Monday, December 9, 2002

Kris Eggle Gave His Life to Save Part of America What Will You Do To Help Save The Rest? Arizona Daily Star Border Edition  Border barriers proposed The National Park Service is proposing to build a vehicle barrier along the Arizona-Mexico border in an area where a ranger was killed in August. -- The fence-like barrier would run the entire, approximately 30-mile length of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's southern boundary. -- On Aug. 9, Ranger Kris Eggle was killed by a gunman who had driven across the border... Also See Sierra Vista Herald Article (Exp. 12/9) Arizona Daily Star (Published Letter) Eggle's Mother: More support for BP Four members of Arizona's congressional delegation plus staff members made the choice to tour the border on Thursday. -- It is a very positive sign that this serious issue is being given this kind of attention.... Past Features   ABP Updates

L.A Times (Free Registration)   Reconquista Isabel Garcia claims militia efforts are "incendiary and outrageous" Chris Simcox, owner and editor of the Tombstone Tumbleweed, has formed an armed militia to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border, fulfilling what he says is his patriotic duty to thwart illegal immigrants by placing them under citizen arrest. -- Civil rights activist and defense attorney Isabel Garcia, who co-chairs Derechos Humanos, said Simcox's call to arms "is incendiary and outrageous." -- "In this country, we don't allow the military -- or militias -- to enforce civilian laws," she said. Citizens can only make arrests if they witness a felony, or a misdemeanor where immediate action is required to thwart more wrongdoing, she said. [And to think this Garcia is actually a public defender.]

Nogales International  [Short-lived link] Mechista Rep. more concerned with 'vigilantes' than invasion The four members of Arizona's Congressional delegation representing southern Arizona (Kolbe, Kyl, McCain, and reconquista/Mechista Raul Grijalva) came for a tour of the Mariposa Port of Entry on Thursday afternoon. --- Sen. McCain was asked what he learned on the tour that he didn't know before. -- "Frankly, nothing," he said. -- [Grijalva] said he would work toward investigating vigilante movements and their treatment of illegal immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in order to prevent abuses.

Statesman-Journal Oregon paper lauds merits of illegal immigration The contributions of immigrants demand a change in U.S. policy. -- It's convenient for many to blame immigrants for America's social problems. -- But it's more accurate to credit immigrants with helping fuel the past decade's economic growth. -- That's one conclusion from a new study from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. It says that immigrants accounted for half the new wage earners who joined the work force during the 1990s. -- Rather than taking jobs from American workers, the newcomers often fill a gap....

Toledo Blade Injury call yields 21 possible illegal aliens Police investigating a call Saturday about an injured man found 21 people inside a house at 3248 Parkwod Avenue, many of them suspected of being undocumented immigrants. -- A 911 caller unable to speak English telephoned for help about 10 p.m. When police arrived, nobody would answer the door but police looking in a window saw several people run upstairs and an unresponsive man lying on a couch....

Atlanta Journal-Constitution    Consul pushes deal with Mexicans When the U.S. was struck by the horrific terrorist attacks last year, the impact rippled far and wide. Unfortunately, one of the casualties was the momentum toward a dramatic improvement in the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. -- Before the attacks, Fox was working closely with Bush to define a new bilateral relationship to expand on the successes of [NAFTA] and bring our countries closer together for their mutual benefit. [Forum on page]

Associated Press NAFTA's results don't measure up A decade after U.S., Canadian and Mexican leaders signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, predictions that the deal would lift Mexico into the so-called First World, or that it would vaporize jobs in the United States and keep wages low in Mexico have yet to become reality. -- Much of Mexico remains trapped in poverty, but trade has ballooned, raising incomes and sheltering Mexico from economic woes throughout Latin America.

L.A Times (Free Registration)  U.S. Plans to Plug Afghans' Porous Border (but not our own?) To slow the flow of illicit drugs, terrorists and contraband into and out of Afghanistan, the United States is planning to finance the construction and maintenance of 177 checkpoints staffed by a 12,000-strong border police unit, officials said Sunday. -- The plan came to light at an investment conference sponsored by the U.S. Embassy at which officials dangled hundreds of millions of dollars in prospective supply contracts and construction projects before a group of local and foreign businesspeople in hopes of spurring interest in Afghanistan's reconstruction and of boosting the economy. [What's wrong with this picture?]

Washington Post Meddlesome former leader says let more Mexicans in Former Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari said yesterday that Mexico will never enjoy the full benefits of free trade with the United States until it alleviates severe rural poverty and wins immigration concessions from Washington. --- "A migration agreement is indispensable. . . . It is a must for the future," said Salinas, who recounted behind-the-scenes maneuvering that led to the trade pact, including his unsuccessful effort to get Washington to allow more Mexicans to work legally north of the border.

California crumbling: Davis should be recalled In Bonds of Our Union, Part II, I pointed out that the state was facing a "train wreck" when the next downturn came because of an imbalance in tax payments. The state was too reliant on capital gains, which, I said, would disappear almost overnight in the next recession. That is exactly what happened. I also said the resulting budget cuts would result in a state of "squabbling minorities" fighting over the remaining resources. That is exactly what is about to happen. Gray Davis should be recalled. --- Glenn Spencer

Detroit Free Press Scofflaws fret checkpoints In the moments before he was arrested for the 7 pounds of marijuana stuffed under the hood of his Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Jose Rodriguez had done nothing more than look, well, guilty. -- He hadn't been swerving or speeding down the lonely Texas highway he was traveling when a federal agent stopped him. The agent asked about his citizenship and travel, intently watching Rodriguez -- smile tightening, knuckles whitening, right knee bouncing. -- Bubba, a Labrador retriever trained to pick up the scent of drugs...

L.A Times (Free Registration)   Upland works to amend day laborer restrictions, MALDEF meddles City officials are tweaking a law that restricts day laborers from soliciting work so the ordinance will withstand a legal challenge. -- The revised ordinance, which could be voted on by the City Council at its Dec. 23 meeting, would continue to ban soliciting work on a street or highway in Upland. However, it would allow soliciting on sidewalks, said Thomas Saenz, vice president of MALDEF that sued Upland and Rancho Cucamonga in federal court in September.

H. Millard

I'm just looking for a better life Things weren't going well for me a few years ago. I had less than others, and I couldn't make much money where I was. So, I looked to where there was more money and where life was better: the Bush ranch in Midland Texas. -- That's when I decided to emigrate. It didn't seem fair that President Bush and his family had all that money and a big ranch, while my family and I had so much less. What did President Bush ever do to get that money? He was born. Period. Plus, he was on land that I think my ancestors probably once walked on. It's rightfully our land. Besides, I'm a hard worker and the Bush ranch is a ranch of immigrants....

Aspen Daily News Colorado Mountain College supports rewarding illegal aliens Colorado Mountain College officials will endorse pending state legislation that would slash tuition for many children of undocumented immigrants. -- The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Valentin Vigil, D-Thornton, counters a 1996 federal law that requires children of undocumented immigrants to pay out-of-state college tuition regardless of their residency. -- "I modeled the bill after one in Texas, which should fulfill our needs," Vigil said. -- Vigil said his bill will require students to complete at least three years of high school in Colorado and sign an affidavit when they enroll in college that says they will apply for permanent residency.

Washington Times Arizona militias concern reconquista, Mechista Grijalva ...Mr. Simcox, owner of the Tombstone Tumbleweed, said the armed militia members would patrol public land to detain illegal aliens every weekend until Mr. Bush puts U.S. troops on the border to stop the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants coming into the state each year and the resulting vandalism of public and private land. -- Federal and state lawmakers have targeted Mr. Simcox for hearings to determine if he has violated any laws in forming the armed militia organization and posting its members on private land to stop illegal aliens, smugglers and drug dealers. -- The hearings are being sought by Rep.-elect Raul Grijalva, Arizona Democrat...

Paul Craig Roberts - Washington Times Immigration corruption If the government cannot control the documents it issues, what is the point of issuing more documents, such as a national identity card?Last week U.S. Attorney William S. Duffey Jr. announced the arrest and indictment of Social Security Administration employees in Atlanta, Ga., for selling Social Security numbers to illegal aliens. The U.S. Attorney's office described the scheme as a large and lucrative business run by the 28 defendants.

Alan Caruba - CNS News Homeland Security? What a joke! ...There are an estimated eight to eleven million illegal aliens living in the United States and the INS hasn't a clue where any of them are. -- Let me repeat. Our national borders are just lines on a map, unprotected. Our seaports are unprotected. There isn't a single passenger jet that can't be blown out of the air and, on the ground, airport security is a joke. The good news is you can now take fingernail clippers with you on your next trip.

EFE More than 100,000 Mexicans in U.S. jails More than 100,000 Mexicans are behind bars in U.S. jails, Reforma newspaper reported Friday in its Internet edition. -- Most of the Mexican inmates have been jailed for misdemeanors or drug trafficking offenses, Foreign Ministry Consular Protection Director Roberto Rodriguez told Reforma in an interview. -- According to government data, 24,473 Mexican inmates are in U.S. federal prisons, the rest in state and county jails and INS detention centers. -- California, Florida and Texas have the three largest Mexican prison populations.

Tucson Citizen Armed civilians aim to restore order, help fight terror German native Carmen Mercer knows what it's like to be a legal immigrant in the United States. Mercer said she held a green card for nearly 30 years before becoming a citizen three years ago. -- Now the 48-year-old mother of two says she is ready to put her life on the line helping an armed civilian patrol keep illegal immigrants out of the country. -- Mercer was one of two women in a group of about 15 people who accepted an invitation Saturday night to the first public meeting of the Civil Homeland Defense.

Arizona Republic -- Ruben Beltran, Mex. Consul Heed the message from Arizona ...Gov. Jane Hull deserves credit for spearheading immigrant labor discussions in Arizona. That interest appears to be shared by Gov.-elect Janet Napolitano. At the joint plenary session last month of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the Comision Sonora-Arizona, Napolitano said she would push reform of the migratory policy, with the objective of developing a guest-worker program in the state. -- ...I have no doubt that Arizona, with its experience as a border state, is sending the right message.

Arizona Republic Vigilantes stir fear at border Agua Prieta, Sonora -- Mexicans hoping to cross the border in search of a livelihood are becoming increasingly alarmed. Word is getting out in this border town about armed vigilante patrols trying to keep them out. -- Saying they fear the new militia groups more than the Border Patrol, they worry that violence may result. -- ...Texas-based Ranch Rescue also has patrols on the lookout for illegal immigrants, and the American Border Patrol, based in Sierra Vista, has set up electronic surveillance equipment to monitor them.