Articles and reports on immigration issues

December 2006 Bush sees chance to pursue amnesty with Democratic majority as ‘a wonderful opportunity' English First campaigns against Bush choice for GOP chairman Bush and liberal Democrats may not have the votes they want to pass amnesty for illegals Immigration supervisor pleads guilty to pocketing $600,000 in bribes for fake documents

Swift & Co. meat plants shut down following arrest of hundreds of illegals Uncontrolled supply of illegal workers undermines labor laws, unemployment, Social Security systems Brooklyn judge authors children's book about unchecked immigration

November 2006 Immigration supervisor pleads guilty to pocketing $600,000 in bribes for fake documents Bush’s choice for new GOP Chairman seeks to undo the efforts of those who supported 'enforcement first' Bush sees election day results as an opportunity to pass amnesty legislation Federal officials, Congressmen, even Texas’ Governor believe terrorists have crossed the Mexico-U.S. border Tancredo is reelected, but predicts hard times for those favoring immigration enforcement Some in the new breed of Democrats sound tough on immigration

Agents convicted of shooting drug smuggler seek new trial Voters make English the official language in Arizona In Arizona, immigration conservatives lose, while enforcement measures win Immigration minister declares there will be no amnesty for undocumented workers in Canada Fake documents use by illegal workers is increasing, even in Kansas Hispanics and the South – one county’s story

October 2006 A profile of poverty in America - 2006 Despite pleas for new trial, calls for investigation, Border Patrol agents receive lengthy sentences Bush signs 700 miles of border fence into law Some Democrats at odds with their party as well as President Bush over immigration Immigration may be the key issue for many voters in tightly contested districts Immigration, legal and illegal, fuels the growth spurt that finds U.S. with population of 300 million Once the House approves 700 miles of double border fence, Senate gives Bush administration authority to use the money for whatever it wants

Enforcement efforts outgunned by cartels at the Mexican border, Congressional report says Gilchrist forced from stage at Columbia University Cuts in funds mean California county will be able to train only a small number of its deputies in immigration law Minutemen now have a Central Florida Chapter Illegals turn parts of U.S. Southwest desert into environmental disaster area I-10 is serving as a pipeline for human smuggling in southern U.S.

September 2006 Congress approves 700 mile border fence, hiring of 1,500 more border agents No free speech for border agent suspended for speaking to Congressman GOP forum hears results of summer field hearings, call for ending gap between American voters and Washington elites House Republicans will make one final push for border security-only bill before election Muslim immigration to US expected to double in next four years Mexican President-Elect Calderón expects Bush to enact U.S. immigration reform before he leaves office

Schwarzenegger vetoes legislation that would give licenses to illegals Illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America pour into Texas to give birth Flood of immigrants is costing young Americans jobs Illegal immigrants crowd jail, even in South Carolina Poll shows Georgians think most new immigrants are illegal Colorado DMV swamped with phony papers from illegal aliens Western Union settles charges with $3 million fine in Arizona

August 2006 American Legion members hear their organization lauded for its support of secure borders Bush fails to gain support among House Republicans for his guest-worker plan Pence plan betrays supporters of enforcement-first Border agents facing prison sentence receive bi-partisan support from Congress; members asking for White House reviews, Congressional hearings ICE says it 'welcomes tips from the public' regarding illegal  aliens, will pay tipsters What towns will do to control illegal immigration Conviction of Border Patrol agents riles their union chief Cost of local communities’ services for illegals is discussed at House Judiciary Committee hearing Immigration may be a cause as bedbug infestations rise across U.S. With fake IDs, GAO investigators  entered U.S. from both Mexico and Canada

Texas border sheriffs say they are outgunned by Mexican drug cartels, but want to show federal government ‘how it should be done’ School custodian, an illegal alien, rapes freshman girl in Arizona high school Northern New Jersey town considers law that would fine landlords for renting to illegals California temp agency sues grower for hiring illegals and gaining ‘unfair competitive advantage’ San Diego officials say feds are using taxpayers as the ‘doormat’ for illegal border crossings Border crossers moving from Arizona deserts toward California English now a bipartisan priority in Kansas Oregon GOP would deny automatic citizenship to children born in U.S. to illegals Chicago suburbs are cracking down on uninsured motorists 25 Illegal Mexican workers caught at Alaska seafood plant

July 2006 Conservative leaders will withhold their support over amnesty vote Senate reverses itself, denies funds for new border fence Hayworth continues to oppose compromise, seeks security legislation first L-1 visas being used to lower U.S. wages

Georgia representatives insist on security first State Appeals Court says New York DMV can deny licenses to illegal aliens Congress sets out to again shortchange California and other border states on jail funding

June 2006 Senate may be warming to House’s 'enforcement first’ approach Black leader stresses "Mass illegal immigration is not a victimless crime" House, Senate announce competing series of public hearings on immigration bills Sensenbrenner, Tancredo term Senate immigration bill “outrageous” Budget Office reports that Senate immigration bill would cost taxpayers $50 billion, would legalize nearly 20 million immigrants Programmers tell feds 'U.S. workers need not apply' for these tech jobs U.S. officials seek to avoid a boon in document fraud; forgers say “We'll find a way” Public is moving away from Bush on illegal immigration

30 states are considering bills to target employers of aliens Texas woman run off road, raped by illegal aliens Bilbray win in San Diego is seen as rebuff of Bush proposals on illegals Pennsylvania city leads the pack in cracking down on illegals Texas Governor announces plan to install hundreds of cameras on border with Mexico ACLU hits Texas sheriff for enforcing the law Illegal labor pushes down wages in Arizona construction industry Dunkin' Donuts will advertise – 'This company hires lawful workers only' Ohio sheriffs taking all the steps they can to counter illegal immigration

May 2006 House-Senate clash set over immigration reform Majorities of Republicans in House and Senate vote against amnesty legislation, but Bush continues to push for passage Immigrations proposals would skip the millions who overstay visas House Republicans not warming up to Bush proposals; Sensenbrenners says White House had requested some of the House bill’s provisions Senate kills amendment that would require borders are secure before other provisions in Senate bill take effect Despite President's address to the nation, Tancredo questions Bush's commitment to enforce immigration laws May 1 rallies backfired, moving Americans toward tougher enforcement of immigration laws Gingrich says Senate's immigration bill would allow 30-36 million illegals to stay in U.S. Sensenbrenner on his House bill ‘If it’s harsh and punitive, so be it’ Poll - Americans prefer House approach on immigration; majority say there are plenty of Americans to fill low-wage jobs

Arizona border agents' union dismisses Bush immigration proposal as a “Trojan horse.” Arizona border sheriff is dismayed over Bush proposals At least 12 Chicago banks offer mortgages to illegals after Illinois agency develops special program So. Florida municipal police assist ICE in some immigration arrests Forgers are earning millions, possibly billions, in documents for illegal aliens County sheriffs agree U.S./Mexico border is ‘wide open’ Restaurants in Massachusetts town will be prohibited from hiring illegals Los Angeles County pays $276 million per year in welfare to children of illegals Blacks denounce U.S. immigration preference of Mexicans over black immigrants

April 2006 Minutemen building caravan to cross country for rallies, reach Washington with protest against weak immigration efforts Even the Voice of America proclaims “Mexico is Key to U.S. Immigration Woes” Bush opposes boycotts, says U.S. national anthem should be sung in English Newsman Dobbs provokes violent outburst to the term "illegal alien" from Latino activist making another bid for the limelight Executives, workers arrested in immigration raids on IFCO Systems in nine states U.S. should consider Mexico’s immigration laws Tancredo - Americans want secure borders – not amnesty Poll shows majority of likely voters oppose amnesty for illegals Counsel for 9/11 commission says bills contianing amnesty provisions are “just asking for trouble” from terrorists Congressional Budget Office estimates cost of Senate amnesty 'compromise' at between $22 and $52 billion for first 10 years

Tancredo defends his role as 'lightning rod' on immigration in new book No special programs needed - government’s own data show that enforcement alone would shrink illegal immigration 183 illegal alien criminals arrested in Florida Ohio sheriff warns businesses not to hire illegal aliens – on billboard Georgia Governor Purdue signs strict immigration bill into law Low-wage illegal aliens oust U.S. workers from construction, cleanup jobs in Alabama “Things are completely out of control at the border” - what Border agents are really saying The view from Mexico - "Los Angeles has never stopped being ours" Florida revokes more that 2,500 drivers licenses and ID cards Congressmen push for English as the official language Possible Iraqi spy decided who got asylum at U.S. Citizensip and Immigration Service

March 2006 Senate Democrats insist on protecting illegal alien felons, legislation stalls before spring recess Filibuster threat may spell end of immigration reform effort for 2006 National immigration debate brings increased influence to Tom Tancredo Polls show that Senators are legislating against the will of American voters Tancredo expresses dismay at Senate Judiciary Committee action Amnesty, or no legislation at all, may be likely outcome of Senate immigration debate 'Enforcement First' supporters warn Senate that support of amnesty will “doom” any chance for reform this year Under Specter’s bill, illegals could stay in U.S. indefinitely Catholic bishops attract criticism with support of amnesty for illegals Tancredo knocks foreign governments lobbying for amnesty in U.S. At the border, land, wildlife, even ranch animals are the casualties

Georgia man sees campaign to get federal immigration law enforced as his duty Ohio representatives say immigrants shouldn't count in census, or toward seats in Congress Arizona House votes for referenda question to declare English the state’s official lanuage Counties on the southern border are low in income and education, high in violence and disease Colorado legislators astounded at number of illegals discovered in just three days of accidents and traffic stops While discussion of illegal immigration starts in Congress, states are already acting Smuggling suspect orders gang members to shoot at U.S. border agents Bill in Maryland legislature would make English state's official language Illegal immigrants cost North Carolina taxpayers $210M per year in education The illegals may be deported or jailed, but popular Florida school principal is dead

February 2006 Rep. Tancredo calls Sen. Specter’s bill an ‘Unmitigated Disaster’ U.S. gives millions to Latin nations to protect their borders, while its own border remains porous Tancredo says church activists are “out of step” on immigration Minuteman founder continues political, lobbying efforts Sheriff tells Congress there's "no doubt" that Mexican military crossed into Texas with drugg smuggler in January Tech companies use L visas to avoid hiring Americans

Texas Governor, alarmed by border crime, initiates a state border protection program New York refuses them licenses, but illegals keep on driving Cuban-Americans reconsidering their political alliance after Coast Guard rules refugees must go back to the island Congress holds hearing on Texas incursion, involvement of Mexican military in drug smuggling Arizona House moves toward taxing money transfers, paying for border troops Activists in Massachusetts trying to keep illegals from American banking

January 2006 Bush continues push for guest worker program; but Rep. Lamar Smith says Bush plan would hurt U.S. workers Guest worker proposals attacked –“Our primary responsibility as the federal government is not to ensure a bottom line for corporate America” - Tancredo RNC considers opposition to amnesty, but ultimately is controlled by Bush Immigration officer remains paralyzed, crackdown on drug and immigrant smugglers prompts warnings to agents Miers wasn’t enough. Bush appoints a lightweight Myers, this time to a critical position at ICE ‘Overstays’ estimated at one-third of illegals in U.S.; are focus of new ICE effort Tancredo - Latin American countries should address their internal problems, not count on U.S. open border to provide jobs through open borders Tancredo to Fox - Mind Your Own Business Congressman Hayworth publishes “Whatever It Takes,” calling for troops on the border

'Smuggling plastic explosives is clearly a job Americans won't do’ quips father of 9/11 victim after DHS alert warns of Mexicans crossing border to sell explosives MS-13 gang aims to gain control of cities, regions in U.S Armed standoff at the border in Texas over drug smugglers in military uniforms Tijuana to San Diego drug smuggling tunnel featured lighting, ventilation and a groundwater drainage system Arizona ranch signed over by county judge to two illegal immigrants Texas school bus may have been used to smuggle immigrants State legislatures expected to consider record number of bills on illegal immigration ‘Ghost’ population of immigrants with fake IDs cited by local officials in Minnesota Minnesota governor wants enforcement team to check status of those involved in trafficking, identity theft, drug distribution and terrorism Three Colorado Democrats join campaign for ballot initiative to keep benefits from illegal aliens