Fronteras: What would high-skilled immigrants like to see when it comes to immigration reform? Also on this show: We visit a dairy farm in Wisconsin where at least half the workers are undocumented to see how an immigration overhaul would impact them. Medicaid expansion will force Native American health providers to deal with something they’ve never faced before: Competition from non-tribal health programs. Last, a conversation with Latinitas, a group hosting events to get more young Latinas to college.
High-Skilled Immigrants Aren't Optimistic About Reforms
We know what lawmakers and CEOs think about high-skilled immigrants: They want more of them. Tech companies have been lobbying hard to get more visas for these workers, and Washington has been listening, but what do those high-skilled immigrants want?
KPBS science and technology reporter David Wagner found that they have very different ideas about how to fix the system.
Medicaid Expands Choices For Native Americans In New Mexico
Around 25,000 Native Americans in New Mexico will become eligible for Medicaid when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect next year. The change translates to more money for the Indian Health Service, but as Tristan Ahtone reports from KUNM in Albuquerque, Medicaid expansion will also force Native American health providers to deal with competition from non-tribal health programs, something they’ve never faced before.
Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Anticipate Immigration Reform
More than 25 percent of the farm labor force in the U.S. is believed to be working without legitimate documents. The Senate’s immigration reform proposal offers a fast track to citizenship for agricultural workers so that they can "continue to do the vital work of growing and harvesting food."
Fronteras sent reporter Laurel Morales to look at the dairy industry in Wisconsin where at least half the workers are undocumented.
College Chica Program Inspires Young Latinas to Achieve Higher Education
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund found that in 2009, 41 percent of Hispanic females across the nation did not graduate in four years, if they graduated at all. The nonprofit group Latinitas , which empowers young Latinas through media and technology, is trying to combat stats like this.
The organization is holding workshops called College Chicato try to demystify the challenges of getting into and going to college. Samantha Lopez, program coordinator at Latinitas, speaks with Texas Public Radio’s Crystal Chavez.