Tuesday, October 8, 2002

Barnett Defends Sanders' Record Letter in Sierra Vista Herald Set Record Straight Barnett sets the record straight Letter in the Sierra Vista Herald    According to the Sierra Vista Herald, a mysterious woman left the American Border Patrol meeting on Sunday, saying, in part, that ABP board member, Ron Sanders, "had the opportunity to do the things that needed to be done when he was in charge of the Tucson Sector and failed." Failed? As I recall, in the four years Sanders ran Tucson, it averaged eight deaths of illegal crossers per year. Under his successor, David Aguilar, it is well over one hundred. Not only that, as reported by the Herald in 1999, Sanders took early retirement to protest the INS policies that have led to the tremendous loss of life along the border.    Sanders didn't fail, INS management policies failed and still are. ---Roger Barnett Past Features  The American Border Patrol Story Californians: Tell Simon to revive prop. 187 to win election

Denver Channel POLL

Should Denver recognize sham Mexican IDs?

Action Alerts

Help counter Immigration Lawyers' amnesty demonstration Support HR 5322 -- The Driver's License Integrity Act

Loudon Times-Mirror Two injured in Sterling Hispanic gang attack A Sterling youth received life-threatening stab wounds when a large group of Hispanic gang members attacked him and a friend outside a McDonald's in Sterling early Sunday morning. -- The stabbing was the third in a series of recent, apparently random, attacks in the county involving large groups of Hispanic gang members. -- And...--- Police have arrested an Arlington man, Ernesto Joel Garcia, in connection with the carnival stabbing. Sixteen Hispanic youths have been arrested in connection with the Leesburg attacks. At least 11 of them are subject to deportation by federal immigration authorities.

ABC News INS Doubted LAX Shooter's Intents United States immigration officers told the man who became the Los Angeles International Airport killer they doubted his assertions of being a peaceful person, according to an Immigration and Naturalization Service document. -- The INS told Hesham Mohamed Hadayet on May 7, 1995, that it found numerous inconsistencies in his story that were "suggestive of concealment," according to the five-page denial of Hadayet's asylum application obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

AP (Follow-up on items posted last year) Verdict in Colorado slayings A man who allegedly shot and killed four people and wounded three others at an RV park was found innocent Tuesday by reason of insanity. -- Steven Michael Stagner was ordered confined indefinitely at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo. -- Stagner was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder in the shooting rampage in Rifle on July 3, 2001. Most of the victims were Mexican immigrants. -- Stagner's defense lawyer did not immediately return a phone call.

Mercury News Refugees wary of entry limits A plan that would reduce the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States to its lowest level in more than two decades has refugees in Santa Clara County and around the country bracing for a major blow to the federal program that helped them resettle here. -- For many refugees living in the Bay Area -- a major destination for those fleeing Vietnam, Central America and the former Yugoslavia -- the change would mean longer waits for the arrival of relatives languishing in refugee camps from Kenya to Croatia.

Journal Sentinel 2 charged in driving 10 Mexican illegals Two men are in federal custody and 10 illegal immigrants will be sent back to Mexico after police discovered the foreigners living in the back of a pickup truck in Greenfield. -- The two men, Steven K. Rutherford and Mark C. Rutherford, both of Tucson, Ariz., are charged with transporting illegal immigrants. If convicted, each could face up to 10 years in prison. -- Hermenegildo Sabino- Lozano admitted that he and the others walked across the border from Mexico into Nogales, Ariz., illegally on Sept. 28, according to the complaint. Once across, they encountered the Rutherfords, who asked them if they needed help. -- The Rutherfords offered to drive the group to Milwaukee for $300 each, Sabino-Lozano told the INS.

New California Media More hate crime legislation in Calif. Governor Gray Davis signed one of three bills designed to stem the increase in hates crimes in the state since Sept. 11. -- California has seen prejudice-motivated assaults rise 15.5 percent in 2001, at least those reported, according to a recent annual hate crimes report from District Attorney General Bill Lockyer. -And- Low self-esteem, cultural barriers, distrust of law enforcement, and the fear that they somehow bear responsibility prevent many victims from reporting crimes. Undocumented immigrants who have been subjected to hate crimes also face the fear of being deported should they file a report.

Associated Press Big weed bust near Douglas, AZ The U.S. Customs Service seized more than 1 1/2 tons of marijuana around this southern Arizona city during a four-day span, the agency said Tuesday. -- Customs special agents made the largest seizure, 2,390 pounds, after chasing down a tractor- trailer about three miles west of the Douglas border crossing Monday. -- The agents had tried to pull the trailer over when the driver fled at high speeds. -- The driver eventually abandoned the truck and crossed on foot into Mexico, where he was arrested by Mexican police.

Portland Press Herald Khat trial underscores Maine migration headaches A man faces charges in Maine's first trial for smuggling khat, a stimulant popular in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, today in U.S. District Court in Portland. -- Differing views of the substance present a cultural divide for authorities and some members of Maine's growing immigrant communities. While the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency lists khat in the same category as cocaine or heroin, users say it is as mild as coffee, and just as harmless.

The Bakersfield Channel Another murder suspect likely hiding in Mexico Police were continuing to look for an Earlimart man who they say may have escaped to Mexico after the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy during a robbery attempt at the boy's home. -- Henry Cryder died from a single large-caliber bullet wound on Sunday, Tulare County deputies said. -- A second person, Kenneth Williams, of Pixley, also was shot during the robbery. He was taken to the Delano Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released on Monday, said Kathie Wright, a hospital spokeswoman. -- Authorities said Angel Lopez Medrano and three accomplices went to Cryder's home and shot Cryder and Williams after Medrano had an argument with Cryder.

ABC News Importing disease Tuberculosis cases are on the decline in the United States overall, but the infection rate among immigrants has increased steadily. Now a new report shows that in the Seattle area, TB cases in African immigrants tripled between 1993-1997 and 1998-2001, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -- The federal agency recommends that immigrants from countries with high rates of tuberculosis be screened for active and latent tuberculosis infection when they enter the health-care system.

N.Y. Times (Free Registration)   Hispanics question proposed rules Just days after House and Senate negotiators agreed on a bill to revamp the nation's election procedures, civil rights groups said today that they had grave concerns about the measure because they believed that major provisions would make it harder to register and to vote. -- The agreement was announced on Friday, in a spirit of bipartisan jubilation. Civil rights groups, angry over what they said was disenfranchisement and intimidation of black and Hispanic voters in the 2000 election, had provided much of the initial impetus for the bill.

Express-News Panel backs Garza's nomination as ambassador to Mexico The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously today to approve the nomination of Texas Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza as the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico, clearing the way for confirmation by the full Senate this month. -- "He has the president's confidence," Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat and chairman of the committee, said of Garza after the vote. "The most important thing for any ambassador of the United States of America is to have the ear of the president. And he has the president's ear."

Arizona Republic Social agencies hit hard by pleas for aid Valley residents' need for emergency aid is so overwhelming that social service agencies are turning away people, unable to meet all requests, especially for assistance with rent and utilities. -- Many people seeking help are first-time clients, in need because of layoffs and the poor economy. They never have had to turn to agencies before for help with food, rent, utilities, clothing and shelter. -- "Last year, we were able to help about one out of three or four people who came to us for help. This year, it's one of 10," said Paul Martodam, chief executive officer of Catholic Social Service in Arizona. [Also see: Importing Poverty]

Newsday Spitzer goes after Freeport Village The state has sued the Village of Freeport for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of Hispanic residents, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Friday. -- Spitzer, who is running for a second term, said the lawsuit follows an 18- month investigation into complaints from Hispanic residents that, since the early 1990s, village officials have engaged in a pattern of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct when enforcing the housing code. --  Spitzer charged that Hispanic households were disproportionately inspected...

The Courier-Journal Raid nets 26 suspected illegals Federal agents are investigating two area businesses because of suspicion that they knowingly hired illegal immigrants. -- Agents took 25 Hispanic males -- including two juveniles -- and one woman into custody last week while serving search warrants at Trussway Ltd. in Oldham County. -- The agents also served a search warrant at Forge Industrial Staffing Inc.'s offices in Jeffersontown and Shelbyville. They confiscated personnel files and other data about the immigration status of workers whom Forge referred to Trussway.

Arizona Republic Arizona: Tolerance of annoying illegals may soon expire - violence a concern A local church that helps undocumented day laborers find work is not encouraging illegal immigration, according to Ralph Mozilo, Cave Creek's vice mayor (Cave Creek is about 25 miles north of tony Scottsdale). -- Mozilo, who is also a parishioner of Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, the program's sponsor, said the church only got involved for humanitarian reasons and to help the community deal with a problem the federal government has largely ignored. -- But Cave Creek resident Joe Fendler said the church is responsible for perpetuating illegal immigration and so is the town for unofficially supporting the church program, which keeps the mostly Hispanic males in one location as they wait for contractors driving through town to hire them.

Letters to the Editor

Daily Aztec - SDSU (Published) What are colleges teaching our students? A couple of weeks ago, we posted a link to an op-ed piece in the Daily Aztec entitled, "Should illegal aliens be documented?" Here are some of the astounding responses from readers: "The economy of the United States relies on the basis of profit over labor. There are few Americans who would, for a few dollars a day, labor in the blazing sun. As a result, menial manual labor has been reserved for select individuals who are in the county illegally. However, without these numerous individuals the economy would greatly be effected...." More......

Letters to the Editor

Denver Post (Several Published) A spiteful attack I noticed a strong and spiteful attack on Mr. Tancredo and his reason for stepping back from his pledge of three terms. What I didn't notice is your truthful and non-partisan investigation into a major illegal alien problem facing America. I have seen no honest attempt by your paper to get to the truth of the illegal alien problem. I have seen no mention of a recent survey, conducted in Mexico, finding an overwhelming belief that the American Southwest should be taken back as a Mexican territory.

Sham ID Cards

The Denver Channel -- (Poll On Page) Mexican Consulate Deluged With ID Applications Mexican immigrants are deluging their country's consulate in Denver to apply for identity cards that could give them greater access to city services. -- A record 750 Mexican citizens applied Saturday for the matricula consular identification card issued by the Mexican Consulate in Denver. Nearly two-thirds received a $29 card, consulate spokesman Mario Hernandez said Monday. -- "People were working until 9:30 at night (Saturday) because the lines were so long," said Hernandez, whose office usually issues 100 cards per day.

Voice Of America US, Mexico Visa Plan Hits a Snag A delay in a proposed U.S. visa plan is preventing Mexican workers from temporarily crossing the border to find jobs. The program intended to end illegal immigration to the U.S., has been sidetracked by other pressing issues in the U.S.. -- Illegal immigration northwards by thousands of Mexican workers has been a thorn in the underside of U.S.-Mexican relations for decades. The United States has spent considerable resources plugging gaps in the 2,000 mile border. As clandestine crossing points become scarcer........

Associated Press Deportation hearings can be closed An appeals court ruled Tuesday that immigration hearings may be closed by the government, dealing a blow to media organizations who sought access to hearings involving foreigners swept up in the nation's terrorism investigation. -- The 3-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling and said the attorney general has the right to close the hearings for reasons of national security. DOJ lawyers had argued that national security would be threatened if reporters and others were allowed to attend.

Sun Journal Many agree with mayor's views on Somalis Mayor Larry Raymond said Sunday night that he's yet to hear from the city's Somali community after asking their elders and leaders to help stem a wave of immigration here [Update: Somalis rant, rave, pull race card]. -- He's heard from plenty of other city folks, though. To a person, Raymond says, they agree with the sentiments he expressed in a three-page open letter sent to Somalis Tuesday and released publicly Thursday. --- Bob Stone, a Republican candidate for state Senate, said Somalis need to look to "other towns, other states, be better distributed."

Fox News Worthless INS Letting Foreign-Born Criminals Into Society Adding to a plethora of problems uncovered at the Immigration and Naturalization Service since Sept. 11, the Justice Department said Monday that thousands of foreign-born inmates who should be deported are instead being released back into U.S. communities. -- "We found that the INS was not making a consistent or comprehensive effort to check local booking records on a daily basis for deportable criminal aliens at the local facilities," Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine complained in a report released Monday.

Washington Times INS unable to count The U.S. INS costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually because of its inability to identify and deport illegal immigrants being held in federal, state and local prisons, a Justice Department audit said yesterday. -- The audit, by the department's Office of the Inspector General, said the INS "has not effectively managed" the Institutional Removal Program (IRP), which was created in 1988 as an effort to deport criminal aliens as soon as they served their prison terms.

Associated Press Somali leaders respond to Lewiston's mayor over letter A letter in which Lewiston's mayor encouraged Somali residents to tell their friends and families to stop coming to the city is being described as "inflammatory and disturbing" by Somali leaders. -- Somali elders have written a response to Mayor Larry Raymond in which they describe him as an "ill-informed leader who is bent toward bigotry." They've called a news conference Monday afternoon to further discuss their views. [Read letter] [More info]

Houston Chronicle 3 charged in operation that moved illegals Three workers at a local van company have been charged in what federal authorities describe as an operation to transport illegal immigrants across the country. -- The three were arrested during a raid last month in which authorities said they found 53 illegal immigrants waiting at the north Houston office of Express USA, a transportation company. -- One of those arrested, Daniel Ray, is believed to be the man who invited a local television reporter along as he delivered illegal immigrants across the country last year, authorities say.

Brownsville Herald Illegal crossing down in Brownsville Allen Burnell lives along an isolated stretch of the Rio Grande in the River Bend area. The area is attractive to criminals and undocumented immigrants seeking illegal entry to this country. But Burnell rests easy, he says, because of a constant presence of Border Patrol agents doing just what their name suggests - patrolling the border. -- "They do a great job," he said. "I praise them big time because I think they do an excellent job around here. -- The area, however, is not crime-free. In fact, the quiet in the resort community was shattered Friday by gunfire and a helicopter search for suspected drug-runners.

Associated Press Courts refuse to block 227 Opponents of an English-only public school measure lost another legal challenge Monday when a federal appeals court declined, for a second time, to block it from taking effect. -- Proposition 227, a measure that virtually banned bilingual education in California public schools, has prevailed through the federal courts since taking effect in 1998. -- Four years ago, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by bilingual education advocates for an injunction that would have prevented the measure from taking effect. The court issued its written ruling Monday.

Tucson Citizen Acting out reform ...Some two dozen church groups and educational associations took part in the forum, sponsored by the Pima County Interfaith Council. -- Many of the questions revolved around health care, the state's budget crisis and rights for undocumented immigrants. -- Congressional candidates were asked if they would provide amnesty for undocumented immigrants with clean legal records and whether they would support other legislation. -- "We must stop the revolving door of exploitation and deportation," [AG candidate Terry] Goddard said, drawing applause and chants of "si se puede"....

California gubernatorial debate of October 7 Also: Davis-Simon debate heats up as charges fly And: No debate for Camejo [About reconquista Camejo]

Sam Francis

VDare.com The Tancredo Scandals The new hero of Americans who would like to control their borders and the numberless hordes coming across it is Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who has emerged in the last couple of years as by far the most knowledgeable, the most articulate and the most courageous congressional advocate for restricting immigration. -- Not surprisingly, then, the friends of Open Borders have placed him in their crosshairs. So far Mr. Tancredo has eluded their inept potshots, but the efforts to bring him down, so far from harming him politically, may actually have helped clear his road to higher office.

Washington Times Editorial Immigration conundrum One indisputable conclusion from reporter Jerry Seper's recent five-part series in The Washington Times, "Border War: On the front line against illegal immigration," is that the nation's border-enforcement strategy along the 1,940-mile U.S.-Mexico border clearly is not working. Since the federal government implemented a new strategy in 1994 focusing on deterrence, detection and arrest, the illegal alien population in the United States has increased from an estimated five million to between nine and 11 million. As many as two million illegal aliens per year succeed in their efforts to penetrate the U.S.-Mexico border without being caught and expelled.

Palm Beach Post Worthless INS: Deportable ex-cons not being sent home Jails and prisons release many foreign-born inmates back into U.S. communities despite laws requiring their deportation, federal investigators disclosed in a report Monday. -- Once free, these criminals are often arrested for committing new crimes, according to the findings of the Justice Department's inspector general. -- The report faulted the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for failing to track foreign-born inmates and noted that the INS does not even know how many are being held nationwide.

Brownsville Herald Bush going to Mexico again President Bush will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox in Mexico later this month in another attempt to solve the long-running water treaty dispute between the two countries. -- The bilateral meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that takes place Oct. 26-27 in Los Cabos, Baja California. -- An official announcement of the meeting and the progress the two countries have made in settling the dispute will be made in Washington, D.C., this Thursday...

Salt Lake Tribune Foreign Inmates a Burden Utah taxpayers are forking over millions each year to imprison criminals who have slipped into the United States illegally and then violated laws. -- The Utah State Prison spent $5.7 million in 2001 alone to incarcerate 235 males and two women who entered this country illegally and committed felony offenses. The U.S. Justice Department compensates Utah for a tiny fraction of that amount -- $168,000 -- leaving the remaining $5 million price tag to be picked up by taxpayers.