GOP Wants Answers for Executive Order Amnesty Memo

"A group of Republican senators has written to top immigration officials in the Obama administration asking them to reveal whether large-scale plans are under way to provide a so-called non-legislative version of amnesty," Fox News says. "The lawmakers cite an 11-page draft document written by staff to the director of the Citizenship and Immigration Service that says they are reviewing several executive orders and other mechanisms that effectively would serve as a substitute for comprehensive immigration reforms."

VA Lawmaker Wants Arizona Style Legislation

"On Thursday, [Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman] Corey A. Stewart released his legislative proposals for the Virginia General Assembly to consider. The proposals are at virginiaruleoflaw.com. The list is broken down into 10 sections, dealing with everything from taxing international wire transfers to impounding vehicles of those who knowingly transport illegal immigrants in the state," Inside Northern Virginia says. "According to his website, Stewart is shooting for 100,000 signatures supporting his Rule of Law proposal."

Amnesty Supporters May Have Long Wait for McCain

"When the prospects for a reform bill turned bleak earlier this year, immigration advocates told themselves to be patient. John McCain would be back, just as soon as he fended off a conservative primary challenge in Arizona next month," Politico reports.

"But now, the onetime champion of comprehensive immigration reform appears nowhere near ready to rejoin Democrats in the fight, which left him alienated from his party and feeling abandoned by Hispanic voters during the bruising 2008 presidential election."

Sen. Lindsay Graham Talks Tough on Anchor Babies

"A U.S. senator and a state lawmaker in Arizona, both central players in the battle over immigration law, separately proposed this week that "birthright" citizenship be denied to the children of illegal immigrants. They said the change would help stem the flood of illegal border crossings," the Wall Street Journal reports.

"'People come here to have babies. They come here to drop a child,' Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said Wednesday night on Fox News. 'That shouldn't be the case. That attracts people here for all the wrong reasons.' Mr. Graham is a onetime partner with Democrats in crafting a proposed overhaul of immigration laws."

[FAIR Comment: Graham supported adoption of a Constitutional amendment to change the 14th Amendment provision regarding U.S. citizenship. FAIR's view is think that "birthright" citizenship can be ended by an act of Congress and believes that avenue should be pursued first. A Constitutional amendment should be initiated only if the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the act of Congress unconstitutional.]

Brewer Vows Fight to the Supreme Court

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said she was prepared to fight to the Supreme Court to defend Arizona's new law SB 1070 from legal challenges. A federal district judge yesterday issued a preliminary injunction that will keep key parts of the law from going into effect. "The Supreme Court -- with a working conservative majority -- accepts a fraction of appeals but may take this case because it presents a conflict of federal and state law, said Cristina Rodriguez, an expert on immigration and constitutional law at New York University Law School," the Washington Post writes.

Judge Refuses Ruling on Fremont Case

"A judge says she's not sure whether lawsuits filed to block a Nebraska city's ban on hiring and renting to illegal immigrants should be heard in federal or state court. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp on Wednesday gave attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund two weeks to submit briefs explaining why their suits belong in federal court," the AP reports.

Arizona Verification Law Still in Effect As Employers Lawsuit Awaits Supreme Court

The Wall Street Journal says that despite the injunction against SB 1070, Arizona's employer sanctions law remains in effect, pending a Supreme Court review. "The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a number of other state trade associations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are mounting a legal challenge to the law that is set to go before the U.S. Supreme Court within the next year. The high court already has agreed to hear the case, and its ruling could have far-reaching effects on businesses throughout the U.S. If the law is upheld, Arizona employers face the prospect of future local and state raids if suspected of hiring undocumented workers. That could reach to other parts of the country if states become emboldened by the law," the Wall Street Journal writes.

In a related story, the Arizona Republic notes that most Arizona employers are not using E-Verify at this time.

Federal Judge Stops SB 1070 Implementation

"A federal judge on Wednesday blocked some of the toughest provisions in the Arizona illegal immigration law, putting on hold the state's attempt to have local police enforce federal immigration policy," says Fox News. FAIR will have more updates later about the impact of the ruling on SB 1070.

Legal Immigrants Complain About Wage and Other Problems Caused by Illegal Immigration

"Armando De Alba is proud of his Mexican ancestry. But he's tired of what he views as government toleration of illegal immigrants. 'I'm for deporting everyone back,' De Alba said. 'They need to enforce the law and do it hardcore. You have got to make them understand we're not here to mess around,'" the Press Enterprise reports. "De Alba said he periodically visited worksites he had unsuccessfully bid to work on. He didn't ask the plastering workers about their immigration status but he said there were signs they were illegal workers: Trucks didn't have mandatory state-license stickers or company emblems, and workers were sometimes paid in cash and rarely spoke English."

Lawsuit Against SB 1070 Lays Bare Federal Inaction

"The citizens of the state have been living under the siege of illegal immigration for years. What for most of us is an abstract political or humanitarian issue is for Arizonans a daily battle to protect life, property, and vital resources. The recent passage of bold new immigration legislation was the people's way of saying they'd had enough," says Ken Connor in a Crosswalk.com commentary. "By suing the state of Arizona for "unconstitutionally" passing immigration legislation, the federal government is tacitly acknowledging its dereliction of duty - they have admitted that there is a dangerous and dire problem along America's southern border that they aren't addressing."

Tamar Jacoby: Obama Must Accommodate Public Opinion

"After three months of bitter, unrelenting debate, 60 percent of voters are still strongly in favor of the law. Proponents of immigration reform, including the president, have largely ignored this support for the law, writing it off as anti-immigrant, if not downright bigoted. But the truth is there can be no hope of passing an immigration overhaul opposed by 60 percent of the public," says Tamar Jacoby. Jacoby says that Obama should embrace enforcement as part of a "compromise" that would include amnesty.

Meanwhile, John Feffer at the Huffington Post says that President Obama should not "head fake" toward the right. Taking the DHS deportation claims at face value, Feffer says "I'm not happy with the president's feints to the right in an attempt to please the anti-immigrant lobby: the law-and-order rhetoric, the support of free-trade agreements that ultimately push people into leaving their countries. But if Obama manages to drive to the basket -- and win amnesty for millions of hard-working de facto Americans -- I'll cheer the victory."

Fremont Suspends Ordinance To Respond to Lawsuits

"A Nebraska city suspended its voter-approved ban on hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants, but opponents still want a federal judge to block the ordinance until all legal fights are resolved," ABC News says. "Groups challenging the ordinance are expected in court Wednesday, a day after the Fremont City Council voted to suspended the ban. City officials said delaying the ordinance would save the city money as it fights lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund."

Free Lawyers for Mentally Ill Criminal Aliens Fighting Deportation?

The group Human Rights Watch wants taxpayers to cough up even more money to make sure that mentally ill criminal aliens get an attorney so they can file endless appeals of their deportation. A report from the group criticized the lack of a full-employment mandate for tax-funded lawyers for mentally ill non-citizens trying to stay in the U.S. According to the group, up to 15 percent of all non-citizens trying to stay in the U.S. might be mentally ill.

Thousands of Drug War Deaths This Year and Mexico Sends Human Rights Inspectors to Watch Arizona

"Mexico's National Human Rights Commission said Monday it is sending inspectors to U.S. border crossings to monitor deportations that might result if Arizona's new immigration law goes into effect as planned Thursday. The law is being challenged by the U.S. government in court, but the federal judge hearing the case hasn't indicated whether she might agree to the challenge's request that the measure be put on hold," the AP reports. The move comes after a report earlier this year of numerous deaths (over 22,000) over the last 3 years of the drug war. Two Americans detained in Mexico earlier this month said they were tortured by Mexican police to confess to drug crimes. When will Mexico's Human Rights Commission report on that incident?

Arizona, Nebraska Laws To Take Effect This Week

"After months of protest marches, federal lawsuits, economic boycotts and support rallies, two controversial immigration laws in Arizona and Nebraska are scheduled to take effect on Thursday," USA Today writes. The measures are facing court challenges and a ruling is expected this week in the federal lawsuits challenging Arizona's SB 1070.

Also today, Reuters has a long profile of State Sen. Russell Pearce, who was the driving force in Arizona behind SB 1070. 'Nobody could have guessed the impact it would have,' Pearce said of the divisive law he crafted to crack down on illegal immigrants in his state -- of which there are nearly half a million. 'Who could have guessed that I would have pissed off the president of the United States?'"

Stop Holding Back The Enforcement Data, President Obama

The coverage today about the "high" number of deportations by the Obama administration comes back again to the issue of transparency in government, something the Obama administration refuses to abide when it comes to immigration enforcement. Buried in the Washington Post coverage today of the non-data release is this: "Morton said the 400,000 people expected to be deported this year -- either physically removed or allowed to leave on their own power -- represent the maximum the overburdened processing, detention and immigration court system can handle."

That 400,000 is an "expectation" or "projection" - it hasn't even happened, yet the media is reporting it as a done deal. If BP reported that it was "projecting" a complete oil-spill cleanup by the end of the year, would you believe them? This is part and parcel of the selective data releases about enforcement that the Obama administration is using to try and shape public understanding of what is and is not being done to control illegal immigration.

DHS is refusing to release the data that would clarify exactly how many illegal immigrants were 1)actually prosecuted in federal court (not had their case referred for prosecution) and 2)actually deported and 3)apprehended and then allowed to voluntarily depart the U.S. For example, the 2008 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics very clearly lists the amount of removals (i.e. deportations) and voluntary departures separately. In FY 2008, there were 351,000 removals and another 811,000 voluntary departures.

The conflation of some? all? voluntary departures with actual deportations by the Obama administration is nothing more than an attempt to create the impression that real enforcement is occurring. Mr. President, it is past time to release all the DHS enforcement numbers (not "projections") to the public so that they can make their own judgment about how well the DHS is doing its job.

Hazleton Still Waits for Ruling

"While the national debate over illegal immigration plays out in Arizona, lawyers across the country are still waiting and watching for a federal appeals court decision on a lower court ruling that invalidated Hazleton's immigration law. Today is the third anniversary of the ruling by U.S. District Judge James M. Munley that grabbed national attention in finding the southern Luzerne County city's immigration law was unconstitutional," the Republican Herald says. "The case grew out of Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta's attempt to clamp down on illegal immigration through a city ordinance that punished landlords who rented to aliens or business that employed them."

Fremont Council, Which Opposed Immigration Ordinance, Tries Pre-Emptive Surrender

The city council of Fremont, Nebraska, is considering suspending an ordinance similar to ones enacted by other cities around the country to halt illegal immigration. The council opposed efforts by citizens in Fremont to put the ordinance to a vote as a ballot proposition. "U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp will hear requests Wednesday afternoon from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund," notes the AP.

ICE Won't Say if Agency Will Help Enforce SB 1070

"Arizona's tough new immigration law is slated to take effect Thursday, but the nation's immigration enforcement agency has not indicated whether it will cooperate with police who are trying to enforce it," the Arizona Republic says.

"Without cooperation from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, much of the law would become unenforceable: Police would have no way of determining, from federal authorities, the legal status of suspected illegal immigrants as the state law requires. And that would severely hamper efforts to arrest them for violations of the law."

Sanctuary Cities Problem Draws Media Notice

"Everyone has noticed the hypocrisy of the government going after Arizona and ignoring the sanctuary cities," Bob Dane, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, told the LA Times. "They have it exactly backwards. Arizona is applying federal law, and sanctuary cities are violating it."

Beginning in the 1980s, more than 40 cities and counties adopted ordinances or resolutions declaring they were sanctuaries for immigrants. Police and other city employees were told they should not ask about a person's immigration status, and they should not tell federal agents if they learned a person was here illegally.

Judge Skeptical of Anti-SB1070 Arguments in Court

"A federal judge pushed back Thursday against a contention by the Obama Justice Department that a tough new Arizona immigration law set to take effect next week would cause 'irreparable harm' and intrude into federal immigration enforcement," the Washington Post reports. "The tension in the courtroom reflected a broader national debate over what has become a political divisive issue: whether police should have the power to question people they suspect are in the United States illegally."

Immigration a Hot Topic in Kansas Secretary of State Contest

"Law professor Kris Kobach helped write the controversial new Arizona law targeting illegal immigrants. He argues the state needs to require all voters to show an ID at the polls. Even though the secretary of state isn't a law enforcement position, Kobach has volunteered to prosecute any cases of voting fraud," notes the Kansas City Star in a story on the state's Secretary of State election, where Kobach is a candidate.

Dallas Anti-Gang Operations Net 100+ Illegal Aliens

"Federal immigration officials said Monday that 105 people were arrested during a five-day operation that ended Saturday and targeted alleged gang members . . . Among those apprehended was a Salvadoran illegal immigrant in Carrollton wanted for a home invasion, said John Chakwin, special agent in charge of the Dallas office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement," the Dallas Morning News reported.

Illegal Aliens Planning to Leave Arizona in Advance of SB 1070 Enforcement

"In adopting [SB 1070] the state embarked on a grand experiment -- trying to drive out hundreds of thousands of its residents by what the law calls 'attrition through enforcement,'" the LA Times says. "As long as there are legal Arizona residents scrambling for jobs, a slow, steady attrition of low-wage, government-educated illegal aliens is a beneficial facet of the law," said Bob Dane, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

MALDEF Suit Challenges Fremont Ordinance

"In separate lawsuits, attorneys representing the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund took aim at a new city ordinance on behalf of multiple plaintiffs in U.S. District Court in Lincoln," the Lincoln Journal-Star reports. "The ordinance approved by Fremont voters in a special election June 21 imposes penalties on employers who hire people who are in the United States illegally and landlords who give them places to live."

NJ Companies Fined Over $600,000 for Illegal Hiring

"Immigration officials in the last 10 months have levied nearly $640,000 in fines against 13 employers in New Jersey who failed to ensure that their workers were eligible to work in the United States, reports the Newark office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE," says the Bergen Record. "The increase at both state and national levels reflects a new strategy, launched last year, to crack down on illegal immigration by going after employers who hire undocumented workers."

Hearing in DOJ Lawsuit Against SB 1070 Today

"After all the shouting, all the posturing, and all the debate over who should enforce the nation's immigration laws, the United States v. Gov. Janice K. Brewer is finally coming to court on Thursday," the Washington Post says. "It is the first court hearing in the Obama administration's lawsuit against Arizona's new immigration law, a case that sets up a rare clash between the U.S. Department of Justice and an individual state over one of the nation's most divisive political issues."

David Frum: Labor Force Growth Far Higher Than Job Growth Thanks to Immigration

Guest blogging at The Atlantic, David Frum makes the point that due to immigration, labor force growth is much higher than employment growth. "Immigrants now make up some 15% of the US labor force. They are concentrated in the less skilled portion of the labor force and in industries hardest hit, especially construction. If immigration levels were curtailed, the job gap would be a lot smaller. And if illegal immigrants returned home, rather than being put on a "path to citizenship," the problem of putting the unemployed back to work would be smaller and easier."

How Tough Is Obama?

"Criminal immigration enforcement by the federal government has recently increased to levels comparable to the highest seen during the Bush administration," says USA Today about the analysis of data from TRAC, a monitoring project of Syracuse University. Readers should note two important problems with this report. First, the TRAC report measures referrals for prosecution, not the prosecutions themselves. Referrals for prosecution, which normally go to the U.S. Attorneys (within the Department of Justice) could easily be declined and often are declined for lack of resources. And even if a prosecution takes place, it does not mean that the offender prosecuted is removed. The alien could be released on bond, or the government may simply decline to initiate removal proceedings.

The second point is that even when comparing prosecution referrals and using TRAC's own numbers, the Obama administration still falls 8 percent below the Bush administration. For TRAC to call this to "immigration enforcement" (see the title of the report) and suggest that the number of prosecution referrals are comparable under the Obama and Bush administrations is seriously misleading. Finally, looking at this from a broader perspective, the TRAC reports also highlights how statistics are being manipulated to convince the American people that the Obama Administration takes immigration enforcement seriously when the exact opposite is the case.

DREAM Act Protests Call Obama's Bluff

Does anyone really believe that any of the illegal aliens brazen enough to wear cap and gown during their protest at the Hart Building will end up being deported by the Obama administration? Here, in this case, are illegal aliens going to the center of American democracy to announce that they are breaking our laws and have no intention of leaving and that they expect to be rewarded for it. And they will face no consequences. Why? Because the Obama administration wants them here. The Obama administration thinks these people who have no respect for our immigration laws are right, and you, the American public, are wrong.

Utah Will Fire Both Employees in "Vigilante" Illegal Immigrant List Case

"The Utah Department of Workforce Services announced the termination of one temporary employee who maintained a database containing information found on the list, and said a second employee would be fired soon," the LA Times says. "The agency has been conducting an internal investigation to determine how birth dates, Social Security numbers, pregnancy due dates, home addresses and other personal data were assembled into a 29-page document and released."

Arizona Prepares to Enforce SB 1070

Arizona prosecutors and police are preparing to enforce SB 1070. Training videos now warn police that illegal alien supporters with video cameras are likely to stage incidents during routine patrol stops in an attempt to discredit enforcement of the law. Prosecutors in several counties say they are working overtime to make sure they have guidelines in place for charging people under the law. And contributions to a state legal defense fund now top $1 million.

Immigration Lawyers Want to Reopen Cases for Already Deported Criminals

"Under the ruling last month, which echoed decisions by four federal circuit courts, including the one covering New York, legal residents with minor drug convictions are eligible to have an immigration judge weigh their offenses against other factors in their lives and decide whether to let them stay," says the New York Times. "But deportees who were denied such a hearing have no means to get one now. The Board of Immigration Appeals says it has no jurisdiction over any case after deportation . . . The Obama administration, which is on track to deport a record 400,000 people this fiscal year, according to government statistics, has shown no eagerness to open the door. Now two dozen legal rights groups are calling for a process that would let immigrants reopen their cases under the ruling last month."

National Guard Troop Deployment Starts Aug. 1st

"National Guard troops will head to the U.S.-Mexico border Aug. 1 for a yearlong deployment to keep a lookout for illegal border crossers and smugglers and help in criminal investigations, federal officials said Monday," according to the AP. "The troops will be armed but can use their weapons only to protect themselves, Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told a Pentagon news conference. The troops will undergo initial training and be fully deployed along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border by September."

Arizona Law Needed Given Federal Inaction

"The myths, misinformation and misleading rhetoric directed at Arizona's new immigration law are overwhelming. The Arizona law is nothing more than a duplication of portions of the existing federal Immigration Act, which has been in power for many years. However, that power has not been executed by numerous presidents, both Democrat and Republican. As a result, the states have had to enact their own legislation in order to protect citizens from the burdens created by illegal aliens," says Pat McDonough in a Baltimore Sun op-ed.

Legal Immigration System Still Broken

"Since the mid-1960s, one of the driving forces of U.S. immigration policy has been family reunification, but the renewed controversy over immigration has raised questions about whether the system is working or is tenable for the long term," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says. "Bob Dane, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform based in Washington, says the number is too high. The group advocates for cutting legal immigration by more than two-thirds. 'There is always going to be a long line to get into the United States,' he said. 'People migrate to where conditions are best for them. (It) makes sense from the individual's standpoint, but does it make sense for the receiving nation?'"

Temecula Adopts E-Verify Ordinance

"Businesses with one or more employee are now required to screen new hires through the E-Verify system, an otherwise voluntary program operated by the U.S. Department or Homeland Security. The E-Verify system enables employers to verify a worker's immigration status and Social Security number," KPCC reports. "Temecula joins neighboring cities Menifee and Lake Elsinore in putting E-Verify ordinances on the books. Several nearby cities are considering similar measures."

Texas Companies Fined $600,000 for Illegal Hiring

"Texas businesses that hired illegal workers or failed to follow immigration regulations have been fined more than $600,000 since October, though few resulted in criminal prosecutions, federal records show," according to the Houston Chronicle. "Under President Barack Obama, immigration workplace enforcement has largely targeted employers, rather than workers, and depended on audits of company paperwork that is supposed to prove employees are working legally."

State Enforcement Efforts Grow As Obama Administration Slows Federal Action

"Arizona's strict new law has generated the most controversy, but there are hundreds of immigration-related laws on the books across the country. The laws regulate employment, law enforcement, education, benefits and healthcare," notes the LA Times. "Federation for American Immigration Reform President Dan Stein said immigration policy is inevitably a partnership between states and the federal government. The states are "the keys to the kingdom" -- where immigrants get identification documents, services and jobs, he said. "If you try only to control immigration at the border ... it's an exercise in futility," he said. "National immigration policy can only be carried out with the participation of the states."

McCain Says Debate With Hayworth Like "Wrestling Match With a Pig"

"In their second, and likely final, Senate primary debate, JD Hayworth again easily defeated John McCain. McCain avoided discussing real issues, where he has a record of flip-flopping in a massive election year race to the right, and instead attacked JD on non-substantive, odd areas," says Rachel Alexander, social media director for the J.D. Hayworth campaign.

McCain campaign manager Mark Buse said in a statement after the debate, "Senator McCain clearly demonstrated yet again tonight that he will be most effective in meeting the great challenges facing Arizona and our nation in the United States Senate. From jobs and the economy to securing our border to strengthening our national security, Senator McCain offered a positive, common sense conservative agenda for Arizona."

Large Majority of Georgia Voters Support Arizona Style Law

Over sixty-eight percent of Georgia voters surveyed said they would support an Arizona-style measure there. "Georgia is actually home to more "unauthorized immigrants" than Arizona, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report. The report says 480,000 illegal immigrants were living in Georgia as of January of last year, while 460,000 were in Arizona. Georgia ranks sixth among states in these statistics, behind California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois, respectively. Arizona is seventh," notes the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Split Among Evangelical Groups on Amnesty

"At a time when the prospects for immigration overhaul seem most dim, supporters have unleashed a secret weapon: a group of influential evangelical Christian leaders," says the New York Times. "Normally on the opposite side of political issues backed by the Obama White House, these leaders are aligning with the president to support an overhaul that would include some path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here."

Guest Worker Demand Slumps in Gulf

"Nowhere was demand for foreign guest workers so high as on the Gulf Coast, where certification requests to the Labor Department -- the first step in obtaining an H-2B visa -- skyrocketed in recent years. In Texas, requests grew 300 percent from 2002 to 2007, driven mostly by construction . . . Now the calls for help are different. The Deepwater Horizon oil well has spilled at least 94 million barrels of crude into the Gulf, idling the region's fishermen and scaring away the beachgoers whom guest workers serve. The attention of employers who once pressed [Rep.] Boustany for more H-2B visas is now consumed by the oil spill, according to a spokesman," says Congress Daily.

Immigration is Back As Campaign Issue

"No matter what its fate in the federal courts, the proposed Arizona law already is having an impact on the midterm elections that will determine which party controls Congress and 37 governor's offices," says USA Today. "The deep split in the electorate is reflected in campaign strategies. Hispanic Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval in Nevada and Senate candidate Marco Rubio in Florida, have endorsed the Arizona law."

PA Lawmakers Want to Enact AZ Style Law

"If some legislators, Republicans and Democrats, have their way, the people with illegal status would be exposed, and the people who hire them would be penalized. Aspects of the controversial immigration law in Arizona have migrated to Pennsylvania where lawmakers are taking aggressive stands to address the issue in employment and public benefits," the Chambersburg Public Opinion says. "The Arizona law aims to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. A number of government leaders in Pennsylvania agree with Arizona, including U.S. Congressman Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, according to his press secretary, Jeff Urbanchuk."

Whitman Backs Away from Employer Inspections

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is backing away from a key immigration proposal she advanced in this spring's competitive GOP primary after farmers and other business interests expressed displeasure with her idea," the Miami Herald says. "As she campaigned this spring, Whitman said she would send state and local officials into California businesses to look for illegal immigrants - her own version of federal immigration workplace inspections."

10,000 Limit on U Visas Reached

"The U.S. government announced Thursday that it has approved a record 10,000 U visas for immigrant crime victims nationwide. This is the first year the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has issued the maximum number of U visas authorized by Congress during a fiscal year," the Modesto Bee reports. The high backlog in U visa applications appears to be the reason for the jump in approvals this year.

Rogue Smuggling Ship En Route to Canada?

"Canadian authorities are monitoring a Thai cargo ship following reports it may be on its way to the British Columbia coast with more than 200 migrants on board," the National Post reports. "The MV Sun Sea was last spotted in the Gulf of Thailand, where it was the subject of a lookout issued by the Philippine Coast Guard, which called it "a suspected people-smuggling vessel." On the weekend, Colombo's Sunday Observer newspaper reported that while the 59-metre vessel was originally headed for Australia it was now sailing toward the Canadian coast."

Is Naming Illegal Aliens 'Vigilantism'? - NPR Says So

"Vigilantism in the American west is nothing new though there appears to be a novel wrinkle coming out of Utah. Someone sent a list with the names, addresses, phone numbers and personal information of 1,300 people who the sender claims are illegal immigrants to media outlets and government offices in Utah," says Frank James at NPR's blog. "As Nate Carlisle, an SLT reporter who has covered the story told All Things Considered co-host Michele Norris during an interview on Wednesday's program, state officials want to know who's compiled the list and distributed it because privacy and other laws may have been violated."

Mississippi Debate Focuses on Anchor Babies

"In a Clarion-Ledger article published Monday, Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant said illegal immigrants are creating a burden for Mississippi hospitals. 'You have some that have babies - anchor babies - and don't pay for it,' Bryant said," according to the Clarion-Ledger. "The executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists called 'anchor baby' a 'loaded term that does not encourage fair coverage of the issue of immigration.'"

Ed Koch: Obama Must Rethink Immigration

"The President appears to be telling the American public that the U.S. government can't keep our borders safe from illegal entry. But if the feds really wanted to prevent illegal entry, they would send the National Guard to the borders with the mission of preventing illegals from entering, which is what most Americans believe they could and should do," says former New York Mayor Ed Koch. "Is the Justice Department saying the federal government is unable to keep our borders safe, not only from the criminals seeking to cross, but also from the economic refugee seeking a safe haven to get a job, medical care and a public education for his family, all costing, in this case, Arizona, billions of dollars? Is that acceptable?"

States Sign On To Defend SB 1070

"Eight states announced Wednesday that they are backing Arizona in the federal government's lawsuit against the state attempting to block the implementation of its controversial immigration law," notes Politico. "The Arizona law allows state police to ask those they suspect of being illegal immigrants to provide documentation proving citizenship. If the suspect is unable to provide documents proving citizenship, police are allowed to detain the person until their citizenship can be proved."

Dan Stein Discusses Illegal Immigration With Katie Couric

FAIR President Dan Stein discussed illegal immigration on CBS News' @KatieCouric show yesterday. Watch the video below.

TPS Again Extended for Salvadorans, Others

By Jack Martin

The administration announced July 9 a further extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans. TPS for Salvadorans was first adopted in March 2001 and was due to expire in September 2010. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TPS was provided for Salvadorans in the United States at that time because of, "environmental conditions resulting from a series of severe earthquakes." The extension is through March 2012. The beneficiaries of TPS are most likely to be in the country illegally and benefit by getting a valid work permit and social security number. The law establishing TPS allows a foreign government to weigh in with the US Government in requesting the extension of TPS, and this is what the Salvadoran government has done each time that the TPS designation was due to expire. El Salvador benefits by not having to worry about jobs for thousands of its citizens who could face deportation if TPS were ended and it benefits from the remittances that are sent back to the country by Salvadorans working in the United States.

TPS was provided for Haitians in January this year after Haiti was rocked by a devastating earthquake. Now it appears that Haitians living illegally in the United States are nervous about signing up for work permits and Social Security cards because it means creating a governmental record of their presence and location that some think could be used in the future to deport them. Information from DHS indicates that 35,005 Haitians have signed up so far. This is far fewer than were expected, so the period for registering for TPS was extended on July 12 for an additional 6 months, i.e., from the deadline of July 20 to January 18, 2011.

Why Democratic Governors Are Right to Be Concerned About SB 1070

"The Cook Report has listed the gubernatorial races in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California as 'toss-ups,' and a majority of people in the states oppose the Obama administration's lawsuit. [Jennifer] Duffy [of the Cook Report] says immigration has already played a big role in the states' primaries - most notably helping Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican who signed the new immigration law, soar in her state's polls," says the New Republic. "I was not convinced she was going to win her own primary," Duffy says. "Her numbers have skyrocketed since the law was passed, and, now, not only do I think she'll win the primary, but she'll have a better than fighting chance in the election."

9th Circuit Ruling Widens Asylum Scope

A three judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Board of Immigration Appeals must consider Guatemalan women as a "particular social group" for the purposes of asylum claims. "A three-judge panel in San Francisco said immigration officials must consider recognizing young Guatemalan women as a "particular social group" for asylum purposes, given the claim that government officials in Guatemala turn a blind eye to the torture and murder of women," Courthouse News reported.

Sen. Reid: No Illegal Construction Workers in Nevada?

"When a reporter from KLAS-TV in Las Vegas told Reid a 2009 Pew Hispanic Center report found 17 percent of the nation's construction workers were undocumented, the Nevada Democrat replied: 'That may be some place, but it's not here in Nevada,'" Politico says. "Political opponents have tried to twist Reid's words, saying he believes there are no illegal workers in Nevada. But Reid spokesman Jim Manley clarified his boss' comments on Wednesday, saying the majority leader was simply disputing the reporter's statistic and did not say the state has zero illegal workers."

California City Considers E-Verify Ordinance

"Temecula is poised to follow its neighbors, Lake Elsinore and Menifee, in implementing the E-Verify program, which draws on the resources of the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether someone can legally work in the United States," MyValleyNews.com reported. "Business owners can get an answer about eligibility in seconds, using only an Internet browser, according to the Temecula City Attorney's Office. E- Verify costs nothing to use, city officials said."

SB 1070 Opponents Still Fixated on Profiling

Two law professors in a Washington Post op-ed say that the Supreme Court should overturn all established precedents in immigration law enforcement. They focus their ire on United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, which held that Mexican appearance was a valid factor to consider for the Border Patrol when they consider stopping a car near the border. "As for the legal system as a whole: Brignoni-Ponce has been exceptional and out of the constitutional mainstream since it was decided. The U.S. and Arizona Supreme Courts should reconsider the endorsement of race-based law enforcement, which is contrary to modern notions of equality in America, and conform constitutional law to the principles held dear by most Americans."

Amnesty Supporters Low on Optimism But Dem. Leadership May Still Try

Joan McCarter at the Daily Kos says that amnesty supporters believe that with all of the other issues the Senate plans to deal with, pushing amnesty legislation may not be in the cards this year.

Meanwhile, Rep. Xavier Becerra said that the House Democratic leadership could still move amnesty legislation. "ecerra asserted that Republican attacks on immigration reform, and pivots by some GOP senators to oppose comprehensive reform, made it more difficult for House leaders to convince rank-and-file members to cast votes on difficult legislation that would die in the upper chamber anyway," said The Hill blog.

White House Admits SB 1070 Lawsuit Unpopular With Dem. Governors

"The White House admitted today several Democratic governors complained about the Justice Department lawsuit against Arizona's immigration law - saying the legal fight is angering their constituents and distracting from federal efforts to boost the sluggish economy," says Fox News. "Thanks to the Arizona lawsuit, the Obama Administration has made sure that the immigration issue will play in every major campaign and that will work against the interests of incumbent Democrats," Dan Stein said. "Illegal immigration is a huge concern among voters, certainly in the West, and all across the country. The Democratic governors are telling the administration, 'Hey, you guys are out of your mind.'"

North Dakota Legislator Announces Arizona-style Bill

"North Dakota lawmaker from Fargo said he'll propose a bill next year based on Arizona's controversial immigration law. Republican state Rep. Jim Kasper said he wants his bill to be as close as possible to the Arizona law, which mandates that law officers check the immigration status of people they stop or arrest and have reason to believe might be in the country illegally," the AP reports.

Dan Stein on CNBC Discusses Illegal Immigration

FAIR president Dan Stein appeared today on CNBC to discuss the impact of illegal immigration. Watch below.

Bilbray, Gutierrez Debate Amnesty, Enforcement

Reps. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) debated what to do about illegal immigration on ABC News' This Week program on Sunday. "In a "This Week" debate, two top members of Congress on immigration issues agreed that the U.S. needs better Immigration enforcement, but found no common ground on what to do with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S.," notes ABC in a blog post about the show.

Maryland Governor's Race Could Feel SB 1070 Impact

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is running scared from the Obama administration lawsuit against SB 1070. O'Malley was one of several governors saying the lawsuit would cloud an election that was supposed to be about jobs. (Set aside the question of why Democratic governors want to run on jobs with unemployment at 10 percent and unsustainable union pension commitments requiring layoffs.)

"O'Malley serves as vice chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, so he might be particularly attuned to potential problems facing all of his counterparts seeking reelection. And O'Malley and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer were just tapped to head the National Governors Association's homeland security committee, meaning he'll keep a close eye on the topic of immigration nationally," the Baltimore Sun notes.

AG Holder Says He May File 2nd Lawsuit Against SB 1070

"Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.said Sunday that if the federal government does not stop Arizona's immigration law from taking effect, it might launch a second legal challenge to combat any racial profiling that occurs," the Washington Post says. "On CBS's 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, Holder said that if the law takes effect, the Justice Department might have grounds for a second challenge."

Employer Audits Viewed as "Silent Raids"

"Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted audits of employee files at more than 2,900 companies. The agency has levied a record $3 million in civil fines so far this year on businesses that hired unauthorized immigrants, according to official figures. Thousands of those workers have been fired, immigrant groups estimate," says Julia Preston with the New York Times. "Republican lawmakers say Mr. Obama is talking tough, but in practice is lightening up. 'Even if discovered, illegal aliens are allowed to walk free and seek employment elsewhere' said Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee. 'This lax approach is particularly troubling,' he said, 'at a time when so many American citizens are struggling to find jobs.'"

Dan Stein on Remembering Terry Anderson

Terry Anderson's tragic passing is an irreplaceable loss for the nation. He exemplified what is best about being an American citizen. Terry was always unwilling to accept compliments or accolades. He was not interested in honor, recognition or high position. He merely sought to tell the truth as he saw it, and to make a difference in the lives of those he cared about. In doing so, he exposed certain grim realities of decades of neglect and betrayal for the community he called home. No one better exemplified the distance between the true interests of the African American community and the positions of the professional leadership in American politics. Terry was always the real deal, authentic, honest, straightforward and unafraid. Terry was not only a man of action, he inspired others to act. He did so because he gave others courage. When he stood up to speak, everyone listened, everyone heard and everyone understood. He was a man of uncommon honesty and integrity. He spoke from his heart and did so in a way that Americans needed to hear. No one can ever replace Terry. He made a huge difference for America and the neighborhood he sought to save from the uncaring hand of our political system.

U of Minn. Professor: If You Oppose Illegal Immigration, You Aren't Morally Developed

Katherine Fennelly, a professor at the University of Minnesota, tells Huffington Post readers they are morally superior for supporting amnesty; and she says that people who focus on the fact illegal immigrants broke the law are not morally developed. "Analysis of much of the recent angry rhetoric over "illegal immigration" suggests that many Americans are stuck at the conventional level of moral development, in which the statement "they broke the law" becomes the main criterion for crafting policy responses," says Fennelly.

AZ Legal Defense Fund Raises $500,000

"Tensions over Arizona's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigration remain heated, with reports that a fund for legal defense of the state measure is growing, and that federal lawmakers are looking for ways to overhaul the nation's immigration system in pieces," USA Today says. "Thomas Chaput, a LaGrange, Ga., man who donated $20 to the fund, told the Tucson-based [Daily Star] that he did it 'because our president is stupid.'" The donation fund is at http://www.keepazsafe.com/

Maricopa Atty. Lays Out SB 1070 Enforcement Rules

"Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley on Thursday laid out the ground rules for law-enforcement officers within his jurisdiction who want to charge crimes under Arizona's new immigration law," the Arizona Republic says. "The law, known as Senate Bill 1070, creates three new misdemeanor crimes: willful failure to complete or carry an alien-registration document, unlawful stopping to hire and pick up undocumented immigrants for work, and unlawful transporting, moving, concealing, harboring or shielding of illegal immigrants."

Arizona Democrat Finesses SB 1070 Response

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords says that while she opposes SB 1070, she believes it was valuable to "wake up" the federal government, the Arizona Daily Star reports. In a speech in her south-eastern Arizona district, "Giffords also said it's ironic U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder filed a suit against the state, saying Arizona shouldn't intrude on the federal government's responsibility. If federal officials had the border under control, 'we wouldn't be here. No lawsuit. No SB 1070,' she said."

FAIR's Dan Stein Explains the Politics of Immigration to Rick Sanchez

FAIR president Dan Stein appeared on CNN yesterday to discuss immigration issues including illegal immigration, SB 1070 and amnesty.

Part 1

Part 2

California Republican Gains Support from Hispanic Voters in Tandem With Tough Stance on Employer Sanctions

"Why are Latino voters shifting their allegiances toward Meg Whitman? A new Field poll outtoday shows a tie race between the Republican and Democratic nominee Jerry Brown. Whitman has gained traction among Latino voters -- Brown leads by only 11 points with that demographic -- to a degree that has taken many Democratic analysts by surprise," says Marc Ambinder with The Atlantic Monthly. "It's probably not a blip, and so it is an inversion of conventional wisdom. It may simply be a consequence of very effective and narrow targeting of Whitman's anti-immigration primary media. It may be that the $91 million she's spent so far has lifted her standing with everyone. It may well be that associating with Wilson used to be an unforgivable sin, but it no longer is."

Profiling Not Among Legal Arguments Made by Feds in AZ Suit

"The Department of Justice lawsuit against Arizona, seeking to prevent its new immigration law from taking effect, voices more than one substantive challenge to the law, but one issue is wholly missing from the department's legal case: racial profiling," notes Chris Good with The Atlantic Monthly.

Lawsuit Won't Deter Utah Immigration Bill

"The Obama administration's lawsuit against Arizona over its tough law cracking on illegal immigration won't deter state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, who says he is "full steam ahead" in sponsoring a Utah version of the Arizona law," the Salt Lake Tribune says. "Sandstrom said he also wants to join other legislators in filing a brief supporting the legality of the Arizona law and based on his discussions with Arizona lawmakers, he is confident the courts will uphold the state law."

Oakland County Deputies Start Fingerprint Program

"[Oakland County, Michigan Sheriff] Bouchard announced yesterday that Oakland County will join 437 jurisdictions in 24 states to tap into the database, which would alert the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to determine whether illegal immigrants could face deportation," the Grand Rapid Press reports.

Birmingham Suburb Passes Arizona-style Ordinance

"A Birmingham suburb is cracking down on illegal immigration, passing a measure closely resembling a controversial law in Arizona. By a vote of 4 to 2, the Irondale City Council gave police the power to check immigration status," WSFA reports. "Taking a page or two from Arizona, Irondale City Councilman Craig Sanderson drafted a measure directing police officers to check the immigration status of the people they pull over or encounter during investigations."

Michelle Malkin: Open Borders Dept. Of Justice Vs. America

"The Obama administration's lawsuit against Arizona, officially unveiled on Tuesday, is an affront to all law-abiding Americans. It is a threatening salvo aimed at all local, county, or state governments that dare to take care control of the immigration chaos in their own backyards. And it is being driven by open-borders extremists who have dedicated their political careers to subverting homeland security policies in the name of compassion and diversity," says Michelle Malkin in her column today.

Gov. Jan Brewer Says Arizona Will Beat All Lawsuits

"Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer yesterday joined the chorus of GOP lawmakers decrying the Obama administration's lawsuit against her state's controversial immigration law, insisting that the law is constitutional and will prevail in court," CBS News says. "As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels," Brewer said. "Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice... These funds could be better used against the violent Mexican cartels than the people of Arizona."

Mexican Governors Boycott Conference Over SB 1070

Gov. Jan Brewer said she would cancel the planned border governors conference in Phoenix after the governors of Mexico's six border states said they would not come as part of a boycott of Arizona for enacting SB 1070. The 30 year tradition has the meeting move among the different American and Mexican border states, with Brewer being chair of the group this year. "The forums resemble any international summit, and raise similar questions over what tangible results come of them. A couple of years ago Mr. Schwarzenegger, serving as host in Los Angeles, took a delegation of governors on a fact-finding trip to the Universal Studios theme park," the New York Times reports.

On Alleged Racial Profiling: "President's Public Claims about SB1070 are not reflected in the Government's Brief"

"The government's complaint in the Arizona case, which challenges the law commonly referred to as SB 1070, asserts repeatedly that the law frustrates the federal government's ability to implement national immigration policy," says James Doty at Salon. "Entirely absent from the government's argument, though, is any claim that the law encourages officers to racially profile Hispanic residents and violate their Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable searches -- the aspects of the law that many people find the most objectionable."

New Video: Dan Stein on Fox News July 6th

FAIR President Dan Stein appeared on Fox News today to discuss SB 1070, immigration reform and birthright citizenship. Watch below.

New Study Shows High Costs of Illegal Immigration

"The cost of harboring illegal immigrants in the United States is a staggering $113 billion a year -- an average of $1,117 for every "native-headed" household in America -- according to a study conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)," says Fox News.

DOJ Files Suit to Overturn SB 1070

"The Department of Justice filed suit this morning asking a federal judge to block Arizona's new law aimed at illegal immigrants from taking effect. Legal papers filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix contend SB 1070 "is preempted by federal law and therefore violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.' The lawsuit says the legislation conflicts with the federal government's need to balance the competing interests of enforcing federal immigration law with the country's diplomatic relations with other countries, including Mexico," Capitol Media Services reports.

SB 1070 Opponents Want to Make Arizona Just Like California?

"Activists hope that SB 1070, which Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law in April and is scheduled to take effect July 29, will generate enough angry new Latino voters like Robles to reshape this state's hard-line approach to immigration. As they fan out across sun-bleached barrios this summer, the activists cite the example of California," the LA Times says. "More than 1 million California Latinos became citizens after the passage of anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187 in 1994, putting the state solidly in the hands of Democrats and pushing immigration crackdowns to the margins."

Rhode Island Troopers Find Benefits to Immigration Enforcement

"From Woonsocket to Westerly, the troopers patrolling the nation's smallest state are reporting all illegal immigrants they encounter, even on routine stops such as speeding, to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE," the Boston Globe reports. "With Congress mired in an increasingly angry debate over the 12 million illegal immigrants nationwide, police are left to contend with the fallout, from hard-core criminals who hide their identities to hard-working laborers who drive without licenses because they need to earn money to send home to their families."

Washington Gov. Cherry Picks Amnesty Arguments

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire picked cherries at a farm as part of a publicity campaign to get a guest worker program and amnesty (AgJobs). "She used the visit to reiterate her goal of boosting agricultural exports by 80 percent in five years -- a feat that she said will require additional water storage and immigration reform that allows for a smoother guest worker program," says the Yakima Herald. "I've seen the need of our farmers. People don't understand that farm work is not just for anybody. It takes skill, it takes training," Gregoire said. "For the good of our state, for the good of agriculture, I want to see Congress tackle immigration reform."

Voters Pick Enforcement Over Amnesty

"The Obama administration wants comprehensive immigration overhaul to come first, while Republican leaders are pushing for improved border security as the top priority. A Fox News poll released Friday asked American voters what should happen first: 59 percent think the government should secure the border first, while 30 percent think the priority should be new legislation," Fox News reports.

GOP Says Obama Should Secure the Border, Not Lobby for Amnesty

Reaction was swift from Republicans yesterday after President Obama tried to use a speech at American University to lobby for amnesty. "Trying to reform immigration policies before we secure the border is foolish. If your bathtub is overflowing, you don't deal first with the water already in the tub. You first turn off the faucet to stop the flow. We can't solve the immigration issue without stopping the flow by first securing the border," said Rep. Bob Bishop (R-UT).

"John McCain and the 11 Republicans who were on board with that [2007 amnesty] I think they learned their lesson in 2007, that it was incredibly unpopular among voters," said Ira Mehlman, National Media Director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Watch this video with Rep. Brian Bilbray below.

Cross Border Gunfire Hits El Paso City Hall

"Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today demanded that President Obama send more troops to the Texas-Mexico border and used the shots that hit El Paso City Hall as an example of increased violence on the border," the El Paso Times said. "Yesterday, gunfire from the cartels pierced that threshold and struck City Hall in El Paso. Fortunately no one was injured or killed. But that good fortune was not the result of effective border control - it was mere luck that the bullets struck buildings rather than bodies," said the letter.

21 Killed in Drug Gang Shootout Near Border

A gunbattle between drug smugglers left 21 dead just 12 miles south of the Arizona border. "Gang violence near the Arizona border has led to calls from officials in the U.S. state for greater control of the border and is one reason given for a controversial law passed in April requiring Arizona police to ask people about their immigration status in certain situations," notes Fox News.

Dan Stein Op-Ed: Using Tax Dollars to Intimidate States on Immigration

FAIR President Dan Stein has an op-ed in today's Washington Times discussing the Obama administration effort to intimidate Arizona and other states by filing suit against SB 1070. Similar suits have been launched against other local reform efforts by communities fed up with illegal immigration, but the Obama administration is now involving the federal government in an effort to keep states from enforcing the law. Read the full op-ed.

Congressman Tells Town Hall Meeting the Border is Secure

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) told the public at one of his recent Town Hall meetings that the border was secure. He also took a swipe at the Minutemen organization, asking one Town Hall attendee "Who are you going to kill today?"

Obama Calls for "Comprehensive" Amnesty Legislation

"With immigration stories dominating headlines nearly every week, President Obama is delivering a speech Thursday morning that will frame the issue on his own terms -- calling for comprehensive legislation and the importance of keeping the border secure," the Washington Post reports. "The president has been looking for ways to appear more proactive, rather than reactive, on immigration -- a hot-button political issue that is important to Hispanics in the Democratic base, who could play an important part in the outcome of the midterm elections."

New Brewer Ad Points to Obama for Border Problems

The New York Daily News says that Arizona Gov Jan Brewer, "is taking the immigration fight straight to President Obama. Upset with the federal government's inaction on combating illegal immigration, the Arizona governor has made a campaign ad that addresses the President directly. "Washington is broken Mr. President," the governor says. "Do your job. Secure our borders."