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Ruben Navarrette: Commentaries

The parents of elementary school students in 19 states -- including Arkansas, Illinois, California and Massachusetts -- are receiving letters regarding something that really isn't a school's business: their children's weight.

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Will 'Mayor Naughty' please step down?updated Wed Aug 21 2013 07:45:43

As much of the country deals with heat waves, the temperature in this coastal city rarely exceeds 75 degrees. Don't you want to be in San Diego?

Do video games belong in libraries?updated Thu Aug 15 2013 07:47:06

If you want to save souls, first you need to put folks in the pews.

Jeb Bush vs. Matt Damon on schools and testingupdated Mon Aug 12 2013 07:35:31

Here is an unlikely duel: It's Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and possible 2016 GOP presidential hopeful, vs. Matt Damon, actor and activist.

Why not let 9 Dreamers into U.S.?updated Wed Aug 07 2013 12:03:06

The "Dream 9," five women and four men, say that they are "undocumented and unafraid."

Christie vs. Paul vs. Rubio vs. Cruz -- the Republican implosionupdated Mon Aug 05 2013 07:03:15

American humorist Will Rogers once said, "I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat."

Let's deport Rep. Steve Kingupdated Fri Jul 26 2013 07:19:55

"Dreamers" always seem to find themselves in the eye of the storm, and that's where they are at the moment.

Horror won't end with cartel leader's arrestupdated Thu Jul 18 2013 07:37:46

Mexican authorities are having an Eliot Ness moment. Imagine what it felt like for the famed U.S. federal agent to arrest legendary gangster Al Capone in 1929.

Napolitano: Obama's 'bad cop' on immigrationupdated Sun Jul 14 2013 23:44:16

When the University of California regents were looking for a new president for perhaps the best public university system in the world -- with 10 campuses and more than 230,000 students -- they chose Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano?

Should the U.S. be more like Mexico? updated Thu Jul 11 2013 10:40:57

As the immigration debate moves to the House of Representatives, Americans are fully engaged. Is it too much to ask that they also be fully informed?

Rick Perry should apologize to Wendy Davisupdated Thu Jul 04 2013 12:11:26

Once again, the eyes of the nation are upon Texas.

Supreme Court does minorities a favorupdated Mon Jun 24 2013 14:36:38

The Supreme Court just did Latinos and African-Americans a big favor.

Border security push is a jokeupdated Fri Jun 21 2013 07:38:51

When the discussion turns to the U.S.-Mexico border, living less than an hour away has its privileges.

The mariachi singer is more American than his criticsupdated Mon Jun 17 2013 07:58:06

The scoreboard was clear.

Fathers, stop coddling your kidsupdated Fri Jun 14 2013 17:50:17

If I may speak for some of the dads who have spoken to me over time, this year, our kids can skip the ties, golf clubs and fishing poles. What many of us really want for Father's Day is an attitude adjustment for our kids.

English-only at Whole Foods?updated Wed Jun 12 2013 07:46:29

Does your company have in place what amounts to an "English-only" policy for employees? Yes? No?

Rubio's wild immigration rideupdated Wed Jun 05 2013 07:13:06

Former Wyoming Sen. Al Simpson knows a thing or two about passing landmark immigration reform. My friend and former graduate school professor did it in 1986 with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which he co-authored with former Rep. Romano Mazzoli.

Shakedown 'justice' in Mexicoupdated Thu May 30 2013 18:54:27

I keep thinking of those television ads from the Mexican tourism industry urging Americans to "Come visit Mexico."

'Rogue' DHS unions follow Obama's lead on deportationupdated Wed May 22 2013 08:44:27

Welcome to the chaotic Department of Homeland Security.

Obama won't let media do their jobupdated Wed May 15 2013 11:04:19

"Government should be transparent. Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. ... My Administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use." -- President Barack Obama, memo to heads of executive departments and agencies, 2009

Gay rights, immigration reform on collision courseupdated Fri May 10 2013 09:55:33

You wouldn't think that gay rights would be on a collision course with immigration reform. After all, what does one of these things have to do with another?

Sorry, Bill Richardson: Ted Cruz is plenty Hispanicupdated Wed May 08 2013 09:02:30

Oh no, he didn't go there. Even in a political climate where it sometimes appears that anything goes, Bill Richardson crossed the line.

California mulls letting noncitizens serve on juriesupdated Thu May 02 2013 07:41:45

Some in the pro-immigrant left are confused. They can't make up their minds about U.S. citizenship. Is it a necessity or a luxury?

Is Ryan wooing Hispanics for 2016?updated Fri Apr 26 2013 07:26:36

I bet that Paul Ryan is not typically serenaded by mariachis.

Boston bombing shouldn't derail immigration reformupdated Sat Apr 20 2013 09:47:42

We already knew that opponents of immigration reform had no good arguments in favor of preserving the status quo. Now we know they have no shame.

Rubio's tough line on immigration makes senseupdated Mon Apr 15 2013 08:26:12

Every gang needs a leader. And what has become undeniably clear in recent days is that the de facto leader of the Gang of Eight is Marco Rubio.

Why North Korea worries Dick Cheneyupdated Thu Apr 11 2013 08:57:12

You know a global scenario is serious when even Darth Vader seems scared.

Obama's 'best-looking' remark was sexistupdated Fri Apr 05 2013 16:57:50

It's a good thing that Barack Obama is only the president of the United States and leader of the free world, and that he doesn't have a really important job like television sportscaster.

Stop using the 'w-word' updated Tue Apr 02 2013 08:16:37

In a recent interview on Ketchikan Public Radio in Alaska, Rep. Don Young, the state's only congressman, offered this unhelpful tidbit:

California wants a do-over on same-sex marriage voteupdated Tue Mar 26 2013 08:11:49

In November 2008, after an ugly campaign that stirred emotions and split families along generational lines, California voters narrowly approved Proposition 8. The ballot initiative defined marriage as between a man and a woman and banned same-sex marriage in the Golden State.

Mick Jagger's lesson on parentingupdated Fri Mar 22 2013 08:35:49

Here are six words I thought I'd never hear myself say: "I can relate to Mick Jagger."

Pope pick a signal to Latino Catholicsupdated Thu Mar 14 2013 11:14:03

"It's about time!"

Shame on Democrats for race-baitingupdated Thu Mar 07 2013 08:16:15

Did you think the Republican Party had cornered the market on racism, nativism and ethnic demagoguery? If so, think again.

How GOP can get right with Latinosupdated Fri Mar 01 2013 05:33:17

After the epiphany that the GOP must -- for its own survival amid changing demographics -- learn to talk to Hispanics without offending them, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus made a smart move: He got out of Washington and headed to the Southwest.

When U.S.A! U.S.A! chant is not patrioticupdated Tue Feb 26 2013 11:21:21

It never occurred to me that the chant "U.S.A, U.S.A!" -- something you might hear from enthusiastic sports fans at the World Cup or the Olympics -- could be used as an insult. That is, until I saw (and heard) it for myself.

Guest worker issue may kill immigration reformupdated Tue Feb 19 2013 08:40:49

All those who are hoping that comprehensive immigration reform is going to happen this year -- Latinos, businesses, churches, agriculture industry, law enforcement and others -- are in for a rude awakening.

A kinder, gentler, wiser Marco Rubioupdated Wed Feb 13 2013 12:25:31

Sen. Marco Rubio was ready for his close-up, and he got it. Now you know what all the fuss is about.

Path to citizenship should be a long hikeupdated Fri Feb 08 2013 07:43:43

Being native-born means never having to think about citizenship. Those concerns are for immigrants, either those who are in the U.S. illegally and want a chance to get legal status or those who already have legal status and would like to upgrade to full citizenship and all the perks that come with it, including voting.

Why Limbaugh is gushing over Marco Rubio updated Fri Feb 01 2013 08:46:31

The phrase: "President Marco Rubio" is music to the ears of conservatives who are eager to prove they are not anti-Hispanic while still supporting one of their own: a solid conservative. And so it is that, as the immigration debate reignites, the Florida senator's star power is winning over the world of conservative talk radio.

Phil Mickelson should feel free to speak his mindupdated Mon Jan 28 2013 14:20:30

Phil Mickelson has apologized, which is the right thing to do when you do something wrong. Yet I can't accept his apology, since I still haven't figured out what the champion golfer did that was so wrong.

Obama's pretty words on immigration ring hollowupdated Mon Jan 21 2013 17:58:03

Second inaugurals are rarely as fresh and exciting and full of promise as the first.

Solve immigration without a quick path to citizenshipupdated Wed Jan 16 2013 10:03:26

What is President Obama up to? When it comes to immigration, it's usually no good.

Latino should have played lead in 'Argo'updated Wed Jan 09 2013 16:24:18

The upcoming Oscars are no stranger to causes or controversy. And this year, there is a strong dose of both surrounding the film "Argo" -- and its star and director, Ben Affleck.

The real issue is runaway spendingupdated Thu Jan 03 2013 08:42:13

Did Senate Republicans have too much bubbly on New Year's Eve and pass a bill to avert the fiscal cliff that some in the GOP insist includes too much in new taxes without cutting spending? Are House Republicans so stubborn in their pursuit of spending cuts that they're ready to go to war with members of their own party?

If I offended demanding DREAMers, I'm not sorryupdated Fri Dec 28 2012 08:44:57

Even for someone who has written more than 2,000 columns over the last 20 years, sometimes the words come out wrong.

DREAMers are pushing their luckupdated Wed Dec 19 2012 08:57:26

I know just what a lot of those so-called DREAMers deserve to get for Christmas: a scolding. There are good and bad actors in every movement, and the bad ones -- if not kept in check -- can drag the good ones down with them.

My Mexican-American identity crisisupdated Fri Nov 30 2012 08:24:01

On a recent trip to Mexico City, I had barely made my way down the concourse and arrived at the immigration processing area when I got stumped.

To-do list for Obama and Mexico's new presidentupdated Mon Nov 26 2012 09:44:38

On a recent trip to Mexico City as part of a delegation of Mexican-American and American Jewish leaders, I heard a joke that is circulating among the intelligentsia:

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