Legalization

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Media Contact: Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524 or [email protected]

Saying "sí" to business opportunities

Published on Wed, Jan 18, 2012

Manny and Vicky Gonzalez are reminded each day that it isn’t only Spanish speaking people who stop to purchase Mexican (“tortas”) sandwiches at their two restaurants in Minneapolis.

“A lot of Minnesotans have learned that there is more to Mexican food than tacos,” said Manny, who with his wife started Manny’s Tortas along Lake Street in 1999.

In the past century, long-time Minnesota families learned there was more to Italian cuisine than pizza, and that Chinese food is regional and far more complex than chow mein. Now, Minnesotans with newly acquired tastes for the Gonzalez’s Mexican sandwiches drive from throughout the Twin Cities metro area to their two shops in Minneapolis’ Mercado Central and Midtown Global Market.

U.S. Census data from 2010, anecdotal evidence about immigrant entrepreneurship, and a recently released study from the Immigration Policy Center show Minnesota is rapidly changing. Days of sputtering along and resisting change should be behind us. New Minnesotans are changing the demographic portrait of the state and communities. New ethnic entrepreneurs are changing the mix of businesses and the products and services being offered in commerce.

Hector Garcia, executive director of the Chicano Latino Affairs Council (CLAC), refers to the benefits of this commerce as “cultural complementarities.” The long established Minnesota society learns from immigrants and refugees entering the state in search of opportunities, he said, and new arrivals learn from established businesses, groups and people.

What’s more, new Census data show that immigrants now comprise 8.3 percent of the Minnesota workforce. From them, Garcia said, existing Minnesota businesses and its large corporations gain knowledge for opening even more trade and business relationships with countries and businesses abroad, paving the way for even more economic activity.Read more...

Published in the Twin Cities Daily Planet

IEC is Atwitter about Social Networking

You can now find the International Exchange Center on Facebook and Twitter! Look us up:

We’d love to have you as a fan on Facebook. If you’re already a member of Facebook, it’s simple to find us: just search for International Exchange Center. If you don’t yet have an account, it’s easy and free to join at http://www.facebook.com. As a fan of the International Exchange Center, you’ll be able to interact with other participants by sharing stories, photos, and video of your experience as a J-1 trainee or intern in the United States.

We’ve also been busily tweeting the latest updates and information from the International Exchange Center on Twitter. Put us in your timeline by looking up and following “j1exchange” to find out what we’re doing. If you’re curious about J-1 program participation, send us a direct message with your questions or give us a mention and we’ll get back to you. New to Twitter? Sign up for a free account at http://www.twitter.com.

Quick Fact: Unauthorized immigrants pay taxes

At last count, households headed by unauthorized immigrants paid $11.2 billion in state and local taxes.

Kansas Officials Await Ruling on Arizona Immigration Law

Published on Sun, Apr 08, 2012

TOPEKA — Kansas hasn’t adopted an Arizona-like immigration law, but several current and former elected officials from Kansas have chosen sides as the issue goes before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court will hear arguments April 25 in the legal battle between the state of Arizona and the federal government over the immigration law known as Senate Bill 1070.

Kris Kobach, a Republican who before being elected Kansas secretary of state gained national attention by pushing tough anti-immigration laws, helped write SB 1070. The measure was adopted by the Arizona Legislature and enacted by Gov. Jan Brewer in 2010.

The law contained a number of controversial provisions that are now front and center before the Supreme Court.

One of the most controversial requires local police in Arizona to determine the immigration status of anyone stopped if there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.

The Justice Department says regulating immigration is the job of the federal government, not the states. Officials in Arizona, a state bordering Mexico, say the feds haven’t done their jobs and that is one of the reasons for SB 1070.

In addition to legal briefs from the specific parties in the case, the Supreme Court has received approximately 40 legal briefs from others who support and oppose SB 1070, according to a report completed by the Immigration Policy Center, a nonpartisan group whose mission “is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration.”

Kansas is one of 16 states that have signed on in support of SB 1070. That decision was made by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican. Schmidt’s office says he supports preserving powers of states to promote public safety. His office said Kansas has not spent any money in the litigation.Read more...

Published in the Lawrence Journal World

Contest Coordinators for the 2011 "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest

If you are interested in participating in the 2011 Creative Writing Contest and are the parent or educator of fifth grade students please contact your local coordinator to get started. Or email [email protected] for more information.

Atlanta
Theresa Bailey Kennedy
[email protected]
404-320-7000

California
Los Angeles
Maggie Castillo
[email protected]
323-725-0350

Los Angeles
Silvia Martinez
[email protected]
213-488-1457

San Diego
Kimberley Best Robidoux
[email protected]
858-642-0420

San Diego
Liz Sweet
[email protected]
619-699-2930

San Francisco
Brenda Boudreaux
[email protected]
510-928-0773

Santa Clara Valley
Randall Caudle
[email protected]
415-541-9290

Colorado
Chris Pooley
[email protected]
970-845-7474Read more...

What happens next in Arizona?

Published on Mon, Jun 25, 2012

IPC staff lawyer Ben Winograd was quoted in a Washington Post blog post covering what the Supreme Court decision will mean in Arizona: Read more...

Published in the The Washington Post

Order your Copy of Green Card Stories Today!

The American Immigration Council is proud to support the publication of Green Card Stories. Green Card Stories is an incredible tribute to the diverse backgrounds that make up our immigrant population in America today. We can’t think of a better way to serve our mission to strengthen America by honoring our immigrant history than by highlighting this incredibly beautiful and touching book.

You can order books for yourself, your office, family members, clients, etc. as well as donate a book to your local school, library or community center or to one of the Council’s designated “hot spots” where education on immigration is needed most. Could your Member of Congress use a thank you or a gentle reminder of who our immigrant population is? Donate a copy of Green Card Stories to a Congressional office. All donated books will be delivered free of charge with a note indicating your generous gift.

To order your copy, fill out an order form.

Click on the book above to get a slideshow preview!

The American Immigration Council would like to thank the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers for providing the initial efforts and funding of Green Card Stories.

AIC's Wendy Feliz-Sefsaf in Politico

Published on Thu, Jan 03, 2013

Wendy Feliz-Sefsaf, Communications Director at the AIC, was quoted in this article on Politico:

"When the 113th Congress digs into immigration reform with renewed vigor in the new year, no lawmaker will find himself in quite so tight a spot as Rep. Mike Honda.

It’s a position, however, very much relished by Honda, a seven-term Democrat from the San Jose area. His district, California’s redrawn 15th, is among the nation’s most complicated on this hot-button issue — dominated by major high-tech firms focused on importing high-skilled labor as well as huge minority populations seeking paths to citizenship."