FAIR

Special Edition

Quick Reference Guide

Mid-Year Look At Immigration Policy from FAIR

Now that Congress has recessed, and isn’t expected to return until September 7th, and state legislative sessions are over, FAIR is providing you a handy summary of where the immigration policy issue presently stands. As always, we will monitor goings-on and keep you updated throughout the summer recess and beyond.

Number of Illegal Aliens

13 million

Number of Jobs Presently Held by Illegal Aliens

7 million

Annual National Cost of Illegal Immigration

$113 billion
The bulk of the costs – $84 billion – are absorbed by state and local governments

Hot Issues

Amnesty, DREAM Act and in-state tuition push for illegal aliens continues
E-Verify at state level, possibly a national bill
Continued dismantling of immigration enforcement by Obama administration using prosecutorial discretion to extend administrative amnesty to large classes of illegal aliens
Feds continue to stop state efforts to enforce immigration laws

Pending Enforcement Legislation

Mandatory E-Verify bill (H.R. 2164) awaiting mark-up hearing in House Judiciary Committee. Similar, but even tougher bill, in Senate (S. 1196)
“Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation Act” or HALT Act (H.R. 2497) – awaiting mark-up hearing in House Judiciary. If passed, would stop the administration from further abusing its authority to grant relief to illegal aliens using backdoor methods.
“Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act” or SAFE Act (H.R. 704) – passed by House Judiciary Committee. Would eliminate the “Diversity Visa” lottery
Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2011 (H.R. 1932) – grants the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to detain dangerous aliens who have been ordered deported, but cannot be removed.
Secure Visas Act (H.R. 1741) designates authority to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue and revoke visas; authorizes DHS to conduct on-site reviews of visa applications in high-risk countries. Passed House Judiciary Committee.
Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (S. 723) – Senator Vitter’s statutory fix to the birthright citizenship issue.

Pending Amnesty Legislation

DREAM Act. New versions in both House and Senate (H.R. 1842, S. 952). Introduced in every session since 2001, recently failed to pass Senate in December 2010.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform (S. 1258) – amnesty introduced nearly every session, fails every time.

Miles of Fence Constructed

649 miles out of the 1,954 mile-long southern border is secured by fence
299 miles of vehicle barriers
350 miles of pedestrian fencing

Number of States Offering In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

Total of 14 states have passed in-state tuition for illegal aliens
Maryland DREAM Act offering in-state tuition for illegal aliens hits a snag. Successful petition by local activists means the Maryland law is blocked pending November 2012 referendum

Deportations Stats 2009

Criminal removals 131,840
Non-criminal removals 263,325
Total Removals 395,165

Deportation Stats 2010

Criminal removals 168,532
Non-criminal removals 218,701
Total Removals 387,242

Significant State Action

Alabama: passes omnibus enforcement bill and instantly hit with DOJ lawsuit.
Georgia: passes broad new immigration enforcement legislation but has parts of the new laws blocked. Provisions allowing police to determine the immigration status of suspects and punish people who knowingly transport and harbor illegal aliens were enjoined
Indiana: passes broad new immigration enforcement legislation. However, provisions allowing state and local police to arrest illegal aliens with a deportation order and barring the acceptance of consular ID cards are temporarily blocked.
North Carolina requires the use of E-Verify by private employers with 25 or more employees, public contractors and subcontractors, counties, municipalities and state agencies.
South Carolina enacts statewide E-Verify
Tennessee requires all public and private employers, including contractors and subcontractors, to use E-Verify
Utah attempts to create own guest worker program. (No DOJ intervention here!)

Mexican Border Violence

Record 24,374 homicides in 2010 – a 23% jump from 2009, largely attributed to drug cartel violence
1,200 National Guard troops deployed on border with Mexico

Supreme Court Decisions

U.S. Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting upheld right of states to require use of E-Verify.
Sends Hazleton, Penn. case back to Circuit Court following Whiting decision
Allows California law providing illegal alien in-state tuition to stand

Other

Administration Quietly Signs Cross-Border Trucking Agreement with Mexico

The anti-enforcement mob spends a great deal of time trying to teach their mindless minions to spread the (false) word that crossing American borders is somehow “not a crime.”

Below, I have posted the federal code to use against these great minds on this part of their ongoing big lie.

§ 1325. Improper entry by alien

(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts

Any alien who
(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or
(2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or
(3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties
Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty of—
(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or attempted entry); or
(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under this subsection.

“Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed.”

Entire code (law) HERE

Please note that the penalty for the above is found in Title 18…for crimes.

You can see the Supreme Court recognizing the crime HERE – excerpt below

Since the late 19th century, the United States has restricted immigration into this country. Unsanctioned entry into the United States is a crime, 8 U.S.C. § 1325 and those who have entered unlawfully are subject to deportation, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1251 1252 (1976 ed. and Supp. IV).

I post this one periodically. Please save it and use it.

The last time I posted this has more info… HERE

Los Angeles Times

States can’t opt out of Secure Communities program

In an unusual move, the Obama administration has told governors they cannot exempt their states from the controversial Secure Communities program, which uses fingerprints collected by local and state police to help immigration authorities identify and deport tens of thousands of criminals each year…

HERE

Insider Advantage Georgia is a subscription Website – the below is reposted with permission.

Peaches and Prunes
Gary Reese
Editor

August 05 2011

Peaches and Prunes is a quick review of those who were the formidable political haymakers in Georgia politics over the past week. Peaches go out to those whose words or actions brought credit to themselves. Prunes go out to those who may have misstepped.

…Speculation runs rampant about the White House’s apparent reluctance to challenge Georgia’s “House Bill 87,” the new illegal immigration enforcement law. Some say the feds are suing Alabama and not Georgia because our state, unlike our neighbor to the west, is “in play” for Obama’s reelection and his team doesn’t want to stir up Georgia voters.

We don’t buy it. Georgians opposed to Obama already are motivated to vote against him. If the president has any hope of bagging Georgia’s electoral votes in 2012, he must ignite passion in his own base before he can even think about wooing independent voters. That base prominently includes Latinos. So why wouldn’t he steam full ahead with a high-profile suit? It’s not like Georgians don’t know of the Obama administration’s opposition to states taking on immigration enforcement themselves.

Likely the absence so far of legal action against Georgia owes more to State Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City). In piecing together HB 87, Ramsey reportedly wrote repeated revisions of the legislation. In part that was to make the bill as failsafe as possible against just the kind of federal lawsuit that is now targeting Alabama. Be you for or against more stringent immigration laws, you have to credit Ramsey’s thoroughness. … A Peach. …”

“Back here on planet Earth, while holding my sides from laughter, all of this is making it very difficult to eat my chili dog,” King said. “As I suspect many others are, I have to ask if Zamora is really a non-eating, Kamikaze, anti-enforcement activist, or maybe has more in common with Pinocchio and is under the spell of the great thinker in local theatre, Rich Pellegrino…”

Marietta Daily Journal
August 05, 2011

Mableton man ends hunger strike protest

MABLETON — Only one of two immigrants remain on a hunger strike that began on July 1 to protest Georgia’s immigration law. Martin Altamirano stopped fasting on July 12 to help take care of Salvador Zamora, who became ill and is now eating yogurt under doctors’ advice.

“I was feeling weak and dizzy, it’s weird to describe,” said 45-year-old Altamirano, who told the Journal last month he was willing to continue his hunger strike until death, if necessary. “Now that Salvador is healthy and better, I would like to start back (on the hunger strike) around (Aug. 15).”

Cobb Immigrant Alliance Director Rick Pellegrino organized a press conference for the pair on July 12, the day Altamirano quit the fast.

Doctors told Zamora to take his vitamins with yogurt, Altamirano said.

“I feel weak,” Zamora said. “Sometimes it’s very hard for me to get up and walk, and sometimes I’m sleepy.”

Zamora, who walked from California to Washington, D.C., in support of immigration reform, said fasting was “easier in some ways, but harder on me mentally.”

Pellegrino said that while Zamora and Altamirano initially started the hunger strike with a list of goals, now the two just want to meet with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

“With our support, Salvador will be delivering a letter to request a meeting with the governor and some representatives about our concerns and the impact of HB 87,” Pellegrino said. “The letter is not complete. We are going to draft it over the weekend and will try to deliver it on Tuesday.”

Zamora said that he plans to fast as long as it takes.

“I hope that they can come through … get Governor Deal to talk to us,” Zamora said “I’m very positive that we can get it. I just hope it’s not another two months.”

Zamora said that if they do meet with Gov. Deal, he would like to discuss what he calls the “inhumanity” of HB 87.

“It’s not necessary to put fear in our people,” he said.

Zamora said the community has responded positively to the hunger strike.

“At first, about 70 or 80 percent were against it, but now more people show that they are not against us,” Zamora said. “We do not resent against the people who are against us, we just want them to think very clearly. I think that many of them, they are also misinformed.”

“About the kids, there is some misinformation,” Altamirano said. “American people believe that the kids are receiving a free ride (by attending American schools) … but the families are renting their house, paying a mortgage and taxes from that are paying for the education.”

“I understand, since the beginning of coming here, that I needed to learn the language,” Zamora said. “We need to teach our people, so that (American-born citizens) don’t see us as different.”

“I am also aware that in order for us to do good and have our rights respected, we need to do good and contribute to this nation,” Zamora said. “As immigrants, we need to obey the laws that are good for us.”

Altamirano moved to the United States about 18 years ago and is in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status program. Zamora moved to the U.S. on his own at 16 from Mexico and is a U.S. citizen.

On July 12, both men said while they have no desire to die, they will strike until they see change, even if that means death.

“It’s a very common question from people about this situation,” Altamirano said at the time. “The thing is, Christianity is based on a carpenter that died for the brothers. I don’t know why people don’t get used to the idea that someone sacrificed for the will of others. I’m willing to do that.”

Immigration activist D.A. King questioned Zamora’s motivations.

“Back here on planet Earth, while holding my sides from laughter, all of this is making it very difficult to eat my chili dog,” King said. “As I suspect many others are, I have to ask if Zamora is really a non-eating, Kamikaze, anti-enforcement activist, or maybe has more in common with Pinocchio and is under the spell of the great thinker in local theatre, Rich Pellegrino. I wish them all happy landings, but urge more fact-checking on their script. Not many are fooled about this character’s latest meal but most of us look forward with a yawn to see what’s next from Pellegrino and both of his followers. Can we assume this is at least an admission that angrily marching in the streets is not going to stop enforcement of American immigration laws?”

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Mableton man ends hunger strike protest

How long can a human REALLY go without food ( you know, here on planet Earth) HERE

HERE

HERE

Kind of makes you want a chili dog, doesn’t it?
——

Press Conference
DATE: Thursday, August 4

TIME: 10am

WHERE: Hunger Strike HQ, 6143 Mableton Parkway, Mableton, GA 30126 (Yellow House next to Shell Gas Station)
CONTACTS: Rich Pellegrino, Cobb Immigrant Alliance (CIA), 404-573-1199, pilgrim1@mindspring.com

Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), 770 457 5232, anicholls@glahr.org

For Immediate Release:

Hunger Strike In Protest to HB87 Reaches Critical Stage with New Demand for Governor

Mableton, Georgia – August 3, 2011-

The hunger strike protest which began on July 1st, the day HB 87 took effect in Georgia, continues into its 35th day with Salvador Zamora fasting , and Martin Altamirano and others, who joined the fast for a period of time, caring for Salvador.

Rich Pellegrino, of the Cobb Immigrant Alliance, who, along with the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, and other organizations, are supporting the hunger strike , stated: “Salvador is determined to continue his hunger strike, risking even death , until Governor Deal agrees to meet with him and representatives of various organizations who are similarly concerned about the effects of HB87 on all the residents of GA.”

A letter is being prepared to deliver to the Governor with Salvador’s request for such a meeting. Salvador says he will deliver the letter next week even if he has to do so in a wheelchair or on a stretcher.

Salvador states: “With no alternative but to sacrifice my body, I fast believing that undocumented people are a SOCIAL issue not a fear filled political agenda.” He continues,

“I fast in grief for my Hispanic friends and other neighbors who are afraid to shop, to work, to be seen on the streets.

I fast to raise awareness about undocumented mothers and fathers fleeing in fear from homes where their American children played, were nurtured and grew.

I fast to demonstrate all people deserve dignity.

I fast to call attention to and halt what appears to be a swaggering glee among some local police, sheriff departments, legislators and others when raids, round-ups and road blocks net men, women and children who only want to live a simple, safe life.

I fast to challenge the enforcement only mentality of law enforcement, as well as the Georgia legislators and Governor Deal; all seem to support the mega-Corrections Corporation of America and its profitable legalized human trafficking/deportation business.

I fast because HB 87 is demeaning, not something to be proud of. It degrades you and me.”

“Certainly, no reasonable Georgian can support allowing illegal aliens who have escaped capture and inspection at our borders access to our shrinking public benefits or access to our government buildings where sensitive material is kept,” said Inger Eberhart, a board member with the Dustin Inman Society, which advocates enforcement of U.S. immigration and employment laws.

AJC- Jeremy Redmon
August 1, 2011

State lists IDs needed to comply with immigration law

State officials moved closer this week toward enforcing a wide-ranging part of Georgia’s new law targeting illegal immigration that will affect anyone seeking public benefits.

On Monday, the state Attorney General’s Office published a two-page list of identification documents that must be used to get benefits and services in Georgia.

The list includes U.S. and foreign passports; U.S. military identification cards; state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards; tribal identification cards; and federally issued permanent resident cards.

Starting Jan. 1, state and local government agencies must start requiring people who apply for benefits — such as food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance and business and gaming licenses — to provide at least one of these “secure and verifiable” documents.

Rep. Matt Ramsey, a Peachtree City Republican who based his law on a similar measure in Colorado, said it is aimed at curbing illegal immigration in Georgia and saving taxpayer dollars. An estimate by the Pew Hispanic Center puts the number of illegal immigrants in Georgia at 425,000, the seventh-highest total among the states. Ramsey and others complain illegal immigrants are burdening taxpayer-funded resources in Georgia.

“Certainly, no reasonable Georgian can support allowing illegal aliens who have escaped capture and inspection at our borders access to our shrinking public benefits or access to our government buildings where sensitive material is kept,” said Inger Eberhart, a board member with the Dustin Inman Society, which advocates enforcement of U.S. immigration and employment laws.

Critics of the law say countless U.S. citizens and noncitizens who are entitled to public benefits in Georgia lack such identifying documents, including low-income people and victims of human trafficking. Officials, under the law, will be prohibited from accepting documents not on the list for “any official purpose.”

Civil and immigrant rights groups are suing in federal court to block this part of the law. They argue it is pre-empted by federal law, which governs the rules for verifying eligibility for federally funded food stamps and certain subsidized housing.

Meanwhile, opponents of the measure complain this is one of several far-reaching provisions in Georgia’s new immigration enforcement law that can apply to U.S. citizens and noncitizens.

Omar Jadwat, staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said the law attempts to “create a system where everyone has to carry ID on them all the time. And that is really not the way our country works and it is not the way I think most people expect to have to live their lives.”

Under another provision in Georgia’s law, for example, any Georgia adult who uses a fake ID to get a job could go to prison for 15 years and pay a fine of $250,000. The new offense, called aggravated identity fraud, went into effect July 1. It applies to everyone, not just illegal immigrants.

On Monday, the Attorney General’s office intentionally left certain forms of ID off the list of acceptable documents, including consular matriculation cards. Under Georgia’s new law, those and similar ID cards issued by foreign governments will not be accepted regardless of the person’s immigration status. Critics say those documents can be easily forged. Immigrant rights activists argue such cards are accepted internationally.

Government officials who “knowingly” violate this law can face up to 12 months in prison and up to $1,000 in fines. This part of the law, however, does not apply to some groups of people, including those reporting crimes, police investigating crimes and people providing services to infants and children.

Organizations representing Georgia’s city and county governments said Monday they will be training officials in September on how to comply with the law. Among the topics they will cover is recognizing the acceptable forms of ID, including the more uncommon ones.

“We are going to have to train the county staff as to what is on that list and what those documents look like… because they are not going to know a lot of those documents,” said Clint Mueller, the legislative director for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. “Just looking at it, there are several things on there I don’t recognize and I wouldn’t know one if I saw it.”

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/state-lists-ids-needed-1064939.html