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Have you heard? Clothing company American Apparel was forced to fire 1,800 of its employees because of their illegal status. That number happens to be more than a quarter of their work force. Ay! Apparently, the paperwork the employees in question turned in when they were hired had some irregularities. American Apparal had been under a 17 month  investigation  by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency that led to the discovery of all of this.

Now, the reason for the investigation wasn't because American Apparel was exploiting their garment workers. On the contrary, AA employees were provided health insurance, life insurance, and they made decent money.  We're guessing the reason for the investigations started by former Presidente George Dubbya, was that he figured if the ICE investigated the companies he thought were employing illegal immigrants instead of raiding them, there would be less controversy. WRONG!  The firings have definitely stirred up some chaos, with dividing arguments being thrown around the city of Los Angeles.

With the unemployment rate where it is right now, it's no wonder the chief executive of American Apparel, Dov Charney protested with his employers against the firings over the summer. Mr. Charney says that "no matter how you we chose to define or label them, illegal immigrants are hard-working, taxpaying workers." In efforts to campaign to grant legal status to illegal immigrants, American Apparel has come out with t-shirts that display "Legalize LA." [New York Times ]

Que piensan de todo esto?

Photos via Google Images

Tags American Apparel, George Bush, Immigration, Immigration and Custons Enforcement Agency, Legalize LA, Los-Angeles

Y cual casa será? The White House of course!

Remember when we told you about how President Obama was going all Latino and invited Aventura to sing at the White House on October 13th? Well, it seems that in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, he's adding a few more Latinos to the guest list!

Reggaetonero Tito el Bambino will also be performing for the presidential family along with the kings of bachata, Aventura. El cantautor de "El Amor" is just fresh off singing at the Miss Venezuela pageant too. Tito si que se está quemando de caliente!

Maybe he can teach Michelle some perréo, no? Buena suerte Tito! [People en Español]

Photo via Getty Images

To see who else will be there, read more after the jump! Read more...

Tags Aventura, bachata, Hispanic Heritage Month, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, President Obama, Reggaeton, The White House, Tito El Bambino

So apparently things are so bad in the US that people are asking to be deported back to their country!  Take that conservatives!

An illegal immigrant just strolls into a police station in Framingham, MA y se entregó! He admitted to stealing another man's identity and asked to be deported back to his native Guatemala.  

So this is how it went down...The 29 year old Carlos Boc turns himself in, the police ask "¿Por qué? ¿Que hiciste?!" He says it's too expensive to live in the US, he doesn't have a job or money, and is worried about surviving the winter.  Maybe someone can do some brujería on him and turn him into a bear so he can hibernate... Eh just a thought. 

A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at Framingham District Court on charges including identity fraud. I guess he wanted a free ticket back home, so much for us Latinos taking over the US...

Thanks a lot Carlos! [Latina}

Photo via Getty Images

Tags deport, immigrant, latinos in US

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has just announced that tonight’s 22nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, which honors Latino leaders of today, will stream LIVE online directly from Capitol Hill! Hosted by our very own MTV Tr3s VJ, Carlos Santos, and with musical performances by Don Omar, Cristian Castro, Olga Tañon, Chichi Peralta and La Quinta Estación this will be a star-studded event that you won’t want to miss. No te lo pierdas esta noche! Among those who will be honored at the event are Mexican rockeros and do-gooders, Maná, and even la muñequita Dora the Explorer is getting a nod for "her" contribution to education!

See the complete list of Latino honorees from tonight’s event after the jump, and watch the event as it happens live esta noche by checking out the Hispanic Heritage Foundation page.

Read more...

Tags Awards, Carlos Santos, Chichi Peralta, Christian Castro, Don Omar, Dora the Explorer, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, La Quinta Estacion, Mana, Olga Tanon, Oscar de la Hoya, robert menendez, Romero Britto

One of our favorite Mexican pop-rock superstars, Julieta Venegas, will be officially named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador tomorrow en la ciudad de Mexico. This makes Julieta the second mexicana to ever receive this honor, despues de César Costa.

Julieta has been donating her time to caring for the poor children of her country, and now she'll be sharing ese buen corazón with the rest of the world.

Best of luck Julieta! [El Sol de Mexico]

Photo via Getty Images.

Tags goodwill ambassador, Julieta Venegas, Mexico, UNICEF

President Barack Obama has hand picked Grammy Award winning music producer and songwriter, Emilio Estefan to join the Commision to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.

Que qué?

Emilio is going to be a part of a group that will help create a museum in Washington, DC that will be dedicated to celebrating the history and achievements of Latinos in America.

A place to celebrate Latinos all year long? Well that can't be too bad.  ¡Que vivan Los Latinos!

[Perez Hilton]

Photo via Getty Images

Tags Cuban, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Grammy, Latino, museums, Music, Obama, President Barack Obama, Washington DC

In these tough times, it can’t be easy being the President of the U.S., but every once in a while… we think it must be nice, Señor Obama!

It's no secret that our Presidente loves him some música, but we're especially glad he's all about getting his Latino groove on! So far, he's had Shakira sing for him, and he's taken on the spotlight himself to sing for Marc Anthony at the CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala (it was only Happy Birthday, but it still counts!). We've also heard that Juanes and Olga Tañón will be paying him a visit soon, but the biggest news… drumroll please…

La Casa Blanca will be opening its doors for a special performance by el grupo Aventura, this October 13th! MTV News will be there to get the scoop, so look out for the exclusive coverage on MTV Tr3s!

Does President Obama know how to dance bachata? We can't wait to find out!

Photos via Getty Images

Tags Aventura, bachata, CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala, Juanes, Latin Music, Marc Anthony, Musica Latina, Olga Tanon, President Barack Obama, Shakira

With his historical performance alongside other major artists this past Sunday in Cuba, Juanes (our favorite Colombian goodwill guru) caught the world's attention through his Paz Sin Fronteras concert that brought together 1.2 million Cubans on their home turf. There hasn't been a gathering this huge at Revolution Square desde la visita del Papa en 1998!

Paz performers included Miguel Bosé, Olga Tañón, and a selection of Cuban artists including Yerba Buena and Orishas, to name a few.  Even los Cubanos en Miami got to enjoy a live broadcast of the show.

Clearly, Juanes knows how to use el poder de la música to unite people por una causa.  Following the success of his Paz Sin Fronteras concierto, Juanes has been invited by the U.S. to be a featured performer at The Clinton Global Citizens Awards Ceremony in New York today, along with another talented do-gooder, Alicia Keys. Award honorees, including music producer and humanitarian Quincy Jones, have taken initiative to make positive changes por todo el mundo, so we know Juanes will fit right in.  Maybe he can convince Miss Keys to join his next Paz Sin Fronteras line-up?  Juanes' manager recently revealed that the next Paz Sin Fronteras concert will take place on the border between Mexico and the U.S. in 2010.   Not as controversial as Sunday's concert in Cuba or last year's performance in Colombia/Venezuela, but immigration will of course be at the forefront of the conversation!

Go Juanes!

Photo via Getty Images

Tags Alejandro Sanz, Alicia Keys, Awards Ceremony, Clinton Global Initiative, Cuba, Cucu Diamantes, Juanes, Miguel Bose, Olga Tanon, Orishas, Paz Sin Fronteras, Quincy Jones, Yerba Buena

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama came out last Wednesday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala in Washington DC, an annual kickoff event that recognizes the achievements of Latinos en nuestro país.  Over 2,000 guests joined President Obama in celebrating Latino culture, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, John Leguizamo and Miss Puerto Rico to name a few.  El orgullo Latino was certainly soaring high!

President Obama's speech highlighted the success of some of today's most prominent Latinos (including Marc Anthony who won this year's CHCI Lifetime Achievement Award), and also touched upon his plan to help solve the school dropout crisis (sadly, Latinos have the highest dropout rate in the country), and pressing social issues like the economy, health care reform, and immigration. He gave a special shout out to Justice Sotomayor and said his proudest moment as President was when she became elected as the Supreme Court Justice of the United States!

Politics are no fun without some risas, so President Obama made sure to throw in a joke after New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez gushed about Marc Anthony.  El Presidente declared that Nydia must have a crush on Marc, and warned JLo to watch out porque apparently, she's not the only one who's got her eye on the legendary salsero.  Cuidado with your man, JLo!  Listen to Obama's chiste below!

Obama Tells JLo to "Watch Out"

Listen to more exclusive clips from Obama's Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala speech after the jump!

Read more...

Tags CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Hispanic Heritage Month, J.LO, Jennifer Lopez, John Leguizamo, Marc Anthony, Michelle Obama, Nydia Velasquez, Politics, President Barack Obama, Sonia Sotomayor

Para toda nuestra familia Mexicana, saludos en el Día del Grito!

As we stuff the rest of this Mexican quesadilla en nuestra boca (yum!), we want to remember la lucha de nuestros ancestros por la independecia!   It's because of our rich past that we can look forward to an even greater future.  Join Blogamole and MTV Tr3s in wishing todos nuestros cuates Mexicanos un felíz dia de la independecia, and wear your Latin pride con gusto hoy y siempre -- no matter what the colors of your flag!

Photo via Getty Images

Tags El Grito, Hidalgo, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico