Hispanic Heritage Month 2015: President Barack Obama Proclamation Recognizes Latinos’ Contribution
To start off National Hispanic Heritage Month, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation recognizing the “unique threads” made by Latinos.
Obama said the Hispanic community added to U.S. diversity and helped shape the country’s “national character as a people of limitless possibility.”
“Hispanics contribute to our Nation’s success in extraordinary ways — they serve in the military and government, attend schools across America, and strengthen the economy,” Obama stated in his proclamation, recognizing that many Hispanic men are fathers with two jobs trying to better their children’s lives and Hispanic women take risks to create a business.
Obama not only recognized U.S.-citizen Hispanics, but also those with legal permanent residency. The president acknowledged that many lawful permanent residents seek to naturalize and become U.S. citizens.
Obama’s proclamation went on to address immigration. He said the U.S. has a “centuries-old tradition” of welcoming immigrants, and he took action on fixing the broken immigration system through executive action on November 2014 with the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), which would provide 4.9 million eligible undocumented immigrants temporary, but renewable, stay in the U.S.
In referencing DAPA, Obama stated, “The policies include offering temporary relief to parents of children who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents so they could come out of the shadows, get right with the law, and further contribute to America’s success while also providing for their loved ones — because as a Nation that values families, we must work together to keep them together.”
Obama referenced the creation of the federal interagency White House Task Force on New Americans, aimed at strengthening and enhancing efforts to integrate immigrants into the community.
But despite what his administration made, Obama admits these are not a permanent fix to the immigration system. He reiterated his call for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Regardless of status, Obama said Hispanics have made a “tremendous impact” on communities and reflects one of the core U.S. beliefs: “No matter where you come from or where your roots are, with hard work and perseverance you can make it in America.”
Obama mentioned his administration’s progress for Hispanics. According to the president, more than 4,000 loans worth more than $1 billion were approved for Hispanic-owned businesses — aimed to create jobs and boost local economies, investments and reforms in education to improve high school graduation rates; expand preschool and early childhood education; and provide grants and loans for “tens of thousands” of Hispanic youths.
In education, Obama highlighted the Hispanic dropout rate has been cut by more than half since 2000, while college enrollment rates increased by 45 percent since 2008. In health care, Obama noted the share of uninsured Hispanics, under 65 years old, dropped by one-third, and he hopes to further eliminate further disparities. Obama also mentioned foreign policy with the renewed diplomatic relationship with Cuba, which he said expands cultural, economic and family ties.
With the proclamation, Obama called upon public officials, educators, librarians and all Americans to observe Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate activities, ceremonies and programs.
Hispanic Heritage Month concludes on Oct. 15.
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