March 25, 2008
ICE removes illegal alien wanted for murder in Mexico
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) returned a Mexican fugitive wanted for a homicide in his home country. He had been taken into federal custody under a false identity, but through international cooperation, was identified sent home to face justice.
Gregorio Delgado-Munoz, was serving a 26-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute McKean, in Bradford, Pa., for a September 2007 conviction. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts had convicted him for illegal re-entry after deportation under an alias - Guillermo Capatello-Rico. An INTERPOL warrant issued from Cocula Jalisco, Mexico, indicated Delgado-Munoz was, in fact, a man wanted for murder.
"Returning this fugitive to Mexico is a prime example of how ICE, the Marshals Service, Mexican authorities and INTERPOL work together to ensure that international fugitives are returned to their home country to face justice," said Thomas Decker, field office director for ICE's Office of Detention and Removal in Philadelphia. "This dangerous suspect brazenly used a false identity to avoid prosecution in his home country. In the end, the law caught up to him."
Delgado-Munoz has been removed from the country twice before in 2000 and 2005. In 2006, he was turned over to ICE by local authorities in Boston, which led to his conviction and prison term. The suspect was flown from Harrisburg, Pa., to Laredo, Texas, where he was subsequently turned over to Mexican authorities at the border without incident.
Since 2005 ICE has removed more than 786,686 aliens nationwide. Of those, 14,805 have been removed from Pennsylvania, including 7,700 with criminal records. Last year, the ICE Criminal Alien Program filed immigration violation charges on approximately 164,000 aliens serving time in jails and removed approximately 95,000 criminal aliens.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/08
0325philadelphia.htm
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Suspected slayer of Mexican police officer captured in Los Angeles and deported...
Suspected slayer of Mexican police officer captured in Los Angeles and deported
LOS ANGELES - A Mexican national wanted for killing a police officer in his native country more than three years ago was turned over to Mexican law enforcement officials at the San Ysidro border crossing this morning, following his capture by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers here yesterday.
Jaime Eufracio Castaneda, 37, was taken into custody on immigration violations at an apartment near Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., by members of ICE's fugitive operations team and the U.S. Marshals Pacific South West Regional Fugitive Task Force. Castaneda was arrested after the Task Force received a tip regarding his possible whereabouts from authorities in the Los Angeles Regional Office of Mexico's Attorney General.
According to Mexican authorities, Castaneda is wanted in the Mexican state of Jalisco for the November 2004 shooting death of a police officer in the community of San Julian. Officer Francisco Franco Gonzalez was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car. Witnesses say Castaneda was driving through downtown San Julian when he spotted the officer in his parked car. After stopping his own vehicle, Castaneda allegedly drew a gun from his waistband and shot the officer at point blank range.
"This man is suspected in the cold blooded killing of a police officer. Our goal is not only to see justice served, but to protect law abiding citizens on both sides of the border from this type of senseless violence," said Brian DeMore, acting field office director for ICE detention and removal operations in Los Angeles. "In the last 15 months, ICE's fugitive operations teams in Los Angeles have captured nearly 60 foreign nationals who were wanted in their native countries for serious crimes, including rape and murder. The message for violent fugitives who flee to this country is clear - you can't outrun the law."
Under questioning by ICE, Castaneda said he illegally entered the United States most recently in 2005 and had been living here using the alias Refugio Cruz. At the time of his arrest, Castaneda was in possession of a high-quality counterfeit "green card" bearing that alias. ICE officers advise the Guadalajara native was previously deported in 1995. ICE reinstated that prior removal order to carry out his repatriation earlier today.
In addition to the outstanding murder warrant in Mexico, Castaneda also has a criminal history in the United States. The suspected cop killer's U.S. record includes several prior arrests for drug possession and he was facing federal charges in Iowa in 2003 for transporting methamphetamine, but fled before the prosecution could be completed.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/08
0327losangeles.htm
LOS ANGELES - A Mexican national wanted for killing a police officer in his native country more than three years ago was turned over to Mexican law enforcement officials at the San Ysidro border crossing this morning, following his capture by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers here yesterday.
Jaime Eufracio Castaneda, 37, was taken into custody on immigration violations at an apartment near Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., by members of ICE's fugitive operations team and the U.S. Marshals Pacific South West Regional Fugitive Task Force. Castaneda was arrested after the Task Force received a tip regarding his possible whereabouts from authorities in the Los Angeles Regional Office of Mexico's Attorney General.
According to Mexican authorities, Castaneda is wanted in the Mexican state of Jalisco for the November 2004 shooting death of a police officer in the community of San Julian. Officer Francisco Franco Gonzalez was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car. Witnesses say Castaneda was driving through downtown San Julian when he spotted the officer in his parked car. After stopping his own vehicle, Castaneda allegedly drew a gun from his waistband and shot the officer at point blank range.
"This man is suspected in the cold blooded killing of a police officer. Our goal is not only to see justice served, but to protect law abiding citizens on both sides of the border from this type of senseless violence," said Brian DeMore, acting field office director for ICE detention and removal operations in Los Angeles. "In the last 15 months, ICE's fugitive operations teams in Los Angeles have captured nearly 60 foreign nationals who were wanted in their native countries for serious crimes, including rape and murder. The message for violent fugitives who flee to this country is clear - you can't outrun the law."
Under questioning by ICE, Castaneda said he illegally entered the United States most recently in 2005 and had been living here using the alias Refugio Cruz. At the time of his arrest, Castaneda was in possession of a high-quality counterfeit "green card" bearing that alias. ICE officers advise the Guadalajara native was previously deported in 1995. ICE reinstated that prior removal order to carry out his repatriation earlier today.
In addition to the outstanding murder warrant in Mexico, Castaneda also has a criminal history in the United States. The suspected cop killer's U.S. record includes several prior arrests for drug possession and he was facing federal charges in Iowa in 2003 for transporting methamphetamine, but fled before the prosecution could be completed.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/08
0327losangeles.htm
Myths And Lies Of Illegal Immigration...
Myths and lies of illegal immigration
By Kathy McKee; published in The Sonoran News
Because the pro-illegal alien lobby has a bottomless pit of money and can hire PR people to spin (and fabricate) anything any way, there are an undue number of myths and lies that the public (and many politicians) has bought into.
The FACTS are:
1. It is NOT racist to call these people "illegal aliens" In fact, "illegal aliens" is the only term used in federal laws and regulations to describe criminals (and they ARE criminals) who come into our country illegally. They are not illegal immigrants, not undocumented immigrants, not migrant workers, and not day laborers - they're ILLEGAL ALIENS.
2. Mexico is NOT a poor country. It has the fifth richest economy in the world, and by sending its teeming masses to our country, that status keeps on rising. Mexico has more resources per square mile than the U.S. and plenty of money to take care of its own people. Why should the taxpayers of this country subsidize Mexico's corruption?
3. Illegal aliens are NOT necessarily coming here to work. Lou Dobbs recently reported that 33 percent of our prison population is now comprised of non-citizens. Plus, 36 to 42 percent of illegal aliens are on welfare. So, for a good proportion of these people, the American dream is crime and welfare, not coming here to work.
4. Illegal aliens are NOT doing work Americans won't do. What jobs won't Americans do? In most states, Americans still clean their own houses, do their own landscaping, clean hotel rooms, work in restaurants and fast food places, paint houses, DO CONSTRUCTION WORK, work in airports, etc. - just like we have the past 200 years before "our" government allowed these people to invade our country. There are 18 million Americans who cannot find a job, so illegal aliens who are coming here to work do so at peril to American workers.
5. Illegal aliens absolutely do not contribute more than they cost. Certainly the millions in prison and on welfare aren't contributing a dime to our economy, and the ones who are working often are paid in cash with no deductions for taxes at all. The ones who use fraudulent social security numbers and qualify to pay taxes and social security have so many deductions for dependents that they pay little if any taxes. We have seen them pay less than $100 in taxes and get back $4,000 refunds (thanks to earned income tax credits and multiple dependents). The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that the average Mexican illegal alien costs U.S. taxpayers a whopping $55,000 each. Some bargain, eh?
6. The economy does NOT depend on illegal aliens. Sure, greedy CEOs (making $50 to $150 MILLION a year) and business owners depend on illegal aliens, but due to #3, #4 and #5 above, the only thing illegal aliens are contributing to is the collapse of our economy and making the rich richer.
7. Without illegal aliens, the price of agricultural products and other goods and services will NOT soar. The definitive study on this subject is the University of Iowa's "How Much Is That Tomato?" The study concludes that 'since labor is such a small component of the end-price of agricultural products (which includes price to the growers, transportation costs, processing /storage costs, grocers' profit, etc.), using minimum wage workers instead of illegal aliens would increase prices of agricultural products by approximately 3 percent in the summer and 4 percent in the winter ... hardly the making of $10 heads of lettuce, $25 hamburgers, $1,000 per night Days Inn hotel rooms like the pro-illegal alien lobby claims.
8. Consumers are NOT benefiting from lower labor costs. Again, it's CEOs and business owners who benefit from taxpayer subsidies for their illegal alien workers. The Big Three automakers say they moved so many jobs to Mexico because their labor costs are 80 percent less than in America. Anybody notice the price of new cars spiraling downward under NAFTA?
So, before you believe the prevalent pack of lies perpetuated by the illegal alien lobby, which makes billions off this government-sanctioned criminal activity, ask yourself who's saying this garbage and look at what they have to gain. Citizens Against Illegal Immigration, just like Protect Arizona NOW, is an all-volunteer, totally grass-roots organization of citizens who are making nothing and have nothing personal to gain from their efforts to fight this corruption. Whose side are you on, and what are YOU doing to save your state and country from this evil?
McKee is the state coordinator of Citizens Against Illegal Immigration, as well as director of Protect Arizona NOW. A former Quaker Sunday School teacher and Volunteer of the Year in a large metropolitan area, she has a 35-year record of charity work and philanthropy largely benefiting minorities.
By Kathy McKee; published in The Sonoran News
Because the pro-illegal alien lobby has a bottomless pit of money and can hire PR people to spin (and fabricate) anything any way, there are an undue number of myths and lies that the public (and many politicians) has bought into.
The FACTS are:
1. It is NOT racist to call these people "illegal aliens" In fact, "illegal aliens" is the only term used in federal laws and regulations to describe criminals (and they ARE criminals) who come into our country illegally. They are not illegal immigrants, not undocumented immigrants, not migrant workers, and not day laborers - they're ILLEGAL ALIENS.
2. Mexico is NOT a poor country. It has the fifth richest economy in the world, and by sending its teeming masses to our country, that status keeps on rising. Mexico has more resources per square mile than the U.S. and plenty of money to take care of its own people. Why should the taxpayers of this country subsidize Mexico's corruption?
3. Illegal aliens are NOT necessarily coming here to work. Lou Dobbs recently reported that 33 percent of our prison population is now comprised of non-citizens. Plus, 36 to 42 percent of illegal aliens are on welfare. So, for a good proportion of these people, the American dream is crime and welfare, not coming here to work.
4. Illegal aliens are NOT doing work Americans won't do. What jobs won't Americans do? In most states, Americans still clean their own houses, do their own landscaping, clean hotel rooms, work in restaurants and fast food places, paint houses, DO CONSTRUCTION WORK, work in airports, etc. - just like we have the past 200 years before "our" government allowed these people to invade our country. There are 18 million Americans who cannot find a job, so illegal aliens who are coming here to work do so at peril to American workers.
5. Illegal aliens absolutely do not contribute more than they cost. Certainly the millions in prison and on welfare aren't contributing a dime to our economy, and the ones who are working often are paid in cash with no deductions for taxes at all. The ones who use fraudulent social security numbers and qualify to pay taxes and social security have so many deductions for dependents that they pay little if any taxes. We have seen them pay less than $100 in taxes and get back $4,000 refunds (thanks to earned income tax credits and multiple dependents). The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that the average Mexican illegal alien costs U.S. taxpayers a whopping $55,000 each. Some bargain, eh?
6. The economy does NOT depend on illegal aliens. Sure, greedy CEOs (making $50 to $150 MILLION a year) and business owners depend on illegal aliens, but due to #3, #4 and #5 above, the only thing illegal aliens are contributing to is the collapse of our economy and making the rich richer.
7. Without illegal aliens, the price of agricultural products and other goods and services will NOT soar. The definitive study on this subject is the University of Iowa's "How Much Is That Tomato?" The study concludes that 'since labor is such a small component of the end-price of agricultural products (which includes price to the growers, transportation costs, processing /storage costs, grocers' profit, etc.), using minimum wage workers instead of illegal aliens would increase prices of agricultural products by approximately 3 percent in the summer and 4 percent in the winter ... hardly the making of $10 heads of lettuce, $25 hamburgers, $1,000 per night Days Inn hotel rooms like the pro-illegal alien lobby claims.
8. Consumers are NOT benefiting from lower labor costs. Again, it's CEOs and business owners who benefit from taxpayer subsidies for their illegal alien workers. The Big Three automakers say they moved so many jobs to Mexico because their labor costs are 80 percent less than in America. Anybody notice the price of new cars spiraling downward under NAFTA?
So, before you believe the prevalent pack of lies perpetuated by the illegal alien lobby, which makes billions off this government-sanctioned criminal activity, ask yourself who's saying this garbage and look at what they have to gain. Citizens Against Illegal Immigration, just like Protect Arizona NOW, is an all-volunteer, totally grass-roots organization of citizens who are making nothing and have nothing personal to gain from their efforts to fight this corruption. Whose side are you on, and what are YOU doing to save your state and country from this evil?
McKee is the state coordinator of Citizens Against Illegal Immigration, as well as director of Protect Arizona NOW. A former Quaker Sunday School teacher and Volunteer of the Year in a large metropolitan area, she has a 35-year record of charity work and philanthropy largely benefiting minorities.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Illegal alien arrested in molestation case...
Fontana man arrested in molestation case
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, March 28, 2008
By PAUL LAROCCO and ZEKE MINAYA
The Press-Enterprise
ONTARIO - For the third time in four years, a Fontana man has been accused of molesting a young child after befriending the family and moving in.
Ontario police detectives said Friday that they hope it will be the first charge that sticks.
Rafael Rodriguez Valadez, 32, was arrested Wednesday night at a restaurant off Interstate 15 in Ontario. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing a forcible lewd act on a girl, 6, in 2003, records show.
Rodriguez, who is in the country illegally, is being held without bail on an immigration warrant. He previously has been deported to Mexico, said Ontario police Detective Al Parra.
Rodriguez was charged with sexually assaulting minors in 2005 and 2006, but those two allegations, involving three children, were dismissed before going to trial.
The new case is stronger, Parra said, adding that he believes there could be more victims not yet discovered. The Ontario Police Department released a statement calling Rodriguez "a serial child molester."
"This amount (of accusations) is a rarity," Parra said. "Usually they don't get away with it this long. Usually, it gets stopped with the first one or two."
The current charge stems from a report that Rodriguez molested an Ontario girl, who now lives in Fontana, sometime in 2003, Parra said. Like the previous cases, Parra said that Rodriguez is alleged to have befriended the child's family and moved into her home.
Detectives received the complaint in January 2007 but couldn't find Rodriguez. After more than a year, they learned he was working at an Ontario fast-food restaurant and renting a room in a north Fontana tract home.
'Just Completely Shocking'
Alex Perez, 25, whose parents rented Rodriguez the room, said he was surprised to learn of the accusation from a detective this week. No young children live in the home, he said.
"He never gave off that vibe," Perez said Friday in front of the home. "It was just completely shocking."
In September 2005, Rodriguez was charged with lewd acts on twin 9-year-olds in Ontario -- a boy and a girl -- Parra said. San Bernardino County Superior Court records show that the case was dropped in February 2006, days before a jury trial was set to begin.
Within three weeks of being released from jail, Rodriguez was arrested and charged again, this time with lewd acts, forcible lewd acts, sodomy and penetration with a foreign object on an 8-year-old Ontario girl.
Two weeks after his arraignment, that case also was dropped. The prosecutor for the two cases, San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Jason Anderson, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Parra said there were problems with ensuring the victims' cooperation and their recollections of the events.
"With victims that old, they're not accustomed to speaking in court," Parra said. "There are problems with getting them to speak out against the adult."
In all of the alleged incidents, the man is suspected of making death threats to the children and their families if they spoke up, Parra said.
Deputy District Attorney Michele Daly said the girl in the most recent case and her family have been cooperative. She said she couldn't comment on the two previous cases.
Detectives also are investigating a possible molestation complaint against Rodriguez from 1993. Parra said he had not been able to determine whether there had been an arrest or charges in that case.
An Ontario police news release about the arrest stated that there were six victims, but Parra said only four had been definitely identified -- including the three victims in the cases in which charges were dismissed.
Perez said Rodriguez had lived with his family for less than a year and had a girlfriend. The man usually went straight to his bedroom without socializing, he said.
Perez thought Rodriguez was in a church choir, he said, and he sometimes heard him singing and playing a guitar.
'Calm, Helpful Guy'
Daren Salazar, 16, whose family also had opened its home to Rodriguez, said Friday that he saw no questionable behavior.
Describing Rodriguez as a "very calm, helpful guy," Salazar said he lived with his family for several years until 2006.
Salazar's younger siblings were both younger than age 10 when Rodriguez lived with his family, he said, and he doesn't believe they were victimized.
"If he had a problem, he wouldn't bring it into the house," he said Friday. "At the same time, he was very open."
Salazar said he was too young to remember, but he thought his family may have met Rodriguez at an Ontario church. He recalled seeing Rodriguez at church after he was released from jail when one of the molestation cases was dropped, he said.
He said he understood the accusations against Rodriguez but "couldn't help feeling bad for him."
Anyone with information is asked to call Parra at 909-395- 2752 or Ontario police Detective Gary Narranjo at 909-395-2764.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_
Local_D_arrest29.3b909a7.html
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, March 28, 2008
By PAUL LAROCCO and ZEKE MINAYA
The Press-Enterprise
ONTARIO - For the third time in four years, a Fontana man has been accused of molesting a young child after befriending the family and moving in.
Ontario police detectives said Friday that they hope it will be the first charge that sticks.
Rafael Rodriguez Valadez, 32, was arrested Wednesday night at a restaurant off Interstate 15 in Ontario. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing a forcible lewd act on a girl, 6, in 2003, records show.
Rodriguez, who is in the country illegally, is being held without bail on an immigration warrant. He previously has been deported to Mexico, said Ontario police Detective Al Parra.
Rodriguez was charged with sexually assaulting minors in 2005 and 2006, but those two allegations, involving three children, were dismissed before going to trial.
The new case is stronger, Parra said, adding that he believes there could be more victims not yet discovered. The Ontario Police Department released a statement calling Rodriguez "a serial child molester."
"This amount (of accusations) is a rarity," Parra said. "Usually they don't get away with it this long. Usually, it gets stopped with the first one or two."
The current charge stems from a report that Rodriguez molested an Ontario girl, who now lives in Fontana, sometime in 2003, Parra said. Like the previous cases, Parra said that Rodriguez is alleged to have befriended the child's family and moved into her home.
Detectives received the complaint in January 2007 but couldn't find Rodriguez. After more than a year, they learned he was working at an Ontario fast-food restaurant and renting a room in a north Fontana tract home.
'Just Completely Shocking'
Alex Perez, 25, whose parents rented Rodriguez the room, said he was surprised to learn of the accusation from a detective this week. No young children live in the home, he said.
"He never gave off that vibe," Perez said Friday in front of the home. "It was just completely shocking."
In September 2005, Rodriguez was charged with lewd acts on twin 9-year-olds in Ontario -- a boy and a girl -- Parra said. San Bernardino County Superior Court records show that the case was dropped in February 2006, days before a jury trial was set to begin.
Within three weeks of being released from jail, Rodriguez was arrested and charged again, this time with lewd acts, forcible lewd acts, sodomy and penetration with a foreign object on an 8-year-old Ontario girl.
Two weeks after his arraignment, that case also was dropped. The prosecutor for the two cases, San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Jason Anderson, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Parra said there were problems with ensuring the victims' cooperation and their recollections of the events.
"With victims that old, they're not accustomed to speaking in court," Parra said. "There are problems with getting them to speak out against the adult."
In all of the alleged incidents, the man is suspected of making death threats to the children and their families if they spoke up, Parra said.
Deputy District Attorney Michele Daly said the girl in the most recent case and her family have been cooperative. She said she couldn't comment on the two previous cases.
Detectives also are investigating a possible molestation complaint against Rodriguez from 1993. Parra said he had not been able to determine whether there had been an arrest or charges in that case.
An Ontario police news release about the arrest stated that there were six victims, but Parra said only four had been definitely identified -- including the three victims in the cases in which charges were dismissed.
Perez said Rodriguez had lived with his family for less than a year and had a girlfriend. The man usually went straight to his bedroom without socializing, he said.
Perez thought Rodriguez was in a church choir, he said, and he sometimes heard him singing and playing a guitar.
'Calm, Helpful Guy'
Daren Salazar, 16, whose family also had opened its home to Rodriguez, said Friday that he saw no questionable behavior.
Describing Rodriguez as a "very calm, helpful guy," Salazar said he lived with his family for several years until 2006.
Salazar's younger siblings were both younger than age 10 when Rodriguez lived with his family, he said, and he doesn't believe they were victimized.
"If he had a problem, he wouldn't bring it into the house," he said Friday. "At the same time, he was very open."
Salazar said he was too young to remember, but he thought his family may have met Rodriguez at an Ontario church. He recalled seeing Rodriguez at church after he was released from jail when one of the molestation cases was dropped, he said.
He said he understood the accusations against Rodriguez but "couldn't help feeling bad for him."
Anyone with information is asked to call Parra at 909-395- 2752 or Ontario police Detective Gary Narranjo at 909-395-2764.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_
Local_D_arrest29.3b909a7.html
Illegal Alien Accused Of Raping 4-Year-Old...
Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Raping 4-Year-Old
The WRC News (Washington, DC), March 27, 2008
Prince William County, VA -- A man in Prince William County has been charged with raping a 4-year-old girl and being in the country illegally.
Police said Julio Cesar Huaman-Usca, 24, was baby sitting two of his distant relatives Wednesday night when he allegedly raped one of the girls.
Police said Huaman-Usca is an illegal immigrant. He is being held without bond.
Prince William County's strict immigration policy took effect earlier this month.
It allows law enforcement officials to check the citizenship status of anyone suspected of committing a crime.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/15725315/detail.html?rss=
dc&psp=news
The WRC News (Washington, DC), March 27, 2008
Prince William County, VA -- A man in Prince William County has been charged with raping a 4-year-old girl and being in the country illegally.
Police said Julio Cesar Huaman-Usca, 24, was baby sitting two of his distant relatives Wednesday night when he allegedly raped one of the girls.
Police said Huaman-Usca is an illegal immigrant. He is being held without bond.
Prince William County's strict immigration policy took effect earlier this month.
It allows law enforcement officials to check the citizenship status of anyone suspected of committing a crime.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/15725315/detail.html?rss=
dc&psp=news
Hundreds of illegal aliens come to get Matricula Consular Cards...
Hundreds of Mexican nationals come to get matriculas
A border watchdog group is against the cards’ issuance
By Isaac Guerrero
The Rockford Star (MI), March 27, 2008
Rockford, MI -- Maria Peinado is going through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. But until the paperwork is complete, the Juarez, Mexico, native has no driver’s license or Social Security card, and the simple task of cashing a paycheck is difficult. Peinado was among hundreds of Mexican nationals who went Thursday to La Voz Latina to obtain passports and a Mexican ID card called a “matricula consular.” The documents are issued by the Mexican Consulate in Chicago. The agency set up a mobile office Wednesday at La Voz Latina, 412 Market St., and will be here through Sunday.
“Until she becomes a citizen, the matricula is the only ID she can get,” said Peinado’s son, Luis Rincon. “It makes life a lot easier.”
It also makes for controversy, as opponents say the cards help undocumented workers stay in the United States illegally. Illinois is among several states that recognize matriculas. In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law a measure requiring state and local government agencies within Illinois to recognize the documents issued by foreign consulates.
The card, which is valid for five years, resembles a driver’s license with a picture and date of birth. It cannot be used as a driver’s license or to obtain one in Illinois. It also can’t be used to register to vote or as proof of residency or immigration status. The cards are most often used to open a bank account, register children for school and as a form of ID when paying a bill, La Voz Latina director Pat Gomez said.
The consulate’s Rockford visit is sponsored by Blackhawk Bank and Members Alliance Credit Union. Both institutions accept matriculas as a valid form of identification from their customers.
“It’s better to have (illegal immigrants) identified in some way so that we can track who is here for the health and safety of everyone,” Gomez said.
But too often American taxpayers foot the bill when illegal immigrants are hospitalized, jailed or educated in public schools, said E.J Pagel. The Winnebago resident is an active member of the Illinois Minutemen Project. The group opposes the issuance of matriculas because “it aides and abets illegal immigration,” he said.
“It’s just more money that’s going to come out of taxpayers’ pockets,” Pagel said.
Demand, however, is driving the mobile consulate program. At least 200 matriculas and 120 passports a day will be issued during the mobile consulate’s five-day Rockford visit, said Mexican Consul Francisco Valdes, who was in town Thursday to oversee the documentation program. Valdes said it’s not his agency’s job to question whether Mexican nationals are living legally in this country.
“We only do our job, which is to give proper ID to people,” he said.
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x899761160?view=
print
A border watchdog group is against the cards’ issuance
By Isaac Guerrero
The Rockford Star (MI), March 27, 2008
Rockford, MI -- Maria Peinado is going through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. But until the paperwork is complete, the Juarez, Mexico, native has no driver’s license or Social Security card, and the simple task of cashing a paycheck is difficult. Peinado was among hundreds of Mexican nationals who went Thursday to La Voz Latina to obtain passports and a Mexican ID card called a “matricula consular.” The documents are issued by the Mexican Consulate in Chicago. The agency set up a mobile office Wednesday at La Voz Latina, 412 Market St., and will be here through Sunday.
“Until she becomes a citizen, the matricula is the only ID she can get,” said Peinado’s son, Luis Rincon. “It makes life a lot easier.”
It also makes for controversy, as opponents say the cards help undocumented workers stay in the United States illegally. Illinois is among several states that recognize matriculas. In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law a measure requiring state and local government agencies within Illinois to recognize the documents issued by foreign consulates.
The card, which is valid for five years, resembles a driver’s license with a picture and date of birth. It cannot be used as a driver’s license or to obtain one in Illinois. It also can’t be used to register to vote or as proof of residency or immigration status. The cards are most often used to open a bank account, register children for school and as a form of ID when paying a bill, La Voz Latina director Pat Gomez said.
The consulate’s Rockford visit is sponsored by Blackhawk Bank and Members Alliance Credit Union. Both institutions accept matriculas as a valid form of identification from their customers.
“It’s better to have (illegal immigrants) identified in some way so that we can track who is here for the health and safety of everyone,” Gomez said.
But too often American taxpayers foot the bill when illegal immigrants are hospitalized, jailed or educated in public schools, said E.J Pagel. The Winnebago resident is an active member of the Illinois Minutemen Project. The group opposes the issuance of matriculas because “it aides and abets illegal immigration,” he said.
“It’s just more money that’s going to come out of taxpayers’ pockets,” Pagel said.
Demand, however, is driving the mobile consulate program. At least 200 matriculas and 120 passports a day will be issued during the mobile consulate’s five-day Rockford visit, said Mexican Consul Francisco Valdes, who was in town Thursday to oversee the documentation program. Valdes said it’s not his agency’s job to question whether Mexican nationals are living legally in this country.
“We only do our job, which is to give proper ID to people,” he said.
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x899761160?view=
Deputies boost Sorrento, FL patrols...
Deputies boost Sorrento patrols
The Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 2008
Sorrento, FL -- In the wake of a Sunday night incident during which officials say a group of partygoers beat Deputy Cliff McMennamy when he responded to a noise complaint, the Lake County Sheriff's Office has ramped up patrols in the Sorrento neighborhood where the attack took place.
Sgt. John Herrell said deputies hope to increase their visibility and gather more information about the beating. Thus far only one suspect, Miguel Gomez, 35, who owned the home where the party took place, has been arrested in connection with the attack.
As a result of the patrol, however, deputies have identified 20 illegal immigrants, all of whom have been or will be turned over to U.S. Border Patrol and deported, Herrell said. He estimated that the Sheriff's Office assists in the detainment and deportation of about four illegal immigrants during a normal week.
The increased patrols have residents on edge, according to Sister Ann Kendrick, co-founder of the Office for Farmworker Ministry in Apopka. Kendrick said she has received calls from frightened people who live near where the beating occurred.
'People were hiding in their houses and afraid to come out,' she said. 'They felt like it was a retaliation against the Mexican community.'
Maj. Peyton Grinnell said the patrols were launched to ensure residents' safety.
'If a person will attack and beat a deputy sheriff, what will they do to a normal member of the community?' he asked.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl
-lbriefs28_108mar28,0,4088687.story
The Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 2008
Sorrento, FL -- In the wake of a Sunday night incident during which officials say a group of partygoers beat Deputy Cliff McMennamy when he responded to a noise complaint, the Lake County Sheriff's Office has ramped up patrols in the Sorrento neighborhood where the attack took place.
Sgt. John Herrell said deputies hope to increase their visibility and gather more information about the beating. Thus far only one suspect, Miguel Gomez, 35, who owned the home where the party took place, has been arrested in connection with the attack.
As a result of the patrol, however, deputies have identified 20 illegal immigrants, all of whom have been or will be turned over to U.S. Border Patrol and deported, Herrell said. He estimated that the Sheriff's Office assists in the detainment and deportation of about four illegal immigrants during a normal week.
The increased patrols have residents on edge, according to Sister Ann Kendrick, co-founder of the Office for Farmworker Ministry in Apopka. Kendrick said she has received calls from frightened people who live near where the beating occurred.
'People were hiding in their houses and afraid to come out,' she said. 'They felt like it was a retaliation against the Mexican community.'
Maj. Peyton Grinnell said the patrols were launched to ensure residents' safety.
'If a person will attack and beat a deputy sheriff, what will they do to a normal member of the community?' he asked.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl
-lbriefs28_108mar28,0,4088687.story
Judge tells defendants: Learn English...4 Spanish-speaking Hazleton men must pass a test to avoid jail time...
Judge tells defendants: Learn English
4 Spanish-speaking Hazleton men must pass a test to avoid jail time.
By Angela Couloumbis
The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 28, 2008
The next time they appear in Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.'s Luzerne County courtroom, four young Hazleton men who ran afoul of the law had best know their ABCs.
Learning English is a central part of the sentence that Olszewski imposed on the Spanish-speaking men, who earlier this week pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a robbery in May in Hazleton, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The unusual sentence requires that the four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, return to his court a year from now to take an English test and show that they can speak and write the language. If they fail, the men will have to serve the full two years of the four-to-24-month sentence that Olszewski imposed.
The judge said the ruling was not meant as punishment.
'There's no way young kids can be hurt by knowing how to read and write the English language,' Olszewski was quoted as saying in yesterday's Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, which first reported the story.
'It's a means to helping them get a better education, getting a better job. Period,' the judge added.
Olszewski yesterday said through an assistant that he did not want to comment further on the case since it was pending.
But several legal advocates questioned the judge's decision.
'A big concern is the vagueness of the order to learn English - because what does that really mean?' asked Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. 'Does it mean you have to speak the King's English? Or read Ulysses?'
Another concern is that the condition plays into the misconception that immigrants are more likely to commit crimes, said Mary Catherine Roper, an ACLU staff attorney.
That stereotype was perpetuated in 2006 after Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta stirred a hornet's nest by blaming illegal immigrants for a list of problems, from rising crime to crowded schools. Barletta also pushed for an ordinance to stem the flow of illegal immigrants that some believed were discriminatory. A federal judge struck down the ordinance, and the case is now on appeal.
Olszewski's order this week that the men learn English 'is putting a condition on them that, as far as I'm aware, is not directly related to their likelihood to get into trouble,' Roper said.
The men - identified as Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario and Rafael Guzman-Mateo - are legal residents but they needed translators when they appeared before Olszewski on Tuesday.
They came before the judge to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. Last May, the four approached two men in Hazleton, asked them for drugs, and ordered them to empty their pockets.
On Tuesday, Olszewski ordered three of the four to be paroled because they have already served four months in prison. The fourth is serving time in jail on an unrelated charge.
He then ordered them to learn English.
Ferris Webby, the attorney representing Guzman-Mateo, yesterday called Olszewski's ruling unusual. But he said he believes the judge's directive to learn English was intended to help the men best meet the conditions of their parole, which includes obtaining their GEDs, and staying away from drugs and alcohol.
'He saw how tough it was for them to communicate on a very serious issue in a courtroom on a very serious charge,' Webby said.
What he's concerned about, said Webby, is 'the ultimate test in the end. Is it going to be a standardized test? What kind of test is it going to be?' At that point, he said, 'I think I have the right, if I think the test is unreasonable, to object.'
Neither Webby nor the attorney for the other three defendants, Joseph J. Yeager, has appealed Olszewski's ruling, although they have 10 days to do so.
In the interim, Webby is doing legal research. He has yet to find a case in Pennsylvania that has placed such a condition on parole for a defendant.
'I think this is brand new territory,' Webby said. 'And I think it's fertile ground.'
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080328_Judg
e_tells_defendants__Learn_English_4_Spanish-speaking_Ha
zleton_men_must_pass_a_test_to_avoid_jail_time_.htmla>
4 Spanish-speaking Hazleton men must pass a test to avoid jail time.
By Angela Couloumbis
The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 28, 2008
The next time they appear in Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.'s Luzerne County courtroom, four young Hazleton men who ran afoul of the law had best know their ABCs.
Learning English is a central part of the sentence that Olszewski imposed on the Spanish-speaking men, who earlier this week pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a robbery in May in Hazleton, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The unusual sentence requires that the four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, return to his court a year from now to take an English test and show that they can speak and write the language. If they fail, the men will have to serve the full two years of the four-to-24-month sentence that Olszewski imposed.
The judge said the ruling was not meant as punishment.
'There's no way young kids can be hurt by knowing how to read and write the English language,' Olszewski was quoted as saying in yesterday's Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, which first reported the story.
'It's a means to helping them get a better education, getting a better job. Period,' the judge added.
Olszewski yesterday said through an assistant that he did not want to comment further on the case since it was pending.
But several legal advocates questioned the judge's decision.
'A big concern is the vagueness of the order to learn English - because what does that really mean?' asked Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. 'Does it mean you have to speak the King's English? Or read Ulysses?'
Another concern is that the condition plays into the misconception that immigrants are more likely to commit crimes, said Mary Catherine Roper, an ACLU staff attorney.
That stereotype was perpetuated in 2006 after Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta stirred a hornet's nest by blaming illegal immigrants for a list of problems, from rising crime to crowded schools. Barletta also pushed for an ordinance to stem the flow of illegal immigrants that some believed were discriminatory. A federal judge struck down the ordinance, and the case is now on appeal.
Olszewski's order this week that the men learn English 'is putting a condition on them that, as far as I'm aware, is not directly related to their likelihood to get into trouble,' Roper said.
The men - identified as Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario and Rafael Guzman-Mateo - are legal residents but they needed translators when they appeared before Olszewski on Tuesday.
They came before the judge to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. Last May, the four approached two men in Hazleton, asked them for drugs, and ordered them to empty their pockets.
On Tuesday, Olszewski ordered three of the four to be paroled because they have already served four months in prison. The fourth is serving time in jail on an unrelated charge.
He then ordered them to learn English.
Ferris Webby, the attorney representing Guzman-Mateo, yesterday called Olszewski's ruling unusual. But he said he believes the judge's directive to learn English was intended to help the men best meet the conditions of their parole, which includes obtaining their GEDs, and staying away from drugs and alcohol.
'He saw how tough it was for them to communicate on a very serious issue in a courtroom on a very serious charge,' Webby said.
What he's concerned about, said Webby, is 'the ultimate test in the end. Is it going to be a standardized test? What kind of test is it going to be?' At that point, he said, 'I think I have the right, if I think the test is unreasonable, to object.'
Neither Webby nor the attorney for the other three defendants, Joseph J. Yeager, has appealed Olszewski's ruling, although they have 10 days to do so.
In the interim, Webby is doing legal research. He has yet to find a case in Pennsylvania that has placed such a condition on parole for a defendant.
'I think this is brand new territory,' Webby said. 'And I think it's fertile ground.'
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080328_Judg
e_tells_defendants__Learn_English_4_Spanish-speaking_Ha
zleton_men_must_pass_a_test_to_avoid_jail_time_.htmla>
Crackdown on illegal aliens...
Crackdown on illegal immigrants
By Karen Lee Ziner
The Providence Journal, March 28, 2008
Providence -- Governor Carcieri yesterday signed a six-point executive order he said will enable “a vast array of state government agencies” to address illegal immigration in Rhode Island.
He said he did so because the federal government has dropped the ball on immigration reform and left state taxpayers to pick up what he said are the considerable costs of illegal immigration.
During a sometimes contentious news conference, the governor said he knew he was tackling “a difficult, sensitive issue,” and one that “stirs great emotion.”
“This is not about taking a hard line against immigrants,” said Carcieri. “It’s about making sure that those who come here can realize their goals of economic security and a better quality of life.” Harking to his own immigrant roots, the governor said he supports people who follow legal channels to realize the American Dream.
“The motive is to get control of an issue that has to be dealt with,” he said. “If you’re here illegally, you shouldn’t be here.”
The measure will require state agencies and vendors to verify the legal status of all employees; allow the state to inform people whose identity has been stolen; and directs Rhode Island State Police and Department of Corrections to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “to ensure federal immigration law is enforced.” The agreements between the state police and the DOC have yet to be worked out.
“Unfortunately, over the last few decades, the federal government has consistently ignored the complex issue of illegal immigration,” said Carcieri. “As a result, the flow of illegal immigrants has become epidemic, with the consequential costs being borne by state taxpayers.”
The governor said the Pew Hispanic Center currently estimates there are 40,000 illegal immigrants in Rhode Island, more, he noted, “than the population of most of our state’s cities and towns. This puts a tremendous strain upon our public schools, hospitals, state and local human-services organizations and law enforcement agencies.”
Reaction was immediate. “We’re ecstatic that the governor put this executive order out,” said Terry Gorman, president of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement. RIILE seeks curbs on illegal immigration and supports holding the immigrant population at current levels.
Gorman said he was among several dozen RIILE members at the news conference who cheered Carcieri when he entered the room. Gorman said similar measures in other states are causing “illegals to leave these states in droves.”
“Terrific. I think it’s fantastic,” said Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, one of a number of legislators the governor invited because of anti-illegal immigration bills they’ve introduced. “Basically, at one point it sounded like he was reading right from my legislation — from the Taxpayer and Citizens Protection Act that I’m going to testify to in my committee.”
On the other side, Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, called Carcieri’s executive order “a nightmare.”
“Are people now going to take the law into their own hands? He didn’t answer that when he was asked,” said Pichardo. Rather than tamping “the heated rhetoric” on this issue, the governor “has increased the fear among the immigrant community — among both documented and undocumented immigrants,” and served to “more deeply entrench the encampments on both sides of this issue.”
Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, predicted that the governor’s executive order “is only going to increase the problem of racial profiling in the state. The governor can ignore all the data and statistics out there that document the problem that already exists, but this executive order will only exacerbate it, to the detriment of any person in Rhode Island who looks and speaks a certain way. This has nothing to do with whether anyone is legal or illegal — his order is going to affect everyone based on their national origin, color of their skin and their accent and it’s very unfortunate.”
Carcieri was flanked by a host of state agency directors, a representative of ICE, and legislators. He said he supports the concepts proposed in bills to curb illegal immigration, and noted that a bill has been submitted on his behalf that will deny workers’ compensation to illegal immigrants, and impose a penalty on companies that knowingly hire unauthorized workers.
The room was packed with members of immigrant advocacy and civil-liberties groups, as well as dozens of RIILE members.
Several times, Carcieri lashed out at members of the media, accusing them of inflammatory rhetoric.
When Providence Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst asked Carcieri, “Don’t you understand, however good your motives are, it stirs things up?” against both legal and illegal immigrants, Carcieri replied, “What stirs [things] up is what you write. The language you use and others in the media are what inflames this issue. You use the right language and we can get a lot more balanced discussion on this. You’re the ones who are responsible.”
Carcieri said his intent was not — as was suggested — to create “some sort of dragnet.”
“There is nothing in this that is intended to supersede any laws or do anything that’s illegal. From the state’s perspective, this is only about putting in place processes and procedures we already have, to enable authorities to deal with these issues.”
He said whatever costs there would be “are insignificant,” compared to “the impact on the states across the country, including ours.”
One reporter asked, “So state police won’t be stopping people because they look Hispanic?’
Carcieri replied, “No, that’s not what they do. They stop people for other reasons and in the process if they find they’re illegal, then they’ll have a process, that’s all.”
He drew quiet snickers after a reporter from a Hispanic radio station told Carcieri he was from the press.
“Oh, what press?” Carcieri asked the reporter –— Tony Mendez of Poder 1110 AM. When some people laughed, Carcieri said, “I’m just asking him, all right?”
Senator Pichardo afterwards called that “the very example of how easy it is to fall into racial profiling.”
The executive order includes six provisions:
* The Department of Administration will register and use a federal government program — E-Verify — to electronically verify that all executive branch employees are legally eligible to work in the United States.
* The department will require all companies doing business with the state to also use the E-Verify program to ensure their employees are legally authorized to work in the country.
* State agencies have the authority to notify persons whose identity was stolen or used improperly to receive benefits such as child care, health care or a driver’s license.
* Rhode Island State Police will establish a Memorandum of Agreement with the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to receive training to assist ICE personnel in arresting illegal immigrants. The new partnership will allow state police with ICE training to access federal databases, process immigration prisoners and transport them to the federal Wyatt Detention Center.
* The state Department of Corrections will similarly develop a memorandum of agreement with ICE. In part, it will allow ACI personnel to investigate immigration status of prisoners and prepare necessary documentation for those found to be in the country illegally.
* The Parole Board and corrections department “will work cooperatively with ICE personnel” to provide for parole and deportation of criminal aliens.
Carcieri said the latter agreement “will speed up deportation by getting these inmates back to their respective countries in a more timely fashion,” and eliminate “the financial burden of providing housing or rehab treatment to these nonviolent inmates.”
How those will work remains up in the air. According to the ICE Web site, memorandums of agreement are tailored to each agency.
State Police Maj. Steven G. O’Donnell said that agreement, once forged, “will help us be better trained, and have a better understanding of what to do in a situation when it’s presented on the street. It’s a more definitive role we’ll play. It will cut out any miscommunications, any mistakes.”
“We are not going to businesses and places of employment looking for people. That’s not our role. We focus more on criminal aliens — those who are in the country illegally, committing crimes,” O’Donnell said. “We understand it’s a volatile issue but that’s our opinion — whatever is illegal … we can’t turn our backs on it. On the flip side, we could be found criminally or civilly liable for failure to act.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/CARCIERI_IMMIGRA
TION_03-28-08_IL9HSUR_v67.38fb3d1.html
By Karen Lee Ziner
The Providence Journal, March 28, 2008
Providence -- Governor Carcieri yesterday signed a six-point executive order he said will enable “a vast array of state government agencies” to address illegal immigration in Rhode Island.
He said he did so because the federal government has dropped the ball on immigration reform and left state taxpayers to pick up what he said are the considerable costs of illegal immigration.
During a sometimes contentious news conference, the governor said he knew he was tackling “a difficult, sensitive issue,” and one that “stirs great emotion.”
“This is not about taking a hard line against immigrants,” said Carcieri. “It’s about making sure that those who come here can realize their goals of economic security and a better quality of life.” Harking to his own immigrant roots, the governor said he supports people who follow legal channels to realize the American Dream.
“The motive is to get control of an issue that has to be dealt with,” he said. “If you’re here illegally, you shouldn’t be here.”
The measure will require state agencies and vendors to verify the legal status of all employees; allow the state to inform people whose identity has been stolen; and directs Rhode Island State Police and Department of Corrections to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “to ensure federal immigration law is enforced.” The agreements between the state police and the DOC have yet to be worked out.
“Unfortunately, over the last few decades, the federal government has consistently ignored the complex issue of illegal immigration,” said Carcieri. “As a result, the flow of illegal immigrants has become epidemic, with the consequential costs being borne by state taxpayers.”
The governor said the Pew Hispanic Center currently estimates there are 40,000 illegal immigrants in Rhode Island, more, he noted, “than the population of most of our state’s cities and towns. This puts a tremendous strain upon our public schools, hospitals, state and local human-services organizations and law enforcement agencies.”
Reaction was immediate. “We’re ecstatic that the governor put this executive order out,” said Terry Gorman, president of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement. RIILE seeks curbs on illegal immigration and supports holding the immigrant population at current levels.
Gorman said he was among several dozen RIILE members at the news conference who cheered Carcieri when he entered the room. Gorman said similar measures in other states are causing “illegals to leave these states in droves.”
“Terrific. I think it’s fantastic,” said Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, one of a number of legislators the governor invited because of anti-illegal immigration bills they’ve introduced. “Basically, at one point it sounded like he was reading right from my legislation — from the Taxpayer and Citizens Protection Act that I’m going to testify to in my committee.”
On the other side, Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, called Carcieri’s executive order “a nightmare.”
“Are people now going to take the law into their own hands? He didn’t answer that when he was asked,” said Pichardo. Rather than tamping “the heated rhetoric” on this issue, the governor “has increased the fear among the immigrant community — among both documented and undocumented immigrants,” and served to “more deeply entrench the encampments on both sides of this issue.”
Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, predicted that the governor’s executive order “is only going to increase the problem of racial profiling in the state. The governor can ignore all the data and statistics out there that document the problem that already exists, but this executive order will only exacerbate it, to the detriment of any person in Rhode Island who looks and speaks a certain way. This has nothing to do with whether anyone is legal or illegal — his order is going to affect everyone based on their national origin, color of their skin and their accent and it’s very unfortunate.”
Carcieri was flanked by a host of state agency directors, a representative of ICE, and legislators. He said he supports the concepts proposed in bills to curb illegal immigration, and noted that a bill has been submitted on his behalf that will deny workers’ compensation to illegal immigrants, and impose a penalty on companies that knowingly hire unauthorized workers.
The room was packed with members of immigrant advocacy and civil-liberties groups, as well as dozens of RIILE members.
Several times, Carcieri lashed out at members of the media, accusing them of inflammatory rhetoric.
When Providence Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst asked Carcieri, “Don’t you understand, however good your motives are, it stirs things up?” against both legal and illegal immigrants, Carcieri replied, “What stirs [things] up is what you write. The language you use and others in the media are what inflames this issue. You use the right language and we can get a lot more balanced discussion on this. You’re the ones who are responsible.”
Carcieri said his intent was not — as was suggested — to create “some sort of dragnet.”
“There is nothing in this that is intended to supersede any laws or do anything that’s illegal. From the state’s perspective, this is only about putting in place processes and procedures we already have, to enable authorities to deal with these issues.”
He said whatever costs there would be “are insignificant,” compared to “the impact on the states across the country, including ours.”
One reporter asked, “So state police won’t be stopping people because they look Hispanic?’
Carcieri replied, “No, that’s not what they do. They stop people for other reasons and in the process if they find they’re illegal, then they’ll have a process, that’s all.”
He drew quiet snickers after a reporter from a Hispanic radio station told Carcieri he was from the press.
“Oh, what press?” Carcieri asked the reporter –— Tony Mendez of Poder 1110 AM. When some people laughed, Carcieri said, “I’m just asking him, all right?”
Senator Pichardo afterwards called that “the very example of how easy it is to fall into racial profiling.”
The executive order includes six provisions:
* The Department of Administration will register and use a federal government program — E-Verify — to electronically verify that all executive branch employees are legally eligible to work in the United States.
* The department will require all companies doing business with the state to also use the E-Verify program to ensure their employees are legally authorized to work in the country.
* State agencies have the authority to notify persons whose identity was stolen or used improperly to receive benefits such as child care, health care or a driver’s license.
* Rhode Island State Police will establish a Memorandum of Agreement with the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to receive training to assist ICE personnel in arresting illegal immigrants. The new partnership will allow state police with ICE training to access federal databases, process immigration prisoners and transport them to the federal Wyatt Detention Center.
* The state Department of Corrections will similarly develop a memorandum of agreement with ICE. In part, it will allow ACI personnel to investigate immigration status of prisoners and prepare necessary documentation for those found to be in the country illegally.
* The Parole Board and corrections department “will work cooperatively with ICE personnel” to provide for parole and deportation of criminal aliens.
Carcieri said the latter agreement “will speed up deportation by getting these inmates back to their respective countries in a more timely fashion,” and eliminate “the financial burden of providing housing or rehab treatment to these nonviolent inmates.”
How those will work remains up in the air. According to the ICE Web site, memorandums of agreement are tailored to each agency.
State Police Maj. Steven G. O’Donnell said that agreement, once forged, “will help us be better trained, and have a better understanding of what to do in a situation when it’s presented on the street. It’s a more definitive role we’ll play. It will cut out any miscommunications, any mistakes.”
“We are not going to businesses and places of employment looking for people. That’s not our role. We focus more on criminal aliens — those who are in the country illegally, committing crimes,” O’Donnell said. “We understand it’s a volatile issue but that’s our opinion — whatever is illegal … we can’t turn our backs on it. On the flip side, we could be found criminally or civilly liable for failure to act.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/CARCIERI_IMMIGRA
TION_03-28-08_IL9HSUR_v67.38fb3d1.html
Pardon me: Bush blasted for ignoring border agents Ramos and Compean...
Pardon me: Bush blasted for ignoring border agents
'Leaving good cops behind bars is unconscionable'
World Net Daily, March 26, 2008
Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos embraced his wife, Monica Ramos, two days before he was sentenced to 11 years in prison (El Paso Times)
President Bush is coming under fire for presidential pardons yesterday that included forgiveness for drug smugglers, an embezzler and others, but not for jailed Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.
Ramos and Compean entered prison in January 2007 after a controversial ruling on their actions in apprehending a fleeing drug smuggler.
'I believe the president's stolid refusal to pardon Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean is the most unconscionable act of disloyalty he has perpetrated upon those sworn to protect our well-being. I know this feeling is shared by many other patriotic Americans,' said Mychal Massie, chairman of Project 21 and a WND columnist. 'This sends a disturbing signal to the men and women who protect our borders, not to mention how it must affect the morale of those serving overseas.'
On Feb. 17, 2005, Ramos and Compean pursued Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila on foot after Aldrete-Davila abandoned a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1 million. During the chase, Ramos shot at Aldrete-Davila in the belief that Aldrete-Davila had drawn a gun of his own. Aldrete-Davila escaped across the U.S.-Mexico border, and Ramos assumed Aldrete-Davila was unhurt. In fact, Aldrete-Davila had been shot in the buttock.
The Ramos and Compean convictions have been questioned by many who point out that during the trial, jurors were not told of Aldrete-Davila's continued drug trafficking, for which he has now been arrested and indicted. Jurors were also unaware that a fellow agent who testified against Ramos and Compean is a life-long friend of Aldrete-Davila – a violation of Border Patrol Policy in itself.
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a labor union, testified before the U.S. Senate that a medical examination of Aldrete-Davila supported the agents' description of events and complied with Border Patrol and Justice Department policies.
The convictions of Ramos and Compean are currently on appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
'Leaving good cops behind bars is unconscionable,' said Massie. 'President Bush can argue he is granting mercy only after sentences are served, but we cannot forget that he immediately commuted the sentence of his friend and political ally Scooter Libby. Similar clemency should be given to Ramos and Compean, if not a full pardon. If he refuses, we can only hope that the next president will not only do so but also treat our courageous border guards with the respect they deserve.'
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pa
geId=59977
'Leaving good cops behind bars is unconscionable'
World Net Daily, March 26, 2008
Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos embraced his wife, Monica Ramos, two days before he was sentenced to 11 years in prison (El Paso Times)
President Bush is coming under fire for presidential pardons yesterday that included forgiveness for drug smugglers, an embezzler and others, but not for jailed Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.
Ramos and Compean entered prison in January 2007 after a controversial ruling on their actions in apprehending a fleeing drug smuggler.
'I believe the president's stolid refusal to pardon Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean is the most unconscionable act of disloyalty he has perpetrated upon those sworn to protect our well-being. I know this feeling is shared by many other patriotic Americans,' said Mychal Massie, chairman of Project 21 and a WND columnist. 'This sends a disturbing signal to the men and women who protect our borders, not to mention how it must affect the morale of those serving overseas.'
On Feb. 17, 2005, Ramos and Compean pursued Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila on foot after Aldrete-Davila abandoned a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1 million. During the chase, Ramos shot at Aldrete-Davila in the belief that Aldrete-Davila had drawn a gun of his own. Aldrete-Davila escaped across the U.S.-Mexico border, and Ramos assumed Aldrete-Davila was unhurt. In fact, Aldrete-Davila had been shot in the buttock.
The Ramos and Compean convictions have been questioned by many who point out that during the trial, jurors were not told of Aldrete-Davila's continued drug trafficking, for which he has now been arrested and indicted. Jurors were also unaware that a fellow agent who testified against Ramos and Compean is a life-long friend of Aldrete-Davila – a violation of Border Patrol Policy in itself.
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a labor union, testified before the U.S. Senate that a medical examination of Aldrete-Davila supported the agents' description of events and complied with Border Patrol and Justice Department policies.
The convictions of Ramos and Compean are currently on appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
'Leaving good cops behind bars is unconscionable,' said Massie. 'President Bush can argue he is granting mercy only after sentences are served, but we cannot forget that he immediately commuted the sentence of his friend and political ally Scooter Libby. Similar clemency should be given to Ramos and Compean, if not a full pardon. If he refuses, we can only hope that the next president will not only do so but also treat our courageous border guards with the respect they deserve.'
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pa
geId=59977
CIS director fights pressure to fast-track voters...
CIS director fights pressure to fast-track voters
By Stephen Dinan
The Washington Times, March 28, 2008
The outgoing head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says his agency won't give in to political pressure and cut corners on citizenship applications in order to mint new voters for this year's elections.
'I can't allow citizenship to be politicized. It was allowed once before in the '90s, and it was a disaster, and I'm not going to allow it again,' Emilio Gonzalez, whose resignation takes effect April 18 after more than two years as director of the agency, told The Washington Times.
Some members of Congress, immigration advocacy groups and editorial pages have accused him of slow-walking hundreds of thousands of citizenship applications filed last year, saying they perceive an effort to keep potential Democrat-leaning new citizens away from the polls.
Mr. Gonzalez calls that charge 'nonsense.'
'They're all looking for the external quick-fixes: why can't people vote, why is the line so long, why can't you do this,' he said. 'My goal in the time I was here is working on the long-term, hard things to do, knowing full well I will never see the benefits of anything we accomplished.'
His agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is in charge of judging applications for immigration benefits including green cards and citizenship.
In his time as director, Mr. Gonzalez has overseen creating a new citizenship test that he said goes beyond memorization and makes new citizens understand what they are learning; hired thousands of new employees and contractors to speed up service; stepped up a program to get better-trained employees in the field; and a fee increase that he said puts the agency on firm financial ground.
He also shepherded through one backlog reduction, and is in the final stages of working out the kinks of name-checks with the FBI, which he said leads to most of the 500 lawsuits filed against his agency every month from immigrants seeking to speed up their applications.
But critics say his legacy will be last year's fee increases, and the subsequent rush of applications to avoid the higher fees, which has created a new backlog and could keep some applicants from getting citizenship in time to vote this year.
'The agency faced enormous challenges during his tenure, and he leaves with a naturalization backlog of crisis proportions that must be addressed so that people can be naturalized in time to exercise the most fundamental right of all Americans — the right to vote,' said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's immigration subcommittee.
Immigration groups and some editorial pages were more pointed, with the New York Times saying Mr. Gonzalez was 'leaving behind a gummed-up bureaucracy and perhaps a million empty promises.' The paper said the glut of applications seems well-positioned to help deny potential Democratic voters from being able to vote.
Mr. Gonzalez — a Cuban-born immigrant himself, who arrived as a refugee in the U.S. as a child — said those accusations 'personally offended' him.
'There are no such things as Democrat immigrants and Republican immigrants,' he said.
He said his goal is to avoid a repeat of Citizenship USA, a Clinton administration program designed to naturalize hundreds of thousands of immigrants in time for the 1996 elections. An inspector general's report found the program led to bad decisions and the wrong people getting benefits.
While immigrant and liberal advocacy groups say his agency is too harsh and slow in responding, Mr. Gonzalez takes fire from the other side as well: Conservative members of Congress have said his agency already moves applications too quickly and is the weak point in the war on terrorism.
At a recent House subcommittee hearing, Rep. John Culberson, Texas Republican, criticized Mr. Gonzalez for not talking enough about security and for calling those who are seeking benefits the agency's 'customers.' Mr. Culberson said the real customers are the American people.
But Mr. Gonzalez receives effusive praise from the president of the American Federation of Government Employees' National USCIS Council.
'Labor unions are not particularly known for giving kudos to our agency heads. This is an extraordinary exception,' said Michael Knowles, who said the director left the agency and its work force in better shape than he found it. 'He is an exceptional leader.'
No replacement for Mr. Gonzalez has been named. Mr. Gonzalez has not said what he will do next.
In his office overlooking Union Station, he keeps a giant notepad on an easel in his office marked with the year's priorities, and for 2007, all but one of the 11 items has a check mark next to it.
The lone exception said 'TWP' — the acronym for 'temporary worker program,' which is the name President Bush gave to his guest-worker plan to legalize current illegal immigrants and bring in future foreign workers. Mr. Bush's proposal failed to pass the Senate last year, and Mr. Gonzalez said that's because the bill tried to do too much.
'I think there were a lot of people there who felt with deep moral convictions you were rewarding someone who committed a crime,' he said, adding that while illegal immigrants have to be addressed, he counts himself among those who think giving them citizenship is wrong.
'It sends the wrong message when you take this number of people and say, OK, you become citizens. It was the wrong message in the '80s, it was the wrong message in the '90s, and because of that we have what we have now,' he said.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic
le?AID=/20080328/NATION/543003641/1001
By Stephen Dinan
The Washington Times, March 28, 2008
The outgoing head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says his agency won't give in to political pressure and cut corners on citizenship applications in order to mint new voters for this year's elections.
'I can't allow citizenship to be politicized. It was allowed once before in the '90s, and it was a disaster, and I'm not going to allow it again,' Emilio Gonzalez, whose resignation takes effect April 18 after more than two years as director of the agency, told The Washington Times.
Some members of Congress, immigration advocacy groups and editorial pages have accused him of slow-walking hundreds of thousands of citizenship applications filed last year, saying they perceive an effort to keep potential Democrat-leaning new citizens away from the polls.
Mr. Gonzalez calls that charge 'nonsense.'
'They're all looking for the external quick-fixes: why can't people vote, why is the line so long, why can't you do this,' he said. 'My goal in the time I was here is working on the long-term, hard things to do, knowing full well I will never see the benefits of anything we accomplished.'
His agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is in charge of judging applications for immigration benefits including green cards and citizenship.
In his time as director, Mr. Gonzalez has overseen creating a new citizenship test that he said goes beyond memorization and makes new citizens understand what they are learning; hired thousands of new employees and contractors to speed up service; stepped up a program to get better-trained employees in the field; and a fee increase that he said puts the agency on firm financial ground.
He also shepherded through one backlog reduction, and is in the final stages of working out the kinks of name-checks with the FBI, which he said leads to most of the 500 lawsuits filed against his agency every month from immigrants seeking to speed up their applications.
But critics say his legacy will be last year's fee increases, and the subsequent rush of applications to avoid the higher fees, which has created a new backlog and could keep some applicants from getting citizenship in time to vote this year.
'The agency faced enormous challenges during his tenure, and he leaves with a naturalization backlog of crisis proportions that must be addressed so that people can be naturalized in time to exercise the most fundamental right of all Americans — the right to vote,' said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's immigration subcommittee.
Immigration groups and some editorial pages were more pointed, with the New York Times saying Mr. Gonzalez was 'leaving behind a gummed-up bureaucracy and perhaps a million empty promises.' The paper said the glut of applications seems well-positioned to help deny potential Democratic voters from being able to vote.
Mr. Gonzalez — a Cuban-born immigrant himself, who arrived as a refugee in the U.S. as a child — said those accusations 'personally offended' him.
'There are no such things as Democrat immigrants and Republican immigrants,' he said.
He said his goal is to avoid a repeat of Citizenship USA, a Clinton administration program designed to naturalize hundreds of thousands of immigrants in time for the 1996 elections. An inspector general's report found the program led to bad decisions and the wrong people getting benefits.
While immigrant and liberal advocacy groups say his agency is too harsh and slow in responding, Mr. Gonzalez takes fire from the other side as well: Conservative members of Congress have said his agency already moves applications too quickly and is the weak point in the war on terrorism.
At a recent House subcommittee hearing, Rep. John Culberson, Texas Republican, criticized Mr. Gonzalez for not talking enough about security and for calling those who are seeking benefits the agency's 'customers.' Mr. Culberson said the real customers are the American people.
But Mr. Gonzalez receives effusive praise from the president of the American Federation of Government Employees' National USCIS Council.
'Labor unions are not particularly known for giving kudos to our agency heads. This is an extraordinary exception,' said Michael Knowles, who said the director left the agency and its work force in better shape than he found it. 'He is an exceptional leader.'
No replacement for Mr. Gonzalez has been named. Mr. Gonzalez has not said what he will do next.
In his office overlooking Union Station, he keeps a giant notepad on an easel in his office marked with the year's priorities, and for 2007, all but one of the 11 items has a check mark next to it.
The lone exception said 'TWP' — the acronym for 'temporary worker program,' which is the name President Bush gave to his guest-worker plan to legalize current illegal immigrants and bring in future foreign workers. Mr. Bush's proposal failed to pass the Senate last year, and Mr. Gonzalez said that's because the bill tried to do too much.
'I think there were a lot of people there who felt with deep moral convictions you were rewarding someone who committed a crime,' he said, adding that while illegal immigrants have to be addressed, he counts himself among those who think giving them citizenship is wrong.
'It sends the wrong message when you take this number of people and say, OK, you become citizens. It was the wrong message in the '80s, it was the wrong message in the '90s, and because of that we have what we have now,' he said.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic
le?AID=/20080328/NATION/543003641/1001
Illegal alien arrested after attempted rape...
Man arrested after attempted rape
By NAPLES DAILY NEWS STAFF
8:37 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A 28-year-old Golden Gate man and admitted illegal immigrant was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he attempted to rape a woman inside his home and bit the finger of his brother, who came to the woman’s aid.
Gabriel Orantes-Cruz, 4371 18th Ave. S.W., was charged with one count of felony battery and one count of misdemeanor battery.
The woman, whose name was not released due to the sexual nature of the crime, told Collier County sheriff’s deputies that she was folding clothes on her bed Tuesday evening when Orantes-Cruz entered and forced her onto the bed. He told her he wanted to "make love to her," got on top of her and tried to remove her skirt, an arrest report said.
The woman fought with Orantes-Cruz, kicking, scratching and biting him.
While they were fighting, Orantes-Cruz’s brother, William Orantes-Cruz, heard the commotion, authorities said. When he went in the room and tried to pull his brother off the woman.
The two began to fight and Gabriel Orantes-Cruz bit his brother’s finger, the Sheriff’s Office reported. He then fled.
Deputies found Gabriel Orantes-Cruz running through the yard, and arrested him. He told authorities he had entered the United States in Texas illegally by foot in 1998.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/mar/26/man-arre
sted-after-attempted-rape/
By NAPLES DAILY NEWS STAFF
8:37 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A 28-year-old Golden Gate man and admitted illegal immigrant was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he attempted to rape a woman inside his home and bit the finger of his brother, who came to the woman’s aid.
Gabriel Orantes-Cruz, 4371 18th Ave. S.W., was charged with one count of felony battery and one count of misdemeanor battery.
The woman, whose name was not released due to the sexual nature of the crime, told Collier County sheriff’s deputies that she was folding clothes on her bed Tuesday evening when Orantes-Cruz entered and forced her onto the bed. He told her he wanted to "make love to her," got on top of her and tried to remove her skirt, an arrest report said.
The woman fought with Orantes-Cruz, kicking, scratching and biting him.
While they were fighting, Orantes-Cruz’s brother, William Orantes-Cruz, heard the commotion, authorities said. When he went in the room and tried to pull his brother off the woman.
The two began to fight and Gabriel Orantes-Cruz bit his brother’s finger, the Sheriff’s Office reported. He then fled.
Deputies found Gabriel Orantes-Cruz running through the yard, and arrested him. He told authorities he had entered the United States in Texas illegally by foot in 1998.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/mar/26/man-arre
sted-after-attempted-rape/
Police Standoff Ends in Anzalduas Park...
Police Standoff Ends in Anzalduas Park
The KRGV News (Mission, TX), March 26, 2008
Mission, TX -- A police standoff has ended in Anzalduas Park.
Newschannel 5 learned a chase started somewhere in the Palmview area. One Palmview police car was reportedly forced off the road. The pursuit continued to Anzalduas Park, where the suspects drove off an embankment and landed in the river.
Police say there were 15 Mexican nationals waiting on the other side of the river. According to officers, the men were reportedly armed.
Officers say some of the people put vests on and tried to swim to the vehicle. But a Border Patrol helicopter flew low to stop them. Police say at one point the group was throwing rocks at the helicopter.
Officers say the people appeared to be positioning themselves for a shootout, but then they loaded up into five vehicles and left the area.
The vehicle involved in the chase is still submerged in water. Authorities are working to retrieve the truck. There's no word on what happened to the people inside it.
http://www.newschannel5.tv/2008/3/26/988726/Police
-Standoff-Ends-in-Anzalduas-Park
The KRGV News (Mission, TX), March 26, 2008
Mission, TX -- A police standoff has ended in Anzalduas Park.
Newschannel 5 learned a chase started somewhere in the Palmview area. One Palmview police car was reportedly forced off the road. The pursuit continued to Anzalduas Park, where the suspects drove off an embankment and landed in the river.
Police say there were 15 Mexican nationals waiting on the other side of the river. According to officers, the men were reportedly armed.
Officers say some of the people put vests on and tried to swim to the vehicle. But a Border Patrol helicopter flew low to stop them. Police say at one point the group was throwing rocks at the helicopter.
Officers say the people appeared to be positioning themselves for a shootout, but then they loaded up into five vehicles and left the area.
The vehicle involved in the chase is still submerged in water. Authorities are working to retrieve the truck. There's no word on what happened to the people inside it.
http://www.newschannel5.tv/2008/3/26/988726/Police
-Standoff-Ends-in-Anzalduas-Park
Laredo Truck Drivers, Others Charged in Massive Human Smuggling Scheme...
Laredo Truck Drivers, Others Charged in Massive Human Smuggling Scheme
The KGBT News (Harlingen, TX), March 26, 2008
They are believed to have smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants into the United States but now, 41 truck drivers, guides, brokers, recruiters and smuggling leaders are facing criminal charges.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents started the investigation in Laredo but made the arrests across several American cities over the last seven weeks.
Investigators said the group used truck drivers to smuggle at least 376 illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras into the United States.
Most of the immigrants were discovered in tractor trailers and attempting to pass through different checkpoints in and around Laredo.
Most of the discoveries were made during routine inspections after they noticed suspicious activity coming from inside the trailers or they were alerted by on-site canines on duty.
Each immigrant allegedly paid $500 to $3,000 depending on their destination.
All 41 of the accused human smugglers have already appeared before a federal judge to face formal charges and have been provided a court date to plead their case.
Officials compared the smuggling acts to a fatal attempt in Victoria, Texas that resulted in the deaths of 19 immigrants in 2003.
'ICE works closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring criminal charges against anyone who disregards our immigration laws, and who recklessly risks the lives of their passengers,' said Jerry Robinette, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in San Antonio. 'ICE is steadfastly shutting down vulnerabilities in our immigration system by attacking and dismantling the organized criminal networks that transport illegal aliens for profit.'
It's common for illegal alien traffic to increase along the southern border this time of year but agents reported that fiscal year 2008 so far has been unusually busy, especially where truck drivers are involved.
http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=807399
1&nav=0w0v
The KGBT News (Harlingen, TX), March 26, 2008
They are believed to have smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants into the United States but now, 41 truck drivers, guides, brokers, recruiters and smuggling leaders are facing criminal charges.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents started the investigation in Laredo but made the arrests across several American cities over the last seven weeks.
Investigators said the group used truck drivers to smuggle at least 376 illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras into the United States.
Most of the immigrants were discovered in tractor trailers and attempting to pass through different checkpoints in and around Laredo.
Most of the discoveries were made during routine inspections after they noticed suspicious activity coming from inside the trailers or they were alerted by on-site canines on duty.
Each immigrant allegedly paid $500 to $3,000 depending on their destination.
All 41 of the accused human smugglers have already appeared before a federal judge to face formal charges and have been provided a court date to plead their case.
Officials compared the smuggling acts to a fatal attempt in Victoria, Texas that resulted in the deaths of 19 immigrants in 2003.
'ICE works closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring criminal charges against anyone who disregards our immigration laws, and who recklessly risks the lives of their passengers,' said Jerry Robinette, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in San Antonio. 'ICE is steadfastly shutting down vulnerabilities in our immigration system by attacking and dismantling the organized criminal networks that transport illegal aliens for profit.'
It's common for illegal alien traffic to increase along the southern border this time of year but agents reported that fiscal year 2008 so far has been unusually busy, especially where truck drivers are involved.
http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=807399
1&nav=0w0v
Immigration bill blasted by L.A. council...
Immigration bill blasted by L.A. council
POLITICS: Members vote 11-1 to oppose bill requiring proof of a legal right to work.
By Rick Orlov, Kerry Cavanaugh and Harrision Sheppard, Staff Writers Article Launched: 03/26/2008 10:50:29 PM PDT
Tapping the hot-button issue of immigration in the region, the Los Angeles City Council and a group of community leaders on Wednesday denounced a federal measure that would require employers to verify their workers are in the country legally.
Calling it mean-spirited and intentionally divisive, the council voted 11-1 to oppose the measure proposed by Rep. Heath Shuler, R-N.C., which would beef up border patrols and use a computerized system to verify the legal status of job candidates.
"We have something more compassionate and humane from the National League of Cities that we would like to see implemented," Councilman Dennis Zine said.
"We deal with the issue of immigration, but in a way that recognizes the realities of the problem and just doesn't say we will ship 12 million people out of the country."
Zine, who chairs the immigration task force for the organization, said many of the people who are now considered illegal immigrants came to the U.S. legally on student or work permits and have subsequently been caught up in changes in the law.
"We all recognize the need for immigration reform, but this act goes too far," council President Eric Garcetti said.
"It will make it a crime for millions of workers whose only offense is they want to work and support their family."
The only council member voting to support the measure was Councilman Greig Smith. He did not say why he supported it.
Shuler and his representatives did not return telephone calls.
But the vote reignited heated debate as Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform disputed the council's arguments.
"This is a sensible bill," Mehlman said. "We've had employer sanctions for 22 years and this is the first measure that tries to come up with a system of enforcement."
While there have been concerns over the database used to verify citizenship, Mehlman said efforts should be made to improve the information.
"No system is 100 percent foolproof and, if we wait for perfection, we will never have anything put in place," Mehlman said.
But representatives from a number of groups - including the American Jewish Committee and the Committee for Humane Immigration Rights in Los Angeles - have joined in opposition to the measure.
Seth Brysk, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, said he believes the measure is designed to divide the country.
"American Jewish Committee has long supported fair and generous immigration policies because we understand the struggle many immigrants face to pursue the American dream," Brysk said.
"This legislation erodes the very values on which our nation was built."
The council's vote came even as California Republican lawmakers reopened the statewide debate over immigration this week by unveiling a wide-ranging anti-illegal-immigration package they said could save money and preserve citizens' jobs.
While the bills were pitched as a "border security legislative package," they had less to do with tightening the borders than with regulating how undocumented immigrants are treated once they are living in California - from denying benefits such as tuition breaks to punishing employers who fail to screen for citizenship.
They also want to crack down on cities that do not aggressively enforce all aspects of federal immigration law.
"We have a lot of unemployed pipefitters, carpenters, domestic workers that are here legally," Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, the Republican caucus chairman, said in unveiling the measures.
"Those are the people we feel an obligation to help employ, rather than those that came in through the back door because we left it unattended."
Still, Democrats who control the Legislature are expected to resist most of the measures. Several Democratic lawmakers have proposed countering bills that would offer additional benefits to both legal and illegal immigrants.
And Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu ez, D-Los Angeles, dismissed the Republican proposals as a political stunt in a presidential election year.
"Even Republican presidential nominee John McCain and President Bush would blush at this election-year drill solely designed to score political points," Maviglio said.
But the group of a dozen Republican lawmakers suggested their proposal could save the state billions of dollars at a time when it is facing a projected $8 billion deficit for 2008-09.
"No one wants to cut services to foster kids. No one wants to cut education or reduce the number of police officers and firefighters on our streets," said Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Westlake Village, who proposed a bill to cut nearly all state services to illegal immigrants.
"We need to take care of legal residents first as a way to look at balancing the budget."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the Republican measures. His focus on immigration has been to demand more federal funding to help with the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants and providing California National Guard troops to help patrol the border.
He has also asked for more federal border agents.
"The governor has been clear that the status quo is unacceptable," said Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for the governor. "The federal government needs to step up and secure our borders."
It costs California about $800 million to imprison illegal immigrants, Lockhart said.
This year, the state expects to receive about $111 million from the federal government for that purpose, a small increase from the $74 million the state received when Schwarzenegger first took office, she said.
Schwarzenegger has also vetoed or sought to repeal measures to grant drivers' licenses and tuition breaks to illegal immigrants.
One of the newly proposed bills would crack down on so-called sanctuary cities that provide restrictions on how far city employees can go in enforcing federal immigration law.
Los Angeles, for example, has had Special Order 40 in place since 1979. The order prohibits Los Angeles police officers from checking the immigration status of suspects or witnesses.
Supporters say the measure is to encourage witnesses to crimes to come forward without fear of deportation. But critics say it has denied the police an important crime-fighting tool and enforces the image of Los Angeles as a haven for illegal immigrants.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8711344
POLITICS: Members vote 11-1 to oppose bill requiring proof of a legal right to work.
By Rick Orlov, Kerry Cavanaugh and Harrision Sheppard, Staff Writers Article Launched: 03/26/2008 10:50:29 PM PDT
Tapping the hot-button issue of immigration in the region, the Los Angeles City Council and a group of community leaders on Wednesday denounced a federal measure that would require employers to verify their workers are in the country legally.
Calling it mean-spirited and intentionally divisive, the council voted 11-1 to oppose the measure proposed by Rep. Heath Shuler, R-N.C., which would beef up border patrols and use a computerized system to verify the legal status of job candidates.
"We have something more compassionate and humane from the National League of Cities that we would like to see implemented," Councilman Dennis Zine said.
"We deal with the issue of immigration, but in a way that recognizes the realities of the problem and just doesn't say we will ship 12 million people out of the country."
Zine, who chairs the immigration task force for the organization, said many of the people who are now considered illegal immigrants came to the U.S. legally on student or work permits and have subsequently been caught up in changes in the law.
"We all recognize the need for immigration reform, but this act goes too far," council President Eric Garcetti said.
"It will make it a crime for millions of workers whose only offense is they want to work and support their family."
The only council member voting to support the measure was Councilman Greig Smith. He did not say why he supported it.
Shuler and his representatives did not return telephone calls.
But the vote reignited heated debate as Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform disputed the council's arguments.
"This is a sensible bill," Mehlman said. "We've had employer sanctions for 22 years and this is the first measure that tries to come up with a system of enforcement."
While there have been concerns over the database used to verify citizenship, Mehlman said efforts should be made to improve the information.
"No system is 100 percent foolproof and, if we wait for perfection, we will never have anything put in place," Mehlman said.
But representatives from a number of groups - including the American Jewish Committee and the Committee for Humane Immigration Rights in Los Angeles - have joined in opposition to the measure.
Seth Brysk, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, said he believes the measure is designed to divide the country.
"American Jewish Committee has long supported fair and generous immigration policies because we understand the struggle many immigrants face to pursue the American dream," Brysk said.
"This legislation erodes the very values on which our nation was built."
The council's vote came even as California Republican lawmakers reopened the statewide debate over immigration this week by unveiling a wide-ranging anti-illegal-immigration package they said could save money and preserve citizens' jobs.
While the bills were pitched as a "border security legislative package," they had less to do with tightening the borders than with regulating how undocumented immigrants are treated once they are living in California - from denying benefits such as tuition breaks to punishing employers who fail to screen for citizenship.
They also want to crack down on cities that do not aggressively enforce all aspects of federal immigration law.
"We have a lot of unemployed pipefitters, carpenters, domestic workers that are here legally," Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, the Republican caucus chairman, said in unveiling the measures.
"Those are the people we feel an obligation to help employ, rather than those that came in through the back door because we left it unattended."
Still, Democrats who control the Legislature are expected to resist most of the measures. Several Democratic lawmakers have proposed countering bills that would offer additional benefits to both legal and illegal immigrants.
And Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu ez, D-Los Angeles, dismissed the Republican proposals as a political stunt in a presidential election year.
"Even Republican presidential nominee John McCain and President Bush would blush at this election-year drill solely designed to score political points," Maviglio said.
But the group of a dozen Republican lawmakers suggested their proposal could save the state billions of dollars at a time when it is facing a projected $8 billion deficit for 2008-09.
"No one wants to cut services to foster kids. No one wants to cut education or reduce the number of police officers and firefighters on our streets," said Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Westlake Village, who proposed a bill to cut nearly all state services to illegal immigrants.
"We need to take care of legal residents first as a way to look at balancing the budget."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the Republican measures. His focus on immigration has been to demand more federal funding to help with the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants and providing California National Guard troops to help patrol the border.
He has also asked for more federal border agents.
"The governor has been clear that the status quo is unacceptable," said Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for the governor. "The federal government needs to step up and secure our borders."
It costs California about $800 million to imprison illegal immigrants, Lockhart said.
This year, the state expects to receive about $111 million from the federal government for that purpose, a small increase from the $74 million the state received when Schwarzenegger first took office, she said.
Schwarzenegger has also vetoed or sought to repeal measures to grant drivers' licenses and tuition breaks to illegal immigrants.
One of the newly proposed bills would crack down on so-called sanctuary cities that provide restrictions on how far city employees can go in enforcing federal immigration law.
Los Angeles, for example, has had Special Order 40 in place since 1979. The order prohibits Los Angeles police officers from checking the immigration status of suspects or witnesses.
Supporters say the measure is to encourage witnesses to crimes to come forward without fear of deportation. But critics say it has denied the police an important crime-fighting tool and enforces the image of Los Angeles as a haven for illegal immigrants.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8711344
Study: Many Illegals Arrive With Tourist Visas...
Study: Many Illegals Arrive With Tourist Visas
By Sean Walker
News Net (The Brigham Young University), March 25, 2008
A new study published by the Center for Immigration Studies finds as many as half of the United States' 12 million illegal immigrants arrived legally with temporary nonimmigrant visas. The study claims that as many as two-thirds of Mexican applicants and 88 percent of Russian applicants were granted tourist visas in 2007.
'Our immigration crisis has three main problems,' said David Seminara, the study's author. 'Our borders aren't secure, it's too easy to obtain visas overseas, and once foreigners arrive in the U.S. with visas, it is far too easy for foreign nationals to extend their stays indefinitely by adjusting their visa status or staying illegally.'
The study may shine light onto what many critics have called the 'broken immigration system,' especially important to many voters in this election year. Even this year's crop of presidential candidates is seriously lacking in terms of a well-managed immigration reform policy, Seminara said.
'All three advocate what will essentially be an amnesty for those that have broken our laws,' Seminara said. 'They claim that their plans aren't amnesty because they involve fines, but all three would allow illegal immigrants to stay indefinitely without having to return home. The candidates claim that illegal immigrants would have to join the 'back of the line,' as though immigrating to America were simply a matter of lining up.'
Most lawmakers promoting immigration reform often overlook the problem of overstaying visas. But reform in this area of immigration policy is equally as vital as protecting the borders.
'Indeed, the plans of visa applicants change frequently, and those changes frequently involve overstaying visas,' Seminara said. 'Only tiny portions of those who overstay visas are ever deported.'
Seminara offers lawmakers and lobbyists a few recommendations that may help decrease the number of illegal immigrants who overstay their visa duration, such as creating a new corps of consular officers in the Department of Homeland Security whose focus would be strictly law enforcement and refocusing visa adjudication. Such changes will benefit U.S. economy by 'improving the integrity of our immigration system, reducing the fiscal burden of illegal immigration, and enhancing national security,' Seminara said.
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/68081
By Sean Walker
News Net (The Brigham Young University), March 25, 2008
A new study published by the Center for Immigration Studies finds as many as half of the United States' 12 million illegal immigrants arrived legally with temporary nonimmigrant visas. The study claims that as many as two-thirds of Mexican applicants and 88 percent of Russian applicants were granted tourist visas in 2007.
'Our immigration crisis has three main problems,' said David Seminara, the study's author. 'Our borders aren't secure, it's too easy to obtain visas overseas, and once foreigners arrive in the U.S. with visas, it is far too easy for foreign nationals to extend their stays indefinitely by adjusting their visa status or staying illegally.'
The study may shine light onto what many critics have called the 'broken immigration system,' especially important to many voters in this election year. Even this year's crop of presidential candidates is seriously lacking in terms of a well-managed immigration reform policy, Seminara said.
'All three advocate what will essentially be an amnesty for those that have broken our laws,' Seminara said. 'They claim that their plans aren't amnesty because they involve fines, but all three would allow illegal immigrants to stay indefinitely without having to return home. The candidates claim that illegal immigrants would have to join the 'back of the line,' as though immigrating to America were simply a matter of lining up.'
Most lawmakers promoting immigration reform often overlook the problem of overstaying visas. But reform in this area of immigration policy is equally as vital as protecting the borders.
'Indeed, the plans of visa applicants change frequently, and those changes frequently involve overstaying visas,' Seminara said. 'Only tiny portions of those who overstay visas are ever deported.'
Seminara offers lawmakers and lobbyists a few recommendations that may help decrease the number of illegal immigrants who overstay their visa duration, such as creating a new corps of consular officers in the Department of Homeland Security whose focus would be strictly law enforcement and refocusing visa adjudication. Such changes will benefit U.S. economy by 'improving the integrity of our immigration system, reducing the fiscal burden of illegal immigration, and enhancing national security,' Seminara said.
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/68081
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What's Schwarzenegger been smokin?!!
Governor: Illegal immigrants not to blame for budget mess
The Governor is saying that illegal aliens (they are not immigrants—immigrants are honest people who come here with permission) are not responsible for the budget deficit.
Let me count the ways:
1. Illegal aliens consist of 17% of the State prison population
2. In LA County alone the cost of health care for illegal aliens is almost $1 billion
3. LAUSD has approximately 50% of its students from parents that are illegal aliens
I could go on. The cost is at least $10 billion alone.
Oh, the article says the budget deficit is $8 billion—actually the LAO says it is $16.6 billion. The Governor last week said it is over $14 billion—actually it is over $20 billion. No idea where the $8 billion came from.
The bottom line is this, illegal aliens cost money, period. Every dollar we spend on them adds another dollar to the deficit. If California and it's cities enforced the laws already on the books this would not be a problem. In Arizona and Oklahoma illegal aliens are leaving because those states are beginning to enforce the law.
Do you think illegal aliens add to the deficit? Better tell the Governor, he is not aware of that fact. Get angry or get poor.
Schwarzenegger: Illegal immigrants not to blame for budget mess
By Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee, 3/26/08
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding to the mother of a Republican state legislator, said Wednesday it would be a "big mistake" to blame illegal immigrants for the state’s looming $8 billion budget problem.
The Republican governor was in San Luis Obispo to pitch his budget proposal to local officials and business leaders when he was asked by Diane Blakeslee, mother of Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, how the state should handle fiscal burdens created by illegal immigrants.
"There is, you know, always a time like this where you start pointing the finger at various different elements of what creates the budget mess, and, you know, some may point the finger at illegal immigrants," Schwarzenegger said. "I can guarantee you, I have been now four years in office in Sacramento, I don’t think that illegal immigration has created the mess that we are in."
The governor’s comments came a day after Assembly Republicans announced a package of 20 bills they said would help California reduce the "negative impact" that illegal immigrants have on the state budget. Included are proposals to repeal a law enabling undocumented students from paying in-state college tuition and demand more money from the federal government for housing illegal immigrants in state prisons.
Schwarzenegger said he believes the United States should pursue immigration reform and have tougher border controls. But he added that blaming illegal immigrants "because we have a budget problem would be a big mistake. I think we have to look at ourselves in Sacramento. We in Sacramento have the responsibility to come up with a coherent budget system, and we haven’t done that."
The governor is seeking a long-term budget fix that would build a "rainy-day fund" whenever the state has a surplus in revenues. He has spent the last two weeks traveling to different cities to discuss the budget and ask local residents to pressure their legislators into early negotiations.
The Governor is saying that illegal aliens (they are not immigrants—immigrants are honest people who come here with permission) are not responsible for the budget deficit.
Let me count the ways:
1. Illegal aliens consist of 17% of the State prison population
2. In LA County alone the cost of health care for illegal aliens is almost $1 billion
3. LAUSD has approximately 50% of its students from parents that are illegal aliens
I could go on. The cost is at least $10 billion alone.
Oh, the article says the budget deficit is $8 billion—actually the LAO says it is $16.6 billion. The Governor last week said it is over $14 billion—actually it is over $20 billion. No idea where the $8 billion came from.
The bottom line is this, illegal aliens cost money, period. Every dollar we spend on them adds another dollar to the deficit. If California and it's cities enforced the laws already on the books this would not be a problem. In Arizona and Oklahoma illegal aliens are leaving because those states are beginning to enforce the law.
Do you think illegal aliens add to the deficit? Better tell the Governor, he is not aware of that fact. Get angry or get poor.
Schwarzenegger: Illegal immigrants not to blame for budget mess
By Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee, 3/26/08
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding to the mother of a Republican state legislator, said Wednesday it would be a "big mistake" to blame illegal immigrants for the state’s looming $8 billion budget problem.
The Republican governor was in San Luis Obispo to pitch his budget proposal to local officials and business leaders when he was asked by Diane Blakeslee, mother of Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, how the state should handle fiscal burdens created by illegal immigrants.
"There is, you know, always a time like this where you start pointing the finger at various different elements of what creates the budget mess, and, you know, some may point the finger at illegal immigrants," Schwarzenegger said. "I can guarantee you, I have been now four years in office in Sacramento, I don’t think that illegal immigration has created the mess that we are in."
The governor’s comments came a day after Assembly Republicans announced a package of 20 bills they said would help California reduce the "negative impact" that illegal immigrants have on the state budget. Included are proposals to repeal a law enabling undocumented students from paying in-state college tuition and demand more money from the federal government for housing illegal immigrants in state prisons.
Schwarzenegger said he believes the United States should pursue immigration reform and have tougher border controls. But he added that blaming illegal immigrants "because we have a budget problem would be a big mistake. I think we have to look at ourselves in Sacramento. We in Sacramento have the responsibility to come up with a coherent budget system, and we haven’t done that."
The governor is seeking a long-term budget fix that would build a "rainy-day fund" whenever the state has a surplus in revenues. He has spent the last two weeks traveling to different cities to discuss the budget and ask local residents to pressure their legislators into early negotiations.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Officials: Suspected Smuggler Gets Stuck On Camera Tower...
Officials: Suspected Smuggler Gets Stuck On Camera Tower
POSTED: 7:18 pm PDT March 25, 2008
UPDATED: 7:35 pm PDT March 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- Border Patrol agents said they arrested a suspected smuggler who was caught in the act of attempting to disable a border surveillance camera.
It happened east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry last week.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/15707722/detail.htm
l
POSTED: 7:18 pm PDT March 25, 2008
UPDATED: 7:35 pm PDT March 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- Border Patrol agents said they arrested a suspected smuggler who was caught in the act of attempting to disable a border surveillance camera.
It happened east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry last week.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/15707722/detail.htm
l
Illegal Alien Mom Faces Deportation After Leaving Children In Car On Highway...
Mom Faces Deportation After Leaving Children In Car On Highway
POSTED: 4:09 pm CDT March 25, 2008
UPDATED: 4:33 pm CDT March 25, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas -- A woman who pleaded guilty to leaving her kids in a car after it ran out of gas has been turned over to federal immigration authorities.
Margarita Huerta, 32, was charged with two state felony counts of abandoning and endangering her children when she left her 5-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son in a vehicle on U.S. 75.
Shortly after Huerta left to get gas, her daughter got out of the car and attempted to cross the roadway.
Huerta's child was spotted by a passing motorist who notified authorities.
Huerta completed her 100-day jail sentence in Collin County and was immediately turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Huerta now faces deportation and her case will go before an immigration judge.
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/15705262/detail.html
POSTED: 4:09 pm CDT March 25, 2008
UPDATED: 4:33 pm CDT March 25, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas -- A woman who pleaded guilty to leaving her kids in a car after it ran out of gas has been turned over to federal immigration authorities.
Margarita Huerta, 32, was charged with two state felony counts of abandoning and endangering her children when she left her 5-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son in a vehicle on U.S. 75.
Shortly after Huerta left to get gas, her daughter got out of the car and attempted to cross the roadway.
Huerta's child was spotted by a passing motorist who notified authorities.
Huerta completed her 100-day jail sentence in Collin County and was immediately turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Huerta now faces deportation and her case will go before an immigration judge.
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/15705262/detail.html
Feds deport illegal alien prisoner wanted for murder in Mexico...
Posted on Tue, Mar. 25, 2008
Feds deport prisoner wanted for murder in Mexico
BRADFORD, Pa. - A man serving time on a federal immigration conviction has been deported to his native Mexico after authorities learned he was wanted there for murder.
Gregorio Delgado-Munoz had been serving a 26-month sentence at the federal prison in McKean County after being convicted last year for illegal re-entry after deportation under an alias.
Federal immigration officials said Tuesday they recently learned that Interpol had an arrest warrant for Delgado-Munoz in connection with a slaying in Mexico. He was flown to Laredo, Texas, where he was turned over to Mexican authorities.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pe
nnsylvania/20080325_ap_fedsdeportprisonerwantedformurde
rinmexico.html
Feds deport prisoner wanted for murder in Mexico
BRADFORD, Pa. - A man serving time on a federal immigration conviction has been deported to his native Mexico after authorities learned he was wanted there for murder.
Gregorio Delgado-Munoz had been serving a 26-month sentence at the federal prison in McKean County after being convicted last year for illegal re-entry after deportation under an alias.
Federal immigration officials said Tuesday they recently learned that Interpol had an arrest warrant for Delgado-Munoz in connection with a slaying in Mexico. He was flown to Laredo, Texas, where he was turned over to Mexican authorities.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pe
nnsylvania/20080325_ap_fedsdeportprisonerwantedformurde
rinmexico.html
MS-13 illegal alien gang member wanted in two assaults arrested in Va.
MS-13 member wanted in two assaults arrested in Va.
Associated Press - March 26, 2008 6:25 AM ET
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - An illegal immigrant accused of stabbing a man in Maryland while free on bond from a prior assault charge has been arrested in Prince William County, Virginia, but it's not clear how soon he can be extradited.
Unlike Montgomery County, Prince William routinely checks the immigration status of criminal suspects and the county police have informed federal immigration officials of the man's illegal status.
Montgomery County authorities say 25-year-old Milton Calderon-Melendez, of El Salvador, is an admitted member of the MS-13 gang. He's accused of conspiracy to commit attempted murder in the August stabbing, just weeks after he was released on bail for an assault on a 15-year-old boy.
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=8070265&nav=
23ii
Associated Press - March 26, 2008 6:25 AM ET
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - An illegal immigrant accused of stabbing a man in Maryland while free on bond from a prior assault charge has been arrested in Prince William County, Virginia, but it's not clear how soon he can be extradited.
Unlike Montgomery County, Prince William routinely checks the immigration status of criminal suspects and the county police have informed federal immigration officials of the man's illegal status.
Montgomery County authorities say 25-year-old Milton Calderon-Melendez, of El Salvador, is an admitted member of the MS-13 gang. He's accused of conspiracy to commit attempted murder in the August stabbing, just weeks after he was released on bail for an assault on a 15-year-old boy.
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=8070265&nav=
23ii
Illegal alien mother charged in daughter's statutory rape...
Mother charged in daughter's statutory rape
The Associated Press, March 22, 2008
Lawrenceville, GA (AP) -- Police have arrested a mother on charges she harbored a man who impregnated her 14-year-old daughter.
Authorities say 42-year-old woman allowed Lucio Gomez-Gonzalez to stay at her home for two weeks and permitted him to have sex with her daughter. Gomez-Gonzalez's age is unknown.
Police charged Gomez-Gonzalez with statutory rape on Thursday. The mother was charged the previous day with being a party to statutory rape.
According to arrest warrants, both suspects are Mexicans in the country illegally.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008
/03/22/momarrest_0322.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
The Associated Press, March 22, 2008
Lawrenceville, GA (AP) -- Police have arrested a mother on charges she harbored a man who impregnated her 14-year-old daughter.
Authorities say 42-year-old woman allowed Lucio Gomez-Gonzalez to stay at her home for two weeks and permitted him to have sex with her daughter. Gomez-Gonzalez's age is unknown.
Police charged Gomez-Gonzalez with statutory rape on Thursday. The mother was charged the previous day with being a party to statutory rape.
According to arrest warrants, both suspects are Mexicans in the country illegally.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008
/03/22/momarrest_0322.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
Woman gets 14 months for hiring illegal aliens...
Woman gets 14 months for hiring illegal aliens
By Nok-Noi Ricker
The Bangor Daily News (ME), March 26, 2008
Bangor, ME -- Citing the years of emotional and physical abuse Doris Amanda Ayala Escalante suffered at the hands of her husband, a federal judge Tuesday sentenced the Harrington woman to about half of the minimum penalty recommended under federal guidelines.
Escalante, who admitted to hiring illegal aliens and possessing a fake visa, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.
'Twenty-seven months is the minimum,' Escalante’s attorney, Jon Haddow, said referring after court adjourned to the almost unheard of downward departure from the federal guidelines. 'He [the judge] cut it in half — that’s significant.
'In the last 10 years, I’m only aware of one other [sentence reduction for] distress,' he said. 'It’s rare.'
With nine months of time served and time off for good behavior, Escalante is expected to serve approximately three more months in federal prison. She then will be handed over to immigration officials in South Portland who will decide if she will be deported.
'Your story is a sad and complicated one,' U.S. District Judge John Woodcock said during Tuesday’s sentencing. 'It begins with a desire for a new and better life.'
Woodcock went on to recall how Escalante, 38, came to the United States while in her 20s and how she has lived the 'American dream' illegally for the last 15 years, 'living in shadows — fearing the light of the law.'
He said years of abuse by her husband, Juan Centeno Perez, 45, of Harrington, mixed with abuse from other men in her life, led Escalante to do her husband’s bidding to avoid conflict.
'His bad temper and violence is documented,' Woodcock said. 'As a consequence of her long history, she became afraid of him … [and] she was coerced to doing activities she would not' have otherwise considered.
Perez, whom federal officials suspect has fled the state and maybe the country, was indicted in September by a federal grand jury for conspiring to hire illegal aliens. He has not been arrested.
Escalante pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court to visa fraud and conspiring with her husband to hire illegal aliens. She admitted that between January 2005 and June 2006 she hired at least 10 illegal aliens to work at a Washington County sea cucumber processing plant in Lubec and the restaurant she operated with relatives in Hancock.
Prosecutor Nancy Torresen said Escalante has been very cooperative with federal officials and recommended a sentence of 20 months. Her attorney asked for time served and probation.
At the sometimes tearful sentencing, Escalante’s two daughters, who are U.S. citizens, ages 13 and 15, her mother, two brothers and three Harrington residents stood to support her.
'She has always been there for us, and she has never left our side,' one daughter said choking back tears.
Escalante also addressed the court using an interpreter. She apologized and asked for forgiveness from her family, especially her daughters, the court, the community of Harrington and all others who supported her.
'My heart is broken,' she said through the interpreter. 'I want to say, with my head held high, that this will never happen again.'
Before making the sentence final, Woodcock spoke directly to Escalante and said he wasn’t going to completely drop her sentence 'because of what her husband did.'
'Her activity is not passive, but active,' he said. 'When the van broke down, it was not her husband’s voice that told them to run and hide, it was her voice.'
Woodcock was referring to an incident in January 2006 when a 2002 Chevrolet cargo truck carrying 18 of the illegal workers broke down by the side of the road and resulted in attracting the attention of investigators.
At least one worker called Perez’s cell phone, according to court documents.
The judge also added that Escalante never sought help for the domestic violence she suffered, and he said he thought she understood she knowingly committed the crimes.
Woodcock said his sentence will take Escalante from her family for a period of time, but added the real penalty is being deported to her home country of Honduras.
'I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do suspect you will end up being deported,' he told her. 'If that is the case, it’s a tragedy. It’s a tragedy for you. It’s a tragedy for your family and it’s a tragedy for what you worked for here.'
http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=16
2116&zoneid=176
By Nok-Noi Ricker
The Bangor Daily News (ME), March 26, 2008
Bangor, ME -- Citing the years of emotional and physical abuse Doris Amanda Ayala Escalante suffered at the hands of her husband, a federal judge Tuesday sentenced the Harrington woman to about half of the minimum penalty recommended under federal guidelines.
Escalante, who admitted to hiring illegal aliens and possessing a fake visa, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.
'Twenty-seven months is the minimum,' Escalante’s attorney, Jon Haddow, said referring after court adjourned to the almost unheard of downward departure from the federal guidelines. 'He [the judge] cut it in half — that’s significant.
'In the last 10 years, I’m only aware of one other [sentence reduction for] distress,' he said. 'It’s rare.'
With nine months of time served and time off for good behavior, Escalante is expected to serve approximately three more months in federal prison. She then will be handed over to immigration officials in South Portland who will decide if she will be deported.
'Your story is a sad and complicated one,' U.S. District Judge John Woodcock said during Tuesday’s sentencing. 'It begins with a desire for a new and better life.'
Woodcock went on to recall how Escalante, 38, came to the United States while in her 20s and how she has lived the 'American dream' illegally for the last 15 years, 'living in shadows — fearing the light of the law.'
He said years of abuse by her husband, Juan Centeno Perez, 45, of Harrington, mixed with abuse from other men in her life, led Escalante to do her husband’s bidding to avoid conflict.
'His bad temper and violence is documented,' Woodcock said. 'As a consequence of her long history, she became afraid of him … [and] she was coerced to doing activities she would not' have otherwise considered.
Perez, whom federal officials suspect has fled the state and maybe the country, was indicted in September by a federal grand jury for conspiring to hire illegal aliens. He has not been arrested.
Escalante pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court to visa fraud and conspiring with her husband to hire illegal aliens. She admitted that between January 2005 and June 2006 she hired at least 10 illegal aliens to work at a Washington County sea cucumber processing plant in Lubec and the restaurant she operated with relatives in Hancock.
Prosecutor Nancy Torresen said Escalante has been very cooperative with federal officials and recommended a sentence of 20 months. Her attorney asked for time served and probation.
At the sometimes tearful sentencing, Escalante’s two daughters, who are U.S. citizens, ages 13 and 15, her mother, two brothers and three Harrington residents stood to support her.
'She has always been there for us, and she has never left our side,' one daughter said choking back tears.
Escalante also addressed the court using an interpreter. She apologized and asked for forgiveness from her family, especially her daughters, the court, the community of Harrington and all others who supported her.
'My heart is broken,' she said through the interpreter. 'I want to say, with my head held high, that this will never happen again.'
Before making the sentence final, Woodcock spoke directly to Escalante and said he wasn’t going to completely drop her sentence 'because of what her husband did.'
'Her activity is not passive, but active,' he said. 'When the van broke down, it was not her husband’s voice that told them to run and hide, it was her voice.'
Woodcock was referring to an incident in January 2006 when a 2002 Chevrolet cargo truck carrying 18 of the illegal workers broke down by the side of the road and resulted in attracting the attention of investigators.
At least one worker called Perez’s cell phone, according to court documents.
The judge also added that Escalante never sought help for the domestic violence she suffered, and he said he thought she understood she knowingly committed the crimes.
Woodcock said his sentence will take Escalante from her family for a period of time, but added the real penalty is being deported to her home country of Honduras.
'I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do suspect you will end up being deported,' he told her. 'If that is the case, it’s a tragedy. It’s a tragedy for you. It’s a tragedy for your family and it’s a tragedy for what you worked for here.'
http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=16
2116&zoneid=176
34 illegal immigrant workers arrested at Memphis airport...
34 immigrant workers arrested at Memphis airport
The Associated Press, March 26, 2008
Memphis, TN (AP) -- Federal officials have arrested 34 workers at Memphis International Airport believed to be illegal immigrants working on the new Tennessee Air National Guard base.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents announced Tuesday that the workers, all identified as Mexican men, were employed by various contractors and subcontractors.
Authorities say the arrests came after a tip from Air Force investigators that believed illegal immigrants were working at the site.
Federal officials say the men likely face deportation. Authorities have not said which company employed the workers.
The project to build a 118-acre, $215 million base for the Tennessee 164th Airlift Wing near the airport is the largest single construction effort in the Air National Guard's history.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/26/34-immigra
nt-workers-arrested-memphis-airport/
The Associated Press, March 26, 2008
Memphis, TN (AP) -- Federal officials have arrested 34 workers at Memphis International Airport believed to be illegal immigrants working on the new Tennessee Air National Guard base.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents announced Tuesday that the workers, all identified as Mexican men, were employed by various contractors and subcontractors.
Authorities say the arrests came after a tip from Air Force investigators that believed illegal immigrants were working at the site.
Federal officials say the men likely face deportation. Authorities have not said which company employed the workers.
The project to build a 118-acre, $215 million base for the Tennessee 164th Airlift Wing near the airport is the largest single construction effort in the Air National Guard's history.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/26/34-immigra
nt-workers-arrested-memphis-airport/
Three day laborers sue over Arizona town's law on soliciting work...
Three day laborers sue over Arizona town's law on soliciting work
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press, March 25, 2008
Phoenix (AP) -- Three day laborers filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to overturn a suburb's law prohibiting people standing on public streets from soliciting employment from occupants of cars.
The federal lawsuit alleges Cave Creek's law passed is unconstitutional because it restricts the free speech rights of people trying to find work as day laborers.
'Cave Creek does not have the right to pick and choose who has free speech rights,' said Monica Ramirez, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, one of the group's representing the day laborers. 'The town cannot bar people from peaceably standing in public areas and expressing their availability to work.'
Mayor Vincent Francia said the law was a response to concerns raised by residents over traffic being impeded by people congregating on street corners.
'The ordinance applies to everyone. It is not specific to any group,' Francia said. 'I have to obey it.'
The environment for day laborers in Arizona has grown tougher in recent years.
Advocates for and against day labor have regularly held competing protests.
Nearly three years ago, the Legislature and governor approved a law barring local governments from putting taxpayer money into day labor centers that help illegal immigrants find work.
The Legislature approved a proposal last year that would have made it a trespassing offense for day laborers to seek work on public streets and sidewalks. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed the bill, saying she recognizes the need to confront illegal hirings, but that the proposal was discriminatory.
The Cave Creek Town Council passed its work solicitation law in September. Days later, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office provides police protection for Cave Creek, had officers respond to complaints that illegal immigrants were creating public safety problems near a day labor center. Arpaio's office is noted for its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
The Guatemalan and two Mexicans who filed the lawsuit are in the United States legally and, as day laborers, have earned money as painters, gardeners and construction workers, Ramirez said.
Free speech rights apply to everyone, regardless of their immigration status, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the law has made it harder for her three clients to find work and rejected suggestions that they might go elsewhere to earn money.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-topheadlines/231386
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press, March 25, 2008
Phoenix (AP) -- Three day laborers filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to overturn a suburb's law prohibiting people standing on public streets from soliciting employment from occupants of cars.
The federal lawsuit alleges Cave Creek's law passed is unconstitutional because it restricts the free speech rights of people trying to find work as day laborers.
'Cave Creek does not have the right to pick and choose who has free speech rights,' said Monica Ramirez, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, one of the group's representing the day laborers. 'The town cannot bar people from peaceably standing in public areas and expressing their availability to work.'
Mayor Vincent Francia said the law was a response to concerns raised by residents over traffic being impeded by people congregating on street corners.
'The ordinance applies to everyone. It is not specific to any group,' Francia said. 'I have to obey it.'
The environment for day laborers in Arizona has grown tougher in recent years.
Advocates for and against day labor have regularly held competing protests.
Nearly three years ago, the Legislature and governor approved a law barring local governments from putting taxpayer money into day labor centers that help illegal immigrants find work.
The Legislature approved a proposal last year that would have made it a trespassing offense for day laborers to seek work on public streets and sidewalks. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed the bill, saying she recognizes the need to confront illegal hirings, but that the proposal was discriminatory.
The Cave Creek Town Council passed its work solicitation law in September. Days later, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office provides police protection for Cave Creek, had officers respond to complaints that illegal immigrants were creating public safety problems near a day labor center. Arpaio's office is noted for its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
The Guatemalan and two Mexicans who filed the lawsuit are in the United States legally and, as day laborers, have earned money as painters, gardeners and construction workers, Ramirez said.
Free speech rights apply to everyone, regardless of their immigration status, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the law has made it harder for her three clients to find work and rejected suggestions that they might go elsewhere to earn money.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-topheadlines/231386
New punishment won't be in bills to change employer sanctions law...
New punishment won't be in bills to change employer sanctions law
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press, March 26, 2008
Phoenix (AP) -- Two key proposals changing Arizona's employer sanctions law won't contain a new punishment that had drawn criticism from business groups and stalled progress of the measures.
The punishment was intended to encourage businesses to follow the law's requirement for them to check the employment eligibility of workers through a federal database, which is being used by 21,000 of Arizona's 150,000 employers.
One idea for getting businesses to follow the requirement was preventing employers who don't use the database from deducting employee salaries as business expenses.
Instead, a state Senate committee created a proposed incentive Tuesday: prohibiting businesses from getting contracts from state and local government agencies if they fail to use the database.
A similar measure in the state House is expected to drop the new punishment and incorporate the incentive.
The law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and places business license punishments on those who make such illegal hirings.
Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, author of the law and sponsor of one of the two revisions bills, said he removed the new penalty because a federal employer sanction law prevents states from imposing civil or criminal penalties against violators and the tax provision could have been viewed by the courts as just such a penalty.
'I took that out in an effort to make sure that I didn't leave any of those doors open,' Pearce said.
When the law was passed last year, it provided a measure of legal protection for employers who use the database.
This year's employer sanctions bills would add another protection by giving businesses the option of taking part in a program that would require businesses to use the database.
If workers couldn't be verified through the database, businesses would have to check the accuracy of workers' Social Security numbers through the federal government.
Employers taking part in the voluntary program couldn't be prosecuted for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants if the businesses followed these and other requirements of the program.
'(This year's bills) would also offer some additional assurances to the vast majority of Arizona businesses that are doing everything they possibly can to comply with federal and state law,' said Glenn Hamer, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Business groups, however, weren't pleased with everything in the proposed revisions, which would allow people to make anonymous complaints under the law.
Employers said such complaints would leave them vulnerable to anonymous complaints from competitors or disgruntled workers.
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8068689&nav=
menu216_3
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press, March 26, 2008
Phoenix (AP) -- Two key proposals changing Arizona's employer sanctions law won't contain a new punishment that had drawn criticism from business groups and stalled progress of the measures.
The punishment was intended to encourage businesses to follow the law's requirement for them to check the employment eligibility of workers through a federal database, which is being used by 21,000 of Arizona's 150,000 employers.
One idea for getting businesses to follow the requirement was preventing employers who don't use the database from deducting employee salaries as business expenses.
Instead, a state Senate committee created a proposed incentive Tuesday: prohibiting businesses from getting contracts from state and local government agencies if they fail to use the database.
A similar measure in the state House is expected to drop the new punishment and incorporate the incentive.
The law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and places business license punishments on those who make such illegal hirings.
Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, author of the law and sponsor of one of the two revisions bills, said he removed the new penalty because a federal employer sanction law prevents states from imposing civil or criminal penalties against violators and the tax provision could have been viewed by the courts as just such a penalty.
'I took that out in an effort to make sure that I didn't leave any of those doors open,' Pearce said.
When the law was passed last year, it provided a measure of legal protection for employers who use the database.
This year's employer sanctions bills would add another protection by giving businesses the option of taking part in a program that would require businesses to use the database.
If workers couldn't be verified through the database, businesses would have to check the accuracy of workers' Social Security numbers through the federal government.
Employers taking part in the voluntary program couldn't be prosecuted for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants if the businesses followed these and other requirements of the program.
'(This year's bills) would also offer some additional assurances to the vast majority of Arizona businesses that are doing everything they possibly can to comply with federal and state law,' said Glenn Hamer, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Business groups, however, weren't pleased with everything in the proposed revisions, which would allow people to make anonymous complaints under the law.
Employers said such complaints would leave them vulnerable to anonymous complaints from competitors or disgruntled workers.
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8068689&nav=
menu216_3
Wife of man killed by an illegal immigrant in ’07 crash hopes legislation will close loophole...
Bill rises from ashes of tragedy
Wife of man killed in ’07 crash hopes legislation will close loophole
By Katie Alberti
The Times Reporter (Dover, OH), March 24, 2008
Last June, Juan Us Ralios, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant, was charged with vehicular homicide after being involved in a crash on Rt. 250 west of Strasburg in which John R. Barr, 42, of Dover was killed.
Originally, Us Ralios, a Guatemalan native, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony.
However, that charge had to be lowered to a first-degree misdemeanor because he did not have a driver’s license, according to Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Amanda Spies.
He could have been charged with the felony, she said, if he had been drinking or had a suspended license. Us Ralios had not been drinking and did not have a suspended license.
That means, under Ohio law, there are no grounds to charge someone with a felony if he or she kills someone as the result of a traffic accident and simply does not have a driver’s license. Barr’s wife, Kelly C. Barr, 29, of Dover, thinks the law has allowed her husband’s killer to get off almost scot-free.
“You wouldn’t fly a plane without learning to fly a plane,” she said as she held her and her late husband’s 3-year-old daughter, Alison, on her lap. “Juan should have been charged with the maximum sentence to show not only him, but other people, that there are consequences for their actions.”
Now, Kelly C. Barr, along with John Barr’s cousin Kelly S. Barr of Canton are working with legislators to fix what they call the “loophole” that allowed Us Ralios to be charged with the misdemeanor.
Last fall, the two began working with then-Democratic Rep. William Healy of Canton, who is now mayor of that city, to introduce a measure to close the loophole. Once Healy became mayor, state Rep. Allan Sayre, D-Dover, took over as lead sponsor for the bill, known as House Bill 512.
Under the proposal, Kelly C. Barr said, unlicensed drivers could be charged with a felony in such cases.
Sayre said Monday that he expects the bill to be assigned to committee next week and the committee chairman told him he wants to begin testimony as soon as possible.
The June accident wasn’t the first Us Ralios had been involved in. In January 2006, he was arrested for driving drunk and crashing into a tree at Strasburg. He told officials his name was Minguel A. Marcano, a name officials later would discover was a stolen identity.
Shortly after being charged, Strasburg police said, officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructed them not to file charges because they were going to deport Marcano. They never did, and he returned to the area.
Because he was using the name Us Ralios when the accident in which Barr was killed occurred, officials had no idea he was the same man earlier identified as Marcano.
Us Ralios eventually was charged and pleaded no contest to four charges related to the Strasburg accident – operating a vehicle while intoxicated, no operator’s license, falsification and obstructing official business – and was sentenced to 140 days in the Tuscarawas County jail at New Philadelphia.
By that time he already had been charged for John Barr’s death and was serving his nine-month jail sentence.
“I had always suspected that this wasn’t his first offense,” Kelly C. Barr said. “It wasn’t surprising that he did it – it was how he went through the justice system, slipping through the cracks. ... If he had a license it would have been suspended, and it would have been a felony then.”
But a stricter sentence isn’t exactly what the Barrs are hoping to achieve through the legislation. They said they want to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
“I am doing it for several reasons,” Kelly C. Barr said. “I don’t want my husband’s death (to be) in vain because he was such a law-abiding citizen. I just want everyone else to be.
“I’m hoping to teach the community that there are consequences to irresponsible behavior. Learn the laws and abide by the laws. I’m hoping to make the roads safer.”
http://www.timesreporter.com/homepage/x79613192
Wife of man killed in ’07 crash hopes legislation will close loophole
By Katie Alberti
The Times Reporter (Dover, OH), March 24, 2008
Last June, Juan Us Ralios, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant, was charged with vehicular homicide after being involved in a crash on Rt. 250 west of Strasburg in which John R. Barr, 42, of Dover was killed.
Originally, Us Ralios, a Guatemalan native, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony.
However, that charge had to be lowered to a first-degree misdemeanor because he did not have a driver’s license, according to Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Amanda Spies.
He could have been charged with the felony, she said, if he had been drinking or had a suspended license. Us Ralios had not been drinking and did not have a suspended license.
That means, under Ohio law, there are no grounds to charge someone with a felony if he or she kills someone as the result of a traffic accident and simply does not have a driver’s license. Barr’s wife, Kelly C. Barr, 29, of Dover, thinks the law has allowed her husband’s killer to get off almost scot-free.
“You wouldn’t fly a plane without learning to fly a plane,” she said as she held her and her late husband’s 3-year-old daughter, Alison, on her lap. “Juan should have been charged with the maximum sentence to show not only him, but other people, that there are consequences for their actions.”
Now, Kelly C. Barr, along with John Barr’s cousin Kelly S. Barr of Canton are working with legislators to fix what they call the “loophole” that allowed Us Ralios to be charged with the misdemeanor.
Last fall, the two began working with then-Democratic Rep. William Healy of Canton, who is now mayor of that city, to introduce a measure to close the loophole. Once Healy became mayor, state Rep. Allan Sayre, D-Dover, took over as lead sponsor for the bill, known as House Bill 512.
Under the proposal, Kelly C. Barr said, unlicensed drivers could be charged with a felony in such cases.
Sayre said Monday that he expects the bill to be assigned to committee next week and the committee chairman told him he wants to begin testimony as soon as possible.
The June accident wasn’t the first Us Ralios had been involved in. In January 2006, he was arrested for driving drunk and crashing into a tree at Strasburg. He told officials his name was Minguel A. Marcano, a name officials later would discover was a stolen identity.
Shortly after being charged, Strasburg police said, officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructed them not to file charges because they were going to deport Marcano. They never did, and he returned to the area.
Because he was using the name Us Ralios when the accident in which Barr was killed occurred, officials had no idea he was the same man earlier identified as Marcano.
Us Ralios eventually was charged and pleaded no contest to four charges related to the Strasburg accident – operating a vehicle while intoxicated, no operator’s license, falsification and obstructing official business – and was sentenced to 140 days in the Tuscarawas County jail at New Philadelphia.
By that time he already had been charged for John Barr’s death and was serving his nine-month jail sentence.
“I had always suspected that this wasn’t his first offense,” Kelly C. Barr said. “It wasn’t surprising that he did it – it was how he went through the justice system, slipping through the cracks. ... If he had a license it would have been suspended, and it would have been a felony then.”
But a stricter sentence isn’t exactly what the Barrs are hoping to achieve through the legislation. They said they want to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
“I am doing it for several reasons,” Kelly C. Barr said. “I don’t want my husband’s death (to be) in vain because he was such a law-abiding citizen. I just want everyone else to be.
“I’m hoping to teach the community that there are consequences to irresponsible behavior. Learn the laws and abide by the laws. I’m hoping to make the roads safer.”
http://www.timesreporter.com/homepage/x79613192
Barletta: Illegals are behind many problems in U.S.
Barletta: Illegals are behind many problems in U.S.
By David Pierce
The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), March 26, 2008
Saylorsburg, PA -- Republican congressional hopeful Lou Barletta says illegal immigrants have depressed wages earned by Americans, while boosting costs for everything from public education to health care.
'It affects many issues,' the Hazleton mayor, who garnered national headlines for his anti-illegal immigrant stand, told the West End Republicans on Tuesday night.
Barletta, who is running this fall against 11th District incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski, led the charge for enactment of a Hazleton city ordinance requiring landlords to verify that anyone they rent to is in the U.S. legally. Barletta said he acted after it became apparent that a large percentage of the city's violent crimes, including murders, were committed by undocumented foreigners.
'I saw many gangs moving into Hazleton,' he said. 'It started with graffiti.'
He said Hazleton authorities confirmed that 48 people in the community belonged to six gangs with ties to New York.
'It's something we have to be aware of and it all ties in with our fight against illegal immigrants,' Barletta said during the local GOP dinner at the Olde Saylors Inne.
Barletta, 52, said American workers are forced to compete for jobs against illegal immigrants who are willing to work for substandard wages. He said cracking down on employers is the most effective way to curtail the flow of illegals.
'That is the magnet that is drawing illegal aliens to our country, and it's depressing wages,' Barletta said.
He said undocumented residents are treated for free in hospital emergency rooms, boosting health costs for others, and require schools to spend additional money on expensive 'English as a second language' curricula.
Barletta said he stood up for Hazleton against the burdens of illegal immigration, despite costly legal challenges to its law and negative national press coverage.
'I have the courage of my convictions,' Barletta said.
He said Kanjorski, whom Barletta is challenging for Congress for the second time, doesn't have deep convictions.
'Our congressman originally supported tolls on Interstate 80, to doing nothing, to finally fighting it,' he said of a proposal by Gov. Ed Rendell to federal highway officials. 'That's a failure of leadership.'
Barletta opposes I-80 tolls.
Barletta said when he became mayor nine years ago, he successfully challenged the legality of four city union contracts negotiated by his predecessor but never submitted to the Hazleton Council for approval. New contracts were approved and a $1.2 million deficit was turned into a surplus.
As mayor, Barletta said, he helped acquire and redevelop a small section of the community for housing that uses energy efficiencies.
Barletta said he favors public/private partnerships to solve problems. He points to a Hazleton program in which employers work with the school district to teach students the specific skills needed for local jobs.
'We became a farm system for the businesses that located there,' he said. 'Those are the types of things we should be doing everywhere.'
Barletta said he is opposed to mandatory universal health coverage.
'Government-run health care scares me to death,' he said. 'I don't think the government should be in the health care business. It could encourage more people to come into the country illegally for health care.'
He favors individual tax credits and greater competition among health facilities to improve health care access.
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A
ID=/20080326/NEWS/803260318
By David Pierce
The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), March 26, 2008
Saylorsburg, PA -- Republican congressional hopeful Lou Barletta says illegal immigrants have depressed wages earned by Americans, while boosting costs for everything from public education to health care.
'It affects many issues,' the Hazleton mayor, who garnered national headlines for his anti-illegal immigrant stand, told the West End Republicans on Tuesday night.
Barletta, who is running this fall against 11th District incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski, led the charge for enactment of a Hazleton city ordinance requiring landlords to verify that anyone they rent to is in the U.S. legally. Barletta said he acted after it became apparent that a large percentage of the city's violent crimes, including murders, were committed by undocumented foreigners.
'I saw many gangs moving into Hazleton,' he said. 'It started with graffiti.'
He said Hazleton authorities confirmed that 48 people in the community belonged to six gangs with ties to New York.
'It's something we have to be aware of and it all ties in with our fight against illegal immigrants,' Barletta said during the local GOP dinner at the Olde Saylors Inne.
Barletta, 52, said American workers are forced to compete for jobs against illegal immigrants who are willing to work for substandard wages. He said cracking down on employers is the most effective way to curtail the flow of illegals.
'That is the magnet that is drawing illegal aliens to our country, and it's depressing wages,' Barletta said.
He said undocumented residents are treated for free in hospital emergency rooms, boosting health costs for others, and require schools to spend additional money on expensive 'English as a second language' curricula.
Barletta said he stood up for Hazleton against the burdens of illegal immigration, despite costly legal challenges to its law and negative national press coverage.
'I have the courage of my convictions,' Barletta said.
He said Kanjorski, whom Barletta is challenging for Congress for the second time, doesn't have deep convictions.
'Our congressman originally supported tolls on Interstate 80, to doing nothing, to finally fighting it,' he said of a proposal by Gov. Ed Rendell to federal highway officials. 'That's a failure of leadership.'
Barletta opposes I-80 tolls.
Barletta said when he became mayor nine years ago, he successfully challenged the legality of four city union contracts negotiated by his predecessor but never submitted to the Hazleton Council for approval. New contracts were approved and a $1.2 million deficit was turned into a surplus.
As mayor, Barletta said, he helped acquire and redevelop a small section of the community for housing that uses energy efficiencies.
Barletta said he favors public/private partnerships to solve problems. He points to a Hazleton program in which employers work with the school district to teach students the specific skills needed for local jobs.
'We became a farm system for the businesses that located there,' he said. 'Those are the types of things we should be doing everywhere.'
Barletta said he is opposed to mandatory universal health coverage.
'Government-run health care scares me to death,' he said. 'I don't think the government should be in the health care business. It could encourage more people to come into the country illegally for health care.'
He favors individual tax credits and greater competition among health facilities to improve health care access.
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A
ID=/20080326/NEWS/803260318
Court spurns Bush in death row case...
Court spurns Bush in death row case
By Joan Biskupic
USA Today, March 25, 2008
Washington, DC -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday rebuffed President Bush's arguments about his power over foreign affairs, ruling 6-3 that Texas and other states need not provide new hearings to Mexican citizens on death row who were not told they could get consular help when arrested.
In a decision that raises questions about U.S. treaty obligations, the court rejected an appeal by Jose Medellin, sentenced to die for the rape and murder of two girls in a gang initiation in 1993.
The majority said that neither a 2004 decision by the International Court of Justice nor a memorandum by President Bush overrides Texas' authority to deny Medellin another hearing.
The International Court of Justice — the United Nations' primary tribunal, based in The Hague, Netherlands — had ruled in 2004 that Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals on state death rows deserved review of their cases because they had not been told of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention. The 1969 international treaty signed by the United States spells out the right to contact a representative.
Bush, a former Texas governor, issued a memorandum saying states had to abide by the decision.
In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said the president may not 'pre-empt' state law. Roberts said the ICJ's view of the U.S. obligation under the Vienna Convention constitutes an international law obligation. But he stressed, 'Not all international law obligations automatically constitute binding federal law enforceable in United States courts.'
He said the president could not, without action by Congress, enforce the IJC judgment.
Some international law experts said the decision could sow confusion. 'The court admits that the international judgment is binding on the United States in international law, but it does not accept that the courts of Texas are bound to carry it out,' says Columbia University law professor Lori Fisler Damrosch, an expert on the ICJ who submitted a brief on Medellin's side.
'This perplexing result will make it more difficult for the United States to insist on compliance by other states … under the Vienna Convention and under the provisions of at least 70 other (comparable) treaties,' Damrosch says.
Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said, 'We are disappointed that the Supreme Court rejected the effort to comply with our international legal obligation through presidential action.'
Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito joined Roberts. Justice John Paul Stevens concurred in the judgment that Bush's action was not binding, but he encouraged Texas to hold a hearing into whether Medellin's case was hurt by the lack of consular assistance.
Dissenting were Justices Stephen Breyer, David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They said the United States' signing of the Vienna Convention requires it to follow ICJ decisions on nations' obligations.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-03-25-
scotus-mexican_N.htm
By Joan Biskupic
USA Today, March 25, 2008
Washington, DC -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday rebuffed President Bush's arguments about his power over foreign affairs, ruling 6-3 that Texas and other states need not provide new hearings to Mexican citizens on death row who were not told they could get consular help when arrested.
In a decision that raises questions about U.S. treaty obligations, the court rejected an appeal by Jose Medellin, sentenced to die for the rape and murder of two girls in a gang initiation in 1993.
The majority said that neither a 2004 decision by the International Court of Justice nor a memorandum by President Bush overrides Texas' authority to deny Medellin another hearing.
The International Court of Justice — the United Nations' primary tribunal, based in The Hague, Netherlands — had ruled in 2004 that Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals on state death rows deserved review of their cases because they had not been told of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention. The 1969 international treaty signed by the United States spells out the right to contact a representative.
Bush, a former Texas governor, issued a memorandum saying states had to abide by the decision.
In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said the president may not 'pre-empt' state law. Roberts said the ICJ's view of the U.S. obligation under the Vienna Convention constitutes an international law obligation. But he stressed, 'Not all international law obligations automatically constitute binding federal law enforceable in United States courts.'
He said the president could not, without action by Congress, enforce the IJC judgment.
Some international law experts said the decision could sow confusion. 'The court admits that the international judgment is binding on the United States in international law, but it does not accept that the courts of Texas are bound to carry it out,' says Columbia University law professor Lori Fisler Damrosch, an expert on the ICJ who submitted a brief on Medellin's side.
'This perplexing result will make it more difficult for the United States to insist on compliance by other states … under the Vienna Convention and under the provisions of at least 70 other (comparable) treaties,' Damrosch says.
Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said, 'We are disappointed that the Supreme Court rejected the effort to comply with our international legal obligation through presidential action.'
Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito joined Roberts. Justice John Paul Stevens concurred in the judgment that Bush's action was not binding, but he encouraged Texas to hold a hearing into whether Medellin's case was hurt by the lack of consular assistance.
Dissenting were Justices Stephen Breyer, David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They said the United States' signing of the Vienna Convention requires it to follow ICJ decisions on nations' obligations.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-03-25-
scotus-mexican_N.htm
Real, not ‘virtual,' fence called for to stop illegal immigrants...
Real, not ‘virtual,' fence called for to stop illegal immigrants
By Rob Hotakainen
The McClatchy Newspapers, March 25, 2008
Washington, DC -- As a farmer, Rep. Sam Graves says, he knows a thing or two about fences. And the Missouri Republican says he knows this for sure: It makes no sense to try to keep out illegal immigrants by building a 'virtual fence' on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Standing in front of an iron fence Tuesday at a fence company in Kansas City, Mo., Graves called on Congress to pass a bill that would force the Department of Homeland Security to scrap its high-tech virtual fence and build a real fence instead.
'I know if I put up a virtual fence on my farm, it wouldn't keep any cattle in,' Graves said. 'It wouldn't work at all.'
The congressman also has signed a petition that would force a vote in the House of Representatives on a separate bill that would add 8,000 Border Patrol agents and increase the size of the federal judiciary to deal with illegal immigrants.
In what's expected to be a tough election year for them, Republicans are trying to put the spotlight on a volatile issue that continues to poll well with their party's base.
Graves introduced the bill, called the Real Fence Act, earlier this month.
'I think we can get a lot of support for this,' he said.
Earlier this month, the Bush administration outlined plans to begin operating portions of a virtual fence along the Southwestern border later this year. The DHS disputed news reports that a 28-mile pilot project to test the technology was a failure.
Top officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said they were on track to complete hundreds of miles of traditional fencing by the end of the year. But they acknowledged that disputes with Texas landowners could endanger their timetable.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5648541.
html
By Rob Hotakainen
The McClatchy Newspapers, March 25, 2008
Washington, DC -- As a farmer, Rep. Sam Graves says, he knows a thing or two about fences. And the Missouri Republican says he knows this for sure: It makes no sense to try to keep out illegal immigrants by building a 'virtual fence' on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Standing in front of an iron fence Tuesday at a fence company in Kansas City, Mo., Graves called on Congress to pass a bill that would force the Department of Homeland Security to scrap its high-tech virtual fence and build a real fence instead.
'I know if I put up a virtual fence on my farm, it wouldn't keep any cattle in,' Graves said. 'It wouldn't work at all.'
The congressman also has signed a petition that would force a vote in the House of Representatives on a separate bill that would add 8,000 Border Patrol agents and increase the size of the federal judiciary to deal with illegal immigrants.
In what's expected to be a tough election year for them, Republicans are trying to put the spotlight on a volatile issue that continues to poll well with their party's base.
Graves introduced the bill, called the Real Fence Act, earlier this month.
'I think we can get a lot of support for this,' he said.
Earlier this month, the Bush administration outlined plans to begin operating portions of a virtual fence along the Southwestern border later this year. The DHS disputed news reports that a 28-mile pilot project to test the technology was a failure.
Top officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said they were on track to complete hundreds of miles of traditional fencing by the end of the year. But they acknowledged that disputes with Texas landowners could endanger their timetable.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5648541.
html
10 Prints Are Better Than 2, Homeland Security Says...
10 Prints Are Better Than 2, Homeland Security Says
By Anthony Ramirez
The New York Times, March 26, 2008
Under the stern gaze of passport officials and the even sterner gaze of television cameras, the two British citizens, fresh off a morning flight from London on Tuesday, passed through customs at Kennedy International Airport separately and came to separate conclusions.
Both pressed one thumb, then the other fingers on the glowing screen of a small white box. Then the process was repeated for the other hand.
It was a new customs requirement, a 21st-century way of recording fingerprints. A little less than a minute later, both were cleared.
''It was nice and simple and makes sense to me,'' said David Hughes, 45, a beverage consultant living in London, ''although I think the fingerprint lady was a little overawed by all the cameras.''
Edward Docx, 35, a London-based novelist here on book tour, disagreed. ''What would Mark Twain or F. Scott Fitzgerald say about this?'' he asked. ''I would think they would say, 'No Thanks.' ''
''This felt like, What else do you want from me?'' Mr. Docx continued. ''Pretty soon it'll be a full naked body scan, with my irises and my DNA profile. It makes the honest visitor to America, of which 99.9999 percent coming through here are, feel unwelcome so you guys can catch the 0.0001 percent of people who are a problem.''
Mr. Docx and Mr. Hughes were among the first foreign travelers to undergo the Department of Homeland Security's new 10-finger screening process, unveiled for the news media on Tuesday.
The system is being tested at nine other major airports in the United States and has been under some form of testing since 2004. It will be reviewed for final approval in December.
The previous Homeland Security system involved the recording of only the left and right index fingers.
If the new system passes muster, it will eventually be introduced almost everywhere there is a Customs officer -- some 311 land, air and sea entry points, including those along the Mexico and Canada borders where visitors enter on foot or by automobile.
Officials said that the system would apply to the 80 percent of foreign nationals who are required to carry visas and are between the ages of 14 and 79. Diplomats and a few others are exempt.
People holding American passports are also exempt, although the United Kingdom and the European Union are considering similar systems that would require American visitors to Europe to submit to some form of fingerprinting. Europe's considering of the system was one reason cited by Homeland Security officials for installing its 10-fingerprint process.
The old system, introduced in 2004, detected more than 2,000 violators of immigration laws, Homeland Security officials told reporters. It captured some 90 million fingerprints. But it also yielded false matches.
The new system, whose image-capture units each cost as much as $3,000, will eventually cost more than $280 million, paid for by the federal government, rather than the airlines.
The recording of such identifiers as fingerprints on computers is known as biometrics.
Robert Mocny, director of U.S.-Visit, the Homeland Security program that administers the new system, said Interpol estimated that 6.7 million passports had been lost or stolen, a security risk of major proportions.
Even under the old flawed fingerprints system, there were some successes, Mr. Mocny said.
In one case at Kennedy, Mr. Mocny said, there was a man who carried a valid passport, and his appearance matched his passport photo.
But his two fingerprints identified him as a man who had once been caught filming a military installation.
The man had stolen the passport, Mr. Mocny said, from his identical twin brother.
On an average day, Homeland Security officials say, nearly 14,400 international visitors pass through Kennedy International customs.
The new system clears passengers well within the 50-to-90-second interview ''window,'' as did the two-finger system, officials said.
But that was not what was on the mind of Mr. Hughes, the beverage consultant. ''What do they do with all this after they've gotten it?'' he asked.
In Britain last year, two computer discs containing government records of 25 million people -- including names, home addresses and bank account information -- were lost in the mail.
''All of our information just went walking, like that,'' Mr. Hughes said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/nyregion/26prints
.html
By Anthony Ramirez
The New York Times, March 26, 2008
Under the stern gaze of passport officials and the even sterner gaze of television cameras, the two British citizens, fresh off a morning flight from London on Tuesday, passed through customs at Kennedy International Airport separately and came to separate conclusions.
Both pressed one thumb, then the other fingers on the glowing screen of a small white box. Then the process was repeated for the other hand.
It was a new customs requirement, a 21st-century way of recording fingerprints. A little less than a minute later, both were cleared.
''It was nice and simple and makes sense to me,'' said David Hughes, 45, a beverage consultant living in London, ''although I think the fingerprint lady was a little overawed by all the cameras.''
Edward Docx, 35, a London-based novelist here on book tour, disagreed. ''What would Mark Twain or F. Scott Fitzgerald say about this?'' he asked. ''I would think they would say, 'No Thanks.' ''
''This felt like, What else do you want from me?'' Mr. Docx continued. ''Pretty soon it'll be a full naked body scan, with my irises and my DNA profile. It makes the honest visitor to America, of which 99.9999 percent coming through here are, feel unwelcome so you guys can catch the 0.0001 percent of people who are a problem.''
Mr. Docx and Mr. Hughes were among the first foreign travelers to undergo the Department of Homeland Security's new 10-finger screening process, unveiled for the news media on Tuesday.
The system is being tested at nine other major airports in the United States and has been under some form of testing since 2004. It will be reviewed for final approval in December.
The previous Homeland Security system involved the recording of only the left and right index fingers.
If the new system passes muster, it will eventually be introduced almost everywhere there is a Customs officer -- some 311 land, air and sea entry points, including those along the Mexico and Canada borders where visitors enter on foot or by automobile.
Officials said that the system would apply to the 80 percent of foreign nationals who are required to carry visas and are between the ages of 14 and 79. Diplomats and a few others are exempt.
People holding American passports are also exempt, although the United Kingdom and the European Union are considering similar systems that would require American visitors to Europe to submit to some form of fingerprinting. Europe's considering of the system was one reason cited by Homeland Security officials for installing its 10-fingerprint process.
The old system, introduced in 2004, detected more than 2,000 violators of immigration laws, Homeland Security officials told reporters. It captured some 90 million fingerprints. But it also yielded false matches.
The new system, whose image-capture units each cost as much as $3,000, will eventually cost more than $280 million, paid for by the federal government, rather than the airlines.
The recording of such identifiers as fingerprints on computers is known as biometrics.
Robert Mocny, director of U.S.-Visit, the Homeland Security program that administers the new system, said Interpol estimated that 6.7 million passports had been lost or stolen, a security risk of major proportions.
Even under the old flawed fingerprints system, there were some successes, Mr. Mocny said.
In one case at Kennedy, Mr. Mocny said, there was a man who carried a valid passport, and his appearance matched his passport photo.
But his two fingerprints identified him as a man who had once been caught filming a military installation.
The man had stolen the passport, Mr. Mocny said, from his identical twin brother.
On an average day, Homeland Security officials say, nearly 14,400 international visitors pass through Kennedy International customs.
The new system clears passengers well within the 50-to-90-second interview ''window,'' as did the two-finger system, officials said.
But that was not what was on the mind of Mr. Hughes, the beverage consultant. ''What do they do with all this after they've gotten it?'' he asked.
In Britain last year, two computer discs containing government records of 25 million people -- including names, home addresses and bank account information -- were lost in the mail.
''All of our information just went walking, like that,'' Mr. Hughes said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/nyregion/26prints
.html
Placentia, Calif. public works director Gerry Hubble cited after allegedly hiring two illegal immigrants...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Placentia official in hot water over day laborer incident Public works director Gerry Hubble cited after allegedly hiring two illegal immigrants.
By ERIC NEFF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
PLACENTIA – Public Works Director Gerry Hubble is facing trespassing charges for allegedly driving into a Lake Forest strip mall and hiring two immigrants as day laborers.
A sheriff's report alleges that Hubble stopped his truck on private property at 25252 Jeronimo Road in Lake Forest Sept. 15 and "made no attempt to patronize any of the business on the property."
A security guard hired by the property owner called sheriff's deputies, who pulled over Hubble's truck and arrested him and two men described as illegal immigrants.
Hubble, a Modjeska Canyon resident, has pled not guilty to the trespassing charge. A pre-trial date has been set for April 2. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Activists associated with the Minuteman Project verbally confronted Hubble at Placentia's most recent City Council meeting and have posted pictures of Hubble trying to hire the workers on their website.
Hubble sat quietly shaking his head as six activists took turns criticizing him during the public comments portion of the meeting, calling him a "criminal," "pathetic" and a "piss-poor American."
A woman sat in the back of the chambers holding a sign, "Gerry Hubble Law Breaker," and Minuteman bloggers posted photos of the scene online.
"It was kind of tough having to sit there and listen without being able to respond," Hubble said.
Activists organized the protests after Hubble appeared in front of Lake Forest's City Council March 4 to protest the city's decision to prosecute.
Lake Forest has been trying to halt day laborer hires at the Jeronimo site, arresting workers and residents for trespassing and some workers for having illegal documents. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the city on behalf of the workers.
"I think it would be a great time to hold a rally in front of Placentia City Hall and let Mr. Hubble know what you think about his actions in front of his peers at the City Council meeting," read a message board entry on saveourstate.org. "If this man gets away with this, we have lost."
According to transcripts from the Lake Forest council meeting, Hubble said that he was on the property "to hire a couple of day laborers but second to pick up a couple bottles of water," debating the sheriff's claim that he did not attempt to patronize any of the business.
"I kind of liken it to shopping at Mervyn's or Macy's where you go to look for a shirt, you don't see what you want so you don't buy it," the transcript reads. He also stated that he was hiring the laborers to help "load a couple units of railroad ties." The truck that was pulled over was registered to Hubble.
After getting pulled over and questioned, Hubble allegedly told the deputy: "My intent was to hire day laborers."
According to the sheriff's report, two men that Hubble had picked up on the property were arrested for trespassing and having counterfeit Matrícula Consular cards, an identification card issued by the Mexican government.
Hubble declined comment on the allegations themselves, only pointing out that he had not been read his Miranda rights before talking with the officer.
Placentia Mayor Scott Nelson thanked the activists for their input and said that further investigation was needed before the city made any sort of comment. City Administrator Bob Dominguez declined to comment on any potential actions taken by the city.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hubble-city-prop
erty-2005239-laborers-placentia
Placentia official in hot water over day laborer incident Public works director Gerry Hubble cited after allegedly hiring two illegal immigrants.
By ERIC NEFF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
PLACENTIA – Public Works Director Gerry Hubble is facing trespassing charges for allegedly driving into a Lake Forest strip mall and hiring two immigrants as day laborers.
A sheriff's report alleges that Hubble stopped his truck on private property at 25252 Jeronimo Road in Lake Forest Sept. 15 and "made no attempt to patronize any of the business on the property."
A security guard hired by the property owner called sheriff's deputies, who pulled over Hubble's truck and arrested him and two men described as illegal immigrants.
Hubble, a Modjeska Canyon resident, has pled not guilty to the trespassing charge. A pre-trial date has been set for April 2. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Activists associated with the Minuteman Project verbally confronted Hubble at Placentia's most recent City Council meeting and have posted pictures of Hubble trying to hire the workers on their website.
Hubble sat quietly shaking his head as six activists took turns criticizing him during the public comments portion of the meeting, calling him a "criminal," "pathetic" and a "piss-poor American."
A woman sat in the back of the chambers holding a sign, "Gerry Hubble Law Breaker," and Minuteman bloggers posted photos of the scene online.
"It was kind of tough having to sit there and listen without being able to respond," Hubble said.
Activists organized the protests after Hubble appeared in front of Lake Forest's City Council March 4 to protest the city's decision to prosecute.
Lake Forest has been trying to halt day laborer hires at the Jeronimo site, arresting workers and residents for trespassing and some workers for having illegal documents. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the city on behalf of the workers.
"I think it would be a great time to hold a rally in front of Placentia City Hall and let Mr. Hubble know what you think about his actions in front of his peers at the City Council meeting," read a message board entry on saveourstate.org. "If this man gets away with this, we have lost."
According to transcripts from the Lake Forest council meeting, Hubble said that he was on the property "to hire a couple of day laborers but second to pick up a couple bottles of water," debating the sheriff's claim that he did not attempt to patronize any of the business.
"I kind of liken it to shopping at Mervyn's or Macy's where you go to look for a shirt, you don't see what you want so you don't buy it," the transcript reads. He also stated that he was hiring the laborers to help "load a couple units of railroad ties." The truck that was pulled over was registered to Hubble.
After getting pulled over and questioned, Hubble allegedly told the deputy: "My intent was to hire day laborers."
According to the sheriff's report, two men that Hubble had picked up on the property were arrested for trespassing and having counterfeit Matrícula Consular cards, an identification card issued by the Mexican government.
Hubble declined comment on the allegations themselves, only pointing out that he had not been read his Miranda rights before talking with the officer.
Placentia Mayor Scott Nelson thanked the activists for their input and said that further investigation was needed before the city made any sort of comment. City Administrator Bob Dominguez declined to comment on any potential actions taken by the city.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hubble-city-prop
erty-2005239-laborers-placentia
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