Fronteras: A Changing America

Rep. Barber Contests Border Patrol Overtime Cuts

Michel Marizco — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:27:00 +0000

TUCSON, Ariz. — U.S. Border Patrol agents are safe from sequestration budget cuts, but will face reductions to overtime pay under a budget plan introduced by the Department of Homeland Security.

The Border Patrol’s union says at risk is about $60 million in what’s called uncontrollable overtime for patrol agents.

Foreign Retirees Could Benefit From Immigration Bill

Jude Joffe-Block — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:51:00 +0000

PHOENIX — Let's call it the snowbird provision.

Buried in more than 800 pages of the immigration reform legislation currently under debate is a proposal that would allow Canadians to visit second homes in the U.S. for up to eight months at a time.

It’s one of two proposals in the bill aimed at boosting foreign retirements here.

Canadian snowbirds and real estate investors have already made their mark in Phoenix.

They flocked to Phoenix in recent years when home prices plummeted and there was a glut of homes on the market.

Census: Immigration Will Be Main Driver Of U.S. Population Growth

Adrian Florido — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:14:00 +0000

New data from the Census Bureau projects that immigration will be the main driver of United States population growth sometime between 2027 and 2038, surpassing births on U.S. soil.

Exactly when that will happen is hard to pin down, because so much depends on immigration policy and global economics.

But assuming it does happen, it’ll be the first time since at least 1850, when the Census started collecting information about where U.S.

Former Arizona Prosecutor Leaked Gunwalking To Media

Michel Marizco — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:39:00 +0000

TUCSON, Ariz. — The former federal prosecutor for Arizona who resigned after a gunwalking scandal known as Operation Fast and Furious may now face ethical violations.

The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Justice said former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke leaked a memo to Fox News in 2011.

More Immigration Officers Oppose Senate Reform Bill

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:40:00 +0000

The union representing officers who oversee legal immigration to the U.S. says the Senate's immigration reform bill would make our current immigration system worse, not better.

The National Citizenship and Immigration Services Council released a statement Monday saying U.S.

Tijuana Beauty Pageant Offers Prisoners Hope

John Rosman — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO — On Friday, a beauty pageant unfolded under bright lights in Tijuana. Among the high heels and sparkly dresses were barbed wire and armed guards.

Held at the La Mesa penitentiary, this beauty pageant was aimed at boosting the self-esteem of depressed female inmates, who are facing charges varying from kidnapping to homicide. It was inspired by similar events that have taken place across Latin America.

Forecast: Immigration Reform Will Fail In The House

John Rosman — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:07:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO — In 2012, statistician Nate Silver made headlines when he accurately predicted the outcomes for the presidential election in all 50 states.

While political scientists have been forecasting election results for decades, very few forecast legislation. But in San Diego, one assistant professor is doing just that.

Two Border Villages Reunite For One Day

Lorne Matalon — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:05:00 +0000

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIO GRANDE — In the rural border areas of Texas, seven so-called ‘informal crossings’ were shut down following Sept. 11. These were border villages and rural economies that thrived on their interdependence. The actual border was invisible. But the shutdown destroyed that connection. Recently, two border villages were reunited briefly for a single day celebration.

For one glorious moment, real world geopolitics was forgotten. Paso Lajitas, Mexico and Lajitas, Texas were again united — not cut off from one another as they’ve been in a post-Sept.

San Diego-Tijuana To Have Binational Youth Orchestra

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:29:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO — San Diego will soon have a youth orchestra linking musicians from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Select musicians from the Centro de Artes Musicales in Tijuana and the San Diego Young Artists Symphony (soon to be the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra) are coming together to form a binational orchestra.

Organizers say it’s the first such effort between the U.S.

Latinos Hardest Hit By Community College Class Shortages

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

Limited community college capacity could keep 2.5 million Californians out of the system over the next 10 years.

Best Of The Border (5/12-5/19)

John Rosman — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Mexico Now A Latin American Leader In Tech Services

In the last decade Mexico’s tech industry has flourished, growing three times faster than the global average.

DACA License Ban Stands For Now In Arizona

Jude Joffe-Block — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:49:00 +0000

PHOENIX — An Arizona policy that prevents certain young immigrants from getting state driver's licenses will stay in effect for now.

Visiting Where Others Cannot

Jude Joffe-Block — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

PHOENIX — As reporters, it's not unusual to find ourselves in places where other members of the public usually aren't: waiting at the scene of a crime to talk to police, inside a press conference with a high-ranking official, or taking notes in a courtroom during a trial.

Earlier this month, I had the strange feeling of being some place fairly ordinary, yet not accessible to the person who very much wanted to be in my place.

I was at a simple restaurant in Mexico City.

Dairy Farmers, Workers Help Each Other Survive

Laurel Morales — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

COCHRANE, Wis. — John Rosenow is a fifth-generation dairy farmer, but times have changed since his Norwegian ancestors began farming in Cochrane, Wis. And Rosenow has changed with the times. Much of his workforce is now from Mexico, and Rosenow travels regularly to their village in southern Mexico to meet their families.

Rosenow wakes up every morning at 3:30.

McCain, Levin Say ICE Released 32 Felons Ahead Of Budget Cuts

Nick Blumberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:37:00 +0000

PHOENIX — In February, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released more than 2,000 immigrants from detention facilities in anticipation of automatic federal budget cuts.

ICE Director John Morton told Congress in March several people with serious criminal offenses were released, and some were taken back into custody.