McCain supports hearing on Rumsfeld
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the No. 2 member of
the Senate Armed Services Committee, said yesterday that he
would support a hearing featuring the seven retired generals
calling for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld with one caveat.
McCain said he would be in favor of the testimony
on Rumsfeld’s performance if it is a hearing that
is balanced, adding that it would have to include
testimony from officials who back the secretary of defense.
The relationship between McCain and Rumsfeld has never been friendly and at times has been hostile over policy issues, programs and nominations.
McCain went so far as to say publicly that he had no
confidence in Rumsfeld, citing the secretary’s handling
of the Iraq war and his failure to send more troops
into Iraq in 2004. However, McCain never asked for
the resignation of the fellow former Navy pilot,
saying that it is President’s Bush prerogative to keep Rumsfeld.
see more at..........
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/042606/mccain.html
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Minuteman Caravan to Kick-Off
You Count When You Join!
The Minuteman Caravan will be a positive statement for the citizens of the United States of America. The Minutemen will drive from Los Angeles California to Washington D.C.
Major rallies will be held in Phoenix, Crawford Texas and then concluding on May 12th in Washington D.C.
Minuteman Caravan to Kick-Off in Downtown Los Angeles, L.A. rally to highlight job losses in African-American Community
Los Angeles, CA - Highlighting the concern with job losses to illegal aliens of American citizens and legal immigrant, particularly in the African-American community, the Minuteman Project will kick-off a cross-country caravan in downtown Los Angeles, CA.
"Over 40% of black teenagers are unemployed. Overall unemployment in the black community is double that of white Americans," said Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist. "They are the most harmed by illegal immigration and it's time we focused our efforts in our inner cities where help is needed most."
According to a report by the Center for Immigration Studies, "Half of the 2.3 million increase in immigrant employment since 2000 is estimated to be from illegal immigration."
Meanwhile, "Between March of 2000 and 2004, the number of citizens adult natives increased by 2.3 million, while the number of employed adult immigrants increased by 2.3 million." Clearly, illegal immigrants are taking jobs that Americans would be willing to do. Illegal immigrant employment also depresses wages for all Americans.
"All American's have a common interest in ending illegal immigration," commented Minuteman Project Executive Director Steve Eichler J.D. "We need to take care of our own citizens before we allow illegal aliens to take jobs from our citizens who need them most."
The Minuteman Caravan will drive home to the political leaders of the United States that the American people are fed up with their lack of response to the most important issue in protecting our nation's security.
The Minuteman Caravan will be a positive statement for the citizens of the United States of America. The Minutemen will drive from Los Angeles California to Washington D.C. Major rallies will be held in Phoenix, Crawford Texas and then concluding on May 12th in Washington D.C.
Please join us!
Sincerely,
Stephen Eichler
Minuteman Project
email: patriot@minutemanproject.com
donate: https://minutemanproject.com
web: http://www.minutemanproject.com
The Minuteman Caravan will be a positive statement for the citizens of the United States of America. The Minutemen will drive from Los Angeles California to Washington D.C.
Major rallies will be held in Phoenix, Crawford Texas and then concluding on May 12th in Washington D.C.
Minuteman Caravan to Kick-Off in Downtown Los Angeles, L.A. rally to highlight job losses in African-American Community
Los Angeles, CA - Highlighting the concern with job losses to illegal aliens of American citizens and legal immigrant, particularly in the African-American community, the Minuteman Project will kick-off a cross-country caravan in downtown Los Angeles, CA.
"Over 40% of black teenagers are unemployed. Overall unemployment in the black community is double that of white Americans," said Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist. "They are the most harmed by illegal immigration and it's time we focused our efforts in our inner cities where help is needed most."
According to a report by the Center for Immigration Studies, "Half of the 2.3 million increase in immigrant employment since 2000 is estimated to be from illegal immigration."
Meanwhile, "Between March of 2000 and 2004, the number of citizens adult natives increased by 2.3 million, while the number of employed adult immigrants increased by 2.3 million." Clearly, illegal immigrants are taking jobs that Americans would be willing to do. Illegal immigrant employment also depresses wages for all Americans.
"All American's have a common interest in ending illegal immigration," commented Minuteman Project Executive Director Steve Eichler J.D. "We need to take care of our own citizens before we allow illegal aliens to take jobs from our citizens who need them most."
The Minuteman Caravan will drive home to the political leaders of the United States that the American people are fed up with their lack of response to the most important issue in protecting our nation's security.
The Minuteman Caravan will be a positive statement for the citizens of the United States of America. The Minutemen will drive from Los Angeles California to Washington D.C. Major rallies will be held in Phoenix, Crawford Texas and then concluding on May 12th in Washington D.C.
Please join us!
Sincerely,
Stephen Eichler
Minuteman Project
email: patriot@minutemanproject.com
donate: https://minutemanproject.com
web: http://www.minutemanproject.com
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Senator McCain's 'coyotes' now his angels
Senator McCain's 'coyotes' now his angels
Two brothers who helped scuttle U.S. Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential
campaign have become financial angels for his 2008 bid.
Sam and Charles Wyly of Texas bankrolled an advertising campaign by a group called "Republicans for Clean Air."
After the group ran anti-McCain ads in three states, the Arizona Republican talked about "Wyly coyotes."
This year, Sam Wyly and his wife, Cheryl, have given
$10,000 to McCain's campaign, ABC News reported.
Sam, Cheryl and Charles Wyly also are co-chairs of a May 15 fundraiser in Dallas for McCain's political action
commission.
see more at
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060424-042151-2343r
Two brothers who helped scuttle U.S. Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential
campaign have become financial angels for his 2008 bid.
Sam and Charles Wyly of Texas bankrolled an advertising campaign by a group called "Republicans for Clean Air."
After the group ran anti-McCain ads in three states, the Arizona Republican talked about "Wyly coyotes."
This year, Sam Wyly and his wife, Cheryl, have given
$10,000 to McCain's campaign, ABC News reported.
Sam, Cheryl and Charles Wyly also are co-chairs of a May 15 fundraiser in Dallas for McCain's political action
commission.
see more at
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060424-042151-2343r
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Honoring the Struggle for Justice by Sen Kyl newsletter
Honoring the Struggle for Justice
By U.S. Senator Jon Kyl
During this year’s National Crime Victims Week, victims, advocacy groups, and others around the country will pause to draw attention to the harm suffered by millions of Americans at the hands of criminals, and call for additional ways to support victims in their struggle for justice. For too long our court system has tilted in favor of accused criminals (who are, of course, innocent until proven guilty) but often has been indifferent toward the suffering of crime victims.
Giving victims the right to be informed, present, and heard in criminal cases and to give them standing to assert these rights does not seem like too much to ask. Those were key provisions of the Crime Victims Rights Act, a bill I got enacted just a year and a half ago. The legislation established new guarantees of basic rights under federal law for victims of crime. It vindicated the right to be reasonably protected, notified, present, and heard at critical stages, as well as the right to confer with the prosecutor, to restitution, to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, and to be treated with fairness and respect. The Crime Victims Rights Act was the most comprehensive legislation ever passed to protect the rights of crime victims.
Even with the new law, however, challenges remain. Late last year, along with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), I filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Patrick Kenna. Mr. Kenna was one of the victims in a massive white collar crime case being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California. Both defendants were convicted and when it came time to sentence the second defendant, Mr. Kenna was in the courtroom ready to exercise his right to be heard, which is protected in our new law. Incredibly, the judge refused to let Mr. Kenna or any other victims speak-in clear violation of their rights. So Mr. Kenna used the mechanism we wrote into the Crime Victims Rights Act to enforce his rights in the Ninth Circuit. Our brief was in support of Mr. Kenna’s right to be heard. And we won. The court sent the case back to the district court to be reopened and to give Mr. Kenna the right to be heard. It was a good test of our new law.
The Kenna case also shows the critical importance of the Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project (CVLAP) which is housed at Arizona State University and operated by Arizona Voice for Crime Victims. Mr. Kenna was represented by CVLAP. I am working hard to expand our clinic and others modeled after it around the country so that victims have access to free legal and social services to fight for them in their pursuit of justice and healing.
It was President Ronald Reagan who declared the first National Crime Victims' Rights Week in 1981. The target of a nearly successful assassination attempt, he understood that our legal system owes fairness and due process not only to accused criminals, but also to the victims. Enactment of the Crime Victims Rights Act has helped balance the scales of justice for victims.
Sen. Kyl serves on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees and chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee.
******************************************
Other recent columns by Senator Kyl:
Protecting Children
We Need Sensible Immigration Reform
Smoothing Out a Shaky Start
Economy Gets a Clean Bill of Health
By U.S. Senator Jon Kyl
During this year’s National Crime Victims Week, victims, advocacy groups, and others around the country will pause to draw attention to the harm suffered by millions of Americans at the hands of criminals, and call for additional ways to support victims in their struggle for justice. For too long our court system has tilted in favor of accused criminals (who are, of course, innocent until proven guilty) but often has been indifferent toward the suffering of crime victims.
Giving victims the right to be informed, present, and heard in criminal cases and to give them standing to assert these rights does not seem like too much to ask. Those were key provisions of the Crime Victims Rights Act, a bill I got enacted just a year and a half ago. The legislation established new guarantees of basic rights under federal law for victims of crime. It vindicated the right to be reasonably protected, notified, present, and heard at critical stages, as well as the right to confer with the prosecutor, to restitution, to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, and to be treated with fairness and respect. The Crime Victims Rights Act was the most comprehensive legislation ever passed to protect the rights of crime victims.
Even with the new law, however, challenges remain. Late last year, along with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), I filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Patrick Kenna. Mr. Kenna was one of the victims in a massive white collar crime case being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California. Both defendants were convicted and when it came time to sentence the second defendant, Mr. Kenna was in the courtroom ready to exercise his right to be heard, which is protected in our new law. Incredibly, the judge refused to let Mr. Kenna or any other victims speak-in clear violation of their rights. So Mr. Kenna used the mechanism we wrote into the Crime Victims Rights Act to enforce his rights in the Ninth Circuit. Our brief was in support of Mr. Kenna’s right to be heard. And we won. The court sent the case back to the district court to be reopened and to give Mr. Kenna the right to be heard. It was a good test of our new law.
The Kenna case also shows the critical importance of the Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project (CVLAP) which is housed at Arizona State University and operated by Arizona Voice for Crime Victims. Mr. Kenna was represented by CVLAP. I am working hard to expand our clinic and others modeled after it around the country so that victims have access to free legal and social services to fight for them in their pursuit of justice and healing.
It was President Ronald Reagan who declared the first National Crime Victims' Rights Week in 1981. The target of a nearly successful assassination attempt, he understood that our legal system owes fairness and due process not only to accused criminals, but also to the victims. Enactment of the Crime Victims Rights Act has helped balance the scales of justice for victims.
Sen. Kyl serves on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees and chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee.
******************************************
Other recent columns by Senator Kyl:
Protecting Children
We Need Sensible Immigration Reform
Smoothing Out a Shaky Start
Economy Gets a Clean Bill of Health
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Mccain out of his home state of Arizona ?, as usual
who does he work for ? Mexico's President Foxe ?
still pimping his book and dvds, which he didn't even write.
St. Paul, Minn. (AP) To hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty
and U.S. Sen. John McCain tell it, 2008 is the last thing on their minds. But the Minnesota governor and
the Arizona senator sounded a lot like two
guys who wouldn't mind sharing a national ticket.
McCain was in town Wednesday to help fellow
Republican Pawlenty raise funds for his re-election
bid this year.
"I think that all of us in public life
have an obligation to try to encourage another generation behind us to serve, and that's why I've been very
privileged to know Governor Pawlenty," McCain
said at a press conference,
with Pawlenty standing at his side.
"I think he's the next generation of leadership in our Republican Party, and in America."
McCain then said he hasn't yet decided if he's
running for president in two years, much less given
thought to
potential running mates. He also questioned if
Pawlenty would want to be vice president.
"The vice president of the United States really
only has two duties. One is to break a tie vote in the Senate, and
the other is to inquire daily as to the health of the president," McCain said. "I'm not sure that
Governor Pawlenty, given the responsibilities
he has here, would be interested in that."
Pawlenty, for his part, said he's focused on winning re-election and on a possible second term.
But he offered similarly effusive praise for McCain,
stopping short of openly endorsing his likely
presidential bid but saying,
"I think the times are calling out Senator McCain."
see more at
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/04/12/mcpawlenty/?rsssource=1
still pimping his book and dvds, which he didn't even write.
St. Paul, Minn. (AP) To hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty
and U.S. Sen. John McCain tell it, 2008 is the last thing on their minds. But the Minnesota governor and
the Arizona senator sounded a lot like two
guys who wouldn't mind sharing a national ticket.
McCain was in town Wednesday to help fellow
Republican Pawlenty raise funds for his re-election
bid this year.
"I think that all of us in public life
have an obligation to try to encourage another generation behind us to serve, and that's why I've been very
privileged to know Governor Pawlenty," McCain
said at a press conference,
with Pawlenty standing at his side.
"I think he's the next generation of leadership in our Republican Party, and in America."
McCain then said he hasn't yet decided if he's
running for president in two years, much less given
thought to
potential running mates. He also questioned if
Pawlenty would want to be vice president.
"The vice president of the United States really
only has two duties. One is to break a tie vote in the Senate, and
the other is to inquire daily as to the health of the president," McCain said. "I'm not sure that
Governor Pawlenty, given the responsibilities
he has here, would be interested in that."
Pawlenty, for his part, said he's focused on winning re-election and on a possible second term.
But he offered similarly effusive praise for McCain,
stopping short of openly endorsing his likely
presidential bid but saying,
"I think the times are calling out Senator McCain."
see more at
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/04/12/mcpawlenty/?rsssource=1
Friday, April 21, 2006
special thanks to ICE/DHS new agenda
Department of Homeland Security unveils comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy for the nation's interior
WASHINGTON , D.C. - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today unveiled a comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy for the nation's interior.
The new interior enforcement strategy represents the second phase of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), which is the Department of Homeland Security's multi-year plan to secure America 's borders and reduce illegal migration. The first phase of the SBI remains focused on gaining operational control of the nation's borders through additional personnel and technology, while also re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from this country quickly and efficiently.
The interior enforcement strategy will complement the Department's border security efforts by expanding existing efforts to target employers of illegal aliens and immigration violators inside this country, as well as the many criminal networks that support these activities. The primary objectives are to reverse the tolerance of illegal employment and illegal immigration in the United States . To meet these objectives, the strategy sets out three primary goals or courses of action that will be carried out simultaneously:
The first is to identify and remove criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and other immigration violators from this country.
The second is to build strong worksite enforcement and compliance programs to deter illegal employment in this country.
The third is to uproot the criminal infrastructures at home and abroad that support illegal immigration, including human smuggling / trafficking organizations and document / benefit fraud organizations.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, "Illegal immigration poses an increasing threat to our security and public safety, and hard-hitting interior enforcement will reinforce the strong stance we are taking at our borders. With the interior enforcement strategy of the Secure Border Initiative, we will aggressively target the growing support systems that make it easier for aliens to enter the country and find work outside of the law. This department will counter the unscrupulous tactics of employers with intelligence-driven worksite enforcement actions and combat exploitation by dangerous smuggling organizations with the full force of the law."
ICE Assistant Secretary Myers said, "This strategy lays down a detailed roadmap for ICE and Homeland Security to pursue in addressing the massive illegal alien problem in this country. Reversing growing tolerance for the employment of illegal aliens and for illegal immigration in general is critical to achieving success in this task."
Goal one: identify and remove criminal aliens, fugitives and other immigration violators
Identify and remove incarcerated criminal aliens -- The prisons and jails in this country are estimated to book roughly 630,000 foreign-born nationals on criminal charges annually. Too often, the criminal aliens among this population are not removed from the country upon completion of their criminal sentences, but released into society. To combat this problem, ICE will expand its Criminal Alien Program to ensure these aliens are properly identified while in jail and removed immediately after serving their sentences.
Locate and remove immigration fugitives -- There are more than 590,000 aliens at large in this country who are fugitives that have been ordered removed by an immigration judge. This number is increasing at a rate of more than 40,000 each year. ICE Fugitive Operations teams are charged with tasked with locating and arresting these fugitives. Since ICE was created in March 2003, these teams have arrested more than 42,000 aliens, of which 31,000 were fugitives. More than 29,000 of these individuals have been removed from the country. To help combat this problem, ICE will expand the number of Fugitive Operations teams from the existing 35 teams to 52 teams by the end of this fiscal year, with an additional 1,000 arrests projected per team, per year. The goal for ICE Fugitive Operation team arrests this fiscal year is approximately 25,000 arrests. ICE also plans to open a Fugitive Operation Support Center to assist field agents and officers in record checks and processing real-time leads from national computer databases.
Target and remove visa violators - A substantial portion of the illegal aliens in this country are visa violators, with an estimated 165,000 new visa violations occurring annually. ICE created the Compliance Enforcement Unit in June 2003 to focus on high-risk visa violators by using new computer systems such as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to flag violators. Since its inception, this unit has sent more than 10,000 leads to ICE field offices resulting in 2,100 arrests. ICE will be expanding the capacity of this unit and other visa compliance efforts of its field offices. The Fiscal Year 2007 budget request seeks an additional $10 million for ICE compliance enforcement efforts. Last year, ICE arrested more than 6,000 visa violators nationwide.
Target and remove aliens that pose criminal / national security threats - There are numerous illegal aliens at large in this country that pose criminal and/or national security threats. ICE has created several programs to combat this problem. ICE's Operation Community Shield targets foreign-born gang members and has resulted in the arrest of 2,400 gang members since its inception in 2005. ICE also launched Operation Predator in 2003 to target, among others, illegal alien child sex offenders. This effort has resulted in more than 7,500 arrests, most of whom were alien child sex offenders. ICE also has more than 200 agents assigned to the nation's Joint Terrorism Task Forces. Last year, these agents made roughly 270 arrests for criminal or administrative immigration charges.
Provide real-time information to law enforcement officers - The ICE Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) in Vermont provides real-time assistance 24 hours-per-day, 365 days-a-year to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who are investigating or who have arrested foreign-born nationals involved in criminal activity. The LESC has responded to more than 1.3 million such requests in the last two fiscal years and has lodged more than 7,000 immigration detainers in response to such requests this fiscal year. ICE will be expanding the capacities of the LESC.
Goal two: build strong worksite enforcement and compliance programs to deter illegal employment
Punish knowing and reckless employers of illegal aliens - Employers that knowingly and recklessly employ illegal aliens must be punished. ICE has already initiated a strategic shift in the way it approaches such employers by bringing criminal charges against them and seizing their illegally-derived assets -- rather than relying on the old tactic of administrative fines as sanctions. Last fiscal year, this new approach resulted in 127 criminal convictions, up from 46 the previous fiscal year. More employers are also being charged with money laundering violations, which can result in prison sentences of up to 20 years. Last year, a single ICE worksite enforcement investigation resulted in a settlement and forfeiture of $15 million, an amount that represented the largest worksite enforcement penalty in U.S. history and surpassed the sum of all administrative fines from the previous eight years. ICE seeks to enhance its worksite enforcement investigations with proposed additional funding. The Administration's Fiscal Year 2007 budget request seeks $41.7 million in new funds and 171 additional agents to enhance ICE's worksite enforcement efforts.
Eliminate Social Security abuses that support illegal immigration - Hundreds of thousands of workers in this country have registered "000-00-000" as a Social Security number. Millions have supplied social security numbers to their employers that do not match their names. This Social Security abuse provides a gateway for illegal aliens to obtain jobs. Currently, ICE does not have access to Social Security data to investigate these abuses. DHS is currently seeking a legislative fix in Congress that would provide ICE investigators with access to such data to combat this rampant fraud.
Work with Congress to build employer compliance systems - Employers who want to stay within the law need a clear set of rules to follow. ICE and DHS will seek to develop an administrative regulatory program to provide clearer guidance to employers.
Goal three: uproot the criminal infrastructure that supports illegal immigration
Target and dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations -- ICE investigations into human smuggling and trafficking organizations have resulted in 2,358 criminal convictions over the past two fiscal years. The number of ICE investigations launched into these organizations has increased from 2,564 in FY 2004 to 3,348 in FY 2005. ICE has begun applying its financial expertise to these investigations to target the illicit proceeds of these criminal organizations. ICE will continue to enhance its human smuggling and trafficking investigations and tighten its focus on the financial infrastructures of these organizations. One critical component of this effort will be the use of new Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) along the Southwest border to pool intelligence information from numerous agencies to better attack these organizations. The Department of Homeland Security created a BEST in Laredo , TX , last summer that has had considerable success in targeting cross-border criminal organizations and related violent crime. Another BEST has been launched in Arizona and others are scheduled to be created in Southwest border locations. ICE will also be harnessing the resources of its Attaché offices in more than 50 foreign nations to target human smuggling and trafficking organizations overseas in partnership with foreign law enforcement.
Detect and deter immigration-related document and benefit fraud -- In recent years, the problems of document and benefit fraud have surged, becoming increasingly sophisticated and lucrative. ICE established an Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit in 2003 to help address this problem. Over the past two years, the number of document and benefit fraud investigations launched by ICE has increased from 2,334 in FY 2004 to 3,591 in FY 2005. Criminal convictions in these cases have increased from 559 to 992 during this period. Earlier this month, ICE teamed up with officials from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State and other agencies to create new "Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces" in 10 major U.S. cities to combat this growing problem. Led by ICE, the task forces will build on existing partnerships to bring investigators together from a variety of agencies with expertise in different aspects of document and benefit fraud.
-- ICE --
WASHINGTON , D.C. - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today unveiled a comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy for the nation's interior.
The new interior enforcement strategy represents the second phase of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), which is the Department of Homeland Security's multi-year plan to secure America 's borders and reduce illegal migration. The first phase of the SBI remains focused on gaining operational control of the nation's borders through additional personnel and technology, while also re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from this country quickly and efficiently.
The interior enforcement strategy will complement the Department's border security efforts by expanding existing efforts to target employers of illegal aliens and immigration violators inside this country, as well as the many criminal networks that support these activities. The primary objectives are to reverse the tolerance of illegal employment and illegal immigration in the United States . To meet these objectives, the strategy sets out three primary goals or courses of action that will be carried out simultaneously:
The first is to identify and remove criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and other immigration violators from this country.
The second is to build strong worksite enforcement and compliance programs to deter illegal employment in this country.
The third is to uproot the criminal infrastructures at home and abroad that support illegal immigration, including human smuggling / trafficking organizations and document / benefit fraud organizations.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, "Illegal immigration poses an increasing threat to our security and public safety, and hard-hitting interior enforcement will reinforce the strong stance we are taking at our borders. With the interior enforcement strategy of the Secure Border Initiative, we will aggressively target the growing support systems that make it easier for aliens to enter the country and find work outside of the law. This department will counter the unscrupulous tactics of employers with intelligence-driven worksite enforcement actions and combat exploitation by dangerous smuggling organizations with the full force of the law."
ICE Assistant Secretary Myers said, "This strategy lays down a detailed roadmap for ICE and Homeland Security to pursue in addressing the massive illegal alien problem in this country. Reversing growing tolerance for the employment of illegal aliens and for illegal immigration in general is critical to achieving success in this task."
Goal one: identify and remove criminal aliens, fugitives and other immigration violators
Identify and remove incarcerated criminal aliens -- The prisons and jails in this country are estimated to book roughly 630,000 foreign-born nationals on criminal charges annually. Too often, the criminal aliens among this population are not removed from the country upon completion of their criminal sentences, but released into society. To combat this problem, ICE will expand its Criminal Alien Program to ensure these aliens are properly identified while in jail and removed immediately after serving their sentences.
Locate and remove immigration fugitives -- There are more than 590,000 aliens at large in this country who are fugitives that have been ordered removed by an immigration judge. This number is increasing at a rate of more than 40,000 each year. ICE Fugitive Operations teams are charged with tasked with locating and arresting these fugitives. Since ICE was created in March 2003, these teams have arrested more than 42,000 aliens, of which 31,000 were fugitives. More than 29,000 of these individuals have been removed from the country. To help combat this problem, ICE will expand the number of Fugitive Operations teams from the existing 35 teams to 52 teams by the end of this fiscal year, with an additional 1,000 arrests projected per team, per year. The goal for ICE Fugitive Operation team arrests this fiscal year is approximately 25,000 arrests. ICE also plans to open a Fugitive Operation Support Center to assist field agents and officers in record checks and processing real-time leads from national computer databases.
Target and remove visa violators - A substantial portion of the illegal aliens in this country are visa violators, with an estimated 165,000 new visa violations occurring annually. ICE created the Compliance Enforcement Unit in June 2003 to focus on high-risk visa violators by using new computer systems such as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to flag violators. Since its inception, this unit has sent more than 10,000 leads to ICE field offices resulting in 2,100 arrests. ICE will be expanding the capacity of this unit and other visa compliance efforts of its field offices. The Fiscal Year 2007 budget request seeks an additional $10 million for ICE compliance enforcement efforts. Last year, ICE arrested more than 6,000 visa violators nationwide.
Target and remove aliens that pose criminal / national security threats - There are numerous illegal aliens at large in this country that pose criminal and/or national security threats. ICE has created several programs to combat this problem. ICE's Operation Community Shield targets foreign-born gang members and has resulted in the arrest of 2,400 gang members since its inception in 2005. ICE also launched Operation Predator in 2003 to target, among others, illegal alien child sex offenders. This effort has resulted in more than 7,500 arrests, most of whom were alien child sex offenders. ICE also has more than 200 agents assigned to the nation's Joint Terrorism Task Forces. Last year, these agents made roughly 270 arrests for criminal or administrative immigration charges.
Provide real-time information to law enforcement officers - The ICE Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) in Vermont provides real-time assistance 24 hours-per-day, 365 days-a-year to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who are investigating or who have arrested foreign-born nationals involved in criminal activity. The LESC has responded to more than 1.3 million such requests in the last two fiscal years and has lodged more than 7,000 immigration detainers in response to such requests this fiscal year. ICE will be expanding the capacities of the LESC.
Goal two: build strong worksite enforcement and compliance programs to deter illegal employment
Punish knowing and reckless employers of illegal aliens - Employers that knowingly and recklessly employ illegal aliens must be punished. ICE has already initiated a strategic shift in the way it approaches such employers by bringing criminal charges against them and seizing their illegally-derived assets -- rather than relying on the old tactic of administrative fines as sanctions. Last fiscal year, this new approach resulted in 127 criminal convictions, up from 46 the previous fiscal year. More employers are also being charged with money laundering violations, which can result in prison sentences of up to 20 years. Last year, a single ICE worksite enforcement investigation resulted in a settlement and forfeiture of $15 million, an amount that represented the largest worksite enforcement penalty in U.S. history and surpassed the sum of all administrative fines from the previous eight years. ICE seeks to enhance its worksite enforcement investigations with proposed additional funding. The Administration's Fiscal Year 2007 budget request seeks $41.7 million in new funds and 171 additional agents to enhance ICE's worksite enforcement efforts.
Eliminate Social Security abuses that support illegal immigration - Hundreds of thousands of workers in this country have registered "000-00-000" as a Social Security number. Millions have supplied social security numbers to their employers that do not match their names. This Social Security abuse provides a gateway for illegal aliens to obtain jobs. Currently, ICE does not have access to Social Security data to investigate these abuses. DHS is currently seeking a legislative fix in Congress that would provide ICE investigators with access to such data to combat this rampant fraud.
Work with Congress to build employer compliance systems - Employers who want to stay within the law need a clear set of rules to follow. ICE and DHS will seek to develop an administrative regulatory program to provide clearer guidance to employers.
Goal three: uproot the criminal infrastructure that supports illegal immigration
Target and dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations -- ICE investigations into human smuggling and trafficking organizations have resulted in 2,358 criminal convictions over the past two fiscal years. The number of ICE investigations launched into these organizations has increased from 2,564 in FY 2004 to 3,348 in FY 2005. ICE has begun applying its financial expertise to these investigations to target the illicit proceeds of these criminal organizations. ICE will continue to enhance its human smuggling and trafficking investigations and tighten its focus on the financial infrastructures of these organizations. One critical component of this effort will be the use of new Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) along the Southwest border to pool intelligence information from numerous agencies to better attack these organizations. The Department of Homeland Security created a BEST in Laredo , TX , last summer that has had considerable success in targeting cross-border criminal organizations and related violent crime. Another BEST has been launched in Arizona and others are scheduled to be created in Southwest border locations. ICE will also be harnessing the resources of its Attaché offices in more than 50 foreign nations to target human smuggling and trafficking organizations overseas in partnership with foreign law enforcement.
Detect and deter immigration-related document and benefit fraud -- In recent years, the problems of document and benefit fraud have surged, becoming increasingly sophisticated and lucrative. ICE established an Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit in 2003 to help address this problem. Over the past two years, the number of document and benefit fraud investigations launched by ICE has increased from 2,334 in FY 2004 to 3,591 in FY 2005. Criminal convictions in these cases have increased from 559 to 992 during this period. Earlier this month, ICE teamed up with officials from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State and other agencies to create new "Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces" in 10 major U.S. cities to combat this growing problem. Led by ICE, the task forces will build on existing partnerships to bring investigators together from a variety of agencies with expertise in different aspects of document and benefit fraud.
-- ICE --
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Senator "crash" Mccain can't read the dictionary?
Senator "crash" Mccain can't read the dictionary?
what part of "illegal aliens" does he not understand?
anyone who enters the US without permission is illegal.
Whenever a resident during the hour-long question/answer
session alleged his proposal offered amnesty to an
estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in
this country, McCain shook his head.
"We're obviously not reading the same dictionary,"
he said.
Throughout the evening, people called the
undocumented in this country, especially in Arizona,
"invaders," "illegal" and "disgusting." Some suggested
busing them back to their Latin American homelands,
while others called McCain's plan "moronic."
McCain agreed with many in the audience that federal
officials need to toughen border control.
He also insisted employment regulations would begin
to alleviate whatever burden the undocumented have
presented on the middle class.
"It may not be a perfect solution, but if somebody
has a better idea than screaming, 'fix the borders,'
then I'm listening," McCain said.
At one point in the evening, former democratic
governor of Montana Thomas L. Judge, a seasonal
Sun Lake resident, asked McCain why he supported
President Bush after they faced off in a GOP
presidential primary and Bush disparaged him.
see more at
http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0420CR-mccain0420.html
what part of "illegal aliens" does he not understand?
anyone who enters the US without permission is illegal.
Whenever a resident during the hour-long question/answer
session alleged his proposal offered amnesty to an
estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in
this country, McCain shook his head.
"We're obviously not reading the same dictionary,"
he said.
Throughout the evening, people called the
undocumented in this country, especially in Arizona,
"invaders," "illegal" and "disgusting." Some suggested
busing them back to their Latin American homelands,
while others called McCain's plan "moronic."
McCain agreed with many in the audience that federal
officials need to toughen border control.
He also insisted employment regulations would begin
to alleviate whatever burden the undocumented have
presented on the middle class.
"It may not be a perfect solution, but if somebody
has a better idea than screaming, 'fix the borders,'
then I'm listening," McCain said.
At one point in the evening, former democratic
governor of Montana Thomas L. Judge, a seasonal
Sun Lake resident, asked McCain why he supported
President Bush after they faced off in a GOP
presidential primary and Bush disparaged him.
see more at
http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0420CR-mccain0420.html
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
proposition 200 times 200? new anti-illegal laws for Georgia
proposition 200 times 200? new anti-illegal laws for Georgia
In Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue this week signed into law what is being called the toughest piece of anti-illegal immigration law in the country. This law will deny state services to adults whose can't prove they're in the country legally. Employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens under this legislation will be subject to state penalty. And state police will be required to check the immigration status of every criminal suspect. Joining me now, the sponsor of the legislation, Georgia state Senator Chip Rogers who says this is the strongest bill in America dealing with illegal immigration. Good to have you with us, Senator.
CHIP ROGERS (R), GEORGIA STATE SENATE: Lou, it is great to be back again.
DOBBS: We talked with you back in March, and, frankly, it was unclear as to whether or not this legislation would pass. First, congratulations as the author of it.
ROGERS: Thank you.
DOBBS: The governor signing it into law. When will it actually go into enforcement?
ROGERS: This is such a comprehensive bill, Lou, that we have actually had the enactment date on July 1st of 2007. But when you consider what we've accomplished here with law enforcement, with public benefits, with public contracts, with private employers all across the board, it is a major, major undertaking. We are going to give those agencies a little time to get ready for it, but it is a big, big bill.
DOBBS: It's a big bill. Both sides, the pro-amnesty crowd, the pro-open borders folks, the anti-illegal immigration folks, all are upset with the legislation. What does that tell you?
ROGERS: We probably got it right because everybody was upset. But the reality is, Lou, there are some people who would like to go further. We're in a political process, but I can assure you this bill has been characterized as proposition 200 times 200.
So at the end of the day, those who realize that illegal immigration is destroying this nation and destroying our state in Georgia have come away very happy, because they realize what we've accomplished.
DOBBS: Well the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, MALDAF, is threatening legal action, as you know, against the law. They call it unjust, unfair. How do you react?
ROGERS: Look, you know, if I legislated worrying about what some fringe group was going to do after the bill was passed, I wouldn't get much accomplished. I realize there are fringe groups out there that are going to try to take anybody and everybody to court. But look, we do what's right and we worry about what happens after that.
DOBBS: Well the Mexican government, some might call it a fringe group, blasting your legislation, now law, saying it discriminates against Mexicans, it's a half measure. How do you react to a government taking you on?
ROGERS: Well, I immediately challenged President Fox to read the bill again, and if he can find the word Mexico or any nation mentioned in that bill, next year I would move to repeal the bill. If he can't find it, I would ask him to worry about his problems in his country, problems which by the way are causing millions of his own citizens to leave his country. I would suggest, Lou, he's got more problems happening in his country that he needs to deal with rather worrying about what's happening in Georgia.
DOBBS: Well that is probably a sound and valid point. And again, we want to congratulate you, Senator Rogers, on the legislation. We thank you very much for joining us here tonight.
ROGERS: Thank you, Lou.
see cnn Lou Dobbs at
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/19/ldt.01.html
In Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue this week signed into law what is being called the toughest piece of anti-illegal immigration law in the country. This law will deny state services to adults whose can't prove they're in the country legally. Employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens under this legislation will be subject to state penalty. And state police will be required to check the immigration status of every criminal suspect. Joining me now, the sponsor of the legislation, Georgia state Senator Chip Rogers who says this is the strongest bill in America dealing with illegal immigration. Good to have you with us, Senator.
CHIP ROGERS (R), GEORGIA STATE SENATE: Lou, it is great to be back again.
DOBBS: We talked with you back in March, and, frankly, it was unclear as to whether or not this legislation would pass. First, congratulations as the author of it.
ROGERS: Thank you.
DOBBS: The governor signing it into law. When will it actually go into enforcement?
ROGERS: This is such a comprehensive bill, Lou, that we have actually had the enactment date on July 1st of 2007. But when you consider what we've accomplished here with law enforcement, with public benefits, with public contracts, with private employers all across the board, it is a major, major undertaking. We are going to give those agencies a little time to get ready for it, but it is a big, big bill.
DOBBS: It's a big bill. Both sides, the pro-amnesty crowd, the pro-open borders folks, the anti-illegal immigration folks, all are upset with the legislation. What does that tell you?
ROGERS: We probably got it right because everybody was upset. But the reality is, Lou, there are some people who would like to go further. We're in a political process, but I can assure you this bill has been characterized as proposition 200 times 200.
So at the end of the day, those who realize that illegal immigration is destroying this nation and destroying our state in Georgia have come away very happy, because they realize what we've accomplished.
DOBBS: Well the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, MALDAF, is threatening legal action, as you know, against the law. They call it unjust, unfair. How do you react?
ROGERS: Look, you know, if I legislated worrying about what some fringe group was going to do after the bill was passed, I wouldn't get much accomplished. I realize there are fringe groups out there that are going to try to take anybody and everybody to court. But look, we do what's right and we worry about what happens after that.
DOBBS: Well the Mexican government, some might call it a fringe group, blasting your legislation, now law, saying it discriminates against Mexicans, it's a half measure. How do you react to a government taking you on?
ROGERS: Well, I immediately challenged President Fox to read the bill again, and if he can find the word Mexico or any nation mentioned in that bill, next year I would move to repeal the bill. If he can't find it, I would ask him to worry about his problems in his country, problems which by the way are causing millions of his own citizens to leave his country. I would suggest, Lou, he's got more problems happening in his country that he needs to deal with rather worrying about what's happening in Georgia.
DOBBS: Well that is probably a sound and valid point. And again, we want to congratulate you, Senator Rogers, on the legislation. We thank you very much for joining us here tonight.
ROGERS: Thank you, Lou.
see cnn Lou Dobbs at
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/19/ldt.01.html
Monday, April 17, 2006
Rpublican Newsletter for Arizona
"It isn't fair that students have to be forced to listen to a political diatribe for 40 minutes and are not allowed to leave ... . I don't see where the diversity is. The school district said this is all about the diversity of opinion. But the reality is that there is only one voice that's being heard, and that's the pro-illegal immigrant."
- District 30 State Representative Jonathon Paton speaking on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," about a recent speech given by activist Dolores Huerta at Tucson High Magnet School on April 3.
Annual Salute to Republican Legislators a Rousing Success
Many thanks to all of you who turned out to salute our Republican legislators last week at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The event was a phenomenal success.
Thanks also to Senate President Ken Bennett and Speaker of the House Jim Weiers for their remarks that night. We are fortunate to have such great leadership in our legislature.
Representative Paton Seeks Answers From Tucson Unified School District
District 30 Representative Jonathon Paton is seeking answers from the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) after recent events present a picture of a school district more concerned with promoting a political agenda rather than education.
On April 3, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union Dolores Huerta addressed a student assembly at Tucson High Magnet School. During her remarks, Huerta said that, "Republicans hate Latinos."
Huerta also used the occasion to praise Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and blame the United States for problems in Latin America.
Representative Paton appeared on the April 13 edition of Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" with student Mon-yee Fung to discuss the incident and question why TUSD would allow Huerta a forum to promote such inflammatory rhetoric.
The Arizona House of Representatives will convene a hearing on the incident on Thursday.
Time Magazine: Senators McCain and Kyl Two of the Senate's Best
Time Magazine this week reports what we already know: Arizona has two of the best senators in the country.
In its "America's 10 Best Senators" Time places both Arizona senators in the spotlight. In the article Time writes, "They say the Senate is the world's most exclusive club. But the real elite is made up not of those who break in but of those who make a difference once they get there."
Arizona is the only state with both senators featured.
Read the feature online.
Kyl Captains Needed to Combat Distortion by Pederson
On Monday of last week, Jim Pederson ran his first television spots in the Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma markets. The former chairman of the State Democrat Party, who has a record of supporting liberal Democrat candidates and causes, is now running for Senate claiming that he will be an "independent Senator." Thus begins the extreme makeover of Jim Pederson.
Please ask ten friends and family to sign-up to be Kyl Captains today at www.jonkyl.com/captains/. Now more than ever, it is imperative we continue growing a strong grassroots network on behalf of Senator Kyl to fight off Mr. Pederson's deep pockets.
Capitol Update
WHAT YOUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS DOING - For the week ending April 14, 2006
• No trespassing! Last week the legislature sent a bill to the governor that creates the state crime of trespass. Under Senate Bill 1157, being in Arizona in violation of immigration laws would be a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense. Subsequent arrests would subject the person to being charged with a felony offense.
The bill gives local law enforcement a tool they have never had before. For the first time in situations where there is reason to believe that a person is in the United States illegally, state and local officers will have the basis to hold and transfer the person to federal authorities or bring forward a state charge.
SB 1157 will create a fingerprint database of those charged with this crime, which is especially critical in tracking human smugglers, drug dealers and other negative elements among illegal border crossers. The measure should also act as a deterrent to entering Arizona illegally.
The governor has a chance to take a big step in the right direction by signing SB 1157 and finally begin showing she is interested in joining with legislative Republicans in the effort to curb the onslaught of illegal immigration in Arizona.
• She doesn't feel their pain. Governor Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have required doctors to inform women at least 20 weeks pregnant and seeking an abortion that a fetus may feel pain during the abortion. The bill in no way impacted a woman's ability to obtain an abortion, but that didn't stop Napolitano from cow-towing to the abortion-at-all-costs constituency.
• Timber! The Legislature is on its way to fulfilling a promise to implement at least $250 million in broad-based tax relief. Much of the plan centers on permanent income tax cuts and a phase out of the state education property tax. The final version of the plan will go hand in hand with a fiscally responsible budget that does not outspend anticipated revenue, which is now in the process of being finalized by the legislative majority.
• Did you know? Governor Napolitano is lining up police union officials to come up with excuses why they don't want a new state crime of trespass established to deal with illegal aliens. Meanwhile a CBS 5 news poll shows that 76 percent of Arizonans believe the governor should sign the bill allowing local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants.
• Quote of the week: "All too often we hear that law enforcement cannot enforce federal law, so nothing is done. Under this proposal, local law enforcement will not be enforcing federal law, they will be enforcing Arizona's law." -- Senate Bill 1157 sponsor Senator Barbara Leff (R-11).
Phone Banks: Your Chance to Get Involved and Help the GOP
The Arizona Republican Party will be conducting three phone banks this week as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that we are in the best position to claim victory in November. We need your help!
If you've been looking for an opportunity to help the Arizona GOP, phone banks are a great way to get involved.
The following locations will be used for phone banks. Call Mike Haller for more details at (602) 957-7770.
Tuesday, April 18:
AZ GOP Headquarters
3501 N. 24th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 957-7770
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19:
Maricopa County GOP Headquarters
15440 N. 35th Ave.
Phoenix AZ, 85053
(35th Ave. and Greenway)
(602) 957-3999
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 20:
124 E. Auto Center Drive
Mesa, AZ 85204
(just South of US 60, West of Mesa Drive)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Senator McCain to Conduct Town Halls Throughout State
Senator John McCain will be holding town hall meetings throughout the state this week. This is your opportunity to hear a report from Washington, D.C. and get your questions answered.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The meetings are open to the public and no ticket is required.
Monday, April 17, 2006
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Kofa Highschool
3100 South Avenue A
Yuma, Arizona
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Pyle Center
655 E. Southern Ave. (One block west of Rural)
Tempe, Arizona
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
6:00 p.m. to last question
Oakwood Country Club
24215 South Oakwood Blvd.
Sun Lakes, Arizona
ASU and NAU College Republicans Host Conservative Pride Week
The week of April 17th marks the second annual Conservative Pride Week at Arizona State University. The university's College Republicans will be hosting events examining issues such as corruption within the United Nations, illegal immigration, and academic freedom.
The week's events will culminate with a presentation by columnist and author David Horowitz on Thursday, April 20th. Seating begins at 4:15 PM in SCOB 210. Horowitz will also participate in a book signing at Border's on Mill Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Tempe at 7:30PM.
Hieu Tran, the club's director of relations, can be contacted at (480) 634-3898 for more information.
At Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, events will highlight students' support for our U.S. military, opposition to illegal immigration, and pointing out the folly of animal rights activists.
For a full calendar of events, please visit www.azgop.org.
- District 30 State Representative Jonathon Paton speaking on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," about a recent speech given by activist Dolores Huerta at Tucson High Magnet School on April 3.
Annual Salute to Republican Legislators a Rousing Success
Many thanks to all of you who turned out to salute our Republican legislators last week at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The event was a phenomenal success.
Thanks also to Senate President Ken Bennett and Speaker of the House Jim Weiers for their remarks that night. We are fortunate to have such great leadership in our legislature.
Representative Paton Seeks Answers From Tucson Unified School District
District 30 Representative Jonathon Paton is seeking answers from the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) after recent events present a picture of a school district more concerned with promoting a political agenda rather than education.
On April 3, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union Dolores Huerta addressed a student assembly at Tucson High Magnet School. During her remarks, Huerta said that, "Republicans hate Latinos."
Huerta also used the occasion to praise Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and blame the United States for problems in Latin America.
Representative Paton appeared on the April 13 edition of Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" with student Mon-yee Fung to discuss the incident and question why TUSD would allow Huerta a forum to promote such inflammatory rhetoric.
The Arizona House of Representatives will convene a hearing on the incident on Thursday.
Time Magazine: Senators McCain and Kyl Two of the Senate's Best
Time Magazine this week reports what we already know: Arizona has two of the best senators in the country.
In its "America's 10 Best Senators" Time places both Arizona senators in the spotlight. In the article Time writes, "They say the Senate is the world's most exclusive club. But the real elite is made up not of those who break in but of those who make a difference once they get there."
Arizona is the only state with both senators featured.
Read the feature online.
Kyl Captains Needed to Combat Distortion by Pederson
On Monday of last week, Jim Pederson ran his first television spots in the Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma markets. The former chairman of the State Democrat Party, who has a record of supporting liberal Democrat candidates and causes, is now running for Senate claiming that he will be an "independent Senator." Thus begins the extreme makeover of Jim Pederson.
Please ask ten friends and family to sign-up to be Kyl Captains today at www.jonkyl.com/captains/. Now more than ever, it is imperative we continue growing a strong grassroots network on behalf of Senator Kyl to fight off Mr. Pederson's deep pockets.
Capitol Update
WHAT YOUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS DOING - For the week ending April 14, 2006
• No trespassing! Last week the legislature sent a bill to the governor that creates the state crime of trespass. Under Senate Bill 1157, being in Arizona in violation of immigration laws would be a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense. Subsequent arrests would subject the person to being charged with a felony offense.
The bill gives local law enforcement a tool they have never had before. For the first time in situations where there is reason to believe that a person is in the United States illegally, state and local officers will have the basis to hold and transfer the person to federal authorities or bring forward a state charge.
SB 1157 will create a fingerprint database of those charged with this crime, which is especially critical in tracking human smugglers, drug dealers and other negative elements among illegal border crossers. The measure should also act as a deterrent to entering Arizona illegally.
The governor has a chance to take a big step in the right direction by signing SB 1157 and finally begin showing she is interested in joining with legislative Republicans in the effort to curb the onslaught of illegal immigration in Arizona.
• She doesn't feel their pain. Governor Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have required doctors to inform women at least 20 weeks pregnant and seeking an abortion that a fetus may feel pain during the abortion. The bill in no way impacted a woman's ability to obtain an abortion, but that didn't stop Napolitano from cow-towing to the abortion-at-all-costs constituency.
• Timber! The Legislature is on its way to fulfilling a promise to implement at least $250 million in broad-based tax relief. Much of the plan centers on permanent income tax cuts and a phase out of the state education property tax. The final version of the plan will go hand in hand with a fiscally responsible budget that does not outspend anticipated revenue, which is now in the process of being finalized by the legislative majority.
• Did you know? Governor Napolitano is lining up police union officials to come up with excuses why they don't want a new state crime of trespass established to deal with illegal aliens. Meanwhile a CBS 5 news poll shows that 76 percent of Arizonans believe the governor should sign the bill allowing local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants.
• Quote of the week: "All too often we hear that law enforcement cannot enforce federal law, so nothing is done. Under this proposal, local law enforcement will not be enforcing federal law, they will be enforcing Arizona's law." -- Senate Bill 1157 sponsor Senator Barbara Leff (R-11).
Phone Banks: Your Chance to Get Involved and Help the GOP
The Arizona Republican Party will be conducting three phone banks this week as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that we are in the best position to claim victory in November. We need your help!
If you've been looking for an opportunity to help the Arizona GOP, phone banks are a great way to get involved.
The following locations will be used for phone banks. Call Mike Haller for more details at (602) 957-7770.
Tuesday, April 18:
AZ GOP Headquarters
3501 N. 24th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 957-7770
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19:
Maricopa County GOP Headquarters
15440 N. 35th Ave.
Phoenix AZ, 85053
(35th Ave. and Greenway)
(602) 957-3999
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 20:
124 E. Auto Center Drive
Mesa, AZ 85204
(just South of US 60, West of Mesa Drive)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Senator McCain to Conduct Town Halls Throughout State
Senator John McCain will be holding town hall meetings throughout the state this week. This is your opportunity to hear a report from Washington, D.C. and get your questions answered.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The meetings are open to the public and no ticket is required.
Monday, April 17, 2006
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Kofa Highschool
3100 South Avenue A
Yuma, Arizona
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Pyle Center
655 E. Southern Ave. (One block west of Rural)
Tempe, Arizona
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
6:00 p.m. to last question
Oakwood Country Club
24215 South Oakwood Blvd.
Sun Lakes, Arizona
ASU and NAU College Republicans Host Conservative Pride Week
The week of April 17th marks the second annual Conservative Pride Week at Arizona State University. The university's College Republicans will be hosting events examining issues such as corruption within the United Nations, illegal immigration, and academic freedom.
The week's events will culminate with a presentation by columnist and author David Horowitz on Thursday, April 20th. Seating begins at 4:15 PM in SCOB 210. Horowitz will also participate in a book signing at Border's on Mill Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Tempe at 7:30PM.
Hieu Tran, the club's director of relations, can be contacted at (480) 634-3898 for more information.
At Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, events will highlight students' support for our U.S. military, opposition to illegal immigration, and pointing out the folly of animal rights activists.
For a full calendar of events, please visit www.azgop.org.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Letter to Senator Kyl and a copy to Mccain
deepest sympathy.
I just heard Senator "crash" Mccain is chairman of your re election campaign.
If Mccain continues to peedle his $2,000 amenesty
with Kennedy, Mccain may bring you down in November.
May have your staff update thier resumes today.
thanks
ed
secure the border.
I just heard Senator "crash" Mccain is chairman of your re election campaign.
If Mccain continues to peedle his $2,000 amenesty
with Kennedy, Mccain may bring you down in November.
May have your staff update thier resumes today.
thanks
ed
secure the border.
McCain warns 2006 will be "tough election" for GOP
McCain warns 2006 will be "tough election" for GOP
by O. Kay Henderson
Arizona Senator John McCain was in Iowa Thursday to help Republican candidates for governor and congress raise campaign cash, but McCain is warning that 2006 will not be an easy road for the GOP. "I think we have a tough election coming up," McCain says.
The rebounding economy as well as local issues and personalities will have some influence on the final outcome, but McCain is less than optimistic. "I don't discount that this is going to be a tough election for Republicans all over the country," McCain says.
President Bush's approval ratings have fallen to all-time lows and McCain points to polls which show just less than one-third of American approve of the job performance of the Republican-led Congress. McCain himself may be seeking a new job in 2008, that of president. McCain's trip to Iowa is an indication he will compete in Iowa's lead-off Caucuses.
McCain did not run here in 2000, but started in New Hampshire where he scored a victory over then-Governor George Bush. "Iowans feel that everybody should come here and compete and I understand that," McCain says. "We didn't have the resources, primarily. We just didn't have the money to come here and to wage what we thought was a viable campaign in New Hampshire, but I can certainly understand why people wouldn't like it if you don't come here. That's the Iowa Caucuses."
While McCain appears prepared to compete in Iowa this time around, McCain's stand on key issues like immigration and ethanol highlight the obstacles that stand in the way. McCain has a long record of opposing the tax advantage for corn-based ethanol. "I don't like subsidies," McCain says.
McCain isn't sure how that will play in Iowa. "I hope that people will understand my position and judge me on my overall record and view of the future and all that, but I don't know how they'll judge it," McCain says.
McCain made his comments at a news conference in Des Moines. He made appearances yesterday in Dyersville, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine, too.
by O. Kay Henderson
Arizona Senator John McCain was in Iowa Thursday to help Republican candidates for governor and congress raise campaign cash, but McCain is warning that 2006 will not be an easy road for the GOP. "I think we have a tough election coming up," McCain says.
The rebounding economy as well as local issues and personalities will have some influence on the final outcome, but McCain is less than optimistic. "I don't discount that this is going to be a tough election for Republicans all over the country," McCain says.
President Bush's approval ratings have fallen to all-time lows and McCain points to polls which show just less than one-third of American approve of the job performance of the Republican-led Congress. McCain himself may be seeking a new job in 2008, that of president. McCain's trip to Iowa is an indication he will compete in Iowa's lead-off Caucuses.
McCain did not run here in 2000, but started in New Hampshire where he scored a victory over then-Governor George Bush. "Iowans feel that everybody should come here and compete and I understand that," McCain says. "We didn't have the resources, primarily. We just didn't have the money to come here and to wage what we thought was a viable campaign in New Hampshire, but I can certainly understand why people wouldn't like it if you don't come here. That's the Iowa Caucuses."
While McCain appears prepared to compete in Iowa this time around, McCain's stand on key issues like immigration and ethanol highlight the obstacles that stand in the way. McCain has a long record of opposing the tax advantage for corn-based ethanol. "I don't like subsidies," McCain says.
McCain isn't sure how that will play in Iowa. "I hope that people will understand my position and judge me on my overall record and view of the future and all that, but I don't know how they'll judge it," McCain says.
McCain made his comments at a news conference in Des Moines. He made appearances yesterday in Dyersville, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine, too.
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