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1. Congress considers extending benefits
2. Secretary-select's record questioned
3. MI appoints 'migrant affairs' director
4. NC co. rejects federal program
5. AZ det. centers face accusations

1.
Proposed health insurance expansion would include coverage for children of legal immigrants
By Kevin Freking
The Associated Press, January 14, 2009

Washington, DC (AP) -- Pregnant immigrants and the children of legal immigrants would get health coverage under legislation the House is considering as part of an expansion of a children's health insurance program.

The House was expected to overwhelmingly approve the measure on Wednesday. Less certain was whether the Senate would go along with all the provisions in the House bill.

Legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program was vetoed twice by President George W. Bush in 2007. This time around, supporters are confident that a deal can be struck and the bill passed shortly after President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

Under the House measure, supporters say about 400,000 to 600,000 children would be added to the SCHIP and Medicaid programs if all states opted to cover children of legal immigrants and pregnant legal immigrants.

Current law requires a five-year waiting period before legal immigrants become eligible for coverage under the two programs.

Supporters say expanding coverage would mean children could get treatment for acute conditions like asthma and diabetes so they were less likely to need care in an emergency room.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., opposes lifting the five-year waiting period, saying it violates a pledge by the immigrant sponsors that the people coming to the United States will not be dependent on government assistance.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-childrens-health-insu...

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2.
Geithner's Tax History Muddles Confirmation
By Jonathan Weisman
The Wall Street Journal, January 14, 2009

Washington, DC -- Timothy Geithner didn't pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for several years while he worked for the International Monetary Fund, and he employed an immigrant housekeeper who briefly lacked proper work papers.
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The other cloud for Mr. Geithner involved an immigrant housekeeper whose work-authorization papers expired during her tenure working for Mr. Geithner. For three months, until she stopped working for the family to have a baby, the woman was working on the expired papers. An Obama aide said the woman reapplied for the papers and received them, and now resides legally in the U.S.

Mr. Geithner, 47 years old, has been a central figure in the government's efforts to tackle the housing collapse and its aftermath. He has spent most of his career managing government responses to financial crises.

His nomination was widely praised last fall. People on both sides of the aisle saw him as someone capable of carrying on the government's efforts, while also representing a fresh start.

Such issues, however, have derailed other nominations. President Bill Clinton's first and second choices for attorney general both withdrew amid allegations they failed to pay taxes for household help. President George W. Bush's first choice for Labor secretary withdrew after it emerged she had housed an illegal immigrant.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123187503629378119.html

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3.
State names new migrant affairs director
By Federico Martinez
The Press News Service, January 13, 2009

West Michigan -- Longtime farm worker advocate and attorney Marcelina Trevino-Savala has been named the state of Michigan's new director of migrant affairs.

Trevino-Savala, a native of Detroit, will begin her new job Monday.

"I'm happy to have the opportunity to work with the Latino and farm worker communities," Trevino-Savala said. "My mother worked as a migrant worker."

Trevino-Savala, 31, succeeds Martha Gonzalez-Cortes, who served as the state's top migrant farm worker advocate for six years before leaving a year ago. Gonzalez accepted the position as chief executive officer of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan in Grand Rapids.

The migrant affairs office is an extension of Michigan's Department of Human Services.
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http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/01/state_names_new...

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4.
Chatham rejects immigration program
The News and Observer (Raleigh), January 13, 2009

Chatham County officials say they oppose participating in a federal program that would allow local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

Chatham commissioners last week approved a resolution expressing "strong opposition" to any local agency contracting with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the program.

A number of sheriff's offices and police departments in the state have formed partnerships with ICE to flag for deportation any illegal immigrants who are arrested.

But Chatham officials said in an announcement this week that they were concerned that the program would have "negative consequences for the community and local governments."
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/chatham/story/1365315.html

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5.
Study: Female immigrant detainees get poor care
By Arthur H. Rotstein
The Associated Press, January 14, 2009

Tucson -- Women held in three immigration-detention facilities in Arizona receive inadequate treatment, ranging from deficient medical care to being mixed in with people serving criminal sentences, University of Arizona researchers said Tuesday.

The report issued by the Southwest Institute for Research on Women criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency responsible for detaining immigrants facing administrative deportation hearings, for a variety of shortcomings.

It focused on such issues as failing to recognize mental-health needs, family separation, inadequate access to telephones and legal materials, and severe penal conditions, such as shackling, for women who are not serving criminal sentences.
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/01/14/20090...