Mexican police, migrant smugglers open fire: 2 die

ASSOCIATED PRESS

5:01 p.m. August 4, 2008

VERACRUZ, Mexico – Two people are dead after a shootout between Mexican police and smugglers driving a truck carrying illegal immigrants.

Police caught up with the truck near the town of Agua Dulce in southeast Mexico. The town's police chief, Jose Atenedoro, says the smugglers then opened fire on officers, starting a shootout and car chase. The chase ended when the truck crashed into a ditch.

Gunfire killed two people, while about 30 of the 42 immigrants hidden in the truck were injured in the crash Monday. Both of the men killed were migrants.

Now if this were in the US, the families of the killed smugglers would be filing law suits against the officers, who would have been arrested. -mm

El Pasoan's lawsuit altered how immigration judges chosen

By Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 07/30/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

A national report that points to illegal appointments by the U.S. attorney general's office was influenced significantly by a lawsuit filed in 2005 by an El Paso woman who claims she was passed over because she was not politically connected.

Guadalupe Gonzalez, an El Paso lawyer and the chief counsel for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in El Paso, filed a discrimination lawsuit against the federal government three years ago alleging that immigration judges were being appointed based on their political ties and not on merit.

As a result of her lawsuit, in 2007 the federal government changed the way it filled immigration judge positions. And on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General issued a report reaffirming that the way judges had been seated was illegal.

"I am glad that the public record is now clear that it was my lawsuit that forced the changes in the hiring practices," Gonzalez said Tuesday. "While I am glad that my lawsuit settled nicely, I wanted to make sure that we had done something to change the system. In some ways, it was an act of patriotism and I'm pleased that other lawyers can now apply and compete for the jobs."

According to the U.S. Department of Justice report, the system of hiring immigration judges was frozen after the lawsuit was filed. The freeze was lifted after Gonzalez's lawsuit was settled.

The Department of Justice report states, "With regard to immigration judges, as a result of the civil litigation over the unsuccessful candidacy of an immigration judge applicant, in April 2007, former Attorney General (Alberto) Gonzales approved a new process to fill immigration judge positions.

Mexico lifts criminal penalties for illegal immigrants caught within its borders

Associated Press - July 21, 2008 2:53 PM ET

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico will no longer jail illegal immigrants detained within its borders.

A measure that takes effect Tuesday eliminates jail times for illegal immigrants caught in Mexico. Most are crossing the country from Central America en route to the U.S.

Undocumented immigration will now be considered a minor offense, punishable by fines equal to US$100 to US$500. Illegal immigrants previously faced up to 10 years in prison, though most were simply deported.

Mexican legislators who backed the revision say Mexico's previous penalties complicated efforts to lobby for better treatment of Mexican immigrants in the U.S.

Activists want more to be done to protect migrants in Mexico, where many are robbed and abused on their way north.

Asylum petitions increase along Mexico border

by Alicia A. Caldwell - Jul. 12, 2008 12:00 AM
Associated Press

EL PASO - Dozens of Mexicans - including police officers, businessmen, at least one prosecutor and a journalist - are asking for political asylum in the U.S. in a desperate and probably hopeless bid to escape an unprecedented wave of drug-related killings and kidnappings south of the border.

Under U.S. law, fear of crime is not, in itself, grounds for political asylum.

But the sharp spike in asylum applications from the areas wracked by drug-cartel violence - and the willingness of asylum-seekers to sit behind bars in the U.S. for months while they await a decision - are a measure of how bad things are in Mexico and how fearful people have become.

"It's hard. I've been doing this work for 25 years. I've been a reporter for 25 years," said newspaperman Emilio Gutierrez Soto, who is seeking asylum. "We had a life there, a house, my family. It's my country. But it's not safe for a journalist."

Between October and July, at least 63 people have sought political asylum at border crossings in New Mexico and western Texas, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That is almost double the 33 claims made for the entire fiscal year that ended in October. Elsewhere in southern Texas, asylum applications are also up sharply.

Returning immigrants report beatings by Tijuana police

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 23, 2008

TIJUANA – Nearly 200 illegal immigrants sent back to Mexico from the United States were falsely arrested by Tijuana municipal police who beat or robbed some of them, according to a study that a human rights group released last week.

Victor Clark Alfaro, head of the Binational Center for Human Rights and a longtime observer of Tijuana crime trends, called on the municipal government to rein back the police and respect the rights of the returning immigrants.

Clark, who is also a lecturer at San Diego State University, and a group of students interviewed hundreds of immigrants between August and April. They found 188 of them were arrested for not carrying proper identification and taken before a judge, who many times ordered them jailed for up to 36 hours. Some of those immigrants said police beat or robbed them.

Returning migrants remaking Mexico through politics

Migrants are coming home from U.S. with dollars, ideas and little patience for the old way of doing things.

By Jeremy Schwartz
MEXICO CITY BUREAU
Sunday, June 22, 2008

LUVIANOS, Mexico — Seir Benítez left this remote town high in the Sierra Madre mountains 12 years ago in hopes of escaping a harsh life in its dusty fields.

He traded dramatic mountain views and grinding poverty for an apartment in Austin and a job in a tool factory. He spent eight years in the United States, venturing as far as Florida and Nebraska, before returning home with enough money to build a house.

Benítez, 28, also came back filled with new ideas of how Luvianos, in the state of Mexico, should be governed. He is considering a run for mayor, joining a wave of politically active migrants who many in Mexico believe have the potential to reshape the countryside.

"I want to create jobs so that other young people don't have to migrate," said Benítez, who works for Luvianos' city government and peppers his conversation with references to Austin's flea markets and Riverside Drive restaurants.

Report faults FBI over problems in ID-check system

By Robert Schmidt

BLOOMBERG NEWS

Thousands of immigrants must wait years to win U.S. citizenship or legal residency, and possible criminals may escape detection because of an FBI security-check system that is riddled with problems, a U.S. Justice Department report found.

The audit by Inspector General Glenn Fine said the FBI's National Name Check Program relies on outdated and inefficient technology, poorly trained personnel, overburdened supervisors and inadequate quality controls.

Some name checks have been delayed for as long as three years, with 327,000 such requests pending as of March, the report found.

"The FBI's name-check process needs significant improvement," Fine said in a statement. "While the FBI is taking steps to address these deficiencies, the name-check process can result in lengthy delays and the risk of inaccurate information. The FBI should make the improvement of this process a priority."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been under intense criticism from lawmakers and immigration-rights groups for its role in slowing the processing of immigration applications.

1 in 3 children in state has an immigrant parent

by Daniel González - Jun. 10, 2008 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic

The number of Arizona children who come from immigrant households is soaring.

At least one in three Arizona children now has at least one immigrant parent, up from about one in four 10 years ago, said Nancy Welch,a researcher at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University.

She co-authored a new report that concluded at least 471,000 children living in Arizona are from immigrant households - or more than the entire population of Mesa.

The report is based on 2006 census data.

Ballot measure has cops enforcing border laws

The Associated Press

Published: 05.06.2008

Advocates for tougher border enforcement say the Legislature needs to act on a proposed ballot measure that would draw local and state police in Arizona deeper into the fight against illegal immigration.

The measure would prohibit agencies from restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws and withhold state funding for departments that refuse to end such policies. It also would expand a state trespassing law to make it illegal for an undocumented immigrant to enter Arizona.

The proposal is awaiting a final vote in the state House.

Census: 45.5M Hispanics in U.S. - 1.8M in Az

SHERYL KORNMAN

Published: 05.07.2008

Hispanics are the fastest growing minority in Arizona and make up 15 percent of the U.S. population, according to newly released Census data.

There were 45.5 million Hispanics living in America on July 1, 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In Arizona, more than 4 in every 10 people are minorities, according to figures released May 1.

The total minority population in Arizona was 2.6 million on July 1, 2007, with more than 1.8 million of them Hispanic, the bureau's data show.

The second largest minority population in 2007 in Arizona was American Indians. They totaled 355,000, according to the bureau.

Arizona's total population is 6.34 million.

Study: Mexico immigrants slower to assimilate in U.S.

USA TODAY

Published: 05.13.2008

The nation's immigrants are adopting American ways just as quickly as they were in 1990 despite a doubling in their numbers, research out Tuesday showed.

The findings show, however, that Mexicans, the largest immigrant group, are making slower progress than others.

Calculations by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a libertarian think tank, are among the most detailed to measure how well immigrants fit in with native-born Americans on three fronts: economic, cultural and civic. The index used census data from 1890 to 2006 to measure current and historical similarities between natives and the foreign-born.

"Mexicans and other Latin Americans are assimilating slowly."

Tancredo to pope: Stop promoting amnesty

In House speech suggests pontiff trying to bolster church membership
Posted: April 18, 2008 3:40 pm Eastern
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Rep. Tom Tancredo – who vied for the Republican presidential nomination to make illegal immigration a priority issue – suggested in a House speech yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging Latin Americans to come to the U.S. to bolster flagging membership in the Catholic Church.

The pontiff, asked by reporters on his flight to the U.S. Tuesday if he would address Hispanic immigration, said the U.S. must do "everything possible to fight ... all forms of violence so that immigrants may lead dignified lives."

Tancredo, a former Catholic, told House colleagues, "I would like to know what part of our lax immigration policy is considered 'violent.' I fail to see how accepting more refugees than any other nation while providing free health care, free education, free housing and free social service benefits to millions of illegal aliens in this country is any way 'degrading' to them or 'undignified.'"

Open borders and the Catholic elite

By Michelle Malkin • April 18, 2008 11:09 AM

During his visit this week, the Pope has made repeated comments critical of immigration enforcement efforts–such as they are–in the U.S. His primary concerns are not the sovereignty and security of our country. Open borders benefit Catholic churches looking to fill their pews and collection baskets. The Vatican and American bishops, led by radical L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony, have long promoted immigration anarchy and lawlesness. Their campaign continues:

Unexpected Perspective From The Baja Big Fish Company

Memo From Mexico, By Allan Wall

Some people find it strange, and even objectionable, that I live in Mexico and write in favor of a stricter U.S. immigration policy.

For me, there is no contradiction. Nor do I consider my writings to be at all anti-Mexican. I just find the whole Open Borders business to be an incredibly hypocritical and destructive scam that hurts both Mexico and the United States.

Some of my previous articles relating to these perspectives:

• "The Education of a Gringo in Mexico", which explains how living in Mexico encouraged me to become an immigration restrictionist.
• "How Can I live in Mexico and Write for VDARE.COM", which is (naturally) a defense of how I can live in Mexico and call for a strict U.S. immigration policy
• “Does Emigration Really Help Mexico?” My answer: no, in detail.

As you might imagine, I receive plenty of interesting mail, both positive and negative, from a diversity of sources. I’ve gotten angry letters from Hispanic readers (here and here) and from a naturalized American citizen from Mexico. One letter writer told me to go back to Iraq and die. (I served there with my Texas-based National Guard unit). Some Americans have called me a traitor .

On the other hand, I’ve received letters from Mexicans who agree with me, and from a Mexican-American who says I’m not hard enough on Mexicans and Mexican-Americans!

I’ve also received mail from fellow gringos in Mexico. Not all of them are in agreement with each other. Some Americans in Mexico don’t really care about U.S. immigration policy or keep up with it, some support open borders, and others, like myself, are staunch restrictionists. After my article about the Gringo Colony of San Miguel, Mexico—I argued that it is in no way comparable to the Mexican invasion of the U.S.—I received some critical letters from an American resident there.

Experts: Immigration overhaul could remove edge for families

April 14, 2008 - 4:35PM

BY BRIAN INDRELUNAS/CRONKITE NEWS SERVICE

For years, immigration law in the United States has given an edge to families.
Those who can show that they have family members in this country make up the biggest percentage of those who are given permanent-resident status.

But if immigration laws ever get a serious overhaul - something that Congress hasn't been able to do for years - the advantage for families divided by borders could be diminished, experts say.

In recent months, policy makers and public officials have talked seriously about scrapping the long-standing system that gives green cards, or permanent-resident status, primarily to immigrants who show they have close relatives in the United States or employers who want to sponsor them. They suggest a new system that would award points to foreigners who speak English, are educated and have certain job skills.

A bill that would have ushered in just such a system stalled in the U.S. Senate last summer, but those on both sides of the immigration issue say the debate is far from over.

Church members deported on retreat

Valley ministers plan meeting on situation
by Yvonne Wingett - Apr. 14, 2008 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic

Word of the weekend deportations of members of a Phoenix church who were on a retreat near Prescott chilled Valley pastors, whose churches are filled with thousands of Hispanics and undocumented immigrants.

Pastors worry the deportations could discourage undocumented immigrants from worshiping in public and could force ministers to change the way they counsel members about their faith.

"This is telling us that maybe they won't allow us to have religious freedom, as we like to do retreats," said Jose Gonzalez, an associate pastor of the Hispanic Ministry at North Phoenix Baptist Church. He said Hispanic pastors, who previously had a "this won't happen to me, this won't affect my congregation" attitude on immigration, now are taking it more seriously.

About 20 Valley pastors from evangelical churches will meet today to talk about how to respond to the deportations and address their congregations. The incident occurred Saturday morning when nine people from a small Christian church called Christiana Agape were detained at a Prescott campground after they were determined to be undocumented.

Voters may decide how much power local police have to enforce immigration laws

April 8, 2008 - 5:28PM

BY HOWARD FISCHER, CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES

PHOENIX - The state House voted Tuesday to ask Arizona voters to let state and local police arrest people who are in this country illegally.

HCR 2039 would expand the state crime of trespass to include anyone on public or private property who is in violation of federal immigration laws. Police officers could either refer the individuals for prosecution or simply turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The measure also would bar the state or local governments from having any policies, official or otherwise, that prohibit police officers from asking those they stop about their immigration status. In fact, it specifically requires officers to question anyone arrested on any other law about whether they entered the country legally.

Tuesday's preliminary vote is not the end of the matter. The measure still requires final House action and Senate approval.

U.S. student visas go mostly to the rich and successful

Applicants must have good grades and high incomes — and even then, securing one proves far from easy

By Brady McCombs

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Applicants for student visas must be excellent students with a command of English and enough money — $32,000 at the UA — to prove they, or their families, can pay out-of-state tuition and living expenses for at least one year.

Still, that's no guarantee of approval. In fiscal year 2007, the U.S. State Department rejected nearly a third of the 432,000 student visa applications submitted worldwide.

Azuara is one of 2,300 international students at the UA. Nationwide, she is one of 14,922 from Mexico and 978,906 in the United States, according to figures from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that also include students on two other types of less-common visas.

Becoming an international student isn't possible for many families around the world.

"It's a huge investment for a family to send their children here," says Joanne Lagasse-Long, director of the International student programs and services at the UA.

If a family can afford to send a child to study in the United States, it usually means they are doing well socially and economically in their home country and are unlikely to consider entering illegally, she says.

Once here, students are kept under a close watch by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which monitors students and their dependents throughout their approved stay in the U.S. education system.

If students don't have a full course load or are working in an unauthorized job, universities are required to report them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bush says border solution includes swinging door

'Temporary worker program' to let people cross boundary needed

Posted: March 10, 2008 11:07 pm Eastern
WorldNetDaily

The solution to security issues on the U.S. border with Mexico will need to include some sort of swinging door so that workers can come and go as they want, according to the White House press secretary.

WND's correspondent at the White House, Les Kinsolving, asked spokeswoman Dana Perino:

"Reuters reports that our Customs and Border Protection Commissioner admits that the U.S. may not meet the goal of essentially stopping illegal immigration from Mexico by 2011. And my question: What does the president believe would help most in this effort, more border security personnel, more miles of border fence, or more enforcement of immigration regulations nationwide?"

"The president thinks that all of those issues are important, but he would add another measure, which is a temporary worker program so that we could have a legal mechanism for people who want to cross the border and work in America, but also want to go back home," she said.

The Reuters report cited an admission from Ralph Basham, commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who said in 2005 the government projected having "operational control" of the border within five years.

However, in testimony before Congress, he said the Secure Border Initiative included several assumptions, and some of those underlying events have not happened.

Border States Feel Strain…In Mexico!

Memo From Mexico, By Allan Wall

In January, a delegation came to Arizona from the Mexican state of Sonora, Arizona’s neighbor to the south, to complain about Arizona’s recently-enacted law that cracks down on illegal immigration.

There’s nothing new about Mexican officials meddling in U.S. immigration policy. They’ve become quite accustomed to it. Needless to say, foreign officials shouldn’t deter Arizona’s lawmakers from doing what needs to be done.

But there’s another angle to this story, which illustrates the special predicament of Mexican Border States, and the role those states might play in the future.

Mexico has six states that border the U.S. From east to west, they are: Tamaulipas , Nuevo Leon , Coahuila , Chihuahua, Sonora , and Baja California.

These six states are among Mexico’s more prosperous states. They are not major sources of emigrants to the U.S.

According to a 2007 Mexican government report prepared for the Mexican House of Representatives, the 5 principal “emigrant-expelling states” are in Central Mexico. They are: Michoacan (President Calderon’s home state, said to have more of its people dwelling in the U.S. than in the home state), Jalisco, Guanajuato (Vicente Fox’s home state) , the state of Mexico and Veracruz.