Growing Number of Migrants are Leaving US for Latin America

Faced with a battered U.S. economy and dismal job opportunities, Nubia Díaz and her husband Camilo left metropolitan Miami for the tiny town of Pandi in Colombia, where they say their money can take them much farther.

And they are not alone. An increasing number of Latin Americans -- documented and undocumented -- are choosing to return to their native countries, where political climates are stabilizing and their economies are growing.

“We are very comfortable here,” said Nubia, a dual citizen of Colombia and the U.S. “It is good for us. We have many things that we don’t have over there. Here, our house that is fully paid, we don’t have to pay mortgage. All we have to pay are bills.”

When the United States economy tanked after the real estate bubble burst, undocumented immigrants returned in droves to Latin America, especially those who worked in the construction sector, according to a study from the Economic Policy Institute. Since then, the return rate has decreased but is still higher than usual, advocates say, citing anecdotal evidence.

“It’s not as high as you’d think,” concedes Colin Raja, program director of the National Network of Immigration Reform. “But we are definitely seeing an increase in the number of people going back.”

There are 1 million fewer undocumented immigrants in the U.S. since 2007, according to estimates. The Department of Homeland Security and the Pew Hispanic Center both estimate that the number of undocumented immigrants was the same in January 2010 as it was the previous year.

“What we’ve seen from Mexico is that inflow has dropped precipitously and outflow has stayed flat,” said Aaron Terrazas, analyst from the Migration Policy Institute.

One big reason that illegal immigration has slowed into the U.S. is a sharp increase in the cost. There is a heightened fear of being deported amid the passage of tighter immigration bills, say activists with the National Network of Immigration Reform. In addition, these activists say coyotes whom some immigrants pay to bring them across the border have increased their fees from $500 before the real estate boom to as high as $3,000 a person.

Economics are the main reason that people leave.

In areas such as New York City, Reverend Hector from Trinity Church in Sunset Park, Brooklyn says his congregation with a large Latino immigrant population has been hit hard by economics. One parishioner, a single mother, who frequents the food pantry, spends $800 a month on rent, $200 on child care and winds up with $200 left over, he says. She has been considering returning to her native Ecuador because she’s not sure that the sacrifices she’s made are worthwhile.

“She has told me at least she can live with dignity in her country,” he said.

The economy has hit Latinos hardest in Providence, Rhode Island and Hartford Connecticut, where they have the highest unemployment rates in the country, according to a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute.

Residents in the area are acutely aware of this fact.

Julio Aragon, president of Mexican Association of Rhode Island, said he knows of families who have left the area for other states before returning to their homeland because times are tough. But for some, leaving is the same as admitting a sort of defeat and is a blow to pride, he explained.

“The last thing is to move to Mexico,” said Aragon. “We are feeling like we are stuck in the middle of nowhere all the (anti-immigrant) declarations from politicians, but we still believe we can do better here than we can at home. We maintain the dream.”

While documented professionals from countries like Mexico, Colombia and Chile, are returning home, they maintaining a US base and migrate between the two countries, said Terrazas.

Diaz and her family will join in the circular migration when they return to the US in a few years. At that time, their son will be old enough to start school. Her husband hopes he will be educated in the US but the family expects their youngest member will be lured back to Colombia with his parents, where they hope the economy continues to strengthen under a stable political climate and there is less pressure to work long hours to maintain a nice lifestyle.

“I know many people that moved back to Colombia,” said Diaz. After an accident, her husband could no longer work and relied on disability checks to pay the bills. “The money that we have every day was less, less, less because everything was higher. We are very, very good with that money and we are very comfortable here.”

Soni Sangha is a freelance writer based in New York City.

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Posted in anti immigrant , Chile , Colombia , illegal deportee , illegal immigrants , Latinos , mexico , National Network of Immigration Reform

Violence continues in Guadalajara days before Pan-Ams

There are various areas in Guadalajara that could be potentially dangerous for tourists.

The city of Guadalajara, venue for the 2011 Pan-Am Games, so itself again engulfed by organized crime, this time with messages of intimidation towards officials that arrived in the city for the event.

Both messages were left in ice boxes that contained pig heads inside; the first message was found in the periphery of the hotel housing the Federal Police, who arrived to maintain order in the sporting event, while the second was found in the corner of the streets Lopez Cotilla and Emerson.

For their part, city officials informed that the messages found in both cases were secured by the personnel of the General Office of Justice of the State.

Although the contents of the messages had not been released, they revealed unofficially that the threats were directed to the Guadalajara police and federal agents.

To secure both heads found in the messages, they called personnel from the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Science to confirm it was human remains and realize the necessary tests on them.

Seventeen days before the start of the Pan-Am Games, it is expected that the city will guarantee the security of the athletes and tourists assisting the competition, to take place from October 14 to October 30.

2011 Pan-Am Games via Terra

Terra transmits in 13 channels, live and in high definition (HD), the Guadalajara Pan-Am Games with simultaneous web, tablet, and cellphone broadcasts.

With a team of 220 professionals, the biggest internet company in Latin America will have the most complete coverage of the games beginning on October 14, reporting from Mexico the preparation of the athletes, the organization, and competitions with content in text, photos, videos, infographics, and interactive features.

Source Terra

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Posted in 2011 pan ams games , Guadalajara , Guadalajara PanAm Games , mexico , Pan-Ams , Violence pan ams

Reality TV Show in Mexico Seeks to Inspire Social Action

In Mexico, the most compelling reality television is right outside your window, where half the people live in poverty and where drug violence has caused more than 35,000 deaths since 2006.

In a country battered by news of drug violence and corruption, a reality television series is aimed at creating hope and spurring Mexicans to join activists trying to make the nation a better place.

Don't expect fame-seeking singers or shrieking arguments in a house full of twentysomethings. "Iniciativa Mexico," or "Initiative Mexico," is more likely to show mothers taking to the streets to demand justice for their slain daughters or youths teaching residents of a poor Mexico City neighborhood how to take advantage of rain water.

The weekly program will feature drama-laden segments about the struggles of Mexico's poor, something rarely seen on Mexican television, where programming focuses mostly on soccer games and soap operas with Cinderella-like story lines.

Yet the program brings an American Idol-style glitz to social projects. The second season starts Sunday with 25 activists who will try to win the audience's support for a top prize of $2.5 million. Two or three will be voted off each week by viewers who can cast votes by text messages, phone calls or clicks on the show's website.

Norma Ledesma, part of the group Justice for Our Daughters in the border state of Chihuahua, said she entered because she wants to bring her support network to more victims of violence and teach Mexicans how to stand up for themselves.

"We want people to know their rights so they can feel empowered to demand authorities do their jobs and deliver justice," she said. "The government has to take responsibility. It hasn't because we are submissive and we keep silent, but we can change that."

Ledesma helped found the group that demands justice in the cases of murdered and disappeared women after her 16-year-old daughter went missing and later was found dead in 2002. The case remains unsolved.

Ledesma's initiative is one of 50 that were selected by the show's producers from more than 56,000 proposals submitted this year. She will find out if she is one of the 25 finalists in the show's opening episode Sunday.

"It seems that the country is crumbling down, but it's not true. That's not all of Mexico," said the show's director, Tania Esparza. "There are people who are helping to keep this country's heart beating."

Last year, the program showed activists traveling to isolated villages to explain how to end malnutrition or disinfect water, or giving talks or their work against domestic violence.

Contestants will have to explain to the audience and a panel of judges that will include some of Mexico's top businessmen and intellectuals how they would use the prize money to expand their projects and reach the largest number of people possible.

They will also face challenges such as taking their programs to new communities and recruiting volunteers. The latter, especially, is a tall order in a country that doesn't have a culture of civic participation and volunteering.

The audience will see regular citizens, who despite the odds and sometimes dangers, fight to improve life in their country.

"There are a lot of people with fear and frustration, but there are also people who don't give up," Esparza said. "We want the audience to see them and say: 'I, too, can be like him. I, too, can do something.'"

The show was created last year by Mexico's biggest television networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, and was backed by dozens of media groups that put competition aside as part of the celebrations to commemorate Mexico's 200 years of independence. It was so successful, with Mexicans submitting 47,000 projects, the producers decided to bring it back.

"Iniciativa Mexico" will be shown simultaneously on five national television channels each Sunday for 12 weeks.

The Mexican chapter of Ashoka, a U.S.-based charity that promotes social entrepreneurship, helped select 120 projects and a board of 14 influential Mexicans, including authors, journalists and the rectors of Mexico's top universities, chose the 25 finalists.

The 24 that don't win will also receive prizes, ranging from $1.2 million to $182,000. More importantly, the program will help promote their causes.

Raul Hernández won last year for his Water Forever program, which has built hundreds of terraces and small dams and planted forests on mountains and hills of the semiarid Mixtec region in the states of Puebla and Oaxaca to help regenerate the river basins there.

He said that he and his wife, who began the project 31 years ago, have been contacted by thousands of people since he won asking to be taught how to repeat their work in their own villages and towns.

"We hear about the problems but we never hear about the solutions and that can be overwhelming," Hernández said. "To discover there are many people doing valuable things all over the country was like getting a fresh, revitalizing rain."

Source Associated Press.

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Posted in 2011 Mexico economy , Iniciativa Mexico , Initiative Mexico , mexican , mexico , Norma Ledesma , Raul Hernández , TV Azteca

Latina contestants of Miss Universe 2011

On Monday, September 12, Mexican Ximena Navarrete will hand over her crown to the beauty who this year will be named the universe's most beautiful.

In a ceremony to take place at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil, we'll get a chance to see the women selected as most beautiful from more than 80 nations and territories, giving their best to become the next Miss Universe.

Before that grand night of nights, we bring you some details about the sexy Latina candidates in the competition, so that you can decide who among them is your favorite: Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, and many more.

Source Claudia Sanchez

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Posted in 2011 Top Miss Universe Beauties , Colombia , Guatemala , Latina contestants 2011 Miss Universe , Mexican Ximena Navarrete , mexico , Miss Universe 2011 , Nicaragua , Uruguay , Venezuela

Mexican University President Say He'll Go Where He's Needed: To Educate Latinos in U.S.

Madrid –  The president of Mexico's prestigious Tecnologico de Monterrey university, Rafael Rangel Sostmann, said here Monday that he plans to found a center at Georgetown University to promote higher education among U.S. Hispanics.

The new venture in Washington is one of the projects Rangel Sostmann will tackle after concluding his tenure at Monterrey Tec, he told reporters in Madrid after signing an agreement with several Spanish universities to create a joint master's degree program in Ibero-American journalism.

"I hope my successor (in Monterrey) is designated within the next few months so I can dedicate myself to these other matters," he said.

"The Hispanic in the U.S. is not reaching university, the first generations of immigrants are not completing their studies. We want to make an effort for them to achieve that," said Rangel Sostmann, who became president of Monterrey Tec in 1985.

More broadly, he said he plans to use the new institution at Washington's Georgetown University as the hub of a "virtual space" linking all of Monterrey Tec's community education centers in Mexico, the United States and Latin America.

"And we will also conduct a reflection about the mission of the university at the present moment. I feel it has to go outside its walls and integrate more with the community to carry out truly transformative projects," Rangel Sostmann said.

fox news latino

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Posted in Latin America , latino , madrid , mexico , Rafael Rangel Sostmann , Tecnologico de Monterrey university

Mexico: the very “First” country to utilize Iris Scanning ID System

The Mexican government released a statement earlier this week that they will be updating their identification system process and be the very first country to use iris scanning for identity cards.

This iris scanning method is said to be a reliable alternative to the old ID system for security purposes and easy identification of crime perpetuators, especially on airports, on restricted areas, and on release and booking of prisoners.
The process will involve scanning the resident’s eye’s image, fingerprints, a photo and signature.

We are confident that this system will be 99 per cent reliable, "The legal, technical and financial conditions are ready to start the process of issuing this identity document," according to Felipe Zamora, who is responsible for legal affairs at the Mexican interior ministry.

This process will not initiate at once as the cost will be a huge amount of approximately $25 million U.S. The card will be activated for adults starting 2013.
Although, this innovation in the Mexican law is on step higher on adapting and maximizing how technology can help the nation towards progress and protecting its people against crimes and quick identification of criminals and suspects whereabouts; but many have criticized and many are against to this move that the government made including the National Human Rights Commission.

The National Human Rights Commission feared that this iris scan system could violate individual rights and privacy.

Let us weigh then that advantages and disadvantages of this system with regard to security purposes:

Wiki have listed down in details the advantages and disadvantages about this iris scanning method:

Advantages:

    * It is an internal organ that is well protected against damage and wear by a highly transparent and sensitive membrane (the cornea). This distinguishes it from fingerprints, which can be difficult to recognize after years of certain types of manual labor.

    * The iris is mostly flat, and its geometric configuration is only controlled by two complementary muscles (the sphincter pupillae and dilator pupillae) that control the diameter of the pupil. This makes the iris shape far more predictable than, for instance, that of the face.

    * The iris has a fine texture that—like fingerprints—is determined randomly during embryonic gestation. Even genetically identical individuals have completely independent iris textures, whereas DNA (genetic "fingerprinting") is not unique for the about 0.2% of the human population who have a genetically identical twin.

    * An iris scan is similar to taking a photograph and can be performed from about 10 cm to a few meters away. There is no need for the person to be identified to touch any equipment that has recently been touched by a stranger, thereby eliminating an objection that has been raised in some cultures against fingerprint scanners, where a finger has to touch a surface, or retinal scanning, where the eye can be brought very close to a lens (like looking into a microscope lens).

    * Some[who?] argue that a focused digital photograph with an iris diameter of about 200 pixels contains much more long-term stable information than a fingerprint.
    * While there are some medical and surgical procedures that can affect the colour and overall shape of the iris, the fine texture remains remarkably stable over many decades. Some iris identifications have succeeded over a period of about 30 years.

Disadvantages

    * Iris scanning is a relatively new technology and is incompatible with the very substantial investment that the law enforcement and immigration authorities of some countries have already made into fingerprint recognition.

    * Iris recognition is very difficult to perform at a distance larger than a few meters and if the person to be identified is not cooperating by holding the head still and looking into the camera. However, several academic institutions and biometric vendors are developing products that claim to be able to identify subjects at distances of up to 10 meters ("standoff iris" or "iris at a distance").

    * As with other photographic biometric technologies, iris recognition is susceptible to poor image quality, with associated failure to enroll rates.

    * As with other identification infrastructure (national residents databases, ID cards, etc.), civil rights activists have voiced concerns that iris-recognition technology might help governments to track individuals beyond their will.

Now, based on the above discussion, are you in favor of this or not?

By Joanna Rossi,  www.salsacircuit.com

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Posted in first mexico iris scanning , iris scanning , Iris Scanning ID System , iris scanning method , Iris Scanning mexico , mexico , Mexico ID System , mexico iris scanning

Lady Gaga Slammed by Latino Groups Over Upcoming Portrayal of Mary Magdalene, Catholicism

gettyimages

Lady Gaga and controversy? Say it ain't so.

This time, the convention-flouting pop diva has drawn the ire of three Arizona Latino groups for her upcoming video, "Judas," in which Gaga portrays Mary Magdalene, saying that it is an affront to Catholicism.

The groups are "Chicanos Unidos Arizona," "Take Back Aztlán" and "Nuestros Reconquistos."

“Why can’t Lady Gaga pretend to be Muhammad?" said Cecilia Maldonado of Chicanos Unidos Arizona, according to Examiner.com. "Now, that would be very brave!

"It’s so easy to knock Catholicism and Christianity these days, especially if you have absolutely no musical talent whatsoever," Maldonado said. "Lady Gaga is Lady Caca.”

The lyrics for "Judas" have been leaked online, which give insight into what the song will be about.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm in love with Judas," the song begins over a 'sledgehammering dance beat.'

"Judas! Judas Judas! Judas! Judas! Judas Judas! GAGA!" the chorus concludes.

“Her song "Express Yourself" already referred to Latina women as ‘cholas.’ She has already shown what a bigot she is. Now, she is going after Catholics?" said Manual Longoria of Nuestros Reconquistos.

And its not just Latino groups who are upset with the outrage-courting performer.

“People have real talent, and then there is Lady Gaga,” said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, according to HollywoodLife.com.

“I find Gaga to be increasingly irrelevant,” Donohue added. “Is this the only way to jet up her performance? This isn’t random, we are getting closer to Holy Week and Easter.”

But despite the uproar, Gaga will most likely get the last laugh because of all the attention "Judas" has garnered. One of the song's lyrics could even be directed at her detractors.

"I’m just a Holy Fool. Oh, baby, he’s so cruel. But I’m still in love with Judas, baby."

Source Adrian Carrasquillo

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Posted in banned lady gaga , hispanic market , holy week , lady gaga , Lady gaga anti catholic , Lady Gaga Slammed by Latino , latino , Latino Groups , mexico , salascircuit

4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Mexican Immigrants

A report from the research arm of Mexican financial firm BBVA Bancomer took a slightly vinegary tone in pointing out that some perceived wisdom about this group is dated or wrong. Some of their findings:


1) It’s not lack of opportunity at home that pushes Mexicans to leave; it’s a hungry job market in the United States.

Researchers compared migration patterns to unemployment rates and wage differences in both countries over two decades. The results: While immigration weakly correlated to high unemployment rates in Mexico, it very strongly correlated to low unemployment in the U.S. Wage differences between the two countries, meanwhile, have been growing steadily for two decades, but migration has ebbed and waned. BBVA’s own estimates: Migration from Mexico is driven 71% by the U.S. economy, 15% by Mexico’s, and 14% by higher U.S. wages.

2) Immigrants—Mexicans in particular—keep the U.S. workforce young(er).

On average, Mexicans are younger than other immigrant groups, and for every Mexican working in the U.S., there are four retired Americans. According to BBVA, if all immigration to the United States ceased today, by 2050, a full 40 percent of the working-age population (over age 15) would be 65 and older.


3) Mexican immigrants to the U.S. are, on average, more educated than those who stay in Mexico.

Over the last two decades, the average education level of Mexicans workers (over age 15) who immigrate to the United States has been rising. They’re now overall more educated than those that stay at home. While the average Mexican worker has slightly more than eight years of school, those who go north have almost 10.

4) Twenty percent of Mexican-born Ph.D.’s are currently living in the United States.

A Mexican with a doctorate degree is four times more likely to move to the States than one with elementary schooling, and three times as likely to head North as one with a high school education.

Source Sandy M. Fernández

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Posted in BBVA Bancomer , Latin America , latino , mexican immigrants , mexican workers , mexico , salsacircuit , united states

Elizabeth Taylor's History with Mexico

Elizabeth Taylor (far left) married her third husband, producer Mike Todd, in a civil service performed by the Acapulco Mayor Mario Lopetequi on February 3, 1957. The simple ceremony was attended by (from left) Enrique Parra, Debbie Reynolds, Mike Todd, Jr., Eddie Fisher and Mario 'Cantinflas' Moreno. This was the only one of Taylor's eight marriages to not end in divorce. Todd was killed when his private plane Lucky Liz crashed in New Mexico on March 22, 1958.

Casa Kimberley was the $40,000 villa Richard Burton bought Taylor in the 1960s when she accompanied him to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico while he filmed The Night of the Iguana. The small fishing village of Puerto Vallarta was put on the tourist map by the film and by Burton and Taylor's frequent trips to their home. Casa Kimberley's seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms were not enough for the tumultuous pair. They built another villa across the street and connected the two with a pink bridge inspired by Venice's Bridge of Sighs. It was widely reported that Taylor would banish Burton to his 'doghouse' across the bridge when he was behaving badly.

Taylor owned the four-story home until 1990. She sold the home with all its furnishings and belongings, including her clothes in the closet and personal pictures on the walls. The new owners turned Casa Kimberley into a bed and breakfast while also allowing for tours until recently when they sold the complex to make way for fancy condos.

During the Christmas holiday of 1963, Taylor and her longtime love Richard Burton (not pictured) distributed clothing and toys to over 400 needy adults and children in Puerto Vallarta.

Taylor is seen here filming Hammersmith is Out in Cuernavaca, Mexico on May 8, 1971. The comedy, also starring Richard Burton and Beau Bridges, took place in Texas but was filmed entirely in Mexico.

A mere four months before their first divorce in June of 1974, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were honored by President Luis Echeverria Alvarez on the grounds of his Mexico City presidential house.

Source: Miranda Noland

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Posted in 2011 women fashion , elizabeth taylor , fashion latinas , hollywood actress , Latin America , mexico , richard burton , salsacircuit