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In the News

Border funding susceptible to politics

In the News - Thursday, August 27, 2009

Despite Mr. Obama's promises that the stimulus plan would be transparent and free of politics, the government is handing out $720 million for border upgrades under a process that is both secretive and susceptible to political influence. This allowed low-priority projects such as the checkpoint in Whitetail, Mont., to skip ahead of more pressing concerns, according to documents revealed to the Associated Press.

It wasn't supposed to be that way. In 2004, Congress ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create a list, updated annually, of the most important repairs needed at checkpoints nationwide. But the Obama administration continued a Bush administration practice of considering other, more subjective factors when deciding which projects get money.

Eileen Sullivan and Matt Apuzzo -- Associated Press

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/27/border-funding-susceptible-to-politics/

Immigration legislation has merit

In the News - Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Rep. Heath Shuler has again introduced the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act to combat the costly dilemma of illegal immigration in the U.S.


Since President Obama and this Congress are unlikely to achieve anything bigger, Congress should pass Shuler's bill.

Blue Ridge (Hendersonville, N.C.) Times-Union Editorial

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090728/ARTICLES/907281005/1016/OPINION02?Title=Immigration-legislation-has-merit

Senate Resists Changes on Immigration

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

A series of Senate floor votes this week seeking to toughen immigration enforcement is giving the Obama administration its first real taste of the chilly climate for overhauling immigration laws.

On Thursday, the Senate approved a measure that would effectively overturn an immigration-enforcement decision announced one day earlier by the Obama administration. The Department of Homeland Security had said Wednesday that it would rescind a Bush administration program aimed at forcing employers to fire workers who are unable to resolve discrepancies in their Social Security records.

By Cam Simpson - Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124718283357420277.html

Justice Department: U.S. Border 'Underprotected,' 'Easily Breached'

In the News - Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Judging from recent reports by the National Drug Intelligence Center, you could come to the conclusion that Mexican drug cartels can do something the U.S. government cannot: control border crossings.

The cartels maintain "gatekeepers" -- their own sort of Border Patrol.

"Gatekeepers regulate the drug flow from Mexico across the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States by controlling drug smugglers' access to areas along the border," says identical language in NDIC reports on southern Arizona and West Texas. "Gatekeepers collect 'taxes' from smugglers on all illicit shipments that are moved through these areas, including drugs and illegal aliens. The taxes are generally paid to the DTO that controls the area; the DTO then launders the tax proceeds."

By Terry Jeffrey -- TownHall.com

http://townhall.com/columnists/TerryJeffrey/2009/07/01/justice_department_us_border_underprotected,_easily_breached

Court refuses to hear border fence case

In the News - Monday, June 15, 2009

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case that questioned whether the federal government could supersede state and local laws blocking a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

The case tested the constitutionality of a provision in a broad 2005 law that created national standards for state driver’s license requirements. The provision in question would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to waive local legal requirements that stand in the way of the 700-mile border fence.

By Reid Wilson -- TheHill.com

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/court-refuses-to-hear-border-fence-case-2009-06-15.html

25 arrested, charged with harboring illegal immigrants

In the News - Thursday, June 11, 2009

EL PASO -- Agents with the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) arrested 25 people who allegedly used the Gateway Hotel Downtown to harbor illegal immigrants.

Amongst those arrested are Song U.Chon, the owner of the hotel and two Gateway Hotel managers.

KVIA-TV

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=10520401&nav=menu193_2

DHS Begins Test of Biometric Exit Procedures at Two U.S. Airports

In the News - Friday, May 29, 2009

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today began collecting biometrics—digital fingerprints—from non‑U.S. citizens departing the United States as part of a pilot program at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Since 2004, biometrics have helped DHS prevent the use of fraudulent documents, protect visitors from identity theft and stop thousands of criminals and immigration violators from entering the United States.

DHS Press Release

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1243605893203.shtm

Italy: Berlusconi urges US immigration model

In the News - Monday, May 25, 2009

"Italy's conservative prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has sought to deflect criticism of Italy's harsh immigration policies by stressing potential migrants are welcome in his country. In an interview posted to the US television network CNN's website on Monday, he said immigrants who qualified to come to Italy should be allowed to work and create a better life for themselves and their families.

"We welcome those (immigrants) who have the right to come here. This is what the United States and all normal countries do," Berlusconi told CNN.

"We are absolutely open to those who come to our country with the wish to integrate and to work... we keep an open door to all who are eligible to come to work in Italy or request asylum," Berlusconi said."

AKI, 25 May 2009

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=3.0.3354551966

Growth of Hispanic, Asian Population Slows Unexpectedly, Census Reports

In the News - Thursday, May 14, 2009

"Deterred by immigration laws and the lackluster economy, the population growth of Hispanics and Asians in the United States has slowed unexpectedly, causing the government to push back estimates on when minorities will become the majority by as much as a decade.

Census data being released today also showed that fewer Hispanics are migrating to suburbs and newly emerging immigrant areas in the Southeast, including Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. Instead, Hispanics are staying in traditional gateway locations such as California...."

Hope Yen, AP, 14 May 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303821.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Amnesty Pushers Concoct Six Straw Men

In the News - Wednesday, May 6, 2009

"It’s an old device in politics: Set up a straw man to criticize when you can’t win an argument on your own. Such tactics, unfortunately, are standard fare when it comes to efforts by a handful of special interest groups to bring about amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Organizations such as the National Council of La Raza, the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Migration Policy Institute know that most Americans disagree with their desire for amnesty. Most Americans want to see immigration laws enforced. So these groups create straw men. They use them as diversionary tactics to criticize the way in which immigration laws are enforced without ever admitting to their true amnesty goals.

Who are these Straw Men? Let’s take a look:..."

Rep. Lamar Smith, Human Events, 6 May 2009

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31727

Polls

Half of Americans Believe Immigration Should be Reduced

Prefer Lower Numbers - Friday, August 7, 2009

A Gallup poll released on August 5, 2009 shows that 50% of all Americans believe that immigration should be reduced.  This number is 11 points higher than the figure from an identical poll conducted last year.  Only 14% of Americans say immigration should be increased (down from 18%) and 32% say immigration levels should remain the same (down from 39%).

5 August 2009, Gallup

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122057/Americans-Return-Tougher-Immigration-Stance.aspx

Most Arizona Voters Put Immigration Over Health Care as More Important Reform Goal

Prefer Lower Numbers Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration - Monday, July 27, 2009

Fifty-one percent of Arizona voters say it is more important for Congress to pass immigration reform than health care reform.

By a 65% to 20% margin, Arizona voters believe enforcing the borders is more important than legalizing the status of those already living here. Half of the state’s voters (50%) think it is possible to put an end to illegal immigration, while 34% do not.

Rasmussen Reports, 27 July 2009

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/arizona/most_arizona_voters_put_immigration_over_health_care_as_more_important_reform_goal

Poll Reveals 74% of Americans Want Stronger Borders

Support Tougher Enforcement - Thursday, April 30, 2009

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll reveals that 74% of Americans think the United States is not doing enough to prevent illegal crossings at the borders. The poll was conducted in connection with Pres. Barack Obama's 100th day in office and asked respondents questions on social issues ranging from immigration to gay marriage to the legalization of marijuana.

Washington Post, 30 April 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043001640.html

Rasmussen Poll Shows 66% of Likely Voters Believe it is Important to Reduce Illegal Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration Opinion Elites vs. Public - Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A new Rasmussen poll shows that 66% of likely voters believe that the government should improve border enforcement and reduce illegal immigration.  However, only 32% of America's "Political Class" agree.

The poll also shows that 77% of likely voters believe that illegal aliens should not be able to receive driver's licenses and 73% of Americans believe that police officers should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when that person is pulled over for a traffic violation. 

Rasmussen Reports, 14 April 2009

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/on_immigration_large_gap_remains_between_mainstream_america_and_political_class

Immigration Ranks 10th in Priorities

Support Tougher Enforcement - Monday, January 19, 2009

In a Washington Post/ABC Poll released just before Barack Obama's inaguration, respondents ranked immigration No. 10 on a list of priorities for the administration. The economy, Iraq War, foreign policy and education were all ranked ahead of immigration. Twenty-one percent said that it was the highest priority, 48 percent said it was high priority, while 29 percent said it was low priority.

Washington Post/ABC Poll - January 19

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/postpoll_011709.html

Transatlantic Trends: Immigration

Protect Jobs and Wages Support Tougher Enforcement - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

When asked about what governments should do to address illegal immigration, 83% of respondents supported stronger border controls, 74% supported cracking down on employers, and 68% supported deportation.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States, 2008

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No Post-election Mandate for Amnesty

Oppose Amnesty - Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Only 32% of Obama voters considered his support for amnesty as a factor in their decisions to vote for him. 67% said it was either not a factor at all, or they voted for Obama in spite of his stance on amnesty.

60% of voters said reducing illegal immigration and cracking down on employers who hire them is important to them, while only 21% supported "legalizing or creating a pathway to citizenship" for illegal aliens.

57% of voters stated that amnesty would harm American workers and further strain public resources, while only 26% believe amnesty would aid economic recovery and ease public burdens.

http://www.fairus.org/site/DocServer/zogby_2008_tabresults.pdf.pdf?docID=2262

Rasmussen Poll reveals Americans Angry over Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement - Friday, November 7, 2008

Twenty-six of respondents are angry over immigration policy in the United States.

Sixty-two percent say gaining control of the borders is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/26_angry_about_immigration_the_issue_candidates_ignore

Micro-business owners said they favor the following proposals relating to increased border security

Business Owners on Immigration - Thursday, May 8, 2008

National Association for the Self-Employed member survey, June 2006

http://advocacy.nase.org/membersurvey/default.asp