Tejada: US Senate Moves Are Positive

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada said that there is positive movement in the immigration reform in the US Congress, according to the Washington Times. Tejada said, ""A lot of the lobbying seems to have paid off, at least within the Senate. And while many of the things in the Senate do concern me, and a lot of other people, it's something to work from."

Tejada on Bush's Immigration Initiative

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in an article on President Bush's public announcement on immigration on Monday night, in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Tejada said Bush "took a very significant step. We acknowledge that there is no silver bullet. But by asking for a middle ground, that means there will be no amnesty and no arrest-and-deport. Those are the extremes, and we need to find middle ground."

Tejada Joins Walk for Animals

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada joined other County Board Members today in the Animal Welfare League of Arlington's '2006 Walk for the Animals.'

"This year’s Walk for the Animals was another record-breaker, raising over $70,000!" The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is a private, non-profit, progressive humane society committed to the humane treatment of animals and to the promotion of animal welfare.

Tejada Speaks at Business Council

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke this morning on 'Immigration, Business, & Opportunity for the Democratic Party' at the monthly meeting of the Northern Virginia Democratic Business Council. He was joined by Dan Restrepo of the Center for American Progress.

Tejada on Buckingham Village

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke out against the demolition of the 444 apartments at Buckingham Village. On April 19, the Arlington County Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board took a step on April 19 that may protect the complex, "at least temporarily,", according to the Arlington Connection. Tejada said, "I will leave no stone unturned to try to preserve our community within the boundaries of the law."

Tejada Calls for Civic Participation

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada called for a day of "peaceful civic participation" on May 1, according to a press release today. He encouraged "all residents of the Washington metro region to “participate in activities on May 1st in support of our hardworking immigrant community, particularly activities that are peaceful, educational and raise awareness of the contributions immigrants make to our nation."

Tejada also declared that “Civic participation, community service, and speaking out are the finest traditions of our American society.”

Latino & Jewish Community Lobby for Education

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was one of the leaders of the Latino and Jewish community who will join together in Richmond on February 1 to lobby Virginia Legislators on behalf of immigrants rights and access to education, according to a press release.

This effort is sponsored by VACOLAO (Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC). "The two teams prepared together for the lobbying session and are scheduled to meet a number of legislators during the all-day session, the first of many programs of advocacy, training, and education planned for the coming 12 months."

Tejada is a former Chair of the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission.

Tejada: "How About Affordable Housing?"

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada expressed his disappointment with the recent County Board vote approving the creation of “a western entrance to the Ballston Metro station, after the County Board narrowly approved a controversial high-rise building in return for the developer’s assistance in constructing the new Metro portal,” according to the Arlington Connection.

Said Tejada, “At the end of the day we could have gotten more in public benefits. This may cause us to revise the way we evaluate these things. We don’t need to incentivize to this level.” The newspaper said that Tejada “voted against the proposal because there was no developer contribution toward affordable housing. He questioned how his fellow board members could approve granting so much increased density to a project without the county receiving any affordable units, or cash contributions to a housing fund, in return.”

“I’m disappointed … there should have been other components here toward affordable housing,” Tejada said.”

True Cost of Immigrant Benefits

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada is cited in an article titled, 'Immigrants' Benefits to be Debated' in the Virginian-Pilot. "The cost of undocumented immigrants to Virginia taxpayers will be debated by legislators during the upcoming General Assembly session, which opens Wednesday."

On the one hand, some legislators say "the reforms are needed for the state’s safety and because immigrants are stretching thin government resources earmarked for public benefits." On the other hand, "some Hispanic leaders in Virginia think the initiatives are largely directed at Latin American immigrants, and they question legislators’ motives."

“Where is the evidence that they’re draining the system?” asked Walter Tejada, chairman of the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission. He called the proposed measures mean-spirited and divisive. “If you’re just saying this because you think people who look a certain way and have a certain accent are a problem, then that’s another context,” he said. Tejada stressed that he does not support illegal immigration and believes the federal government must pass comprehensive immigration reform. But to find solutions statewide, he said, legislators also must weigh how legal and unauthorized immigrants contribute to the state’s economy. “Some people like to paint it as, 'Let’s just get rid of all of them,’ ” Tejada said. “If you have that mentality, we really cannot work constructively.”

The article also highlights the impact on higher education and how much public money is at stake:

• “Last year, a bill was introduced to prohibit unauthorized immigrants from attending state universities, but it was killed. Some college-age youth who would be affected were brought to the United States unlawfully by their parents and have spent most of their lives here. Tejada said denying young people a college education is relegating them to second-class status.”

• “It is unknown exactly how much public money is spent on undocumented immigrants. A 2003 study by the state Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that the use of major social service benefit programs by Virginia’s foreign-born residents is negligible. “We have had, and continue to have, policies in place that prevent undocumented aliens from obtaining public assistance benefits,” said Duke Storen, director of benefit programs for the state Social Services Department. “We really don’t have this problem that some purport that we do.”

(In fact, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study states that “Review of available data shows that Virginia’s foreign-born population is an integral part of the Virginia economy. ... costs associated with disproportionate usage of services by the foreign-born appear minor.”)

Latino Reception for Tim Kaine

TONIGHT: Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada is a co-chair (with Mickey Ibarra & Philip Vasquez) of the Official Pre-Inaugural Latino Hour Reception for Governor-elect Tim Kaine. This event is hosted by the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia. For more information, contact (703) 379-7487 or KaineJan6RSVP@aol.com.

Agenda 2006

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in two articles in the Arlington Connection today.

In an article on 'The Ten Things to Look For in 2006' in the Arlington Connection. "Arlington Latino leaders and Democratic politicians have denounced these proposals and said they would exacerbate bigotry in the state. “We can expect an antagonistic and negative environment in the General Assembly this year,” said County Board member Walter Tejada. “We will do our best to bring the facts forward and show there are a lot of benefits of having a big immigrant community in Virginia.”

Separately, in an article on the 'Priorities for Year-Long County Board Term,' Tejada said the lack of affordable units was an important issue to address in 2006. He would conduct "a public forum to discuss housing cooperatives as a viable alternative in Arlington."

Affordable Housing for 2006

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada suggested a possible initiative for local affordable housing is "creating cooperatives, where tenants can buy into the building," according to WTOP News. The County Board sees affordable housing as a priority for 2006. Arlington is "a place where you can walk to the Metro, shopping, or most anything else. But finding a place to live in Arlington is becoming more difficult and expensive. ... [The County] has 5,000 units that are considered affordable housing, but more than 9,000 have disappeared over the past five years."

Separately, Tejada was reappointed to several regional committees and bodies, according to Arlington County's Organizational Meeting on Regional Appointments. These included:

• Human Services Policy Committee, Council of Governments
• Public Safety Policy Committee, Council of Governments
• Northern Virginia Regional Commission

New Law 'Redundant'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in an article about new laws effecting immigrants that are taking effect tomorrow, the start of a new year, in the Washington Post.

"In Virginia, a new law that prompted passionate debate in the last legislative session seeks to restrict illegal immigrants from receiving a host of state-funded benefits. The statute prevents anyone who is 19 or older and cannot furnish a valid Social Security number from receiving Medicaid, welfare and several other state and local services. Advocates for immigrants said the rule is unnecessary because it duplicates federal laws.

'It's completely redundant,' said Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada (D). He added, 'This was nothing more than feel-good legislation on the part of extremist conservatives to strike fear in illegal immigrants.'

At the time it was passed, proponents of the law said it could save the commonwealth hundreds of thousands of dollars -- if not millions. Supporters, however, were never able to furnish statistics on how many illegal immigrants were receiving such services. They also argued that the law would bolster existing requirements.
'We found that caseworkers at the Department of Social Services weren't always checking for documentation on the front end,' said Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), chief sponsor of the bill.

The law does not bar illegal immigrants from receiving food stamps or emergency medical assistance. But one program that could be slightly altered because of new requirements is a smaller state benefit known as General Relief, which provides cash and medical assistance and burial expenses."

Law Barring Benefits to Immigrants is 'Hot Air'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in an article on a new Virginia law that "bars undocumented immigrants from receiving state-funded benefits, the latest legislative effort to harness the state's growing illegal immigrant population," according to the Associated Press. Said Tejada, "The proponents of this law could never cite specific figures of exactly how much (money) it is that immigrants are draining out of the system. It's a lot of hot air." He cited a 2003 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study that characterized as 'negligible'" foreign-born use of major social services benefits programs.

FULL TEXT:
Law Bars Undocumented Aliens from Receiving Va. Benefits
By DIONNE WALKER Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A new Virginia law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving state-funded benefits, the latest legislative effort to harness the state's growing illegal immigrant population.
The law, effective Jan. 1, restricts anyone unable to furnish a Social Security number from tapping Medicaid, temporary assistance for needy families and a handful of other state and local programs.
Proponents who debated the legislation in the General Assembly said the restrictions could save the commonwealth millions.
"A lot of us were saying, instead of raising taxes, why don't we start prioritizing where we're spending our existing money," said Del. David Albo, R-Fairfax, who sponsored the bill. "One of the things we found out was the state was not checking for legal presence for Medicaid."
Immigrant activists contend, however, that the Virginia law duplicates other state and federal laws that already block illegal aliens from gaining government benefits. Federal law, for example, prohibits immigrants lacking green cards or work visas from tapping food stamps and similar programs.
The activists also fear the new law could confuse legal immigrants and keep them from applying for benefits to which they are entitled.
Though he couldn't specify how many illegal aliens might be receiving public benefits, Albo pointed to 2004 legislation he sponsored restricting illegals from obtaining driver's licenses.
"In the first year, 187,000 people were turned away from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles," he said. "To me, the same arguments that presented themselves for the DMV driver's license debate are here in the public benefits debate."
But social services officials aren't being bombarded by illegals, said Walter Tejada, who chairs the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission.
"The proponents of this law could never cite specific figures of exactly how much (money) it is that immigrants are draining out of the system," Tejada said. "It's a lot of hot air."
He cited a 2003 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study that characterized as "negligible" foreign-born use of major social services benefits programs.
Many immigrants don't even realize the services are available, said Dan Jannuzzi, medical director of Cross Over Ministry, a Richmond free clinic that provides medical services to about 8,000 undocumented immigrants a year.
Even those with children who qualify for benefits often don't know enough English to apply. Among them, the nuances of the law could be lost, Jannuzzi said.
"These are peasants right off the fields of Guatemala," he explained. "They don't think the government provides that sort of stuff."
Still, social services officials acknowledge that while it's unlikely illegal immigrants are accessing programs, it's not impossible.
"I can't tell you that there are no illegal aliens that have ever received benefits," said Duke Storen, who directs benefits programs with the Department of Social Services. "I'm sure there are a few."
More likely affected are legal immigrants, who may be asked to produce more identification when applying for programs, a VLAC report on the law's impact concluded in November.
Advocates fear that people entitled to everything from medical funds to help with burial expenses will be confused and dissuaded from applying for benefits.
"We had someone from Virginia Beach call alarmed that this means she can no longer take her kids to school," Tejada said. "There's an educational process that's needed."
Tejada said legislation such as Albo's goes beyond cost cutting.
"It's the fear, the fear factor that some people enjoy creating," he said. "There's an anti-immigrant sentiment and it's clearly shown in these initiatives."
Similar laws are pending in Georgia and Oklahoma as states crack down on illegal aliens, said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a nonprofit dedicated to revising immigration policy. National estimates suggest roughly 500,000 aliens enter the nation annually, many settling in Southern states like North Carolina and Georgia.
Before "it was easier just to look the other way," Mehlman said. "What's happening now in Virginia and other places is the cost of looking away has become prohibitive."

Congratulations to Jim Snyder

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada "praised Jim Snyder profusely for his seemingly boundless knowledge of the planning process and his ability to explain complicated items in simplistic, thoughtful language," according to the Arlington Connection. Snyder is retiring from the County's Planning Division.

"In 1972 Jim Snyder joined the county as a young and ambitious site plan coordinator. In the years since, he has been at the forefront of most major planning phases in Arlington. County Board members Paul Ferguson and Walter Tejada praised Snyder profusely for his seemingly boundless knowledge of the planning process and his ability to explain complicated items in simplistic, thoughtful language.More than a dozen members of the county’s planning staff gave Snyder a standing ovation during the board meeting."

Goals for 2006

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in an article on the Arlington County Board's 'Goals for Legislative 2006 Session' in the Arlington Connection. The County Board had invited Arlington’s legislative delegation on Nov. 29 (including Delegates Al Eisenberg, Adam Ebbin and Bob Brink) to expound on its priorities. The main issues raised were "affordable housing, rights of immigrants and BRAC."

Tejada Joins Memorial Run

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was one of over 2,000 people who ran in the 4th Annual Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff 9-11 Memorial 5k Run and placed 443rd at just under eight minutes.

Success with SEEC

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was cited in an article on the origins and success of the 'working model' of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center in Arlington, according to the Arlington Connection. "The idea for some kind of center came about in December 1998, said County Board Member J. Walter Tejada (D). Tejada, who was not on the board at the time, met with other members of Arlington's Latino community to discuss the issue of the laborers. Men had started gathering at the intersection of Shirlington Road and Four Mile Run Drive, about a block away from the current pavilion, and were being hired on by local contractors."

These days, "usually 60-80 men show up in the morning looking for work at the pavilion. They register for a lottery which decides, generally the order of who will get work that day."

Tejada on Supreme Court Nominee Roberts

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada joined other members of Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary in a press conference today to discuss the John Roberts Supreme Court nomination and the reasons why he fails to gain Hispanic support, according to this press release.

"Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' existing record indicates a view of the law which should be of grave concernto the Hispanic community. He has supported weakening fundamental rights andcivil rights laws, cutting back the vital role of our courts in enforcinglegal protections and restricting the ability of the people's democraticallyelected representatives to enact crucial nationwide worker, anti-discrimination and environmental safeguards."

The other participants in the press conference were Dolores Huerta, Colorado State Rep. Michael Garcia, and Maria Cardona.

Tejada Joins Kaine at Town Hall

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada joined Tim Kaine, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in a bilingual, town hall meeting at J.E.B. Stuart High School, according to the Washington Post. "Kaine, who spent a year as a missionary in Honduras and is fluent in Spanish, is making a direct appeal for those votes by campaigning in mostly Spanish-speaking neighborhoods in Northern Virginia and speaking the language on Latino radio and television talk shows."

Later this month, Kaine will be speaking to the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.