Anti-enforcement candidate for congress, Brenda Lopez Romero. Image: Youtube
Insider Advantage Georgia
287(g) Immigration Program Being Hotly Debated
by Phil Kent | Sep 17, 2019
Two sheriffs of large Georgia counties just signed new agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in the 287(g) program, named for part of a 1996 federal law. Sheriffs Butch Conway of Gwinnett County and Neil Warren of Cobb County say the renewals enhance the ability their departments to assist ICE in locating and deporting those here in this country illegally. If illegal aliens are arrested for a serious crime and discovered, via 287(g), to be here illegally, they are given to ICE for deportation.
Conway’s decision has led to attacks on him, his department and Dustin Inman Society President D.A. King. The anti-illegal immigration activist was attacked after Conway invited him to speak about the benefits of the Gwinnett jail’s 287(g) immigration program at a community meeting hosted by Gwinnett District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque.
The idea of the community meeting was to air differing views about the public safety program but, in the words of Conway, it turned into “unfair and unwarranted name-calling and misleading innuendo.”
For example, Fosque accused King of “spewing hatred and bigotry and racism.” (King’s organization is named after 16-year-old Dustin Inman, who was killed in an Ellijay car crash by an illegal alien.)
King said his purpose was to inform the public about 287(g) and “lend (his) experienced knowledge on how to respond to the far-left race-baiting anti-enforcement lobby that is funded by corporate-America.” And Conway praised King, saying he “showed professionalism and restraint during the meeting.”
“It should be noted that after being instructed to stick with the topic of 287(g), it was a campaigning (District 99 State Rep.) Brenda Lopez Romero who felt the need to present false ad hominem, personal attacks on me because she has no rational argument for not using every available tool to reduce crime in Gwinnett, including 287(g),” King told the Gwinnett Daily Post. “The goal (of) the illegal alien lobby, which includes the cowardly groups that dropped out and the three anti-enforcement substitute panelists, was never to argue on 287(g) — it was to marginalize anyone who supports the program.”
Everett Robinson, an African-American board member of the Dustin Inman Society, also says he doesn’t know a man “less deserving of the hateful names (King) is being called.”
In neighboring Cobb County, Warren— who is running for-re-election next year– is also the target of criticism and heated rhetoric. “We’re living under such a hostile political environment against immigrants in general,” says Carlos Garcia of the Pro-Immigrant Alliance of Cobb County.” Garcia claims the program “racially profiles,” a charge the sheriff denies. And Warren cites statistics that 287(g) is protecting citizens by removing dangerous criminals and that it is effectively addressing gang crime.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services this week released E-Verify statistics showing that Georgia is the top state in the nation that uses the no-cost federal government program. It reports that 82,046 employers participate in the E-Verify system that allows businesses to check the legal work eligibility of new employees.
A main reason Georgia is a leader stems from laws passed by the General Assembly in recent years mandating employer usage– especially the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011 ( H.B. 87 ).
H.B. 87 requires every private employer with more than 10 full-time employees ( 35 hours per week or more) to use the federal electronic database to verify the eligibility of newly-hired employees. As of July 2007, all public employers and their contractors had to use E-Verify regardless of the number of employees. (Enforcement of E-Verify rules and regulations and the crime of knowingly hiring an illegal immigrant rests with the federal government.) Contractors of any level found not using E-Verify can be prohibited into entering a public contract for 12 months, a penalty that is obviously a big deterrent for illegal aliens to take a job in Georgia.
The USCIS website lays out state-by-state totals for E-Verify’s memorandum of understanding — the legal document that must be signed by employers before enrolling in the program — and provides data on E-Verify’s top 20 industries nationwide as of March 31.
The program’s top industry, with 100,034 enrollments, is professional, scientific and technical services. That is followed by specialty trade contractors.
In a related statement, the USCIS warns employers that electronic re-verification isn’t barred by any law and explains that, to re-verify a worker, a company would need to update an existing E-Verify case no later than three days after the employee’s work authorization has expired.
Experts point to the need to tighten Georgia’s job-protection law. “If the goal really is to safeguard jobs for eligible workers, there is a great deal of room for improvement in our E-Verify law” says D.A. King of the Dustin Inman Society. King, who helped create HB 87, offered an example. “When it was clear to its opponents that HB 87 was going to pass, the powerful agriculture lobby added a clause that says the number of employees that count toward the threshold for required use of E-Verify is determined on January 1st of each year. Most growers have few employees in the dead of winter. By June 1st, the date we originally wanted to use, the number of employees obviously increases greatly. To watch a parade of Ag lobbyists squeal in Capitol committee rooms, all any determined lawmaker need do is to try to change the date employees are counted,” says King.
It is laughable that Lopez is being packaged as somehow being a “Republican,” as evidenced by the headline over a fawning August 3 Daily Report article: “As a Latino Republican, Federal Judge Nominee has Bipartisan Connections.” It’s time for a reality check. Just consider the radical positions of the illegal alien lobby group that Lopez has presided over since 2004 (positions opposed by most Republicans in Georgia, by the way). Note that, according to its website, GALEO:
* Supports amnesty for illegal aliens.
* Lobbied against Georgia sheriffs’ cooperation with federal immigration control officials and even commended the Fulton County sheriff for not cooperating with Immigration and Control Enforcement officials.
* Fought the state voter identification law.
* Denounces the state’s official English-in-government law.
* Supports in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
* Opposed passage of the 2011 Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act (which passed both houses of the General Assembly by large majorities).
This writer spoke with Lopez at a reception during his judgeship campaign in 2012. He was unapologetic for the group opposing the 2011 immigration control act. That was the same year that GALEO joined with the American Civil Liberties Union and other left-wing groups in a class action lawsuit to overturn the law. (How many taxpayer dollars did Lopez’s organization cost the state’s taxpayers in defending that law?)
When asked why he was a board member of an advocacy/lobbying group, he told me it was because he believed in its mission. That begs the question: Should any serving judge be a board member of an advocacy/lobbying group? Also, can Lopez be an “impartial” federal judge at a time when his benefactor Obama has been bypassing Congress with unconstitutional executive actions granting amnesty and “deferred status” to illegal immigrants?
Remember, too, that Lopez had a big patron during his 2012 election campaign. It was none other than last year’s failed Democratic gubernatorial nominee and son of former President Jimmy Carter. In a July 27, 2012 Tweet, Lopez said: “I cannot begin to thank my good friend and fellow DeKalb public servant Sen. Jason Carter for hosting a meet and greet for me at the home of his parents. I am humbled to have his support and endorsement.” Lopez was also endorsed in his campaign by former Democrat Gov. Roy Barnes and the homosexual lobby Georgia Equality.
Yes, Lopez was originally appointed to his DeKalb judgeship by GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue as part of a public relations-type “outreach to Hispanics.” But waving a magic wand and sprinkling pachyderm powder over Lopez didn’t automatically make him a “Republican,” no matter how many times dishonest media types make the claim.
Marietta attorney Robert Ingram, a member of U.S. Sen Johnny Isakson’s judicial nominating committee, babbled to the Daily Report that “both the committee and Senator Isakson enthusiastically support him.” However, that’s not what Isakson or his office say. They aren’t saying anything, for now. Georgia’s other U.S. senator, David Perdue, has not made up his mind as to whether he will confirm this Obama pick.
Lopez will undergo thorough questioning about his judicial philosophy when he comes before the U.S. Senate. And if Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate are true to their word, and they oppose activist judges who support Obama’s unconstitutional overreaches, they will ultimately reject this presidential acolyte.
Phil Kent is the CEO of InsiderAdvantage and is also Gov. Nathan Deal’s appointee to the state Immigration Enforcement and Review Board.
PLEASE CONTACT GEORGIA GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL TO THANK HIM FOR APPOINTING OUR FRIEND PHIL KENT OF THE GEORGIA GANG TO THE STATE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BOARD ESTABLISHED BY HB 87!ASSURE HIM THAT GEORGIA’S PRO-ENFORCEMENT MAJORITY APPROVES OF HIS CHOICE AND UNDERSTANDS THAT PHIL HAS ALL THE RIGHT ENEMIES!
Late last month, the Governor, the Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the Georgia House named the appointees to an enforcement review board established by HB 87 to monitor compliance of public officials with the requirements set forth in Georgia’s 2006 immigration law (SB 529) and with the latest rules in HB 87.
Board members appointed by Governor Deal:
*Phil Kent, author, columnist and panelist on the weekly TV political discussion show the Georgia Gang.
*Shawn Hanley, past chairman of the Fulton County Republican Party, a resident of Roswell.
*Ben Vinson, an attorney from Atlanta who previously served as Majority Caucus Counsel in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Lieutenant Governor Cagle appointed:
*Boyd Austin, mayor of Dallas since 1995.
*Mike Yeager of Moreland, sheriff of Coweta County.
Speaker Ralston appointed:
Robert F. Mumford of Conyers, an attorney who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009.
Terry R. Clark, of Moultrie, a member of the Colquitt County Commission.
Using all the normal race-baiting terms, the usual suspects are screaming that Phil Kent is too pro-enforcement to be on the board and are getting a great deal of help from the local media in trying to convince Governor Deal to remove him before the members are even sworn in. We know Phil will do a terrific, fair and educated job and are somewhat amused – but not surprised – to see the howls from the far-left illegal alien lobby about his appointment.
We are sure they would rather see someone like Jerry Gonzalez or illegal aliens themselves sit in review of complaints of violation.
Referred to as “human rights groups” by the press, the list of crazies screaming about Phil Kent’s appointment to the board goes like this: The Young Democrats of Georgia, Bill Nigut of the anti-enforcement ADL (Nigut is suggesting the board is meant to pursue an “anti-immigrant agenda”), the sleaziest of the sleaze… the SPLC, Angry Jerry Gonzalez and the well-funded illegal alien lobby at GALEO, and a cast of characters that make up a large portion of the organizers of the recent illegal alien marches on the Georgia Capitol against HB 87.
And… another mindless voice of little consequence, a local woman blogger named Grayson Daughters who uses the well-fitting name “Spacey G” in her cartoonish posts assures us that even the board’s title will “make-a-Nazi-proud.” This is the mentality you are rebutting.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Please call and/or email the Governor’s office: “I am calling to thank the Governor for his appointments to the immigration enforcement review board that will review any complaints against elected officials who ignore the law on administering benefits and giving jobs to illegal aliens. Please tell the Governor that I called to express my support for all of his choices, including that of Mr. Phil Kent. Please assure the Governor that Phil has all the right anti-enforcement enemies and will do a fine job on the board. KEEP PHIL KENT ON THE BOARD!”
Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Horne v. Flores drives another nail into the coffin of bilingual education, the teaching theory in which immigrant children are segregated by language and taught primarily in their native language while being taught English on the side…
Bilingual education is a documented failure in school systems across the country, and the 5-4 decision, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., involving Arizona’s Nogales Unified School District emphasizes this failure with a stark conclusion: Teach English. Specifically, the high court recognizes the demonstrated effectiveness of structured English immersion (SEI) methods for teaching English language learners (ELL).
Illegal Immigration Battles Loom with Obama by Phil Kent
01/13/2009
Despite their victory in the huge fight over amnesty for illegal immigrants in 2007, conservatives can’t rest easy: it’s all about to happen all over again.
The Democrats’ (and RINO Republicans’) push for “comprehensive immigration reform” has returned and will be a major issue this year, and perhaps next year as well if the pro-amnesty groups don’t get their way.
Whether Barack Obama wants to risk another public backlash over such a comprehensive effort early in his first term — knowing that polls indicate the large majority of Americans oppose illegal immigration — is a big question mark. But we do know that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D-Nev) said just two Sundays ago on Meet the Press that John McCain had promised him to work “real, real hard on immigration reform, and I’ll work with him”
Today’s Marietta Daily Journal ( Here) Phil Kent/Letter to the Editor: Nigut should take King’s challenge on immigration
Isn’t it ironic that the Anti-Defamation League and its mouthpiece, Bill Nigut, engage in defamation?
Their target is D.A. King, an anti-illegal immigration activist and Marietta Daily Journal guest columnist who, according to Nigut’s Oct. 31 guest column, engages in “racial stereotyping and fear” when criticizing illegal immigrants and radical Islamists who sneak across our unsecured borders. Yet in Nigut’s warped world, everyone ranging from CNN commentator Lou Dobbs to the pope, no doubt, engages in “racial stereotyping and fear.”
As national spokesman for Americans for Immigration Control, and someone who considers King a sincere colleague trying to shape public opinion, I can attest that he welcomes every American regardless of ethnicity to our cause. And, because King and like-minded activists urged Georgia legislators to enact some of the toughest laws in the land to protect our quality of life from the illegal immigrant invasion, the vocal open-borders lobby wants to silence and intimidate us.
Nigut is a known liberal who shamelessly protects his friends with the Georgia Latino Elected Officials organization – a leftist group that continually attacks King. Nigut ought to accept King’s challenge to a public debate on the illegal immigration issue. I believe that Nigut, if he accepted the debate challenge, would be the one exposed as the true bigot.
Senate immigration bill gets an “F” on English and assimilation
ARLINGTON, Va.—“The proposed Senate immigration bill deserves an ‘F’ when it comes to defending English as the common, unifying language of our nation,” said K.C. McAlpin, executive director of ProEnglish, a group that advocates for making English the official language.
“The most glaring omission is that the Kennedy-Kyl bill fails to make English the official language of the United States,” said McAlpin. “So the Social Security Administration will continue providing interpreters in 150 foreign languages, and federal agencies will have to continue providing translations and interpreters in dozens of foreign languages. This is not the melting pot. This is a recipe for the balkanization of our nation,” he added.
“The Kennedy-Kyl bill would give millions of illegal aliens up to eight years to demonstrate a minimal knowledge of English. Then they would have three chances to pass the watered down English test that is part of the U.S. citizenship examination. That test requires applicants to read and write just two sentences in English,” McAlpin continued. “So the claim that those who get amnesty under this bill will have to learn English is nonsense,” he added.
A 2006 Rasmussen Reports survey found that 85 percent of Americans support making English the official language. A Harvard University survey of the nation’s youth released in April showed that 72 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 favor official English, including majorities of both Hispanic and Asian young people.
“The Administration and the Senators who are pushing for passage of this bill should be ashamed for trying to deceive the American people into believing this bill will do anything real to require immigrants to learn English and assimilate,” said McAlpin.
Immigration Enforcement Review Board (IERB) established in OCGA 50-36-3 (2011, HB87)
The seven original IERB members were appointed between July and Sept. 2, 2011.
State law is clear that members are limited to two terms of two years per term.
OCGA 50-36-3 (b) The Immigration Enforcement Review Board is established and shall consist of seven members. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor, two members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. A chairperson shall be selected by a majority vote of the members. All matters before the board shall be determined by a majority vote of qualified board members. Members shall be appointed for terms of two years and shall continue to hold such position until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. A member may be reappointed to an additional term. If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the appropriate appointing party shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is appointed and qualified.
Appointed by Gov. Deal: Phil Kent, Shawn Hanley and Ben Vinson Appointed by Lt. Gov Cagle: Boyd Austin, Mike Yeager Appointed by Speaker Ralston: Robert Mumford, Terry Clark.
With the end of the first term, original members still on the IERB should have been reappointed in July and Sept. 2013 – with the end of that term being July/Sept. 2015. With the exception of the Speaker’s office on the reappointment of Terry Clark, it appears that none of the three offices that made the original appointments can produce any paperwork reflecting any reappointments. After a request for public records, Cagle’s office claimed exclusion from open records laws due to being part of the legislature.
Lt. Governor is an executive branch office under the state constitution.
Without being legally reappointed and without authority, members Kent, Hanley, Vinson, Yeager and Clark served well beyond the end of the four year limitation. As of December 29, 2018 Clark is still serving.
Ben Vinson resigned IERB sometime in June of July, 2017 after being appointed to the State Board of worker’s Compensation by Gov. Deal. In violation of state law, Vinson was active as IERB Chair from Sept. 2015 to the date of his resignation.
Shawn Hanley and Phil Kent both resigned in August 2018 when the term limit violation was made public.
In the same report linked above, it looks like the AG is staying far away from the entire matter.
IERB member John Kennedy was appointed in January 2013 after Robert Mumford resigned to become a judge. Kennedy won election to the state senate and James Balli was appointed to replace him by Speaker Ralston in Feb. 2014. The appointment letter specifically states Balli’s appointment would end in July 2015 or “until a successor is duly appointed.”
That would mean Balli’s two term limit would end in July 2017 – if he was duly reappointed. Public records of any such reappointment have not been produced.
* It could be that Balli will claim he was appointed to finish Kennedy’s term and could lawfully serve two terms of his own. I assert that argument is contrary to the language and intent of OCGA 50-36-3.
With this line of thinking: Mumford’s first term ended in Sept. 2013, Kennedy would have finished that term in 2015, but was replaced by Balli who was appointed in Feb 2014. Again, the Balli appointment letter states his term ends in 2015 or until a lawful reappointment or a successor appointment.
Reappointment of Balli would expire in 2017 – if he was duly reappointed.
Regardless of the question on Balli’s reappointment or his merely finishing another member’s term, because of the fact that that members Kent, Vinson, Hanley and Clark served and voted without authority after Sept. 2015, it is my position that any actions taken after Sept. 2015, including sanctions, complaint dismissals and board votes were done in violation of state law and are thereby null and void.
