Having been raised in Union City – where the population is nearly three quarters Hispanic – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has witnessed the many advancements made by the Hispanic community, even while detractors complain about immigration.
“Growing American Roots: Why Our Nation Will Thrive as our Largest Minority flourishes” (Penguin Group, $24.95) went on sale Oct. 6. It has received favorable mention from former President Bill Clinton and Hispanic actress Eva Longoria.
In the book, Menendez discusses controversial topics such as immigration and education, while mentioning some of the positive contributions made by Hispanics to society. He also points out that Hispanics have $1 trillion in purchasing power in the United States.
Menendez says Hispanics have $1 trillion in purchasing power in this nation.
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Policy changes
In one of the chapters, Menendez discusses the need for better health care for immigration detainees. The book cites a 2009 Human Rights Watch Report that mentions that health care and medical treatment are worse in facilities where immigrants are detained than in prisons where convicts are held.
The book also mentions that in many cases, Hispanics are held in these types of immigration facilities because they don’t understand where paperwork is available to show proof of their immigration status.
Menendez also says that in addition to improvements in health care for detainees, it is important to provide sufficient reports on Homeland Security to Congress regarding deaths among the detainee populations and to provide enough health care coverage and monitoring when prisoners are transferred from one facility to another.
Roots
Though born in New York on New Year’s Day, 1954 to Cuban parents, Menendez was raised in Union City and entered politics at the age of 19, running for Union City school board. He went on to serve as mayor of Union City, then state legislator. He became a U.S. Senator in January of 2006.
Menendez said he grew up watching his mother work hard as a seamstress, and yet she was still able to invite worse-off people for a meal at their house. Menendez said his favorite memory of living in Union City was the togetherness of the people, in many cases, watching immigrants helping each other.
Menendez was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He received a degree from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City and a law degree Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey. Menendez now lives in Hoboken.
Success stories
In an interview last week, Menendez said, “I want to remind ourselves and the rest of the country how long a presence we have here and how the contributions we have made.”
Menendez mentioned a host of Latinos who have made contributions to the United States, including Pedro Menendez de Aviles, who founded the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla.
Then he cited the first soldier to die in the most recent war with Iraq, a Hispanic soldier who wasn’t a citizen yet.
“For those that want to suggest that immigration is a terrible thing, I’m reminded of [these examples],” he said. “I think the truth will be a powerful antidote to that venom.”
For more information on Menendez and his book, search for “Growing American Roots” at: www.us.penguingroup.com, or on amazon.com or bn.com.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com