The recent case where parents with a child having Down’s Syndrome were excluded from migrating permanently to Australia has aroused much emotion. It is widely seen as discrimination against disabled people. It is nothing of the sort. It is discrimination against immigration applicants who may not provide net economic benefits to Australia if they are awarded migrant status.

The lifetime cost of supporting a Down’s Syndrome child at a discount rate of 5% was estimated 10 years ago at $235,000. With a public health system most of this cost will fall on the taxpayer.

…read full articles of "Case for a migration policy discriminating against entrants with above-average health costs"

A study surveying patients in more than 1,500 physician practices has found racial and ethnic disparities in patient health-care experiences, with minority patients having worse experiences than white patients.

Racial And Ethnic Disparities Detected In Patient Experiences.

During more than a decade of attending school in North Forest, Christian Perez, a first-generation American, had one teacher who looked like him.

“I just remember the Spanish teacher. The Spanish teacher was Hispanic,” he said.

…read full articles of "Latinos say they have numbers, not voice at North Forest ISD"

The Auckland District Health Board has apologised for wrongly diagnosing a woman with a resistant strain of tuberculosis - causing her to abort her baby.

…read full articles of "Radio New Zealand News : Latest News : 200807141337 : Lab blunder led to abortion"

Calls are heating up to kill the Tucson Unified School District’s ethnic studies program — at the same time it becomes more likely that the district’s most controversial department could expand to reach more, and younger, students.

Critics, from the state’s schools chief to lawmakers to conservative talk-show hosts and columnists, have singled out Mexican-American/Raza Studies in particular, saying it’s divisive and turns students into angry revolutionaries.

But supporters say the program’s reach is too limited, given that it boosts student achievement by providing relevant and rigorous work to students all too often overlooked.

…read full articles of "TUSD’s Raza unit survives under fire | www.azstarnet.com ®"

From: The New York Times Blog

People in the Rio Grande Valley, on the southern tip of Texas, were rattled last week by reports that the federal government was planning to do something very, very stupid the next time a hurricane came bearing down.

The word was out that the Border Patrol would be checking citizenship at evacuation centers, screening out illegal immigrants before evacuees boarded buses. Who cares if it’s a hurricane — it would still be “business as usual” for the Border Patrol, the agency’s local spokesman said.

Wow. That’s hard-core. Even in a country that is becoming inured to the relentless pursuit and harassment of undocumented immigrants, it is mind-boggling to consider what the spokesman, Dan Doty, was suggesting:

…read full articles of "Hurricanes, Citizenship, and the Makings of an Unnatural Disaster"

A really great story, well written and informative.  It’s rare that I actually read an article from start to finish, but this one actually caught my interest. Well written and informitive this article depicts the struggles that our people must deal with on a daily basis.  Read it, maybe you’ll learn something.. I did.

From: The Metro Times Detroit:

“If a foreigner who is illegally in the United States breaks their leg and seeks medical care, should the hospital treat them?”

Olga Gonzalez says she clearly remembers the debate that question generated in a social studies class during her junior year at University Liggett School. She listened in horror as one of her classmates gave his opinion.

“Let them die,” he said. “They don’t deserve to be here.”

…read full articles of "Caught in the crossfire (Metro Times Detroit)"

A great cause and If you’re in SD, try and make it, show your support.

From: HispanicTips.com:

Nurturing the desire for college and keeping it on track is the purpose of Comienza con un Sueño ( It Begins with a Dream ), a major college outreach event taking place this month at UCSD. Aimed at Latino and Mexican American students, parents and families, this free event will be held Saturday, May 31 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in various stages on Library Walk, Center Hall and Geisel Library terrace.

More than 700 attendees from San Diego and Imperial counties are expected.

…read full articles of "Latino Families to Gather at UCSD May 31 for Comienza con un Sueño College Outreach Event"

Seven of the 54 undocumented workers arrested in immigration raids at McDonald’s restaurants in northern Nevada were being deported to Mexico on Friday because of previous immigration violations, federal officials said.

Thirty of the 54 apprehended in Thursday’s raids at 11 restaurants in Reno, Sparks and Fernley were released Friday for “humanitarian purposes” while they await an appearance in immigration court, said Richard Rocha, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

…read full articles of "ICE Raids McDonalds"

A catalogue of racist behaviour inside Britain’s immigration detention centres was exposed by an official report today.

…read full articles of "Report lists racist abuse at immigration centres"