News (Noticias) for Nebraska

Yet residents of this Midwestern community west of Omaha could not pinpoint the trigger that sparked its City Council to join the list of U.S. municipalities crafting laws aimed at driving illegal immigrants from their town.

Residents instead describe a general escalating frustration over what many see as the federal government’s lax response to illegal immigration. It is exacerbated by the influx of workers with different customs, language and skin tone.”*

A proposed law aimed at booting illegal immigrants from Fremont, Neb., is causing an uproar among residents and inciting cries of racism.”*

When Saltdogs second baseman Eduardo Rios, a Venezuelan immigrant, looked into the stands at Haymarket Park on Saturday, he saw a welcome sight — hundreds of Hispanic faces staring back at him.

“They got one day for Latinos,” he said during the game. “I think it’s nice. … I’m happy because there’s a lot of Latinos here in Lincoln.””*

But it’s unclear whether the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will sign off on the agreement because it doesn’t mention undocumented immigrants and how their cases will be handled.

The agreement could restore federal funding to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission and end its long battle with Bruning over discrimination cases.”*

Greater Hispanic participation in after-school programs was the focus of the Columbus Public Schools’ (CPS) monthly Hispanic advisory committee meeting Thursday.

A five-year, $1 million grant awarded by the Nebraska Department of Education to fund and expand the Communities Together Can After School Program also includes that participation must mirror school day demographics, meaning ethnic and socioeconomic demographics must be met in each building the program is offered.”*

Today’s often-heated debate focuses mostly on recent illegal entrants from Mexico, but the 87-year-old Reyes, who arrived as a boy, shows how deep-rooted many Mexicans are in the Midwest.

According to the latest census data:

• Of the more than 130,000 Latinos who live in Nebraska, 78 percent are of Mexican ancestry. And of those, more than half are U.S.-born.

• Likewise in Iowa, about 79 percent of 113,000 Latinos are of Mexican ancestry. Of those, 64 percent are natives of this country.”*

Anne Hobbs was angry. The head of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission had just learned of a Hispanic couple who said their landlord asked for their driver’s licenses — but didn’t ask the same of non-Hispanic tenants.

Hobbs said it sounded like the couple were “treated differently than everybody else because of national origin,” and sent the case to the state’s top prosecutor, hoping he would sue on their behalf under fair housing laws.

When Attorney General Jon Bruning received the case, he was angry, too — for a different reason than Hobbs.

“I’m not going to use taxpayer dollars to file lawsuits for illegal aliens,” said Bruning after learning the couple was in the U.S. illegally. “You’re not going to get a free lawyer” from his office, he said, “if you’re not a citizen of this country.”"*

The attorney general’s refusal to pursue housing discrimination complaints on behalf of illegal immigrants has become an embarrassment for Nebraska, the chairman of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission said Wednesday.

Arnold Nesbitt said the issue goes beyond the loss of federal funds because of Attorney General Jon Bruning’s position.

“We are beyond money now,” he said. “We are at how does Nebraska look to the rest of the nation? This whole incident has become an embarrassment.”"*

National immigrant rights groups are blasting Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning’s stance against giving legal aid to illegal immigrants and are laying the groundwork for a possible lawsuit.

The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund says it is investigating the issue but stopped short of saying that it would definitely try to sue Bruning.”*

A bill to deny tax incentives to Nebraska businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants has been sent to the full Legislature.

On a 5-2 vote Friday, the Revenue Committee advanced the bill sponsored by State Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha.

That action came the same day a separate committee formally reported its decision to kill Gov. Dave Heineman’s proposal to require government agencies to verify that those seeking benefits, such as unemployment compensation, be legal U.S. residents.”*

*From: http://www.omaha.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

If there was any doubt about the influence of Hispanic immigrants in Grand Island, a march through the streets erased that. Felipe Cruz was there that day. Now two years later, he’s leading the way to the ballot box.

“Voting is another way of showing our participation within the community,” said Felipe Cruz, a local Democrat.

Felipe captained his local caucus Saturday and says Hispanics made up about ten percent of the voters there. The majority of those were women at 60 percent. “*

*From: http://www.nebraska.tv
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Governor Dave Heineman is expected to appoint the next member of the Nebraska Mexican American Commission, and the commission is seeking applications from those who want the spot.

The commissioner spot opened for the Omaha area with the resignation of Ricardo Ariza.”*

*From: http://www.nebraska.tv
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project, a program of the Center for Rural Affairs at Lyons, and the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring Spanish business plan basics training in South Sioux City.

The training is for small business owners/managers or those interested in developing a business idea. The five-week training will be 5:30 Monday evenings at the South Sioux City Public Library meeting room, starting Feb. 4.”*

*From: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com
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Hiring illegal immigrants could put businesses on the hook for costs ranging from education to welfare, under a bill introduced in the Legislature.

The bill (LG1170) brought Wednesday by Senator Tom White of Omaha would provide for the recovery of costs for public education, health care and public assistance programs used by illegal immigrants and their families, spouses or other dependents.”*

*From: http://www.kptm.com
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The fight over illegal immigration finds Governor Dave Heineman denying charges of racism and bigotry. He’s now considering a move that would find police in Nebraska working to enforce federal immigration laws. But critics argue it will lead to more racial profiling.

This comes in addition to the Governor’s plan to stop illegal immigrants from getting state benefits. “*

*From: http://action3news.com
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Nebraska’s leader is feeling heat over his plan to curb illegal immigration.

Hispanic activists are blasting Gov. Dave Heineman for a legislative proposal that targets illegal immigrants by saying it’s bigoted.”*

*From: http://www.kcautv.com
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More than 3,900 people have participated in free bilingual financial and academic education classes since Centro Latino de Educacion Financiera opened its doors in 2005, according to Deborah Keating, vice president and director of community development. The center operated by First National Bank in South Omaha has also processed more than 225 home loans for low to moderate income borrowers, Keating reported.

“The Centro Latino makes the process comfortable for immigrants to learn the American banking system and the importance of establishing healthy financial habits,” Keating noted. “We walk through every component of the banking relationship so the entire process is understood.”

First National Bank’s Centro Latino offers Spanish language financial education classes that cover the essentials of savings and checking accounts, budgeting, online banking, borrowing, home loans and small business loans. High school equivalency (GED) and college preparatory classes are available through a partnership with Creighton University. In partnership with Omaha Public Schools, The Centro Latino provides academic English instruction at no cost.

“Many immigrant customers need help identifying the elements needed to establish credit and get approved for a home loan,” said Keating. “We offer banking materials in Spanish and English and help people through the financial process so that they feel comfortable with home ownership and banking in general.”

“The Centro Latino walked me through the mortgage process and helped me buy my first home,” said Antonio Jimenez, a 27-year-old Omaha resident who purchased his home last October. “They teach you how to gather the right forms and information needed to apply for a mortgage and work with you to get the best rate. I wouldn’t be in my home today if it were not for their support.”

In addition to financial services, the Centro Latino is highly involved in the community, offering meeting space to non-profits and partnerships with the Latino Chamber of Commerce, Latino Center of the Midlands, Guadalupe Festival, Juan Diego Center, St. Vincent de Paul Church and others.

“Being involved in the Omaha community helps First National Bank identify the needs of our customers,” added Keating. “The Centro Latino has become a welcoming place to congregate, learn and be a part of the community as a whole.”

For more information on First National Bank’s Centro Latino de Educacion Financiera, contact (402) 633-3541 or log on to www.firstnational.com.

About First National Bank
First National Bank is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc. First National of Nebraska, Inc., has grown into the largest private banking company in the United States. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have nearly $20 billion in managed assets and more than 7,500 employee associates located in 35 states. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas. “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
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Could a proposed legislative bill prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits make the availability of workers in Nebraska’s already tight job market even more difficult?

That could be an unintended consequence of the proposed legislation backed by Gov. Dave Heineman, Attorney General Jon Bruning and Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha, who is sponsoring the bill, said Rob Robertson of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.”*

*From: http://www.theindependent.com
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Gov. Dave Heineman on Friday morning submitted a proposal that would require state agencies to verify any resident applying for state benefits is in the United States legally.

“Illegal immigrants should not receive state benefits,” Heineman said in a news release. “As I travel the state, I am frequently asked about what Nebraska is going to do about illegal immigration, especially as other states have responded to the challenge. This is a measured and targeted proposal that is limited to the area over which state and local governments have control. It would help ensure that the benefits available to U.S. citizens are preserved for those who truly qualify for assistance.”"*

*From: http://www.ketv.com
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