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What the Spanish - Language Media Are Saying About Sensenbrenner's Harsh Bill

Translated and Compiled by Douglas Rivlin, New America Media

Dec 19, 2005 - A draconian immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-NY) is being brought to the House floor by the leadership in the House of Representatives. The ethnic media have been closely covering this story for their communities.

President Bush and Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman have been reaching out to Latino voters in an effort to bring more of them into the Republican fold. Judging from the headlines and stories appearing in the Latino press the job of wooing Latino voters is going to be made much more difficult by what the House is doing this week.

Following is a selection of headlines and quotes being written in the Spanish-Language press around the country:

"Congress to debate immigration reform: Protests Increase in Washington"

The House of Representatives is getting ready to debate an immigration bill that among other provisions proposes to strip US citizenship from children of undocumented immigrants, punishes those who help the undocumented and provide more resources to states that allow their local police to chase down the undocumented.
-Univision.com (National),"Congreso discutirá reforma migratoria: Aumentan las protestas en Washington," 12/13/2005

"Sticks without carrots for the undocumented"
In spite of the speeches and rhetoric that there may at least be a temporary permit for the millions of undocumented in the country, the reality is that the Republicans are only introducing bills to punish them without any provisions to alleviate their legal status.
-La Tribuna Hispana (New York City), "Garrote sin zanahorias para los indocumentados," 12/13/2005

"[They] Attack Immigration, Forget Reform"
The House of Representatives will vote next week on a bill that toughens immigration control at the workplace and provides more resources for the border patrol.
-Diario La Estrella (Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX), "Atacan migración; olvidan reforma," 12/08/2005

"Heavy hand against Immigrants"
If you are an undocumented immigrant, you could soon turn into a criminal. The House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on a border control bill that has been dubbed by pro-immigrant groups as a highly restrictive and an attack on the millions of [immigrants] in the country.
-El Diaro La Prensa (New York and National),"Mano dura contra inmigrantes," 12/13/2005

"Stunned over idea to strip US citizenship from children of the undocumented"
The immigrant community reacted with surprise over a Republican initiative to strip US citizenship from children born to undocumented [immigrants].
-La Voz (Phoenix, AZ),"Estupor por idea arrebatar ciudadanía a hijos de indocumentados," 12/9/2005

"Immigrants in the U.S. Alarmed"
Immigrants in the U.S. woke up today alarmed by the news that the House Judiciary Committee approved today a heavy-handed measure against the undocumented.
-Granma Digital (Florida), "Alarmados los Inmigrantes en Estados Unidos: Comité Cámara Baja favorece mano dura contra indocumentados", 12/9/05

"Another Plan Against Immigrants"
A bill that toughens border control and increases penalties for those who hire the undocumented was introduced in the House Judiciary Committee by James Sensenbrenner.
-El Universal (Mexico City), "Presentan otro plan contra migrantes," 12/7/2005

"Promoting bill to punish companies that hire the undocumented"
A bill to strengthen border enforcement with military technology and to punish companies that hire undocumented immigrants was introduced in Congress today. The bill was introduced by the chair of the House Judiciary Committee Republican James Sensenbrenner.
-Univision.com (National), "Promueven ley para castigar a empresas contraten indocumentados," 12/06/2005

"Heavy Hand in the House: A Republican Representative introduces bill that facilitates deportation"
The chair of the House Judiciary Committee, F. James Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Wisconsin, introduced yesterday a bill that places more emphasis on border security and more control in the workplace.
-La Opinion digital (Los Angeles and National), "Mano dura migratoria en la Cámara: Un representante republicano presenta un proyecto que facilita la deportación," 12/07/2005

"Committee approves bill to toughen border security and hardens penalties against undocumented immigrants"
Any immigrant that is legally in the U.S. could be deported if he/she is found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol three times, according to a bill that passed a committee [in Congress].
-El Nuevo Herald (Miami), "Comité aprueba proyecto de ley para reforzar seguridad fronteriza y endurece penas contra inmigrantes documentados,"12/8/2005

Douglas Rivlin is director of communications for the National Immigration Forum.