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Noticiero Latino Highlights for April 2003
Tuesday, April 1st, 2003
- Activists for and against Affirmative Action demonstrate at U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC while Justices review case by Anglo students against University of Michigan’s enrollment practices benefiting minority students.
- Former UN inspector, Scott Ritter says U.S. has still not produced evidence of Iraq’s alleged ownership of biological warfare.
- Texas residents celebrate Cesar Chavez’ birth date with a parade on San Antonio’s Cesar Chavez Memorial Way; farm worker leader, Dolores Huerta, was parade’s Grand Marshall.
- Pentagon announces the death of Francisco Martinez Flores, third Mexican national fallen while fighting in Iraq.
- Mexico’s Economy Secretary, Fernando Canales Clariond says NAFTA negotiations between U.S. and Mexico will be suspended until the finalization of war against Iraq.
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2003
- Several Congressional Committees continue to discuss President Bush’s request for $75 billion to pay for war costs; Congress is expected to vote in upcoming days.
Thursday, April 3rd, 2003
- Federal Employment Department reports that close to 500,000 new unemployment claims have been filed in the last week of March, the highest amount in more than one year.
- New York’s Attorney General, Elliot Spitzer will file a lawsuit against Dow AgroSciences, leading pesticide manufacturer, for falsely presenting pesticide Dursban as safe.
- Los Angeles’ inter-governmental relations committee, approves use of Mexican Consular ID cards, city council must vote on measure.
- Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) says U.S.’s anti-immigration population must realize that immigrants are defending the U.S. during the war; 122,000 Latinos are enlisted in the U.S. armed forces.
- At the request of the Pentagon, INS will provide U.S. citizenship to Mexican nationals Jose Angel Garibay and Jesus Suarez and Guatemalan Jose Gutierrez.
Friday, April 4th, 2003
- U.S. House of Representatives and Senate approve President Bush's request for close to $75 billion to pay for war costs.
Monday, April 7th, 2003
- U.S. Congress will discuss further funding to pay war costs, including money to help nations assisting U.S. and allies in Iraqi invasion.
- Francisco Martinez Flores, fallen soldier, receives U.S. citizenship while Latino Eric Silva is the most recent dead soldier and Mexican national; Fernando Padilla is missing in action.
- Janitorial workers in Chicago reach contract agreement with Equity Office Properties; workers will receive a one-dollar wage increase plus dental coverage.
- Los Angeles' City Council approves to permanently accept Mexican Consular ID cards as valid form of documentation.
- Former Braceros demonstrate outside of Mexican Congress to demand legislators' assistance in recovering their savings; government will meet with Braceros to start preliminary presentation of documents by former farm workers.
- During recent visit to Mexico City, Nigerian writer, a Nobel Prize Winner Wole Soyinka, says action must be taken to restore UN's authority, which has been eroded by U.S.'s unilateral action and arrogance, during recent visit to Mexico City.
Tuesday, April 8th, 2003
- Los Angeles' Cardinal, Roger Mahony asks President Bush to grant citizenship to all immigrants in the military, and not to wait till they are killed in action, during a religious ceremony for Guatemalan fallen soldier, Jose Gutierrez.
- Sandra Martinez is favored to win San Antonio's second district, traditionally an African American area that now houses an important number of Latinos.
- Thousands of immigrant residents with legal migratory status in Illinois may once again receive drivers' licenses; licenses for immigrants were suspended after 9-11.
- Anti-war protest in Oakland turned violent after city cops fired rubber bullets at peace demonstrators, after activists blocked main entrance to main port entrance; 30 people were arrested.
- President of U.S.'s Chamber of Commerce, James Callahan says U.S./Mexico relations have not changed, despite differences on war.
Wednesday, April 9th, 2003
- Poll by Pew Hispanic Institute finds that 61 percent of Latino population in the U.S. supports war against Iraq.
- Many Latino students enrolled in California's community colleges may be affected by increases in tuitions.
Thursday, April 10th, 2003
- Iraqi UN representative is sole country official that has publicly stated that Sadaam Hussein's regime has fallen; some speculate that the Iraqi leader has fled to Syria.
- Several community organizations begin anti-deportation campaign in support of Elvira Arellano, an undocumented airport worker, who lost her job after recent raids in area airports.
- Dallas Mayor, Laura Miller and her opponent Mary Poss join LULAC in an effort to increase voter registration among city's Latinos; registration cards will be printed in both English and Spanish.
Friday, April 11th, 2003
- Former Braceros and supporters demonstrate in Los Angeles’ Placita Olvera to demand return of their savings funds.
- Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, proposes end of “Medically Needy” program that helps residents that spend most of their income on prescription drugs; cuts will affect uninsured AIDS and cancer patients.
- Congressman Darrel Issa (R-CA) introduces measure to extend citizenship rights to the families of immigrant soldiers killed during war against Iraq; Issa is known for anti-immigrant stands.
- Activists celebrate Mexican national hero Emiliano Zapata in Mexico City; Miguel Luna, head of farm worker group, “El Campo no Aguanta Mas” says Zapata’s vision of land and liberty is yet not fulfilled.
Monday, April 14th, 2003
- Several U.S. Senators, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), present measure that will require federal government to reimburse funds to states for medical attention given to undocumented immigrants.
- Personnel at Fort Bliss Military Base in Texas, celebrate the liberation of soldiers that were held as POWs; Edgar Hernandez and six soldiers were rescued by U.S. forces in Iraq.
- Human rights organizations and catholic priests hold mass in memory of the 2,300 migrants that have died while crossing the U.S./Mexico border.
- Mexico Senator, Demetrio Sodi de la Tijera, says government should appeal a decision by U.S. judge that reactivates a ban on Mexican tuna exports to the U.S.
Tuesday, April 15th, 2003
- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may announce city’s most severe cuts since 1970, which will result in harsh consequences for public programs benefiting close to 100,000 Latinos.
- Spokesperson for California’s community colleges says that close to 200,000 college and university students will be affected if state increases tuitions.
- Pentagon announces death Dominican, Ryan Tejeda of San Diego’s Camp Pendleton, 14th Latino fallen while fighting in Iraq.
Wednesday, April 16th, 2003
- U.S. Department of Justice report shows that 6.6 million of people in the U.S. are incarcerated or on parole.
- Human rights groups and catholic priests visit cemetery in Holtville, California, for close to 200 unidentified immigrants that died while crossing U.S./Mexico border.
- Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior announces that in order to receive their pensions, all former Braceros must show documentation to prove that they participated in U.S. Bracero program from 1942-46.
Thursday, April 17th, 2003
- Bush Administration considers reinforcing economic sanctions against Cuba, after government executed three dissidents; sanctions may include halt of remittances from U.S. and cancellation of fights from U.S. to island.
- Los Angeles’ City Council unanimously approves resolution that asks President Bush to grant citizenship to all immigrant soldiers in armed forces.
- Authorities from Colton Police Department in California announce that they will allow Mexican Consular ID cards as valid form of documentation.
Monday, April 21st, 2003
- For sixth consecutive year, undocumented Mexican stage crucifixion at Manhattan’s federal building to demonstrate for general amnesty.
- Mexico’s Senate has designated a special commission to travel to Washington, DC in May, to discuss NAFTA’s agricultural clauses with U.S. legislators.
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2003
- Bush Administration denies reports that U.S. will build military bases in Iraq in order to establish a permanent presence in country.
- Chinese business owners in Chicago report that report that business has declined from 50 to 60 percent in last months, allegedly due to panic over SARS pneumonia.
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2003
- UN chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, expresses concern over White House’s announcement that it will send 1000 investigators to uncover Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction; Blix added that investigators will lack credibility.
- Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduces measure that will grant automatic citizenship to all immigrant soldiers that serve in country’s armed forces and are deployed to war.
- Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge meets with Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior, Santiago Creel, in San Diego to discuss efforts to speed up border traffic with increased security measures.
- Los Angeles’ Unified School District will cut budget by close to $33 million; cuts will mainly affect administration personnel and school supplies.
Thursday, April 24th, 2003
- President Bush is considering increased economic sanctions towards Cuba imprisonment of dissidents.
- Chile unofficially accuses U.S. of stalling negotiations on a possible free trade agreement because country did not support a military intervention in Iraq.
- New York Governor George Pataki, announces that he will not increase taxes for states’ residents that earn more that $100,000 per year annually.
- California Governor, Gray Davis, visits Los Angeles to participate in ceremony to launch U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring farm worker leader Cesar Chavez.
- Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, says he will not end moratorium of state executions, which was established by former Governor, George Ryan.
Friday, April 25th, 2003
- U.S. Department of Justice announces that undocumented residents may be detained indefinitely if government suspects that they represent a significant risk to national security.
Monday, April 28th, 2003
- Researchers and health officials from California and Mexico health officials announce kick-off of a bi national project to prevent further HIV infections among migrant farm workers.
- Mexican health officials reinforce surveillance in country’s borders, ports and airports, to contain a possible SARS outbreak.
Tuesday, April 29th, 2003
- New York City and State authorities agree to provide medical attention to homeless children suffering from asthma, after three years litigation.
- California’s State Assembly approves measure AB522 that will allow use of Mexican Consular ID card as valid form of documentation in all 58 counties.
Wednesday, April 30th, 2003
- Several Congressional leaders send letter urging President Bush to support a free trade agreement with Chile.
- Los Angeles’ County Health Department announces that it will cut 2,500 jobs due to budget crisis.
- UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research finds that close to 1.5 million California residents are diagnosed with Diabetes; 24.4 percent of total diabetes patients are of Latino origin.
- Hundreds of workers burn Chinese-made products in front of several government offices in Mexico City; workers fear losing their employment due to contraband of Chinese merchandise.
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