ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- More Then One, your go-to immigration resource, was created for you, the user. It is meant to help you where you need it, but in order too look to us for help yous should be able to trust us. In order to trust More Then One it is important to know what kind of journalism we exert to provide you with the information you need.
Where did More Then One get their idea from? As a young girl of immigrant parents, I always looked for help, but never seemed to find any tailored to me. When creating this resource, I knew I had to look at how other journalists created content for young adults in children in order to create a more efficient website.
More Then One cares about situating its audience in the context of our country, which is largely political, so it created a live blog of the first Democratic debate. This way, you the reader, could be more well-informed of not only the politicians running for office, but how their legislation could affect you, your family, and surroundings. However, the context around us, what we see every day is just as important as understanding the political, which is why More Then One provides you with a photo gallery to take a look at some of the lives and journey’s of those in the Latinx community. The community has shared their stories with us, not only through photos, but by telling us their stories as well. We believe in the creation of community, especially one of support.
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Sometimes moving to the United States is not an option, especially if your petition for residency in the country has been denied and one is forced to look at alternatives. One alternative is Spain. Spain and Latin American countries share not only the language, but also some culture. The following graphic explains some of the ways to get residency to the country.
Elizabeth Rosemary Chicas Information provided by Interview with Nicolas Gurbindo and Julio Fernando
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- The Pew Research Center reported 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017. Among all these persons and their American-born kin dispersed across the country lie thousands of stories of struggle, growth, and hope, about arriving to a country they did now know or recognize in search of a better future.
This article includes three interview with some of the members of the Latinx community. It takes us through three stories-
Unnamed and Undocumented: a story about a woman who has been living undocumented in the Bronx, New York for over thirty years. She tells us about the hardships, joys, and fear she lives her life with alongside her husband and daughter, both American citizens who have not been able to provide her with citizenship.
From One America to Another: the story of Jorge Cora who moved to the United States from Lima, Peru when he was 21 years old. He left his career behind in order to reunite with parents, who had left him in Peru when he was just a child.
First-Generation Grad: an interview with first-generation graduate, Giancarlo Garcia, a year after he has left college. He tells us about the pressures of having a family behind you that only expects success.
Unnamed and Undocumented
The woman in this story shared her story with More Than One, but asked to be kept anonymous due to her illegal status in the country.
A woman in the Bronx, New York lives undocumented and has been doing so for over thirty years now. She is married to an American citizen and has one daughter with whom she shares her life and secret with. She made the journey from Bolivia, a country in South America, to New York in search of a better lifefor herself and with hopes of being able to find a job that would help her take care of her family back home.
When she and her brother were born, Bolivia was under military rule. They lived on a small farm with their mother, the animals providing them with what they could, waiting on a government that could one day represent them. “The government was very violent, the president’s changed constantly. And when we had one, he was accused of drug trafficking. It was dangerous to live where we lived.”The political turmoil in her home country is what pushed her to set out in search of somewhere better.
“You always hear the same, it is the land of opportunity…there wasn’t any story that wasn’t a success story.”
“I remember the journey being long, it never ended.” She walked her way from Bolivia to the United States- Mexico border, a trajectory of about 4,300 miles according to Google maps, with the help of a ‘coyote, ’ someone you pay in order to get you across the border safely. She tries not to think about the journey, but rather on what her life is now with her daughter and her husband.
With the recent crackdown on immigration on behalf of the Trump administration, she tells us that, “it doesn’t make things easy. I spend a lot of time at home, afraid of the sirens, or anyone looking for me, like they announce on the television. Now they are just doing random checks on the street, in people’s homes, I don’t want to risk it.”
“Now they are just doing random checks on the street, in people’s homes I don’t want to risk it.”
Besides the recent pressure on removing immigrants from the country, New York enacts the Stop and Identify Statutes. The statute has been in place since 1986. It allows the authorities to ask for one’s identification on the basis of the suspicion of having committed a crime. However, if there is no concrete suspicion, one is not obligated to show the authorities identification. The Immigrant Legal Center explains the procedure clearly for each state in which it is enacted. Some immigrants have fallen victim to this statute, including her husband. “He told me they asked him for his identification, but they did not say why, so he gave it to them. He is a citizen, he has it. Thank God I was not with him, I don’t know what would have happened.”
States that have passed the Stop and Identify Statute. In Missouri, highlighted in yellow, it is only allowed in Kansas City. ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS
The combination of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in her neighborhood and the Stop and Identify Statutes enacted in New York set a tone of fear in her community. She tells us: “I get scared a lot. I limit where I go and how I get there. We can’t fly, so we drive everywhere. Sometimes my husband drives too fast, I ask him to slow down to avoid being pulled over. The more I can avoid the police, the better. They might ask me for my papers and I don’t have any, just my identification from Bolivia when I was younger. There are times when I just want to get home, get home fast, and stay home.”
“I get scared a lot. I limit where I go and how I get there.”
She and her husband live in a two-bedroom apartment, which, up until recently, they shared with her only daughter. Both are American citizens and are able to work and study while she stays at home, but she wishes she could do more. Her lack of status places limitations on her life, but she manages to stay positive and smile, grateful for the life that she has been able to provide her daughter, a life much better than hers. Regardless of the fear she lives in she sings, “I do not think I have found what I was looking for, but this is my home now. I don’t want to leave.”
From One America to Another
Jorge Cora, thirty-three years old, is originally from Lima, Peru. When he was six years old his father immigrated to the United States and at seven years old his mother followed. Left with his aunt and uncle to raise him, he continued his life as normally as possible.
His parents had left in search of better career opportunities. They worked at a pharmaceutical company in Lima, where they had met, but thought that perhaps in America there was something better waiting for them.
Do you remember what it was like when your parents left?
“It was hard. I was so young and I was very attached to them. Everyone else’s parents were at school, at the dances, at the graduations, for their birthday’s and I did not have that. I’m grateful to my aunt for being there, but I would have liked my parents to have been with me too. It built up a lot of resentment. I recognize I have been resentful with them over the years. I know they wanted better for us, but sending me money was not enough. I wanted them.”
“I have been resentful with them over the years.”
His father arrived to the United States first and managed to do so with ‘papeles’ or legal documents issued by the United States. In New York, he managed to find a job in construction and sent out for his wife through the same legal process he had gone through, but she was rejected entry into the country. Through the help of a ‘coyote‘ Jorge’s father managed to get his mother up to New York in order to be with him.
Does your mother ever talk about her journey to the country? How does it compare to yours?
“My mother’s journey to the United States took about two and a half years. She always tells me that I was lucky to hop on a plane. She made her way to Colombia first, then she got stuck there. She worked for a family in Bogota for a year before flying to Mexico and when she got there they sent her back to Guatemala because they realized she was an immigrant. We barely heard from her. And me, well, I just hopped on a plane, and called my mom before I did. I think our journeys overlap in the sense that we had to leave everything behind, our entire lives.”
Jorge left Lima during his last semester of his senior year in college. The chemical engineering major was at the top of his class before being forced to leave for New York. His father had put in a residency application for him, so that he could arrive in the country legally and with the same amount of opportunity as other young adults his age. After his residency application was accepted his mother told him it was a “now or never” decision. And so, against his will, Jorge travelled to New York in order to reunite with his parents.
Did you continue your studies in New York?
“I wanted to and my parents wanted me to, but I didn’t speak English and what I. was doing, that wasn’t easy. I went to Westchester Community College for two years just to learn English and after I graduated I transferred into a program where I could major in Biochemistry, but it was too hard. I couldn’t finish.”
“…after I graduated I transferred into a program where I could major in Biochemistry, but it was too hard. I couldn’t finish.”
Pressured by his mother to finish his studies, Jorge tried to finish his career this time at Manhattanville College, but here he ran into financial trouble. He decided to get a job until he was able to pay for college himself, without the help of his mother. Ultimately, he decided having an income was more important than having a degree. At one of the three jobs he carried, Jorge met his girlfriend. They dated for three years before getting engaged.
Are you happy you came? Or do you sometimes wish you had just stayed in Lima?
“I don’t regret the decision my parents made for me, but I am very aware of the fact that it was my parent’s decision to get me here and not my own. I am not unhappy here, but sometimes I wonder what my life could have been like if I stayed and I don’t know if I would have been happier. Now, I have a life here, a life that I love in a country that is learning to understand me and people like me. I don’t think I will ever return to Peru to live.”
“I don’t regret the decision my parents made for me, but I am very aware of the fact that it was my parent’s decision to get me hereand not my own”
Today, Jorge lives in Yonkers, New York with his fiancé and daughter. He hopes to finish college one day and be able to work in the career he started, chemical engineering, but for now he is happy to almost be a citizen. His swearing-in ceremony is next month.
A First-Generation Graduate
Giancarlo Garcia, who is twenty-two years old, was born in Durham, North Carolina, but his parents were not. All his life he has identified as Mexican since both of his parents are from there and his two younger brothers, Eduardo and Adrian, follows his example. He is proud of his heritage both Mexican and American. Giancarlo attended the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and graduated last year with a degree in journalism rooted in reporting. He is the first person in his family to graduate from a University in general and in the United States. He moved to Spain and the end of his career to work as an English language and culture assistant at a local school in Valencia. Giancarlo is a first-generation success story. He is the dream that parents, who have immigrated to this country, hope for.
When you were younger, were you aware of your parents immigration status? What about as you got older?
“Yes, I was aware of their immigration status from a very young age. They told me about it and tried to make sure I understood what situation they were in, however I only had a very simple grasp of it. As I got older, I understood the details of their situation more.”
What are their stories like?
“My parents both dropped out of school before graduating from high school. My dad dropped out during high school and my mom in middle school. Their parents needed them to work to help support their families. They both grew up in very poor villages in Mexico. They moved to the USA for a chance at a better life not only for them, but for their future kids.
My mom eventually came over to the USA with a work visa that she kept renewing. My dad crossed the border illegally. He was arrested and deported a few times before finally being able to settle down over in North Carolina with my mom and I. My dad has worked at the same painting job since he got to the country and my mom worked in cleaning services at hotels and maid companies, before starting her own cleaning business.”
“My dad crossed the border illegally. He was arrested and deported a few times…”
Most people, when they get here like your parents, don’t speak a lot of English, did you ever have to translate for them?
“Yeah, a lot. Every place we went from the time I was able to start speaking decently, which was when I was around 4 or 5 years old, I was translating. It would be anywhere from restaurants, to hotels, to government offices. Even my own schools and even hospitals. “
That seems like it puts a lot of weight on you, especially at such a young age.
“It definitely was. I had to deal with a lot of things that kids normally don’t normally think about. I’m also the oldest in my generation in our whole family and the first, of now many, born in the United States, so I’d also translate for the rest of my family when they needed me too. So, yeah, it was definitely a lot of pressure. “
“I had to deal with a lot of things that kids normally don’t normally think about.”
Did you ever have to help them with immigration proceedings?
Did deportation or the idea of it ever cross your mind? Was there a moment when it might have happened to your parents?
“Deportation was one of the first things I was aware of. My parents would tell me when I was really young about how there was a chance they would get taken away, so that if it were to happen, I’d be more mentally prepared to face it. I learned to not let it interfere with our lives. If it happens, then we’ll deal with it, but we’re not gonna let the idea of it keep us from living like the family we are.”
“There was a chance they would get taken away…”
At home, you must have a very big mix of cultures because you are both Mexican and American. Whats that like?
“I’m like a weird hybrid of both countries, although that is technically just considered American since that is what America is supposed to be about, but I personally feel I am Mexican “enough.” Sometimes it definitely feels like I am part of a completely different group though, I don’t feel completely American or Mexican.“
What is being a first generation grad like?
“It’s crazy, definitely emotional. There’s a lot of pressure on me to be successful. As the oldest of this new Mexican-American generation in our family, all eyes are on me. My parents, aunts, and uncles made it known from a young age that they were counting on me to go to university, get a good job and set an example for the rest of my family. I’ve also had to handle most of the process on my own since I had no one to look up to for help in everything, which is part of the struggle of being first, but my parents were so thrilled and emotional. It’s probably the happiest I’ve ever seen them. I could tell they had been looking forward to that moment. It was one of the reasons they made the move to the United States.”
“I could tell they had been looking forward to that moment. It was one of the reasons they made the move to the United States.”
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Voting is a fundamental right for a U.S. citizen. Participating in voting, at the local or national level, affects policy that shapes one’s day to day life. Before the 2020 Presidential election, the democratic nominee must be elected.
So here is a guide to help you get your vote in no matter where you are.
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- It is important to understand your rights, especially around authorities. In moments where tensions are running high it is important to keep calm and follow some of these steps.
Elizabeth Rosemary Chicas
Was this helpful? Would you like to see this translated? Let us know! More Then One is here to help!
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- In order to enter and stay in the United States legally, a Green card is needed. After five years with a Green card, you are eligible for citizenship. The citizenship process consists of a test about the history of America.
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- This map shows us the number of Latinx residents per state in comparison to the number of Latinx residents in the country. These numbers are brought to us by the Pew Research Center.
Remember that these numbers are rough estimates since immigrants may not always be registered in a state. Although census’ no longer ask about immigration status, it is normal that with the tension in the country some may not want to participate.
Elizabeth Rosemary Chicas- The United States, famously tagged a ‘melting pot’, is a place where cultures combines. The country primarily established by immigrants manages to maintain a type of nationalism as well as pride in one’s own heritage. Here, are some images of what Latinx life, for some, may look like in the country.
The border between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico is one that is demonstrative of cross-over culture. Straddling the border are the people, people who share a common culture on both sides (Latinx and American), people who look onto California state and wonder if things are better here.
The media should shy away from a unidimensional method of informing the public about immigration. Rather than make immigration seem like a simplistic issue, its complications should be explained in depth. People do not leave their homes because they want to, it is because they are forced to.
If you cross the border between Mexico and the United States legally, you must make your way through customs. And even though this may not be the way everyone comes to the United States it is definitely a place to be remembered as it makes the end of a journey away from home and the beginning a journey in a new country. Not only does the Latinx community seek to better their own lives, they help small communities and their economies grow by establishing locally owned businesses.
The “Ladies of Guadalupe” are a group of women in a city called Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County, California. They are some of the faces in our Latinx community on our side of the border.
In Wills Point, a small town in Van Zandt County, Texas and 50 miles outside of Dallas, there is a Latinx population too. There are 430 Latinx in Wills Point. Working in agriculture is common for people who immigrate to the United States. Assimilating into American culture is difficult, it is a different language, set of cultural rules, and work. However, by sticking together the community is able to move forward.
Immigrating to the United States does not mean assimilating to the point where we are stripped of our culture. Latinx communities can be found everywhere and traditions stay strong. Soccer is a form of uniting.
Matthew Foglino (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)
El Día de Los Muertos is a widely-known Mexican tradition that is celebrated the day after Halloween. Small and large Mexican communities manage to keep the tradition alive in the states, regardless of no longer being in their home country. Although it is not a national holiday, it is still celebrated portraying the strength of the community across the nation, especially considering the majority of immigrants comes from Mexico. The meld of cultures we see in the country is the reason we are referenced to as “melting pot.”
Kate Gardiner (Flickr) (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Every year from September 15th to October 19th Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States. New York closes the month of celebration with its yearly Hispanic Day Parade down Fifth Avenue, showcasing dances from all countries in Latin America. La Marinera, a traditional Peruvian dance, is one of them. It is a dance about courtship and love.
Amber (Flickr) (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Every time a Latin American country’s independence day is celebrated not only is it celebrated across the country itself, but in the communities where these people live across the United States. Below, a Panamanian celebration is pictured. They celebrate their “separation” day on November 3rd.
First-generation students in the United States are those who are the first in their family to graduate from a University of College. Typically, they are the children of immigrants who moved to the United States. It is an accomplishment to graduate school at any degree, but to graduate college as a first-generation student is not only a win for the student, but their family as well. With financial aid, other governmental help, and merit- based scholarships college is an achievable goal for all immigrants.
A group united is a group hard to beat. The Latinx community shares in the fight to live in the country as leal as possible. Pictured below is an Immigration Rally in Washington Square Park (New York City). The community gathered to protest the lack of justice seen when it came to protecting due process for all, including those being placed through the deportation process. Due process is a universal right and crossing a border should not diminish one’s right to it.
The Top 10 Candidates Take On Some of The Most Difficult Questions America Is Asking In Houston, Texas
THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC DEBATE LIVE BLOG
Who are the Latinx Democratic Candidates?
Julian Castro, the “Yo Soy Candidato” candidate
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro speaking before a speech delivered by President Barack Obama at Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons) (CC BY-SA 2.0)
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Well, there is only one Latinx running for the democratic nomination and his name is Julian Castro. Castro, who is 45 years old, served as the former mayor of San Antonio and the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Obama Administration. He thinks a white man is not the best candidate to run against Trump, a fact brought to us by NPR, and has decided to become a candidate for the bid.
According to The Guardian, Castro’s grandmother crossed the Mexican border to the United States over ninety-six years ago when she was only seven years old. Castro recalls his grandmother having an easy transition into American culture and life. However, now, the story would not be the same.
The report furthers that Castro is a Mexican- American born and raised in San Antonio who attended Stanford for and undergraduate degree and then moved on to Harvard law school. Brought up by a working class family and a single mother Castro manages to identify with those working class families. Castro pushes his narrative to relate and hopefully mobilise Latinx voters to the polls.
This information is brought to us by The Guardian.
Why is it important to see Castro running in this race?
A Latinx candidate may be just what we need to feel like our voices are being heard not only within government, but in the country in general. Immigration reform is more than necessary to talk about right now, especially during our turbulent times. We are seeing hate in our community and lacking support in the White House when it comes to helping our own. After El Paso, tensions are running high and we need to push for efficient change not only within our immigration systems, but also in our gun reforms.
We will see Castro in the live Democratic Debate presented by ABC and hope he makes his mark as a strong candidate among the many. Perhaps, we will see a Latinx president in the White House soon. Castro may bring us new opportunity and maybe even new hope.
What To Look Out For When Listening To the Candidates Speak About Immigration Reform
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- During this debate immigration and immigration reform is bound to come up for the candidates. What should we look out for during this part of the debate?
What to do with our Dreamers or those who are part of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Trump decided that DACA was set to expire in June of this year. However, on June 28, 2019 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the issue one more time. A decision is set to be released in June 2020, but until then we want to hear what the candidates have to say.
DACA was created to allow young undocumented Latin American children the ability to get a work permit and complete their studies in the United States.
It is important to remember that DACA is a temporary status and it has to be renewed every year.
The Northern Triangle
The Northern Triangle also known as the countries of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
This is where most of the migration flow comes from. These countries are essential to consider when talking about immigration reform.
Immigration policy is important when particularly looking at Venezuela. Are there quotas of how many people we can let over? What is that number? Are our candidates willing to bring that number up to take in more Venezuelan citizens?
Sadly, domestic violence is too common a reason that women apply for asylum. It is important to keep this a reason through which asylum can be petitioned for.
8:03- Jorge Ramos Tells Us This Is Our Country Too
Latinx Moderator, Jorge Ramos, Addresses the Latinx Audience
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Jorge Ramos is a widely recognized Latinx news anchor in the United States. He carries credibility and objectivity with him. As a result, the Latinx audience credits him with their trust and uses him as one of the several spokespeople. Ramos began the debate with a message in Spanish for the audience-
“En este país también se habla español. Este debate se realiza en un momento muy difícil para los latinos en Texas y todos Estados Unidos, pero es importante que ellos sepan que sepamos que este también es nuestro país.”
This roughly translates to-
This country also speak Spanish. This debate is taking place during a hard time for the Latinos in Texas and the rest of the country, but it is important for them to know that we know this is our country too.
With this message it is clear that the Latinx community will be a large topic of debate for the candidates. Let’s see what the candidates have to say.
8:09- Andrew Yang Is Willing To Give You 1,000 Dollars Every Month
Yang Will Give You 1,000 Dollars A Month If You Think You Can Spend The Money Better Than The Government Can
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Candidate Andrew Yang knows that many of us, including himself, do not trust institutions. He thinks that we need to get “the country working for us again.” And how to start? Yang is willing to give 10 American families $1,000.00 every month if they reason why they would spend the money better than politicians.
8:18- The Candidates Want To Give Out Healthcare For All
Bernie Sanders Makes It Clear That Universal Health Care Should Be An American Right, But Can He Pay For it?
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Universal healthcare has been a pillar of Sanders campaign and not just this year. This was also a pilar in his 2016 campaign for the democratic nomination. Sanders believes in Medicare for all. He wants to eliminate deductible and copayments leaving citizens to pay no more than 200 dollars a year. Biden questions Sanders plans and asks how exactly America is going to pay for this. He thinks that Sanders plan means all of us getting deducted on our pay-checks.
8:39- Our Country Continues To Struggle With Racist Divides
Moderators Ask The Candidates What Makes Them Equipped To Handle The Country’s Racial Divides
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Beto O’Rourke, Castro, Booker, and Buttigieg make their argument as to why they would make the best candidate when handling the countries systemic racism. Why does this matter? Well, this is an issue that marks the difference not only in how we live our lives, but how we make money and expand our education.
Beto
Believes we should invest in education, healthcare for women of color and create a reparation bill
Castro
Tells us about the people that look like him and the pain the Latinx community has endured after El Paso
He plans to create a plan to disarm hate and create a police reform plan
Booker
“It isn’t a matter of who is or isn’t a racist. It’s who is going to do something about it”
He is willing to create an office in the White House to deal with the problem directly. This includes taking a look at white supremacy and hate crimes
Buttigieg
Wants to invest in more minority owned businesses and Historically Black Colleges
8:54 Expanding On Gun Reform
All Candidates Agree That The Country’s Gun Laws Have To Be Reformed
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Beto O’Rourke suggests implementing a voluntary buyback plan much like the one currently used in Australia. This is a plan by which citizens voluntarily return their weapons. O’Rourke believes that weapons designed to be used on a battlefield should not be weapons sold to the general public. This includes weapons like AR-15’s and AK-47’s. This is an important topic because mass shootings are becoming an epidemic in the country and we must find a way to stop them. Amy Klobuchar offered the most detailed plan compared to those sharing the stage with her. She wants to put a ban on assault guns, enforce universal background checks, and make sure domestic abusers cannot get AK-47’s.
9:09- Biden Allows For More Than 3 Million Deportations Under The Obama Administration
Biden Is Not Ashamed Of The Work He Has Done When Comparing It To The Current Administration
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- In 2008 Biden supported the idea of establishing a border wall that was going to be 700 miles of fence and his administration deported 3 million people, the most in United States history. Now, Biden is telling us that he has changed.
IMPORTANT: Biden is willing to make sure those at the border seeking asylum are attended to because they deserve to be heard. He is also willing to turn back the order Trump passed that did not allow women who were victims of domestic violence to apply for asylum.
9:13- Castro Is First To Put Forward An Immigration Plan
Castro First Released An Immigration Plan In April Before Any Other Candidate
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Castro states that he is not willing to let go of DACA or any protections previously offered for the Latinx community. Keeping DACA would help keep hundreds of Dreamers in the country. He wants to make sure effective immigration reform within the first one hundred days of his presidency.
9:14- Warren Thinks That Immigration Makes Us A Stronger Country
Warren Is In Favor Of Supporting Immigration And Wants To Replace Immigration and Customs Enforcement Or ICE
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- After being asked how she would stop the large influx of immigration coming into the country, Warren replied that “Immigration makes us stronger.” Warren wants to expand legal immigration and create a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and their families. This is what Trump calls chain migration. She also wants to create citizenship opportunities for those who here to work in agriculture. Warren offers the most expansive plan in terms of solutions for immigrants. Most importantly, Warren wants to replace ICE, an organization that has acted aggressively towards the Latinx community.
9:16- Immigrants Make For Better Economic Growth
Yang Believes That Immigrants Help Our Economy Grow, Not Take Away From It
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Yang is willing to allow more immigrants into the country. Currently, the number is set at one million immigrants, but Yang is in favor of letting that number increase to two million. He believes immigrants are not only stimulating to the economy, but that they also enrich our culture. He sees immigrants as an integral part of the country and thinks they should be able to be President one day too.
9:18- Bottigieg Asks For No More Hateful Rhetoric And More Plans
Bottigieg Is Supportive Of Immigrant Communities Regardless Of The Conservative Culture Around Him
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Bottigieg says is has witnessed communities embracing immigration and as a result he wants to revitalize the economies of rural America. This idea includes providing Community Renewal Visas. What are these? Community Renewal Visas would allow cities legislatures to provide immigrants with municipal identification or IDs. Why is this important? These IDs would allow immigrants benefits that come with having regular American Identification- jobs, licenses, doctor’s appointments.
9:20- Beto O’Rourke, The El Paso Native, Speaks To The Audience In Spanish
Beto Attempts To Connect With The Latinx Community By Showing Us That He Speaks Our Language Too
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Castro is not the only candidate who can speak Spanish on the stage.Beto O’Rourke announces that in order for our communities to be safe we must treat everyone with dignity and respect. Beto suggests implementing a system we currently use with Canada- the enter/exit system. He suggests that this may be helpful when dealing with those who overstay their Visa. Beto also suggests extending citizenship for the Dreamers and family members of immigrants already in the country.
9:35- Warren Plans On Bringing Our Troops Home
Warren Believes That Keeping Our Troops In Afghanistan Will Not Help Us Solve Any Issues In The United States
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Warren does not believe in whatever we are doing in Afghanistan. It is not keeping us safe nor is it helping keep them safe. We are asking the military to solve problems that should not be left in their hands. A foreign policy that is about our security first is what is necessary. We should be able to bring our troops home without a deal with the Taliban.
9:48- Bernie Sanders Does Not Think We Should Equate His Socialism To The One Venezuela Exerts
Sanders Thinks That Anyone Who Does What Venezuela Does Should Be Considered A Tyrant
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Bernie Sanders is known for his socialist ideals and one of the most prevalent socialist countries in our world today is Venezuela. Sanders assures that he does not agree with Maduro, his policies and his behavior towards its citizens. He looks towards countries like Canada and Scandinavia when referencing socialism.
9:49- Julian Castro Thinks We Need To Focus On Latin America Again
1. Castro pushes for assisting Venezuelans and pressuring them to hold elections
2. Castro thinks we should establish a Marshall Plan for the Northern triangle countries
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Castro calls for a “renewed focus” on latin America. Castro addresses the situation in Venezuela and asserts that we must offer aid to Venezuelans amidst their crisis. Castro also believes the United States should also pressure them to hold democratic elections. He thinks that we should set up a Marshall Plan for Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, three of the more troubled Latin American countries, immediately. Castro believes we must make it so that these people can find safety and opportunity in their own countries before resorting to making the dangerous trip to the United States.
10:02- We Need A Push To Better Our Public Education System
Warren believes the money for public school should stay within public schools
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Before becoming a lawyer, Warren was a special needs public school teacher. This is a problem she is familiar with. She wants to name a Secretary of Education who was actually been a public school teacher, so they know how to better the system. Moreover, Warren thinks the best way to collect money to invest in our public education is by putting a two-cent tax on the wealthy. This would give us enough money to provide universal childcare for babies 0-5 years old, give universal pre-k, raise wages of childcare workers and pre-k teachers, cancel 95 percent of student loan debt and strengthen unions.
10:11- Booker Knows What It Is Like To Grow Up In A Segregated Neighbourhood
Cory Booker thinks the root of the problem in our educational systems comes from racist policies
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- Booker tells the audience that he lived in a black and brown community that was below the poverty line. Because of his experience, he knows that local solutions are the most effective way of bettering education. He believes that we must “invest in our children.”
10:13- A Protest Interruption Occurs During Biden’s Closing Statement
Unknown Protestors Bring The Former Vice President’s Speech To A Halt
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- At the end of the debate all candidates are given a minute to give closing remarks and send a final message to the audience. A couple seconds after Vice President Joe Biden begins his closing statement on how he demonstrates resilience, screaming begins. It is not clear what they are saying, but it is clear that it is a protest.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Who is your favorite 2020 Democratic Candidate?
CASTRO
BIDEN
SANDERS
O’ROURKE
WARREN
YANG
KLOBUCHER
HARRIS
BUTTGIEG
BOOKER
A SYNOPSIS OF YESTERDAY’S DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE
Andrew Yang decides to give money back to the citizens
All the candidates want universal healthcare
Beto stands with his hometown of El Paso’s residents
A DACA protest interrupts Biden’s closing statement
More than immigration, Sanders is pushing for healthcare. And to be clear, he’s pushing for universal healthcare. Can we pay for it? Sanders thinks we can by taxing the wealthy for it. However, it is not enough.
Immigration questions surged throughout the night. Each candidate was open to friendly immigration reform, but how to do it with so many republicans in the house. Booker wouldn’t be able to tell you. Biden could not recall how many people he deported under the Obama administration- it’s 3 million to be exact- and not to mention Castro was in that administration too. Beto spoke in Spanish to relate to the Latinx majority and he succeeded. The El Paso native touched the audience with his message of praise and resilience to the town and doubled down on immigration reform to help those seeking to come in.
Bernie declared that it was unfair to relate his socialism to the one seen in Venezuela under Maduro and aims for a Scandinavian type of socialism. He’s looking for an economy that works for us all and not just the billionaires.
Will another female candidate be able to beat Trump? Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren are looking to give Trump a run for his money. Elizabeth Warren, once a public school teacher, seems like the most likely to win out of the three female candidates. She knows what’s broken and is looking to fix it. Look out, wealthy America a two cent tax is coming your way.
Look for some cash? Andrew Yang left a mark. He did something no other president has done before- he gave away cash. He asked viewers watching the debate to go to his website and to tell him how 1000 dollars would help them.
Biden’s closing statement was interrupted by left-wing protesters who were then escorted out. Biden showed resilience by demonstrating patience during the interruption. The protestors had t-shirts that read “DEFEND DACA, ABOLISH ICE, CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL”, “We are DACA recipient. Our lives are at risk.”, and “No human being is illegal on stolen land.”
Joe Biden Leads the 2020 Democratic Candidates
It is a close call between Elizabeth Warren and Vice President Joe Biden
ELIZABETH ROSEMARY CHICAS- More Then One is an immigration information resource for the younger first- generation community. It is a resource made for you by someone who is like you. We are here to inform you on today’s news, tomorrow’s elections, and the always important changing reforms within our community.
Why create this resource now? The Trump presidency has set off a wave of change in the world of immigration and it is important to keep up and to be aware of your rights. However, how do our loved ones do that when they do not speak English? This is when “first-gen” kids come in. They may be asked to translate and to explain what is happening. In order to do so, they must rely on a dependable source, a accessible page that facilitates them explanations of these complicated reforms. More Then One is here to help with just that, especially considering the fact that a resource like this does not exist yet.
News resources like Eva Dominguez’s NUSHU Project shows us that journalism for kids is important as well as providing a method for it. The NUSHU Project uses main characters NUSHU, an alien, and his highly intelligent spaceship, R.I.T.A to tell the news. NUSHU investigates the latest stories and demonstrates critical things and objectivity to his audience. However, he does not only portray these important skills to the audience, but asks them to participate in thinking and investigating. The NUSHU project is a testimony to the importance of participation and that it is possible to diffuse complicated stories to a younger audience without losing their attention.
InfoK, a Catalan news program for kids, presents a multitude of formats when disseminating information to its target audience. This enables kids to choose the format that best suits them and is most interesting to them. It is informative and adapted to the language best suited for their audience- Catalan. Using your audience’s main language makes it more accessible. This is what inspired me to create my content in English and try to weave in short podcasts. Varying the type of format helps me get an idea of what my audience likes most.
Axios, a news website, has inspired the writing format for this blog- keeping is simple. Their format answers the questions that matter most and does so quickly and efficiently. Incorporating this format into More Then One get you the information you need fast and well-explained.
In the world of broadcast BBC’s Newsround has not only a show, but games and puzzles available on their website. BBC provides news updates three times a day to make sure their audience is being constantly updated on the world around them. Additionally, when broadcasting, they interview children in their packages. To reflect their target audience in their broadcasts reflects the respect they have for their audience. This is why More Then One seeks to collaborate with its audience by giving them a platform to tell their stories and asking them to send us their questions and concerns.
More Then One seeks not only to inform, but also collaboration. Collaborate with More Then One byasking questions and providing others just like you with advice or information you wish you had known before. It is about creating community.
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