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August 11, 2004
TANCREDO RELEASES NEWLY OBTAINED OTM AND SIA INFORMATION Press Release from Rep. Tom Tancredo Tancredo Releases Newly Obtained OTM and Special Interest Alien Information Contact: Carlos Espinoza, 202-225-7882 Date: 8/10/2004 WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Tom Tancredo (CO-06) today discussed the number of those caught from third party countries, and special interest aliens (or SIA's—aliens from so-called "countries of interest") apprehended on the northern and southern borders. Tancredo also reacted to this afternoon's announcement by Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson. "For over a year, we have been hearing from Boarder Patrol Agents about the huge increase in the number of individuals from countries other than Canada and Mexico crossing our borders illegally. Now we have some idea just how big the numbers are and they are certainly disconcerting," said Rep. Tancredo, Chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus. "One must take into account that even the most conservative estimates of the number of folks getting by the Border Patrol are two or three times the number caught." Tancredo added, "It is also important to note that many people coming in from the Middle East are given false identification papers so they are misidentified on the official statistics. Now if we look farther and see how many are folks coming from 'Countries of Interest' and how many of them have been allowed to 'walk' after being caught sneaking into the country, the Administration's claims of 'doing everything possible to protect us' rings pretty hollow." Asked about his thoughts on the Administrations proposal to expand "expedited removal" proceedings against illegal aliens from third party countries in limited circumstances, Tancredo's response was lukewarm. The Bush proposal would allow for the speedy removal of some aliens, provided they have been in the U.S. less than 14 days, traveled more than 100 miles into the U.S. from the border, or claim to be fleeing persecution. "It's a start, but it's like treating a patient who is bleeding to death with a Band-Aid," said Tancredo. "When you add up all the ifs-ands-or-buts associated with this proposal—well, it really isn't much of a proposal." NON-CITIZEN VOTING DEBATED NPR's Tony Cox and guests, Mark Silverman of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco and Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., discuss the issue of non-citizen voting in local elections. Listen here. PAN INITIATIVE QUALIFICATION RESULTS EXPECTED TODAY "Secretary of State Jan Brewer is expected to announce whether Prop. 200, known as Protect Arizona Now, met the minimum requirement of 122,612 valid signatures to quality for the Nov. 2 ballot," reports the Arizona Republic. The official result is pending completion of random samples from select counties. EFFECT OF PROPOSITION 200 ON AZ MEDICAL WELFARE SYSTEM DEBATED An Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) official claims that, although AHCCCS must currently check immigration status of applicants through the online SAVE verification system, reporting that information to the federal government would conflict with federal law. [FAIR comment: Prop 200 was designed to be fully consistent with federal standards. The AHCCCS official is incorrectly claiming that proper state enforcement of federal immigration law would somehow violate federal civil rights law.] See the for the full story. BORDER PATROL POWERS TO GROW "The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it will speed up deportations of certain illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico to improve U.S. border security," reports the BORDER GOVERNORS STILL WANT TO SACRIFICE SECURITY FOR GREED "Governors of U.S. and Mexican border states recommend that immigration reform become a top priority for their federal governments, and they say the Bush administration didn't go far enough in a new policy for short-term visits by Mexicans to the United States," writes the Tucson Citizen. LONGER STAYS FOR MEXICAN LASER VISAS HOLDERS The Department of Homeland Security is expected to announce today that Mexican laser visa holders will be able to stay in the United States up to 30 days -- up from the three days that they now may remain in the country, San Antonio Express-News writes. |