Federation for American Immigration Reform

Real Impact of DREAM Act Much Worse than Reported

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:30:27 -0500

Real Impact of DREAM Act Much Worse than Reported:

“Democrats have announced their intent to bring the DREAM Act up for a vote in the lame-duck session of Congress while they still control both chambers, mobilizing Republican opponents who have labeled the bill as an unwarranted attempt at amnesty for illegal aliens,” Homeland Security Today reports. “FAIR argued that the number could be much higher due to fraudulent applications. The organization further declared that 870,000 illegal aliens would immediately become eligible for legal status under the bill while 2.6 million illegal aliens could receive legal status within six years of enactment. An additional 6.2 million illegal aliens could gain US legal status under the bill within 10 years of its enactment.”

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick Ready for Amnesty Agenda

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:38:06 -0500

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick Ready for Amnesty Agenda:

“Governor Patrick is hoping to fully implement 131 immigration reform ideas suggested by an advisory panel in 2009, including offering in-state college tuition rates for illegal immigrant students,” the Bostonist news site reports.

Study Shows Effectiveness of Prince William Enforcement Policy

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:02:09 -0500

Study Shows Effectiveness of Prince William Enforcement Policy:

“Prince William County’s controversial immigration policy appears to have had some effect, as the growth of the county’s Hispanic population now lags behind that of other jurisdictions, a report from the University of Virginia states,” the Washington Post reports. ”The three-year, $385,000 study - released Tuesday by the university’s Center for Survey Research - also found that the county’s noncitizen Hispanic population, legal and illegal, dropped by 7,700 from 2006 to 2008, and that illegal immigrants accounted for 2,000 to 6,000 of that decline.”

ICE Enforcement Targets Employers, Leaves Illegal Employees Alone

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:38:06 -0500

ICE Enforcement Targets Employers, Leaves Illegal Employees Alone:

“Instead of the dramatic, large-scale raids that snagged hundreds of illegal immigrants, including at a New Bedford factory three years ago, federal officials say they are focusing more on the businesses that hire them. The aim is to eliminate the job opportunities that attract illegal workers,” the Boston Globe reports.

“‘They get off with, at most, a slap on the wrists,’ said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington-based organization that favors tougher restrictions on immigration. ‘ICE does nothing to apprehend the illegal workers. They go down and get a new set of documents from the street corner and they get a new job. It becomes a game of musical chairs.”’

Obama Meets With Pro-Amnesty Legislators

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:12 -0500

Obama Meets With Pro-Amnesty Legislators:

“President Obama will meet with pro-immigration reform [amnesty] Democrats — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Reps. Nydia Velasquez (D-N.Y.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) — this afternoon to discuss immigration plans for the lame-duck session. The meeting will be a follow-up to a September meeting with the three Democrats, where Obama pledged support for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act. That time, they were hoping for the White House’s support to push senators to vote for the DREAM Act as part the defense authorization bill — an effort that failed when Republicans filibustered the bill,” the Washington Independent says.

NY Study Finds Wage Impacts From Illegal Immigration, Ignores Costs

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:13:00 -0500

NY Study Finds Wage Impacts From Illegal Immigration, Ignores Costs:

FAIR’s Bob Dane was interviewed for this NY Time’s story about a recent Long Island study claiming that immigration was a benefit to the local economy. Dane notes that the study fails to account for the negative impact on the African American community and “the costs of illegal immigration, including unpaid taxes, money sent to other countries and drains on public services and health care.”

Read the entire article below and let us know what you think on our Facebook Page.

Health Costs for Illegal Aliens Top $33 Million in Mass.

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:42:44 -0400

Health Costs for Illegal Aliens Top $33 Million in Mass.:

“Beleaguered Bay State and U.S. taxpayers coughed up a staggering $35.7 million this year in free emergency health care for more than 52,000 illegal aliens in Massachusetts, sparking outrage from candidates and critics who back a tougher line on immigration,” theBoston Herald reported.

“The figures — released by Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration under an order for the Secretary of State’s office and after more than a month of ducking questions — show illegal immigrants who belong to MassHealth Limited received $33.8 million in taxpayer-funded in-patient hospital care this year.”

Reid Says Immigration Support Should Give Him Hispanic Votes

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:00:52 -0400

Reid Says Immigration Support Should Give Him Hispanic Votes:

“Embattled Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday his campaign is not hurt by the failure to enact immigration reform because Hispanic Nevadans ‘know’ he has spent more time on immigration in the last two Congresses ‘than on any other issue — period,’” Politico reports.

“While the majority leader admittedly has been a leader on immigration, it is difficult to make the case that the Senate under Reid spent more time on immigration than health care reform, President Barack Obama’s cornerstone legislative priority and one upon which Congress spent months in intensive negotiations.”

"Business-Friendly" Immigration Reform for Obama?

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:49:47 -0400

"Business-Friendly" Immigration Reform for Obama?:

“Democratic Hispanic legislators oppose separating [H-1b professional guestworker visa increases from amnesty] for fear of losing business support for comprehensive reform. In principle, then, a Republican takeover of the House might increase the likelihood of a stand-alone bill on skilled immigration. That, however, is not the Republicans’ priority. Lamar Smith, the Republican who would probably become chairman of the House judiciary committee, is more focused on deporting illegal immigrants and strengthening the border,” says the Economist.

Arrest Reports Reveal Employers of Illegal Aliens

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:28:44 -0400

Arrest Reports Reveal Employers of Illegal Aliens:

“Ever wonder where illegal aliens who get arrested for additional crimes work - which employers are hiring illegal labor? Investigative reporter Randy Travis from Fox Five TV has done a terrific job of using public records from 287(g) authorized county jails to derive the names of some of the employers who use black-market replacement labor while Americans suffer staggering unemployment,” says DA King. Click to get the lists for some Georgia counties of employers of illegal aliens.

Did you hear what Obama’s Aunt (who was recently granted...

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:25:08 -0400

Did you hear what Obama’s Aunt (who was recently granted asylum) just said about her immigration status?

During an interview with a Boston TV station, Obama’s Aunt Zeituni said: “If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen.” And when the interviewer questioned her about coming here illegally and receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, she said: “I did not take advantage of the system, the system took advantage of me.”

Watch FAIR President Dan Stein discuss the constant abuse of our asylum system above.

Donate to FAIR at fairus.org/donate.

Not Just Washington State, Illegal Aliens Are Electioneering in California

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:29:16 -0400

Not Just Washington State, Illegal Aliens Are Electioneering in California:

The Oneoldvet site highlights more electioneering by illegal aliens, this time in California. He points to a post by Lisa Carter with the Examiner who encountered several illegal aliens passing out campaign literature. “‘I’ve been here for six years and have three children,’ said one young volunteer named Esther, who wouldn’t give her last name. ‘Even though I can’t vote, I have every right to help get people to vote and to understand why Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina are bad for our state.’”

Federal Courts in Texas Dismissing Hundreds of Deportation Cases

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:01:47 -0400

Federal Courts in Texas Dismissing Hundreds of Deportation Cases:

The Houston Chronicle this week reported that federal courts in Texas were dismissing hundreds of deportation cases. Dismissals of such cases were up 700 percent between July and August of this year, according to The Chronicle, and were the result of unsolicited motions by federal prosecutors, not the defendants. (The Houston Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2010)

All signs indicate that the broad-based dismissal of deportation cases is the result of a new policy Homeland Security adopted in August. While Homeland Security didn’t officially announce the policy shift, immigration attorneys in Houston began to report that cases against their illegal alien defendants were being dismissed, allowing them to remain in the United States. The American Immigration Lawyers Association liaison to the U.S. DOJ, Raed Gonzalez, told reporters that Homeland Security had personally briefed him on the new policy, which would seek dismissal of deportation cases against illegal aliens who had been in the U.S. for more than two years and with no felony convictions. (See FAIR’s Legislative Update, Aug. 30, 2010)

Read the rest of this article here.

Illegal Aliens Campaign in Washington Senate Race

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:15:09 -0400

Illegal Aliens Campaign in Washington Senate Race:

OneAmerica Votes, an organization that aims to increase immigrant voter turnout, is actively recruiting illegal aliens to campaign for Democratic incumbent Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). (Washington Post, Oct. 22, 2010) The organization’s director, Pramila Jayapal, says the campaign is about empowering those who may not feel like they can contribute to a campaign because they can’t vote. “Immigrants really do matter,” Jayapal said. (Id.) One of the illegal aliens knocking on doors, Maria Gianni, is open about her illegal status. “There’s always a risk,” she said. “But if there’s a change, I would feel like I contributed, even in a small part … .” (Id.)

Read the rest of this article here.

Record 134 Tons of Marijuana Seized in Tijuana

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:51:56 -0400

Record 134 Tons of Marijuana Seized in Tijuana:

Police in the Mexican border city of Tijuana seized 134 tons of marijuana last Sunday in what was a record marijuana bust in Mexico. (NY Times, Oct. 21, 2010) The seizure occurred after local police came across a convoy and were fired upon. (Id.) A shootout between the convoy members and police ensued, leading to the arrest of 11 convoy members. (Washington Post¸ Oct. 19, 2010) The arrestees then led authorities to an industrial neighborhood where over 15,000 giant bricks of marijuana, wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil, were recovered in three tractor-trailers and a small truck. (Washington Post¸ Oct. 19, 2010; NY Times, Oct. 21, 2010) Officials believe that the marijuana belonged to the Sinaloa cartel, and had an estimated street value in Mexico of $340 million. (My Fox DC, Oct. 22, 2010;Washington Post¸ Oct. 19, 2010)

Read the rest here.

Governor Paterson to Pardon Criminal Aliens in order to Stop Deportations

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:26:48 -0400

Governor Paterson to Pardon Criminal Aliens in order to Stop Deportations:

At the direction of Governor Paterson, the State of New York is currently reviewing hundreds of pardon applications from criminal aliens who want to avoid deportations based on their criminal acts. Governor Paterson announced in May of this year that he intended to pardon certain criminal aliens in order to prevent the U.S. government from deporting them. To that end, he ordered the creation of a Special Immigration Pardoning Board to review applications.

Read the rest here.

Senate Judiciary Members Ask for Investigation into Houston Amnesty Program

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:02:11 -0400

Senate Judiciary Members Ask for Investigation into Houston Amnesty Program:

Republican Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are beginning to ask questions about the Houston Amnesty Program we told you about last week in which hundreds of immigration cases were dismissed. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that last Thursday the seven Members of the Committee called for an investigation into the dismissals.

Senate Judiciary Members Ask for Investigation into Houston Amnesty Program

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:20:42 -0400

Senate Judiciary Members Ask for Investigation into Houston Amnesty Program:

“The seven Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday called for an investigation into the dismissal of hundreds of immigration cases in Houston, accusing Homeland Security officials of selectively enforcing the law. Texas Sen. John Cornyn and six GOP colleagues on the powerful panel wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano demanding a full report on the dismissals by Nov. 15,” the Houston Chroniclereports. “In early August, Homeland Security trial attorneys started filing unsolicited motions to dismiss hundreds of cases on Houston’s immigration court docket involving suspected illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than two years without committing serious crimes.”

Immigration Focus of Last Minute Campaign Ads

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 07:48:44 -0400

Immigration Focus of Last Minute Campaign Ads:

“With much of the campaign rhetoric focused on Washington’s spending on the nation’s sluggish economy, immigration has also become the issue of choice for some candidates, especially in their attack ads,” notes NPR.

"Virtual Fence" Virtually Gone

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 03:28:41 -0400

"Virtual Fence" Virtually Gone:

“The Department of Homeland Security, positioning itself to cut its losses on a so-called invisible fence along the U.S.- Mexico border, has decided not to exercise a one-year option for Boeing to continue work on the troubled multibillion-dollar project involving high-tech cameras, radar and vibration sensors,” the LA Times writes. “The government has not released an independent assessment of the program completed in July, but with the two-month Boeing extension about to run out, several members of Congress expect the Homeland Security Department to rule soon on the fate of the invisible fence, the high-tech portion of the $4.4-billion Secure Border Initiative.”