Alabama Farmers versus Immigration Law

by Fidel "Butch" Montoya

The Associated Press news article "Farmers say Alabama immigration law could cost crops,"
is perhaps one of the best examples of how some Republicans and members of the Tea Party just failed to understand the outcome and lasting ramifications of their anti immigration legislation.

Now they are beginning to realize Alabama farmers are trapped in a serious economic crisis because they failed to consider the consequences of their new legislation against undocumented workers. After believing their own hateful rethroic, misinformation and lies about how undocumented immigrants taking jobs away from American workers, they crafted a law which may now cripple farming in Alabama and leave this year's harvest simply to rot in the fields.

Farmers were forced to raise the wages to pay "American workers," and though many of these American workers may have been unemployed for months or longer, they have flat out refused to do the work of the undocumented workers who have always looked to harvest time in the USA. For undocumented workers this is a lucrative time to earn money as they travel from state to state harvesting crops from fields and orchards. In Alabama, farmers relied on them to do this hard back breaking work, offering them less pay than they are now being forced to offer American workers who still refuse to do field work.

Extreme politicians in Alabama voted for this bill because it would discourage employers and farmers from hiring undocumented workers. They did little to understand the economics of farming and how difficult it would be to find field workers willing to work in the hot sun all day.

In Alabama, the most strict anti-immigrant bill in the country has created a serious crisis for farmers as they watch their crops wither away in the fields because they cannot find workers who will do the work.

Meanwhile, more and more undocumented immigrants are beginning to leave one of the most racist states fearing that the new Alabama law will disrupt and separate their families. The legislators who voted for this law were blinded by their own hate and bigotry. This hate legislation would drive undocumented immigrants out of Alabama. But apparently no one thought about who would harvest the food in the fields.

Now farmers are facing a serious shortage of workers, and even by offering better wages, not even the “American workers” are considering taking these back breaking jobs, and with fewer undocumented immigrants trying to make a living, these undocumented immigrants are working always looking over their backs living in constant fear of getting arrested under the new law.

Unfortunately, it looks like more crops will simply rot in the fields and the American consumer will end paying more for food. At least the Republicans can pound their chests and proclaim, “we got rid of all of those unwanted and undocumented immigrants.” Now the question is who will harvest the crops before it is too late this harvest season....or will more farmers face a harvest disaster, and then expect the government to bail them out too?

I have cut and pasted the AP news article below, and if you are interested in reading about this terrible dilemma in Alabama and what farmers and supporters of the law are trying to do to face the field harvest crisis, please continue reading below.


Farmers say Alabama immigration law could cost crops
JAY REEVES, Associated Press
Updated 06:11 p.m., Monday, September 19

GOOD HOPE, Ala. (AP) — Farmers in one of Alabama's leading agricultural areas asked legislators Monday to make emergency changes to the state's tough new law against illegal immigration, saying millions of dollars of crops are at risk in coming weeks because of a sudden lack of hands for harvest.

The lawmakers said they can't do anything to the law right now, and it may be months before it can be changed.

About 50 growers packed a truck-stop dining room 45 miles north of Birmingham. They pleaded with three north Alabama lawmakers to amend the law and save what they called the lifeblood of the state's agriculture operations: The Hispanic workers who pick vegetables, gather chickens from poultry houses, pull sweet potatoes out of the ground and make the cardboard boxes that hold produce.

Those workers are leaving the state because they are intimidated by the law and without them, acres and acres of crops will be wasted, the farmers said.

Kim Haynes said he's lost about half the workers he needs to gather his 25-acre sweet potato crop. He fears the rest of his Hispanic employees will leave should a federal judge let the law take effect in coming days.

"There will be no crops harvested in an effectual manner without them," said Haynes, of Cullman.

The law makes it a crime to employ or assist an illegal immigrant in remaining in the country. It allows police to jail people if they can't prove they are in the United States legally, and the farmers said many Spanish-speaking workers who are in the country both legally and illegally have moved from Alabama in fear.

The gathered farmers told lawmakers they'd like to use U.S.-born citizens for the work, but few are willing to sweat in the fields and get dirty even though wages are usually well above minimum wage.

"We use Hispanic labor because we have no other choice. We can't find anyone else who will do this work," said Jeremy Calvert of Bremen. Most of the farmers were from Cullman County, but several came to the meeting from elsewhere in north Alabama.

State Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, said GOP Gov. Robert Bentley could issue an executive order changing part of the law, or Bentley could include an amendment to the immigration law in the call for a special legislative session that could be scheduled in coming weeks to help resolve a budget crisis in Jefferson County.

Regardless, state Rep. Jeremy Oden said nothing can happen until U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn rules on lawsuits seeking to overturn the law. The judge temporarily blocked it from taking effect earlier this month, but she said she would issue a final ruling by Sept. 28 that could clear the way for the tough legislation.

"The bill is in place until the judge makes her ruling," said Oden, R-Cullman.

Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Wayne Walker said state officials fear it could cost tens of millions of dollars in losses if farmers can't find enough help for harvesting. Tomato growers in east Alabama already are suffering because the law scared away the people who normally pick their crops, he said.

Supporters of the Republican-sponsored immigration bill say it was meant to protect jobs for legal residents, and conservative supporters plan a rally in favor of the bill in Birmingham on Tuesday.

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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H. S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative.
Served as Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years as a journalist.
Served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; and in law enforcement as the Manager of Public Safety, responsible for the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000.
Licensed to preach in 1972.
Serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Founding member of the Latino Ministerial Alliance in Greater Metro Denver.

An Approaching Crisis

by Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Pastor R. Loren Sandford of New Song Fellowship in Denver, Colorado wrote a prophetic warning about a year ago of the very crisis we facing today in 2011. Pastor Sandford called upon the Church to turn to prayer and ask God to change the consequences of the sin and anger in our hearts.

A year ago he wrote of a "intense crisis at the presidential level....coming at or before the beginning of President's Obama's fourth year in office." We are now at that point in time, and Pastor Sandford's prophetic plea for the Church to turn to prayer has largely gone unheeded.

Pastor Sandford's warning stated, "It can be a wonderful and historic turning point for the nation or it can be the beginning of the shattering of our country with depths of division beyond any we have seen since the Civil War. Much depends on what believers choose to do now in the months we have in which to prepare."

As I read Pastor Sandford's warning again, and sensing the serious crisis our country is facing today, if we do not heed the warning again and turn to prayer - the crisis of which we were warned of a year ago by Pastor Sandford, will only grow into a dangerous time of national crisis which Pastor Sandford says we have not faced since the Civil War.

Read the prophetic warning again, only remember we are now in the time period of which we were warned about a year ago, and yes, our country is in deep trouble. Will we heed the plea to turn to prayer this time, or continue on the road of hate and anger?


AN APPROACHING CRISIS
(reprinted)

I sent out the following almost a year ago. You would have to be blind not to see this scenario unfolding right now in the events of recent weeks and in what must certainly come. I therefore felt it appropriate to re-republish this and call us once more to prayer.

We, the United States of America, are headed toward an intense crisis at the presidential level, the outcome of which will determine the direction of this country for a number of years to come. I sense this crisis coming at or before the beginning of President Obama’s fourth year in office. I am therefore issuing an intense call to prayer because the prayers of God’s people, together with the spirit in which we offer them, will shape the aftermath of this crisis for either good or ill. It can be a wonderful and historic turning point for the nation or it can be the beginning of the shattering of our country with depths of division beyond any we have seen since the Civil War. Much depends on what believers choose to do now in the months we have in which to prepare.

Please note that I am making no political statements here. I merely point out that a crisis is coming, whatever form it may take, that it will directly affect our president and that the outcome of the crisis will be either restorative or destructive for us as a nation.

In order to be effective in praying toward and shaping the outcome of this coming crisis, we must first shed the anger that many of us with a conservative political orientation seem to allow to so easily overtake us. James 1:20 teaches that “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” and yet I continue to hear growing choruses of anger and bitterness coming from those who should know better.

Many of us will have to learn the meaning of Romans 12:20-21, "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We must prepare ourselves to be servants, even to those whose opinions – or sins - offend our sense of what is right.

All of us must plumb the depths of I Timothy 2:1-2 and understand the true heart of Father God whose nature is love: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” No prayer offered in any spirit but His will be heard in heaven.

Even more importantly, we must understand the meaning of our true citizenship. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). I love my country and am glad to have been born an American, but I will never allow my love for my country to become an article of faith. I belong to the kingdom of God. America is a place on a map. The kingdom of God is an eternal state of being in which the rule and reign of God are realized. Therein lies my allegiance. When patriotism becomes an item of faith, hatred is birthed and people always get hurt.

We are rushing toward a nexus in time, a very narrow passage in which even small events and minor decisions will loom large in their effect. We, the church, will need the intervening hand of God to achieve a good outcome and enter a season of hope. Saints pray! Pray in whatever way the Lord guides you to pray, but above all, pray in His Spirit and with His heart. We can affect the course of history.


(Prophetic Moments is an occasional bulletin produced by Pastor R. Loren Sandford, New Song Fellowship, Denver, Colorado. To sign up for this emailing click HERE and choose Prophetic Moments.)

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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H. S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative.
Served as Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years as a journalist.
Served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; and in law enforcement as the Manager of Public Safety, responsible for the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000.
Licensed to preach in 1972.
Serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Founding member of the Latino Ministerial Alliance in Greater Metro Denver.

Jon Stewart - Why Does He Always Get a Pass??

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Why does Jon Stewart get a pass when he mocks GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain? Cain says, “when he mocks me in the dialect of old Amos and Andy, I think that’s a problem.” I think that is a problem as well.

Stewart gets away with a lot, but when the heat is turned on him, most liberals immediately jump to his defense. If Colorado U.S. Representative Lamborn is wrong in mocking President Obama in using the ugly and insensitive "tar baby" association, it is no different than Stewart mocking Cain in the dialect of old Amos and Andy. I have to agree with Cain that, "I think that's a problem."

A few weeks ago we held a news conference to condemn U.S. Representative Lamborn for associating the words "tar baby" with President Obama because it was morally wrong and racially insensitive of him to do so.

The pastors at the news conference simply ran out of words to describe the hateful and ugly insinuation that Lamborn used to insult President Obama, Black Americans, and other communities of color. We need to use some of those same words to condemn Stewart for his lack of sensitivity and lack of mutual respect.

But when will liberals even think about condemning the darling Stewart for using such language? He deserves to be criticized and called on the carpet for using the old Amos and Andy dialect to mock a Black conservative running for President.

I can not understand, whether we agree or not with Cain's politics, how we allow Stewart to get away free from any condemnation for using an old dialect to mock a Black man? Too often we seem afraid to condemn national celebrities who we think are our friends and maybe say something nice about our communities on their cable/television programs.

Stewart is not deserving of a free pass, and we should let him know. If Lamborn is a bigot, then why isn't Stewart a bigot? About the only nice thing that can be said, is that at least Lamborn had the sense to apologize to the Black Ministerial Alliance in Colorado Springs. When do we hear an apology from Jon Stewart? Or does he get a pass - again?

I offer a commentary by Alex Alvarez from FoxNews.com for more about this controversy. Asking you to read his commentary does not mean I agree with everything Alvarez may have to say, but the least we can do is answer his question.

FoxNews.com Asks ‘Is Jon Stewart Racist?’
by Alex Alvarez | 5:06 pm, June 28th, 2011

Pass the popcorn and David Hasselhoff popsicles! Fox News is gently fanning the flames of the smoldering Jon Stewart / Herman Cain “rivalry” by asking, in a FoxNews.com blog post written by Bernie Goldberg, “Is Jon Stewart racist?”

Some context: Monday night, GOP presidential hopeful Cain told Fox News’ Juan Williams that Stewart dislikes him because he is “an American black conservative,” adding that, “when he mocks me in the dialect of old Amos and Andy, I think that’s a problem.”

Last week, Cain had laughed off Stewart’s impression while speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, telling him that “as far as him mocking me, look I’ve been called every name in the book because I’m a conservative, because I’m black. Sticks and stones may break my bones, words are not going to hurt me.” and “the fact that he wants to mock me because I happen to be a black conservative, in the words of my Grandfather, ‘I does not care. I does not care.’”

Goldberg’s post doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to making its central point: A double-standard exists where political leanings and perceived instances of racism are concerned:

If the white guy is Rush Limbaugh and the black man is Barack Obama, then of course the white guy is a racist – according to liberals.

But if the white guy is Jon Stewart and the black man is Herman Cain, the conservative businessman seeking the Republican nomination for president, well, then, that’s another story.

This is, of course, not always the case.

Goldberg continues:
But why isn’t Jon Stewart a bigot, when Limbaugh and Hannity and O’Reilly would be tagged as racists if they had done the very same thing? That’s easy. Because Jon Stewart is a liberal and liberals aren’t racists. Only conservatives are.

And if you don’t believe me, just ask any liberal.

Goldberg’s advice to conservatives who find themselves dealing with liberals who would take some sort of moral high ground when it comes to issues of race is to simply beat them at their own game, as it were, and “play fast and loose with the word ‘racist.’” He concludes by saying that, yes, Stewart’s impression was unequivocally racist.

It’s to Fox News’ benefit to keep this particular meme going because 1) it makes Stewart look bad, particularly since it essentially adds fuel to the animosity likely already harbored by many at Fox News and, 2) it makes Stewart look bad. But, in the long term, it serves only to reduce matters of race and ethnicity to trump cards held, at the ready, in the back pockets of pundits and politicians on either side of the aisle, to be pulled out whenever it suits either side.

It’s an unsavory practice that ultimately works to alienate both liberals and conservatives who don’t happen to be white Anglos, rendering, say, a black conservative forever “a black conservative” rather than an individual who is conservative and also black, or black and also conservative.

Likewise, when Democrats or Republicans discuss garnering, say, ”the black vote” or “the Latino vote,” it speaks to a fundamental lack of understanding, bolstering the impression that black and/or American Latinos vote as monolithic, homogeneous blocks without different social classes, religious beliefs, or cultural values coming into play. So let’s, perhaps, take a step back from using “racist!” as a strategic peon in some grotesque game played out on evening political news shows, particularly since this ultimately works to render a serious accusation essentially meaningless and causes the word to lose whatever power it may otherwise have had.

How can we intelligently and productively discuss whether something like Jon “I’m a comedian” Stewart’s impression is racist or hateful if we have to deal with the possibility that such as allegation is simply being exploited for political points? How genuine can any offense at a given act or word be if there’s a concern or admission that such a reaction is used as a strategy in shaming or “beating” the other side?

FoxNews.com
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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H. S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative.
Served as Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years as a journalist.
Served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; and in law enforcement as the Manager of Public Safety, responsible for the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000.
Was Licensed to preach in 1972.
Serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Founding member of the Latino Ministerial Alliance in Greater Metro Denver.

ICE Freezes Agreements - Now What?

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

When you read the press release below, you will agree that this is a terrible development in the battle between the states and cities that wish to opt out of the Secure Communities ICE/Homeland Security Department agreements. Now the Homeland Security Department says they are not necessary and it will enforce the program whether or not a local government entity wants to be involved with this program of deportation.

President Obama has said over and over that this program is only put in place to deport the worst of the criminals and felons that are undocumented. However, what the President says and what his Homeland Security Department Secretary does are two different things. ICE has deported anyone regardless if they are felons or dangerous criminals.

In fact, today, right this moment, if an undocumented immigrant is stopped by the police for a broken tail light, they most likely will be deported. What the facts are of this deplorable policy is that hard working Moms, Dads, and young adults are being deported. Young people who were brought here as children and had hoped the Dream Act would pass so they could continue their education and receive their citizenship are now prime candidates for deportation.

It is time that the Church seriously begins to pray over this matter. We have sent millions of faxes, emails, phone calls, demonstrations, civil disobedience, and personal requests to the President to stop destroying families by separation and deportation. He has refused to heed our voices for justice.

I fully understand that many pastors and ministers are hesitant to involve their ministries with the issue of undocumented immigrants. But I don’t understand is how we discriminate with the Gospel and refuse to denounce the voices of hate and fear with the Scripture that instructs us to care for “the alien, the stranger in our land, the poor, the widow, the visitor in our midst.”

I am calling upon the Church and faith leaders across this country to begin to pray for deliverance for the stranger in our land who works hard to feed his/her family. To provide shelter and a home in this land. We must drop to our knees asking God to intervene in the policies of this government that only respond to the voices of paranoia and racism.

It is time to call upon our God to change the mind of our President and Congress, or send judgment to America for our sins and lack of compassion to love our neighbor. Please remember the Prophet in the Bible did not just bring good news, but often called for judgment upon the people for refusing to heed the Voice of the Lord.

I am very discouraged by this new development. Instead of sending more faxes, more emails, more phone calls, more demonstrations, I am asking you to send a pray to Heaven and the Throne of Grace, to our Father who art in Heaven, and plead with our prayers for changes.

Several times the people of Israel failed to obey the Lord and sinned. Many times God was prepared to judge and destroy these people. In fact, all of those who grumbled, complained, turned away from God, and danced around their Gold calf did not make it out of the wilderness. But when God’s leaders asked God to forgive the people, to give them another chance, God’s mind was changed and He relented.

We are at that point where I ask you to call upon our Lord to forgive our sins, deliver us from all this hate, this bigotry, this fear of the undocumented immigrant and give us justice and righteousness.

Please I am asking....only for your prayers and the prayers of your people in your churches. We must bombard Heaven with our prayers, our supplications, our needs, and desire for justice.

Please join us in prayer.


For immediate release

For more information:
Julien Ross, CIRC Executive Director, 720-290-1125
Jessie Ulibarri, American Civil Liberties Union, 720-434-3747

ICE v. Colorado: Rogue Agency Rescinds Accountability to States around “Secure Communities” Dragnet Program

Federal Government Runs Roughshod Over States and Immigrant Communities

Today, the US Department of Homeland Security announced that it is unilaterally annulling the agreements between states and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “Secure Communities” program, a fingerprint-sharing program between ICE and local police that in reality functions as a dragnet to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, including half a million non-criminal immigrants. The “memoranda of agreements” nullified by DHS had included provisions stating that states could terminate their participation in the program, as Illinois and New York had already done. Colorado was the the first state to negotiate amended language to the MOA, which was signed by former Governor Ritter in January 2011, including unique language to protect victims of crimes. The following is the statement of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition:

The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) condemns DHS’s unilateral action to annul ICE’s agreements with states, including Colorado. These agreements provided a clear framework for the relationship between states and ICE regarding the “Secure Communities” program—including the right of the states to terminate their participation.

“From the beginning, the ‘Secure Communities’ program has been shrouded in secrecy,” said Jessie Ulibarri of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, “By rescinding the state agreements, DHS is once again acting in bad faith and eliminating accountability to states that have witnessed the overreach and damage wrought by this program.”

Today’s announcement comes as a DHS task force is reviewing the program, and about to launch a nationwide series of public hearings, calling into question the legitimacy and transparency of the entire oversight process.

The announcement also comes as new public data confirms that “Secure Communities” has strayed far from President Obama’s stated immigration enforcement goal of “focusing primarily on criminals” and the statement in ICE’s agreement with Colorado that the program would identify immigrants who have been “convicted of a serious criminal offense and are subject to removal.” In Colorado, 77% of immigrants arrested by ICE under this program have no criminal convictions, or charged with of non-violent offenses.

“This unilateral nullification of state agreements is yet one more example of ICE acting as a rogue agency without any accountability to its stated enforcement priorities,” said Julie Gonzales, CIRC Director of Organizing, “meanwhile the ‘Secure Communities’ program is tearing families apart and destroying trust in local policing efforts.”

Adding further confusion, ICE has made misleading and confusing statements about whether local communities can opt out of the program, and proposed high-pressure political tactics to enlist reluctant jurisdictions. Last month, a federal judge hearing Freedom of Information Act litigation against ICE over “Secure Communities” concluded that “[t]here is ample evidence that ICE and DHS have gone out of their way to mislead the public about Secure Communities.”

“DHS has yet to provide clear legal authority to support its claim that “Secure Communities” is federally mandated,” said Hans Meyer, CIRC Policy Attorney, “CIRC questions whether any such legal authority exists, and believes that the program is vulnerable to legal challenge.

CIRC will continue to stand with community, faith, business and elected leaders and allies in their commitment to effective law enforcement while keeping hardworking immigrant families together and all communities safe—a commitment that flies in the face of the “Secure Communities” program.

###END###

Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H. S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years as a journalist. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; and in law enforcement as the Manager of Public Safety, responsible for the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Pray for Bernard Pastor

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

As part of the effort to push for passage of the DREAM Act, the dilemma surrounding the case of Bernard Pastor, an 18 year old young man has come to light. Pastor is perhaps one of the best reasons why we must push for passage of the DREAM Act. He is an example for other young people to follow.

The Associated Baptist Press, in a news story entitled, "Christians join in last ditch effort to pass immigration reform for youngsters," used Bernard Pastor as one of the most pressing reasons why this legislation must be passed in Congress:

"Troy Jackson, an evangelical pastor in Cincinnati, cited the case of 18-year-old Bernard Pastor, a 2010 graduate of the Cincinnati-area Reading High School. Pastor -- a standout soccer player in school and volunteer Pentecostal youth pastor -- was brought illegally to the United States 15 years ago when his parents fled civil war and religious persecution in their native Guatemala. On Nov. 17, he was arrested and detained by immigration authorities after being involved in a minor car accident.

Pastor's high-school friends and classmates have been protesting his detention and deportation proceedings since, and have set up a website, Pray for Bernard, http://www.prayforbernard.com/ to publicize his case and the DREAM Act."

I encourage all of you to go to http://www.prayforbernard.com/, and join with thousands of others in pledging to pray for Bernard Pastor, and join in prayer across this country on Saturday, December 4th, at 1 p.m. (Central time).

"At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 4th at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, students and other supporters will be praying as they conclude a pilgrimage and prayer vigil for their long-time friend, Bernard Pastor. At the same time, committed people of faith and conscience from all over the nation are called to join together in prayer for Bernard, for the thousands living in fear of facing deportation, and to pray for the passage of the Dream Act."

Please join with me and thousands of other committed persons in prayer for Bernard Pastor. As a "volunteer Pentecostal youth pastor," there is no question in my mind that Pastor understands the power of prayer and that God will play a major role in his situation, as well as the thousands living in fear of facing deportation. I urge you to click on Pray for Bernard and sign the pledge of prayer.

It is time that WE PUSH THE DREAM ACT FORWARD in our prayers as well!

Blessings/Bendiciones,
Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Pass the "New" DREAM Act

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

In an effort to pass the DREAM Act in the current session of Congress, the DREAM Act has been changed to meet some of the concerns of Republicans and reluctant Democrats who have voted against the bill in the past. The changes may mean that a bipartisan effort may actually take place in the Congress.

But, it is absolutely critical that you contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the "New DREAM Act" being proposed. There are some changes, but overall it still will allow many deserving undocumented young people to seek an opportunity to continue with their education, dreams, and a journey to citizenship. The young people affected by this bill are children who were brought into this country as small children. They had no choice in the matter and came with their parents seeking a new life and opportunities to better themselves.

For the most part, undocumented immigrants have contributed to the success of our economy and country. In many cases, they have been good workers, good neighbors, and hard working individuals seeking a better life for themselves as their families.

Now with the "New DREAM Act," their children will finally get an opportunity to continue their dream of a better life. Opposition to the DREAM Act is being instigated by rumors, hate emails to Congress, and lies about what the bill will eventually mean to many young people seeking only to improve their lot in life.

We are asking that you contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the DREAM Act today. It is urgent that you please do this so we can put a stop to the thousands of emails, letters, and calls being made by individuals who want this legislation to fail.

Here is a link that will show you the changes made in the DREAM Act.
http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/blog/dream-act-update-whats-in-this-new-bill/

It is going to take bipartisan support to pass the DREAM Act, please encourage members of Congress to work together to pass this important legislation.

Please pray for bipartisan support and that the bill will pass. It is time that WE PUSH THE DREAM ACT FORWARD!

Blessings/Bendiciones,

Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Blue is Beautiful

By Fidel “Butch” Montoya

The Red Wave of the Tea Party missed Colorado as it stood in stark contrast to the Red States in the Rocky Mountain region. Colorado elected a Democratic Governor, electing Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper who crushed two challengers, the infamous undocumented immigrant crusader Tom Tancredo, and political unknown Dan Maes. Tancredo ran as a third party candidate, who was unable to sell his extremist views to Colorado voters, and hopefully has reached the end of his extremist political career.

Colorado also elected appointed Senator Michael Bennet to a full six year term, squeaking out a victory over Tea Party favorite Weld County D. A. Ken Buck. Buck was expected to win according to the political pundits who felt Bennet would be unable to withstand the Red Wave that drown Democratic control of the House, and came within four or five candidates of submerging the Senate in a Tea Party tsunami.

While Republicans were able to defeat two Democratic Congressional candidates, Democrats were able to re-elect three Congressional incumbents in spite of an angry atmosphere toward President Obama’s agenda and Democratic incumbents.

Looking at what happened in other states on election night to Democratic incumbents and candidates, Colorado withstood the anger and Tea Party addiction. Colorado Democratic candidates were able to hold their own on a night that President Obama even admitted was not a good night for his administration, telling the nation, “I feel bad.”

Senator Bennet fought the outside money that pushed Ken Buck to the brink of victory with a get out the vote strategy that even pushed his own voter projections beyond his own expectations. In many bell weather counties, Bennet was winning with larger voter percentages that came out to help Senator Bennet defeat Buck with about a total of 15,000 votes or less. While many national news media refused to call the race on election night, KUSA-TV political consultant, Floyd Ciruli called the race in Bennet’s favor on Wednesday morning after a long night of analyzing voter results.

Latino voters played a pivotal role in several key races for Democrats. In Colorado, Bennet pulled 81% of the Latino vote, which gave Bennet the edge he needed to defeat Buck. Polling by Latino Decisions projected that Latinos in Nevada supported Senator Reid with 90% of the Latino vote. California Barbara Boxer enjoyed the support of 86% of Latino voters.

All in all, it was a night that demonstrated that when Latino voters are engaged, they can make the difference. It was clear the misdirected attempt by GOP Latino operatives to discourage Latino voters from going to the polls to vote, backfired and instead, angered Latinos into turning out to vote and supporting three important Senatorial races that kept control of the Senate in Democratic hands.

Without strong Latino get out the vote strategies, there is no question that Reid, Boxer, and Bennet would have been defeated by their challengers. While political pundits have claimed that Latino voters could change the outcome of elections, there is no doubt these three senatorial races dynamically demonstrated the strength of the Latino voter. No longer just a political theory, Latino voter participation is now considered a potent political weapon that other candidates will seek to duplicate in the future if they want to win the tight race.

As we face the uncertainty and dynamic change in political power in Congress, Latinos are positioned to play a key role in determining and changing the outcome of voter expectations.

While the Tea Party influence also played a key role in electing Republican Governor Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Republican Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, and Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Latinos also demonstrated that they do not speak with one voice or are of one political persuasion. Martinez was elected as the first Hispanic female Republican Governor. Sandoval defeated Rory Reid, Senator Reid’s son for the governorship of Nevada. Rubio, who claims to be a son of exiled Cuban immigrants, is considered one of the strongest foes of immigration reform.

In spite of political party or favorite political beverage, Latinos are positioned on the national stage to govern and bring about change for the Latino community. Latino voter turn out in the future will need to be a priority for any group wishing to change the outcome of elections. While major emphasis has been given to voter registration, it is clear that we cannot neglect to follow through and engage in broad based get out the Latino vote in future elections.

If we neglect to push Latino voter participation in 2012, we will be failing to utilize the most important voter outcome weapon that has shown in the mid-term elections, that the Latino voters do make a difference.

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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H. S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years as a journalist. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; and in law enforcement as the Manager of Public Safety, responsible for the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
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