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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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San Francisco Re-Approves Sanctuary City Law
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Posted by:
Meredith Jessup at
12:14 PM
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The San Francisco Board of Supervisors agreed yesterday on a measure to prohibit law enforcement officials from turning over minors convicted of felonies over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement following their arrest.
The city's mayor had previously opposed this policy after the city protected young offenders, including Edwin Ramos, an undocumented immigrant and suspected gang member from El Salvador who was charged with multiple felonies as a minor, who was able to stay in the U.S. following his arrest because of sanctuary city regulations. Ramos is now awaiting trial for a triple-murder charge. Nice.
Since the mayor changed the policy, 149 undocumented juveniles charged with felonies have been referred to immigration officials, ICE said. The newly approved measure is supported by civil rights groups, immigrant advocates and the Juvenile Division of the Public Defender's Office, who contend it restores the right of minors to due process and gives them a chance to defend themselves before facing possible deportation and separation from their families. ...
Those siding with the mayor -- the police chief and district attorney, among others -- argue the new ordinance will force officers to go against federal law by shielding undocumented immigrants and exposing the city to lawsuits.
Read More...
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Friday, October 09, 2009
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Illegals Would Get Free Stays In Hotels Near You!
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Posted by:
Jillian Bandes at
7:41 AM
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants to transfer illegal aliens from jails to "converted" hotels and nursing homes to cut costs — but what about cutting corners? What will the mindset be of those thinking about crossing the border without the proper paperwork: "Hey, we can just take up residence in Motel 6 for free until we're legal!"
More importantly, she talked about taking another look at closing down facilities alltogether after reviewing both "opportunities for improvement" and "termination where warranted."
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Wednesday, October 07, 2009
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DHS Prohibits Border Sheriff from Enforcing Immigration Laws
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Posted by:
Meredith Jessup at
1:05 PM
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USA Today is reporting on a story out of Arizona that local Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, has been stripped of his authority to conduct "crime suppression operations"--arresting suspected illegal immigrants "based solely on their immigration status." The decision comes down from the US Department of Homeland Security:
Arpaio will still have the power to check the immigration status of people booked by his officers, but not the authority to conduct street patrols looking for illegal immigrants. His “crime suppression operations” are saturation patrols in designated areas where deputies would find illegal immigrants by stopping them for traffic infractions and minor violations...
The department of Justice and other federal agencies are investigating the sheriff’s office on accusations of racial profiling during the operations [according to local news sources]. Arpaio said he will be able to still conduct the crime sweeps under state human smuggling laws and an obscure federal law that allows local police to arrest illegal immigrants. A spokesman for the Phoenix office of ICE declined to comment until after pending agreements with the country are signed.
"It's all politics," the Sheriff said. He has vowed to continue his operations to bust illegal immigrants in his community, despite Homeland Security's decision. Isn't Sheriff Arpaio just trying to keep the homeland safe? Maybe Homeland Security could learn a thing or two from him...
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Friday, August 28, 2009
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Obama's 'Misinformation' on Health Care
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Posted by:
Meredith Jessup at
2:35 PM
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You know, I'm so glad the president has called for "an honest debate" on health care reform, and "not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions." It makes it so much more satisfying to call him out when he "willfully" misrepresents and distorts things.
During his weekly address last weekend, Obama tried put to rest the "rumor" that his health care plan would cover illegal immigrants:
Let’s start with the false claim that illegal immigrants will get health insurance under reform. That’s not true. Illegal immigrants would not be covered. That idea has never even been on the table.
Au contraire, Mr. President! The Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports that not only has the coverage of illegal aliens been on the table, but it still is on the table. According to CRS:
Under H.R. 3200, a 'Health Insurance Exchange' would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option…H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens—whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently—participating in the Exchange.
Hm. Interesting. CRS also notes that the bill lacks any provision that would require people requesting coverage or service to provide a proof of citizenship. So as it's written--and already approved by the House--HR 3200 would indeed cover illegal immigrants.
Be informed! Full CRS report on the "Treament of Non-Citizens in HR 3200" found here.
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Friday, August 14, 2009
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Obama: Opponents of Immigration Reform Are "Demagogues"
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Posted by:
Jillian Bandes at
12:02 PM
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From his speech in Guadalajara on Monday:
There are going to be demagogues out there who try to suggest that any form of pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States is unacceptable. And those are fights that I'd have to have if my poll numbers are at 70 or if my poll numbers are at 40. That's just the nature of the U.S. immigration debate. CNS
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Monday, August 10, 2009
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Arizona Saves Millions Cutting Perks for Illegal Immigrants
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Posted by:
Meredith Jessup at
3:22 PM
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Hooray for Arizona! Fed up with the costly toll illegal immigrants were having on the state's economy, Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed a law in late 2006 to deny them heavily discounted in-state college tuition and other state-funded benefits. The motion, approved by more than 70% of voters, also requires state agencies to verify the immigration status of people applying for public services like child care, adult education and college financial aid.
Today, Arizona is reporting that the border state has saved millions of dollars after terminating programs that "essentially subsidized illegal behavior with public money."
Judicial Watch notes that this policy represented a savings of nearly "$8 million for one of the state's community college districts (Maricopa County Community College) alone." The system has not been perfected--thousands of illegal immigrants still apply for state benefits every year--but the state of Arizona has clearly taken a big step in the right direction.
A number of other states—including Texas, California, Utah, Maryland and Wisconsin—still offer illegal immigrants discounted tuition rates at public colleges. Earlier this month, the Texas Attorney General ruled that allowing illegal immigrants in-state tuition benefits violated federal law. Students in California have also taken the issue to court. In a case now pending before the CA Supreme Court, students are challenging the state over its policy to grant illegal immigrants in-state tuition benefits, while out-of-state American citizens are forced to pay higher rates.
Hopefully Arizona's positive example and proven results will help encourage other states to reign-in out-of-control spending that pays out benefits for people living in the country illegally.
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Friday, July 31, 2009
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Obama's Aunt Still Living in Boston
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Posted by:
Meredith Jessup at
12:30 PM
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The Boston Herald reports today that President Obama's “Auntie Zeituni” Onyango, 57, who has been charged for illegal immigration, is still living in South Boston:
Onyango, a computer programmer, was ordered to leave the country in 2004 after her request for political asylum from the violence in Africa was turned down. Instead, she stayed illegally and was revealed to be living in government-subsidized housing on Flaherty Way in Southie last October by The Times of London during the final stretch of Obama’s run for the White House.
Onyango has since been renting an apartment while she awaits her February 4, 2010 appeal to U.S. Immigration Court over her ordered deportation by the Department of Homeland Security. Onyango said she’s been enjoying her privacy since escaping the heat of last year’s worldwide spotlight on her and enjoys joining in on conversations about her nephew with people who don’t recognize her. “Boston is my second home,” she said. “(South Boston) is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived in. People are very kind, and I’m enjoying the beaches.”
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
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Half-Hearted Immigration Reform
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Posted by:
Jillian Bandes at
12:37 PM
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Cap and trade. Health care. The Supreme Court. The economy. Now, Obama is trying to put immigration at the front of his agenda. A "bipartisan" group of legislators is meeting at the White House today to discuss what, if anything, can be done on this issue. At first glance, the effort seems a little dishonest.
The meeting has been delayed twice, and the White House is trying to downplay it because they know that reaching a consensus is going to be difficult. The President hasn't proposed any new solutions to the immigration problem, and hasn't indicated that he'll come out with anything new today, either. Solving the problem is going to cost a ton of dough, and Obama is already bankrupting the American taxpayer with his litany of other money-sucking proposals. Politically, the need for immigration reform isn't as pressing, since he's got the Hispanic vote covered with the Sotomayor nomination.
And he's just got too much else on his plate. Throwing spaghetti against a wall might cause some of it to stick, but it's more likely to just fall in a big mess on the floor.
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Thursday, June 18, 2009
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Children Suing the Government
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Posted by:
Katie Pavlich at
12:51 PM
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100 American children in Miami are suing the government on behalf of their illegal parents. According to the Foxnews.com, children born within the United States to parents who entered the country illegally are claiming their constitutional rights have been taken away due to the deportation of their parents back to their countries of citizenship. The children are asking that deportations of their parents be put on hold until Congress changes immigration laws within the United States.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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Creating a Border That Works
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Posted by:
Townhall.com Staff at
5:04 PM
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Guest blog by Rep. Duncan Hunter
Escalating violence along our nation’s Southern border with Mexico continues to present a serious threat to communities and law enforcement on both sides of the border. As Mexico’s drug cartels fight for dominance of the Southwest border region, it is clear that more resources and a strategic plan that focuses on more than information and technology sharing are needed to effectively address this threat.
Nonetheless, the Obama Administration appears committed to advancing its Southwest Border Initiative. The problem with this strategy is that it relies entirely on Mexico suddenly getting serious about border control. While there definitely needs to be some level of coordination between the U.S. and Mexico, sending more money and equipment south of the border – without first closing dangerous smuggling corridors -- is not an effective enforcement strategy.
Until we take the necessary steps to secure our borders through an interlocking combination of personnel, technology and infrastructure, Mexico’s drug cartels will maintain their stronghold on the Southwest border region. Perhaps even more importantly, we must also improve the outdated relationships and policy arrangements between our federal agencies that continue to unnecessarily impede border enforcement.
Right now, even with border violence at record levels, thousands of federal agents are severely limited in their ability to enforce existing drug laws. That is because a needless turf battle exists between the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) over which federal agency is better suited to enforce these laws along our borders.
The relationship between DOJ and DHS on drug enforcement matters is primarily dictated by a patchwork of Memorandums of Understanding last updated in 1994 that selectively provide legal authority – commonly referred to as “Title 21 authority” -- to border enforcement agencies. It is because of these guidelines that, for example, most Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents under the jurisdiction of DHS are prevented from investigating cross-border drug cases.
In every situation, DHS must get approval from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) -- a component of DOJ -- before investigating transnational drug cases. DEA also arbitrarily limits the total number of ICE agents with Title 21 authority to less than 1,500 special agents. In other words, more than 5,000 fully trained special agents are prohibited from investigating cross-border drug crimes.
Fully extending this authority to DHS would add thousands of additional agents along our borders without diverting any personnel or resources for training purposes. Given this extraordinary benefit, I introduced the Border Sovereignty and Protection Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation – which is intended to address some of the reoccurring enforcement challenges on the U.S.-Mexico border – provides DHS with compete Title 21 authority.
Creating an enforceable border that is closed to illegal entry and strengthening the enforcement of existing laws must be among our top priorities. At the same time the Obama Administration is focused on improving our partnership with Mexico through its Southwest Border Initiative, the U.S.-Mexico border remains largely open and unprotected, with thousands of our own federal agents unable to do their job.
Over the coming weeks and months, the Obama Administration needs to demonstrate that it’s serious about securing the border once and for all. A good starting point would be to provide DHS with full Title 21 authority.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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Cong. Bilbray: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Owes American Border Agents a Speedy Apology
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Posted by:
Townhall.com Staff at
11:13 AM
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Guest blog post by Rep. Brian Bilbray (R.-Calif.)
Last week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi repeatedly told a group of immigrants that enforcing American immigration laws was “un-American.” Some of those in her San Francisco audience had no doubt criminally entered the United States.
She proceeded to tell the crowd that they were the “true patriots” for being against illegal immigration enforcement. As a representative for the entire Congress, Pelosi seriously overstepped her boundaries by devaluing the commitment of law enforcement employees to protect our country and enforce the law.
Pelosi says enforcing the law is “Un-American” – I say her words are unacceptable. As a politician who has sworn to uphold the law, she makes a mockery of that oath with her accusations.
With her influential position, I hope Madame Pelosi will apologize to her fellow Americans and proceed with steps to make effective immigration reform a reality. I have even sent her a letter demanding she do just that. I've copied the text of the letter below the fold...
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