The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly in today’s immigration News

December 13, 2006 in Border Security, Congress, Democrats & The Left, Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Law Enforcement, News, Republicans & The Right, Senate

The Good

Mass. gov. OKs trooper immigration role 

Gov. Mitt Romney signed an agreement Wednesday with federal authorities that allows Massachusetts State Police troopers to detain suspected illegal immigrants.

Initially, 30 troopers will get federally funded training, then be allowed to question and detain suspected illegal immigrants, charge them with a violation of immigration law and place them in removal proceedings.

“The scope of our nation’s illegal immigration problem requires us to pursue and implement new solutions wherever possible,” said Romney, who is considered a likely candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Butler County deputies to receive immigration training, powers

CINCINNATI - A sheriff who’s waged a high-profile campaign against illegal immigration said Wednesday his office has been approved for a federal program that provides local authorities with immigration enforcement powers.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said his agency likely will be the first in the Midwest in the partnership program, which would allow deputies to detain illegal immigrants they encounter through arrests for other crimes or investigation.

“We can’t get it soon enough,” Jones said. “This basically gives us the authority to enforce immigration laws. We’ve been begging for it.”

Plan advances to curb illegal immigration

South Carolina’s attempt at legislating against illegal immigration crept forward Tuesday morning after a Senate subcommittee adopted a draft bill.

The Senate judiciary subcommittee held its fifth meeting to review its proposals for the S.C. Illegal Immigration Reform Act. Most of Tuesday’s discussion involved senators giving one more review to the bill and suggesting changes to staff. The draft legislation, has not been filed as a bill.

Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg and subcommittee chairman, said South Carolina needs immigration reform because its neighboring states have already passed similar bills.

“Unless our state takes some action this spring we are very likely to be overwhelmed with illegal immigration,” Ritchie said.

The Bad

Immigration policy the focus of debate at TAB conference 

Is the issue of illegal immigration strictly federal? It depends on whom you talk to.
The Texas Association of Business (TAB) and its spin-off group, Texas Employers for Immigration Reform (TEIRS) are calling for a federal guest worker program that allows illegal immigrants to earn citizenship status.

They’re not the only ones. Gov. Rick Perry Dec. 6 reiterated his support for such a program as well. “Washington,” said Perry, “needs to seek real solutions that protect our economy, that take migrant workers out of the shadows by giving them an ID and allowing them to cross freely, and that at the same time recognizes the rule of law and the importance of not rewarding those who break our laws.”

Md. Dems Could Change State Immigration Policy

WASHINGTON – Advocates for illegal immigrants are optimistic that immigration law will favor them now that a Democrat is in the governor’s office with a compatible General Assembly.

Although incoming Gov. Martin O’Malley’s legislative agenda is still in development, many of the items on his oft-mentioned 10-point plan for government, like making health care and education more affordable, apply to immigrants no matter their legal status, said spokesman Rick Abbruzzese.

The Ugly

Over 1,200 Arrested in 6 States in Illegal Immigrant Identity Theft Sting

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday the investigation uncovered a “disturbing front” in the war against illegal immigration, in which illegal immigrants are using the identities of U.S. citizens to obtain jobs.

“Violations of our immigration laws and privacy rights often go hand in hand,” he said. “Enforcement actions like this one protect the privacy rights of innocent Americans while striking a blow against illegal immigration.”

Some other CAII Posts:

Take Back Georgia with ICE-d meat and fresh Martinez…

Uncooperative Blogger with: Union seeks injunction against feds enforcing immigration laws & the Uncooperative Radio Podcast 12-11-06

InMuscatine has Operation Wagon Train – The Fallout Begins &  Ice Ice, Baby !

Bear Creek Ledger with Religious Visa Fraud

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.