Liveblog: Race & Immigration at The Texas Tribune Festival
We're liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's Race & Immigration track, which includes panels on the future of Texas politics, border safety, the DREAM Act, voter ID and whether Texas still needs the Voting Rights Act.
Featured speakers include Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz; San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro; state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio; Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio.
Follow us here for updates from the University of Texas at Austin campus.
Comments (5)
Paula Andrea Gean via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wow! Wish I was there.
mario pena
Frist, should do pass is that all, companies, schools, hospitals, etc, E-Verify , Random Drug Test, Back Round Check....!!!!!! Don't need,,,, Dream Act,,,,,,,and will reduce Drugs and Cartel Gun Vielence,,,,
V Marshall
"Torres: Latinos are the fastest growing population in Texas so "if we don't get the education piece right, Texas industry will not have the human capital to allow itself to continue to grow."
Right there! Teen Pregnancy rate over 50%. High school graduation rate below 50%. Multi-generational poverty is inevitable. We are importing a multi-generational servant class because we think it is a human rights violation to insist people without visas go home. Canada has a robust immigration program. They have deported illegal immigrants from the hospital after they have given birth to a brand new Canadian citizen. No outcry over "human rights violation" because they support the rule of law.
The bottom line is we do not have a growing job market for low education, low skilled workers and yet we admit more of them (legally and illegally) than we do high skilled, highly educated workers - by a factor of 20. Most of these families are convinced that "papers" are all it takes to be successful in the US. That may be true but those "papers" are a college degree in a STEM field, not a birth certificate or visa.
Why anyone thinks this is a good idea is beyond me! It is like Americans are mentally trapped in the 19th century when all that was necessary to earn a family supporting wage was a strong back and willing attitude. It is almost poetic justice that all these children of illegal immigrants will be unemployable in 15 years except they are human beings. We should be acting more responsibly. Every developed country has an immigration policy. Why are we so unwilling to enforce ours?
gypsy314 ne
Dream on dreamers we need a amnesty on top of 20 million illegals alien being shoved down our country's throat is a shame and every leader should be a shamed of supporting illegal aliens and there kids when we have over 23 million Americans out of work shame on you Obama and democrats.
Lance Johnson
Given the topic of immigrants in upcoming elections, an interesting new book that helps explain the role, struggles, and contributions of immigrants is "What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more.” It paints a revealing picture of America for those foreigners who will benefit from a better understanding. Endorsed by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also informs Americans who want to learn more about the U.S. and how we compare to other countries around the world on many issues. As the book points out, immigrants are a major force in America as they are in other nations. Immigrants and the children they bear account for 60 percent of our nation’s population growth. Legal immigrants number 850,000 each year; undocumented (illegal) immigrants are estimated to be half that number. They come to improve their lives and create a foundation of success for their children to build upon, as did the author’s grandparents when they landed at Ellis Island in 1899 after losing 2 children to disease on a cramped cattle car-like sailing from Europe. Many bring their skills and a willingness to work hard to make their dreams a reality, something our founders did four hundred years ago. In describing America, chapter after chapter identifies “foreigners” who became successful in the US and have contributed to our society. However, most struggle in their efforts and need guidance and a helping hand. www.AmericaAtoZ.com