Marijuana drug arrests in communities of color are a common occurrence. Yet, recent news of swimmer Michael Phelps involvement with the drug is casting a whole new light on the fairness of current marijuana policy and is jumpstarting an international dialogue that is long overdue.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael...

One of the fundamental factors causing debate over illegal immigration enforcement is the public perception of undocumented immigrants. Are they real criminals? Some in law enforcement have gone to great lengths to paint them in this light. Yet a new examination of government immigration enforcement strategies uncovers a deliberate attempt...

Review Detention Policies of Undocumented Immigrants and the Private Prison Companies Housing Them

The swearing-in of Eric Holder Jr. as the nation's newest Attorney General has been as anticipated among immigration lawyers and families of immigrants detained in detention facilities as was Obama's own Inauguration Day.

With each stroke of his pen, every transatlantic call made and all the bipartisan meetings he's resided over so far, President Obama is on track to fulfill his campaign promises.

Only a week into the job and Obama has already reversed policies on carbon dioxide emissions, signed orders to...

The news that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew his name for consideration for Obama's Cabinet is leaving those of us who advocated for his inclusion with huevo all over our faces.

Now, it appears it was a blessing that the Gov. wasn't awarded the Secretary of State position...

As 2008 winds down and we can't help but reflect on what has happened on Wall Street and in Detroit in just the last few weeks, the natural train of thought would be to wonder what's the next big industry to fall.

Unfortunately, I don't have to look any farther...

In 2006, President Bush established the Task Force on New Americans. The Task Force's objectives are "to help immigrants learn English, embrace the common core of American civic culture, and fully become American."

Alfonso Aguilar,...

During these extraordinary times, it's not surprising that the economy is on everyone's minds. How can it be otherwise? Retail sales are the lowest they've been in three years. Daily reports of layoffs. Home and auto loans increasingly hard to qualify for and the stock market rises and plummets faster...

One of the many criticisms levied by the McCain campaign against Barack Obama has been his lack of foreign policy experience. To make that point, Sen. McCain went on a whirlwind trip this past summer to Mexico and Colombia to prove he has a handle on what's happening south of...

After three weeks and wasting $41,000, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrived at a startling conclusion -- creating a program to allow undocumented immigrants to self-deport doesn't work.

(Source: Daylife.com)

As Latina Lista noted in the first...

This past Sunday, over 1,000 people marched the streets of Postville, Iowa to protest the nation's largest immigration raid. The protesters, men, women and children, joined together in crying out against the working conditions at the Agriprocessors plant, as well as, the detention/deportation of over 300 workers.

Today, all eyes are fixed on Washington DC and ears glued for the latest hint at what was discussed at a late-night meeting between Obama and Clinton, but the real action is happening outside the Beltway -- at the US/Mexico border.

Things are heating up and it promises to be...

Earlier this week, a congressional hearing was held in Washington, DC to discuss the impacts of immigration raids, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, on children and families.

ICE representatives, community leaders from across the nation and national organization leaders presented testimony.

One of those who testified about...

Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

It's a day that should be solemnly observed by every Latino family with teenage children. Why?

Because while the overall national rate of teen pregnancy has declined, it has actually...

It seems that Governor Bill Richardson isn't the only presidential candidate with a Mexican-born parent.

Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, can technically claim Latino heritage as well. His father, George Romney, was born in Colonia Dublán, Galeana, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

I couldn't help but be drawn to the subject line of one of the first emails of the morning: PLEASE HELP US!

I would have probably deleted it without opening it, assuming it was another one of those overseas money scams, but then I noticed it was from...

Why has immigration reform failed so miserably in Congress?

Why has the term "immigrant" evolved into such a piranha that Congressional representatives will distance themselves from it?

Why does there exist a fanaticism against the immigration issue, not outside the halls of Congress but within its very corridors?...

Children are sacred.

Industrialized countries understand that universal edict and defend children -- no matter their circumstances.

The countries that enslave children and prostitute, exploit and press them into soldier-duty are routinely considered less than civilized and unfit to join the power ranks of the developed world....

Ever since the devastating mine collapse at Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine trapping six miners, there has been speculation voiced regarding the legal status and qualifications of three of those miners who happen to be Mexican immigrants.

Their names are: Carlos Payan, 23; Manuel Sanchez, 41; and Luis Hernandez, 24.

During...

A funny thing happened on the way to building the Lower Rio Grande Valley portion of the Texas-Mexico border fence.

It was something that caught Chertoff and the Department of Homeland Security off guard, the White House, Congress and even the average American citizen who lives miles away from the...