Senate Immigration Bill Would Allow U.S. Citizens to Sponsor Same-Sex Partners

(CNSNews.com) – An immigration bill introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on Thursday includes the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow U.S. citizens to sponsor their non-citizen, same-sex partners.

“Now is the time to reform our nation's cruel and broken immigration system,” Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said in a press release following the introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010. “Today, there are 12 million undocumented immigrants, including at least half a million LGBT people who are forced to live in the shadows of our society.” (LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.)

“The Uniting American Families Act is consistent with U.S. immigration law's existing policy of keeping families intact,” Carey said. “These couples and their families have been kept separated or forced to live abroad. It’s unconscionable to ask any American to choose between family and country.”

The immigration bill also includes the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act), which would allow children of illegal aliens to achieve citizenship through completing two years of college or two years of service in the military.

“The DREAM Act will help ensure brighter and more secure futures for our young people, including countless LGBT youth, by providing them a path to citizenship,” Carey said. “The United States is built on the belief that everyone should get a fair shake to fully participate in civic life, and to be able to build a future in the country they love and call home.”

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/76049

Fencing with Mexico: What's good for the ...

While lecturing America for years on its immigration "intolerance" and "hate," Mexico is moving ahead with a wall along its Guatemalan border -- reportedly to be paid for, in part, with U.S. tax dollars.

So now the shoe's on the other foot and the U.S. is getting kicked with it.

Mexican authorities say the Guatemalan wall is intended to stem contraband and about 500,000 illegal immigrants annually. The same number of Mexican illegals cross into the U.S. yearly just through Arizona.

And yet last May in Washington -- and to President Obama's applause -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon vilified Arizona for enforcing U.S. immigration laws. Said Mr. Calderon: "My government cannot and will not remain indifferent when these kinds of policies go against human rights." That includes Mexico's long-standing criticism of a fence along its U.S. border.

Meanwhile, Mexico has turned a deaf ear to the Guatemalan government's opposition to the planned border barrier.

And if all this isn't sufficiently insulting, the U.S. dons a dunce cap for providing Mexico with funding to build its wall, as reported by the New American magazine website. So, it's OK to use taxpayers' money to help Mexico resolve its illegals dilemma while turning a predominantly blind eye to the same problem that besieges America.

Such hypocrisy is as profound and unsettling as the mindset that excuses illegal immigration.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_702129.html

jill stein wants illegal aliens to have driver's licenses and in-state college tuition

Green Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein said she would hike taxes on Bay State “millionaires” in order to cut costs for working-class families - a plan reminiscent of President Obama’s controversial “spread the wealth around” comments during the 2008 presidential campaign.

“I wouldn’t say it’s spreading the wealth. I think it’s allowing working people to keep their wealth,” Stein said of her plan, which would increase taxes on big earners because she believes the “top 3 percent” highest incomes in Massachusetts haven’t felt the pain.

“Working families are paying twice the rate of millionaires, so I want to reduce the burden for people who have been overpaying now for about 15 years.”

Stein - who spoke with the Herald in the last of four State House Insight interviews with the gubernatorial candidates - also said she supports granting in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants as well as giving them state driver’s licenses.

“I don’t think people are illegal. I just think that

there’s a human rights issue here that just makes it wrong to call human beings illegal,” said Stein, who blamed the North American Free Trade Agreement for the boom in illegal immigration.

The Lexington resident vowed to stay in the race - even though she has struggled with fund raising and just yesterday was told that she failed to hit the $125,000 threshold in contributions of $250 or less needed to qualify for matching public funds.

Stein argued that her long-shot candidacy assures “that we can have a real democratic debate that doesn’t depend on selling out to the usual suspects - the health insurance lobbyists, and Cape Wind and the big utilities. We can have a real debate when people aren’t being paid to be silent.”

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20101001jill_stein_tax_rich_to_cut_costs_for_working_families/

Border Patrol Seize Over 4 Tons Of Marijuana & arrest 5 illegal aliens

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than four tons of marijuana in a series of events in the western portion of the Rio Grande Valley this week.

A Border Patrol press release stated agents at the McAllen station saw several individuals wading in the waters of a settling basin in Hidalgo early Thursday morning.

A helicopter arrived soon after and helped apprehend the five suspects, including two juveniles and three adult men. Agents found sugar sacks stuffed with marijuana near the group, all of whom admitted to being Mexican citizens in the United States illegally.

Border Patrol agents also found $1 million worth of the drug in an abandoned home near Rio Grande City on Wednesday.

Starr County sheriff’s deputies and K-9 units helped find the shed behind the house where the marijuana was stashed.

In 15 separate incidents – from McAllen to west of Rio Grande City – agents seized more than 8,000 pounds of narcotics that carried a street value of more than $6.5 million.

Source - http://www.themonitor.com/articles/-43252--.html

United Nations Takes Aim At Ariz. - U.N. Criticizes Treatment of Illegal Immigrants

PHOENIX -- The United Nations is making a plea for sympathy and the treatment of illegal immigrants, while taking a shot at Arizona's new immigration law SB 1070.

For months, Arizona has taken center stage in the debate over illegal immigration. However, that stage just got a little bigger after a United Nations human rights group issued a statement that seems to target Arizona's new immigration law.

The U.N. statement said it is, "deeply concerned about international migrants. Migrants in an irregular situation are more likely to face discrimination, exclusion, exploitation and abuse and more likely to be targeted... by racists... and victimized by unscrupulous employers."

"I don't think its the U.N.'s place," said Phoenix resident Kate Murphy of the United Nations' comments on immigration.

Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer said, "The U.N. appears to have a fundamental misunderstanding of our law and what it represents. Arizona respects the rights of migrants. Gov. Brewer believes the U.N. should respect the rule of law in the United States."

Steve Rath of Tempe was asked if he had ever heard the term "migrants in an irregular situation."

"I have never heard that term, no, that's a new one," said Rath. "They can put any kind of euphemism they want to, it still comes down to the word illegal."

However, not everyone is convinced the U.N.'s involvement in the immigration debate is a bad thing.

"I really do feel there is a lot of compassion lost," said Lauren Karp of Phoenix. "There needs to be more of an understanding over what immigrants go through."

http://www.kpho.com/politics/25234797/detail.html

Las Lomas - illegal alien arrested for drive-by killing

LAS LOMAS — A man faced a murder charge Thursday after a fatal drive-by shooting in this small Starr County community.

Starr County sheriff’s deputies arrested Juan Jose Arrellano, 29, hours after the shooting death of Jose Luis Diaz, also 29. He was later charged with murder and remained at the Starr County Jail Thursday afternoon in lieu of a $1 million bond.

The suspect told deputies he was picked up by three unknown individuals at his home about 10 p.m. Wednesday who told him to drive his black Ford truck by Diaz’s home, Starr County Sheriff Rene Fuentes said. The three suspects then threw beer bottles at the victim’s home until he came outside.

As Arrellano drove away from Diaz’s house, the victim followed in a black Ford Escape with three other passengers. The suspects pulled over at North Blanca Road and all four fired at the victim, Arrellano told investigators.

Another victim, Alfonso Palacios, 30, was shot in the arm. Emergency crews rushed him to McAllen Medical Center, where he was later released.

Authorities said have not learned what motivated the men to kill Diaz.

If convicted of murder, Arrellano could face up to life in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Source - http://www.themonitor.com/articles/-43222--.html

Visa Waiver Program Allows Terrorists To Enter US

I was alerted to the news report Border Investigation Gets Worldwide Response by Brad Stone, a producer of an Atlanta-based television news program that airs on WSB-TV.

Brad is the producer of the news reports on the threat posed to our nation by aliens who run our nation's southern border who are referred to as "OTM's" (Other Than Mexican).

In fact, he interviewed me for one of those reports several months ago. The link above is the report which aired on May 26th of this year.

The news report I am focusing on today, was issued by ABC News and is of obvious great concern. The report notes that a credible threat now exists for countries in Europe as well as for the United States.

'Credible But Not Specific' Threat of New Terrorist Attack

The ABC news report provides disconcerting information and makes a point I have made on innumerable occasions including when I have testified before Congressional hearings- the Visa Waiver Program creates a major national security vulnerability for our nation. Consider these excerpts from the article:

The captured German reportedly said several teams of attackers, all with European passports, had been trained and dispatched from training camps in Waziristan and Pakistan. Officials say the German claimed the attack plan had been approved by Osama Bin Laden.

"The advantage, of course, is the passport, because with the German passport it's a lot easier to travel," said Steinberg.

Travelers with German passports do not require a visa to enter the United States. Meanwhile, even while the administration has recently disclosed its intentions of making it easier to wiretap internet devices such as Blackberrys and computers, the Visa Waiver continues on with more countries being added continually. The most recent addition to the list of countries whose citizens do not require visas to enter the United States is the 36th such country, Greece, a country that is in an economic state of free-fall.

The United States government has no reliable way of determining the true number of illegal aliens in our country that entered our country with visas or under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program and then either overstayed their authorized period of admission and hence became illegally present, or otherwise violated the terms of their admission by accepting unauthorized employment, failing to show up for a job they were admitted to do or failed to attend a college or other school they were admitted to attend.

US-VISIT was supposed to track the arrival and departure of nonimmigrant aliens (aliens who were admitted for a limited period of time). Well over one billion dollars has been spent on this program- a program that was strongly recommended by the 9/11 Commission, yet it has yet to be completely implemented.

Recently, the administration said it would seek to no longer link biometrics to this system even though this would be the only real means of making certain that this program has real integrity.

It is important to remember that each of the 19 terrorists that attacked our nation on 9/11 had entered our country with visas and then embedded themselves in our country as they worked towards their outrageous goals that culminated in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Estimates as the number of aliens in our country who violated the terms of their admission range from 4 million to well over 5 million.

In any event, a recent report indicated that the DHS (Department of Homeland Surrender) has assigned all of 272 special agents of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to track down and arrest these millions of illegal aliens! In this game of "Hide & Seek" the aliens are hiding and our government is barely seeking!

On May 11, 2006 I testified before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House or Representatives' Committee on International Relations on the topic: "Visa Overstays:* *Can We Bar The Terrorist Door?"

Here is the transcript of that hearing in its entirety

You can review the State Department's website for information about this wrong headed and, indeed, treacherous Visa Waiver Program.

There are definite benefits that the visa requirement can provide to enhance national security if that program is properly implemented. Here is a list of the most significant of those benefits:

1. By requiring visas of aliens who seek to enter the United States, this process helps to screen potential passengers on airliners that are destined to the United States. Richard Reid, the so-called "Shoe Bomber" was able to board an airliner to come to the United States although he had no intentions of entering the United States, his apparent goal was to blow up the airliner and its many passengers somewhere over the depths of the Atlantic Ocean by detonating explosives he had concealed in his shoes. Because he is a subject of Great Britain, a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, Reid did not obtain a visa before he boarded that airliner.

2. The CBP inspectors are supposed to make a decision in one minute or less as to the admissibility of an alien seeking to enter the United States. The visa requirement helps them to do a more effective job. Their's is a tough job I can certainly relate to, I began my career at the former INS as an immigration inspector at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and worked there for 4 years before I became a special agent.

3. The application for a nonimmigrant visa contains roughly 40 questions that could provide invaluable information to law enforcement officials should that alien become the target of a criminal or terrorist investigation. The information could provide intelligence as well as investigative leads. You can check out the application for a nonimmigrant (tourist) visa.

4. If an alien applicant lies on the application for a visa that lie is called "visa fraud." The maximum penalty for visa fraud starts out at 10 years in jail for those who commit this crime simply in order to come to the United States, ostensibly to seek unlawful employment or other such purpose. The penalty increases to 15 years in jail for those aliens who obtain a visa to commit a felony. For aliens who engage in visa fraud to traffic in narcotics or commit another narcotics-related crime, the maximum jail sentence that can be imposes rises to 20 years. Finally, when an alien can be proven to have engaged in visa fraud in furtherance of terrorism, the maximum penalty climbs to 25 years in prison. It is important to note that while it may be difficult to prove that an individual is a terrorist, it is usually relatively simple to prove that the alien has committed visa fraud when there is fraud involved in the visa application. Indeed, terror suspects are often charged with visa fraud.

5. The charge of visa fraud can also be extremely helpful to law enforcement authorities who want to take a bad guy off the street without tipping their hand to the other members of a criminal conspiracy or terrorism conspiracy that the individual arrested was being arrested for his involvement in terrorism or a criminal organization. You can arrest the alien who commits visa fraud for that violation of law and not for other charges that might make it clear that the investigation underway is targeting a criminal or terrorist organization.

6. Even when an alien applies for a visa and his application is denied, the application he filed remains available for law enforcement and intelligence personnel to review to seek to glean intelligence from that application.

The travel and hospitality industries have created a program they call "Discover America." The goal of this program is to generate more tourism by whatever means possible. Incredibly this includes advocating for adding more countries to the Visa Waiver Program! Someone really needs to remind the executives of the travel and tourism industries that al-Qaeda has already discovered America!

This program actually flies in the face of the best interests of those industries- if God forbid, there is another terrorist attack, think about how much damage would be done to the travel and hospitality industries! Not only would lots of innocent people be likely to lose their lives but people would be far less likely to travel in the wake of a massive attack. What is truly disturbing is how our government is willing to take the ill-conceived advice of the fools who think that expanding the Visa Waiver Program is a great idea!

Today our government is making national security, diplomatic and economic decisions based on the massive pressures exerted by corporations and their greedy and largely inept executives!

Perhaps the time has come to refer to the House of Representatives as being the "House of Corporate Interests!"

A nation's security begins at its borders. Our nation's borders do not only exist along the northern and southern extremes of our nation. Our borders exist along the estiamted 95,000 miles of coastline and our border exist at every international airport. That is why I recently wrote a commentary in which I stated that "Every state is a border state!"

Securing the borders of a nation is not an act of bigotry but an act of commonsense - especially in this perilous era!

As I have often noted, a country without secure borders can no more stand than can a house without walls!

November 2nd cannot come fast enough!

We the People, throughout this nation must seek opportunities to make it clear to our political "representatives" that we understand their game plan and won't tolerate it!.

I believe our nation's is greatly benefited by the rich diversity of our people which is why I could never imagine living anywhere except New York City, arguably the most diverse city in our nation if not, in fact, the world. However, my idea of diversity most certainly does not include members of MS-13, the Mexican drug cartels and members of al-Qaeda!

If reading this makes it difficult for you to sleep now- perhaps you could do something worthwhile- perhaps you might spend a couple of your sleepless hours writing letters to your elected representatives this evening and remind them that Election Day is just months away!

We the People can add to the consternation of these politicians who are failing to live up to their oaths of office by contacting them and making it abundantly clear that election day is coming and they should think of election day as their personal "Day of Reckoning!"

Our government must live up to its obligation of protecting its own citizens and, indeed, all who are present in our country from the criminals and terrorists who would threaten our lives and the survival of our nation and our way of life. In the end, the government is actually those who are elected to act as our "leaders." Those who fail to truly lead and look out for those they are supposed to represent, need to be sent packing this coming Election Day!

If our country is to survive and if our children and their children are to get their share of the "American Dream" the citizens of this nation must take their citizenship seriously!

We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm's way in defense of this nation and our citizens.

My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings *before* more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.

The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.

Any politician who refuses to work to secure our borders and create an immigration system that has integrity is either corrupt or too dumb to keep his (her) job. Any politician, irrespective of party affiliation who favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the outrageous betrayal that this would represent given the national security implications that this program would have, should be shown the door at the next election!

If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same. We need to create a "Bucket Brigade of Truth!"

In less than 5 weeks, each and every member of the House of Representatives is up for reelection and more than one third of the members of the United States Senate will have to face their constituents. They need to be reminded that they work for us, *We the People*!

However, the practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.

The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that *We the People* absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!

The collective failure of *We the People *to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians.I implore you to get involved!

If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional "Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!

All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!

We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.

This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue - simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!

You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!

Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

http://newsblaze.com/story/20100930053834mcut.nb/topstory.html

Video - Another American traitor, rupurt murdoch wants amnesty for millions of illegal aliens

At a Thursday hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, FOX News owner Rupert Murdoch called for the amnesty of “law abiding” illegals because they add to “our tax base.”



“While supporting complete and proper closure of all our borders to future illegal immigrants, our partnership advocates reform that gives a path to citizenship for responsible, law-abiding immigrants who are in the U.S. today without proper authority,” said Murdoch, who was born in Australia and is a naturalized American citizen.

The News Corp. CEO also said “It is nonsense to talk of expelling 12 million people” from the country. “Not only is it impractical, it is cost prohibitive,” he said, quoting a study that put the cost of such an effort at US $57 billion a year for five years.

Murdoch instead advocated a “true path to citizenship” which includes requiring newcomers to learn English, undergro background checks, and pay taxes. He said this would bring US $1.5 trillion to the US GFP over 10 years.

http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/09/30/rupurt-murdoch-calls-for-amnesty-of-illegals/

Second Amnesty Bill in Two Weeks Shows Immigration Used as Political Prop

Interests of American Public Disregarded

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) responded to Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-N.J.) eleventh hour introduction of amnesty legislation calling it "yet more last minute political theater designed to impress special interest voters, and not a serious effort to fix our broken immigration system." S. 3932, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010, features mass amnesty for millions of illegal aliens as its centerpiece and large increases in future immigration to the United States. It is essentially a carbon copy of legislation that was rejected overwhelmingly by the American people just three years ago, contends FAIR.

With near unanimous consensus that S. 3932 will never be considered this session of Congress, the bill is seen as an effort by congressional Democrats to motivate Hispanic voters in the upcoming elections. "Last week, Senators Durbin and Reid played political football with the Defense Authorization Bill by trying – unsuccessfully – to attach the DREAM Act. Yesterday Senator Menendez introduced an even larger amnesty package," said Stein. "This combined last ditch effort to gin up the Hispanic voting base is a glaring example of why Americans believe that Congress is out of touch with the concerns of their constituents and polls show that the public has little faith in the Democrats' ability to reform our immigration policies."

"Both the Obama administration and the Senate leadership have made it clear that they cannot be trusted to enforce U.S. immigration laws and protect the interests of ordinary Americans," Stein asserted. "The American people want immigration reform that places their interests first, and they want the federal government to demonstrate that it will enforce the laws it passes. Instead, Sen. Menendez has presented a bill that offers concrete benefits to illegal aliens, still higher levels of immigration, and empty promises of future enforcement."

Recent evidence demonstrates that illegal immigration can be effectively deterred and many illegal aliens can be convinced to return home voluntarily when immigration laws are enforced. Reports by both the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Hispanic Center confirm that diminished job opportunities for illegal aliens, owing to the recession and a serious effort to enforce immigration laws in the workplace during the final months of the Bush administration has resulted in more illegal aliens leaving than settling.

"Amnesty for illegal aliens is a political choice, plain and simple," said Stein. "Senate leaders and President Obama see a political advantage in mass amnesty and are trying to sell it as a political necessity. While the American people want laws against illegal immigration enforced at our borders and in the interior of the country, and greater participation by local law enforcement, this administration, with the support of congressional leaders, has systematically dismantled our enforcement capability," charged Stein. "We hope that when the new Congress takes office next year they will present serious immigration reform legislation that recognizes and advances the interests of the American people."

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

http://uspolitics.einnews.com/pr-news/176418-second-amnesty-bill-in-two-weeks-shows-immigration-used-as-political-prop

New Jersey senator introduces illegal alien reform bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced a broad immigration reform bill that would put the nation’s approximately 11 million illegal immigrants on a path toward citizenship and enact other sweeping reforms.

The bill, introduced late Wednesday, calls for enhanced border security and tougher enforcement of laws banning employment of undocumented workers, and would make it easier for legal residents to bring family members to the U.S.

It’s highly unlikely Congress will consider the measure this year, and it has only a slim chance of passage.

Menendez, a Democrat and the only Hispanic in the Senate, introduced the sweeping bill as Congress adjourned until the Nov. 2 elections. The measure is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Congress typically doesn’t debate major bills during the lame-duck sessions that follow elections.

It’s more likely Congress will pass piecemeal immigration legislation such as the DREAM Act, which would allow the children of illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and become legal residents if they attend college or serve in the military.

But Menendez urged his colleagues to unite behind the measure.

“If we can put political grandstanding aside and work together on a comprehensive, middle-of-the-road bill like this one, we can bring all sides to the table,” Menendez said in a statement Thursday. “We can finally take action on a problem that has generated a lot of talk over the past decade but few results.”

Leahy said the measure would bring illegal immigrants “out of the shadows” while beefing up border security.

“These are goals we can all share,” he said in a statement.

One opponent, Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for more limited immigration, dismissed the bill as “last-minute political theater designed to impress special-interest voters” and said it’s designed intended to motivate Hispanics to show up at the polls on Nov. 2.

An immigration reform bill died in the Senate three years ago and never reached the House, largely because of a controversial provision to legalize undocumented immigrants.

Despite a drop in illegal immigration, the issue is the focus of heated debate heading into the elections.

That’s partly due to Arizona’s enactment in April of the nation’s toughest immigration enforcement law. The Obama administration is challenging the law in federal court.

After Arizona enacted its law, Menendez and a group of Democratic leaders unveiled an immigration reform blueprint that foreshadowed many of the proposals contained in the Menendez-Leahy bill.

In August, Congress passed legislation providing $600 million in emergency funding for 1,000 new Border Patrol agents, 250 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and unmanned Predator drones to patrol the U.S. side of the border.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100930/NEWS/100930039/-1/CARSON/New-Jersey-senator-introduces-immigration-reform-bill-

Border Patrol Makes Two Pot Busts Worth $740,000

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Border Patrol agents have stopped nearly 1,000 pounds of pot from making it onto the streets.

Nogales station agents at the Interstate 19 checkpoint took more than 260 pounds of marijuana during an inspection on Wednesday.

Thursday, agents responded to a call of possible illegal activity in downtown Nogales.

They said they found 25 bundles of marijuana, weighing more than 665 pounds hidden, in some brush.

The drugs are worth more than $740,000 on the streets.

Source - http://www.kpho.com/news/25231050/detail.html

Ga. legislature forms immigration panel

An all-Republican committee of the General Assembly will begin meeting this fall to develop legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration in Georgia.

The 14 Georgia House members and senators, appointed by House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, will be given free rein to examine a wide range of potential solutions, the two legislative leaders said in a joint news release.

Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, and Cagle, the Senate’s presiding officer, said the need for a state-level
committee stems from the failure of the Democratic-controlled Congress to come to grips with illegal immigration.

Republican majorities in the General Assembly adopted comprehensive legislation targeting illegal immigrants in 2006.

The law requires government agencies and private companies seeking government contracts to verify the immigration status of prospective employees. Also, applicants for certain public benefits in Georgia must prove they are in the U.S. legally.

While the Georgia law was widely considered one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration measures at the time, Arizona has stepped forward since then with a stricter law giving police the power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

The Obama administration is challenging the Arizona statute in federal court.

The chairmen of Georgia’s Joint Committee on Immigration Reform will be Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, and Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming.

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/09/27/daily53.html

New York - Murdoch Favors Legalizing Illegal Aliens

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- News Corp.(NWSA_) CEO Rupert Murdoch argued that the U.S. economy would benefit from legalizing illegal immigrants at the "Role of Immigration in Strengthening America's Economy" hearing today.

In the hearing, held by the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Membership Murdoch argued that citizenship should be granted to the "responsible, law-abiding illegal immigrants" who are already in the U.S.

He said that deporting the 11 million to 12 million immigrants already in the states would cost the nation $385 billion. He explained that registering the immigrants as citizens would significantly add to the tax base, citing a study that shows legalization of immigrants could contribute an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. GDP over ten years.

Democratic Representative Maxine Waters of Calif. challenged Murdoch, saying, "It does not appear that what you are talking to us about today and the way you are discussing it is the way that it is discussed on Fox for example."

Murdoch defended his network and his stance on the issue. "We don't censor that or take any particular line at all," he said. "We are not anti-immigrant on Fox News."

New York City Mayor Bloomberg also testified at the hearing calling for immigration reform.

"Our broken system of immigration is undermining our economy slowing our recovery and hurting millions of Americans," Bloomberg said. "We have to fix it -- and I believe this is an issue where Democrats, Republicans, and independents can find common ground."

Using New York City as an example, Bloomberg argued that immigrants are essential to economic growth in the U.S. in every industry. He touted immigrants as one of the main reasons why New York City "weathered the national recession better than the country as a whole."

In June, Bloomberg and Murdoch appeared on the Fox News show Fox & Friends to promote the economic importance of immigration.

The two power players announced that they had formed a coalition called the Partnership for a New American Economy. The group is made up of politicians and CEOs, including Boeing(BA_) Chairman Jim McNerney, Disney(DIS_) CEO Robert Iger and Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman, who argue that immigrants are needed for the U.S. economy to run effectively.

"We need a supply of immigrants to keep the Americans who are here today, working; it's not the reverse," Bloomberg said on the show.

"We're just going to keep the pressure on the congressmen. I think we can show to the public the benefits of having immigrants and the jobs that go with them," Murdoch said.

The coalition also announced the launch of its Web site, RenewOurEconomy.org. The site lists the members of the partnership and provides visitors with information on the immigration reform efforts.

Last week, comedian Stephen Colbert, whose show The Colbert Report appears on Viacom's(VIA_) Comedy Central, appeared before the House panel to speak about the plight of farm workers.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10875239/1/bloomberg-murdoch-to-speak-on-immigration.html

Illegal alien activity surfaces with 2 break-ins at Silverbell Estates

After two recent break-ins in the Silverbell Estates neighborhood, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to keep their eyes sharp.

Last Monday, Sept. 20, a Silverbell resident came home and found that two illegal immigrants had made forced entry to his home in the 15200 block of W. Zodiac Drive through a rear window. They had used his shower, and were attempting to steal food and water. The owner confronted them and tackled one to the ground, but both were able to escape to the desert. They left behind backpacks full of empty water bottles.
Deputies followed the suspects’ footprints through the desert for four miles using night vision equipment, but were unable to find them.

Similarly this past Tuesday at about 8 a.m., a break-in was reported to a home in the 14600 block of W. Capricorn, where suspect(s) forced entry to the house through a window. The suspect(s) were not there when the homeowner returned. But like the break-in the previous week, the homeowner reported that her shower had been used, and a pocketknife and food had been taken from the home.

According to PCSO Public Information Officer Tim Gaffney, increased patrols have been assigned to the area in an attempt to catch those responsible for these crimes and help prevent further break-ins.

To report any suspicious activity, call the PCSO at (520) 866-5174.

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2010/09/30/eloy_enterprise/top_stories/doc4ca4ddbe9b6cd448259771.txt

Utah - Sen. Hatch proposes federal immigration bill

SALT LAKE CITY -- Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has introduced an immigration bill that aims to combat key concerns regarding illegal immigration.

His bill, "Strengthening Our Commitment to Legal Immigration and America's Security Act," would enhance immigration laws that already exist.

It would require participation from law enforcement in working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), tackle identity theft, cut out parts of the visa system and also keep track of welfare benefits going to illegal immigrant households. It would stiffen punishments for drug cartel criminals who use federal lands to grow illegal drugs.

A key provision would "require eligible states, counties and cities to make use of the Secure Communities and the 287(g) programs." Those ICE initiatives will work to identify and deport serious criminal illegal immigrants.

The bill would also place limits on states' ability to receive federal funds to provide Medical and Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP, "to cover children and pregnant women who are not U.S. citizens."

A number of visa issues would be changed in Hatch's bill, starting with precluding any applicants who are members of a known gang from entering the U.S. His bill would also eliminate the Diversity Visa Program unless Congress can find ways to combat fraud. The Department of Homeland Security would also create a mandatory exit process for visitors to the U.S.

To crack down on identity theft, Hatch proposes that the IRS notify employers when an employee's social security number is found to be inaccurate. If the problem isn't corrected, the IRS would have to notify the social security card holder. Any criminal found stealing someone's identity could be prosecuted for aggravated identity fraud.

Hatch finally specifies that the executive branch cannot grant legal status on a mass basis, only on a case-by-case basis

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=833&sid=12638566

AL - Experience, illegal immigration key issues in Huntsville City Council runoff

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- They both dedicated their lives to public service.

Their campaign themes are nearly identical: Lure new businesses to South Memorial Parkway; protect property values; keep a closer eye on the Huntsville Housing Authority.

But there are notable differences in how John Olshefski and Barry Pendergraft are approaching Tuesday's runoff election for the vacant District 3 City Council seat.

Olshefski, a retired Army colonel, is emphasizing his experience as Redstone Arsenal's garrison commander from June 2005 to July 2008. Garrison commanders are considered the "mayor" of the base.

"I stand my ground on qualifications," Olshefski said Tuesday. "I have run a budget of $130 million, overseen $1 billion worth of construction and managed the day-to-day operations of a city the size of south Huntsville and bigger."

Pendergraft, a retired Huntsville police lieutenant, is telling voters he wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

"If it's got 'illegal' in front of it, I'm against it," Pendergraft said Tuesday. "At some point, somebody's got to step up and do something.

"God bless the governor of Arizona for stepping up and doing what our federal people should be doing."

Pendergraft said business groups that rely on illegal immigrant labor have asked him to "back down" on his rhetoric. But he said Huntsville needs to follow the lead of other cities that have gotten tough on illegal immigration.

"It's hurting our country, it's hurting our city," Pendergraft said.

Both candidates have spent lots of time talking about how to redevelop the many empty storefronts lining South Memorial Parkway.

Olshefski wants to explore a tax increment finance district. Huntsville has used TIFs for about 10 years to stimulate investment in blighted areas, helping give rise to Parkway Place mall, the Target shopping center on University Drive and Toyota's engine plant.

If elected, Olshefski said one of his first acts would be to form a team of south Huntsville residents and business owners to draw up a list of priorities for District 3, including a wish list of stores and restaurants.

Olshefski's critics are suspicious of his membership in the Committee of 100 group of business leaders, but he said the group could play an important role in redeveloping the Parkway and improving south Huntsville schools.

"They started downtown," Olshefski said, "but I believe they're going to spread their wings and help out in other areas."

Pendergraft said "smart" building codes are the key to sparking a renaissance on the Parkway. City building codes are so cumbersome that developers cannot afford to fix up old storefronts, he said.

"We've got to quit making it hard to be successful," Pendergraft said.

He said smart codes would ensure that older buildings are rehabilitated in a safe way but "cut developers some slack" on aesthetic issues like landscaping and fencing.

Olshefski and Pendergraft have similar views on the housing authority, which riled up south Huntsville last year by purchasing Stone Manor apartments with little public notice.

Stone Manor is now home to dozens of low-income residents displaced by the closing of the Councill Courts public housing development downtown.

Pendergraft said District 3 "deserves its fair share of representation" on the housing authority board, whose members are appointed by Mayor Tommy Battle.

Olshefski said he would be "very engaged" in monitoring housing authority decisions.

"I'm going to work very hard to get someone from District 3 on that board," he said, "just to see that you've got your back covered."

Olshefski, 52, had outraised Pendergraft by about $25,000 as of late August. His supporters include the Huntsville Firefighters Association, Huntsville Education Association and Huntsville-Madison County Homebuilders.

But Pendergraft, 50, won the only endorsement issued by a group of District 3 residents, the South Huntsville Civic Association.

"That's the one that means the most," he said.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/09/experience_illegal_immigration.html

Two illegal alien gang members convicted of first-degree murder in shooting

A Santa Maria jury has convicted two gang members of first-degree murder and other charges connected to the fatal shooting of a rival two years ago.

The jurors arrived at a decision around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Ross, the case prosecutor.

The verdict was delivered in the courtroom of Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Jed Beebe, where the trial played out for three weeks.

Jurors started deliberating the case Wednesday, Sept. 22, continued Thursday, and then broke deliberations until Monday this week.

Santa Maria residents Isaac Garza, 24, and Carlos Valdez, 20, were found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Jorge Zirate, 18, of Santa Maria, and attempted robbery. Jurors found true allegations that the pair were gang members and used a firearm.

Garza was also convicted of shooting at an occupied vehicle in an incident earlier in the day of the murder, Sept. 1, 2008, and of using a firearm to carry out that crime.

The jury found Garza guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm on the day of the murder, but not guilty of a charge that he had a firearm Sept. 8, 2008 when the car he was in was stopped by police.

Garza shot and killed Zirate after the Northwest gang, which Garza and Valdez belong to, got into an altercation with the rival West Park gang Sept. 1, 2008, in the 900 block of South Russell Avenue in Santa Maria. Zirate was reportedly a member of West Park. He was the father of a daughter, who is now 2 years old.

Valdez and Garza are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Nov. 8.

Garza is facing a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 78 to 82 years, and Valdez is facing life in prison with the possibility of parole after 50 years, Ross said.

Santa Maria residents Orlando Diaz, 22, and Ernesto Ruiz, 21, also were charged with murdering Zirate, but have testified for the prosecution in exchange for leniency concerning their sentences.

Diaz and Ruiz were key witnesses in the prosecution’s case, testifying that they were present when Garza fired the gunshot that killed Zirate.

The defense attorneys picked apart the motivation for Ruiz and Diaz taking the witness stand, and pointed out inconsistencies in what they told investigators.

Garza’s attorney, David Bixby, said Wednesday that the jury asked many questions during the deliberation process, and that he believes the jurors did their best.

“This jury, in my opinion, took their job seriously and went through the evidence very carefully,” he said.

“The trial was a thoroughly conducted trial,” Bixby added.

Valdez’s attorney, Charles Biely, could not be reached.

Source - http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_19f5fc68-cc5b-11df-9662-001cc4c03286.html

California's fate is in the hands of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Today California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a tough decision; he will either dash the hopes of illegal aliens wanting to have the state pay for their higher education and veto The Dream Act, or the governor can do nothing and the legislation will become law after midnight.

With Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman in the middle of housekeeper-gate (opponents say she knowingly hired an illegal maid) and Republican Senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina, who said at her first debate that she supports the Dream Act, the governors office is waiting until the last day to decided the fate of two immigration bills.

Many opponents think the federal DREAM Act that languished a few weeks ago in Washington D.C. was nothing more than granting amnesty for illegal immigrants that would only encourage more illegal immigration.

The Heritage Foundation believes Congress needs to work “toward an immigration system that enforces rule of law, maintains security, and promotes the economy. Such a system can be achieved by robustly enforcing immigration laws, securing the border, reforming the visa system, and working with Mexico and other appropriate countries on law enforcement/public safety issues as well as free market initiatives.”

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act essentially repeals part of a prior federal law- specifically the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA); “that prohibits any state from offering in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens unless the state also offers in-state tuition rates to all U.S. citizens,” according to The Heritage Foundation.

Consequences of enacting a Dream-type piece of legislation include; rewarding illegal behavior by giving them in-state tuition, encourage more illegal aliens to cross the often treacherous southern borders knowing children will get a college education at taxpayer expense, penalizes U.S. residents from seeking college outside their state because they will have to pay out-of-state tuition and it stops all deportations of those 36 and under if they attend college or join the military.

“Instead of focusing on making amnesty the centerpiece of immigration reform efforts, Congress and the Administration should: Ensure robust enforcement of immigration laws, finish securing the border, institute much-needed reforms of the visa system and work with Mexico and other appropriate countries,” says Jena Baker McNeill, Policy Analyst for Homeland Security for The Heritage Foundation.

However, there is another side to this issue and they are trying equally as hard to convince Governor Schwarzenegger to do nothing and allow the two bills to become law.

California’s very own Dream Act comes in the form of Senate Bill 1460 and Assembly Bill 1413 both were approved by the state legislature and are ready for a signature.

California AB 1413 and SB 1460 also dubbed “The Dream Act” – would divert financial aid away from legal California residents and give assistance to illegal aliens. Critics argue the new benefit will only offer more incentives to break the U.S. immigration law.

Early cost estimates of the Dream Act weigh in the neighborhood of $40 million. The bill calls for the state to provide benefits to assist illegal aliens who attend California colleges. Critics argue that this assistance will add to the estimated $90 million a year California taxpayers already provide to give some illegal aliens in-state tuition benefits.

Spokespeople from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) have expressed their support for the Dream Act even though it would add a financial burden to cash-strapped colleges.

Karen French, UCOP representative even wrote a letter to the governor’s office on behalf of the UCOP, offering support for SB1460 and requested that the Schwarzenegger sign the bill.

“SB1460 addresses the remaining hurdle for (undocumented) students: their inability to receive institutional aid,” French said. “Through their hard work and perseverance, these students have earned the opportunity to attend a UC. Their accomplishments should not be disregarded or their future jeopardized because of their legal status.”

The A.S. Vice President of External Affairs Michael Lam says he is working with UC student leaders to get the word out and mobilize student support of the legislation.

“This year (we will be working) with University of California Student Association to launch a campaign titled Economic Justice for the UC (which in part) will be to ensure that all students, no matter their documentation status, have a right to afford higher education,” he said.

The bill’s author, Senator Gil Cedillo (D-LA) also feels a pang of anger that the bill failed in D.C., but remains hopeful the Golden State’s governor will do the right thing.

“The U.S. Senate has lost the opportunity to advance the future of thousands of young talented students and our economy. We have duties and obligations to move young talent forward in our state and support them with equal education opportunities,” Cedillo said in a release posted on his website.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman has articulated a polar opposite view on her policy page, “Meg is opposed to any form of amnesty. As Governor, Meg will support policies that will not allow undocumented immigrants admission to state-funded institutions of higher education.”

On the other hand, California's Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, said at her first debate with incumbent Barbara Boxer (D-CA) she would support the DREAM Act, setting her apart from the majority of GOP lawmakers.

"I would support the DREAM Act because I do not believe that we can punish children who through no fault of their own are here trying to live the American dream," she said.

Her opponent, Boxer said would rather see a comprehensive immigration reform.
"The way to get the economy going again is to go with comprehensive immigration reform," Boxer pointed out. "The DREAM Act is part of that."

While the Dream Act is a tough sell to Californians who are dealing with the nation’s third highest unemployment numbers, close to 13 percent, supporters believe it is vital to pass the legislation in order to move the immigration reform debate forward.

Despite Schwarzenegger’s action or inaction federal law will trump state law and as such will nullify most of the bills components. And without the federal bill, illegal aliens who receive college degrees will still be unable to legalize their status and join their fellow classmates in the U.S. workforce.

http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/it-s-d-day-for-california-s-dream-act

The 'Assassination' of 'Immigration Reform'

Creators Syndicate – To the list that includes Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King add one more important historical figure struck down by an assassin's bullet: Manuel Jamines.

Never heard of him?

Jamines, a day laborer, came to this country illegally from Guatemala and settled in the Westlake area of Los Angeles. Westlake is one of the most densely populated places in the country, with a very poor, heavily illegal, highly transitory Central American population living in a community notorious for illegal vendors, gangs, rampant drug dealing and other crimes.

On Sept. 5, someone flagged down three Los Angeles police officers riding on bicycles. A man, the officers were told, was wielding a knife and threatening passers-by, including a pregnant woman.

The officers confronted Manuel Jamines. They ordered him, in both Spanish and English, to drop the knife. He refused. Instead he raised the switchblade, with its 3-inch serrated blade, and lunged at the officers. He was shot twice and killed.

In the real world, a lawman doesn't aim at the suspect's ring finger on the hand holding the weapon. The officers did what they are trained to do when an attack is in progress — shoot to stop. It turned out that Jamines was drunk — and here illegally, a fact that the Los Angeles Times has yet to print. A more justifiable shooting would be hard to find. And for what it's worth, the three responding officers, including the one who fired the fatal shots, are Latino.

What followed? Two days of riots.

Labeling the shooting an "assassination," thugs set fires and threw rocks and bottles at police. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck blamed the riots not on the lawbreakers, but on national "anti-immigrant sentiment" that makes Westlake residents feel "disconnected." "(The) community," said the chief, "feels disconnected from the city. They feel like they don't have a voice. I think they feel a lot of pressure because of the anti-immigrant sentiment that runs through a very common conversation in America right now."

To help them feel connected, the chief held a town hall meeting. Some attendees called him "a murderer." Protest marches and rallies followed, where the police were called "killers."

"Advocacy" groups included the Revolutionary Communist Party and something called the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, which claimed that five witnesses say the police shot an unarmed man. None, however, has said so publicly. Fear of deportation? Not likely. The LAPD has long operated under Special Order 40, an LAPD policy that protects illegal aliens against deportation should they report crime.

Even Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — a man who once addressed 500,000 "immigrant rights" marchers in Spanish from a City Hall balcony and shouted, "There are no illegal people here today!" — has called the Jamines shooting an apparent justifiable use of lethal force.

In case Jamines' widow feels "disconnected," the government of Guatemala has promised to pay for an attorney on the off chance that she sues the LAPD for wrongful death.

This brings us to President Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt, Zeituni Onyango. Aunt Zeituni has been living in this country illegally since 2000. She lives in public housing and receives disability payments. Twice ordered to depart, most recently in 2004, she refused to leave. After Obama's election, the same judge who'd earlier ordered her deported reversed the decision. Now, it seems, Kenya is too dangerous for Zeituni, and the judge has granted her political asylum.

Is she, at least, grateful to the system obviously gamed in her favor?

Auntie Z says, "If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen." As for living in public housing and receiving public assistance, Auntie Z says, "I didn't take any advantage of the system. The system took advantage of me." Besides, she says, "I didn't ask for (welfare assistance); they gave it to me. Ask your system. I didn't create it or vote for it. Go and ask your system." If people don't like it, she says, they can take back the benefits, and she'll go homeless.

Last year, Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union announced that the real goal of "immigration reform" is the recruitment of new Democratic voters. When Latinos voted in the November 2008 elections, he said, "they voted overwhelmingly for progressive candidates. Barack Obama got two out of every three voters that showed up. ... We reform the immigration laws, it puts 12 million people on the path to citizenship and eventually voters. Can you imagine if we have even the same ratio, two out of three? If we get 8 million new voters that care about our issues and will be voting, we will create a governing coalition for the long term, not just for an election cycle."

Meanwhile, a new poll finds that 62 percent of Americans believe U.S. policies encourage illegal immigration. Hard to imagine.

Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book, "What's Race Got to Do with It?", is available now. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit his Web page at www.LarryElder.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20100930/cm_uc_crlelx/op_2415525

OK - 3 illegal aliens sent to prison for re-entry

Three Mexican nationals sentenced to federal prison last week for unlawfully re-entering the country raised the number of such cases prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office in Oklahoma City this year to 42.

That caseload is an increase from 13 re-entry cases in 2008 and 26 cases in 2009, said Bob Troester, spokesman for the office.

They rarely end in dismissals or acquittals, Troester said. The majority are referred by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators.

"Most of them end in pleas and most don't go to trial because they are here illegally," he said.

Those convicted can face up to 20 years in federal prison before being deported. The length of their sentence is based on past crimes. Many are barred from ever returning to the country.

Family breakups seen

Julia Summers, assistant federal public defender, said she's seen a marked increase in illegal re-entry cases as a part of her workload.

They now comprise about two-thirds of her total cases.

"It's a huge part of my caseload," she said. "And it's been increasing."

Nearly all of her clients charged with unlawful re-entry have families here. Many have spouses and children who are citizens or permanent residents, she said.

"Sometimes the tragedy of the family breakup is magnified enormously when the defendant has actually grown up in the U.S.," she said.

Crimes ranging from theft to a previous illegal re-entry conviction to murder and drug complaints are used by judges to determine the amount of time the offender will serve in federal prison.

Source - http://newsok.com/3-illegal-immigrants-prosecuted-in-oklahoma-city-sent-to-prison-for-re-entry/article/3499941?custom_click=headlines_widget

Hearing: E-Verify law not enforced

Mississippi lawmakers who support an Arizona-style immigration bill say they want to deter illegal immigrants from coming here, having already targeted the businesses that hire them.

"I hate that we're here again, having to talk about this again," said Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven. "The (E-Verify) bill was good. They're just not following the law."

The Legis-lature passed the Mississippi Employment Protection Act, also referred to as the E-Verify law, in 2008. It has taken effect in phases, based on company size.
All companies in Mississippi with more than 30 workers have had to use the Internet-based E-Verify system since July 1 to check the legal status of potential employees. Those with fewer than 30 workers have another year to comply.

During a two-day immigration hearing at the Capitol this week, lawmakers heard there have been no investigations into whether companies are conducting the required checks.

Investigation and enforcement falls on the Department of Employment Security, State Tax Commission, secretary of state, Department of Human Services and attorney general's office, according to the law.
"I think where we failed was we didn't say 'You are in charge (of enforcing it),' " Currie said.

Jan Schaefer, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, said Wednesday the office has received no formal complaints concerning the Mississippi Employment Protection Act.

"We would be glad to work with any agency that may have received a report," Schaefer said, even though the office has received no additional funding to handle the responsibility.

Sam Atkinson, who works in the state auditor's office, said his office has referred eight calls to the attorney general's office in the past year.

"Five of them called back and said they received no help," she said. "No one knew how to handle their calls."

It's unknown what happened to those callers or their complaints. But several who testified at hearings this week said they agree that the focus should be on the companies, not the workers

"If you curb the enticement for the individual to come here, you will fix the problem," NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. "We are targeting individuals who simply want to make a living."

It's unknown how many people are in Mississippi illegally, but estimates put it at about 50,000, Atkinson said.

The Arizona law making its way through the court system because of legal challenges gives state and local law enforcement authority to check the status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. It also restricts some forms of aiding illegal immigrants.

Several Mississippi lawmakers said they will support a similar bill during the 2011 legislative session, but most opponents argue it could foster racial profiling and harassment, particularly toward Hispanics.

"We know how this is going to play out on the street," ACLU of Mississippi executive director Nsombi Lambright said. "How else is a police officer going to form a suspicion that someone is here unlawfully?"

Sen. Lee Yancey, a Republican from Brandon who co-authored the E-Verify legislation, said he disagrees with those who say the issue is about race.

"I'm not a racist, and I don't want to be lumped into that group," he said. "We need to know who's in our country legally and who's not."

Nearly all who testified at the two-day hearing described some problems with the federal government's immigration policies.

Those who favor the Arizona-style bill for Mississippi say it would provide back-up enforcement where the federal government has been weak.

"It's a shame we are even sitting here to debate this," said Sen. Briggs Hopson, R-Vicksburg. "If the federal government is not handling these issues ... is it not incumbent upon the state to take over?"

Those who oppose the proposed bill say the discussion on state legislation is masking a flawed legal immigration system and would force possibly untrained state and local law enforcement to step in where they don't belong.

"Let's let the federal government do its job. Our officers have enough on their plates without another unfunded mandate," Lambright said.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100930/NEWS/9300340/Hearing++E-Verify+law+not+enforced

MA - James P. McKenna say's, "he will crack down on illegal aliens"

James P. McKenna, a little-known Republican lawyer hoping to unseat Attorney General Martha Coakley, kicked off his campaign yesterday with a vow to crack down on public corruption and illegal immigration but declined to state his position on another controversial issue that has come before the office, gay marriage.

In a four-minute speech to reporters, followed by a seven-minute question-and-answer session, the first-time candidate appeared by turns passionate and nervous as he sought to appeal to the disgruntled voters who fueled Scott Brown’s upset victory over Coakley in January’s US Senate election.

McKenna, 49, became only the second politician since the 1970s to qualify for the general election ballot as a statewide write-in candidate, after he received more than 10,000 votes in the Septem ber primary.

“It is time to restore trust in our government,’’ the former prosecutor said at the state Republican Party’s headquarters in Boston. “The Beacon Hill boys and girls club is a free-for-all of waste, fraud, and corruption, where holier-than-thou attitudes prevail and the special interests run the show.

“I’ve listened to the people, and they say, ‘No more,’ and I agree.’’

McKenna accused Coakley of “sitting idly by’’ instead of aggressively prosecuting political corruption.

He pledged to target illegal immigrants and criticized Coakley for once saying, “Technically, it’s not illegal to be illegal in Massachusetts.’’

“Along with the people of Massachusetts, I say illegal is illegal,’’ McKenna said. “It is not politically correct to break the law. There is nothing technical about it.’’

Coakley, in an interview, strongly defended her record, rejected several of McKenna’s criticisms, and said she looks forward to a spirited race, including her first debate with McKenna, today on NECN.

“Whether it’s child abuse or kids online or seniors,’’ she said, “I’ll put my record on consumer protection and on public safety — including public corruption — up against anybody.’’

Coakley said she has pursued 40 cases of corruption, including those against public works employees, police officers, and fellow Democrats.

“He’s just flat out wrong,’’ she said of the suggestion that she has looked the other way.

She also said she wants tougher enforcement of illegal immigration laws and supports Secure Communities, a controversial federal program designed to identify and deport illegal immigrants arrested for serious crimes.

“Jim McKenna and I don’t disagree,’’ Coakley said. “This is a serious problem. It needs a federal response.’’

McKenna yesterday also urged Coakley to recuse herself from reviewing the proposed acquisition of Caritas Christi Health Care by a New York buyout firm. He cited a Globe report that Ralph de la Torre, president of Caritas Christi, donated $4,800 to Coakley’s Senate campaign and held a fund-raiser for her at his home.

Coakley said she would not recuse herself from the Caritas case, calling McKenna’s request “a baseless political attack.’’ The donation from de la Torre “was for a different time and place,’’ Coakley said. “I disclosed it. That’s the whole point.’’

McKenna, after delivering his speech, declined to say whether he supports same-sex marriage.

“That’s not really an issue in our campaign,’’ he said. “The law was settled in that regard five years ago now. And that’s not something we’re going to have much to do with in our campaign.’’

He said he would not go to court to overturn laws such as the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal statute that Coakley successfully challenged on behalf of same-sex married couples from Massachusetts. The law, which a federal judge ruled unconstitutional, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

“With respect to DOMA and every matter like that, we will not try to create policy,’’ McKenna said. “Our objective over the next four years will be to enforce the law.’’

Coakley responded: “This is not about making policy. This is about making sure there’s fairness for people here in Massachusetts’’ who cannot receive Social Security, burial rights, and other federal benefits.

McKenna also defended his voting record. He has voted in most elections over the last decade but did not vote in the 2008 presidential primary and the 2000 presidential primary and general election, according to the Millbury town clerk.

“I’ve done a good job voting, and I’ve worked vigorously on a number of different campaigns,’’ McKenna said. “I’m very proud of my record.’’

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/30/mckenna_launches_attacks_bid_for_ag/

State anti-illegal alien law draws fire

JACKSON — Critics of a proposed anti-illegal immigration law in Mississippi called it an unfunded mandate for law enforcement and urged the state to avoid rushing to adopt a measure akin to Arizona’s.

An immigrant advocacy group’s lawyer also called moving toward an Arizona-styled law a form of “hysteria” by those seeking scapegoats in an economic downturn.

Patricia Ice, legal project director for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, told a state Senate panel on Wednesday that illegal immigrants aren’t a drain on state finances. Ice said some of the state’s illegal immigrants pay income tax and all pay sales taxes.

A Senate judiciary committee held hearings on a proposal that requires police enforcing other laws to check the status of those they suspect are in the country illegally. Mississippi is among several states considering such a law.

Sam Atkinson with state Auditor’s Office said it’s difficult to calculate the state’s illegal immigrant population.

Atkinson said some estimates are based federal reports, including those from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She said the auditor’s office will use the latest Census information when it is released to update a 2006 report that said illegal immigrants cost the state $25 million in medical, educational and correctional services.

The report was compiled when Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant was still the state auditor. Bryant often cites illegal immigration as a problem when he speaks at political events, including tea party meetings.

Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, said he wouldn’t support the proposal next session because it would be an unfunded mandate on law enforcement.

Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, said he doesn’t think Mississippi should move forward on the proposal until the federal courts resolve the issue in Arizona.

http://www.sunherald.com/2010/09/29/2516676/state-anti-illegal-immigration.html

AZ - Residents: No Troops Along Border

NOGALES, Ariz. -- Residents in the town of Nogales still have not seen any national guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to Homeland Security director Janet Napalitano, 532 troops are scheduled to start patrolling the Tuscon sector by the end of this week.

According to Napalitano, some troops have already arrived.

"I haven't seen anything like that," local business owner Mario Gibbons said. "I've seen customs."

Gibbons is preparing for the tourist season at his clothing store, All American, which is set to open Friday.

Some neighbors in the border town fear adding armed trooped will hurt business.

"If it weren't for the people on the other side, businesses would fail," said resident Rocky Carbajal.

An event showcasing the troops is expected to take place late this week, or early next week.

http://www.kpho.com/news/25220003/detail.html

Video - governor patrick refuses to answer question about illegal immigration

Texas - Statewide illegal alien program raising local questions

CENTRAL TEXAS - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Wednesday that it's "Secure Communities" program will be enforced across Texas.

The program is set up so illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds don't slip through the cracks of the justice system.

With the secure communities program, when an arrest is made, after fingerprints are taken and they are checked for criminal history through the FBI, I.C.E. simultaneously sends finger prints to the Department of Homeland Security to also check for immigration records.

"In order to remove criminal aliens from the streets and ultimately, with our immigration authorities, remove them from our country," ICE spokesperson Carl Rusnok said.

For immigration attorney Susan Nelson, removing criminal aliens is a smart move, but she fears the net is cast to largely and will affect the wrong people.

"I think that what we are doing is deporting a lot of people that have families here, who have lived here for a long time and couldn't get citizenship so they are getting caught up in traffic violations, we would get a ticket for, taken to jail then deported," she said.

And she also told News Channel 25 this could create a disconnect between the community and police."

"It's very difficult for them to trust police in the first place, now if this person is taken to jail and immigration is called, it makes it worse," Nelson added.

In less then two years, counties already involved in the program, like McLennan County, have seen about 12,000 level one criminals like murders or rapists deported and 29, 500 level two and three criminals deported.

Nelson said she's already getting a flood of calls from people in outlying counties she normally didn't hear from, like Limestone and Falls, that are now involved in "Secure Communities."

http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13249293

EDINBURG - 2 illegal alien gang members arrested for failing to register as sex offenders

EDINBURG — Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two gang members in separate incidents Tuesday.

Both men failed to register as sex offenders. Both were arrested Tuesday morning near the intersection of Trenton and South “I” Roads.

Jose Alejandro Bazan, 34, is affiliated with the Latin King gang, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said in a statement.

Treviño said sheriff’s deputies are collaborating with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force to target dangerous criminals. As part of this effort, they are pursuing 22 sex offenders with open warrants, he said.

“We’re working on incapacitating as many of them as we can,” he said. “They are a real violent threat to our society.”

Jorge Mariscal Gutierrez was also arrested that morning. Gutierrez had prior charges for sexual assault of a child, drug violation and evading arrest, Treviño said.

According to a media release, Gutierrez, 25, was arrested for violations of his sex offender status and was affiliated with the Valluco gang.

Source - http://www.themonitor.com/articles/edinburg-43206-arrested-gang.html

Tomball, Texas - Councilman preston dodson gave the city to illegal aliens

TOMBALL, Texas -- A Houston suburb stepped briefly into into the fray over illegal immigration Tuesday before city leaders voted not to consider laws that would ban illegal immigrants from renting property or owning businesses or that would have made English its official language.

The Tomball City Council discussed several ordinances that would have also prevented illegal immigrants from owning property or operating any business.

Council members said they were dissuaded in part from pursuing a ban on renting to illegal immigrants based on the experience of Farmers Branch, a Dallas suburb that for years has been trying to enforce a similar ordinance. A federal judge ruled the ordinance unconstitutional in March, and Farmers Branch is appealing. Farmers Branch has spent more than $3.3 million in legal fees related to the ordinance.

"It would not serve this city well, spending our time and money pursuing this kind of ordinance," said Tomball Councilman Preston Dodson.

Tomball Councilman Derek Townsend, who proposed the ordinances, said he fully supports immigration as long as it’s legal. Critics called his proposals racist and reactionary.

"Let’s make this perfectly clear. It’s not about race. It’s about legalities," Townsend said at the meeting.

He said he’s against those who would come into the country illegally and reap the benefits of living in the U.S. without paying their fair share of taxes.

But after Dodson and two other council members spoke against the rental ban, Townsend voted with them to not pursue the ordinance.

"I don’t want us to get into lawsuits. But at the same time, we have to stand up somewhere," Townsend said.

Council members also voted to not pursue an ordinance to make English the city’s official language and tabled a proposal that called for mandating that any company awarded a city contract not hire illegal immigrants.

City leaders also voted to continue running a day labor site that some critics say is being used by illegal immigrants.

Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting drew a crowd that exceeded the council chamber’s maximum capacity of 122 people. About 30 people, including several reporters, could not enter but were later allowed to attend as the crowd lessened.

Nearly 50 people either spoke at the meeting or sent comments. Most spoke against the ordinances banning illegal immigrants from renting or owning property or from running or owning businesses or spoke in favor of the city-run day labor site.

Tony Martinez, who has lived in Tomball for five years, said the proposals would change the city from a welcoming community to one marred by racism.

"I’m a home builder. If you bought a home for $150,000, it’s because of the day laborers, the cheap labor," he said. "Everyone has a nice home right now. Thank the immigrants."

David Smith, a spokesman for the Progressive Workers Organizing Committee, a Houston-area labor group, urged the City Council to drop the proposals, which he called "anti-immigrant."

"Why put this wonderful city on the national map of racism and hatred," said Smith, who teaches government at a community college near Houston.

According to 2000 U.S. Census figures, Tomball’s population of 10,000 was about 87 percent white and 12 percent Hispanic.

Many who spoke in favor of the proposed ordinances said they were not being racist but only want city leaders to enforce rules and regulations.

"We are a country of law and order," said Richard Smith, who lives in nearby Hockley, Texas. "All we are asking the City Council to do is follow the rule of law."

Tomball resident Anthony Mooney said the ordinances need to be implemented to "bring light to all the thieves, murderers and rapists flooding across our border."

Townsend said he simply wanted to bring light to an issue that has frustrated many Americans and prompted some residents to demand action.

"I’ve just had enough of giving our country away," he said.

Similar ordinances around the country, including those in

Farmers Branch, Fremont, Neb. and Hazleton, Pa., have cost their communities millions of dollars in legal fees and are usually declared unconstitutional, Smith said.

Arizona’s controversial immigration law is also being challenged in court. It requires police officers while enforcing other laws to ask individuals about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they’re in the country illegally.

http://immigrationisland.com/tomball-wont-pursue-immigration-laws/

Illegal alien law proposal criticized by former lawmaker

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) - As a state legislative committee hears a proposal on an illegal immigration law similar to the one in Arizona, one former Pine belt lawmaker is warning legislators about potential impacts to industry.

Former state representative Gene Saucier says by passing a law which would give law enforcement power to check papers on suspected illegal immigrants, a large legal workforce in Mississippi would dry up.

Saucier, a tree farmer, says when it comes to jobs like planting tress and chicken processing, most local folks won't do the job, leaving those employers looking for Hispanics who are willing to do the work.

Passing such a law, Saucier says, is more of a political move than anything and would become a scare tactic, filled with harassment for legitimate immigrants.

"Even the legal ones won't come here, so you're going to have to people that come in here and plant our trees and pick our blueberries and what, they won't come to Mississippi, I guarantee you they will not come to Mississippi," said Saucier. "So you're talking about two large industries right there that you just don't have anybody to work."

Saucier says he believes if such a law is passed by the legislature, the Governor would most likely veto it.

http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13239935

New Tool In Fight Against Illegal Aliens

ICE has a new tool in the fight against illegal immigration. The fancy name for it is biometric federal information-sharing capability.

Before, ICE could only compare suspects in a database maintained by the FBI. Now, that information is also checked with the Department of Homeland Security. The enhancement is now activated in every Texas county.

http://www.ktsm.com/local/new-tool-in-fight-against-illegal-immigration

Video - "Minutemen" Coming to RI to Push for Palumbo's Immigration Bill

The "Minutemen" group is coming to Rhode Island this week to push for the passage of State Rep. Peter Palumbo's immigration bill, which is modeled after the Arizona law.

The immigration debate comes to a head in Rhode Island after the recent stabbing death of a man in Providence by three other men - all of whom are suspected of being illegal immigrants.

ABC6 Reporter Shannon O'Brien talked to Terry Gorman of RIILE and a local immigration lawyer and has the story

http://www.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=13240067

AZ - 3 illegal aliens arrested for armed robbery & aggravated assault

What began as a "beer run" in Avondale Sunday morning left a Circle K store clerk in the hospital and three people facing armed robbery and aggravated assault charges.

Carlos Bernal Jr., 43, and Linda Bernal, 38, both of Avondale, and Nazario Castillo, 25, of Tolleson, were booked into Fourth Avenue Jail on armed robbery and aggravated assault charges, Avondale police spokesman Reuben Gonzales said.

Police responded to the convenience store on Buckeye Road between Avondale Boulevard and 107th Avenue at about 1:45 a.m. when a witness reported two men were trying to steal several packs of beer, Gonzales said.

The store clerk told police that a woman, later identified as Linda Bernal, came into the store and started talking to the clerk, asking him to give her a pack of cigarettes for free, according to booking documents. The clerk refused and as the two were talking, he saw two men come into the store, take "seven or eight cases of Budweiser" valued at about $230 and run out of the store.

When the clerk went outside to get the license plate number, the men began assaulting him, documents state. He fell to the ground and the pair continued to punch and kick him. One brandished a folding knife at the clerk and a witness but did not use it.

The store's video surveillance showed that while the clerk was in the parking lot, the woman went behind the counter and took four packs of Newport cigarettes and a can of carbonated beer, valued at about $30, records show.

The woman came out of the store, called to the two men beating the clerk and the three left in a dark grey 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, police said.

The clerk suffered "significant" cuts and bruises on his face, hands and arms, according to documents. He was taken to Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix where he was treated and released.

A detective reviewing video footage recognized Linda Bernal from his time as a patrol officer, and identified Carlos Bernal and Castillo after going through her known associates, Gonzales said. Carlos and Linda are siblings, and Castillo and Linda Bernal are a couple.

The witness and store clerk positively identified Carlos Bernal and Castillo as the pair from the robbery in a photo lineup.

Officers conducted surveillance on the house where the siblings live, which is less than half a mile from the Circle K. Linda Bernal and Castillo left the home Tuesday afternoon and police followed them to a Phoenix business near McDowell Road and Loop 101, where they arrested the pair at about 1:30 p.m., Gonzales said.

Police obtained a search warrant for the siblings' home, and with the help of the Department of Public Safety's gang task force, officers arrested Carlos Bernal about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, he said.

Gonzales said it was "great police work" on the part of all the officers involved.

"What started off as a beer run turned into an armed robbery and now all three, because of their involvement, are facing armed robbery charges, as well as the two suspects for aggravated assault," he said.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2010/09/29/20100929avondale-circle-k-robbery-clerk-injured.html

Resolution opposing illegal aliens fails in Glendora

GLENDORA - A pair of Glendora city councilmen this week made an abortive attempt to get the city to weigh in on the national immigration debate.

At the request of Councilman Doug Tessitor and Mayor Ken Herman, the city's staff on Tuesday presented a resolution intended to show that the city supported a tough policy against illegal immigration.

But the resolution failed 3-2, with Herman and Tessitor voting in its favor.

Councilman Gene Murabito said the resolution did not take a clear-enough stand against illegal immigration.

Council members Terry Kent and Karen Davis said Glendora already supported any state and federal immigration laws. They did not see need to express any further opinion on the matter, they said.

"We are already doing it," Councilman Terry Kent said during the meeting. "I don't know why we are here, to be honest with you."

Davis agreed.

"It is my feeling that we already uphold federal law," councilwoman Karen Davis said. "And in terms of trying to be more specific on the immigration issue ... it is beyond our jurisdiction."

Tessitor said the resolution would have passed if it had stronger language against illegal-immigration.

Tessitor, who supports Arizona's SB 1070 immigration bill, said the resolution's intent was to take a stand against sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, which he said openly refuse to enforce immigration laws.

"If I had my way, I would buy-cott Arizona," Tessitor said. "I would like to arrange a tour from southern California to Arizona to show what they are doing."
Although he voted in favor of the resolution, he also thought it wasn't clear enough.

One section read: "The City of Glendora supports the rule of law and that enforcement of all government laws, rules and regulations must be done in a fair and equitable manner so that its citizens believe that regardless of their race; family status; religion, creed or financial ability they will be treated in the true spirit of Justice being blind to those elements."

Murabito said he would have voted for one terse statement regarding illegal immigration. The proposed resolution was mostly about supporting current immigration policy and had little about supporting tough enforcement, he said.

"If we want to make a statement that we support the laws, why do we then in one paragraph here get very specific to immigration law?" Murabito said at the meeting. "To me this whole resolution is saying in essence, we support the laws ... and then oh by the way we are going to draft this to address immigration."

Tessitor called the resolution "vanilla."

Other cities, such as Costa Mesa, have passed resolution's declaring themselves "Rule of Law Cities" in a stance against illegal immigration.

Tessitor said he would consider bringing the resolution back, this time with different language.

"I have to think about whether or not it is something I want to push or not," he said.

Tessitor said the issue had nothing to do with implications of racism in Arizona's law or immigration enforcement, but was merely a legal matter.

"It is not a matter of race," he said. "The key word in this whole discussion is illegal. That is the operative word. What I don't get is what people don't understand about the meaning of that word illegal."

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_16209270

$3.1 million found on tour bus. 7 illegal aliens & 7 Americans arrested

McALLEN — Fourteen passengers aboard a tour bus bound for Mexico have been arrested and charged with knowingly conspiring to evade currency transaction reporting requirements in connection with $3.1 million in U.S. currency found concealed in luggage.

The announcement of the arrests and charges came Wednesday from U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton.‬‪

“This seizure of $3.1 million in undeclared currency and 14 arrests, the largest currency seizure by CBP in Fiscal Year 2010 (which started Oct. 1, 2009), is a magnificent achievement and serves as a validation of our enhanced outbound enforcement effort, which includes not only CBP officers and agents but also ICE-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents,” Bersin said in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.‬‪‬‪

Fourteen passengers aboard a tour bus — seven U.S. citizens and seven Mexican nationals —were arrested on Sunday by CBP officers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after an intensive inspection of the tour bus resulted in the discovery of 17 pieces of luggage, each containing hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency, the news release states.

The cash was found wrapped in deflated air mattresses inside the 17 pieces of luggage, according to the news release. After further investigation by ICE-HSI agents, a criminal complaint was filed Wednesday in McAllen charging all 14 with conspiracy to knowingly conceal more than $10,000 in currency in an attempt to transport the money to Mexico while evading currency reporting requirements or bulk cash smuggling.

CBP officers seized the $3.1 million.

“This seizure puts smugglers on notice,” said Morton. “ICE and CBP are working shoulder to shoulder to deny criminal organizations money they use to further their illicit activities and threaten public safety.

All 14 made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby in McAllen pn Tuesday and are being held pending detention hearings set for Friday.

A charge of conspiracy to smuggle bulk currency out of the United States carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/reynosa-43185-cbp-seizure.html

Feds want order on Ariz. illegal alien law upheld

The U.S. Department of Justice is urging an appeals court to uphold a judge’s order blocking key provisions of Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigration.

Arizona’s law intrudes on federal authority to regulate immigration, disrupts the United States’ relations with Mexico, hinders cooperation between state and federal officials and wrongly burdens legal immigrants, department lawyers argued in a brief filed late Thursday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Arizona law also would “divert federal resources from carefully crafted priorities, such as the pursuit of criminal aliens who pose the largest threats to public safety and national security,” the department argued.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on July 28 granted the department’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking some provisions of the law from taking effect July 29. The department sued July 6 to challenge the law enacted in April.

Blocked provisions included one requiring immigrants to obtain or carry immigration registration papers. Another would require police, while enforcing other laws, to question people’s immigration status if there is a reasonable suspicion they’re in the country illegally.

The San Francisco-based 9th Circuit has scheduled a Nov. 1 hearing for arguments on the state’s appeal.

Gov. Jan Brewer’s lawyers filed an opening brief on Aug. 26, asking the appellate court to reverse Bolton’s order.

Brewer’s lawyers said the federal government hasn’t effectively enforced immigration law at the border and in the state’s interior, and that the state’s intent in passing the law was to assist federal authorities, as Congress has encouraged.

They also said the judge erred by accepting speculation by the federal government that the law might burden legal immigrants and by concluding that the federal government would likely prevail.

Arizona has more than 400,000 illegal immigrants. Supporters of the law say the influx drains money from hospitals, education and other services and that a crackdown is needed to pressure illegal immigrants to leave the state and to deter further illegal crossings.

Aside from the federal government’s arguments, other critics of the law say it would lead to racial profiling and is misguided because it doesn’t directly tighten border security.

Bolton allowed some portions of the law to take effect, including a ban on blocking traffic when people seek or offer day-labor services on streets, and amendments to existing state immigration laws.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit was one of seven filed by organizations and individual to challenge the law. Two of the lawsuits have been dismissed.

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2010/09/29/arizona_city_independent/top_stories/doc4ca24afbaa504132816117.txt