes before its final passage," Behrmann notes. The bill now moves to the House. "The vote today on the Anti-Asian Hate Crimes bill is proof that when the Senate is given the opportunity to work, the Senate can work to solve important issues," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York).
MEXICO’S PLANS — The Mexican government is working to increase enforcement at its southern border, Reuters reports. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the plan includes new shelters for children, run by the country’s family social services agency. U.S. policies regarding migrant children and a law in Mexico that prevents detaining children in migrant
detention centers "have helped encourage families and smugglers to move children northwards," Reuters notes. Said López Obrador: "They charge a lot for people to pass and now they use children. It is the most inhumane, cruel thing that can be."
LATINO VOTES — Donald Trump fared better among Latino voters in 2020 than in 2016. The unanswered question is why, especially given Trump’s negative rhetoric about immigrants — Mexicans in particular — and immigration. Ronald Brownstein tackles that question in The Atlantic, noting that one reason for the uncertainty is that "major data sources (which range from network exit polls to the Pew Research Center’s ‘validated
voters’ study) conflict over exactly how well he performed with Latinos both last year and in 2016." Brownstein dives into shifts by gender, religion and national origin and addresses campaign tactics, the economy and Trump’s incumbency as other factors. The bottom line? "[N]either party should be entirely confident about the direction of this huge, but still dimly understood, voting bloc." Jim McLaughlin, a Republican pollster, puts it another way: "Latinos did themselves a great service in this election because they are making themselves into a real swing group. You have to pay attention to them, and you need to go and ask for their votes."
BROTHERS — Randy Villegas and his older brother Angel grew up together in Bakersfield, California, but "lived in separate realities," as their conversation for NPR’s StoryCorps reveals. Though Randy is a U.S. citizen, Angel grew up undocumented — and as he got older, he began to feel the impact of his status. "Our parents were always telling me, like, ‘Don't tell anybody
where you're from. You never know who's around the corner or who could snitch on you or something like that,’" recalled Angel. Meanwhile, Randy was able to attend college without having to worry about paperwork or fear of deportation, which caused him "overwhelming guilt." In 2012, Angel became a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), allowing him to pursue higher education and a career as an architectural designer. "I don't think we've ever talked about this this deeply," Randy tells his brother. "But, even if we're not always saying 'I love
you' and giving each other hugs ... at the end of the day, I hope you know that I have your back."
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