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Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet the man helping build a stronger community in Virginia

When asked what the greatest challenges are for Hispanics looking for work in Virginia, Michel Zajur will tell you right away: “The language and cultural barriers.” But Michel is doing everything he can to help others overcome those challenges and build successful lives in Virginia. Nearly 20 years ago, Michel started the Virginia Hispanic Chamber … Read More
Immigration dysfunction costs us model neighbors. Our system needs reform.

Immigration dysfunction costs us model neighbors. Our system needs reform.

If you came to America legally, worked hard, succeeded and even became a pillar of your community, you could still lose to the immigration system in the United States. That’s exactly what happened to Kor Mulder and his family. The Mulders — Kor, his former wife and two sons — moved from Holland to Minnesota … Read More
Why the 99-year-old Jones Act should be repealed

Why the 99-year-old Jones Act should be repealed

Things that will turn 99 years old this year:  The hair dryer:  The first electric hair dryer was invented in 1920. It was a large machine, containing three vents. Nowadays, salons have smaller, more efficient hair dryers. We can even buy handheld ones for personal use.   The jungle gym:  The first jungle gym was invented … Read More
Congress: Give my Brother a Chance at the American Dream

Congress: Give my Brother a Chance at the American Dream

By Evelyn Marquez Rodriguez It has been one year since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, was officially ended. For some, perhaps that year has flown by. But for me, without a permanent solution to replace the legal status DACA offered, time crawls agonizingly slow. I’m a legal resident, though, so it’s … Read More
Do Stricter Immigration Laws Incentivize Unlawful Immigration?

Do Stricter Immigration Laws Incentivize Unlawful Immigration?

If you implement policies that make it more difficult to enter the country legally, would that unintentionally increase unlawful immigration?  Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd thinks so. He told CNN that a new asylum policy — requiring some asylum seekers to go back to Mexico while their cases are pending in U.S. immigration courts — is like “opening up a Pandora’s box:”  “This is … Read More
The LIBRE Initiative logo

Dozens demand ‘A Dreamer deal, now’ at the US Capitol

Nineteen-year-old Elias Garcia stood at the lectern near the east steps of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 13. A crowd of cameras stood before him, as dozens of Dreamers, community activists and organization leaders stood behind. Boxes of paper representing the more than 80,000 letters Americans have written to Congress were stacked to his left.  “I’m … Read More
NSCW 2019

National School Choice Week Is About Celebrating Uniqueness

Hispanic families understand the life-changing value of educational opportunity. And they know that every student in America deserves a quality education that fits his or her unique talents. Time and time again, polls have shown that Hispanics rank education as a top issue. Hispanic families in particular understand that their children, have different learning styles, … Read More
Garza on CSPAN

Daniel Garza Talks DACA on C-SPAN

Daniel Garza – president of the LIBRE Initiative – spoke with C-SPAN’s Greta Brawner on Jan. 11 to discuss a permanent solution for Dreamers, those brought to the U.S. as children through no fault of their own, and the importance of immigration. With the government in the fourth week of the partial shutdown, the debate rages over the issues of … Read More