Sunday, July 13, 2003

Past Features   American Border Patrol Updates

Payson [Arizona] Roundup --- Amanda Lee Myers Preposterous opinion piece about 'Arizona's Prop. 187' ...In a word, this initiative is ludicrous, yet it could be on the state ballot in November of 2004. -- Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, is among the most vocal opponents of the initiative. -- "This isn't about immigration," Gallardo said in a recent press conference. "It is about a group attacking he basics of democracy and freedom." -- Rep. Randy Graf, R-Green Valley, is one of the committee's advisers blazing the trail for the initiative.

Colorado Daily Woman wants immigration policies enforced The arrest of Bonoe Valasquez, 23, on three charges of unlawful sexual contact and one other charge has raised enough concern with a local woman that she sent a letter to law enforcement officials, which among other things, demands the enforcement of immigration laws already on the books. -- ...Terry Graham, a Boulder woman, has been active for years in attempting to get legal and elected officials to take a closer look at the level of undocumented immigration to the United States and the crime...

News Note

Christian Science Monitor In desert heat, furor over invasion simmers on ...The militia organizations in question include the American Border Patrol, a civilian group that uses high-tech equipment to monitor the Arizona border. Director Glenn Spencer says he's "never heard of any of our members hitting" Humane Border sites. But he calls it "outrageous that the federal government allows these stations to be put up."

Editorial -- The News -- Stuart, Florida Editorial: Hospital did right by booting out Guatemalan The hand-wringing over the discharge from Martin Memorial Medical Center of an undocumented indigent immigrant is unwarranted and an unfair reflection on the hospital, its physicians and staff. -- During two years at Martin Memorial, Luis Alberto Jiminez, 31, received $2 million worth of medical care for massive brain injuries he suffered in a car crash.

Associated Press Kerry criticizes Bush record at La Raza (The Race) soiree On President Bush's home turf, Democratic hopeful John Kerry on Sunday lambasted the president's record on the issues of health care, education and immigration, while making a powerful pitch for the sought-after Hispanic vote. --- Raul Yzaguirre, president of NCLR, also criticized Bush's record as president, calling his administration "two and a half years of neglect, disinterest and disrespect."

News Note

San Antonio Express-News  Cornyn defends scheme to legalize invaders Sen. John Cornyn may not know how all the details of his proposed guest worker program would play out in the real world, but he deflected criticism by saying he at least has created substantial debate over the issue. -- Discussion about the creation of a guest worker program to give millions of undocumented immigrants [criminals] legal work...

Associated Press Bush, GOP Hope to Put California in Play Santa Ana, Calif. -- ...One purpose of the Lincoln-Juarez center is to help the GOP overcome the legacy of Proposition 187 by providing area residents with a range of services, such as bilingual reading and writing classes, financial literacy courses, assistance with filing out immigration forms and referrals to other nonprofits. --- "It's an unfortunate state of affairs that the Republican Party has been tarred and feathered, in some cases unfairly, in some cases justifiably, with being anti-immigrant, racist, intolerant..."

Public Opinion  [Scroll Down] -- Herald-Sun -- Durham, North Carolina Steamed!: Laws apply to aliens ...If the illegal workers that have taken our jobs and closed our factories have to pay taxes, instead of being paid by welfare to create more children, they'll think before [having] more kids. -- Our forefathers learned the English language without special tax allotments, and these illegals don't deserve being supported and taught by the hard-working taxpayers.

News Note

Associated Press Motorist who kills boy chased by crowd, beaten A motorist who hit and killed a 3-year-old boy was chased down and beaten by a group of men who saw the crash, sheriff's officials said. -- Honorio Martinez was charged with felony driving without a license that resulted in the death Saturday of ArMante Williams... -- Martinez did not have immigration documents... [Family values don't stop at the Rio Bravo]

Houston Chronicle Cornyn says 'guest worker' bill balances security, lawbreaker needs U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas pitched his "guest worker" proposal Saturday as a balanced solution to a stalemate over illegal immigration. -- "This I believe is a middle ground," Cornyn said at a Houston news conference. -- The Republican senator said his bill would satisfy neither those who call for amnesty for illegal immigrants in the United States nor those who call for mass deportations...

Austin American-Statesman  Latino leaders disappointed by Legislature Despite growing in numbers, Latinos as a group haven't quite become a political powerhouse in Texas, a state legislator said Saturday. -- Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, spoke to a session at the National Council of La Raza [The Race] conference on legislative issues affecting Latinos in Texas. -- The tough budget year has meant cuts that disproportionately affect Latinos, he said.

News Note

Orange County Register -- Santa Ana, California (Free Registration) Orange County jobs picture darkens If an economic turnaround is in the works, it hasn't hit Orange County or the state job markets yet. -- Orange County's unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in June, up from a revised 3.7 percent in May, a state Employment Development Department report said Friday.

Jill Stewart

Pasadena Weekly Gray's greedy greasers -- Recall opponents have much riding on the Governor's fate ...Why would John and Rebecca Moores, owners of the San Diego Padres, give $100,000; why would two Service Employees International Unions give a total of $200,000, and why would Jerry Perenchio, CEO of Univision, cough up $50,000 for a governor who is clearly incompetent?

Imperial Valley (California) Press B.P. agent rescues 3 suspected illegals in desert, body of fourth recovered Ogilby, Calif. - Three men were rescued and the body of a 35-year-old man was recovered after a man waved down a U.S. Border Patrol agent near here Friday. --- Border Patrol Agent William Robbins said the men are suspected undocumented Mexican immigrants and apparently were waiting by the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks to jump a train.

E. J. Montini

Arizona Republic -- Phoenix A deck stacked with race cards (Protect Arizona Now initiative) ...Opponents say the initiative is mean-spirited and a potential disaster for the Arizona economy, predicting higher costs for hotel visits, construction and even lawn care. Although neither side can back up its arguments with rock solid information. And if your strategy relies on calling the people who support such an initiative "racists," as state Rep. Ben Miranda said last week of Graf, then you deserve to lose. [Visit 'Protect Arizona Now' site]

Bradenton (Florida) Herald Operation nets illegal aliens A team of federal agents spent the week ridding Tampa Bay streets of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes including cocaine smuggling, assault, prostitution and cruelty to children, officials announced Friday. -- About half of the 30 people arrested were living in Manatee County when authorities caught up with them, officials from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said during a press conference in downtown Bradenton.

Federation for American Immigration Reform Alert 1: Norwood Introduces CLEAR Act Alert 2: Stop Bank Acceptance of Matricula ID Card

Belleville (Illinois) News-Democrat Homeland Insecurity: Mayor seeks OK for absurd ID Fairmont City -- Mayor Alex Bregen said he plans to ask the village board of trustees when it meets Wednesday to vote on a resolution declaring as valid the "matricula consular" ID cards the Mexican government is handing out in rapidly growing numbers to its citizens in the United States. --- Meanwhile, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security both have opposed the cards...