Some member of Caribbean community are urging the U.S. Census Bureau to add a
Caribbean-American race category to the 2010 census.

Jessica Forres reports…



Hundreds of local residents are celebrating D-C’s 17th annual
Caribbean Carnival at Banneker Recreation Park. Among the vendors is
the U.S. Census Bureau. Representatives with the agency are passing
out information about the 2010 U.S. Census.

Chris Toussaint is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but he’s lived
in the U.S for more than twenty years. He believes American-Caribbean race
category should be added to the census.

IT’S NOT THAT WE’RE TRYING TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM BLACK-AMERICANS
BECAUSE WE ALL BLACK PEOPLE, BUT WE WANT TO SAY YES AMONG THESE BLACK
PEOPLE, THIS PERCENTAGE IS FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

Judith Martin…who was born in the U.S.… disagrees. Her grandparents
are from Jamaica and Antigua, but she considers herself
African-American.

I FEEL WE’RE ALL ONE YOU KNOW THAT WE ALL BLEND IN AS ONE. I DON’T
CONSIDER US AS SEPARATE EVEN THOUGH WE’RE FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

Alison Assanah-Carroll is a spokeswoman for the Bureau. She urges
residents to fill out "other" if they don’t identify with a particular
group.

BY DOING SO IT CAN ACTUALLY ESTABLISH A GIVEN PATTERN AND HELP TO
DESIGN FUTURE QUESTIONAIRES RELATIVE TO HOW WE SEE THE DATA BEING
TABULATED OR REPORTEDBY PERSON’S WHO ARE SELF-IDENTIFYING WHEN THEY
RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONAIRE.

More than 300-billion dollars of government funding are awarded to
states and communities based on census data.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 news.

Some local advocacy groups are holding a series of educational workshops designed to address tensions and stereotypes that exist between some members of the black and latino communities.

Jessica Forres reports…



At D-C’s Foundry Methodist Church, Jorge, who prefers not to give his last name, is standing in a hallway.

“I’M AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. I’M FROM GUATEMALA”

He along with 40 Latino and African American men and women are attending a workshop focused on building alliances between the two communities. Kristi Matthews… with the Fair Budget Coalition… helped organize the forum... She talks about some of the issues dividing both groups.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I WORK WITH SPECIFICALLY FEEL, IMMIGRANTS ARE COMING HERE, TAKING OUR JOBS THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE WAGES, TAKING OUR JOBS AND WITHIN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THEY FEEL BLACK PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE LAZY, THEY DON’T WANT WORK TO HELP, THEY ARE ROBBING ME,

She says it’s the people in power who are creating these divisions.

WHEN YOU’RE FIGHTING OVER THIS 1300 HOUSING VOUCHER AND IT GORES TO IMMIGRANT..ALL YOU SEE IS THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIRGANT TOOK YOUR VOUCHER, YOU DON’T SEE THAT WAS A POLICY PUT IN PLACE. WHAT YOU DON’T SEE IS THAT THERE WEREN’T ENOUGH VOUCHERS FOR ALL OF YOU..

Jorge, through a translator, says he's never experienced discrimination, but he thinks creating a dialogue between the two communities will help him at his job as a Day Laborer.

I'VE HEARD OF CASES WHERE COMPANIES USE TACTICS TO DIVIDE THE WORKERS. BUT I HAVE LEARNED WHILE BEING HERE THAT WORKERS HAVE SOLVED PROBLEMS OF DIVISION BY COMMUNICATING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS.

Matthews group started hosting hosting the educational workshops in 2007.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

___

Some local advocacy groups are trying to bridge the divide between African-Americans and Latinos in the D-C region.

Jessica Forres reports…

African-American and Latino men and women sit on folding chairs inside a large room at D-C’s Foundry Methodist Church. They are listening to Kristi Matthews as she recounts why the history of Latino migration to the area.

[LATINOS BEGIN TO IMMIGRATE FROM MANY PLACES IN CENTRAL AMERICA WAS IN THE 90’S AND 80’S SPECIFICALLY SALVADORIANS, GUATEMALANS, NICARAGUANS TO COME TO DC AND OTHER PARTS OF THE US.]

Matthews is with the Fair Budget Coalition. Her group and DC Jobs with Justice are holding a series of educational workshops. They are designed to address tensions and stereotypes that exist between some members of the black and Latino communities. Jorge who prefers not give his last name, is a day laborer. He talks… through a translator… about some of the issues.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS SAY THAT WE ARE TAKING THE JOBS BECAUSE WE TAKE JOBS AND WE DO THEM FOR LESS MONEY... AND FROM OUR PART THERE’S ALSO DIVISION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CONTRACTORS WHO PICK UP DAYLABORERS WILL NOT PAY IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, IT BECOMES A NEGATIVE THING.

Matthews, herself, blames politicians for exacerbating these divisions.

WE’RE DEALING SO MUCH WITH DIVISION TOOLS THAT ARE BEING USED VERY INTENTIONALLY BY POWERS THAT BE THAT KEEP US FIGHTING OVER THE CRUMBS, WE’RE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PIE AND ASK FOR MORE.

More than 40 people attended the workshop on Saturday…

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

January 26th marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Members of Washington's Asian community came together to celebrate.

But as Jessica Forres reports... Asian immigrants living in the region still face many challenges...



Dragon dancers and drummers are parading down H Street in the District's Chinatown neighborhood. Members of the Asian Community, such as Grace Weuya, are celebrating the Chinese or Lunar New Year. She moved to the area from China eight years ago.

AT FIRST IT WAS VERY HARD TO ADAPT TO THE AMERICAN LIFE BUT AFTER AWHILE YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING US ARE VERY HELPFUL AND SO YOU GRADUALLY FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FITTING INTO THE SOCIETY.

Lilly Qi is also taking part in the festivities. She wears a blue and gold silk jacket.

MADE IN CHINA JUST LIKE ME

Now she lives in Maryland and works as the Asian-American liasion for Montgomery County's Executive Isaiah Leggett. She says underemployment is a huge issue in the Asian immigrant community.

BECAUSE YOU WERE EITHER EDUCATED WITH PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS BEFORE YOU CAME TO THIS COUNTRY OR YOU END UP STAYING IN SCHOOL FOR TOO LONG. IMMIGRANTS TEND TO BE OVERLY EDUCATED FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHICH MEANS THEY ARE SEVERLY UNDER-EMPLOYED.

Qi says underemployment is one of many issues County Executive Isaiah Leggett is trying to addresss with the New American Initiative.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT RETRAINING OR RELICENSING PROFESSIONALS WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. THEY ARE LOOKING AT BREAKING DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICES. OR HELPING PEOPLE TO QUICKLY GAIN CITIZENSHIP.

She says Asian-Americans make up 14 percent of the county's population.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

A local non-profit is tackling the problems that day laborers face in DC.

As Jessica Forres reports... the group wants the city to build a workers' center...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

[THE COMPANY DRIVER TAKES YO U IN THE BACK OF A VAN]

Hassan Shakur, a homeless Vietnam Vet, who works as a day laborer, says even getting to work can be dangerous...

SOMETIMES A VAN HAS NO WINDOWS AND THE DOOR LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE SO IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE COULDN'T GET OUT.

The Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs reports that immigrant and homeless day laborers are often exploited.

Lisa Estrada with the Arent Fox law firm supervised the study...

WE DISCOVERED NON-PAYMENT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF UNDERPAYMENT, INSSUFICIENT CHECKS...

The committee supports building a workers' center in Ward 5 near the Home Depot, where day laborers wait for jobs.

Harry Thomas, Ward 5's council member, says such a center should also consider the concens of local residents...

I THINK THE BIGGER SOLUTION IS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HAVING A SOLUTION TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT RELATED ISSUES.

The committee's report says approximately 500 day-laborers regularly seek work in the District.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Some residents in Loudoun County, Virginia are blaming illegal immigration for the recent increase in violent crime in the community of Sterling Park.

As Jessica Forres reports, they voiced those concerns at a neighborhood meeting last night ....

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

County Sheriff Steve Simpson stands in front of more than 2-hundred
people at Park View High School where he's asking residents for help...

TO WHAT DEGREE YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK AT AS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES AND PEOPLE
GETTING INVOLVED AND PEOPLE CALLING IN INCIDENTS THAT WE SEE OR YOU
SEE THAT LOOK SUSPICIOUS.

But his words prompt a very different kind of reaction......

[WELL I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT WE NEED, WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO]

As the discussion continues, it becomes clear that some residents blame illegal immigrants for what's happening in Sterling Park....

[WE DIDN'T HAVE A GANG PROBLEM A YEAR AGO…THAT'S RIGHT…BUT THE SHERIFF
DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM SAYING HE WASN'T GOING TO GO AFTER ILLEGALS. SIR
PLEASE.. THOSE ARE THE REAL ISSUES THAT THIS MAN IS SPEAKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE UP HERE GIVING US A BUNCH OF FLUFF]

The Sheriff's Office doesn't record whether a crime was committed by an illegal immigrant and when we reached Simpson by phone today to address the allegations...he said there's more to it than simply pointing a finger at a particular group...

AS WE HAVE FOUND OUT IN DEALING WITH OUR GANG MEMBERS AND DEALING WITH THE CRIME ELEMENT THAT WE DO HAVE, THEY'RE NOT ILLEGAL, SOME ARE YES AND SOME ARE NOT MOST ARE NOT.

Four of the nine members of the county board of supervisors attended the meeting and the full board has previously discussed whether illegal immigration is responsible for the recent uptick in crime.

But Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio says he and others who want local laws
addressing illegal immigration don't have the votes needed to make them happen.

Jessica Forres WAMU

D.C. officials say they will investigate whether a compnay used illegal workers to move furniture from some public schools.

As Jessica Forres reports, the company denies that claim even though some of the workers admit they are undocumented...

LISTEN TO STORY 1 THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Sitting behind a desk at the office of ASN Investments in Bethesda is Nemesia Aguilar...who says she is a supervisor for Motir Services, the parent company, she says, of ASN.

Motir was hired by D.C.'s School Construction Office to move the furniture from schools that have been closed.

Aguilar says her company verified the immigration status of the workers...

OF COURSE IT'S A CERTIFIED PAYROLL. YOU CANNOT BE INCOMPLIANT WITH THE LAW.

But three of the workers say no one ever asked them for their social security numbers or identifcation.

Richard...he would only give his first name....says his first paycheck was made payable to cash. He's still waiting for his second one....

THEY SAID WE ARE GOING TO GET OUR NEXT PAYCHECK ON THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY THEIR EXCUSE IS THAT THE PRIME CONTRACTOR MOTIR SERVICES DIDN'TGET PAID FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

Another says the company threatened him and others when they returned a week later to pick up those second checks...

TRYING TO TELL US TO BE THANKFUL THAT WE GOT A JOB AND WE GOT WORK ANDTHAT THEY CAN CALL IMMIGRATION ON US LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PAPERS.

Whether the workers are legal or illegal depends on whom you ask.

We asked this man...

TU ESTAS LEGAL? NO

Tony Robinson, who works with D.C's School Construction Office, says Motir will be paid after it submits an invoice and a certified payroll list and after his office determines if any laws were violated...

IF THE SUBCONTRACTOR IS IN VIOLATION HE CAN BE SURE OF ONE THING, HE WILL NOT BE WORKING ON DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE FUTURE.

Motir Services also lists The National Institutes of Health and Andrews Airforce Base among its clients.

___________________________________________

D.C's School Construction Office plans to determine whether acontractor hired to move furniture is using undocumented workers to dothe job.

Jessica Forres reports...

LISTEN TO STORY 2 THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

ASN Investments is a subcontractor for Motir Services which was hired to do the heavy lifting.

At its offices in Bethesda, we found five men...none of whom speak English...sitting in a large room, waitingfor their paychecks.

They claim the company owes them money; at least one of them admits that he is working illegally.

Outside in the parking lot, another worker...who says he does have a Green Card…is standing with three others. He didn't want to give his name....

BASICALLY, WE DIDN'T FILL IN ANY SOCIAL SECURITY, WE DIDN'T SHOW ANY FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.

Back inside, Nemesia Aguilar, who says she is a project supervisor for Motir Services, rejects the notion that any of the workers are illegal...

NO THAT'S NOT TRUE. PEOPLE ALWAYS YOU KNOW. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS TRYING HA HA HA HA HA.

Tony Robinson…a spokesperson for the School Construction Office… says it will determine if the company has violated any laws once an invoice and a certified payroll list is submitted by the contractor....

WE GET INVOICED ON CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE WORK. SO ONCE WE VERIFY THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THEN YES WE MAKE PAYMENT BUT ON THIS MATTER WE CERTAINLY WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACTOR AND SUBCONTRACTOR DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY HAD THE CORRECT PEOPLE DOING THE WORK.

Robinson says the contract with Motir is worth approximately three and a half million dollars.

The immigration debate has spread to Frederick County, Maryland where a new program authorizes deputies to enforce federal immigration laws.

Listen to the story...

Immigration advocates have issued a new report criticizing new immigration laws in Frederick County, Maryland.

Listen to the Story

Federal immigration authorities have arrested 34 Latin American nationals at a Prince William County construction company for being in the U.S. illegally.

Find out more...
http://wamu.org/audio/nw/08/03/n9080325-20195.asx