And you can start by building one of these, Mr. President.
Posted on 08/12/2005 8:42:12 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON — A controversial proposal to create civilian militias to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border was greeted with criticism Thursday by immigrant rights groups that said the amateur force of volunteers could lead to vigilantism.
Republican lawmakers in the House, led by Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, filed a bill last month that would use $6.8 billion in homeland security funds to train the militias, which would serve under the command of border state governors.
Militia members would operate as sworn peace officers and be allowed to carry arms, make arrests and "use any means and any force authorized by state law to prevent individuals from unlawfully entering" the country.
"I think this is borne of a frustration that the federal government is unable or unwilling to secure the borders," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, one of 47 lawmakers who co-sponsored the Border Protection Corps Act.
Smith said the militias would "supplement the efforts that are already in existence, but to do so in a way that is official."
The proposal was criticized by border state Democrats, who said they're concerned the volunteer forces actually would hamper border enforcement.
Immigration and Hispanic rights groups complained the measure could exacerbate lawlessness on an already volatile and violent border.
"It creates and legitimizes vigilantes who want to take the law into their own hands," said Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research for the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Latino rights group.
The organization and other minority rights groups are particularly concerned U.S. citizens also could be targeted.
"It puts a bull's-eye on anybody who looks or sounds foreign, or has an Asian or Hispanic surname," Waslin said.
Recent reports and studies estimate 11 million immigrants are in this country illegally.
In the first eight months of this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2004, more than 800,000 Mexicans and 98,000 people from other countries have been caught trying to enter this country without documentation along the U.S.-Mexico, according to David Aguilar, U.S. Border Patrol chief.
President Bush has asked Congress to take up immigration reform when it returns from its August recess.
His top priorities include improving border enforcement and creating a guest-worker program that offers legal channels for those seeking work in the United States.
While there is strong opposition in the House to guest-worker proposals, two bills filed in the Senate would create such plans.
A bill by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, which has bipartisan support in the Senate and among immigrant rights groups, would allow undocumented workers in this country to enroll in a guest-worker program after paying fines and penalties for entering the country illegally.
Other legislation by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would create a guest-worker program, but it would not provide a path for undocumented immigrants to attain legal status. It also has a strong border enforcement component.
A recent CBS poll showed 63 percent of Americans are opposed to granting work permits to immigrants. That opposition spans party and ideological differences, the poll showed.
However, a poll earlier this year by an immigration advocacy group found strong support for immigration reform that includes tougher enforcement and a guest-worker plan.
"Our polling has shown that 75 percent of Americans favor a program that would turn the illegal flow into a legal flow to regain control of our borders," said Christina DeConcini, director of policy at the National Immigration Forum.
"The frustration behind it is very legitimate and very real, but this is not the solution to it," DeConcini said of the Culberson bill.
"This is a federal law enforcement responsibility, and that is where it belongs. This kind of plan is inviting civilians to take the law into their own hands and vigilantism," she said.
Culberson said his bill provides the means to do what federal authorities cannot: stem the "flood of illegal immigrants pouring across our southern border."
He said criminal gangs and drug smugglers also are crossing the border "in growing numbers, and lawlessness in the area around Nuevo Laredo has grown so severe, their chief of police was shot dead."
Unspent federal funds in the Homeland Security Department's budget for first responders would be used to equip and train the volunteers, who would be screened for criminal background and convictions.
The bill has the backing of San Antonio's two Republican congressmen, Smith and Rep. Henry Bonilla, whose congressional district sweeps from Laredo to El Paso.
"It's a legitimate way for citizens to help secure the borders," said Smith, a member of the House judiciary panel's subcommittee on immigration.
"Rights" groups are strangely silent about ethnic based gangs and their killing sprees. I know the script for the left is to "hate whitey"/"hate America" but you would think they could at least place some distance between themselves and the likes of MS-13 and its clones.
"the amateur force of volunteers could lead to vigilantism."
I sure hope so.
Main Entry: vig·i·lan·te
Pronunciation: "vi-j&-'lan-tE
Function: noun
Etymology: Spanish, watchman, guard, from vigilante vigilant, from Latin vigilant-, vigilans
: a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law appear inadequate)
Why are they so ready and willing to call civilian border patrols "vigilantes" yet refuse to call the invaders of our country "illegal?"
Sound the alarm!
A controversial proposal to create neighborhood watch programs to patrol the streets and to notify law enforcement of problems was greeted with criticism Thursday by criminal rights groups that said the amateur force of volunteers could lead to more crime prevention and act as a deterrent to potential criminal activity.
"It creates and legitimizes vigilantes who want to take the law into their own hands," said Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research for the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Latino rights group."
La Raza = "The Race"
Interesting, a racist group calling someone else racist. D**n hypocrites!
"Lawlessness" like ILLEGALS crossing the border?! I guess we are supposed to "understand" when they BREAK THE LAW. But, when LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS try to protect their families and property from ILLEGAL immigrants they are "lawless".
However, if they're putting $6.8 Billion into it, I can see lots of trainers, trainers to train the trainers, consultants to advise on training the trainers, bureaucrats to oversee the consultants, outsourcing the bureaucrats to Mexico...well, you get the general idea.
You beat me to the quote - who cares what the RADICAL La Razas think - this is the group that thinks California and Arizona should be ceded back to Mexico - this is the group that thinks American taxpayers should support hospitals and day care centers for illegal aliens - this group can kiss my @ss and go to hell - we need some good vigilante action on the border - here's hoping!!!
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
For Latino immigrants, obtaining U.S. citizenship is a critical step toward full integration into the American political arena and is an increasingly important step toward securing integration into American society in general due to immigrant restrictions on social services and public benefits.
Michele Waslin, Ph.D., is the Director of Immigration Policy Research at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest, national, constituency-based Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States
DAMN STRAIGHT..........BOUT TIME SOMEBODY WHO PURPOSELY BREAKS OUR LAWS FINDS THAT THERE MAY BE SOMETHING TO FEAR.........AND IT AIN'T THE PC GOVERNMENT CROWD.
Why the h**l hasn't La Raza and MECHA been branded as terrorist orgs? They promote the violent overthrow of the US and seizing of land.
ping
Agreed, I would love to see a thousand of those across our borders!
The Border Patrol "catches and releases" only 15% of those whom they estimate do cross successfully on their first try. They are driven back to the border after a rest and a meal to try tomorrow. The success rate on one try is 85%, on two tries in 96%, on three tries in 99%.
IOW, the USBP only delays the invaders at best.
Of the OTMs, all of those who were "detained" were allowed into the country with an "Order to Disappear."
The entire world know knows that Uncle Sam is a sap. 
By Michele Waslin, Ph.D.
“ANTITERRORIST” POLICIES THAT HARM LATINOS
The government’s counterterrrorism efforts have had the most negative effects on American Muslims and Arab Americans. However, as discussed below, many of the newly-enacted policies have had a detrimental effect on Latinos as well, which will continue to be felt for many years.
snip
In June 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft declared that state and local police have the authority to enforce civil and criminal immigration violations of immigration law. In the months since that announcement, state and local police have been called upon to catch violators of the new registration and change of address requirements. In April 2002, several months prior to Ashcroft’s announcement, the press reported that the DOJ was poised to issue a new legal opinion. This new, unreleased Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion purportedly declares that state and local police have the “inherent authority” to enforce civil and criminal immigration violations of immigration law. While the legal opinion has never been made public, this announcement indicates that the DOJ has reinterpreted the law and overturned decades of legal precedent, sending an immediate chill through Latino communities. Ashcroft’s June 2002 announcement appears to be based on this unreleased legal opinion.
The mere suggestion that local police may have the authority to enforce immigration law has resulted in fear in Latino and immigrant communities resulting in increased unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement, to report crimes, and to come forward as witnesses. Millions will be affected by this rule as law enforcement officers, who are untrained in immigration law, stop and question Latinos and other Americans who “look” or “sound” like they might be foreign. Unlike federal immigration officials, police departments do not have training in or understanding of the complexities of immigration law. As a result of these problems, police departments lose the trust of the communities they aim to protect, communication between the police and large segments of the community is lost, and all Americans are less safe. Many police departments across the country have stated that they will not involve themselves in immigration enforcement because they recognize the detrimental effects that the loss of community trust can have.
Association for Social Welfare
Fighting Hunger
Do you know a person or organization that should be recognized for their work in Social Justice?
Are You at Risk of Losing Your Health Care?
Ms. Michele Waslin, Senior Immigration Analyst with the National Council of La Raza, Washington DC
"Bureaucrats,trainers,trainers for the trainers..."Don't forget lawyers,and lots of em.That $6.8 billion will get sucked up pretty fast.
I try to keep my thoughts pure.....
just remember this line when you think of the liberal left aligning with groups like ms-13.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"
They are firm belivers in that philosophy.
Immigrant Soliderity Network for Immigrant Rights
The REAL ID Act
On May 11, the President signed into law the supplemental appropriations bill providing funding for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and containing the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-13).
The REAL ID Act raises the burden of proof for asylum seekers and all applicants for relief to unreasonable levels; makes it easier to deport long term residents in the United States for peaceful activities; places restrictions and unfunded mandates on states; and 'streamlines' judicial review of removal orders to 'questions of law' and 'constitutional claims' in the federal courts of appeal; among other things.
Among the rays of sunshine in the REAL ID Act are an elimination of the cap on asylees who are eligible to receive lawful permanent resident ('green card') status (previously, only 10,000 asylees per year could adjust to permanent resident status) and a possible expansion of judicial review in the federal courts of appeals for certain cases that were unreviewable there before REAL ID.
For practitioners, the American Immigration Law Foundation provides helpful resources on their website on judicial review
Driver's Licenses
The REAL ID Act imposes a complicated new driver's license and ID bureaucracy on states, including a two-tiered license system for foreigners and U.S. citizens, and bans states from issuing regular driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.
In terms of follow up, groups like NCSL are conducting a cost analysis of this provision on states.
Estimates ranges from the hundreds of millions to the billions.
To join a list-serv on driver's license issues, or for more information, contact: Michele Waslin e-mail: mwaslin@nclr.org) or Joan Friedland e-mail: Friedland@nilc-dc.org
******
From: Joan Friedland , National Immigration Law Center
Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:27 AM
Subject: Action Alert: Keep Calling H.R. 10 and S. 2845 Conferees
UPDATE AND CONTINUING ALERT ON 9-11 BILLS: KEEP CALLING HOUSE AND SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO OPPOSE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND FOREIGN IDENTITY DOCUMENT RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROVISIONS IN H.R. 10 AND S. 2845
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY
ALERT!!!!!
The House and Senate conference committee has been unable to reconcile the intelligence reorganizations bills passed by the House (H.R. 10) and the Senate (S. 2845). It now seems almost impossible that Congress will be able to pass a final bill in time for the President to sign it into law before the Nov. 2 election. But it is important not to let up the pressure, because the conference committee could finish its work in time for a bill to be passed and signed into law when Congress returns in November.
As we have reported previously, H.R. 10 contains anti-immigrant measures including a provision that would eliminate states' ability to provide driver's licenses to immigrants without regard to immigration status.
H.R. 10 would also prohibit acceptance of foreign identification documents, including consular IDs (matrículas consulares). Its other anti-immigrant provisions will radically expand expedited deportations, suspend habeas corpus (the right to ask a court to review a detention/deportation) for the first time since the Civil War, allow deportations to a country with no government, allow more mandatory indefinite detentions, make it more difficult for people fleeing torture to gain asylum, and allow Homeland Security to deport immigrants before federal courts have decided on their case. S. 2845 will give the Department of Transportation authority to set standards for driver's licenses but does not have HR 10's other anti-immigrant provisions.
Your voices have been critical in persuading conferees not to agree to the anti-immigrant provisions in the House bill. So please keep calling Senate and House conferees and tell them:
House conferees are Peter Hoekstra, R-MI; Henry Hyde, R-IL; David Dreier, R-CA; James Sensenbrenner, R-WI; Duncan Hunter, R-CA; Jane Harman, D-CA; Ike Skelton, D-MO; and Robert Menendez, D-NJ.
Senate conferees are Susan Collins, R-ME; George Voinovich, R-OH; Mike DeWine, R-OH; Norm Coleman, R-MN; John Sununu, R-NH; Pat Roberts, R-KS; Trent Lott, R-MS; Joe Lieberman, D-CT; Carl Levin, D-MI; Richard Durbin, D-IL; John Rockefeller, D-WV; Bob Graham, D-FL; and Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ.
Contacting Members of Congress
Call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative or Senator’s office.
Thanks for all your help.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tyler Moran, National Immigration Law Center, moran@nilc.org, 208-333-1424
Joan Friedland, National Immigration Law Center, friedland@nilc-dc.org, 202-216-0261
Michele Waslin, National Council of la Raza, mwaslin@nclr.org, 202-776-1735
Good. Lawbreakers SHOULD be fearful of law enforcers.
Why hasn't Mexico been decared a terrorist state? They deny they are attacking us and so does Iran. Look at Laredo. That city is under seige. You could also say that Nuevo Laredo is a terrorsit base camp and training ground. The Mexican government is as much against freedom and the rule of law as any Muslim state.
I agree, and I think it was also expressed, "no enemies to the left."
"Waslin" is hispanic or just an anti-American traitor?
We have a very effective Civil Air Patrol CAP started during WWII to help protect coast from German subs. CAP is now Aux of Air Force providing search & rescue.
Why not a Civil Border Patrol with mission to protect borders and assist surface rescues land and sea.
Whoa. This is the first I've heard of this proposal, and it sounds like a good idea to me. Here in San Diego we have an auxilliary composed of hundreds of civilians who go through police training and are then allowed to wear police uniforms, carry arms, and arrest people. It works fine, augments the police force at low cost, and hasn't led to 'vigilantism'. There's no reason it can't work for the Border Patrol as well.
Yeah, make it legal then say it's under control. Yeah right. The thing about me and vigilantism is, is I don't think it's such a bad idea. (If they're sworn peace officers it isn't vigilantism. Any more than an illegal flow that's legalized is still illegal)
That isn't a typo, Pete. That's money that has been sitting around for two years because no state has been able to claim it.
Excellent question. Illustrates their contradictions.
same reason they don't fly american flags
the liberals no longer care about our country, only their wacko-communist/socialist agenda.
Is the Police Auxilliary in San Diego allowed to arrest illegals and turn them over to the ICE? Is SD a sanctuary city? Just curious.
"I try to keep my thoughts pure..."LOL.I gave up.At this point i'm just too jaded/cynical.But isn't it typical that those on the front lines who need the money most,will probably receive the smallest piece of the pie?:)
The Vikings screamed and yelled when Europeans built castles along the coast, too.
Let the illegals work off the cost of capturing, processing & deporting themselves by building a wall to keep them and theirs out.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
An excellent idea.
Other legislation by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would create a guest-worker program, but it would not provide a path for undocumented immigrants to attain legal status. It also has a strong border enforcement component.
Both proposed legislative attempts are amnesty bills.
Why is it the law breakers always get the most favorable coverage from the MSM.
Absolutely required to secure the border. Tom DeLay said to secure the borders first before any other legislation.
IICR, he did try to build one but the enviroMENTAL whackos took it to court and got the building stopped because of a desert rat or some such nonsense.
Yeah, they have no basis of credibiity in this issue (or any others, in my opinion).
They're a racial organization and everyone I've ever encountered who participates/affiliates with them engages in some sort of threatening, if not guerilla warfare activity right here in suburbia, about anyone who challenges them and what they represent.
La Raza and MeCHa are racial, gangland type organizations. Nothing nice or civilized about their purpose or reason for organizating, other than to promote racial superiority of Hispanic DNA.
There are still a lot of very wealthy people invested in liberal media who are incredibly disconnected from harsh realities of life. They go to meetings in private jets, live in sequestered and locked, distant houses, hear the sob stories of domestics who mow their lawns and conclude that Big Bad America is just too unfair on the Undocumented Workers they were able to get via some grapevine employment agency.
And they really like that they can keep "wages down" and so, hey, cheap labor! A lot of the people they hire simply echo, if not represent, the issues based upon racial preferences, most of which are anti-"white" in nature.
The Tsin dynasty(China) created a wall 1500 to 2500 hundred miles long(with the jogs south) 30 feet high 25 feet thick at the base tapering to 15 feet wide at the top with 25000 parapets and 15000 detached parapets ALL WITH NO BULLDOZERS all with rice burners as labor.. and the wall worked too.. The Mogols could climb it but had to leave their horses behind.. The horse being high military technology at the time..
And "WE" can't provide a wee fence with bull dozers, scrapers, and other modern devices.?...
Ockhams razor demands that the illegal alien insurgence IS ON PURPOSE BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT.. A republican government.. to allow proto-type democrats across the border to relieve the deficit caused by more than 20 years of democrats murdering their babies.. you know, the next generation..
Fancy that republicans helping democrats.. Bush really IS, "A Unite'er not a Divide'er"... Wonder IF the NEW President(in 2008) will Unite with REPUBLICANS in same way...
(shining my finger nails) waiting for the Bushbots..
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