Obama Brings Ethnic Media Into Loop

Pro-reform Hispanic evangelicals a growing political force

(NEWSER) - President Obama's push for immigration reform has brought him some allies he's not likely to partner with on many other issues: evangelical Christian leaders, many of whom embrace a path to legalization for illegal immigrants. Growing evangelical support for immigration reform reflects the recent work of politically active Hispanic pastors, who have convinced many across the evangelical movement that immigration reform is a moral imperative—and that Hispanic evangelicals are the future of the social conservative movement. More»

Formerly combative Rev. now key Obama ally on black issues

(NEWSER) - The Rev. Al Sharpton used to be one of the prime—and most belligerent—practitioners of the “protest politics” black activists used to get the ear of politicians, but times have changed, and he is now officially an Obama administration insider. The Rev. meets often at the White House, he rebuts criticism from black leaders that Obama isn't doing enough for African Americans, and has signed on to boost black voter turnout in the uninspiring 2010 election. More»

Worker raids give way to audits of companies

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration is cracking down on illegal immigration using a new approach: pursuing employers rather than the immigrants themselves, the Wall Street Journal reports. Immigration officials announced yesterday they’d begun auditing 652 companies; hiring breaches could mean fines or civil and criminal charges. The new method runs counter to the Bush administration approach, which featured immigration raids and the detainment of hundreds of workers. More»

(NEWSER) - Lackluster support for immigration reform has forced President Obama to be purposefully vague about a timeline for legislation, Michael Muskal writes in the Los Angeles Times. “I’m committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform,” Obama told Latino leaders today. But his “vague language on timing for immigration reform is in sharp contrast to the way he describes other issues,” Muskal notes. More»

Budget focuses on halting flow of guns, illegal immigrants

(NEWSER) - In the budget he’ll hand to Congress tomorrow, President Obama is seeking $27 billion for border and transportation security as he focuses on immigration enforcement and battling the flow of US arms to Mexico. The 8% increase over this year’s budget allows for an expansion of border teams, a security boosts at airports and seaports, and immigrant screening programs, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»