CHANNEL: Business

Wilson Hernandez, VP of the Ecuadorian Civic Center of Greater Danbury, and Danbury (Conn.) Councilor Tom Saadi disgree on a proposed city partnership with ICE that would allow their police to act as immigration agents.

The details of what the partnership's Memorandum of Understanding would spell out have yet to be revealed.

Danbury police participation with ICE would do great harm, says Celia Bacelar, publisher of a Portuguese- and English-language newspaper in Conn. And can police really tell by looking if you're from Ireland, Brazil or the Bronx? (In Portuguese and English)

Leader Bank, the only Indian-owned bank in New England, opens a fourth branch this month, in Belmont, Mass., reports India New England.

Roxbury, Boston's William Moran is the new VP of community growth for Tremont Credit Union. The former school teacher has invested in improving Boston's neighborhoods his entire career, reports the Banner.

A business coalition was formed in Danbury, Conn., to protest the city's new partnership between its police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The group placed a TV ad on CNN, reports the Tribuna newspaper, based in Danbury. (**EM PORTUGUES**)

Laws should be enforced for immigrants who commit crimes, but the new partnership between Danbury, Conn., police and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not the answer, says Celia Bacelar, publisher of the Tribuna. (**EM PORTUGUES**)

The total dollar amount of loans to African American small business owners in Mass. has decreased. The proposed federal Office of Minority Small Business Development would create a 24/7 advocate for minority entrepreneurs, writes Sen. John Kerry for the Bay State Banner.

The Mass. Affirmative Market Program promotes certified Minority and Women Business Enterprises, helping many entrepreneurs of color to get vendor contracts with state government, reports the Banner.

The Mass. Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition has released a new report called "New Workers, New Voters. Why Massachusetts Should Recruit, Retain and Train Newcomers."

O texto de opinião a seguir foi originalmente publicado no jornal Bay State Banner.

This opinion piece by Sen. John Kerry appeared originally in English in the Bay State Banner newspaper.