Noticiero Latino Highlights for October 2003

Wednesday, October 1st, 2003

- California/Mexico coalition of human rights groups announce that at the 9th year of its anniversary, "Operation Gatekeeper" has contributed to the deaths of more than 2,600 migrants.

- U.S. Department of State transfers the review process for issuing visas from its consular affairs office to the new Homeland Security Department.

- Los Angeles Times poll finds 56 percent of California voters favor recall; Republican gubernatorial candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger leads poll by 40 percent, Lieutenant Governor, Cruz Bustamante trails with 32 percent.

- California Lieutenant Governor, Cruz Bustamante, rejects LA Times poll that shows he trails Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger by 8 points; Bustamante claims poll was done before Huffington's decision to drop out of race.

- U.S. Census finds that in 2002, Texas had the highest number of residents lacking medical insurance coverage; 26.7 percent of state residents did not have medical coverage.

- Illinois' Cook County Board of Supervisors approves use of consular ID cards as valid form of documentation.

Thursday, October 2nd, 2003

- Close to 100 Freedom Ride passengers from Los Angeles meet with another 800 ride participants in Washington, DC to begin intense lobbying for new immigration legislation.

- U.S. Senate begins discussion of President Bush's request of $87 billion to continue military operations in Iraq; Democrats are expected to use parliamentary measures to stall vote.

- Laredo, Texas Mayor Betsy Flores and Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-TX) stopped deportations of more than 400 undocumented immigrants, claiming that "Lateral Repatriation" program had ended.

Monday, October 6th, 2003

- Close to 150,000 people hold rally to mark culmination of the first Freedom Ride for Immigrant Workers, during an event at New York City's Flushing Meadows Park.

- A Knight-Ridder/NBC poll finds that 48 percent of Latinos will vote for California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante to replace Governor Davis; 22 percent are in favor of Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

- California Governor, Gray Davis, signs SB2, which will require employers with more than 200 workers to pay for employee's medical insurance coverage.

- After a raid by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, dozens of immigrant laborers were detained while working on the construction of Miami's Federal building.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2003

- California Secretary of State, Kevin Shelly, says in San Diego, that more than 15 million state residents are registered to vote in upcoming recall election.

- Immigration officials in Houston grant 40 undocumented immigrants permission to remain in the U.S. for one year in order to testify against smugglers that held them captive for several days in a parked trailer in Victoria, Texas.

- Democratic legislators continue to pressure President Bush to name a special prosecutor to investigate if White House officials leaked name of a CIA agent to the media.

- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launches educational campaign targeting Latinos on the importance of safety belt usage.

- Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) announces that he is dropping out of race for the Democratic presidential nomination due to fund raising difficulties.

- A federal mediator will intervene in deadlock contract negotiations between Chicago Area Refuse Haulers Association and 3,300 trash collectors; piling trash is becoming a serious concern for health authorities.

Wednesday, October 8th, 2003

- California voters approved Governor Gray Davis' recall by 54 percent margin; Republican gubernatorial candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger wins election with 46 percent of votes.

- President Bush says California Governor-elect, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is qualified to run state and looks forward to welcoming him at the White House once he takes office.

- Poll by the Associated Press finds that close to 2 million Latinos and labor union members voted in favor of the recall against California Governor Gray Davis.

- Illinois' Cook County is first county in U.S. to approve all Latin American consular ID cards as valid form of identification.

- California's Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante returns to Sacramento to continue business as usual after recall election.

- Mexico's Green Party, once part of "Alianza por el Cambio," which led President Vicente Fox to victory, announces it will refute fine imposed by the Federal Electoral Institute.

Thursday, October 9th, 2003

- Report by Pew Hispanic Institute finds that poverty rate among Latinos is higher than the national average because they are younger and are not academically prepared.

- A group of U.S. legislators led by Congressmen Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) and Hilda Solis (D-CA), will travel to Mexico to address issue of the murders of more than 300 young women in Ciudad Juarez.

- A national coalition headed by the National Resources Defense Council asks prosecutors from 11 states to petition that the Federal Housing and Urban Development agency to stop use of toxic chemicals in public housing.

- U.S. Border Patrol chief in Laredo, Texas announces that group of 90 undocumented Honduran and Guatemalan immigrants were released because agency cannot afford to deport Central American migrants.

- Salvadorian government announces closure of consulate offices in Santa Ana, California due to financial difficulties; Consulate will close its doors at end of October.

- U.S. Labor Relations Board files lawsuit against Chicago's Congress Plaza Hotel, claiming it has not negotiated in good faith with workers that have been on strike since July.

- Health authorities from California and Mexico announce beginning of annual Bi National Health Week, to focus on providing medical attention to low-income Mexican migrants and their families.

Monday, October 13th, 2003

- U.S. Congress is expected to vote on President Bush's request for $87 billion for military operations in Iraq; Democrats threaten to oppose request.

- After six months of discussion, Texas state legislature approves redistricting map; Governor Rick Perry is expected to sign bill in upcoming days.

- Close to 70,000 supermarket employees in California begin second strike day; workers demand salary increases and employer-paid medical benefits.

- After months of negotiations, 40 workers from Chicago's T&J Meat Packing Company, decide to go on strike to demand salary increases and a benefits package.

Tuesday, October 14th, 2003

- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee considers the Dream Act, which seeks to legalize some undocumented high school graduates and to allow them to pay in-state tuition fees.

- Group of Latinos, Asians, and African Americans protest at office of New York Governor, George Pataki, demanding resolution to more than 500,000 worker's compensation cases.

- Texas Democratic legislators file lawsuit in a federal court after approval of state's redistricting map claiming violations to the voting rights of Latinos and African Americans.

- California Governor, Davis, rejects bills that would allow state agencies to recognize use of consular ID cards as valid documentation and declines bill that would permit undocumented junior college students to pay in-state tuitions.

- Close to 2,500 Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority mechanics begin strike after employers and workers fail to agree on who should pay the increasing health insurance costs.

- Twelve counties in Florida begin pilot program to assist in home financing for families that earn less than $70,000 annually.

Wednesday, October 15th, 2003

- President Bush visits California for a fund-raising event and to meet with Governor-Elect, Arnold Schwarzenegger; since May, President Bush has raised close to $84 million for his reelection campaign.

- Hundreds of Tijuana, Mexico residents protest at City Hall against building of a U.S. natural energy plant by, Marathon Oil.

- Illinois' Latino Legislative Caucus will hold several hearings on minority students and higher education, after a report summoned by state's Senate shows that only 1 percent of Latinos enroll in colleges and universities.

- Miguel Aleman, Governor of the Mexican State of Veracruz, says PRI party members supporting the privatization of national energy industry, should not be considered traitors.

Thursday, October 16th, 2003

- Poll by Washington Post finds that 6 out of 10 U.S. residents consider that U.S. military loses in Iraq are unacceptable and disagree with U.S. presence in country.

- UN Security Council votes unanimously in favor of resolution backed by U.S., Britain and Spain granting U.S. the lead in reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

- Strike by 2,500 mechanics from Los Angeles' Metropolitan Transportation Authority continue third day on strike, affecting approximately 500,000 users.

Monday, October 20th, 2003

- U.S. Congressional committee may reach agreement that reinstates Medicare benefits for immigrant minors and pregnant women.

- Rev. Jesse Jackson urges California Governor-elect, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to intervene in stalled negotiations between supermarkets and 70,000 union employees.

- The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights names Julia Gabriel, Lucas Benitez, and Romeo Ramirez, from Florida’s Coalition of Immokalee Workers, as recipients of center’s human rights award.

Tuesday, October 21st, 2003

- Congressional Hispanic Caucus introduces legislation that seeks to increase funding for health programs targeting low-income Latino communities.

- Coalition of Latin American and Mexican immigrant groups may organize statewide protests in Governor-elect, Arnold Schwarzenegger, recalls SB60, which may grant drivers licenses to undocumented migrants.

- New York’s Consumer Affairs Office begins investigation of 90 companies that send remittances abroad; consumers claim companies fail to inform consumers on exchange rates and complaint procedures.

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2003

- President Bush threatens to veto bill seeking $87 billion for reconstruction efforts in Iraq if it requires Iraq to repay money.

- Mexico’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eugenio Derbez meets with California Governor-elect, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a closed-door session in Los Angeles.

- Chicago immigrant groups hold events to commemorate Immigrant and Refugee Week; U.S. Census finds that 22 percent of city residents were born in foreign countries.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2003

- Immigration officials seek to detain 300 Wal-Mart workers in 21 U.S. states, after investigations uncover that job contractors hired undocumented immigrants.

- U.S. and Central American officials meet in Houston to discuss possible Central American Free Trade Agreement.

- Avanza supermarkets in Chicago announce the acceptance of Mexican consular ID cards as valid form of documentation when cashing checks.

- California Governor, Gray Davis and Governor-elect Schwarzenegger, meet for the first time to discuss office transition; Schwarzenegger is expected to request a special legislative session to recall SB60.

Monday, October 27th, 2003

- Southern California wildfires burn hundreds of homes in close to 300,000 acres; wildfires have claimed 15 fatal victims.

- Thomas Kean, head of the federal commission investigating 9-11, says White House has failed to share intelligence information given to President Bush weeks before attacks.

- Peace Corp Director, Gaddi Vasquez, announces he will quit post to run for a California Senate post; Vasquez is first Latino director.

- Mechanics for Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Transportation Authority continue second week on strike.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2003

- President Bush declares Southern California under state of emergency after wildfires have burned more than 500,00 acres and destroyed nearly 1000 homes.

- Latino consumers that have been victims of fraud by calling card companies in Illinois request investigation by state’s District Attorney’s Office.

- Health authorities along the Mexico/California border predict that wildfires will affect the health of area residents, causing respiratory problems and asthma.

Wednesday, October 29th, 2003

- Bush Administration announces installation of fingerprinting and photo equipment at 115 airports and 14 seaports to record identities of millions of foreign visitors.

- U.S. House of Representatives votes against bill that would allow the federal government to inquire on workers’ migrant status through their employers.

- Study by UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research finds that 30 percent of elderly California residents lack appropriate medical services.

- Los Angeles’ School District approves measure banning the sales of junk food, including candy bars and sodas, in its elementary and middle schools.

- Texas Democratic legislators meet with lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to file formal complaint against state’s new redistricting map.

Thursday, October 30th, 2003

- Bipartisan legislative group begins negotiations on bill approved by U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ease country’s embargo against Cuba.

- Rebecca Phares, Director of Washington, DC’s Religious Task Force on Central America and Mexico, begins Border Pilgrimage in remembrance of the more than 2,300 migrants that have died while crossing the border.

- Immigrant groups in Illinois launch signature campaign in of support of SB 67, which seeks to grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants; Illinois Senate will vote on measure this Wednesday.

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