President Obama stood before thousands of Texas Democrats and La Raza (The Race) supporters and told a whopper of a lie- “They (GOP) wanted a fence. Well, that fence is now basically complete.”
This is welcome news for those who live near the 2,000-mile southern border; unfortunately it is another propaganda-type lie.
Let’s educate Mr. Obama regarding what exactly is a fence. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a fence is a barrier that serves to enclose an area; an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion.
Keeping this in mind, the President’s claim that the fence is “basically complete” is untrue. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) February 2011 report says Border Patrol does not control the border. In fact Border Patrol only has the ability to control or prevent illegal entry for 129 miles of the 1,954-miles of U.S./Mexico shared border.
To date the GAO report concluded that Homeland Security has only built 646 miles of border fence. Of this very little was the “two layers of reinforced fencing” that was required by the Secure Border Act. Also included in this secure fence number was 347 miles of pedestrian fencing as well as 299 miles of vehicle barriers.
"Pedestrian fencing is designed to prevent people on foot from crossing the border and vehicle fencing consists of physical barriers meant to stop the entry of vehicles," said Richard Stana, director of homeland security for GAO.
In March, Stana told the committee that Homeland Security had only improved the total length of border fence by three miles last year.
The GAO goes on to reveal that an additional 744 miles of border region gives the Border Patrol power to stop an illegal entry at "distances of up to 100 miles or more away from the immediate border."
Add those numbers up and that leaves 1,081-miles of America’s southern border open and means Homeland Security has no "operational control" along much of the border.
That doesn’t sound secure.
The president also alluded to the fact that border cities are the safest cities in all of America.
Lie number two.
Looking at an annual statistical report put out by the Executive Office for the United States published in 2010 highlighted the violence on the border.
"The violence along the border of the United States and Mexico has increased dramatically during recent years and the violence associated with Mexican drug trafficking organizations pose(s) a serious problem for law enforcement," the report indicated.
It continues to describe that "Illegal immigration provides the initial foothold with which criminal elements, including organized crime syndicates, use to engage in a myriad of illicit activities ranging from immigration document fraud and migrant smuggling to human trafficking. Federal prosecution of border crime is a critical part of our Nation's defense and federal jurisdiction over these offenses is exclusive."
Even President Obama's own Justice Department, says there were more than two-and-a-half-times as many criminals (8,435) charged in federal court in Western Texas, coincidentally El Paso is located in this sector, than in the combined districts of Southern New York (1,959), which includes Manhattan and the Bronx, and the Eastern New York (1,377), which includes Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, according to CNSNews.
There are other issues and expenses attached to the mass amnesty President Obama is recommending.
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“An amnesty would cost taxpayers millions, if not billions of dollars—at a time where debt is at its ceiling and budgets are busted. It would also reward those who broke the law and came to the U.S. illegally over those who came to the U.S. the legal way,” explained Jena McNeil of The Heritage Foundation.
“Winning Hispanic votes is his (Obama’s) end game,” Israel Ortega says. “It's obvious that political calculations are driving the President's push for immigration reform in light of his all-time-low support among Hispanics. President Obama's advisors remain convinced that immigration reform will guarantee their support, despite polling that indicates that unemployment and education are issues that keep most Hispanics up at night.”
Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA) who represents a San Diego community directly affected by illegal immigration thought Obama’s speech was overly optimistic.
“The President provided plenty of good examples for success stories of legal immigrants in his campaign speech. But exploiting their success stories as justification for amnesty to an estimated 11-20 million illegal immigrants who have violated our nation’s laws and cut in line is completely irresponsible,” Bilbray said. "While the crime rate and number of illegal crossings along the border is down, the federal government has still not done enough to address the source of the problem – employers who use illegal labor.”
Congressman Bilbray along with many immigration-minded lawmakers also favor a nationwide implementation of E-Verify to ensure all employers play by the rules and hire only those legally able to work in the U.S.
“The President mentioned holding employers accountable for hiring illegal workers but he has yet to join me in the call for nationwide implementation of the E-Verify system. I call on President Obama to join with members of the House Immigration Reform Caucus to implement a nationwide E-Verify program to hold employers accountable,” Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus finished.
Meanwhile, south of the border in Mexico the warring drug cartels continue to step up their brutal murderous ways; this week in Durango, Mexico six human heads were left at the entrance of a secondary school forcing classes to be cancelled because the scene was too gruesome. Authorities conducted an extensive search for the bodies without any success; unfortunately these gruesome scenes are the rule- not the exception.
With scenes like this playing out around the savaged Mexican country, it’s not hard to understand that Mexicans’ want to run the border and grab a better and safer life, but none of the proposals included in President Obama’s comprehensive immigration reform plan addresses the rush of illegal aliens leaving Mexico and other Central American countries.
If America moves forward with an immigration reform plan without addressing the drug cartels and massive corruption in the Mexican government, it will only be a matter of time before the second and third wave will head north looking for that “better life” courtesy of the American taxpayer.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Fantastic news Obama’s immigration speech says the border fence is finished - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/fantastic-news-obama-s-immigration-speech-says-the-border-fence-is-finished#ixzz1M5Z7Iwjs
Showing posts with label immigration reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigration reform. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Latinos restless for immigration reform – use fiery rhetoric to gain upper hand
The 2009 political winds gave Democrats a substantial majority in the House and a filibuster -proof Senate, yet a year of inter-party bickering left the President empty handed when it came to health care legislation, cap-and-trade and immigration reform.
"People are angry and disillusioned," Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill) said in a recent interview.
Gutierrez criticized the Obama administration for not trying harder for legislation that would grant amnesty for most immigrants. The Illinois Congressman and author of 2010 comprehensive immigration reform legislation conceded that he short at least 18 votes in the House and therefore unable to move the bill he sponsored.
Gutierrez made a trip this week to Los Angeles to discuss amnesty and to headline a town hall meeting at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, known as "La Placita," which has acknowledged its sanctuary standing for illegal immigrants.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Gutierrez said that Obama's failure to push immigration reform was symbolized by his State of the Union address last Wednesday, “when he devoted 38 of about 7,300 words to the issue.”
“The throwaway line," Gutierrez said, was the final straw for many activists. Many hard-line immigration activists have been perturbed by the Obama Administrations continued deportations and enforcement actions that haven’t led to any real progress on reform.
It’s been reported by government data that President Obama has continued the removals of illegal immigrants. In 2009, deportations grew to 387,790 from 291,060 in 2007 under the Bush administration.
In a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, spokesman Matt Chandler said the administration remained "committed to confronting this problem" by using administrative and enforcement tools as well as work with Congress to find more solutions.
Gutierrez’ inability to consolidate fellow Democrats to pass meaningful reform and offer amnesty to most of the nation's 12-20 million illegal immigrants, issue more family visas, increase worker protections doesn’t sit well with impatient immigration groups.
“Get ready to be bombarded with all the scary and racist, hate -filled arguments on why this country should not pass comprehensive immigration reform and why we should give mass deportations, or ‘attrition through enforcement’ a chance,” according to immigration activist Tony Herrera. “Then get ready for massive celebration from the 12 million undocumented immigrants who will embrace their new-found American citizenship, they’ll move on and quickly and quietly assimilate into our fabric of society, some have already begun such assimilation, but those anti-immigrant groups will remain, small in numbers, but increasingly vocal, persistent in their attempt to drive a wedge and stifle a cohesive and multi-cultural America.”
The cynical sniping continues from Gutierrez on his website regarding the immigration battle expected to heat up later this year. “In the immigration debate, some things are constant. They never change. One is that opponents of immigration reform will use it as a wedge issue and will blame everything from unemployment to rising health care costs on immigrants. Your favorite lost on Dancing with the Stars? Let’s blame immigrants for that one, too.”
Terse rhetoric will not encourage those on the fence to support immigration activists especially in a tough economy and double-digit unemployment.
“Skeptical politicians believe it drives poll numbers, cynical commentators believe it drives TV ratings. The immigrant blame game is one of the most predictable and most deplorable, elements of public debate in our nation,” according to Gutierrez.
“In Congress, we’ve responded year after year with legislation, often bipartisan,” Gutierrez explains. While many immigrant opponents would never even come to the table to craft a workable solution to the urgent crisis, immigration activists sit patiently at that table, often making concessions after concessions and going home with nothing.
But it’s precisely the illegal immigrant activists’ tactics that many Americans find hard to understand. For example many illegals play “the keeping the family together card.” Gutierrez says he is interested in “The ability of a mother to stay with her son or an honest person to find work and for all families in the country to be safe-three simple principles. Three American principles. Not just for immigrants, but for all of us. Every American will benefit from this bill, from the heightened national security, from the commitment to family unity, from the common-sense approach to jobs and our economy,” the Congressman finished.
However, Americans concerned with illegals that entered the country illegally and play the family card, explain that nobody is keeping families apart. “Illegal immigrants can go back to their home country and reunite with their families. Nobody is forcing parents to leave their kids behind, it’s a big misnomer,” say anti-illegal immigration activists.
As a candidate for President, Obama said, “We need immigration reform that will secure our borders, and punish employers who exploit immigrant labor; reform that finally brings the 12 million people who are here illegally out of the shadows by requiring them to take steps to become legal citizens. We must assert our values and reconcile our principles as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. That is a priority I will pursue from my very first day.”
However, fast forward a year and in the President’s first State of the Union speech in which he spoke vaguely about immigration, “We should continue to work at fixing our broken immigration system to secure our borders and enforce our laws and ensure that everyone who plays by rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.”
Not exactly what immigration reform activists were looking for from President Obama.
NumbersUSA, an organization committed to legal immigration said, “If the President really believed that putting Americans back to work was an emergency that called for tough measures, he would have announced a suspension of most new immigration of foreign workers and mandated E-Verify verification to keep illegal aliens from U.S. jobs.”
It sounds like the American voters have persuaded the White House that "comprehensive immigration reform" is far more controversial than the other items the President mentioned directly in his yearly address, according to Roy Beck of NumbersUSA.
“And for that, we can thank the millions of Americans who have contacted the White House in the last year to express their opposition to ‘comprehensive immigration reform,’" Beck finished.
Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) addressed the issue of American jobs being held by illegal immigrants this way; “We could cut the unemployment rate in half simply by enforcing immigration laws. Unfortunately, the Obama administration continues to ignore the eight million illegal immigrants holding jobs that rightfully belong to out-of-work citizens and legal immigrants.”
In an effort to have their voices heard immigrant rights supporters are organizing a national mobilization demonstration on March 21 of this year and hope to have at least 100,000 immigrants ready to march in Washington D.C.
Without immigration progress, Congressman Gutierrez warned that many Latinos would stay home from the voting booths this year and for the 2012 presidential election if D.C. fails to produce immigration reform and grant amnesty.
“We need to hold all of our political leaders accountable,” he said.
If the tea party events held across America the past year are any indication as to how the American people feel about immigration reform and amnesty, Washington politicians will face the wrath from voters on both sides of the issue.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
"People are angry and disillusioned," Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill) said in a recent interview.
Gutierrez criticized the Obama administration for not trying harder for legislation that would grant amnesty for most immigrants. The Illinois Congressman and author of 2010 comprehensive immigration reform legislation conceded that he short at least 18 votes in the House and therefore unable to move the bill he sponsored.
Gutierrez made a trip this week to Los Angeles to discuss amnesty and to headline a town hall meeting at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, known as "La Placita," which has acknowledged its sanctuary standing for illegal immigrants.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Gutierrez said that Obama's failure to push immigration reform was symbolized by his State of the Union address last Wednesday, “when he devoted 38 of about 7,300 words to the issue.”
“The throwaway line," Gutierrez said, was the final straw for many activists. Many hard-line immigration activists have been perturbed by the Obama Administrations continued deportations and enforcement actions that haven’t led to any real progress on reform.
It’s been reported by government data that President Obama has continued the removals of illegal immigrants. In 2009, deportations grew to 387,790 from 291,060 in 2007 under the Bush administration.
In a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, spokesman Matt Chandler said the administration remained "committed to confronting this problem" by using administrative and enforcement tools as well as work with Congress to find more solutions.
Gutierrez’ inability to consolidate fellow Democrats to pass meaningful reform and offer amnesty to most of the nation's 12-20 million illegal immigrants, issue more family visas, increase worker protections doesn’t sit well with impatient immigration groups.
“Get ready to be bombarded with all the scary and racist, hate -filled arguments on why this country should not pass comprehensive immigration reform and why we should give mass deportations, or ‘attrition through enforcement’ a chance,” according to immigration activist Tony Herrera. “Then get ready for massive celebration from the 12 million undocumented immigrants who will embrace their new-found American citizenship, they’ll move on and quickly and quietly assimilate into our fabric of society, some have already begun such assimilation, but those anti-immigrant groups will remain, small in numbers, but increasingly vocal, persistent in their attempt to drive a wedge and stifle a cohesive and multi-cultural America.”
The cynical sniping continues from Gutierrez on his website regarding the immigration battle expected to heat up later this year. “In the immigration debate, some things are constant. They never change. One is that opponents of immigration reform will use it as a wedge issue and will blame everything from unemployment to rising health care costs on immigrants. Your favorite lost on Dancing with the Stars? Let’s blame immigrants for that one, too.”
Terse rhetoric will not encourage those on the fence to support immigration activists especially in a tough economy and double-digit unemployment.
“Skeptical politicians believe it drives poll numbers, cynical commentators believe it drives TV ratings. The immigrant blame game is one of the most predictable and most deplorable, elements of public debate in our nation,” according to Gutierrez.
“In Congress, we’ve responded year after year with legislation, often bipartisan,” Gutierrez explains. While many immigrant opponents would never even come to the table to craft a workable solution to the urgent crisis, immigration activists sit patiently at that table, often making concessions after concessions and going home with nothing.
But it’s precisely the illegal immigrant activists’ tactics that many Americans find hard to understand. For example many illegals play “the keeping the family together card.” Gutierrez says he is interested in “The ability of a mother to stay with her son or an honest person to find work and for all families in the country to be safe-three simple principles. Three American principles. Not just for immigrants, but for all of us. Every American will benefit from this bill, from the heightened national security, from the commitment to family unity, from the common-sense approach to jobs and our economy,” the Congressman finished.
However, Americans concerned with illegals that entered the country illegally and play the family card, explain that nobody is keeping families apart. “Illegal immigrants can go back to their home country and reunite with their families. Nobody is forcing parents to leave their kids behind, it’s a big misnomer,” say anti-illegal immigration activists.
As a candidate for President, Obama said, “We need immigration reform that will secure our borders, and punish employers who exploit immigrant labor; reform that finally brings the 12 million people who are here illegally out of the shadows by requiring them to take steps to become legal citizens. We must assert our values and reconcile our principles as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. That is a priority I will pursue from my very first day.”
However, fast forward a year and in the President’s first State of the Union speech in which he spoke vaguely about immigration, “We should continue to work at fixing our broken immigration system to secure our borders and enforce our laws and ensure that everyone who plays by rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.”
Not exactly what immigration reform activists were looking for from President Obama.
NumbersUSA, an organization committed to legal immigration said, “If the President really believed that putting Americans back to work was an emergency that called for tough measures, he would have announced a suspension of most new immigration of foreign workers and mandated E-Verify verification to keep illegal aliens from U.S. jobs.”
It sounds like the American voters have persuaded the White House that "comprehensive immigration reform" is far more controversial than the other items the President mentioned directly in his yearly address, according to Roy Beck of NumbersUSA.
“And for that, we can thank the millions of Americans who have contacted the White House in the last year to express their opposition to ‘comprehensive immigration reform,’" Beck finished.
Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) addressed the issue of American jobs being held by illegal immigrants this way; “We could cut the unemployment rate in half simply by enforcing immigration laws. Unfortunately, the Obama administration continues to ignore the eight million illegal immigrants holding jobs that rightfully belong to out-of-work citizens and legal immigrants.”
In an effort to have their voices heard immigrant rights supporters are organizing a national mobilization demonstration on March 21 of this year and hope to have at least 100,000 immigrants ready to march in Washington D.C.
Without immigration progress, Congressman Gutierrez warned that many Latinos would stay home from the voting booths this year and for the 2012 presidential election if D.C. fails to produce immigration reform and grant amnesty.
“We need to hold all of our political leaders accountable,” he said.
If the tea party events held across America the past year are any indication as to how the American people feel about immigration reform and amnesty, Washington politicians will face the wrath from voters on both sides of the issue.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Freshmen Congressmen band together to shore up immigration and prevent amnesty
A bipartisan group of freshmen Congressmen joined Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to introduce legislation that outlines several guiding principles for comprehensive immigration reform.
The freshmen lawmakers are proving they are listening to what the voters are telling them, smaller government, fewer taxes, shoring up the borders and looking at immigration issues sensibly. Off the table is amnesty for those who are in this country illegally.
“Our national and economic security continues to be threatened by our porous borders and the inconsistent enforcement of existing immigration laws,” said Congressman Hunter whose district is near the U.S./Mexican border. “The immigration reform debate must not be dictated by misguided calls for open borders and amnesty. The American people expect security to be a priority and immigration laws to be thoroughly enforced in our communities and the workplace. This resolution emphasizes these principles as the basis for any immigration reform measure that might move forward.”
The Bipartisan Reform of Immigration through Defining Good Enforcement (“BRIDGE”), H.R. 1026, Resolution was introduced by Congressmen Hunter, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Frank Kratovil (D-MD), Glenn Nye (D-VA) as well as 18 other House members and hopes to change the immigration debate as the 2010 Congressional session unfolds.
The immigration BRIDGE Resolution states that Congress make E-Verify mandatory for all employers and hold employees accountable as well; Provide sufficient border infrastructure and manpower to secure and control our borders; Reject amnesty or any legal status that grants citizenship to those living in the U.S. in violation of current law.
The measure’s primary sponsor, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, explained that, “Our government has a duty and responsibility to make our first immigration priority the enforcement of existing immigration laws by ensuring that illegal behavior is punished, not rewarded. Any discussion of comprehensive immigration reform must begin with a renewed commitment to enforce our immigration laws. We need to remove the incentives that encourage illegal behavior if we expect to get immigration under control.”
Senior Ranking House member Lamar Smith (R-TX) agrees, the Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee said, “I support the resolution introduced today by my colleagues. Making E-Verify mandatory, securing our borders and rejecting amnesty are some of the keys to reclaiming jobs for American workers and upholding the rule of law.”
With the votes cast in Massachusetts, it’s quite clear Americans are fed up with business as usual, partisan politics and the idea that Washington D.C. knows more about what families need succeed. If citizens have to follow the laws of the country, so should those who hope to immigrate to America and add to its rich diversity.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
The freshmen lawmakers are proving they are listening to what the voters are telling them, smaller government, fewer taxes, shoring up the borders and looking at immigration issues sensibly. Off the table is amnesty for those who are in this country illegally.
“Our national and economic security continues to be threatened by our porous borders and the inconsistent enforcement of existing immigration laws,” said Congressman Hunter whose district is near the U.S./Mexican border. “The immigration reform debate must not be dictated by misguided calls for open borders and amnesty. The American people expect security to be a priority and immigration laws to be thoroughly enforced in our communities and the workplace. This resolution emphasizes these principles as the basis for any immigration reform measure that might move forward.”
The Bipartisan Reform of Immigration through Defining Good Enforcement (“BRIDGE”), H.R. 1026, Resolution was introduced by Congressmen Hunter, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Frank Kratovil (D-MD), Glenn Nye (D-VA) as well as 18 other House members and hopes to change the immigration debate as the 2010 Congressional session unfolds.
The immigration BRIDGE Resolution states that Congress make E-Verify mandatory for all employers and hold employees accountable as well; Provide sufficient border infrastructure and manpower to secure and control our borders; Reject amnesty or any legal status that grants citizenship to those living in the U.S. in violation of current law.
The measure’s primary sponsor, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, explained that, “Our government has a duty and responsibility to make our first immigration priority the enforcement of existing immigration laws by ensuring that illegal behavior is punished, not rewarded. Any discussion of comprehensive immigration reform must begin with a renewed commitment to enforce our immigration laws. We need to remove the incentives that encourage illegal behavior if we expect to get immigration under control.”
Senior Ranking House member Lamar Smith (R-TX) agrees, the Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee said, “I support the resolution introduced today by my colleagues. Making E-Verify mandatory, securing our borders and rejecting amnesty are some of the keys to reclaiming jobs for American workers and upholding the rule of law.”
With the votes cast in Massachusetts, it’s quite clear Americans are fed up with business as usual, partisan politics and the idea that Washington D.C. knows more about what families need succeed. If citizens have to follow the laws of the country, so should those who hope to immigrate to America and add to its rich diversity.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Friday, January 8, 2010
Congressmen look to end controversial visa lottery for terrorist countries
Each year in the United States the immigration department holds a lottery where 50,000 immigrants who seek to reside in America can win the golden ticket and gain legal entry into the country. The popular program is only available for those countries that do not send a large number of immigrants to the U.S.
In an effort to remove any possible security risks, Congressmen Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) have asked Chairman of the Judiciary committee, John Conyers (D-MI) urging the committee to consider eliminating the annual visa lottery. (Note: state sponsors of terrorism are not excluded from the lottery.)
The Congressmen pointed out countries that are eligible for the visa lottery include; Iran, Sudan, Cuba as well as 13 of the 14 nations the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) crack down on airport security, including Nigeria home country of the Christmas Day terrorist incident.
“The visa lottery program poses a national security threat. Under the program, each successful applicant is chosen at random and given the status of permanent resident based on pure luck,” Rep. Goodlatte explained. “Usually, immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who have an existing connection with a family member lawfully residing in the United States or with a U.S. employer. These types of relationships help to ensure that immigrants entering the country have a stake in our nation’s continued success, and have needed skills to contribute to our nation’s economy. However, under the visa lottery program, visas are awarded to immigrants at random without meeting such criteria.”
Congressman Smith continued to say the visa lottery is a dangerous game with our national security. “America already has the most generous immigration policy in the world, admitting over one million legal immigrants each year. But under the current lottery system, up to 50,000 randomly selected alien applicants win visas each year, many from countries with a significant terrorist presence.”
In 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report stating the visa lottery system “is vulnerable to fraudulent activity committed by and against applicants…” The report continued to say “widespread use of fake documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates and passports, presented challenges in the government’s ability to verify the identities of applicants and dependents.”
In addition to this report, at the 109th Congress, the State Department Inspector General testified before Congress that the visa lottery “contains significant risks to national security from hostile intelligence officers, criminals and terrorists attempting to use the program for entry into the U.S. as permanent residents.” Unfortunately, Smith pointed out that the House Committee on the Judiciary has not held hearings on this subject since Democrats took control of Congress in 2006.
“The nature of the lottery is such that we have no control over who applies for admission to our nation,” Goodlatte said. “This flawed policy is just foolish in the age in which we live. Those in the world who wish us harm can easily engage in this statistical gamble with nothing to lose.”
Congressman Goodlatte also introduced the Visa Lottery Elimination Act on May 7, 2009 and the legislation currently resides within the House Judiciary Committee. Perhaps now the Democratic leadership within the committee will put this bill at the top of their “to do list.”
Of coarse there are many ways to combat terrorism and good ideas are sorely needed, but for our country’s security officials to fail the American people and allow a terrorist to board a flight paying cash, checking in no luggage and having his father’s statement to U.S. State officials regarding the radicalization of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab by Yemeni al-Qaeda leaders go unchecked- proves the system failed.
“The best way to prevent a terrorist attack on U.S. soil is to stop terrorists before they reach the U.S. Even the President said that airport screening measures are not foolproof. The first line of defense against foreign terrorists is our visa process—which clearly broke down in the Christmas Day plot and almost cost the lives of 290 innocent individuals,” Rep. Smith pointed out. “But the Christmas Day attack is not the first time terrorists have obtained U.S. visas. Several of the 9/11 hijackers did so as well. The Christmas Day terrorist attack is a grim reminder that the terrorist threat is alive and well and that our work is not yet done.”
With the White House in full scramble mode regarding the latest terrorist attack aboard an American airliner, it is up to Congress to act upon the failed policies put in place and make every effort to prevent all Americans from another devastating 9/11-style attack.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
In an effort to remove any possible security risks, Congressmen Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) have asked Chairman of the Judiciary committee, John Conyers (D-MI) urging the committee to consider eliminating the annual visa lottery. (Note: state sponsors of terrorism are not excluded from the lottery.)
The Congressmen pointed out countries that are eligible for the visa lottery include; Iran, Sudan, Cuba as well as 13 of the 14 nations the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) crack down on airport security, including Nigeria home country of the Christmas Day terrorist incident.
“The visa lottery program poses a national security threat. Under the program, each successful applicant is chosen at random and given the status of permanent resident based on pure luck,” Rep. Goodlatte explained. “Usually, immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who have an existing connection with a family member lawfully residing in the United States or with a U.S. employer. These types of relationships help to ensure that immigrants entering the country have a stake in our nation’s continued success, and have needed skills to contribute to our nation’s economy. However, under the visa lottery program, visas are awarded to immigrants at random without meeting such criteria.”
Congressman Smith continued to say the visa lottery is a dangerous game with our national security. “America already has the most generous immigration policy in the world, admitting over one million legal immigrants each year. But under the current lottery system, up to 50,000 randomly selected alien applicants win visas each year, many from countries with a significant terrorist presence.”
In 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report stating the visa lottery system “is vulnerable to fraudulent activity committed by and against applicants…” The report continued to say “widespread use of fake documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates and passports, presented challenges in the government’s ability to verify the identities of applicants and dependents.”
In addition to this report, at the 109th Congress, the State Department Inspector General testified before Congress that the visa lottery “contains significant risks to national security from hostile intelligence officers, criminals and terrorists attempting to use the program for entry into the U.S. as permanent residents.” Unfortunately, Smith pointed out that the House Committee on the Judiciary has not held hearings on this subject since Democrats took control of Congress in 2006.
“The nature of the lottery is such that we have no control over who applies for admission to our nation,” Goodlatte said. “This flawed policy is just foolish in the age in which we live. Those in the world who wish us harm can easily engage in this statistical gamble with nothing to lose.”
Congressman Goodlatte also introduced the Visa Lottery Elimination Act on May 7, 2009 and the legislation currently resides within the House Judiciary Committee. Perhaps now the Democratic leadership within the committee will put this bill at the top of their “to do list.”
Of coarse there are many ways to combat terrorism and good ideas are sorely needed, but for our country’s security officials to fail the American people and allow a terrorist to board a flight paying cash, checking in no luggage and having his father’s statement to U.S. State officials regarding the radicalization of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab by Yemeni al-Qaeda leaders go unchecked- proves the system failed.
“The best way to prevent a terrorist attack on U.S. soil is to stop terrorists before they reach the U.S. Even the President said that airport screening measures are not foolproof. The first line of defense against foreign terrorists is our visa process—which clearly broke down in the Christmas Day plot and almost cost the lives of 290 innocent individuals,” Rep. Smith pointed out. “But the Christmas Day attack is not the first time terrorists have obtained U.S. visas. Several of the 9/11 hijackers did so as well. The Christmas Day terrorist attack is a grim reminder that the terrorist threat is alive and well and that our work is not yet done.”
With the White House in full scramble mode regarding the latest terrorist attack aboard an American airliner, it is up to Congress to act upon the failed policies put in place and make every effort to prevent all Americans from another devastating 9/11-style attack.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Monday, November 16, 2009
American’s rally against amnesty across the country
On a Friday afternoon when Americans were reeling from a terrorist massacre in Fort Hood, learning the mastermind of 9/11 will be tried in federal court like any other common criminal, the Obama Administration dusted off the 2007 immigration reform plan to resuscitate amnesty.
The Obama team can’t seem to get past the campaign trail. The speech hit the usual topics; “we’ve brought the economy back from the brink by passing the Recovery Act, tackled health care reform, planted seeds of growth for a new clean energy economy, made serious national commitment to education, which means college for every young person…”
Seriously, the Obama Administration needs to put down the kool-aid and get back to reality.
With unemployment in the double digits, Americans losing their homes and borders that remain unsecured, Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary has decided to resurrect the 2007 McCain/Kennedy/Bush immigration reform failure to pay off Obama’s political debts to certain special interest groups.
As a result, on Saturday there were more than 50 anti-amnesty rallies held around the nation protesting the Obama’s Administration’s attempt to shove another unwanted program onto Americans who are struggling to stay afloat.
The number one issue on American’s mind is “it’s the economy stupid.” A lagging economy coupled with a withering job market hardly seems like the ideal time to dump an estimated 20 million illegal aliens into the U.S. job market.
At the Friday speech, Napolitano described the Administration’s “three-legged stool formula as a way to solve the nation’s out-of-control immigration problem. “One that must include commitment to effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers and a firm, but fair way to deal with those who are already here,” Napolitano said.
One would think that the DHS head would know how to deal with the immigration issues as Napolitano was once Governor of Arizona. However, under her tutelage, Arizona garnered the auspicious title of kidnapping capital of the U.S. and it also ranked second in the world behind Mexico City.
Arizona saw an increase in illegal crimes each year she was in office. Hardly a stellar record for someone who announced the country has solved our border security issues.
Napolitano points to the 600-miles of secure border fence that have been constructed. However, the fence was constructed under the Bush Administration- not Obama. And it is worth pointing out that the 600-miles of southern border fence built only covers about one-third of the 2,000+ mile fence the U.S. shares with Mexico. (The border we share with Mexico is not a straight line)
The so-called three-legged stool example has now lost a leg.
The Secure Communities program is another agenda DHS touts as a success. However, many look to the program as another reason amnesty is doomed to fail. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) nabbed more than 111,000 criminal aliens in one year. Great. But the new program has only deported 9,500 criminal illegal aliens. This leaves more than 100,000 criminal aliens in America.
The statistics in the state of California are even more staggering. The illegal inmates residing in California prisons tally 30 percent, one-third of all births are to illegal immigrants and the FBI reports most of the Latino MS13 gang members are here illegally. Los Angeles’ sanctuary city status forbids Los Angeles police officers to question the legal status of the most violent gang members in the country.
Napolitano claims the Obama Administration is dedicated to fighting the drug cartels, money they collect and guns returning to Mexico. She produces the $34 million confiscated in smuggling attempts. Again seems like a tidy sum of money.
However, the fact is the drug cartels pay much more than that on a monthly basis in bribes. In Mexico, drug cartels earn upwards of $10 billion per year - per cartel. Suddenly that $24 million doesn’t seem like much.
As far as the violence; this year alone there have been more murders in Mexico than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combine eight years. Again, seems like we are fighting the wrong war.
Under the Obama Administration the violence south of the border continues to escalate, not only does Mexico lay claim to record breaking murder numbers, approximately 13,500 murders since 2006. But the violence is not only endemic to Mexico, Guatemala (3,286 murders per year), Honduras (4,214 murders per year) and San Salvador (3,673 murders per year) this all follows directly in Mexico’s footpaths and the carnage continues to unfold throughout Latin America.
This path of murder and corruption will slowly make its way into the United States.
Many claim the borders can never be fully secure and the thirst for U.S. drug consumption is impossible to overcome. Yet former U.S. Attorney Pete Nunez thinks differently. His first hand knowledge of the topic dates back to ‘Operation Intercept’ in 1969.
The program was directed by President Richard Nixon’s vow to fight drugs and it took aim at the 2,500-mile border we share with Mexico from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas.
President Nixon virtually shut down all the border crossings when Mexico refused to help with the war on drugs, says Nunez. “The point was to inspect 100 percent of vehicles crossing into America, there were no exceptions.”
Nunez reports during that period, large drug cases in San Diego decreased by 75 percent. “That is something that has never been repeated,” he said. “The notion that we can’t stop illegal drug trafficking into this country is false and ‘Operation Intercept’ proved the war on drugs could be fought successfully.”
Looking to other successful programs like E-Verify, the Obama Administration has continued to weaken its effectiveness by not mandating the program for every business. The restricted usage allows more illegal aliens to take jobs in an ailing U.S. economy.
However, once employees are deemed to be here illegally, they are not deported. This is mind boggling since in many cases the illegals have either used stolen or bogus Social Security numbers to gain employment, breaking another American law.
Also, another factor to keep in mind is assimilation into the American way of life. In the past second generation immigrants were more likely to succeed. The first generation parents would work hard and make sure their children received a good education, learn the language and successfully assimilate into society.
However, according to studies from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), almost two-thirds of adult Mexican immigrants have not completed high school. This unskilled work force has a much tougher time assimilating in the U.S. compared to their other immigrant counterparts.
The dubious cycle plays out when you see second generation Latino immigrants accepting food stamps, welfare payments and straining the already burdened health care systems.
But Napolitano refuses to focus on the real numbers. She states her administration wishes to get tougher on “anti-smuggling laws and dealing with the aggravated crimes smugglers commit- including assaulting law enforcement officers, endangering children and threatening relatives and abandoning people in the desert.”
This problem could be solved without U.S. taxpayer money. It is sad to see these illegal aliens succumb to the coyotes (human smugglers) as they try to break into our country illegally. A simple solution- come through the front door, wait in line with the millions of immigrants before you.
American’s do not force Latino’s to pay coyotes to enter into this country illegally. Why should it be our responsibility? There would be no deaths in the desert if those seeking a better life played by the rules, end of story.
Next the Obama Administration claims they have met with labor union leaders and “immigration reform will be a boon to American workers.”
Really? Are those here illegally multi-millionaires? Are they going to open large manufacturing plants and employ millions of Americans who remain unemployed?
Not likely. The union would love to see the millions of illegal aliens legalized because it means the unions could recruit them to join unions and extol money in dues from an already struggling group of people. Nothing more.
Napolitano states, “Think about it; unions will never achieve the best terms for workers when a large part of the workforce is illegal and operates in a shadow economy.”
The Secretary is admitting there are millions here working illegally. Why is nothing being done to stop illegals from gaining employment and once they are discovered working illegally why aren’t they returned to their home country?
One last point, in the speech given at the American Center of Progress, Napolitano stresses that “no one should have to wait in line for years in order to reunite with a spouse or young child.”
This is code for allowing all family members of those who broke the law sneaking into America, to reunite in the U.S. The number of immigrants rushing across the borders would swell to the 30-40 million people. This is something America could not sustain.
This is why American’s don’t support amnesty. It is not even on the top five list of priorities that need attention in this country.
This reckless behavior by the Obama Administration prompted 53 anti-amnesty rallies across the nation.
The San Diego Minutemen joined the tea party movement and sponsored the rally in Southern California.
“It is not fair for those in power to give our country away to illegal immigrants,” said Diane Carols who attended the rally in San Diego. “This is my first rally and it looks like I’ll have to attend many more to make sure this travesty doesn’t come true.”
This sentiment was echoed throughout rally attendees. Especially ardent opponents of anti-amnesty come from those who immigrated to America legally. Francisca Galvan, a recent legal immigrant from Mexico, spoke at the rally and explained amnesty would kill America.
With the USS Midway as a backdrop roughly 200 concerned citizens came out to support local activists in their efforts to fight amnesty and encourage political leaders to secure the country’s borders.
Looking to recent polls from Rasmussen, 66 percent of Americans want a reduction in immigration not an increase.
San Diego is a border city and rally attendees made one thing absolutely clear, amnesty is not okay and the White House can expect a big fight.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
The Obama team can’t seem to get past the campaign trail. The speech hit the usual topics; “we’ve brought the economy back from the brink by passing the Recovery Act, tackled health care reform, planted seeds of growth for a new clean energy economy, made serious national commitment to education, which means college for every young person…”
Seriously, the Obama Administration needs to put down the kool-aid and get back to reality.
With unemployment in the double digits, Americans losing their homes and borders that remain unsecured, Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary has decided to resurrect the 2007 McCain/Kennedy/Bush immigration reform failure to pay off Obama’s political debts to certain special interest groups.
As a result, on Saturday there were more than 50 anti-amnesty rallies held around the nation protesting the Obama’s Administration’s attempt to shove another unwanted program onto Americans who are struggling to stay afloat.
The number one issue on American’s mind is “it’s the economy stupid.” A lagging economy coupled with a withering job market hardly seems like the ideal time to dump an estimated 20 million illegal aliens into the U.S. job market.
At the Friday speech, Napolitano described the Administration’s “three-legged stool formula as a way to solve the nation’s out-of-control immigration problem. “One that must include commitment to effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers and a firm, but fair way to deal with those who are already here,” Napolitano said.
One would think that the DHS head would know how to deal with the immigration issues as Napolitano was once Governor of Arizona. However, under her tutelage, Arizona garnered the auspicious title of kidnapping capital of the U.S. and it also ranked second in the world behind Mexico City.
Arizona saw an increase in illegal crimes each year she was in office. Hardly a stellar record for someone who announced the country has solved our border security issues.
Napolitano points to the 600-miles of secure border fence that have been constructed. However, the fence was constructed under the Bush Administration- not Obama. And it is worth pointing out that the 600-miles of southern border fence built only covers about one-third of the 2,000+ mile fence the U.S. shares with Mexico. (The border we share with Mexico is not a straight line)
The so-called three-legged stool example has now lost a leg.
The Secure Communities program is another agenda DHS touts as a success. However, many look to the program as another reason amnesty is doomed to fail. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) nabbed more than 111,000 criminal aliens in one year. Great. But the new program has only deported 9,500 criminal illegal aliens. This leaves more than 100,000 criminal aliens in America.
The statistics in the state of California are even more staggering. The illegal inmates residing in California prisons tally 30 percent, one-third of all births are to illegal immigrants and the FBI reports most of the Latino MS13 gang members are here illegally. Los Angeles’ sanctuary city status forbids Los Angeles police officers to question the legal status of the most violent gang members in the country.
Napolitano claims the Obama Administration is dedicated to fighting the drug cartels, money they collect and guns returning to Mexico. She produces the $34 million confiscated in smuggling attempts. Again seems like a tidy sum of money.
However, the fact is the drug cartels pay much more than that on a monthly basis in bribes. In Mexico, drug cartels earn upwards of $10 billion per year - per cartel. Suddenly that $24 million doesn’t seem like much.
As far as the violence; this year alone there have been more murders in Mexico than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combine eight years. Again, seems like we are fighting the wrong war.
Under the Obama Administration the violence south of the border continues to escalate, not only does Mexico lay claim to record breaking murder numbers, approximately 13,500 murders since 2006. But the violence is not only endemic to Mexico, Guatemala (3,286 murders per year), Honduras (4,214 murders per year) and San Salvador (3,673 murders per year) this all follows directly in Mexico’s footpaths and the carnage continues to unfold throughout Latin America.
This path of murder and corruption will slowly make its way into the United States.
Many claim the borders can never be fully secure and the thirst for U.S. drug consumption is impossible to overcome. Yet former U.S. Attorney Pete Nunez thinks differently. His first hand knowledge of the topic dates back to ‘Operation Intercept’ in 1969.
The program was directed by President Richard Nixon’s vow to fight drugs and it took aim at the 2,500-mile border we share with Mexico from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas.
President Nixon virtually shut down all the border crossings when Mexico refused to help with the war on drugs, says Nunez. “The point was to inspect 100 percent of vehicles crossing into America, there were no exceptions.”
Nunez reports during that period, large drug cases in San Diego decreased by 75 percent. “That is something that has never been repeated,” he said. “The notion that we can’t stop illegal drug trafficking into this country is false and ‘Operation Intercept’ proved the war on drugs could be fought successfully.”
Looking to other successful programs like E-Verify, the Obama Administration has continued to weaken its effectiveness by not mandating the program for every business. The restricted usage allows more illegal aliens to take jobs in an ailing U.S. economy.
However, once employees are deemed to be here illegally, they are not deported. This is mind boggling since in many cases the illegals have either used stolen or bogus Social Security numbers to gain employment, breaking another American law.
Also, another factor to keep in mind is assimilation into the American way of life. In the past second generation immigrants were more likely to succeed. The first generation parents would work hard and make sure their children received a good education, learn the language and successfully assimilate into society.
However, according to studies from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), almost two-thirds of adult Mexican immigrants have not completed high school. This unskilled work force has a much tougher time assimilating in the U.S. compared to their other immigrant counterparts.
The dubious cycle plays out when you see second generation Latino immigrants accepting food stamps, welfare payments and straining the already burdened health care systems.
But Napolitano refuses to focus on the real numbers. She states her administration wishes to get tougher on “anti-smuggling laws and dealing with the aggravated crimes smugglers commit- including assaulting law enforcement officers, endangering children and threatening relatives and abandoning people in the desert.”
This problem could be solved without U.S. taxpayer money. It is sad to see these illegal aliens succumb to the coyotes (human smugglers) as they try to break into our country illegally. A simple solution- come through the front door, wait in line with the millions of immigrants before you.
American’s do not force Latino’s to pay coyotes to enter into this country illegally. Why should it be our responsibility? There would be no deaths in the desert if those seeking a better life played by the rules, end of story.
Next the Obama Administration claims they have met with labor union leaders and “immigration reform will be a boon to American workers.”
Really? Are those here illegally multi-millionaires? Are they going to open large manufacturing plants and employ millions of Americans who remain unemployed?
Not likely. The union would love to see the millions of illegal aliens legalized because it means the unions could recruit them to join unions and extol money in dues from an already struggling group of people. Nothing more.
Napolitano states, “Think about it; unions will never achieve the best terms for workers when a large part of the workforce is illegal and operates in a shadow economy.”
The Secretary is admitting there are millions here working illegally. Why is nothing being done to stop illegals from gaining employment and once they are discovered working illegally why aren’t they returned to their home country?
One last point, in the speech given at the American Center of Progress, Napolitano stresses that “no one should have to wait in line for years in order to reunite with a spouse or young child.”
This is code for allowing all family members of those who broke the law sneaking into America, to reunite in the U.S. The number of immigrants rushing across the borders would swell to the 30-40 million people. This is something America could not sustain.
This is why American’s don’t support amnesty. It is not even on the top five list of priorities that need attention in this country.
This reckless behavior by the Obama Administration prompted 53 anti-amnesty rallies across the nation.
The San Diego Minutemen joined the tea party movement and sponsored the rally in Southern California.
“It is not fair for those in power to give our country away to illegal immigrants,” said Diane Carols who attended the rally in San Diego. “This is my first rally and it looks like I’ll have to attend many more to make sure this travesty doesn’t come true.”
This sentiment was echoed throughout rally attendees. Especially ardent opponents of anti-amnesty come from those who immigrated to America legally. Francisca Galvan, a recent legal immigrant from Mexico, spoke at the rally and explained amnesty would kill America.
With the USS Midway as a backdrop roughly 200 concerned citizens came out to support local activists in their efforts to fight amnesty and encourage political leaders to secure the country’s borders.
Looking to recent polls from Rasmussen, 66 percent of Americans want a reduction in immigration not an increase.
San Diego is a border city and rally attendees made one thing absolutely clear, amnesty is not okay and the White House can expect a big fight.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Friday, October 16, 2009
Illegal migrant camps still active in San Diego, little being done
Nearly two weeks after a group of illegal immigration activists stumbled upon prostitution in McGonigle Canyon in San Diego, there is little to show the community in the form of action.
The San Diego Police Department’s slow reaction has caused many to scratch their heads wondering why it is taking police so long to remove the illegal migrant campers.
“What are you doing out here?” asked one resident about this reporter. “If it wasn’t for you reporting this nothing would be done. I’m scared to visit the canyon any more.”
After several days of speculation, SDPD Capt. Rosario said there would be a mobile command van placed in the canyon as well as some quads and horses.
A quick visit inside the police mobile command unit shows a communication network, radios and a television for the officers who are stationed inside the van. Again, there was no word about the SDPD actually being on foot inside the canyon where the prostitution is taking place.
“We plan to have the van out there 24/7 for the next week,” Rosario said. “I have a feeling the prostitution is part freelance and part organized, but I’m not exactly sure.”
Capt. Rosario revealed that the SDPD had successfully placed six ’72-hour notice to vacant signs’ on migrant squatters homes.
Local activists continue to offer their assistance to the San Diego Police Department, informing the department they can locate more than six camps in 10 minutes and that there are at least several dozen suspected camps located throughout the two mile-long canyon. Leaving one to question whether this is a genuine or half-hearted effort by the SDPD to locate and remove the illegal squatters.
On Thursday, a quick check by citizens of a long-time popular migrant camp site area just below a neighborhood park revealed a large untagged camp and another one next to it under construction. Only 20 minutes after finding and photographing the camp site, a Latino man was observed riding his bike through the canyon on the main road and then entering the dense brush to this camp.
Earlier in the week, Lt. Dan Plein was in the Rancho Penasquitos region and walked through a number of active migrant camps. In less than 45 minutes, he discovered more than 10 sites.
“I’m new to this particular police department, but I wanted to get out here and see for myself what we are dealing with,” Plein said.
When pressed for information about policy and what residents could expect, Plein smiled, and declined to answer. “I’ll have to defer to my Captain on those issues. We simply assess the situation, write an in-depth report and wait for orders,” he explained.
One resident with plenty of questions is Julie Adams. “I kept asking the officer, ‘if I pitch a tent here what would you do? Would you ticket me? Arrest me?’”
Again, not much of an answer from SDPD Lt. Plein.
The migrant camps Plein was able to visit had multiple fire hazards as well as a water line taken from the cities irrigation lines. “Looks they are stealing water from the city,” Adams points out. “They just go to Home Depot and buy a hose and knob.”
Inside the illegal camp sites the migrants call home are plenty of empty alcohol containers. Along side the empty bottles are cigarette butts, candles, propane stoves and mattresses for their beds.
Some of the camps are put together rather well. They have one area for sleeping, another for their kitchen and yet another for washing their dishes and clothes. Campsites often are well-hidden in ravines near small creeks, but they are never far from main roads and neighborhoods.
In addition to the inhospitable conditions inside the camps one has to wonder what impact these migrants are having on the environment. The water they use meanders about five miles into the Pacific Ocean. They also use the bushes as their public restroom and leave the tissue for all to see. Broken beer bottles and trash litter the canyon area. This has to have some sort of environmental impact on the region.
Yet many migrants simply pull up the stakes on their tarps or tents and move to a new location when they have been tagged for eviction by CalTrans or SDPD.
“The camps are getting harder to find,” said Jeff Schwilk, who regularly checks the canyons for illegal activity and forwards tips to the SDPD. “They are getting smarter at hiding in the deeper thickets.”
If the SDPD really wanted to clear these folks out, residents and activists say Border Patrol should be called in to remove the law-breaking immigrants, but according to one resident that is not an option.
“Border Patrol told us that if they come into the canyons the migrants will set the canyon on fire,” he said.
That’s a hefty threat coming from a group of men who are mostly here in this country illegally.
As far as the placement of the mobile police unit, it seems to be nothing more than a sign to illegals and possible prostitution organizers, you better steer clear for the next week.
The multiple issues that surround the San Diego Canyon region can be solved. It will require local leadership to step up and tackle the issue head on.
This will be extremely hard to do as San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders refuses to return any phone calls. Residents cling to the hope that something will be done before San Diego’s next fire is in their living room.
For recent video of active camp sites;
www.youtube.com/watch
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
The San Diego Police Department’s slow reaction has caused many to scratch their heads wondering why it is taking police so long to remove the illegal migrant campers.
“What are you doing out here?” asked one resident about this reporter. “If it wasn’t for you reporting this nothing would be done. I’m scared to visit the canyon any more.”
After several days of speculation, SDPD Capt. Rosario said there would be a mobile command van placed in the canyon as well as some quads and horses.
A quick visit inside the police mobile command unit shows a communication network, radios and a television for the officers who are stationed inside the van. Again, there was no word about the SDPD actually being on foot inside the canyon where the prostitution is taking place.
“We plan to have the van out there 24/7 for the next week,” Rosario said. “I have a feeling the prostitution is part freelance and part organized, but I’m not exactly sure.”
Capt. Rosario revealed that the SDPD had successfully placed six ’72-hour notice to vacant signs’ on migrant squatters homes.
Local activists continue to offer their assistance to the San Diego Police Department, informing the department they can locate more than six camps in 10 minutes and that there are at least several dozen suspected camps located throughout the two mile-long canyon. Leaving one to question whether this is a genuine or half-hearted effort by the SDPD to locate and remove the illegal squatters.
On Thursday, a quick check by citizens of a long-time popular migrant camp site area just below a neighborhood park revealed a large untagged camp and another one next to it under construction. Only 20 minutes after finding and photographing the camp site, a Latino man was observed riding his bike through the canyon on the main road and then entering the dense brush to this camp.
Earlier in the week, Lt. Dan Plein was in the Rancho Penasquitos region and walked through a number of active migrant camps. In less than 45 minutes, he discovered more than 10 sites.
“I’m new to this particular police department, but I wanted to get out here and see for myself what we are dealing with,” Plein said.
When pressed for information about policy and what residents could expect, Plein smiled, and declined to answer. “I’ll have to defer to my Captain on those issues. We simply assess the situation, write an in-depth report and wait for orders,” he explained.
One resident with plenty of questions is Julie Adams. “I kept asking the officer, ‘if I pitch a tent here what would you do? Would you ticket me? Arrest me?’”
Again, not much of an answer from SDPD Lt. Plein.
The migrant camps Plein was able to visit had multiple fire hazards as well as a water line taken from the cities irrigation lines. “Looks they are stealing water from the city,” Adams points out. “They just go to Home Depot and buy a hose and knob.”
Inside the illegal camp sites the migrants call home are plenty of empty alcohol containers. Along side the empty bottles are cigarette butts, candles, propane stoves and mattresses for their beds.
Some of the camps are put together rather well. They have one area for sleeping, another for their kitchen and yet another for washing their dishes and clothes. Campsites often are well-hidden in ravines near small creeks, but they are never far from main roads and neighborhoods.
In addition to the inhospitable conditions inside the camps one has to wonder what impact these migrants are having on the environment. The water they use meanders about five miles into the Pacific Ocean. They also use the bushes as their public restroom and leave the tissue for all to see. Broken beer bottles and trash litter the canyon area. This has to have some sort of environmental impact on the region.
Yet many migrants simply pull up the stakes on their tarps or tents and move to a new location when they have been tagged for eviction by CalTrans or SDPD.
“The camps are getting harder to find,” said Jeff Schwilk, who regularly checks the canyons for illegal activity and forwards tips to the SDPD. “They are getting smarter at hiding in the deeper thickets.”
If the SDPD really wanted to clear these folks out, residents and activists say Border Patrol should be called in to remove the law-breaking immigrants, but according to one resident that is not an option.
“Border Patrol told us that if they come into the canyons the migrants will set the canyon on fire,” he said.
That’s a hefty threat coming from a group of men who are mostly here in this country illegally.
As far as the placement of the mobile police unit, it seems to be nothing more than a sign to illegals and possible prostitution organizers, you better steer clear for the next week.
The multiple issues that surround the San Diego Canyon region can be solved. It will require local leadership to step up and tackle the issue head on.
This will be extremely hard to do as San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders refuses to return any phone calls. Residents cling to the hope that something will be done before San Diego’s next fire is in their living room.
For recent video of active camp sites;
www.youtube.com/watch
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Democratic leadership begin groundwork for amnesty
Congressman Luis Gutierrez –D-IL has begun the immigration bill drafting process and he claims there’s both support and votes for ‘compassionate legislation.’
Gutierrez promised supporters his immigration reform legislation would include keeping families together, protecting workers and finding an easy path to U.S. citizenship.
Sounds great if you’re in this country illegally. This move is in direct opposition to what the American people want. This bold move by Democrats will create more workplace anxiety among the unemployed, during a recession, and allow illegals to flood the already lagging jobs market.
“Allowing millions of illegal immigrants to stay and take jobs away from citizens is like giving a burglar a key to the house,” says Rep. Lamar Smith-D TX.
It is worth pointing out that keeping families together give undocumented workers the ability to bring their entire family into the U.S. If this is the case, the 12 million number could quadruple.
According to a new Zogby International poll, Mexican’s were asked if the U.S. grants amnesty would they migrate north to the U.S. A resounding 56 percent said yes, while only 17 percent said no.
An overwhelming majority, 69 percent, thought the primary loyalty of Mexican-Americans (Mexico- and U.S.-born) should be to Mexico. Just 20 percent said it should be to the United States.
“This bill doesn’t have a prayer because the American people oppose rewarding lawbreakers, which then encourages illegal immigration,” Smith stated in a press release.
Many proponents of amnesty agree illegal immigrants need to return to the end of the line and wait until their number is called just like the millions of legal immigrants have throughout American history.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Gutierrez promised supporters his immigration reform legislation would include keeping families together, protecting workers and finding an easy path to U.S. citizenship.
Sounds great if you’re in this country illegally. This move is in direct opposition to what the American people want. This bold move by Democrats will create more workplace anxiety among the unemployed, during a recession, and allow illegals to flood the already lagging jobs market.
“Allowing millions of illegal immigrants to stay and take jobs away from citizens is like giving a burglar a key to the house,” says Rep. Lamar Smith-D TX.
It is worth pointing out that keeping families together give undocumented workers the ability to bring their entire family into the U.S. If this is the case, the 12 million number could quadruple.
According to a new Zogby International poll, Mexican’s were asked if the U.S. grants amnesty would they migrate north to the U.S. A resounding 56 percent said yes, while only 17 percent said no.
An overwhelming majority, 69 percent, thought the primary loyalty of Mexican-Americans (Mexico- and U.S.-born) should be to Mexico. Just 20 percent said it should be to the United States.
“This bill doesn’t have a prayer because the American people oppose rewarding lawbreakers, which then encourages illegal immigration,” Smith stated in a press release.
Many proponents of amnesty agree illegal immigrants need to return to the end of the line and wait until their number is called just like the millions of legal immigrants have throughout American history.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
America’s Sheriff Arpaio to be stripped of 287g immigration rule
Say it ain’t so Joe; the Obama Administration is planning to strip America’s Sheriff of the ability to deal with the staggering illegal immigration problems Arizona continues to fight.
Not only is Arizona home to the second highest kidnappings in the world, the deluge of crime spills over into local communities. In an effort to protect Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has used Federal Law 287g to alleviate the ever-growing problems and protect its residents.
In a joint statement, Rep. Trent Franks-AZ and Lamar Smith-TX urged the Obama Administration and Department of Homeland Security to rethink their position on 287g regarding Maricopa County.
“The key to combating illegal immigration is federal, state and local cooperation,” Smith and Franks said. “This is why we believe it is crucial for the federal government to continue to support individuals like Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the implementation of agreements under section 287g, which provides for the Department of Homeland Security to delegate authority to enforce federal immigration laws to state and local officials.”
According to Arizona state data, more than 33 percent of inmates in Maricopa County Sheriff facilities are legal residents, while more than 53 percent of violent crimes committed in the county are perpetrated by illegal aliens.
“The fact is, 287g program works. Thousands of illegal immigrants apprehended for other crimes are being identified and deported,” Smith says.
Franks believes local law enforcement should be getting a thank you, not punishment for assisting the federal government in addressing the problem of rampant illegal immigration. “Maricopa County has seen an increase in crime, drug trafficking and other issues because of the immigration problem,” Franks explains.
“It is reprehensible for DHS to bully law enforcement officials who have honorably served this nation and the state of Arizona by enforcing federal and state laws and who are continuing to work to protect the American people,” Franks finished.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Not only is Arizona home to the second highest kidnappings in the world, the deluge of crime spills over into local communities. In an effort to protect Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has used Federal Law 287g to alleviate the ever-growing problems and protect its residents.
In a joint statement, Rep. Trent Franks-AZ and Lamar Smith-TX urged the Obama Administration and Department of Homeland Security to rethink their position on 287g regarding Maricopa County.
“The key to combating illegal immigration is federal, state and local cooperation,” Smith and Franks said. “This is why we believe it is crucial for the federal government to continue to support individuals like Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the implementation of agreements under section 287g, which provides for the Department of Homeland Security to delegate authority to enforce federal immigration laws to state and local officials.”
According to Arizona state data, more than 33 percent of inmates in Maricopa County Sheriff facilities are legal residents, while more than 53 percent of violent crimes committed in the county are perpetrated by illegal aliens.
“The fact is, 287g program works. Thousands of illegal immigrants apprehended for other crimes are being identified and deported,” Smith says.
Franks believes local law enforcement should be getting a thank you, not punishment for assisting the federal government in addressing the problem of rampant illegal immigration. “Maricopa County has seen an increase in crime, drug trafficking and other issues because of the immigration problem,” Franks explains.
“It is reprehensible for DHS to bully law enforcement officials who have honorably served this nation and the state of Arizona by enforcing federal and state laws and who are continuing to work to protect the American people,” Franks finished.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
California lawmakers want to suspend ALL immigration laws
California State Senator Gilbert Cedillo-D put forth a resolution that passed in the California Senate condemning specified policies and practices of federal agencies regarding the enforcement of immigration laws. Furthermore Cedillo’s resolution urges Congress and President Obama to declare an immediate moratorium on immigration policies and practices until a comprehensive reform of immigration is enacted.
Although a Joint Senate Resolution does not have the force of law, it is voted on in both California Houses. This resolution has passed in a partisan Democrat vote. The resolution is not typically sent to the Governors desk. Most would consider the document more of a hopeful resolution.
The first paragraph of the resolution reads, “The State of California values all of its residents, whether they be citizens, legal residents, or undocumented immigrants, and strives to enable all residents to work and live free from discrimination, exploitation, and repressive federal immigration enforcement.”
However Congressman Brian Bilbray-R Calif. reminds Sen. Cedillo that this resolution breaks the laws of the Constitution. “He should look up the separation of powers section and this resolution is nothing more than political posturing.”
According to Sen. Cedillo’s Press Secretary Xochitl Arellano, Senator Cedillo who campaigned with President Obama has now officially put the President on notice. “The electronic raids have to stop.”
There are hundreds of undocumented workers losing their jobs on a moments notice, Arellano points out. “The Obama Administration must stop E-Verify, period.”
When asked about the California’s double-digit unemployment rate and the difficulty U.S. citizens’ face Arellano says, “We are not responding to that and it doesn’t matter.”
This resolution will surely create a firestorm of backlash from those who demand enforcement of state and federal immigration laws.
One such opponent is State Assemblyman Martin Garrick-R Carlsbad.
“ It’s ridiculous and Assemblyman Garrick has tried numerous times to strengthen immigration laws and how to better identify the ones who reside in the jail system,” says Mike Zimmerman, press secretary for Garrick. “However, the make up of the state legislation makes it difficult to get any meaningful reform through.”
Zimmerman continues to say a moratorium on immigration enforcement would be a public safety threat and should be very concerning for all citizens in the country.
Tactics like these doesn’t come as a surprise from anti-amnesty and secure border groups like the Minutemen.
"Gil Cedillo has long been a strong advocate for Mexican illegal aliens, but this crosses the line and is a direct attack on American citizens and taxpayers. Cedillo does not speak for most Californians with his seditious words and radical propaganda," says Jeff Schwilk, Founder of the San Diego Minutemen.
On a national level, immigration organizations that study the issues and their affect on the U.S. population like Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) view Cedillo’s action as unacceptable.
“In the wake of busts across the country of 'separate, unrelated' terrorism busts of individuals who are mostly foreign born, California wants to replace some semblance of order provided by solid programs like E-Verify and 287(g) that better help us find out who is authorized to be here and who has and has not broken the law, with blinders. What are California lawmakers thinking? Would it matter if the Dallas bomber was the LA bomber instead?” Janice Kephart, Director of National Security Policy for CIS said.
To read Senate Joint Resolution 19; info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_19_bill_20090903_introduced.pdf
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Although a Joint Senate Resolution does not have the force of law, it is voted on in both California Houses. This resolution has passed in a partisan Democrat vote. The resolution is not typically sent to the Governors desk. Most would consider the document more of a hopeful resolution.
The first paragraph of the resolution reads, “The State of California values all of its residents, whether they be citizens, legal residents, or undocumented immigrants, and strives to enable all residents to work and live free from discrimination, exploitation, and repressive federal immigration enforcement.”
However Congressman Brian Bilbray-R Calif. reminds Sen. Cedillo that this resolution breaks the laws of the Constitution. “He should look up the separation of powers section and this resolution is nothing more than political posturing.”
According to Sen. Cedillo’s Press Secretary Xochitl Arellano, Senator Cedillo who campaigned with President Obama has now officially put the President on notice. “The electronic raids have to stop.”
There are hundreds of undocumented workers losing their jobs on a moments notice, Arellano points out. “The Obama Administration must stop E-Verify, period.”
When asked about the California’s double-digit unemployment rate and the difficulty U.S. citizens’ face Arellano says, “We are not responding to that and it doesn’t matter.”
This resolution will surely create a firestorm of backlash from those who demand enforcement of state and federal immigration laws.
One such opponent is State Assemblyman Martin Garrick-R Carlsbad.
“ It’s ridiculous and Assemblyman Garrick has tried numerous times to strengthen immigration laws and how to better identify the ones who reside in the jail system,” says Mike Zimmerman, press secretary for Garrick. “However, the make up of the state legislation makes it difficult to get any meaningful reform through.”
Zimmerman continues to say a moratorium on immigration enforcement would be a public safety threat and should be very concerning for all citizens in the country.
Tactics like these doesn’t come as a surprise from anti-amnesty and secure border groups like the Minutemen.
"Gil Cedillo has long been a strong advocate for Mexican illegal aliens, but this crosses the line and is a direct attack on American citizens and taxpayers. Cedillo does not speak for most Californians with his seditious words and radical propaganda," says Jeff Schwilk, Founder of the San Diego Minutemen.
On a national level, immigration organizations that study the issues and their affect on the U.S. population like Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) view Cedillo’s action as unacceptable.
“In the wake of busts across the country of 'separate, unrelated' terrorism busts of individuals who are mostly foreign born, California wants to replace some semblance of order provided by solid programs like E-Verify and 287(g) that better help us find out who is authorized to be here and who has and has not broken the law, with blinders. What are California lawmakers thinking? Would it matter if the Dallas bomber was the LA bomber instead?” Janice Kephart, Director of National Security Policy for CIS said.
To read Senate Joint Resolution 19; info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_19_bill_20090903_introduced.pdf
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Monday, September 28, 2009
Amnesty legislation pushed back to 2010
Immigration legislation in the form of amnesty is setting up to be a battle the White House will tackle in 2010.
The Obama Administration was hoping to reward the Latino voters with amnesty for getting him into the White House; however, the raging battles over health care have pushed that issue into Obama’s second year.
News of the short respite was welcome to those who are gearing up for a prime-time showdown.
Groups like Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) will most likely spend their time educating all Americans of the social and economic consequences for a blanket amnesty.
They will not be alone in the fight against amnesty. Numbers USA has also ramped up their rhetoric and plans to “fight every little legislative favor or loophole for illegal aliens.”
Earlier this summer President Obama committed to giving amnesty to those in the U.S. illegally. He said, “Am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No. This is going to be difficult.”
That is where anti-amnesty groups and President agree.
The difficult economy and high unemployment figures won’t make it any easier to convince Americans of the necessity to add more bodies to the melting pot.
In the meantime, the White House continues to lay the ground work for amnesty by pulling back on workplace enforcement, taming the 287g rule and making it harder for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest those in the country illegally.
Since the President took office, his administration has hamstrung many enforcement rules, slowed E-Verify and indicated to those in the country illegally amnesty is on they way with Obama in charge.
When the President spoke to Univision, a Spanish network channel last week, he reiterated his commitment to doling out amnesty, but suggested it might be a tougher fight than expected.
Recent polls suggest the overwhelming majority of Americans do not want amnesty. Rasmussen Reports say 83 percent of Americans do not want illegals to gain free health care. They go on to report the mood regarding amnesty is just as uncertain with only 26 percent of the country in favor of illegal aliens getting amnesty.
For more stories;www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
The Obama Administration was hoping to reward the Latino voters with amnesty for getting him into the White House; however, the raging battles over health care have pushed that issue into Obama’s second year.
News of the short respite was welcome to those who are gearing up for a prime-time showdown.
Groups like Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) will most likely spend their time educating all Americans of the social and economic consequences for a blanket amnesty.
They will not be alone in the fight against amnesty. Numbers USA has also ramped up their rhetoric and plans to “fight every little legislative favor or loophole for illegal aliens.”
Earlier this summer President Obama committed to giving amnesty to those in the U.S. illegally. He said, “Am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No. This is going to be difficult.”
That is where anti-amnesty groups and President agree.
The difficult economy and high unemployment figures won’t make it any easier to convince Americans of the necessity to add more bodies to the melting pot.
In the meantime, the White House continues to lay the ground work for amnesty by pulling back on workplace enforcement, taming the 287g rule and making it harder for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest those in the country illegally.
Since the President took office, his administration has hamstrung many enforcement rules, slowed E-Verify and indicated to those in the country illegally amnesty is on they way with Obama in charge.
When the President spoke to Univision, a Spanish network channel last week, he reiterated his commitment to doling out amnesty, but suggested it might be a tougher fight than expected.
Recent polls suggest the overwhelming majority of Americans do not want amnesty. Rasmussen Reports say 83 percent of Americans do not want illegals to gain free health care. They go on to report the mood regarding amnesty is just as uncertain with only 26 percent of the country in favor of illegal aliens getting amnesty.
For more stories;www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Friday, September 4, 2009
Tea Party rally draws 3,000 - Congressman Issa surprises crowd
Oceanside California couldn’t have been any more picturesque a warm breeze, serene sunset and a ruckus-Patriot crowd fired-up let Washington D.C. know what’s really on their mind.
Local-legend, radio talk show host Rick Roberts got the party started with the Pledge of Allegiance. “One more time,” the crowd chanted. So they said it again - this time louder.
Up first on the docket was Congressman Darrell Issa-R-Calif. “Tort reform would save taxpayers a lot of money, but it’s not in HR3200,” he said. This comment got the crowd really going and it hit home with Dr. Gary Gonsalves, co-founder of the group Stop Taxing Us, who organized the rally.
“I didn’t want the politicians to talk at our first rally on April 15 because I wanted them to listen to 'we the people.' But now they need to talk and explain their actions to us,” Gonsalves said regarding the Congressman’s surprise address at the rally.
After Issa left the stage he talked to supporter Mercedes Garcia who was over the moon that Issa gave her a hug and posed for a photo. “I’m so happy to hear him speak because he gives people like me a voice.”
The Congressman hung around the event to listen, shake hands and pose for photos with his constituents.
Dr. Gonsalves, who is a practicing physician, spoke to the “mob” from a doctor’s perspective. “Government has cut prices and continues to promise more. Only $1 in $5 goes to the doctors and who do you think they cut funds to first? Doctors.”
He explained to the crowd that the Safeway Corporation figured out a way to provide a better delivery of care while bringing costs down. Gonsalves challenged the audience to look the Safeway group up online and examine what they were successful in doing in five years that the government has been unable to do in 50 years.
“Reward a healthy lifestyle, reward saving money. Safeway saved $550 billion in just five years,” Gonsalves said.
Other topics of concern for the rally goers was the hour-long speech President Obama is going to direct to our nations’ children in a couple of days, complete with lesson plans and topics of discussions before, during and after the speech.
“Stay away from my children,” one mother shouted so loud that Roberts had her come to the stage and repeat for the crowd. The Patriots went absolutely nuts.
Another gubernatorial candidate, Chalene Nightingale was asked to make a short speech. Nightingale who is a political rookie revved up the crowd with Patriot red-meat topics like; the President’s address to the school kids, Second Amendment rights, the White House using the National Endowment of the Arts for propaganda and illegal immigration.
“It’s up to us to take our government back. ‘We the people’ need to run for office. We can’t keep voting the lesser of two evils,” she said. “We need to be country loyal.”
Once the question portion of the rally commenced, attendees vied to get their questions asked. This portion would only last 20 minutes, due to time constraints by the city of Oceanside.
One of the first concerned participants had more of a warning story to tell. “I was in Shanghai, China in 1943 when the Japanese invasion began. I was 12-years old when they took me to a concentration camp,” she explained. “I lost my freedom and I feel like I’m losing my freedom again.” Again the crowd erupted in cheers.
The immigration invasion from the southern border is always a hot topic with Patriot groups and this rally was no different. Californians are looking to get the ‘California Taxpayer Protection Act of 2010 on the ballot for next year’s election.
There is such an outcry from Californian’s regarding illegal border crossers who come to the state to have children. This garners them a ticket to the promise land as California grants every birth in the state with automatic citizenship.
The ballot initiative would change all that and require parents to prove their legal status and cut the payments California provides for this problem that some say has caused the state to run in the red for years.
After the rally, organizer, Gonsalves said the event was hugely successful and felt the lawmakers needed to hear from the 3,000 or so voters before they head back to Washington D.C.
“I invited Congressman Issa to the event because at least he has been fiscally responsible and is consistent,” he said. “Our first event was a shut up and listen message to our politicians.”
Listening was definitely a theme for the rally, as the sun faded into the ocean; the message was clear to those in office ‘we the people are watching.’
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Local-legend, radio talk show host Rick Roberts got the party started with the Pledge of Allegiance. “One more time,” the crowd chanted. So they said it again - this time louder.
Up first on the docket was Congressman Darrell Issa-R-Calif. “Tort reform would save taxpayers a lot of money, but it’s not in HR3200,” he said. This comment got the crowd really going and it hit home with Dr. Gary Gonsalves, co-founder of the group Stop Taxing Us, who organized the rally.
“I didn’t want the politicians to talk at our first rally on April 15 because I wanted them to listen to 'we the people.' But now they need to talk and explain their actions to us,” Gonsalves said regarding the Congressman’s surprise address at the rally.
After Issa left the stage he talked to supporter Mercedes Garcia who was over the moon that Issa gave her a hug and posed for a photo. “I’m so happy to hear him speak because he gives people like me a voice.”
The Congressman hung around the event to listen, shake hands and pose for photos with his constituents.
Dr. Gonsalves, who is a practicing physician, spoke to the “mob” from a doctor’s perspective. “Government has cut prices and continues to promise more. Only $1 in $5 goes to the doctors and who do you think they cut funds to first? Doctors.”
He explained to the crowd that the Safeway Corporation figured out a way to provide a better delivery of care while bringing costs down. Gonsalves challenged the audience to look the Safeway group up online and examine what they were successful in doing in five years that the government has been unable to do in 50 years.
“Reward a healthy lifestyle, reward saving money. Safeway saved $550 billion in just five years,” Gonsalves said.
Other topics of concern for the rally goers was the hour-long speech President Obama is going to direct to our nations’ children in a couple of days, complete with lesson plans and topics of discussions before, during and after the speech.
“Stay away from my children,” one mother shouted so loud that Roberts had her come to the stage and repeat for the crowd. The Patriots went absolutely nuts.
Another gubernatorial candidate, Chalene Nightingale was asked to make a short speech. Nightingale who is a political rookie revved up the crowd with Patriot red-meat topics like; the President’s address to the school kids, Second Amendment rights, the White House using the National Endowment of the Arts for propaganda and illegal immigration.
“It’s up to us to take our government back. ‘We the people’ need to run for office. We can’t keep voting the lesser of two evils,” she said. “We need to be country loyal.”
Once the question portion of the rally commenced, attendees vied to get their questions asked. This portion would only last 20 minutes, due to time constraints by the city of Oceanside.
One of the first concerned participants had more of a warning story to tell. “I was in Shanghai, China in 1943 when the Japanese invasion began. I was 12-years old when they took me to a concentration camp,” she explained. “I lost my freedom and I feel like I’m losing my freedom again.” Again the crowd erupted in cheers.
The immigration invasion from the southern border is always a hot topic with Patriot groups and this rally was no different. Californians are looking to get the ‘California Taxpayer Protection Act of 2010 on the ballot for next year’s election.
There is such an outcry from Californian’s regarding illegal border crossers who come to the state to have children. This garners them a ticket to the promise land as California grants every birth in the state with automatic citizenship.
The ballot initiative would change all that and require parents to prove their legal status and cut the payments California provides for this problem that some say has caused the state to run in the red for years.
After the rally, organizer, Gonsalves said the event was hugely successful and felt the lawmakers needed to hear from the 3,000 or so voters before they head back to Washington D.C.
“I invited Congressman Issa to the event because at least he has been fiscally responsible and is consistent,” he said. “Our first event was a shut up and listen message to our politicians.”
Listening was definitely a theme for the rally, as the sun faded into the ocean; the message was clear to those in office ‘we the people are watching.’
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A new CIS report states immigrants top list of uninsured
According to a study by the Center of Immigration Studies (CIS) report, immigrants, legal and illegal account for the highest ethnic group to not carry health insurance.
According to the study, the numbers were compiled from the U.S. government in March 2008 Current Population Survey (CPS) collected by the Census Bureau about insurance coverage for the 2007 calendar year. The government numbers conclude that 33.2 percent of all immigrants did not have insurance compared to 12.7 percent of native-born American citizens.
The report also notes that more than 25 percent of the country’s uninsured fall into the immigrant population. Approximately 14.5 million and their U.S.-born children do not buy health insurance, nearly one-third of the entire uninsured population.
Of these uninsured immigrants, legal and illegal, 47.6 percent were either uninsured or on Medicaid, nearly double of natives and their children which account for 25 percent, according to Steven Camarota, Director of Research at CIS.
CIS concluded the high level of uninsured among immigrants can be explained by the lack of education which keeps them in jobs that may not provide health care benefits or afford them the ability to pay for insurance.
A link to the CIS report; cis.org/HealthCare-Immigration
To read more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
According to the study, the numbers were compiled from the U.S. government in March 2008 Current Population Survey (CPS) collected by the Census Bureau about insurance coverage for the 2007 calendar year. The government numbers conclude that 33.2 percent of all immigrants did not have insurance compared to 12.7 percent of native-born American citizens.
The report also notes that more than 25 percent of the country’s uninsured fall into the immigrant population. Approximately 14.5 million and their U.S.-born children do not buy health insurance, nearly one-third of the entire uninsured population.
Of these uninsured immigrants, legal and illegal, 47.6 percent were either uninsured or on Medicaid, nearly double of natives and their children which account for 25 percent, according to Steven Camarota, Director of Research at CIS.
CIS concluded the high level of uninsured among immigrants can be explained by the lack of education which keeps them in jobs that may not provide health care benefits or afford them the ability to pay for insurance.
A link to the CIS report; cis.org/HealthCare-Immigration
To read more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Obama Administration moves towards amnesty, alienates anti-amnesty groups
Janet Napolitano head of Department of Homeland Security chaired a White House meeting today on immigration reform. However, a large chunk of organizations that do not want amnesty were missing from the table.
Following through with a promise for comprehensive immigration reform, The White House invited more than 100 Union and amnesty advocacy groups to meet and discuss immigration reform.
In a statement to the press, Napolitano said, “Today’s meeting on comprehensive immigration reform was an important opportunity to hear from stakeholders and build on the significant time I’ve spent on the Hill meeting with members of Congress on this critical subject.”
She continues, “I look forward to working with President Obama, my colleagues in Congress and representatives from law enforcement, business, labor organizations, interfaith community, advocacy groups and others as we work on this important issue.”
The Center for Immigration Studies was not happy about being excluded from this meeting.
“The administration has made the unfortunate decision to exclude significant expertise from these meetings,” says Janice Kephart National Security Policy Advisor for CIS.
Kephart goes on to explain there is another DHS meeting planned next week for immigration enforcement as required by law under Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, P.L. 110-53 (Act). “I was a counsel to the 9/11 Commission, and I have testified 10 times on these types of issues. I was not invited to next week’s meeting.”
“A reality check is clearly not their purpose,” Kephart finishes.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Following through with a promise for comprehensive immigration reform, The White House invited more than 100 Union and amnesty advocacy groups to meet and discuss immigration reform.
In a statement to the press, Napolitano said, “Today’s meeting on comprehensive immigration reform was an important opportunity to hear from stakeholders and build on the significant time I’ve spent on the Hill meeting with members of Congress on this critical subject.”
She continues, “I look forward to working with President Obama, my colleagues in Congress and representatives from law enforcement, business, labor organizations, interfaith community, advocacy groups and others as we work on this important issue.”
The Center for Immigration Studies was not happy about being excluded from this meeting.
“The administration has made the unfortunate decision to exclude significant expertise from these meetings,” says Janice Kephart National Security Policy Advisor for CIS.
Kephart goes on to explain there is another DHS meeting planned next week for immigration enforcement as required by law under Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, P.L. 110-53 (Act). “I was a counsel to the 9/11 Commission, and I have testified 10 times on these types of issues. I was not invited to next week’s meeting.”
“A reality check is clearly not their purpose,” Kephart finishes.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Repeal of E-Verify no-match rule hurts American workers
The Department of Homeland Security repealed the “no-match” rule which helps employers identify individuals who may be working in the U.S. illegally.
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith-R-TX, criticized DHS as the proposed rule was filed in the Federal Register.
According to Smith, the no-match letters are sent to the Social Security Administration (SSA) when an employer’s tax forms show names or social security numbers do not match what the SSA has in its files.
“This is just another decision by the Obama Administration to weaken immigration enforcement efforts that preserve jobs for legal workers,” Smith explains. “No match letters help employers who want to follow the law to identify employees that may be working in the U.S. illegally.”
According to Smith there are at least seven million illegal immigrants working in the U.S., taking jobs from Americans He contends that there are as many as 12.7 million Americans looking for jobs.
A recent Center for Immigration Study report flies in the face of the claim “Illegal immigrants do jobs Americans won’t take.”
According to the report, many jobs often thought to be overwhelming immigrant dominated fields are not. For example;
*Maids – 55 percent are native-born
*Taxi drivers and chauffeurs – 58 percent are native-born
*Butchers and meat processors – 63 percent are native-born
*Ground maintenance workers – 65 percent are native-born
*Construction laborers – 65 percent are native-born
*Porters, bellhops and concierges – 71 percent are native born
*Janitors – 75 percent are native-born
The national unemployment rate for native-born Americans is 9.5 percent while the broader U-6 measure was 16.3 percent or a total of 21.7 million unemployed American workers. The U-6 measure includes people who would like to work but have not looked for a job, as well as those working part-time involuntarily, according the CIS.
These numbers do not bode well for American citizens.
“By repealing the no-match rule, the administration is putting illegal immigrants before the best interests of the American people,” Smith said. “This proves that President Obama is not serious about reducing illegal immigration and saving jobs for American citizens.”
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith-R-TX, criticized DHS as the proposed rule was filed in the Federal Register.
According to Smith, the no-match letters are sent to the Social Security Administration (SSA) when an employer’s tax forms show names or social security numbers do not match what the SSA has in its files.
“This is just another decision by the Obama Administration to weaken immigration enforcement efforts that preserve jobs for legal workers,” Smith explains. “No match letters help employers who want to follow the law to identify employees that may be working in the U.S. illegally.”
According to Smith there are at least seven million illegal immigrants working in the U.S., taking jobs from Americans He contends that there are as many as 12.7 million Americans looking for jobs.
A recent Center for Immigration Study report flies in the face of the claim “Illegal immigrants do jobs Americans won’t take.”
According to the report, many jobs often thought to be overwhelming immigrant dominated fields are not. For example;
*Maids – 55 percent are native-born
*Taxi drivers and chauffeurs – 58 percent are native-born
*Butchers and meat processors – 63 percent are native-born
*Ground maintenance workers – 65 percent are native-born
*Construction laborers – 65 percent are native-born
*Porters, bellhops and concierges – 71 percent are native born
*Janitors – 75 percent are native-born
The national unemployment rate for native-born Americans is 9.5 percent while the broader U-6 measure was 16.3 percent or a total of 21.7 million unemployed American workers. The U-6 measure includes people who would like to work but have not looked for a job, as well as those working part-time involuntarily, according the CIS.
These numbers do not bode well for American citizens.
“By repealing the no-match rule, the administration is putting illegal immigrants before the best interests of the American people,” Smith said. “This proves that President Obama is not serious about reducing illegal immigration and saving jobs for American citizens.”
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Monday, August 10, 2009
Gallup finds Americans don't favor increasing immigration
As the recession drags on and jobs continue to be shed at an alarming rate, a number of Gallup and Rasmussen polls find Americans want immigration to slow.
While the President is in Mexico to warm relations south of the border and Latino activist groups trying to up the ante with amnesty, Gallup finds more than 50 percent of all Americans are less favorable to immigration. This number is up sharply from the 39 percent number a year ago.
While the voters’ stance on immigration has receded and gained momentum since 9/11, current figures put the immigration issue in a downturn. Current polling data shows most citizens are more focused on the economic growth, health care reform and job creation.
Still the Obama Administration continues to lessen its regulations with E-Verify, 287(g) prosecution of those here illegally and relax the community and business raids targeting illegal aliens.
Even though immigration is not at the forefront throughout the country it’s worth noting states that share a border with Mexico have not given up to tougher law enforcement issues.
Two weeks ago, Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas was execution along the California border near Campo. It is widely assumed by law enforcement officials that the assailants skipped back through a porous fence into Mexico.
The added attention doesn’t play well with many in California. According to Rasmussen polling data, 65 percent of Californians believe the availability of government money and social services draw illegal aliens to the state.
When the idea of immigration reform percolated a couple of months ago, Obama and like-minded legislators came up against strong opposition from the voters. It does not help that provisions within the health care reform bill included benefits for those here illegally as well as their family members.
Currently, 66 percent of voters polled by Rasmussen, state that it is extremely important for the government to improve the border fence and curb incentives for those to come to America in order for meaningful immigration reform talks to take place.
Most Americans favor some sort of reform when it comes to illegal immigration, but with that comes the responsibility to enforce the current laws on the books and clamping down on U.S./Mexico borders.
According to Fox News, one in 10 Mexican citizens now resides in the U.S. They also state that in the last 18 months more than 10,000 Mexicans have been murdered. This number dwarfs the number of U.S. soldiers who have died in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars combined.
These numbers only add to American’s skittishness about opening up the flood gates.
One final point comes from the real cost of amnesty. The Heritage Foundation has estimated amnesty would cost the taxpayer more than $2.6 trillion.
Until American laws are enforced, it remains clear the American people do not want any form of Amnesty.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
While the President is in Mexico to warm relations south of the border and Latino activist groups trying to up the ante with amnesty, Gallup finds more than 50 percent of all Americans are less favorable to immigration. This number is up sharply from the 39 percent number a year ago.
While the voters’ stance on immigration has receded and gained momentum since 9/11, current figures put the immigration issue in a downturn. Current polling data shows most citizens are more focused on the economic growth, health care reform and job creation.
Still the Obama Administration continues to lessen its regulations with E-Verify, 287(g) prosecution of those here illegally and relax the community and business raids targeting illegal aliens.
Even though immigration is not at the forefront throughout the country it’s worth noting states that share a border with Mexico have not given up to tougher law enforcement issues.
Two weeks ago, Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas was execution along the California border near Campo. It is widely assumed by law enforcement officials that the assailants skipped back through a porous fence into Mexico.
The added attention doesn’t play well with many in California. According to Rasmussen polling data, 65 percent of Californians believe the availability of government money and social services draw illegal aliens to the state.
When the idea of immigration reform percolated a couple of months ago, Obama and like-minded legislators came up against strong opposition from the voters. It does not help that provisions within the health care reform bill included benefits for those here illegally as well as their family members.
Currently, 66 percent of voters polled by Rasmussen, state that it is extremely important for the government to improve the border fence and curb incentives for those to come to America in order for meaningful immigration reform talks to take place.
Most Americans favor some sort of reform when it comes to illegal immigration, but with that comes the responsibility to enforce the current laws on the books and clamping down on U.S./Mexico borders.
According to Fox News, one in 10 Mexican citizens now resides in the U.S. They also state that in the last 18 months more than 10,000 Mexicans have been murdered. This number dwarfs the number of U.S. soldiers who have died in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars combined.
These numbers only add to American’s skittishness about opening up the flood gates.
One final point comes from the real cost of amnesty. The Heritage Foundation has estimated amnesty would cost the taxpayer more than $2.6 trillion.
Until American laws are enforced, it remains clear the American people do not want any form of Amnesty.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Illegal immigration down, recession cited
In a report from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), monthly data obtained by the Census Bureau shows there are more illegals going home than crossing into the country. However, the report also pointed out that legal immigration population has not declined.
CIS noted that stepped-up enforcement accounts for some of the decline in illegal border crossings.
According to Steven Camarota, the Center’s Director of Research found the illegal population declined 13.7 percent from summer of 2007 to the first quarter of this year. CIS spokesperson also said “the number of illegal immigrants returning home has more than doubled in the last two years compared to earlier in this decade.”
Mindful of the illegal immigration issue the foundation noted the majority in this country illegally remain here and there are still tens of thousands of new illegal immigrants that continue to settle in the U.S.
The report finishes by stating there is no way to know if the current trend will continue.
“Given President Obama’s stated desire to legalize illegal immigrants and his backing away from enforcement efforts, it seems likely that when the economy recovers, the illegal population will resume its growth,” Camarota said.
For more details on this report follow this link; cis.org/IllegalImmigration-ShiftingTide
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
CIS noted that stepped-up enforcement accounts for some of the decline in illegal border crossings.
According to Steven Camarota, the Center’s Director of Research found the illegal population declined 13.7 percent from summer of 2007 to the first quarter of this year. CIS spokesperson also said “the number of illegal immigrants returning home has more than doubled in the last two years compared to earlier in this decade.”
Mindful of the illegal immigration issue the foundation noted the majority in this country illegally remain here and there are still tens of thousands of new illegal immigrants that continue to settle in the U.S.
The report finishes by stating there is no way to know if the current trend will continue.
“Given President Obama’s stated desire to legalize illegal immigrants and his backing away from enforcement efforts, it seems likely that when the economy recovers, the illegal population will resume its growth,” Camarota said.
For more details on this report follow this link; cis.org/IllegalImmigration-ShiftingTide
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Guatemala to lobby Congress on immigration reform
Getting on the lobbying gravy train is the Guatemalan government. According to an M3 report release last week, the Guatemalan’s felt the need for urgency in setting up a regional bloc to persuade U.S. members of Congress regarding immigration reform.
The representatives from the Executive, the Judiciary and other organizations in favor of undocumented aliens in the U.S., met in Chicago to draw up a lobbying plan to aggressively tackle the immigration issue this year.
Their plan zeros in to target Blue Dog Democrats. In a statement from Edgar Ayala of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities said “218 votes are needed in the House of Representatives and 60 in the Senate.”
“The numbers are not in our favor, therefore, one of the conclusions is that we will work with the Senators who are not yet convinced,” Ayala said.
The statement also said the group is prepared to lobby Senators, Governors and Mayors within the U.S. who are not behind immigration reform.
“We’ll ask the support of Congressmen who are in favor to help us persuade those who are not,” Miguel Angel Ibarra, vice chancellor (similar to Dep. Secretary of State) of Guatemalan said.
The coalition will work to unite all Latin America migrant organizations in order to become more of a force inside the U.S. and push for immigration reform.
AKA amnesty for all.
The representatives from the Executive, the Judiciary and other organizations in favor of undocumented aliens in the U.S., met in Chicago to draw up a lobbying plan to aggressively tackle the immigration issue this year.
Their plan zeros in to target Blue Dog Democrats. In a statement from Edgar Ayala of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities said “218 votes are needed in the House of Representatives and 60 in the Senate.”
“The numbers are not in our favor, therefore, one of the conclusions is that we will work with the Senators who are not yet convinced,” Ayala said.
The statement also said the group is prepared to lobby Senators, Governors and Mayors within the U.S. who are not behind immigration reform.
“We’ll ask the support of Congressmen who are in favor to help us persuade those who are not,” Miguel Angel Ibarra, vice chancellor (similar to Dep. Secretary of State) of Guatemalan said.
The coalition will work to unite all Latin America migrant organizations in order to become more of a force inside the U.S. and push for immigration reform.
AKA amnesty for all.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Back door amnesty, Chicago-style
With the help of unions, partisan politicians and pro-amnesty groups, the White House intends to push for back-door amnesty and bypass Congress altogether.
“It makes sense to do now what the administration can do… it doesn’t have to go through Congress. It (amnesty) doesn’t have to go through the toxic political process,” said Ana Avendano of the AFL-CIO at a recent press conference.
The AFL-CIO is one of the largest union representatives which include all the radio/broadcasters as well as the Hollywood crowd.
The Obama Administration is making a three pronged effort to gain amnesty without bringing the always hot-button immigration issue into the U.S. House of Representatives.
The first prong the Administration is attacking is the 287(g) rule which some Democrats in Congress called “misguided.” This provision states local law enforcement can arrest those here illegally in the country who have not committed any major crimes.
“That fact you have to commit a major crime to be arrested is a joke,” says Jena Baker McNeill of the Heritage Foundation. “Coming into this country illegally is against the law.”
The 287(g) provision has been most notably used by Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. His office currently uses 287(g) to curtail an explosive invasion of illegals in to his U.S./Mexico border state.
However, pro-amnesty groups like National Immigration Forum see things differently.
In a press release from the group; “Any enforcement regime that targets that population is a waste of time and money and a band-aid on an open wound, at best,” said Ali Noorani, executive director for National Immigration Forum.
Since Janet Napolitano’s place as the head of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was lamented during the Administration change, many policies have seen a certain softening.
At the top of the list is 287(g) enforcement.
“Today’s 287(g) announcement by DHS is a stark departure from the current practice and I fear will only hinder our law enforcement agencies’ ability to apprehend and detain illegal aliens,” said Hal Rodgers-R Ky. in a statement. “The current 287(g) program enables state and local law enforcement to effectively enforce federal immigration law and is key to keeping our country safe.”
A spokesperson from DHS, Matt Chandler, sounded cheery when asked if this would hinder Sheriff Joe. “Yes.”
However, at a recent meeting with Sheriff Joe, Jay LaSuer, candidate for San Diego Sheriff, said, “Sheriff Joe doesn’t think this new ruling will slow him down too much.”
The next area where the Obama administration plans on softening is the E-Verify program.
The Obama Administration has pushed for workplace raids and arrests to be stopped and informed law enforcement to steer clear of the illegal immigrants caught working illegally.
Many of those caught at workplaces are using false documents and have now committed two crimes, one of which is a felony, says Congressman Brian Bilbray-R, CA.
“We need all these laws, including all aspects of E-Verify, in order to tackle illegal immigration. All of this is piecemeal work, but it’s all the little things that mean a lot when put together,” McNeill said.
By taking the no-match rule in E-Verify away many feel it will only make it easier and a no brainer for those in this country illegally to stay. “This only works when all parties involved are penalized, including employers and illegal alien offenders,” McNeill finished.
“The fact that DHS wants to overlook the rule of law will only lead illegals to expand their footprints in this country,” Bilbray said. “These new rules will encourage those to come here illegally and this welcome mat mentality means amnesty.”
This leads to the third prong of the back door amnesty. The health care reform package includes a provision that Republican’s tried and failed to strip from the House health care package.
The plan known as the Heller amendment and was written by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, and was to include clauses that mandated checks similar to E-Verify in order for applicants to qualify for government subsidized health insurance.
The Heller amendment said, “It would better screen applicants for subsidized health care to ensure they are actually citizens or otherwise entitled to it.”
The two identification processes the Heller amendment would use are programs the federal government already employ; The Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE).
In an interview with Janice Kephart of the Centers for Immigration Studies regarding the inclusion of illegals in the health care bill she came to a similar conclusion.
“If amnesty forgives illegality, then this is just another element of a multi-faceted approach to a red carpet for illegals, “Kephart said. “Who cares if our current health care system can’t provide adequate coverage for those born here?”
Another point to keep in mind is the real cost of amnesty. In a 2007 report, The Heritage Foundation estimated that amnesty would cost the American public more than $2.6 Trillion, yes TRILLION.
While counter pro-amnesty groups insist those here illegally will pay into the Internal Revenue Service raising capital, The Heritage Foundation claims the cost of retirement benefits from amnesty would be unsustainable and fall well short of any revenue collected.
Heritage also contends that the rush to social services (such as Food Stamps, public housing and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) would overwhelm the already over-burdened system.
All these issues combined can create a back door amnesty, according to Lawmakers like Bilbray and other watch dog groups like CIS.
“When you throw big business and big labor together, the power and profit creates an unholy alliance,” the Congressman said.
For all these reasons, like them (politicians) or not, American’s need their lawmakers involved when it comes to immigration reform.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
“It makes sense to do now what the administration can do… it doesn’t have to go through Congress. It (amnesty) doesn’t have to go through the toxic political process,” said Ana Avendano of the AFL-CIO at a recent press conference.
The AFL-CIO is one of the largest union representatives which include all the radio/broadcasters as well as the Hollywood crowd.
The Obama Administration is making a three pronged effort to gain amnesty without bringing the always hot-button immigration issue into the U.S. House of Representatives.
The first prong the Administration is attacking is the 287(g) rule which some Democrats in Congress called “misguided.” This provision states local law enforcement can arrest those here illegally in the country who have not committed any major crimes.
“That fact you have to commit a major crime to be arrested is a joke,” says Jena Baker McNeill of the Heritage Foundation. “Coming into this country illegally is against the law.”
The 287(g) provision has been most notably used by Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. His office currently uses 287(g) to curtail an explosive invasion of illegals in to his U.S./Mexico border state.
However, pro-amnesty groups like National Immigration Forum see things differently.
In a press release from the group; “Any enforcement regime that targets that population is a waste of time and money and a band-aid on an open wound, at best,” said Ali Noorani, executive director for National Immigration Forum.
Since Janet Napolitano’s place as the head of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was lamented during the Administration change, many policies have seen a certain softening.
At the top of the list is 287(g) enforcement.
“Today’s 287(g) announcement by DHS is a stark departure from the current practice and I fear will only hinder our law enforcement agencies’ ability to apprehend and detain illegal aliens,” said Hal Rodgers-R Ky. in a statement. “The current 287(g) program enables state and local law enforcement to effectively enforce federal immigration law and is key to keeping our country safe.”
A spokesperson from DHS, Matt Chandler, sounded cheery when asked if this would hinder Sheriff Joe. “Yes.”
However, at a recent meeting with Sheriff Joe, Jay LaSuer, candidate for San Diego Sheriff, said, “Sheriff Joe doesn’t think this new ruling will slow him down too much.”
The next area where the Obama administration plans on softening is the E-Verify program.
The Obama Administration has pushed for workplace raids and arrests to be stopped and informed law enforcement to steer clear of the illegal immigrants caught working illegally.
Many of those caught at workplaces are using false documents and have now committed two crimes, one of which is a felony, says Congressman Brian Bilbray-R, CA.
“We need all these laws, including all aspects of E-Verify, in order to tackle illegal immigration. All of this is piecemeal work, but it’s all the little things that mean a lot when put together,” McNeill said.
By taking the no-match rule in E-Verify away many feel it will only make it easier and a no brainer for those in this country illegally to stay. “This only works when all parties involved are penalized, including employers and illegal alien offenders,” McNeill finished.
“The fact that DHS wants to overlook the rule of law will only lead illegals to expand their footprints in this country,” Bilbray said. “These new rules will encourage those to come here illegally and this welcome mat mentality means amnesty.”
This leads to the third prong of the back door amnesty. The health care reform package includes a provision that Republican’s tried and failed to strip from the House health care package.
The plan known as the Heller amendment and was written by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, and was to include clauses that mandated checks similar to E-Verify in order for applicants to qualify for government subsidized health insurance.
The Heller amendment said, “It would better screen applicants for subsidized health care to ensure they are actually citizens or otherwise entitled to it.”
The two identification processes the Heller amendment would use are programs the federal government already employ; The Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE).
In an interview with Janice Kephart of the Centers for Immigration Studies regarding the inclusion of illegals in the health care bill she came to a similar conclusion.
“If amnesty forgives illegality, then this is just another element of a multi-faceted approach to a red carpet for illegals, “Kephart said. “Who cares if our current health care system can’t provide adequate coverage for those born here?”
Another point to keep in mind is the real cost of amnesty. In a 2007 report, The Heritage Foundation estimated that amnesty would cost the American public more than $2.6 Trillion, yes TRILLION.
While counter pro-amnesty groups insist those here illegally will pay into the Internal Revenue Service raising capital, The Heritage Foundation claims the cost of retirement benefits from amnesty would be unsustainable and fall well short of any revenue collected.
Heritage also contends that the rush to social services (such as Food Stamps, public housing and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) would overwhelm the already over-burdened system.
All these issues combined can create a back door amnesty, according to Lawmakers like Bilbray and other watch dog groups like CIS.
“When you throw big business and big labor together, the power and profit creates an unholy alliance,” the Congressman said.
For all these reasons, like them (politicians) or not, American’s need their lawmakers involved when it comes to immigration reform.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Border Patrol Agent Rosas honored at vigil
Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, who was murder while on duty last Thursday, was honored by a group of Patriots outside the El Cajon Border Patrol substation. The group brought flowers, cards and well wishes for the family of the slain agent.
“I’m here to honor Agent Rosas,” says Claire Van Aelstyn. “It breaks my heart that he was ambushed like that. He has two small children that will never know their dad.”
Many came out in support of the fallen hero today, because the funeral being held on Friday in El Centro will be for family and friends only. This vigil was their way of showing support.
Congress is also showing its gratitude by filing a resolution honoring fallen Border Agent Rosas. “This resolution is intended to honor Agent Rosas for his service and sacrifice, as well as all those dedicated to preserving and protecting our borders,” Congressman Duncan Hunter-R CA said.
The resolution is also signed by Congressmen/women Brian Bilbray-R, Darrell Issa-R, Bob Filner-D, Mark Souder-R, Susan Davis-D and Lamar Smith-R.
This however is of little consequence to some Rosas family members. One member states; “it is terrible that he was killed in a brutal way because the money, staffing and proper fencing was not available for the protection of the borders”.
Some border agents agree. Speaking out under the radar one agent said the border fence works. However, the dynamics at the border are constantly changing. Illegal crossers move to different locations when gaps close or they use other methods when they can’t climb or dig their way through.
That is why Border Patrol agents continue to move with the fluid border situation as is occurs.
Currently, there are as many as six suspects being held in Mexico in connection with the murder case. The FBI has taken the lead and has been working with the Mexican government, but is skeptical about the main suspect being the killer.
“This case is not solved, we need support from the public,” Darrell Foxworth, spokesperson from the FBI said. “If someone is sitting out there and they have any information, give us a call.”
Back at the vigil Sheriff candidate Bruce Ruff said, “I am sadden by this murder, but unfortunately this is just a symptom of a bigger problem. These murderers are emboldened each time we do not respond swiftly.”
The bottom line says Ruff, “It’s about law and order.”
Local WS Radio talk show host, Jimmy Valentine agrees something needs to be done. “We lost a Marine here, Rosas wears a different uniform, but he should be treated the same. They fight on the frontlines just like they are in Iraq.”
He continues to add that the U.S./Mexico border should be thought of as more important because it is much closer to home and there’s much more at stake.
And this is where it ends, Gabriel Pollock, a Minuteman said, “It’s all about him (Rosas).”
Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas is survived by his wife Rosie, and two children. Funeral services will be held in El Centro on Friday at 9:00 a.m.
For those who wish to help the surviving family members out. A memorial account has been established through Cabrillo Credit Union; Account Number; 186716-02.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
“I’m here to honor Agent Rosas,” says Claire Van Aelstyn. “It breaks my heart that he was ambushed like that. He has two small children that will never know their dad.”
Many came out in support of the fallen hero today, because the funeral being held on Friday in El Centro will be for family and friends only. This vigil was their way of showing support.
Congress is also showing its gratitude by filing a resolution honoring fallen Border Agent Rosas. “This resolution is intended to honor Agent Rosas for his service and sacrifice, as well as all those dedicated to preserving and protecting our borders,” Congressman Duncan Hunter-R CA said.
The resolution is also signed by Congressmen/women Brian Bilbray-R, Darrell Issa-R, Bob Filner-D, Mark Souder-R, Susan Davis-D and Lamar Smith-R.
This however is of little consequence to some Rosas family members. One member states; “it is terrible that he was killed in a brutal way because the money, staffing and proper fencing was not available for the protection of the borders”.
Some border agents agree. Speaking out under the radar one agent said the border fence works. However, the dynamics at the border are constantly changing. Illegal crossers move to different locations when gaps close or they use other methods when they can’t climb or dig their way through.
That is why Border Patrol agents continue to move with the fluid border situation as is occurs.
Currently, there are as many as six suspects being held in Mexico in connection with the murder case. The FBI has taken the lead and has been working with the Mexican government, but is skeptical about the main suspect being the killer.
“This case is not solved, we need support from the public,” Darrell Foxworth, spokesperson from the FBI said. “If someone is sitting out there and they have any information, give us a call.”
Back at the vigil Sheriff candidate Bruce Ruff said, “I am sadden by this murder, but unfortunately this is just a symptom of a bigger problem. These murderers are emboldened each time we do not respond swiftly.”
The bottom line says Ruff, “It’s about law and order.”
Local WS Radio talk show host, Jimmy Valentine agrees something needs to be done. “We lost a Marine here, Rosas wears a different uniform, but he should be treated the same. They fight on the frontlines just like they are in Iraq.”
He continues to add that the U.S./Mexico border should be thought of as more important because it is much closer to home and there’s much more at stake.
And this is where it ends, Gabriel Pollock, a Minuteman said, “It’s all about him (Rosas).”
Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas is survived by his wife Rosie, and two children. Funeral services will be held in El Centro on Friday at 9:00 a.m.
For those who wish to help the surviving family members out. A memorial account has been established through Cabrillo Credit Union; Account Number; 186716-02.
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
E-Verify, verified by Department of Homeland Security
Washington D.C. –The federal government finally moved forward on E-Verify and will require all federal contract employers use the verification process to prove U.S. residency and ensure tax dollars are going to legal residents.
“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that reflects our continued commitment to working with employers to maintain a legal workforce,” said Janet Napolitano Secretary of Department of Homeland Security.
“Requiring those who seek federal contracts to use this system will create a more reliable and legal workforce,” she said.
A leading advocate for E-Verify is Congressman Brian Bilbray-R CA; “This is a perfect common sense law that ensures our tax dollars go to Americans or others authorized to work here. It’s important that we use our tax dollars as wisely as possible.”
According to Bilbray the process is simple to use and the right people are getting through.
The E-Verify process simply compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) against the feral government’s data base. The Social Security office works jointly with DHS by offering a free website.
Although E-Verify provides a positive confirmation in 96.9 percent of the cases and the Senate approved amendments to require all federal contractors to use the system, there are some critics, most notably, Chuck Schumer-D NY.
He calls the E-Verify system “half-hearted and flawed.”
The proof is in the numbers according to the Center for Immigration Studies, an independent research institute that examines the impact of immigration on the U.S.
“When this program began in 2007 it was used to screen 1 in 19 new hires nationwide,” says Janice Kephart, Director of National Security Policy for CIS. The current numbers for July of this year show an astounding new number.
“The new figures represent a 274 percent increase, or 1 in 4 new hires are vetted by E-Verify,” Kephart says. “The number of queries so far in 2009 is about 6 million, nearly what they were for all of 2008.”
If the current trend holds Kephart believes E-Verify will identify 12.3 million employees this year. DHS states that there are approximately 511,228 worksites using E-Verify program through July, up from 400,000 in January.
CIS Institute says “E-Verify enables cheap, efficient and accurate compliance with the federal ban on hiring illegal aliens.”
On another front the state of California remains bogged down by illegal immigration issues. Some in Sacramento believe E-Verify isn’t accurate enough and have put forward legislation AB 1288 in February of this year.
The legislation would prohibit the state, or a city, county, or special district from requiring the employer other than the government entities to use an electronic employment verification system.
Many businesses use E-Verify to screen potential employees. For example, construction, farming, warehouse and other large companies who employ many unskilled workers.
Congressman Bilbray finds this odd. “No wonder they (Sacramento) wants to tax marijuana, they seem to be smoking it.”
Kephart concurs, “That’s giving employers a permission slip to break the law, and it’s inexcusable.”
The bill is currently waiting for a final vote on the Senate floor in Sacramento. “If this goes along party lines, it (the bill) will pass it along party lines by Democrats,” says Mike Zimmerman a spokesperson for Martin Garrick-R-Assemblyman. “It’s anyone’s guess if Governor Schwarzenegger will veto this bill or not.”
In the end, California suffers a higher-than- national average unemployment rate and according to Kephart “it’s ridiculous for California to NOT use E-Verify.”
“Let’s all remember the federal law is very clear, you must be here legally to be employed,” CIS finishes.
For more stories: www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that reflects our continued commitment to working with employers to maintain a legal workforce,” said Janet Napolitano Secretary of Department of Homeland Security.
“Requiring those who seek federal contracts to use this system will create a more reliable and legal workforce,” she said.
A leading advocate for E-Verify is Congressman Brian Bilbray-R CA; “This is a perfect common sense law that ensures our tax dollars go to Americans or others authorized to work here. It’s important that we use our tax dollars as wisely as possible.”
According to Bilbray the process is simple to use and the right people are getting through.
The E-Verify process simply compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) against the feral government’s data base. The Social Security office works jointly with DHS by offering a free website.
Although E-Verify provides a positive confirmation in 96.9 percent of the cases and the Senate approved amendments to require all federal contractors to use the system, there are some critics, most notably, Chuck Schumer-D NY.
He calls the E-Verify system “half-hearted and flawed.”
The proof is in the numbers according to the Center for Immigration Studies, an independent research institute that examines the impact of immigration on the U.S.
“When this program began in 2007 it was used to screen 1 in 19 new hires nationwide,” says Janice Kephart, Director of National Security Policy for CIS. The current numbers for July of this year show an astounding new number.
“The new figures represent a 274 percent increase, or 1 in 4 new hires are vetted by E-Verify,” Kephart says. “The number of queries so far in 2009 is about 6 million, nearly what they were for all of 2008.”
If the current trend holds Kephart believes E-Verify will identify 12.3 million employees this year. DHS states that there are approximately 511,228 worksites using E-Verify program through July, up from 400,000 in January.
CIS Institute says “E-Verify enables cheap, efficient and accurate compliance with the federal ban on hiring illegal aliens.”
On another front the state of California remains bogged down by illegal immigration issues. Some in Sacramento believe E-Verify isn’t accurate enough and have put forward legislation AB 1288 in February of this year.
The legislation would prohibit the state, or a city, county, or special district from requiring the employer other than the government entities to use an electronic employment verification system.
Many businesses use E-Verify to screen potential employees. For example, construction, farming, warehouse and other large companies who employ many unskilled workers.
Congressman Bilbray finds this odd. “No wonder they (Sacramento) wants to tax marijuana, they seem to be smoking it.”
Kephart concurs, “That’s giving employers a permission slip to break the law, and it’s inexcusable.”
The bill is currently waiting for a final vote on the Senate floor in Sacramento. “If this goes along party lines, it (the bill) will pass it along party lines by Democrats,” says Mike Zimmerman a spokesperson for Martin Garrick-R-Assemblyman. “It’s anyone’s guess if Governor Schwarzenegger will veto this bill or not.”
In the end, California suffers a higher-than- national average unemployment rate and according to Kephart “it’s ridiculous for California to NOT use E-Verify.”
“Let’s all remember the federal law is very clear, you must be here legally to be employed,” CIS finishes.
For more stories: www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
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