VivirLatino

Over the last few days there has been much focus on Wisconsin and the people’s movement(s) against Republican Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to take away collective bargaining rights from public employees. This anti-union move, anti-worker moved on behalf of the government of the state is gathering support across the countries with numerous solidarity actions in other parts of the country. But what isn’t being reported is how Walker’s actions and other bills are a direct attack on immigrant workers.

According to a release from the immigrants’ rights organization Voces de la Frontera part of the proposed budget cuts in Wisconsin includes eliminating access for pregnant undocumented women and to the children of undocumented to BadgerCare, the state program that provides health insurance for uninsured working families. This opens the door to administrative changes that could impact access to immigrants who are in the country with legal status but are not citizens.

Everyone is out protesting in Wisconsin at the moment (and I have to work) but this is something I will be following up on and I hope others will as well. We cannot and should not separate attacks on workers from attacks on immigrant communities and their families. Think about who are the hands that drive so much of the economy and think about how many laws across the country are scapegoating those very same hands in the name of “American jobs”. Think about all the “anchor baby” laws that are popping up and the bills to defund women’s health services. All of these things are connected.