Phoenix voters say immigration issues are their top concern

Illegal immigration is the top concern of Phoenix-area voters, according to a new poll by Arizona State University and KAET-TV Channel 8.
Twenty-seven percent of the Maricopa County voters surveyed in the November poll said illegal immigration was the region's biggest problem -- ahead of health care, air quality, traffic, schools and the economy.

Link to full story
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/11/19/daily24.html

Convictions for employing and harboring illegal aliens upheld

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of a Florida retail store owner and his accountant (defendants) who employed illegal aliens in violation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). (United States of America v Khanani, 10thCir, 90 EPD ¶42,984)

Link to full story
http://hr.cch.com/news/employment/112107a.asp

Vehicle fleeing from Border Patrol gets stuck in river

A vehicle eluding Border Patrol agents about 9 p.m. Tuesday got stuck in the Rio Grande near the Asarco plant, but U.S. officials could not get involved because the vehicle was on the Mexican side.

Link to full story
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_7520858

Woman pleads guilty to hiring illegals

St. Louis -- An eastern Missouri businesswoman faces sentencing in February after pleading guilty to federal charges of hiring illegal aliens. Joette Reidy of Washington was an officer of Lochirco Fruit and Produce, which did business as "Happy Apples." In addition to Reidy's felony plea on Tuesday, the company pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of hiring illegal aliens. Happy Apples produces candy apples from a warehouse in Union. The apples were grown at its orchard in Marthasville.

Link to full story http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071121/NEWS01/711210330/1007/NEWS01

I.C.E. Bows to Political Pressure

Every time you think that the federal government is getting a grip on the magnitude of the problem that illegal immigration presents, they do something to undermine their own efforts.
As we noted here and here, the Irving Police Department is cooperating with I.C.E. in a program called the Criminal Alien Program (CAP). They have seen a reduction in crime and have referred 1,700 illegal aliens to I.C.E. for deportation.

Link to full story
http://lonestartimes.com/2007/11/21/ice-bows-to-political-pressure/

Des Moines Snubs Talk of 'Sanctuary City'

November 21, 2007--There are no plans to make Des Moines a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants. City councilwoman Christine Hensley says Des Moines won't change its immigration policies.
Earlier this week, Hensley told Channel 13 that she had talked with immigration groups about making Des Moines more welcoming for immigrants. But Hensley says that the matter was blown out of proportion.

Link to full story
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7392505

Illegal alien jailed on numerous charges

A 33-year-old Mexican man who was previously convicted of dealing heroin in Oregon, deported and then arrested again in Belgrade last spring, was sentenced Friday in federal court for reentering the country illegally. Marcos Oliveras-Coyotl, 33, of Mexico, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for "illegal reentry of a removed alien," according to the U.S. attorney's office. He also was ordered to pay a $100 fine. Oliveras-Coyotl, who pleaded guilty to the charge, appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula. According to prosecutors, a Montana Highway Patrol officer saw a man walking along the frontage road in Belgrade at 2 a.m. on April 1.

Link to full story
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2007/10/28/news/70charges.txt

Mexican gets 30 months for illegal entry

A 33-year-old Mexican man who was previously convicted of dealing heroin in Oregon, deported and then arrested again in Belgrade last spring, was sentenced Friday in federal court for reentering the country illegally.Marcos Oliveras-Coyotl, 33, of Mexico, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for "illegal reentry of a removed alien," according to the U.S. attorney's office. He also was ordered to pay a $100 fine.Oliveras-Coyotl, who pleaded guilty to the charge, appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula.

Link to full story
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2007/10/28/news/70charges.txt

Hispanic advocates will continue to seek Frances Semler’s removal from park board

Local Hispanic advocates and a national labor leader said Sunday they will continue to seek the removal of Frances Semler from Kansas City’s park board.
The latest development in the ongoing battle over Semler’s appointment by Mayor Mark Funkhouser came at a news conference local leaders called to launch new efforts to educate the public about their position.

Link to full story
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/337211.html

Smuggling attempt leaves one dead, others injured

A pickup truck loaded down with 12 illegal immigrants crashes in Brooks County killing one of those immigrants. It happened just before 2 o'clock this afternoon on Brooks County Road 307. That's about 11 miles south of the Falfurrias checkpoint. We're told that county road is a favorite of immigrant smugglers as they try to bypass that checkpoint. The Department of Public Safety says that the driver of the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control. That sent the vehicle into a ditch where it rolled several times. The driver ran from the scene leaving the 12 immigrants behind. Several managed to get to a nearby highway and flag down a driver who called 9-1-1. A 20 year old man was pronounced dead at the scene. 7 others were taken to local hospitals. The four remaining immigrants are now in the custody of Border Patrol.

Link to full story
http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/10855586.html

Illegal immigrant gets a year for sex with girl in Chesapeake

An illegal immigrant was sentenced today in Chesapeake Circuit Court to a year in prison for having sex with a 13-year-old girl and producing nude images of the child.
Carlos De La Cruz Ramos, fomerly of the 3700 block of S. Military Highway in Chesapeake, was arrested in May after a Wal-Mart store clerk processed film he had dropped off that showed images of a nude child, police said. Ramos was convicted in August of producing child pornography and carnal knowledge, both felonies carrying maximum punishments of 10 years in prison.

Link to full story
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=135740&ran=2072

Plaintiff in lawsuit wants out

(OWASSO, Okla.) October 29 - Just days before a judge decides whether to put a hold on House Bill 1804 and its immigration reforms, a plaintiff in the lawsuit to stop the bill says there's been a big mistake. Mexico Lindo restaurant manager Jose Ramirez was named in a lawsuit filed last week. But he says he never wanted to be a part of it. Ramirez says someone called him from Conlamic, the group behind the lawsuit. The person asked if House Bill 1804 had an impact on his business and he said maybe. But he says now his business is really hurting because his name on this lawsuit. Empty tables are what put Ramirez in the hot seat. “The business came about 30 to 40 percent down.

Link to full story
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=01954421-d805-4b6c-89cb-fe26a81b7dec

Disturbing Reports That San Diego Sheriff is Using the Fire to Enforce Immigration Laws

It would be odd, as that's you know, against the law. However, we have multiple reports of the San Diego sheriff handing over "suspected illegal aliens" to border patrol agents. So, as it currently stands, several neighborhoods have checkpoints to enter, purportedly to prevent looting. However, if undocumented immigrants enter, the Sheriff intends to hand them over to Border Patrol agents... According to the San Diego ACLU: As evacuation orders are lifted on San Diego County communities, Sheriff Kolender plans to check i.d. of returning residents at checkpoints and continue his practice of detaining and handing over people suspected of being undocumented to U.S. Border Patrol...

Link to full story
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/disturbing_repo.html

Protest Planned Against Spitzer's Immigrant License Deal

An immigrant rights group is planning a rally outside Governor Eliot Spitzer's office today to protest his new plan for letting illegal immigrants get drivers' licenses. The New York Immigration Coalition says the three-tiered license system will have a negative impact on immigrants' lives. Spitzer joined Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff in Washington Saturday to announce changes that they say will make the state's licensing system more secure. Under the deal, the state will enter into the federal REAL ID program. Illegal immigrants will be able to get licenses, but won't be able to use them to board planes or enter federal buildings.

Link to full story
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=75036

El Paso sector may see a sturdier fence built on border

COLUMBUS -- This is not your grandfather's border fence. The new fence flanking the Columbus port of entry soars 15 feet high and is buried 5 feet into a bed of concrete. It is made of more than 17,000 6-by-6-inch steel poles. They are filled to the top with concrete and stand only 4 inches apart. It replaces a stretch of chain-link fence that was sliced into daily by immigrants and smugglers; some vehicle barriers that stopped cars but not humans; and, in places, plain cattle fencing.

Link to full story
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_7302450?source=most_emailed

Illegal immigration protest at Social Security Office in Painesville

PAINESVILLE - Local demonstrators say illegal aliens are bankrupting the system. "It's my money that is going to people who are not citizens of this country, have no wish to be citizens of this country and have broken the law to be here in the first place," said Barbara Garwood, one of a dozen protestors who marched outside the Social Security office in Painesville Friday. They say the benefits going to the 12-to 20 million Mexicans who are living in the U.S. illegally will hasten insolvency of Social Security. The demonstrators criticized lawmakers for not cracking down on social services payments to illegals.

Link to full story
http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=76896&provider=gnews

Bizarre illegal alien driver’s license deal struck between Feds & Spitzer

New York State and the Bush administration agreed to a deal giving illegal aliens driver's licenses in NY state. New York State made an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security creating a three tier licensing system in New York. Arizona, Vermont, and Washington State have reached similar agreements. One ID will be as secure as a passport allowing people to drive to Canada with it. A second version of the driver's license will meet the requirements of the Real ID Act allegedly to make it harder for illegal aliens and potential terrorists to obtain licenses. The third type of license will be for illegal aliens.

Link to full story
http://www.usadaily.com/article.cfm?articleID=140218

ID theft, but why no deportation in Kane?

It would appear that we have Ted Kennedy as the Kane County state's attorney.
I am referring to the Oct. 23 article about Felipe Osornio, an illegal alien who was not only portrayed as a nice man, but given a sentence to match.
First, the issue of identity theft. Surely a man who borrowed more than $200,000 using the Social Security number of a 14 year-old California girl needs a stiffer sentence than two years' probation.

Link to full story
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=65423&src