By Andrew Chappelle, Communications Intern

More than 64 million Americans recently voted in a national election, electing Democrat Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. While the last few weeks of the contest between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama were filled with all sorts of issues, ranging from the current financial crisis and the war in Iraq, to not-so-important topics like Joe the Plumber and lipstick on pigs, one topic was noticeably absent from most campaign coverage: immigration policy.

Neither candidate had a particular desire to bring up what has been, unfortunately, a very polarizing topic in this election season, especially when each would have been unable to draw significant contrasts to the other’s plan.

According to Change.gov, the website of the Office of the President-elect, Obama’s immigration policy rests on 5 tenets:

1.) Creating “secure” borders.

2.) Fixing the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy.

3.) Removing the incentives to enter illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

4.) Providing a path to citizenship which would allow undocumented immigrants in good standing to come out of the shadows and have the opportunity to become citizens.

5.) Promoting economic development in Mexico and other Central American countries to decrease illegal immigration.

Let’s get a conversation going. How do you think Obama will change immigration policy?

by Andrew Chappelle

In the next month, Missouri voters won’t just be heading to the polls to choose the next president of the United States or our next governor, but will also vote to solve what amounts to a statewide problem …that doesn’t exist.

November’s ballot will feature yet another wedge-issue constitutional amendment intended to divide voters, galvanize one party’s base and shift attention from more pressing issues we as Missourians currently face. This time around there is an amendment to declare English as an official language of government business in a manner that is arguably anti-immigrant.

Similarly in the 2004 election cycle, Missouri voters were divided by a constitutional amendment aggressively pushed by one political party, which succeeded in diverting voters’ attention from other serious local and national concerns.

Constitutional Amendment 1 would amend the Missouri Constitution to add a statement that English should be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated, whether conducted in person or by conference call, video conference, or by Internet chat or message board. The ballot measure would also mean that English would be the only language for ballots, driver’s license exams and other documents.

Regardless of its intent, this amendment would adversely affect non-English speakers—effectively punishing them—and would impinge on their ability to seek and obtain information and services from the Missouri government. Such a move could negatively affect a wide swath of individuals, be they legally admitted or not.

A mechanism has been in place for several decades in which immigrants, international students and refugees have had the option of using a translated application for driver’s licenses—this system has worked and under the new amendment, would be scrapped.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the written test for a Class F license (the kind most people have, including myself) is currently available in 11 foreign languages. They are: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Bosnian. Seven foreign languages are offered on the computer: Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Bosnian, Korean, and Chinese. Until recently, the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) written examinations were provided in English and Spanish, though the Missouri House changed this law as of August 28th and it is now administered only in English, with translators not allowed for applicants taking the test. In the first half of 2007, nearly 3,700 written tests were in a language other than English. 

If we truly want immigrants, refugees and international students to thrive in the state of Missouri, we must provide them with the means to help themselves. The ability to drive a vehicle is key for so many people to obtain employment.

Theses changes to driver’s license examinations may not be apparent to the public in the language of the amendment, which focuses on official meetings. This is why it is important that we educate our community about the potential ramifications of this amendment, which could change the way government preceedings are conducted, the way testimony is given in a court of law, and other instances where a foreign language is occasionally spoken. There are far too many unknowns.

Join me in voting “no” on Missouri Constitutional Amendment 1.

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“English-only issue gets Missouri talking”, Kansas City Star

“English-only amendment sparks heated debate”, St. Joseph News Press

“Amendment would require English”, Belleville News Democrat

By Blake Gilmore

My last two weeks have largely consisted of introductions. From greeting staff members throughout the building to meeting the other (amazingly ambitious) interns, my memory often fails me in recalling names- and foreign pronunciations make it more difficult!  There is one name I haven’t had trouble with, however: Elizabeth.  It’s an easy name to recall, not only because it’s easy to say, but because it belongs to such a dynamic human being. 

As I anxiously waited to be assigned someone to teach in my first English class, I heard a voice resonating across the room.  “Ey, what’s your name?  You new?  I’m Elizabeth,” summoned a woman sitting at a desk, her gold outfit contrasting with her rich ebony skin.   She motioned for me to sit, eagerly informing me she left Liberia four years ago with her daughter.  “I was married to king of village,” she affirmed, mouth running like a cheetah’s, “He have seven otha’ wives, but I no care.  I am the first wife, so I get food first!”  Though I don’t catch everything she says, it’s impossible not to be engaged in her narrative.  In a somewhat awkward gesture, she then lifted up her shirt and pulled a beautiful necklace from beneath her belly.  Staring adoringly at the rainbow assortment of beads on a string, she told me this is what her husband gave her when he proposed.

Luckily, noting Elizabeth and my quick companionship, the director of the English tutoring classes paired us together.  Elizabeth had already answered the daily questions while the other clients were still copying from the chalkboard.  “Today is Monday,” she exclaimed as I looked over her work, “Today is sunny!”  She danced around in her chair, clearly proud of her correct answers.  She struggled as we read the Level 2 Day 5 passage, continually mispronouncing passeenyahs (passengers) and pardame (paramedics).  Instead of getting frustrated when I correct her, however, she lets out an infectious laugh. 

While other students filed out immediately after the bell, Elizabeth stayed to tell me why she left Liberia. “The poor men no like the rich men.  There was big fight over dahn-mo,” she stated.  Dahn-mo?  My curiosity piqued, I researched recent Liberian conflicts at home.  Her comments about “danh-mo” suddenly made sense, as Liberia’s former president was involved in the illegal diamond trade.  The country’s second war, a conflict between various rebel groups and the Liberian government, surged from 1999-2003.  Thousands of Liberians narrowly escaped the volatility engulfing their nation.

Elizabeth’s optimism in spite of all she’s been through inspires me.  In fact, I might create a photo-documentary share her story!  I will certainly never forget her. 

Presentations for Community Groups:

Do you belong to an organization that would like to learn more about human trafficking? This modern-day slavery is occurring in the St. Louis area, and members of the St. Louis Rescue and Restore Coalition are available to make presentations on this important human rights issue. The presentation includes information about what human trafficking is, red flags that suggest someone is being exploited, what you can do to bring such situations to the attention of law enforcement and crime victim service providers, and help available in the community.

Our 30 minute PowerPoint presentation can be provided in English and Spanish, and could be delivered through interpreters in other languages. Coalition speakers are available during the work day/evenings or weekends.

Should you be interested in hosting a speaker, please contact Elaine Grimm at grimme@iistl.org, Lara Fallon at fallonl@iistl.org or Suzanne LeLaurin at lelaurins@iistl.org.

April 2008

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Bhutanese refugees make St. Louis home

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Business Section): Small Businesses find it tougher to get tiny loans

Vital Voice: New American Neighborhoods/Enclaves

SabaH: INTERNACIONALNI INSTITUT PROSLAVIO JOŠ JEDNU GODIŠNJICU