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NOTEWORTHY IMMIGRATION NEWS

The ISAAC Project offers here two relevant immigration news items, which were reported in the last couple of months.  The first article relates to Texas and the second article relates to the Arizona style Immigration laws.

SURGE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM INDIA IN SOUTH TEXAS

Thousands of immigrants from India have crossed into the United States illegally at the southern tip of Texas in 2010.  More than 1600 immigrants have been caught since the influx began early in 2010.  Nobody knows how many more were successfully smuggled into the country.

The sudden surge of illegal immigration has baffled Border officials in Texas.  It is not certain why these individuals are coming to the USA under these conditions, but it is clear that there is a smuggling pipeline that delivers large numbers of people to our doorstep.  The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI reported that there is no evidence to suggest that terrorists are using this smuggling pipeline for their own ends.

Most of these undocumented immigrants claim to be from the Punjab or Gujarat states.  They are Sikhs who claim to be facing religious persecution, or members of the Bharatiya Janata Party who claim to be targeted for violence by members of the National Congress Party.  However, human rights advocates and other migration analysts disagree.  According to them, political conditions alone do not explain this kind of mass migration.  Moreover, Sikhs have not been targets of any religious persecution since the 1980s.

This news was reported by the Los Angeles times in February.
Read the full article here…

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC DESTRUCTIVENESS OF ARIZONA-STYLE LAWS

Proponents of immigration laws such as Arizona’s SB 1070 claim that they are trying to save jobs and tax dollars of hard-working Americans, but a recent study of the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Institute says that this claim has no credibility.
The report contemplates two different future scenarios in Arizona.  In the first one, proponents of SB 1070 get their wish and undocumented immigrants vanish from Arizona.  In the second scenario, these immigrants are offered a pathway to legal status.  The report finds that the first scenario ends up being an economic disaster for Arizona: deporting them would eliminate 581,000 jobs and reduce state-tax revenues by $4.2 billion.  On the other hand, providing an avenue for legal status for these unauthorized workers would create 261,000 jobs and increase tax revenues by $1.7 billion.
As the report explains,

“…undocumented immigrants don’t simply ‘fill’ jobs; they create jobs. Through the work they perform, the money they spend, and the taxes they pay, undocumented immigrants sustain the jobs of many other workers in the U.S. economy, immigrants and native-born alike. Were undocumented immigrants to suddenly vanish, the jobs of many Americans would vanish as well. In contrast, were undocumented immigrants to acquire legal status, their wages and productivity would increase, they would spend more in our economy and pay more in taxes, and new jobs would be created.”
Read the full report here…

Mothers Day Gift Cards with a Mission

Are you looking for a special way to celebrate this Mother’s Day that also impacts the life and mission of your church? This Mother’s Day, Good News Goods is offering a new ministry opportunity for churches called Gift Cards for Missions.

Buy a gift that says I Love You to the special women in your life while sending love to women and mothers around the world!

This is an exciting and simple global missions connection for churches that not only celebrates the many wonderful women in your community by showering them with love (and Fair Trade gifts), but also celebrates the lives, value, and hard work of impoverished and vulnerable women and their families in the developing world.

Churches can purchase a Mother’s Day Gift Card Pack from Good News Goods that includes:

In addition, 10% of purchases will be given by our partner, Trade as One, to support the relief and development ministries supported by the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger

We look forward to partnering with your church and building for the Kingdom of God together.

For more information and to order your Mother’s Day Gift Card Pack, contact Charlotte Bumbulis at charlotte.bumbulis@ texasbaptists.org or call 512.473.2288

MAKE A DONATION IN MEMORY/HONOR OF SOMEONE

Would you like to remember or honor someone special this year? Instead of a gift that will just collect dust why not make a donation in their name to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. Let your gift go much further in doing good work for those who are less fortunate.

Donate now!

5th Sunday Hunger Offering Videos

Next 5th Sunday Emphasis for World Hunger – May 29, 2011.  Prepare now.  Download 5th Sunday videos…

Just Ten Cents a Drink…

By Judy Bergfield, Consultant for the Christian Life Commission

What is the meaning of the two following images – one carton of cigarettes and 22 grocery carts each filled with six- packs of beer?  The excise tax received by the state of Texas on 22 grocery carts of beer is equal to the tax received from one carton of cigarettes! Quite a disparity!

If the legislature were to increase the tax to TEN cents per drink, that would generate approximately ONE BILLION dollars per year in tax revenues. Given the budget shortfall, any increase in revenues would be welcome but what’s particularly great about this scenario is that when the cost of a can of beer is increased, under-aged drinkers will drink less. It is shown that they are price sensitive while adults will tend to drink about the same amount:  thus a double win of reduced under-aged and younger aged drinking coupled with increased revenue from adult consumption.

Contact your legislators and ask them to support a measure increasing the tax on beer to ten cents a can?  Now that’s something to picture… a win all around!

Texas Makes Progress in Dealing with Electronic Waste – TV Recycling Passes the Senate

Electronic Waste is an ever-growing problem in modern society as people update their electronics regularly, especially their televisions. Flat screen TVs contain mercury and many electronic products contain PCB-like brominated flame-retardants that are dangerous to the health of Texans.  Senator Kirk Watson of Austin and Representative Warren Chisum of Pampa have identical bills that require take-back and recycling of televisions by manufacturers, helping reduce chemical leaks into our landfills and allowing manufacturers to reuse old parts from these products.  SB 329, Senator Watson’s version passed the Senate on March 23rd, signaling progress with regard to electronic waste in Texas.

Upcoming Policy Days at the Capitol… Join us!

One of every five human trafficking victims in the United States is trafficked through Texas. The 82nd Legislature is building on the Office Attorney General’s interim Task Force.  The Senate unanimously passed Senator Van de Putte’s SB 24, which takes many of the Human Trafficking Task Force recommendations and puts them in to statute.  Join us on April 27, 2011 on the South Steps of the Capitol for a rally to combat human trafficking, this horrific form of modern-day slavery. The rally begins at noon. If you are interested in more information about the event, please contact McCall Johnson at mccall.johnson@texasbaptists.org.

ALCOHOL | ADDICTION

• Senate Passes  K2 Ban
• Texas budget crisis threatens anti-smoking program | Rep. Alvarado wants to raise the state cigarette tax to save campaign

BUDGET

• How will budget cuts affect the local religious community?
• Short of Funds, Texas Eyes School Reserves
• Senate’s treasure hunt on the trail of $5 billion | Special panel ordered to find ‘non-tax revenue’ to take sting out of budget cuts
• Texas senators begin hunt for cash to plug budget gap | Selling surplus state property an option
• Texas lawmakers mining for revenue | As deadline to submit bills nears, legislators pursue quicker tax collection, deferred payments, but no hikes
• House panel OKs budget that spends less than current budget | Committee approves $164.5 billion budget that implements deep cuts, uses no new taxes
• Perry seeks to slow move toward rainy day fund | Governor, who previously ruled out use, now says fund should be last resort
• Texas House begins budget battle | Debate starts today on bills to plug current deficit with spending cuts and the rainy day fund

CHILDREN

• Federal lawsuit: Texas’ foster care system is broken
• TEXAS HUNGER INITIATIVE: Group aims to keep community fed

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• New details of TYC-TJPC merger emerge
• Senate: Cut $34 million from prison schools
• Effort to eliminate prison chaplains met with criticism
• Report: Hundreds of Youths in Adult Prisons

EDUCATION

• Short of Funds, Texas Eyes School Reserves
• After another teacher rally, Texas GOPers promise smart cuts for schools
• Cy-Fair Superintendent on Education Cuts
• EDITORIAL: Will desperation breed dumbness?
• Pressure mounts for Texas curriculum redo | GOP legislators urge state board to revisit social studies standards
• State curriculum for U.S. history flunks evaluation | Research group slams structure, coherence, positive tilt of Texas curriculum
• Rural schools, communities suffer in the face of Texas’ budget cuts | $10 billion proposed reduction in direct school aid could drive small, rural school districts out of business
• Texas Community Colleges Leery of Guns on Campus

ENVIRONMENT

• Texas in Top 10 Solar States, Report Says
• Texas Environmental Regulators Face Deep Budget Cuts
• On the back-burner, environmental bills come to low boil | Proposals claim to have no cost in tight budget season
• Texas Republicans vow to fight EPA in Congress
• Texas Task Force to Battle EPA Regulations

GAMBLING

• Gambling Opponents Confident They Can Kill Casino Proposals in Texas| Baptist General Convention of Texas says tax numbers being raised by gambling supporters are flawed
• Texas lawmakers to hear new arguments on expanding gambling
• Supporters: Gaming Would Generate Needed Revenue
• Lawmaker has eye on gambling superbill | Chairman of panel that’s hearing many proposals says he’ll wrap them into one
• Jack Pratt chairman of the Texas Gaming Association: The TT Interview
• Cloverleaf Kennel Club track will be razed | Bids sought for demolition

HEALTH

• Opponents of Medicaid cuts warn of devastating ripple effect | Reductions will send more people into nursing homes, which also are at risk of shutting down, advocates say
• Zerwas: Texas Health Insurance Exchange May Be Dead

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Human Trafficking Bill Passes in Senate
• Human-trafficking crackdown gets OK

HUNGER & POVERTY

• Missouri Baptists join support for Texas world hunger offering projects
• TEXAS HUNGER INITIATIVE: Group aims to keep community fed

IMMIGRATION

• Texas Religious Leaders’ Statement on Immigration Legislation 3/8/11
• Peña’s Guest-Worker Bill Draws Praise, Criticism
• Texas Lawmakers Prepare for Sanctuary City Battle
• Bill Would Prevent Immigration Inquiry by Officer

PAYDAY LENDING

• The Payday Lenders’ Come-to-Jesus Moment | A strange-bedfellows coalition goes after predatory lenders
• Religious leaders bring new urgency to payday loan reform
• Texas religious leaders want tighter regs on payday loans
• Payday lending battle brews
• Legal loan sharks | Beware: Predatory lenders lurk just around the corner. (But help may be on the way.)
• Bill in Texas House threatens ‘predatory’ lender businesses
• In Texas House, Rep. Truitt of Keller seeks to restrict payday loan practices

VOTER ID

• Emotional voter ID bill debate ends in passage | Alleging bias, Democrats offer series of defeated amendments
• Voter ID Passes House After Long, Emotional Debate
• House vote opens door to voter ID | Bill gets tentative OK, but ultimately must pass Justice Department’s scrutiny

Live! at the Legislature…Round Two

Dear Friends,

Your contributions have been mighty. I am spending today and tomorrow following up with almost every member of the committee who have been calling and contacting us today because of the strength of your testimony and visits.

Thanks be to God for the patience and eloquence of our wonderful pastors!

Suzii

Here is the first clip from testimony and the press conference.

To see more, follow the links at the end of the clip, or view the entire collection of footage here…
The sound on the press conference videos may have spots in it that are bad due to the windy day.

Opportunities for Education & Networking

The Christian Life Commission Conference for 2011 “…such as these: An Evangelical Advocacy Response to Global Childhood Hunger” (pdf) will be at Dallas Baptist University on May 24 from 1:00-8:00 P.M.  The CLC is partnering with Bread for the World and Dallas Baptist University to host evangelical leaders from across the U.S. to reflect on childhood hunger.  Register online now… click on “For Speakers”; click on Christian Life Commission (Tuesday only).

There is no cost for the conference.

Dr. Albert Reyes, Buckner International will be the Tuesday afternoon keynote speaker.  Other speakers include Dr. Carol Adelman, Center for Global Prosperity; Rev. David Beckmann, Bread for the World; Kuki Rokhum, Micah Challenge, India; Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, University of Virginia; Dr. Abraham Sarker, H.A.R.D, Bangledesh and Dr. Scotrt Todd, Compassion International.

For more information, please contact Marilyn Davis at marilyn.davis@texasbaptists.org,  or 214.828.5194.

A Child Shall Lead Them

This is Danielle Choi who lives in Carrollton, Texas.  One day she emptied her piggy banks and told her mother to please send it to feed hungry children.  This is the letter we received accompanied by $13.53 for the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger.

Christian Life Commission Teaches Hunger Awareness to Children

Jesus really likes children.

He didn’t ask for childcare when he had a speaking engagement.

He loved their enthusiasm.  He impressed upon those he taught how important they were.

So important, that throughout scripture, in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Mark, the Acts, the message is clear…teach the children God’s truth.

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “…with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” (Is. 11:6)  This truth reveals Jesus’ desire for our children to understand their role in caring for others.

Come to the Table, Children’s Hunger Awareness Curriculum, a collaboration between the Christian Life Commission and Dallas Baptist University Masters Education Department, will help you do just that.

Written for preschoolers (age 3-K), younger children (grades 1-4), and preteens (grades 5-6), it is now available for free download.   Each age-graded section offers five sessions which include Bible stories, mission stories based on Hunger Offering projects, related activities for the classroom, and activities for the family at home.

Use this curriculum in Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, missions organizations, and/or children’s camps and retreats.  Exploring the biblical texts and hearing how Texas Baptists are alleviating hunger and poverty at home and abroad will help the children envision a world without hunger and their part in transforming that image into reality.

Scripture says, “Teach the children.”  If we don’t teach them, who will?