Noticiero Latino Highlights for March 2003

Monday, March 3rd, 2003

- U.S. Senate continues debate on Miguel Estrada’s nomination to District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals while Democrats demand records on Estrada’s performance in U.S. Department of Justice.

- U.S. Attorney General, John Ashcroft may disregard Department of Justice’s decision to grant political asylum to a Guatemalan woman victim of domestic violence.

- Study by New York City-based Commonwealth Foundation finds that close to one third of city’s Latinos that only speak Spanish, report poor health due to language barriers.

- Activists denounced killings of more than 300 women in border city of Ciudad Juarez, during UCLA’s Latino Conference on Women’s Rights.

- Jose Luis Gutierrez, President of Illinois’ Federation of Michoacan Clubs, says first state Confederation of Mexican Federations may be inaugurated in several weeks.

- Mexico’s President Vicente Fox says government seeks Iraqi disarmament during an informal press conference in border city Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.

- California’s Department of Education withdraws embezzlement lawsuit against, Nativo Lopez, well-known bilingual education activist and former board member of Santa Ana’s School District.

- Humanists for Peace Coalition plan anti-war protest this weekend at San Ysidro/Tijuana border checkpoint.

- Congressman Florentino Castro, member of Mexico’s PRI party, says that President Vicente Fox has changed his stand and may support U.S. on a possible military attack against Iraq.

Tuesday, March 4th, 2003

- U.S. Senate Republicans attempt to close debates and bring about a vote on nomination of Miguel Estrada to District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals.

- U.S. House of Representatives’ subcommittee on immigration examines whether current laws need to be amended so that local and state police departments can report detentions of illegal immigrants to federal authorities.

- New plan by Mexico to combat Middle East crisis gives Iraq option for compliance to UN resolution or face a military attack; plan seeks to compromise disagreement between U.S. and France, Russia and China.

- Houston police officer says that city cops cannot question migratory status of suspects during U.S. House subcommittee on immigration hearing.

- Coalition of Immokalee workers continue hunger strike in front of Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California; strike enters ninth day.

- City officials in Tijuana, Baja California begin program to rescue homeless children that must prostitute themselves in order to survive; more than 900 children in Tijuana are homeless and all are at risk of prostitution.

- According to several business groups in Mexico, support for President Vicente Fox shows a sharp decline due to citizens’ skepticism on country’s transition to democracy.

Wednesday, March 5th, 2003

- U.S. government increases military presence in the Middle East to 310,000 soldiers that await UN Security Council decision.

- U.S. Senate Republicans plan to close debates and force a vote on nomination of Miguel Estrada to District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals, tomorrow.

- UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan says that there is a need to preserve world order, amidst rumors that UN will disappear if Security Council does not approve White House’s plan for a military attack against Iraq.

- City of Houston, Texas, was harshly criticized for its “sanctuary law,” which prohibits police officers from reporting undocumented residents to authorities; some consider it a security threat.

- Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, proposes to revoke class size reduction law, recently approved by voters, in order to decrease state’s $4 billion budget.

- Immigrant activists will demonstrate in Springfield, Illinois, to persuade legislators to support a measure that would grant financial aid to some undocumented students.

- Salvadorian health leaders tour in California to speak against their country’s plan to privatize health care.

- Former California Assembly Speaker, Antonio Villaraigosa, is elected as City Council member for Los Angeles’ 14th district.

- Mexico’s President, Vicente Fox, says that residents should not fear retaliation by U.S. if country decides not to support the Bush Administration on military attack against Iraq.

Thursday, March 6th, 2003

- U.S. Senate Democrats halt debate on Miguel Estrada’s nomination to District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals; Senate moves on to discuss other pending issues.

- U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, says that Saddam Hussein still does not cooperate with UN demands; UN chief inspector, Hans Blix, says Iraqi destruction of 34 missiles seems legitimate.

- After a 10-day hunger strike, Coalition of Immokalee Workers calls off strike at Taco Bell Headquarters in Irvine, California.

- San Diego students join thousands of California high school students leaving class to protest against a possible military attack on Iraq; students plan new demonstration on March 15th.

- Close to 1000 UCLA students leave classrooms to protest against possible war in Iraq; 300 city high school students also participate in demonstrations.

- Illinois’ House of Representatives approves one of several measures introduced by Latino legislators that will allow undocumented students to pay State resident tuition fees when applying for colleges and universities.

- Texas law enforcement agencies file first report required by new law to address racial disparities in detentions of suspects; close to 160,000 Latinos were detained in 2001.

- During a music industry forum in Miami, Florida, Mario Avaroa, President of Crescent Moon recording label, says increases in Latino music sales are sign of Latin-American presence in the U.S.

- Mexican group against war, “Escudos Humanos,” or Human Shields, send 8 students to Baghdad, Iraq.

Friday, March 7th, 2003

- President Bush says he would like UN cooperation to disarm Iraqi President Sadaam Hussein, however he does not need the world organization’s support.

- District of Columbia Court finds Salvadorian, Bertha Parada Campos guilty of illegally smuggling South American immigrants into the U.S.; Campos is sentenced to 4 years in prison.

- UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix says before the UN that Iraq is now participating during inspections and asks for more time to complete arms search.

- Illinois Senate Executive Committee approves measure that will grant drivers licenses to undocumented residents; measure will be presented before state’s Senate and House of Representatives.

- Anti war activists in Los Angeles visit city’s Mexican Consulate to urge Consul Martha Lara to ask President Vicente Fox not to support a U.S. military attack against Iraq; activists will visit Security Council members’ consulates.

- Several hundred students from Rice University leave classrooms to participate in peace demonstration, “books not bombs,” while 10,000 Houston residents demonstrate in favor of President Bush.

- Mexico’s President Vicente Fox reaffirms said he reaffirmed country’s position for peace during a conversation with President Bush.

Monday, March 10th, 2003

- U.S. Census Department finds that 52 percent, or 17 million immigrants in the U.S. come from Latin America; 70 percent are from Mexico and Central America.

- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell admits that UN Security Council may veto a March 17th resolution for a possible military attack against Iraq.

- Texas Representative Ron Wilson (D-Houston) introduces measure that will punish airport security workers for discriminating passengers of Middle Eastern, Latino and African American origin.

- Hundreds of Latino anti-war activists demonstrate in East Los Angeles against a possible war with Iraq.

- University of California’s Neuropsychological Department will begin a five-study on Mexican immigrants and anti-depressants.

Tuesday, March 11th, 2003

- U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Mel Martinez, will meet with White House officials to explore the possibility of resigning to his current post in order to run for Governor in Florida.

- Houston Texas’s City Council will analyze recent report by Houston’s Police Department that shows officers continue to detain suspects based on race.

- Tomas Rivera Policy Institute finds that in the last five years, the University of California denied enrollment to 30,000 Latino and African American applicants.

- Close to 20 immigrants remain hospitalized, and 2 were killed after they were involved in a high-speed chase by U.S. Border Patrol agents and California Highway Patrol officers in San Diego.

- Mexico’s President Vicente Fox adjusts his agenda to analyze country’s UN Security Council vote on Iraqi resolution.

Wednesday, March 12th, 2003

- Poll finds that 58 percent of Texas residents support a military attack against Iraq, while 34 percent oppose war.

- Coalition of Community Clinics finds that close to 250,000 Latinos in California’s Orange County lack medical insurance coverage.

- U.S. Department of State denies reports by Mexican press stating that undocumented residents that enlist in the armed forces can obtain U.S. residency or citizenship.

- California’s Transportation Committee approves measure that will allow license plates to bear the images of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. and farm worker leader Cesar Chavez; proceeds benefit minority college students.

- Mexico’s business leaders urge Mexico’s President Vicente Fox to vote in favor of a military attack against Iraq to avoid any economic repercussions by U.S.

Thursday, March 13th, 2003

- U.S. President Bush says 8 nations support resolution for a possible military attack against Iraq; U.S. waits for decision by Mexico and Chile.

- Walter Tejada, originally from El Salvador, is first Latino elected to Arlington, Virginia’s County Board of Supervisors.

- Chile’s UN Ambassador, Gabriel Valdez says he doubts that U.S. has approval by 9 UN Security Council members; Valdez asks for more support of further UN arms inspections in Iraq.

- New York City Council approves a resolution against a possible military attack on Iraq by 31 votes to 17.

- U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, denies that country is trying to pressure President Vicente Fox to support a possible military strike against Iraq.

Friday, March 14th, 2003

- Texas House of Representatives approves measure that will automatically enlist men between 18 and years of age to the selective service.

- Several southern California public schools are sending letters of dismissal to 500 employees including 140 teachers; California is expected to lay-off close to 30,000 school employees due to budget crunch.

Tuesday, March 18th, 2003

- Thousands of Mexican nationals that have become U.S. citizens have petitioned dual citizenship in Los Angeles’ Mexican Consulate; deadline is March 20th.

Wednesday, March 19th, 2003

- Daniel Hernandez Joseph, Mexican Consul in Nuevo Laredo, says Texas/Mexico border has implemented increased security due to heightened state of alert.

- Mexican transportation workers predict $10 million loses due to increased inspections at U.S./Mexico border checkpoints.

Thursday, March 20th, 2003

- President Bush orders a military strike against Iraq; sources say strikes were aimed at Sadaam Hussein.

- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announce anti-terrorist plan for the tri-state region; 4,000 National Guardsmen, dressed in civilian clothing, will supervise area.

- Three anti-war demonstrators received beating by Los Angeles’ Police Department agents, 40 activists were arrested.

- FBI announces interviews with Middle East immigrants in San Diego in order to uncover information that can help troops battling in the Persian Gulf region.

- Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY) says he will continue to pursue a lawsuit that he and ten other legislators filed against President Bush for failing to receive congressional approval for war.

- Immigrant activists in Texas vow to pressure for a legislative measure that would grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Friday, March 21st, 2003

- Bush Administration announces that bank authorities have frozen several billion dollars belonging to Iraqi government that will eventually be used toward reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

- Thousands participate in protests against war at Los Angeles’ federal building; Latinos for Peace demonstrate in City’s Placita Olvera.

- Mexico’s President Vicente Fox says country is still against war and expresses solidarity with Mexican nationals living in the U.S. and those fighting in Iraq.

Monday, March 24th, 2003

- Authorities in Washington, DC close streets surrounding the White House and Capitol Hill blocking path chosen by anti war demonstrators; activists consider a lawsuit.

- Immigrant activists accuse Illinois’ State of Secretary, Jessie White of blocking measure that may grant driver’s licenses to undocumented residents.

Tuesday, March 25th, 2003

- President Bush seeks Congressional approval for close to $70 billion to cover Iraqi invasion; 60 percent is destined to U.S. Department to pay for war, remainder will cover reconstruction efforts.

- Pentagon officials announce death of Jose Angel Garibay, first Mexican solider fallen while fighting in Iraq; Garibay was deployed from Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Wednesday, March 26th, 2003

- U.S. Homeland Security Department assigns more than 50 pilots to supervise New York, New Jersey and Connecticut’s airspace.

- Jorge Gonzalez is second Mexican American Marine missing in action during Iraqi invasion; Gonzalez was resident of El Monte, California.

- Simona Garibay, mother of first fallen Mexican American solider in Iraq, asks for an end to war against Iraq.

Thursday, March 27th, 2003

- U.S. Congressional Committee debates effectiveness of computer database on background of all foreign students in U.S.

- Anglo activists in Texas hold an anti-immigrant demonstration in San Antonio’s Guadalupe Plaza.

- After six months of striking, dozens of Azteca Foods employees, in Chicago, denounce case of Rodrigo Mina, whose arm was shredded due to unsafe working conditions.

Friday, March 28th, 2003

- U.S. will deploy 12,000 soldiers from Texas’ Fort Hood to Persian Gulf region, while several Latino troops from state are officially reported as POW’s.

- California Highway Patrol announce 18 injured migrants and one fatality after being chased by officers; CHP says persecution was not at high speed.

- Hundreds of janitorial workers demonstrate in Chicago after negotiations with Equity Office Properties stall.

- Dozens of federal security employees hired after 9-11 terrorist attacks in Los Angeles’ International Airport will lose their jobs due to budget cuts.

- Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Leticia Navarro, says advertising for country’s tourism in the U.S. will be halted throughout duration of war with Iraq.

Monday, March 31st, 2003

- Thousands of Los Angeles residents stage march to honor farm worker advocate, Cesar Chavez, and denounce violence, particularly, war against Iraq.

- Illinois Representative, Cynthia Soto, approves measure that authorizes states’ health department to develop program to reduce teen pregnancies among Latinas.

- Mexican Cardenal Norberto Rivera Carrera says country must influence other nations and call for an end to war in Iraq, while Mexico heads the UN Security Council.

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