Tracing Points: 5 immigration stories you missed this week

Each week, we put you on the map with immigration and transnational culture stories you might have missed throughout the week. And if you’ve come across any articles worth mentioning, write to us sonic.trace@kcrw.org or tweet us @SonicTrace_KCRW.

Republicans are moderate about immigration policy

GOP voters may not be as conservative as you think — when it comes to immigration.

About 37 percent of Republicans support a pathway to citizenship, without additional requirements for unauthorized immigrants, according to data that FiveThirtyEight’s Micah Cohen compiled. And 72 percent were in favor for citizenship if additional criteria were applied (pay back taxes, criminal background check).

Homeland Security makes change to asylum rules

The Department of Homeland Security has told immigration officials that immigrants seeking asylum should have a “significant possibility” of winning their case, the AP reports. The change comes in the credible fear interview stage — the first step in an asylum case.

From the story:

In 2013, Lafferty wrote, USCIS handled more of these claims than from 2007 through 2011 combined. And the agency recorded a 250 percent increase in such cases from 2012 to 2013.

Tijuana/Mexico. Flickr photo: Nathan Gibbs.

Life as a deportee, in pictures

About 60,000 undocumented immigrants were deported to Tijuana last year. Guardian photographer Felix Clay documented how deportees are living just across the border. Here are the photos.

How to say jalapeño, and how NOT to say it

Living in L.A. has made us comfortable speaking Spanish — ordering Mexican food helps, but sometimes we stumble. Fusion’s Alex Alvarez gives us a few pronunciation pointers and their correct usages. As for jalapeño, say it with us; “hala-penyo.”

And in case you missed this week’s Sonic Trace episode…

From La Burbuja: Wanting to return home

Giovanni Diaz’s parents left Michoacan, Mexico about 20 years ago. They’ve never gone back, neither has Giovanni.

The only things he knows from Mexico is what his parents tell him. He describes how his father feels about returning to Mexico and living in L.A. Here’s his story.