Foreign-born population in U.S. higher than ever
By Stephanie Siek, CNN
(CNN) – The United States is becoming increasingly international, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 2010 American Community Survey Thursday.
The number of foreign-born people in the United States is at an all-time high, at 40 million - an increase of about 9 million since the 2000 census. The 2010 census put the total U.S. population at almost 309 million.
But the foreign born comprise a smaller proportion of the total population (13%) than they did during the peak immigration years of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The 2010 American Community Survey also reveals that more than half of the nation’s foreign-born population lives in just four states: California, New York, Texas and Florida. FULL POST
Opinion: On gay marriage, Latinos agree with Obama
Editor's note: Maria Cardona is a Democratic strategist, a principal at the Dewey Square Group, a former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton and former communications director for the Democratic National Committee.
By Maria Cardona, CNN Contributor
(CNN) - President Obama is indeed a profile in courage. He has made history yet again with his announcement that he supports full marriage equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Bravo, Mr. President.
Now comes all the warnings and predictions of what this will mean for the election in November. One of those dire warnings is that this will hurt him with his supporters among Latino communities. This will not be the case and here's why:
For so long, Republicans have loved to push the meme, famously touted by Ronald Reagan, that Latinos are, by their nature, more conservative on religious and social issues and therefore will be open to the Republican point of view.
While it is true that Latinos are more conservative on these issues - Republicans love to use gay marriage and abortion as the key examples - they historically do not base their vote on these issues. That is why no GOP presidential candidate in history has ever been able to attract a majority of Latino voters.
Refundo offers mobile banking for Spanish speakers
By Jose Pagliery, CNNMoney
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) –– Roger Chinchilla and Grimaldy Dominguez grew up watching Latin American families struggle in Queens, New York. As entrepreneurs, the two have created a free mobile banking system to help Hispanics keep track of their money.
Chinchilla came as a toddler from Honduras in 1986, and Dominguez arrived from the Dominican Republic as a child in 1993. As they tell it, both grew tired of watching workers pay sharp fees to cash paychecks at check cashers.
In 2009, two years after they launched the accounting software company Rushtax, they realized an opportunity to help their underserved area.
Many of the customers who turned to them for tax preparation didn't have a bank account to deposit their tax return. The guys decided to stem the money flow to check cashers by establishing bank accounts their clients could access from their cell phones.
Engage: How will key voting blocs respond to president's support of same-sex marriage?
Engage with news and opinions from around the web about under-reported stories from undercovered communities.
Touré: How will black voters respond to President Obama's support of gay marriage? -Time
Analysis: Latino response to president's support of same-sex marriage - Univision
U.S. Justice Department will sue Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio over alleged civil rights violations - Bloomberg Businessweek
Census: Asian-Americans fasting growing group of last 10 years - Colorlines
U.S. plans to sue controversial Arizona sheriff
By the CNN Wire Staff
(CNN)- The U.S. Justice Department plans to file a civil lawsuit against Maricopa County, Arizona, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio over civil rights violations.
In a letter sent Wednesday to an attorney for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez writes that the county's failure to address racial discrimination and other violations found by the federal government in December will go to litigation.
The sheriff's policies are unconstitutional and in violation of federal law, and compliance "cannot be secured through voluntary means," the letter said.
As a result, the Justice Department will file suit against the county, the sheriff's office and Arpaio.
NAACP president: Voter ID requirements are like Jim Crow voter oppression laws
Thirty-one states currently require voters to show ID to cast a vote.
Those in support of these laws say the use of identification is a normal part of everyday life, but some civil liberty groups say this requirement targets those who cannot afford to get the necessary forms.
In this video, NAACP CEO and President Benjamin Jealous explained to CNN anchor Suzanne Malveaux why he thinks it is "insane" people have to pay to get their ID to vote in a free democratic country.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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