Associated Press

May-June joblessness up in 90% of metro areas

More than 90 percent of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas saw their unemployment rates climb in June from the previous month. — Some of the biggest increases hit college towns, where the annual summertime exodus of students causes bars, restaurants and other businesses to cut staff…

HERE

Georgia Appleseed June 2009 HERE

The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB 529) became effective in July 2007. SB 529 requires the Board of Regents to set policy that complies with all federal law.12 SB 529 also denies state, local, or public benefits to those persons who are not lawfully present within the United States.13 Georgia legislation enacted in 2009, House Bill 2, clarifies the compliance requirements of SB 529.

In 2007, the Board of Regents in response to SB 529 concluded that federal law (discussed immediately below) would not allow it to grant in-state tuition or tuition waivers to undocumented students,
even if they had lived in Georgia since early childhood.
8 Id.
9 Id.; see also Southern Regional Education Board. Available at
http://www.sreb.org/programs/acm/acmindex.aspx.
10 Persons who possess U.S. lawful permanent resident cards are also said to possess “green cards.”
11 Supra note 8 at § 704.041.
12 Ga. Code Ann. § 50-36-1 (1996).
13 Id

In 2008, Georgia’s legislators enacted a law that in essence codified the Board of Regents policy:

Noncitizen students shall not be classified as in-state for tuition purposes unless the student is legally in this state and there is evidence to warrant consideration of in-state classification as determined by the Board of Regents.

Lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or other eligible noncitizens as defined by federal Title IV regulations may be extended the same consideration as citizens of the United States in determining whether theyqualify for in-state classification. International students who reside in the United States under nonimmigrant status conditioned at least in part upon intent not to abandon a
foreign domicile shall not be eligible for in-stateclassification.

Federal Law

Two federal laws passed in 1996 impose limitations on benefits16 that can be provided to undocumented persons living in the United States.

The Personal Responsibility Work and Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) provides that undocumented persons who are not qualified aliens are “… not eligible for any State or local public benefit . . . .”17 PRWORA includes within the definition of public benefit “… any … postsecondary education…benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of a State or local government or by appropriated funds of a State or local government.”18

West Georgia Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia: providing Public Benefits to illegal aliens in violation of federal and state law while the state budget crisis causes Americans to loose benefits and services.

A step by step timeline of a citizen’s opposition.

In which yet another taxpayer funded agency in Georgia ignores the language and intent of the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 (GSICA) by simply deciding it does not apply to them – and a citizen speaks up in defense of the law. GSICA was passed as SB 529.
————————–

Section 9 of GSICA clearly mandates that all agencies administering Public Benefits require applicants for those Public Benefits to complete and affidavit attesting to either U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status. The agency is then required to verify the non-citizen’s legal immigration status using the federal SAVE database.

The state definition of Public Benefits are taken directly from existing federal laws 8 USC 1611 & 8 USC 1621.

Compliance is not an option, is not up to the whims of in-house legal counsel or lack of willingness or ability to read and understand the law by anyone elected or appointed to manage the agency – be it a local government or a college or university. Or a TV news reporter.

Let me put it a different way. Not doing exactly what is outlined in the GSICA is…illegal.

The quite lengthy blog below is meant to serve as a resource for the reader to use in understanding the fact that GSICA – essentially a state law passed saying that in Georgia we must obey federal immigration and employment laws – is and has been since it went into effect on July 1, 2009 – ignored by virtually everyone required to obey and enforce that legislation.

WARNING: As a taxpaying citizen, do not attempt to ignore any laws yourself. The same officials who allow violation of immigration, Public Benefit and employment laws take a dim view of ordinary citizens choosing which laws to obey.

Our little story starts when a local TV station in Atlanta ran a news story in mid-July, 2009 about the fact that West Georgia Technical College (WGTC)in Carrollton, Georgia is providing English as a second Language (ESL) classes to “immigrants” without regard to their immigration status.

Upon watching the news report, I sent a “heads up” e-mail to the TV station explaining that because post-secondary education is a Public Benefit and under Federal and state law is restricted to citizens and Qualified Aliens, WGTC is in violation of those laws.

I also sent a similar letter to Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of the college and further explained that I would file suit in Superior Court to stop his illegal actions. I also copied the letter to the Times Georgian in Carrollton and the Atlanta TV station, CBS Atlanta, 46.

That letter HERE.
—————

I received a reply from Dr. Sullivan. It goes like this:

“Good afternoon Mr. King,

Thanks for the courtesy note on your intent. I can locate NO affidavits from applicants pursuant to your open records request. Therefore, no submittal is forthcoming. I do ask that you direct all related requests to our Agency’s legal Counsel—Kristi Carman. She is located at the Central Office of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Thanks, Skip Sullivan

—————

CBS Atlanta then did a second story – with several versions – on the ESL classes at WGTC . Odd that after me carefully explaining that there were laws regulating Public Benefits that their reporter would go on the air and tell the viewer the opposite – but you get used to things like this. That TV news report HERE.

A reporter with the newspaper in Carrollton, the Times Georgian, called and got some quotes and published a news report. It can be read HERE.

It was about here that I learned of the existence of something called the “Technical College System of Georgia” (TCSG).

The remarks from Mike Light, the official spokesman of the TCSG were very interesting to me, since he intentionally led the reporter and thereby the reader to believe that there is no state law in effect regulating Public Benefits and that his organization is in compliance with the federal laws doing the same thing.

Mr. Light is more interested in glib fairy tales aimed at saving his bosses’ reputation than the truth, the law or the public good.

After reading the Times Georgian news report, I sent the below letter to Mr. Light and copied his boss and the lawyer they depend on for actually reading and understanding the law as well as the Times Georgian and TV 46. That letter is below (please note that in it, I requested some public information under the Open Records Act):

Mr. Light, great remarks today in the Carrollton Times Georgian regarding Public Benefits, ESL classes and the legal knowledge at your shop. Admitting on the record that TCSG has a policy that is in violation of two fed laws (8USC 1611 & 8USC 1621) and the GeorgiaSecurity and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 (GSICA) was a huge help here.

“It’s pretty hard to be in violation of a law that’s not even in effect yet,” Light said.

Thank you.

Fed laws are from 1996. GSICA is from 2006 – thus the date in the title.

HB2 does go into effect until Jan 1 2010 – True. Which means that existing code that it alters is still law and your policy and member schools are in violation. I paste the existing code language below ( Section 9, GSICA). Put even more simply: The Public Benefits applicant’s affidavits process and verification using SAVE was supposed to begin happening on July 1, 2007.

I look forward to your statement to the media when you are explaining why TCSG spent tax dollars on legal fees to defend its policy of non compliance and granting public benefits to illegal aliens while Georgians go without.

I am adding TCSG to the coming legal action.

*Please consider this my official open records request for all documents associated with TCSG official written advice, guidance and policy set forth for your member colleges regulating all public benefits as described in federal law cited above. I am happy to pay all lawful copy fees.

Please note: The federal dollars TCSG is getting will be the legal focus and object in the criminal complaint against Commissioner Ron Jackson which I am filing with Atlanta area DHS Immigration and Customs (SAIC Ken Smith) enforcement for presentation to the Atlanta U.S. Attorney. Something else I have prior experience in doing. I plan on also filing civil case against Commissioner Jackson along with TRO to stop any further administering of public benefits by TCSG member colleges and schools. TCSG policy is in clear violation of the above fed laws regulating Public Benefits and non eligible aliens.

Personal observation: TCSG’s now defended policy of illegally rewarding illegal aliens while legal immigrants – like my adopted sister – and citizens watch their services and benefits dwindle due to budget shortages makes my self-funded efforts to sue and embarrass TCSG much easier. Yuck.

I am not going away.

D.A. King

Marietta, Ga. 30066

SECTION 9. – GSICA 2006Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is amended
by adding a new chapter at the end thereof, to be designated Chapter 36, to read as follows:
“CHAPTER 36

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section or where exempted by federal
law, on or after July 1, 2007, every agency or a political subdivision of this state shall
verify the lawful presence in the United States of any natural person 18 years of age or
older who has applied for state or local public benefits, as defined in 8 U.S.C. Section
1621, or for federal public benefits, as defined in 8 U.S.C. Section 1611, that is
administered by an agency or a political subdivision of this state.(b) This Code section shall be enforced without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity,
or national origin.
(c) Verification of lawful presence under this Code section shall not be required:
(1) For any purpose for which lawful presence in the United States is not required by
law, ordinance, or regulation;
(2) For assistance for health care items and services that are necessary for the treatment
of an emergency medical condition, as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 1396b(v)(3), of the
alien involved and are not related to an organ transplant procedure;
06 SB529/AP
S. B. 529
– 13 –
(3) For short-term, noncash, in-kind emergency disaster relief;
(4) For public health assistance for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases
and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such
symptoms are caused by a communicable disease; or
(5) For programs, services, or assistance such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and
intervention, and short-term shelter specified by the United States Attorney General, in
the United States Attorney General’s sole and unreviewable discretion after consultation
with appropriate federal agencies and departments, which:
(A) Deliver in-kind services at the community level, including through public or
private nonprofit agencies;
(B) Do not condition the provision of assistance, the amount of assistance provided,
or the cost of assistance provided on the individual recipient’s income or resources; and
(C) Are necessary for the protection of life or safety.
(6) For prenatal care; or
(7) For postsecondary education, whereby the Board of Regents of the University System
of Georgia or the State Board of Technical and Adult Education shall set forth, or cause
to be set forth, policies regarding postsecondary benefits that comply with all federal law
including but not limited to public benefits as described in 8 U.S.C. Section 1611, 1621,
or 1623.(d) Verification of lawful presence in the United States by the agency or political
subdivision required to make such verification shall occur as follows:
(1) The applicant must execute an affidavit that he or she is a United States citizen or
legal permanent resident 18 years of age or older; or
(2) The applicant must execute an affidavit that he or she is a qualified alien or
nonimmigrant under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act 18 years of age or older
lawfully present in the United States.
(e) For any applicant who has executed an affidavit that he or she is an alien lawfully
present in the United States, eligibility for benefits shall be made through the Systematic
Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) program operated by the United States
Department of Homeland Security or a successor program designated by the United States
Department of Homeland Security. Until such eligibility verification is made, the affidavit
may be presumed to be proof of lawful presence for the purposes of this Code section.

———————

After a very frustrating telephone conversation with the Times Georgian reporter, in which I learned that, like far too many in the media- and public officials – she has nearly zero comprehension of the GSICA or federal law regulating Public Benefits, I sent the below letter to the editor of the newspaper for publication:

Re; Group threatens to sue WGTC over classes for illegal immigrants – Monday

Dear editor,

It can be challenging to accurately report on unfamiliar federal programs, legal language and the law – but not impossible. It does help to have the facts when covering alleged violations.

This reluctant authority on the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 respectfully notes that reading that state law would result in far less confusion for reporters and editors at the Times-Georgian as well as officials at WGTC and in Carroll County.

The curious should pay particular attention to Section 9 of the three- year-old GSICA (Georgia code 50-36-1). In an effort to insure that finite Public Benefits are administered lawfully and only to citizens and lawful aliens, it requires that applicants for benefits attest to either of those categories and that the agency charged with dispersing taxpayer funded benefits verify the information using a federal database called SAVE.

While a dry and boring topic for many, it is not rocket science. GSICA merely says that here in Georgia, we must obey existing federal immigration law.

Neither is the Act written in some indecipherable language that is impossible to understand – it is in English. Also easy to grasp is the fact that the Times-Georgian reported very recently that because of the state budget crisis, many Carroll County seniors are on a waiting list for home delivered meals (As senior population grows, so does demand for services) . Or that state funded home for veterans in Milledgeville was closed last year for the same reason.

I can go on.

We are running out of money and cutting benefits and services to Georgia citizens. Compliance with the law on dispensing what remains to eligible recipients is always crucial, but even more so in these desperate times.

Like it or not, illegal aliens who escape capture at our borders and make it to Georgia are not eligible for most Public Benefits. That includes language lessons and a license to do business granted by Carrolton and Carroll County.

It’s the law and it makes sense.

Most citizens “get it”. So should the media and public officials.

D.A. King
Marietta
King is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society, which advocates for enforcement of American immigration laws.
—————–

The letter to the editor has not been published. Don’t hold your breath. At least two more newspapers picked up the story HERE and HERE. Note: very lazy reporter, he never called for a quote.
—————

Not having yet received a response from anyone at TCSG on my open records request, I sent the below letter to Ms. Kristi Carman, the legal brain at the outfit to whom I was referred by Dr. Sullivan in his reply to my original letter.

28 July 2009

To: Ms. Kristi Carman
General Consul
Technical College System of Georgia
1800 Century Place N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30345 – 4304

Re; second request and additional request for public records – Open Records Act.

Ms. Carman,

Please regard this letter as my second official request for any and all documents associated with Technical College System of Georgia’s official written legal advice, guidance and policy set forth for your member colleges – including West Georgia Technical College – regulating administration of all public benefits as described in federal law 8USC1611, 8USC1621 and Georgia Code 50-36-1. I am happy to pay all lawful copy fees.

My first request was made on July 21, 2009. I attach a copy of that electronic communication to this letter. I have not received a response from anyone.

Additionally, I am now also requesting all public records, including copies of e-mail or other communication between you, your office and any and all other employees (including the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, and college presidents), or board members of TCSG regarding inquiries, opinions, and all other traffic pertaining to TCSG compliance with existing federal and state laws regarding administration of Federal and State and Local Public Benefits.

Also: Any documents or e-mail traffic pertaining to recent news coverage of my intent to initiate legal action against West Georgia Technical College, which apparently uses admissions and Public Benefit administration policy originating in your office. This would include a printed copy of my original e-mail public records request sent to you, official spokesman Mike Light and Commissioner Ron Jackson.

Please also include copies of all Technical College admissions applications, applications for Adult Education, ESL classes and a sample of the state required affidavit from all applicants for Public Benefits attesting to either U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status which TCSG or member colleges administers, as per the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 (GSICA), codified in Georgia Code 50-36-1.

This requirement began on July 1, 2007.

Please include a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and/or the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from United States Department of Homeland Security authorizing TCSG’s use of the Systematic Alien Verification System (SAVE) to verify non-citizen applicant’s lawful alien status which was required as of July 1, 2007 – as per GSICA.

Please include a sample copy of all applications offered by all Georgia Technical Colleges for federal or state funded student loans or grants.

I also am herby requesting a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Homeland Security from TCSG’s Human Resources Department for use of the federal E-Verify employment verification database, as mandated by the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006, codified in Georgia code 13-10-90.

Lastly, please include copies of all documents listing all legal firms and representation used by TCSG as legal consul to defend against litigation/civil lawsuits against TCSG and the Commissioner aimed at restraining TCSG from administering Public Benefits due to lack of compliance with above laws. Please include a copy of any and all documents indicating agreed upon hourly fees to said consul.

I am happy to pay all lawful copy fees.

I am quite disappointed and concerned at the lack of response to my previous request. I trust that all of the requested documents will be sent out to me within three days.

Please feel free to contact me at any time.

D.A. King
President
The Dustin Inman Society
3595 Canton Rd
A-9/337
Marietta, Ga. 30066

Cc (electronic): TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson; Kate Brumback, Associated Press; George Franco, Fox 5 TV news, Atlanta.

————-

I had a phone conversation with lawyer Carman ( spelling corrected from “Carmen”) and received a response to my first request to her for public records the same day.

That response is linked HERE

I haven’t been surprised at what I hear from people in government in a long time, but reading this part of her advice and opinion on the 2006 GSICA stunned me: “The law does not place any additional burden on the technical colleges to verify the lawful presence in the United States of its students.”
I ask the reader who has made it this far to see the actual language of the law:

(7) For postsecondary education, whereby the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia or the State Board of Technical and Adult Education shall set forth, or cause to be set forth, policies regarding postsecondary benefits that comply with all federal law including but not limited to public benefits as described in 8 U.S.C. Section 1611, 1621,or 1623.
(d) Verification of lawful presence in the United States by the agency or political
subdivision required to make such verification shall occur as follows:
(1) The applicant must execute an affidavit that he or she is a United States citizen or
legal permanent resident 18 years of age or older; or
(2) The applicant must execute an affidavit that he or she is a qualified alien or
nonimmigrant under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act 18 years of age or older
lawfully present in the United States.
(e) For any applicant who has executed an affidavit that he or she is an alien lawfully
present in the United States, eligibility for benefits shall be made through the Systematic
Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) program operated by the United States
Department of Homeland Security or a successor program designated by the United States
Department of Homeland Security. Until such eligibility verification is made, the affidavit
may be presumed to be proof of lawful presence for the purposes of this Code section.

Yikes.

My main focus here is the state law saying we must obey the federal law, but since there is a federal law – actually two ( 8USC1611& 1621), I sent the below compliant to the Atlanta office Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

28 July 2009

To:
Special Agent Kimberly Schroeder
Office of Investigations
Immigration Customs Enforcement
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
1100 Centre Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30344

Re; Request for investigation of violation of federal code – providing Federal and State and Local Public Benefits to aliens who are not qualified aliens

Special Agent Schroeder,

Please regard this letter as a citizen complaint and request for investigation of current and ongoing violation of 8 USC 1611 and 8 USC 1621 by Ronald W. Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia and Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of West Georgia Technical College.

I believe that the clear, public and defiant violations of federal law cited above should be brought to the attention of the U.S. Attorney for prosecution and to force and end to providing Public Benefits in the form of post secondary education to aliens who are not qualified due to their illegal status.

According to public statements by Mr. Mike Light, spokesman for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and at least one employee of the West Georgia Technical College (WGTC), headed by Dr. Skip Sullivan, as an ongoing matter of policy and practice, they are providing post secondary education including no-cost language lessons to aliens who have entered or are presently in the U.S. in violation of federal immigration laws. And doing so based on policy dictated by the TCSG headed by Ronald Jackson.

The various public statements I mention have been made to a local Atlanta TV news reporter and aired on in a multiple July broadcasts by CBS Atlanta, TV 46, and to a Carrollton Times Georgian newspaper reporter. The TV news report ran several times and the newspaper report was published. I attach a copy of the newspaper report and an internet link here http://www.times-georgian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Group+threatens+to+sue+WGTC+over+classes+for+illegal+immigrants%20&id=2994273-Group+threatens+to+sue+WGTC+over+classes+for+illegal+immigrants&instance=home_news_top . The TV reports can be viewed here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ-acXIKft0 and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5sWhaKRUZ0 .

I also attach a 2006 legal opinion reflecting current policy from the General Counsel of what is now TCSG demonstrating the defiance and disregard for federal law regulating ineligible aliens and providing finite Public Benefits. Here http://www.thedustininmansociety.org/private/tcsg_2009jul23.pdf

Both above entities are using federal and state grants to operate. According to the most recent financial statement http://www.tcsg.edu/all_documents/2009_Directory(web).pdf available, in fiscal year 2008 TCSG received $61,745,162 in federal funding and $373,317,567 million dollars in state funds.

In addition to the violation of the rule of law to which most Americans are held, the practice of using taxpayer dollars to provide illegal post secondary education to ineligible aliens during a recession in which Americans are watching as benefits and services shrink on a daily basis is morally reprehensible.

I again respectfully request that this matter be investigated by your office and forwarded to the U.S. Attorney’s office for prosecution.

I look forward to your kind reply and professional attention.

TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson can be located at the below address:

1800 Century Place, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30345-4304 www.tcsg.edu
Main (404) 679-1600

WGTC president Dr. Skip Sullivan can be located at the below address:

176 Murphy Campus Blvd.
Waco, Georgia 30182

Please be advised that I have great respect and gratitude for the dangerous work done by the Special Agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

Thank you,

D.A. King
Marietta, Ga. 30066

——————–

Because with legal oversight like this, I am very curious as to how TCSG has complied with another part of GSICA (Section 2) I sent the below letter asking for more public records yesterday:

29 July 2009

To: Ms. Kristi Carman
General Consul
Technical College System of Georgia
1800 Century Place N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30345 – 4304

Re; Open records request for contractor’s affidavits attesting to use of E-Verify system.

Ms. Carman,

Please regard this letter as my official request for copies of all affidavits collected from all contractors doing business with TCSG and all Technical Colleges in the Georgia System as required by rules set forth by the Georgia Labor Commissioner in accordance with the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006. (Georgia code section 13-10-90).

For your convenience, the Commissioners rules can be read here: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/spotlight/sp_sb_529_new_rules.htm .

I am asking for all contractor affidavits from July 1, 2007 to July 29, 2009.

I am happy to pay all lawful charges for copies and to collect your response at our scheduled meeting on August 6, 2009.

Please feel free to contact me at any time.

D.A. King
President
The Dustin Inman Society
3595 Canton Rd
A-9/337
Marietta, Ga. 30066

Cc (electronic): TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson; Kate Brumback, Associated Press; George Franco, Fox 5 TV news, Atlanta.

As it stands now, it looks like the entire technical college system in Georgia is providing Public Benefits to illegal aliens on the advice of the TCSG General Counsel. It is my guess that she has no understanding that all post secondary schools in Georgia are bound by state law to obey federal laws…what a concept.

I have had prior experience in taking local governments to court to force them to obey the law the rest of us are held to. If, before September 1st, somebody cannot make the powers that be who are paid with tax dollars to run the departments discussed above understand that they are not only putting illegal aliens in line in front of Americans and lawful residents, but doing so in violation of multiple laws, we can all watch as they spend more tax dollars defending their clearly illegal actions.

I promise.
Stay tuned.

Gainesville (Ga.) Times

Want to start a business? First, prove you’re legal

The issue has caused some noise statewide, but it went unnoticed on July 13, when Oakwood City gave its final approval. — The City Council unanimously amended its business license law to require applicants to file an affidavit asserting they are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents…

Technical College System of Georgia contact info

July 1, 2009

1800 Century Place, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30345-4304 www.tcsg.edu

Main (404) 679-1600

GED (404) 679-1645 *Area Code is 404 unless otherwise noted

COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE (Suite 400)
Main (404) 679-1600  FAX (404) 327-6932
JACKSON, RON COMMISSIONER 679-1601 rjackson@tcsg.edu

HILL, FREIDA (DR.) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER 679-1684 fhill@tcsg.edu
GAMMAGE, LAURA ASST COMMISSNER, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 679-1600 lgammage@tcsg.edu
Lyle, Sherry Executive Assistant 679-1602 slyle@tcsg.edu
Norman, Cynthia Administrative Assistant 679-1600 cnorman@tcsg.edu
Wise, Brenda Director, State Board Operations 679-1612 bwise@tcsg.edu

Communications/Public Relations *FAX (404) 679-1610
Light, Mike Executive Director, Communications 327-6913 jlight@tcsg.edu

Nerenbaum, Sara Administrative Assistant 327-6949 snerenbaum@tcsg.edu
Mathis, Gabriel Communications Specialist 679-1658 gmathis@tcsg.edu
Schmeelk, Dawn Conference Coordinator 486-0237 dschmeelk@tcsg.edu
Sims, Brad Director, Internal Affairs 679-1784 bsims@tcsg.edu
Facilities Management *FAX (404) 679-1638
Alden, Robert Exec. Director, Facilities Management 679-1617 ralden@tcsg.edu
Wakeman, Fayne Facilities Management Coordinator 679-1676 fwakeman@tcsg.edu
Plumb, Mike Project Manager 679-1785 mplumb@tcsg.edu
Ward, Derrick Project Manager 679-1618 dward@tcsg.edu

Legal Services *FAX (404) 679-1615
Carman, Kristi General Counsel 679-1607 kcarman@tcsg.edu

Stewardship & Development *FAX (404) 679-1797/ 5254
Smith, Beverly Exec Director – Stewardship & Development 679-1704 besmith@tcsg.edu
Shimandle, Adie Director, Technical College Directors’ Assoc. 327-6945 ashimandle@tcsg.edu
Taylor, Judy Director, Resource Development 679-1665 jltaylor@tcsg.edu
Data, Planning & Research Services *FAX (404) 679-1610
Parsons, Andy Exec Director – Data, Planning & Research 982-3434 aparsons@tcsg.edu
Nerenbaum, Sara Administrative Assistant 327-6949 snerenbaum@tcsg.edu
Zomberg, Catherine Project Manager 679-5268 czomberg@tcsg.edu
Dollar, Andrew Director – Strategic Plan, Research, & Policy Analysis 679-1682 adollar@tcsg.edu
Clay, Kyle Project Manager 679-1664 kclay@tcsg.edu
Kinney, Sandra Research Manager 327-6839 skinney@tcsg.edu
Lawson, Debbie Operations Analyst (912) 287-6589 dlawson@tcsg.edu
Lee, Cynthia Operations Analyst 327-6835 clee@tcsg.edu
July 1, 2009
2 of 7
DATA, PLANNING & RESEARCH SRVS (continued …)
*FAX (404) 327-6903
Brown, Steve Director, Inform. Management Systems 327-6926 sbrown@tcsg.edu
Dennis, Charles Web Analyst/Programmer (229) 245-8984 cdennis@tcsg.edu
McCreedy, Claudia Assistant Webmaster (770) 306-9479 cmccreedy@tcsg.edu
Murphy, Frank Programmer Analyst (706) 447-3917 fmurphy@tcsg.edu
Oladega, Lanre Database Administrator 679-1640 ooladega@tcsg.edu
Perkins, Vera Programmer (229) 430-1959 vperkins@tcsg.edu
Moore, Suzzette Director, Application Support 679-1775 smoore@tcsg.edu
Bharucha, Jignesh Systems Administrator 679-1632 jbharucha@tcsg.edu
Burnette, Lori Business Analyst — lburnette@tcsg.edu
Hale, Janice Operations Analyst (770) 463-3229 jhale@tcsg.edu
Shelton, Davida Data Management Assistant 327-6907 dshelton@tcsg.edu
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (Suite 550)
Main (404) 679-1750  FAX (404) 327-6928
EASON, LISA ASST COMMISSNER, ADMINISTRATION 679-1752 meason@tcsg.edu
Kunz, Anne Administrative Assistant 679-1787 akunz@tcsg.edu
Dupree, Lucretia Admin Support Assistant, HR & IT 679-1759 ldupree@tcsg.edu
Accounting *FAX (404) 327-6960
Bullington, Victor Director, Accounting 679-4862 vbullington@tcsg.edu
Carmichael, John Accounting Specialist 679-1776 jcarmichael@tcsg.edu
Kersey, Charles Project Manager 679-1755 ckersey@tcsg.edu
Oliver, Debranna Accounting Paraprofessional 679-1758 doliver@tcsg.edu
Pinnock, Michelle Accounting Paraprofessional 679-1753 mpinnock@tcsg.edu
Shipman, Alesia Accounts Receivable Supervisor 327-6915 ashipman@tcsg.edu
Smith, Debra Accounting Paraprofessional 982-3573 dsmith@tcsg.edu
Vlasak, Denise Assistant Director of Accounting 679-1756 dvlasak@tcsg.edu
Wiley, Charlene Accounts Payable Supervisor 679-1757 cwiley@tcsg.edu
Internal Audits *FAX (404) 327-6960
Stapleton, Donna Auditor 327-6838 dstapletown@tcsg.edu
Budget *FAX (404) 327-6928
Kincaid, Ken Director, Budget 679-1767 kkincaid@tcsg.edu
Dorton, Rodney Fiscal Operations Manager– Adult Educ. 679-1771 rdorton@tcsg.edu
Haberly, Penni Budget Administrator 327-6929 phaberly@tcsg.edu
Hernandez, Robert Assistant Budget Director 679-1769 rhernandez@tcsg.edu
Grants *FAX (404) 327-6960
White, LaShelle Operations Analyst 679-1609 lwhite@tcsg.edu
Human Resources *FAX (404) 679-1780
Sorrells, Mike Director, Human Resources 327-6927 msorrells@tcsg.edu
Ford, Marilynn Payroll Specialist 679-1754 mford@tcsg.edu
Valentine, Kawana HR Representative 679-1763 kvalentine@tcsg.edu
Woodruff, Mary HR Officer 679-1762 mwoodruff@tcsg.edu
Yuran, Mark HR Officer 679-1761 myuran@tcsg.edu
July 1, 2009
3 of 7
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (continued …)
Procurement *FAX (404) 679-4973
Shugart, Laurel Director, Purchasing 679-1774 lshugart@tcsg.edu
Blount, Gary Procurement Services Specialist 327-6854 gblount@tcsg.edu
Donovan, Leslie Procurement Officer 327-6910 ldonovan@tcsg.edu
Hunter, Toyia Procurement Services Specialist 679-1773 thunter@tcsg.edu
Sizemore, Ella Procurement Services Specialist 679-1764 esizemore@tcsg.edu
Support Services *FAX (404) 327-6928
Gravett, Gwen Director, Support Services 679-1751 ggravett@tcsg.edu
Carter, Kacey Receiving & Distribution Specialist 679-1772 kcarter@tcsg.edu
Gibson, Meda Asset Manager 679-1777 mgibson@tcsg.edu
Hunnicutt, Anita Support Services Manager 327-6961 ahunnicutt@tcsg.edu
Mincey, Angela Receiving & Distribution Specialist 679-1782 amincey@tcsg.edu
Information Technology *FAX (404) 327-6903
Gray, Bill Chief Information Officer 327-6916 wgray@tcsg.edu
Carter, Darrell Network Administrator 327-6911 dcarter@tcsg.edu
McCants, Charles Network Service Administrator 327-6904 cmccants@tcsg.edu
Ayers, Mark State Database Administrator (Banner) — mayers@tcsg.edu
Brumbelow, Juana Software Engineer (678) 757-2047 jbrumbelow@tcsg.edu
Catron, Geoff Director, Networks Security — gcatron@tcsg.edu
Ferguson, Steve Network Operations Specialist — sferguson@tcsg.edu
Fields, Paula Oracle Specialist/Programmer — pfields@tcsg.edu
Hale, Nancy Software Applications Specialist — nhale@tcsg.edu
McMahan, Don Banner Functional Support (478) 781-8852 dmcmahan@tcsg.edu
Mitcham, Faye Banner Functional Support (706) 583-2503 fmitcham@tcsg.edu
OFFICE OF ADULT EDUCATION (Suite 300)
GED (404) 679-1645  FAX (404) 679-1630
REED-TAYLOR, JOSEPHINE (DR.)
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, ADULT EDUCATION 679-1635 jreed-taylor@tcsg.edu
Taylor, Rachelle Administrative Assistant 679-1647 rtaylor@tcsg.edu
CLCP
Izard, Billie Exec Director, Cert Literate Community Prog 679-5256 bizard@tcsg.edu
Federal & State Grants
Shaw, Marilyn Manager, Federal/State Grants & Reporting Srvs 679-1629 mshaw@tcsg.edu
GED *FAX (404) 679-4911
Lee, Kim Director, GED® Testing & Program Admin 679-4959 klee@tcsg.edu
Porter, Victoria Administrative Support Assistant 679-4959 vporter@tcsg.edu
DiNapoli, Heather GED Site Monitor 679-1622 hdinapoli@tcsg.edu
Graham, Kay GED Processing Manager 679-1728 kgraham@tcsg.edu
Jones, Pamela Program Assistant 679-5298 pjones@tcsg.edu
King, Adrian GED Training Coordinator 679-4999 aking@tcsg.edu
Rice, Victoria Administrative Support Assistant 679-1639 vrice@tcsg.edu
Tigner, Daphine Technology Support Specialist 327-6896 dtigner@tcsg.edu
July 1, 2009
4 of 7
ADULT EDUCATION (continued …)
Instructional Services *FAX (404) 679-1630
DeBose, Carla Director, Instructional Services 679-5257 cdebose@tcsg.edu
Toodle, Latisha Administrative Support Assistant 679-1648 ltoodle@tcsg.edu
Bryant, Kimberlee Regional Education Coordinator 248-1060 kbryant@tcsg.edu
Creech, Bobby Regional Education Coordinator 679-1641 rcreech@tcsg.edu
Hodge-Penn, Melissa Health Literacy/Workplace Educ. Coordinator 679-5269 mhodge-penn@tcsg.edu
Melvin, Barbara Staff Development Coordinator 679-4958 bmelvin@tcsg.edu
Terrell, Glynis ESL Literacy/ EL Civics Coordinator 679-1628 gterrell@tcsg.edu
Thompson, Ray Regional Education Coordinator 679-5831 rthompson@tcsg.edu
Williams, Leatricia A. Regional Education Coordinator 679-5234 lwilliams@tcsg.edu
OFFICE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Suite 400)
FAX (404) 982-3485
HORNSBY, KATHRYN (DR.)
INTERIM ASSISTANT COMMISSNER, TECHNICAL EDUC. 679-5281 khornsby@tcsg.edu
Phillips, Tania Administrative Assistant 679-1652 tphillips@tcsg.edu
Partnerships *FAX (404) 679-1675
Williams, Jenny Executive Director of Partnerships 679-5830 jwilliams@tcsg.edu
Haworth, Sharon Project Specialist 679-1689 shaworth@tcsg.edu
Open Project Director 679-1691 —
Academic Affairs (w/GVTC) *FAX (404) 982-3485
Resch, Teresa (Dr.) Executive Director, Academic Affairs 679-1670 tresch@tcsg.edu
Beck, Lisa Anne (Dr.) Curriculum Prog Specialist (Public Health & Safety) 679-1666 lbeck@tcsg.edu
Caldwell, Sheila High School Initiatives Coordinator 679-1688 scaldwell@tcsg.edu
Conway, Stephen Curriculum Program Specialist (Transportation) 679-1669 sconway@tcsg.edu
Moore, Benita Curriculum Program Specialist (Health Technologies) 679-1662 bmoore@tcsg.edu
Roberson, Frances (Dr.) Curriculum Program Specialist (Business) 679-1678 froberson@tcsg.edu
Roberson, Larry Technical Education Program Coordinator 679-5251 lroberson@tcsg.edu
Smedley, Ramona Graphics & Internet Technology Support Specialist 679-1687 rsmedley@tcsg.edu
Smith, Preston Curriculum Program Specialist (Industrial) 982-3402 psmith@tcsg.edu
*FAX (404) 679-1649
Brock, Cathy Director, Georgia Virtual Technical College 679-1679 cbrock@tcsg.edu
Graves, Vicki Webmaster/Multimedia Designer 679-1681 vgraves@tcsg.edu
Keown, Robert Training Coordinator 679-1667 rkeown@tcsg.edu
Lewis, Mary Coordinator, Online Student Development Srvs 327-6954 mlewis@tcsg.edu
May, Kathy Coordinator, Academic Services 679-1633 kmay@tcsg.edu
Warren, Pam Helpdesk Coordinator 679-1655 pwarren@tcsg.edu
Accountability & Institutional Effectiveness *FAX (404) 679-1661
Holloway, Amy Program Assistant 679-1685 aholloway@tcsg.edu
Cherry, Norman Accreditation Coordinator 679-4955 ncherry@tcsg.edu
Dean, Randy Manager, Data & Accountability 679-1668 rdean@tcsg.edu
Walker, Serena (Dr.) Institutional Effectiveness Specialist 679-1663 swilson@tcsg.edu
July 1, 2009
5 of 7
TECHNICAL EDUCATION (continued …)
Student Affairs *FAX (404) 982-3501
Open Executive Director, Student Affairs 982-3482 —
Cotton, Sherrie Program Assistant 679-5832 scotton@tcsg.edu
Jones, Carol Coordinator, Financial Aid/Registrars 679-1692 cjones@tcsg.edu
Palmer, Cassie Coordinator, Career Services /Student Activities 679-1643 cpalmer@tcsg.edu
Shuman, Francine Coordinator, Equity/ Special Populations (229) 271-4066 fshuman@tcsg.edu
*FAX (404) 679-4986
Murray, Arlana GFP Operations Analyst 679-1654 amurray@tcsg.edu
Spencer, Valia GFP Data Specialist 679-1690 vspencer@tcsg.edu
*Area Code is 404 unless otherwise noted
Technical College System of Georgia
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS/ QUICK START
75 Fifth Street NW, Suite 400  Atlanta, GA 30308
MAIN (404) 253-2800/ 2888  FAX (404)-253-2798  www.georgiaquickstart.org
ROHOSKY, JACKIE
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS 253-2801 jrohosky@georgiaquickstart.org
Brown, JoAnn Administrative Assistant 253-2811 jbrown@georgiaquickstart.org
Communications/Marketing *FAX (404) 253-2821
Brown, Rodger Director, Strategic Media 253-2815 rbrown@georgiaquickstart.org
Flannigan, Beth Associate Editor 253-2789 bflannigan@georgiaquickstart.org
Fraser, Heathere Graphic Designer 253-2793 hfraser@georgiaquickstart.org
Corporate/Customized Contract Training Operations *FAX (404) 253-2833
Griffin, Pam Director, Corporate/Contract Training 253-2871 pgriffin@georgiaquickstart.org
O’Donnell, Gary Project Operations Specialist 253-2877 godonnell@georgiaquickstart.org
Project Support Operations *FAX (404) 253-2799
Lowe, Marla Executive Director (912) 538-3281 mlowe@georgiaquickstart.org
Dockery, Ron Manager, Project Support Operations 253-2866 wdockery@georgiaquickstart.org
Bacon, Tim Budget Analyst Specialist 253-2868 tbacon@georgiaquickstart.org
Chen, Tina Accounts Payable Specialist 253-2853 tchen@georgiaquickstart.org
Hemphill, Helen Purchasing Specialist 253-2844 hhemphill@georgiaquickstart.org
Hovatter, Robert Project Support Specialist 253-2874 rhovatter@georgiaquickstart.org
McNary, Deirdre Senior Secretary (Reception Area) 253-2800/2888 dmayweather@georgiaquickstart.org
McElroy, Charles Purchasing Coordinator 253-2874 cmcelroy@georgiaquickstart.org
Appiah, Sam Information Systems Administrator 253-2859 sappiah@georgiaquickstart.org
Collantes, Christian Information Systems Administrator 253-2826 ccollantes@georgiaquickstart.org
July 1, 2009
6 of 7
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ QUICK START (continued …)
Creative & Media Services
Wilson, Gary Director 253-2813 gwilson@georgiaquickstart.org
Bolton, David Senior Media Specialist 253-2794 dbolton@georgiaquickstart.org
Buhmann, Adam Sr. Multimedia-Based Training Developer 253-2819 abuhmann@georgiaquickstart.org
Clinton, Sun Sr. Multimedia-Based Training Developer 253-2839 sclinton@georgiaquickstart.org
Creasy, Chad Technical Illustrator 253-2814 ccreasy@georgiaquickstart.org
Dupree, Rick Media Specialist 253-2804 rdupree@georgiaquickstart.org
Earle, Billy Media Specialist 253-2832 wearle@georgiaquickstart.org
Edwards, Steve Technical Illustrator 253-2842 sedwards@georgiaquickstart.org
Elliott, Jeff Sr. Graphic Designer/Animation 253-2863 jelliott@georgiaquickstart.org
James, Tanya Desktop Publisher/Illustrator 253-2825 tjames@georgiaquickstart.org
Jennings, Bobby Multimedia-Based Training Developer 253-2843 bjennings@georgiaquickstart.org
Katanich, Samuel Media Specialist 253-2881 skatanich@georgiaquickstart.org
Lenz, Jill Senior Graphic Designer 253-2845 jlenz@georgiaquickstart.org
Morgan, Ned Media Specialist 253-2802 nmorgan@georgiaquickstart.org
Pierre, Quinn Copy Center Coordinator 253-2873 qpierre@georgiaqjuickstart.org
Resch, Stephanie Desktop Publisher 253-2818 sresch@georgiaquickstart.org
Performance Technology/Service Industry *FAX (404) 253-2833
Morris, Sandra Director, Performnce Tech/Srv Industry 253-2828 smorris@georgiaquickstart.org
Reed-Davenport, Pat Administrative Support Assistant 253-2817 preed-davenport@georgiaquickstart.org
Case, Michael Coordinator, Robotics & Electronics Tech (706) 902-6033 mcase@georgiaquickstart.org
Cook, Judith Coordinator, Organizational Developmnt 253-2880 jcook@georgiaquickstart.org
Desmarais, Vic Mgr, Advance Manufacturing Training (770)784-2741 vdesmarais@georgiaquickstart.org
Fornoff, Mary Training Coordinator 253-2792 mfornoff@georgiaquickstart.org
Franklin, Nancy Training Coordinator 253-2834 nfranklin@georgiaquickstart.org
Gagnon, David Training Coordinator, Maintenance (706) 902-6036 dgagnon@georgiaquickstart.org
Godley, Renee Coordinator, Organizational Developmnt 253-2856 rgodley@georgiaquickstart.org
Hall, Deborah Training Coordinator 253-2795 dhall@georgiaquickstart.org
Hartsell, Ron Coordinator, International Project Support 253-2852 rhartsell@georgiaquickstart.org
Johnson, Larry Instructor, Manufacturing Technology (770)784-2736 ljohnson@georgiaquickstart.org
Mayweather, Dashawn Training Specialist 253-2860 dmayweather@georgiaquickstart.org
Pettus, Ronnie Coordinator, Organizational Developmnt 253-2858 rpettus@georgiaquickstart.org
Stinson, Fred Instructional Design, Tech Programs (770) 784-2735 fstinson@georgiaquickstart.org
Atlanta Office (Northern Operations) *FAX (404) 253-2833
Grundmann, Mike Director, Northern Operations 253-2810 mgrundmann@georgiaquickstart.org
Smith, Celest Administrative Support Assistant 253-2855 csmith@georgiaquickstart.org
Bowser, Ken Training Coordinator 253-2816 kbowser@georgiaquickstart.org
Clayburn, Mary Training Coordinator 253-2791 mclayburn@georgiaquickstart.org
Mathis, Jim Training Coordinator 253-2805 jmathis@georgiaquickstart.org
Robinette, Beth Training Coordinator 253-2857 brobinette@georgiaquickstart.org
Sain, Shalonda Training Coordinator 253-2841 ssain@georgiaquickstart.org
Wantuck, Don Training Coordinator 253-2837 dwantuck@georgiaquickstart.org
LaGrange (Western Operations)
McMillan, Sean Director, Western Regional Operations (706) 845-4290 smcmillan@georgiaquickstart.org
Fax (706) 845-4289
July 1, 2009
7 of 7
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ QUICK START (continued …)
Columbus Office (Western Operations) *MAIN (706) 565-3534
*FAX (706) 565-3548
Bailey, Joe Director, Western Operations (706) 565-3536 jbailey@georgiaquickstart.org
Chaney, Wesley Creative Service Coordinator (706) 565-3544 wchaney@georgiaquickstart.org
Harris, Donna Illustrator/Desktop Publisher (706) 565-3545 dharris@georgiaquickstart.org
Harris, Douglas Desktop Publisher (706) 565-3546 dharris@georgiaquickstart.org
Jones, Shane Training Coordinator (706) 562-1579 sjones@georgiaquickstart.org
Lee, Shelby Training Coordinator. (706) 562-1580 slee@georgiaquickstart.org
Rider-Owens, Ingrid Training Coordinator (706) 565-3541 irider-owns@georgiaquickstart.org
Wright, Richard Training Coordinator (706) 565-3537 rwright@georgiaquickstart.org
Vidalia Office (Southern Operations) — *MAIN (912) 538-3277/ 3278/ 3279/ 3280
*FAX (912) 538-3288
Lowe, Marla Executive Director (912) 538-3281 mlowe@georgiaquickstart.org
Young, Andrea Administrative Support Assistant (912) 538-3282 ayoung@georgiaquickstart.org
Bethea, Burt Training Coordinator (912) 538-3274 bbethea@georgiaquickstart.org
Brewton, John Training Coordinator (912) 538-3272 jbrewton@georgiaquickstart.org
Deane, David Multimedia-Based Training Developer (912) 538-3295 ddeane@georgiaquickstart.org
Dickens, Dan Sr. Graphic Designer (912) 538-3291 ddickens@georgiaquickstart.org
McLendon, Marie Desktop Publisher (912) 538-3297 mmclendon@georgiaquickstart.org
Pounds, Kay Training Coordinator (912) 538-3248 kpounds@georgiaquickstart.org
Powers, Judson Training Coordinator (912) 538-3249 jpowers@georgiaquickstart.org
Smith, Joey Technical Illustrator (912) 538-3296 jsmith@georgiaquickstart.org
Savannah Office (Eastern Operations) *MAIN (912) 965-6379
*FAX (912) 965-6388
Melcher, Jan Director, Eastern Operations (912) 965-6385 jmelcher@georgiaquickstart.org
Donald, Carolyn Office Administrator (912) 965-6381 cdonald@georgiaquickstart.org
Aylmer, Debra Desktop Publisher (912) 965-6384 daylmer@georgiaquickstart.org
Bing, Christina Technical Illustrator (912) 965-6384 cbing@georgiaquickstart.org
Fite, Eddie Training Manager (912) 965-9386 efite@georgiaquickstart.org
Gaybort, Luis Sr. Graphic Designer (912) 965-6391 lgaybort@georgiaquickstart.org
Grove, Barry Training Coordinator (912) 965-6392 bgrove@georgiaquickstart.org
Russell, Ron Training Coordinator (912) 965-6390 rrussell@georgiaquickstart.org
Kia Training Center (West Point Office) *MAIN (706) 902-6000
*FAX (706) 902-6001
Daniel, Steve Director, Kia Training Center (706) 902-6011 sdaniel@georgiaquickstart.org
Walker, Denise Administrative Support Assistant (706) 902-6012 dwalker@georgiaquickstart.org
Downs, Steve Training Coordinator (706) 902-6015 sdowns@georgiaquickstart.org
Fondren, Steve Training Specialist (706) 902-6037 sfondren@georgiaquickstart.org
Gates, Marcus Custodian (706) 902-6000 mgates@georgiaquickstart.org
Hoek, Crystal Training Specialist (706) 902-6016 choek@georgiaquickstart.org
Phillips, Neal Facilities Director (706) 902-6018 nphillips@georgiaquickstart.org
Ross, Scott Training Coordinator, Assessments (706) 902-6039 sross@georgiaquickstart.org
Slade, Bill Training Coordinator, Evening Programs (706) 902-6032 bslade@georgiaquickstart.org

HERE

Macon Telegraph

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Component in Obama-care not widely reported

In the rush by the Obama administration to take over American health care, we should be asking how the more than 20 million illegal aliens in America fit in.

What about the illegals and government provided health insurance?

The answer depends on who you can hear. If you are a liberal, it may depend on how you “feel.”

Many readers have not heard about the Heller amendment to “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,” one of several “reform bills.” It lacks language that would prevent illegal aliens who have escaped capture at our borders from accessing Obama’s proposed universal coverage.

Congressman Dean Heller, R-Nev., recently offered an amendment to the bill during the House Ways and Means Committee markup that would require the use of existing citizenship verification tools to determine eligibility for taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits.

The Heller amendment was defeated along party lines last week. How does that make you feel?

Welcome to one of the best kept secrets you will not hear much about from the president or the “mainstream media.” The same out of control government that has failed to enforce American immigration laws is trying to take charge of your health care and most members of the ruling party want to extend that universal coverage to illegal aliens.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than a million people were apprehended trying to enter the U.S. illegally in 2008. Optimistic estimates are that we catch one of every three or four illegal crossers.

As Roy Beck, executive director of the respected Washington D.C. pro-immigration control organization, NumbersUSA, notes, “It is the growth among the uninsured that is helping drive the political effort to change the health-care system. Previous studies have shown that illegal aliens account for nearly all of the growth in the uninsured in recent years.”

We are “importing the uninsured” writes James Edwards in National Review. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s government controlled and available to anyone who can unlawfully slip into the U.S.A. in search of a better life.

At least one Democrat has expressed concerns. Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters in May that illegals would not be included. “We’re not going to cover undocumented aliens, undocumented workers,” Baucus told the Dallas Morning News. “That’s too politically explosive.”

Indeed. Not to mention expensive. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in 2004 California’s estimated cost of unreimbursed medical care was $1.4 billion. Texas estimated its cost at $850 million annually, and Arizona at $400 million.

Like most who study the illegal immigration crisis, Montana’s Baucus, a key Democrat in the health-care debate, likely understands that according to analyses by the Center for Immigration Studies and the U.S. Census Bureau, somewhere around 22 percent of the uninsured “Americans” are not Americans at all.

Here is where it gets even more “politically explosive.” Imagine that Congress and the president can somehow pull off the takeover of the American health care system and are forced to do it without initially including illegal aliens in their universal coverage.

We shouldn’t forget the next agenda for Obama and Congress. One of Obama’s campaign promises was to legalize the now largely unemployed black-market labor during his first year in office.

One well-funded group working hard to make this little known scam become reality is the radical open-borders National Council of La Raza (in English? “The National Council of The Race”).

Warnings given in recent La Raza seminars go like this: “you must go out into your communities, use words like ‘streamline,’ use phrases like ‘all workers’ and ‘all families,’ because if the American people find out that this bill is about giving health care to non-citizens, they will rise up against it.”

Indeed. Americans should rise up against “Obama-care.”

D.A. King is a resident of Marietta and president of the Dustin Inman Society, which advocates for enforcement of American immigration laws.

HERE

Feds: Latino gang trying to drive blacks from townBy THOMAS WATKINS

Associated Press

HAWAIIAN GARDENS, Calif. – A Latino street gang waged a racist campaign to eliminate the city’s black residents through attempted murders and other crimes, according to federal officials.
Five racketeering indictments charged a total of 147 members and associates of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang, and federal and local agencies arrested 63 of them by early Thursday, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien said at a news conference yesterday.

Weapons and drugs worth more than $1 million also were seized in what O’Brien called “the largest gang takedown in United States history.”

The indictments detail attempted murder, kidnapping, firearms, narcotics and other charges related to attacks by the gang, which is predominantly Latino and mainly operates in Hawaiian Gardens, a city of about 15,000 in southeastern Los Angeles County. The indictment said the gang prides itself on its racism and members refer to it as the “Hate Gang.”

The indictment alleges a string of attacks on black residents, including a shooting into a home with eight people inside. The indictment does not say if anyone was hit.

In another instance, two gang members allegedly chased a black man, yelled a racist epithet at him and then beat him with a garden rake. The same man was later repeatedly stabbed by two gang members, according to the indictment, which charged them with his attempted murder.

According to 2000 census data, the latest available, Hawaiian Gardens was roughly 73 percent Hispanic and 4 percent black.

Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Michael Gomez welcomed the crackdown, saying: “Honest residents should not have to live in fear of lawless thugs who act like it’s high noon at the OK Corral.”

In the past, local officials have tried to downplay racial tensions.

The investigation of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang began in June 2005 after the murder of Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Luis Gerardo “Jerry” Ortiz. Jose Luis Orozco, a member of the gang, was sentenced to death in 2007 for the killing.

Ortiz, 35, died as he searched for Orozco, who had shot and wounded a man who was doing yard work. Orozco was later found guilty of attempted murder in that case.

“It was this hatred of African-Americans that may have spurred the attack on Deputy Jerry Ortiz, who was killed trying to arrest a gang member suspected of trying to shoot an African-American man in the back,” O’Brien said. *

HERE

Contact: Jerry Kammer, (202) 466-8185, gjk@cis.org

Immigration Raids and Union Organizing

A Case Study of the Smithfield Plant

WASHINGTON (JULY 14, 2009) – In January 2007, the Smithfield Plant in Tar Heel, N.C., was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This raid drastically changed the demographics of the plant, shifting from a mostly illegal Hispanic workforce to a legal African American workforce. The plant’s workers were able to unionize in the aftermath, something the previous workforce had failed to do twice prior to the raid.

Jerry Kammer, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, has examined the circumstances surrounding the raid and the plant’s unionization. In “Immigration Raids at Smithfield: How an ICE Enforcement Action Boosted Union Organizing and the Employment of American Workers,” Kammer gives an overview of events before the unionization and insights into the varied reasons workers were able to solidify backing for the union. The report is online at http://cis.org/SmithfieldImmigrationRaid-Unionization.

The sequence of events includes:

The Smithfield Plant, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), failed to unionize in both 1994 and 1997. An administrative law judge found that the company committed “egregious and pervasive violations of labor law” during the 1997 effort when it used the employees’ illegal status to threaten them.

After the initial attempts at unionizing, Smithfield and the UFCW engaged in a bitter dispute. The union launched a public relations campaign and picketed Smithfield customers. Smithfield, in return, filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the union.

The ICE raid, which took place in January 2007, both purged the plant of illegal workers and forced the management to set procedures to check immigration status of future hires.

The raid opened the door for an American and legal immigrant workforce. After the raid, the Hispanic workforce dropped by approximately 1,000 workers and was replaced by mostly African American workers. Less than two years later, in December 2008, the new workforce voted for unionization.

# # #

The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institute that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.

From the ACLU – it seems that they are not happy that Obama didn’t kill 287(g) outright as they hoped. They know what we kno0w: ENFORCEMENT WORKS
read it and grin.

DHS Continues State And Local Immigration Enforcement Program Without Meaningful Changes

New MOA Governing Federal 287(g) Initiative Does Not Address Program’s Serious Flaws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2009

CONTACT:
Maria Archuleta, (212) 519-7808 or 549-2666; media@aclu.org
Linda Paris, (202) 675-2312; media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – After a congressional request and multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, including one from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new standardized Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that it will use in its expanded 287(g) program granting state and local law enforcement agencies federal immigration enforcement authority. The 287(g) program has led to serious civil rights abuses and public safety concerns, and according to an analysis by the ACLU, the changes in the new MOA do nothing to solve these problems.

“The new standardized MOA makes no serious attempt at discouraging illegal racial profiling or reducing the conflict between sound community policing principles and the expansion of this program,” said Omar Jadwat, staff attorney with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. “The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that the new MOA contains many significant improvements, but now that we actually have the document, it is clear that many of the claimed changes are really not changes at all, that the remaining changes have little or no positive operative effect, and that the new MOA actually takes several disturbing steps backward, particularly in the area of transparency.”

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides for the delegation of immigration enforcement authority in certain circumstances to specific state or local agencies. Previously, MOAs between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement varied by jurisdiction, but the new standardized MOA would govern all 287(g) partnerships.

In a comparison of the new standardized MOA to the MOA that ICE signed with Maricopa County, Arizona in February 2007, the ACLU found that the new MOA would do little or nothing to correct the egregious racial profiling and civil rights abuses that have occurred there, and in some respects, the new MOA is actually worse than the original from the Bush administration.

The new MOA includes a list of “priority levels” of different categories of suspected violators, but even assuming those priorities are sound, the MOA does not include any measures to ensure that its priorities translate into practice, such as requiring that arrest statistics reflect the priority levels, requiring agencies to implement an effective prioritization system or preventing the use of local resources to go after low-priority offenders.

A number of DHS’s claimed improvements simply cannot be verified by comparing the old and new MOAs. For example, DHS claimed that the new MOA would reduce concerns that individuals are arrested for minor or pretextual violations by requiring that the arresting authority pursue any criminal charges that justified the original arrest. But the new MOA only “expect[s],” rather than “requires,” the pursuit of charges. The old MOA contained the same “expectation.”

Some aspects of new MOA are clearly a step in the wrong direction. The new MOA reduces the amount of experience that a local law enforcement officer needs to become MOA-designated; expands the list of powers granted to task force personnel; attempts to remove 287(g) documents from public scrutiny by subjecting even state or local records to ICE control and claiming that documents related to the 287(g) are no longer public records; reduces the already-low data collection and tracking requirements under the old agreement; and authorizes the exclusion of civilian personnel from some program reviews.

“Contrary to DHS’s announcement, the new 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement is not substantially different from the Bush administration MOA, including the much abused agreement currently in place in Maricopa County, Arizona,” said Joanne Lin, ACLU Legislative Counsel. “This new 287(g) MOA is not government reform. Cosmetic changes to a written agreement will not solve the fundamental problems associated with local police enforcement of federal civil immigration laws. Under the Bush administration 287(g) program, local law enforcement committed illegal profiling and civil rights violations under the cloak of federal immigration authority. Under the newly released 287(g) MOA, local law enforcement are free to continue the same abuse of power. It is time for the Department of Homeland Security and Congress to end, not mend, the 287(g) program.”

The new standardized MOA, Maricopa County’s MOA and the ACLU side-by-side comparison of the two can be found at: www.aclu.org/immigrants/local/40350lgl20090716.html

The ACLU’s FOIA request can be found at: www.aclu.org/immigrants/gen/40308lgl20090714.html

ACLU’s submitted testimony on 287 (g) program can be found at: www.aclu.org/immigrants/gen/39062leg20090304.html

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