STATES TURNING UP HEAT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Reuters ^ | Thu Nov 1, 2007 2:00pm EDT | Carey Gillam

[sinanju]

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Minor traffic violations do not usually warrant a press release from a governor. But when state police stopped a van on a Missouri road for "following too closely" and found it was carrying 10 presumed illegal immigrants, Gov. Matt Blunt was quick to tout the incident as part of a new state program to hunt down undocumented aliens.

"We will make every effort, implement every tool, and take every step to ensure the laws against illegal immigration are enforced," declared Blunt, announcing the arrests as he pursued tough new measures to push undocumented immigrants out of the state.

Missouri's efforts are among several now being seen around the nation as state and local officials race to make their territory as unappealing as possible for the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented individuals.

The campaign has drawn the ire of religious organizations, civil rights groups and some employers, who argue the actions are unfairly harassing and intimidating both illegal and legal immigrants.

[sinanju]

Slowly at first, but now gathering momentum. I've been saying for some time now that the tipping point would be a state governor getting on board. Now we have Matt Blunt of Missouri taking up the standard. That's including the state legislature of Oklahoma in everything but name. Percolating up from below, rather than from the top down, just like welfare reform in the nineties; illegal immigration "reform" is picking up steam.

The beauty of it is the more illegals are driven out of some states the more pressure they put on their neighbors and the more popular clamor there to do likewise.

And ever more pressure on the congressional representatives of same (regardless of party).

[clamper1797]

It’s about DAMN time

[humblegunner]

Ping.

[FReepapalooza]

I hope a lot of other states jump on this bandwagon. I know my state will be one of the last, (sigh). But they won’t be able to resist if all the neighbors are doing it.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

You're starting to see this around the country. They're trying to scare people and they're saying 'We don't want you here,'" said William Sanchez, lead attorney for the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, which has filed suit to stop a new Oklahoma law that became effective Thursday.

No, we want you here. We really, really want you here.In fact, we're going to open up all the border crossing points and allow unlimited, unfettered access to our country. And, after you get here, you can get a free education, free medical care, Hell--we'll throw in a new car and a first-round draft choice!

[Blue Highway]

Better late than never obviously, but without a stricter border enforcement where they are breaking the law by crossing, it may be more of too little too late. Spitzer isn’t helping, so I appreciate good news like this story.

[Cicero]

As I’ve said before, a border fence is only of limited use, unless governors, mayors, police, and other authorities ENFORCE THE LAWS.

We also need a president who will enforce the law, and a congress that will withhold funds from any jurisdictions that refuse to enforce the law. Employers should be prosecuted, and welfare should be refused. Healthcare shouldl only be provided in genuine emergencies. Public schools should be reserved for citizens who pay the taxes that run them.

At the moment, the US is like a giant honey magnet drawing in illegals. That will only cease when it is no longer attractive to them.

[Eye of Unk]

If I was in charge of some interstate agency looking for illegal aliens I would pay a lot more attention those unmarked tour buses I see an awful lot of.

[Bobbisox]

Did anyone notice that the issue of illegal immigration did not even come up this morning on Meet the Press with Fred Thompson. Do you think Russert was given orders to stay off the subject due to his harshness of Clinton. It is up to the States to control their own territories.

It is up to the Federal Government to control the exterior borders in the North and South. Thompson will close these borders and find out who the hell is in our country.

[A_Former_Democrat]

And another beauty is it will move them more into “sanctuary cities” where the sheeple there will eventually morph into the anti-illegal crowd.

Sooner or later, it’s bound to happen. The “tolerant ones” amongst us will get their fill.

[Libloather]

...unfairly harassing and intimidating both illegal and legal immigrants.

By stopping and deporting the illegals? They've had a nice, free ride up until now. All depends on the definition of 'harass' I guess...

[aroundabout]

THIS ANTI ILLEGAL ALIEN THING IS PICKING UP A TON OF STEAM. NOTICE THE SILENCE FROM THE ONCE OBNOXIOUSLY ARROGANT lARAZA SCHMUCKS WHO ACTED AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY ANY DAY.

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS, KEY IS STUCK. I’LL TRY A FONZI SLAP ON IT.

[surely_you_jest]

If I was in charge of some interstate agency looking for illegal aliens I would pay a lot more attention those unmarked tour buses I see an awful lot of.

You must live in Florida.

[acoulterfan]

Thompson will close these borders and find out who the hell is in our country.

He will also be the only candidate that if he becomes Pres will for sure let Compean and Ramos out of prison!!!!!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

You might try the On-Screen Keyboard to remove the stuck CAPS LOCK key. Go to START-ALL PROGRAMS-ACCESSORIES-ACCESSIBILITY-ON SCREEN KEYBOARD.

[television is just wrong]

now we need help here in california. Too long have we take the brunt of illegal immigration, while other states sit and sneer. while all 50 states have become all border states now, it is time finally to do something.

[stephenjohnbanker]

BUMP

[org.whodat]

The campaign has drawn the ire of religious organizations, civil rights groups and some employers, who argue the actions are unfairly harassing and intimidating both illegal and legal immigrants.

Poor little bunch of libs have had their way to long.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“We also need a president who will enforce the law”

Ours makes back door deals with Eliot Spitzer.

[teenyelliott]

This is fantastic. Hopefully, we can eventually push them all into sanctuary cities (barf), and they can have alllllll they want.

Course, I am in Kansas. I doubt my idiot demonrat governor will follow suit.

[ExSES]

The campaign has drawn the ire of religious organizations, civil rights groups and some employers, who argue the actions are unfairly harassing and intimidating both illegal and legal immigrants.

All the "usual suspects" who dismiss the "Render Unto Caesar" admonition!

There are hordes of "self-appointed" guardians who aid and abet illegal immigration (and numerous other ills) because... "It is only right...."!

The same crew who assist the "oppressed" in committing welfare fraud (for the same reasons...)!

[Mark Felton]

for now this is just boob bait for the bubbas.

until a class of politicians takes up the mantle to oppose the Noprth American Union then there will be no controls placed on the transfer of 3rd world migrants to the US.

The alien invasion is an equalization process to avoid the major economic shock like that endured by West germany when the walls came down and they unified with east germany.

It is also designed to minimize political shock. When about 25-30% of the population will be recently from a 3rd world it will be safe for the US ruling class lawmakers to begin overt actions to create the NAU. This will provide a political buffer that will dampen rebellion minded native Americans (no, not just Indians)when they finally make NAU law.
Any protests ortganized by gras-root Americans to oppose NAU and throw politicians out will be immediately dwarfed by huge counter-protests organized by high paid organizers, funded by billions, and will dominate the news.

they will convince the general public that only a very few wackos are oppsoed to the NAu and it is hopeless, and ignorant, racist, homophobic, antiprogressive, to oppose the NAU.

it is already happening exactly like that.

This is all about the permanent emplacement of a global ruling class, currently dominated by global corporate executives and their socialist academic puppets.

The Constitution is dead, but even worse, the American man has been bred out of existence. There are likely not eneough real men left to foment a revolution against the 2 political parties and the ruling class.

We do not need to revolt against the government. We need to support the government and constitution. We must impeach and remove the criminals who call themselves Republicans and Democrats. ALL of them.

If you like any of them then tell them to become Independent and then you will believe them.

Only when Reps and Dems currently in office dump their party and become Indpendent will America begin to have any hope whatsoever or defending itself.

This is war BTW. No shooting war has EVER had more at stake than we have at stake now. The US parties are the enemy. yes, enemy. (just look at their refusl to defend the borders, the most fundamental duty even when 75% citizens are demanding it)

[spokeshave]

Apply tag line....popcorn...beer....settle down to enjoy...

[basil]

Sorry—whining from CA doesn’t move me much. I live in TX, and I can’t describe how bad the situation is here. Wish we had a few TX congresscritters with some guts to really do something here.

[Diogenesis]

Wish we had a few TX congresscritters with some guts to really do something here.

A civil war is more likely than America's leaders both waking up AND showing leadership.

[television is just wrong]

we cannot count on congress to do their job. they are owned by Mexico.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Where I live the state finally stopped issuing licenses to illegals after the experiment turned into the disaster critics said it would. Problems included an increase in uninsured motorist accidents, an increase in hit-and-run accidents, an increase in check forgery associated with the new IDs.

As individual states crack down on illegals the illegals will be channelized to those states and cities that are illegal friendly. These jurisdictions are likely to be overwhelmed to the point that their taxpayers demand change.

[Balding_Eagle]

This is going to give CO, next door, a lot of problems.

Denver is a strong sanctuary city, the Governor a liberal, and the legislature strong left.

There is NO leader who wants to do anything but coddle illegals.

We need to prepare for a flood here in CO.

[Windcatcher]

"As individual states crack down on illegals the illegals will be channelized to those states and cities that are illegal friendly. These jurisdictions are likely to be overwhelmed to the point that their taxpayers demand change."

We might want to start closing the Delaware River bridges now. I predict that things are going to get crazy in the Garden State...

[Mark Felton]

ahh, did I mention that there has never been a revolution when the masses are well fed and well entertained?

Never have indentured servants, and subordinate classes been so well fed, so well housed, had so little back-breaking labor to do while being so thoroughly entertained almost 24/7.

we’re the fattest nation on earth. we have the lowest unemployment. we have the greatest array of entertainment. we are the least educated in the indutrialized world...

fat, dumb, and happy. who needs freedom and the constitution?

[basil]

Perhaps--just perhaps, this one issue will wake the sheeple, and they will vote the current crop out, and replace them with strong anti-illegal candidates.

Of course, that's assuming that it's possible that our votes are being counted, and aren't being changed by the new e-voting! I've heard more than once now that those electronic machines are very easy to program to do just that--with no one being the wiser.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[FReepapalooza]

“fat, dumb, and happy. who needs freedom and the constitution?”

For now this is true. I really believe we are sitting on top of an over-inflated balloon. That over-inflation is caused by the 38 million ILLEGAL immigrants who are squatting in our country. If some event causes an economic loss and that balloon bursts or starts losing air; if jobs are affected, it’s going to get real ugly out there, real fast.

[Fee]

The American globalists and free traders are sadden by all this. Their vision of a world where services, goods, raw materials and LABORERS can flow in and out of our country is derailed.

[whipitgood]

I wish I knew what the ‘pin’ was to start letting the air out of the over inflated balloon. We REALLY need to get the ball rolling on getting the US back.

[martin_fierro]

Amazing what a couple days' worth of bad press does to allllll those Mexican flags.

[org.whodat]

we cannot count on congress to do their job. they are owned by Mexico and the chamber of commerce

[ought-six]

“A civil war is more likely than America’s leaders both waking up AND showing leadership.”

Unfortunately, you are correct. I see a civil war in America as pretty much inevitable the way things are going.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Another approach that is needed is, in terms of Federal Law, make it ILLEGAL to knowingly transport any individual ACROSS A STATE LINE who is in the United States illegally. The transporter, as well as the illegal alien himself having crossed a state line, will have hence committed a federal crime.

It can be done with transporting weapons, minors and people (kidnapping) at the federal level...so it can be done with respect to illegal aliens.

This by far, at least in terms of law, would clearly make them criminal, the ones who ventured from California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas to another of the 46 states.

[TheLion]

Bttt!

[Man50D]

Spitzer isn’t helping, so I appreciate good news like this story.

Actually he is helping. His unconscionable action is caused people to realize illegal immigration is out of control and needs to end for the sake of our security.

[Cedric]

Does anyone know where Kentucky stands, relative to this issue?

[Man50D]

Another approach that is needed is, in terms of Federal Law, make it ILLEGAL to knowingly transport any individual ACROSS A STATE LINE who is in the United States illegally. The transporter, as well as the illegal alien himself having crossed a state line, will have hence committed a federal crime.


The following immigration law already addresses that situation.

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) "Any person who . . . encourages or induces an illegal alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each illegal alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

assists an illegal alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or · encourages that illegal alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or · knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions. ·

Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.

Recruitment and Employment of Illegal Aliens

It is unlawful to hire an alien, to recruit an alien, or to refer an illegal alien for a fee, knowing the illegal alien is unauthorized to work in the United States. It is equally unlawful to continue to employ an illegal alien knowing that the illegal alien is unauthorized to work.

It is unlawful to hire any individual for employment in the United States without complying with employment eligibility verification requirements. Requirements include examination of identity documents and completion of Form I-9 for every employee hired. Employers must retain all I-9s, and, with three days' advance notice, the forms must be made available for inspection. Employment includes any service or labor performed for any type of remuneration within the United States, with the exception of sporadic domestic service by an individual in a private home. "Day laborers" or other casual workers engaged in any compensated activity (with the above exception) are employees for purposes of immigration law. An employer includes an agent or anyone acting directly or indirectly in the interest of the employer. For purposes of verification of authorization to work, employer also means an independent contractor, or a contractor other than the person using the illegal alien labor.

The use of temporary or short-term contracts cannot be used to circumvent the employment authorization verification requirements. If employment is to be for less than the usual three days allowed for completing the I-9 Form requirement, the form must be completed immediately at the time of hire.

An employer has constructive knowledge that an employee is an illegal unauthorized worker if a reasonable person would infer it from the facts. Constructive knowledge constituting a violation of federal law has been found where (1) the I-9 employment eligibility form has not been properly completed, including supporting documentation, (2) the employer has learned from other individuals, media reports, or any source of information available to the employer that the alien is unauthorized to work, or (3) the employer acts with reckless disregard for the legal consequences of permitting a third party to provide or introduce an illegal alien into the employer's work force. Knowledge cannot be inferred solely on the basis of an individual's accent or foreign appearance.

Actual specific knowledge is not required. For example, a newspaper article stating that ballrooms depend on an illegal alien work force of dance hostesses was held by the courts to be a reasonable ground for suspicion that unlawful conduct had occurred.

It is illegal for nonprofit or religious organizations to knowingly assist an employer to violate employment sanctions, regardless of claims that their convictions require them to assist illegal aliens. Harboring or aiding illegal aliens is not protected by the First Amendment. It is a felony to establish a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading any provision of federal immigration law. Violators may be fined or imprisoned for up to five years.

Encouraging and Harboring Illegal Aliens

It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any illegal alien who is in the United States in violation of law. Harboring means any conduct that tends to substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally. The sheltering need not be clandestine, and harboring covers aliens arrested outdoors, as well as in a building. This provision includes harboring an alien who entered the U.S. legally but has since lost his legal status.

An employer can be convicted of the felony of harboring illegal aliens who are his employees if he takes actions in reckless disregard of their illegal status, such as ordering them to obtain false documents, altering records, obstructing INS inspections, or taking other actions that facilitate the alien's illegal employment. Any person who within any 12-month period hires ten or more individuals with actual knowledge that they are illegal aliens or unauthorized workers is guilty of felony harboring. It is also a felony to encourage or induce an alien to come to or reside in the U.S. knowing or recklessly disregarding the fact that the alien's entry or residence is in violation of the law. This crime applies to any person, rather than just employers of illegal aliens. Courts have ruled that "encouraging" includes counseling illegal aliens to continue working in the U.S. or assisting them to complete applications with false statements or obvious errors. The fact that the alien is a refugee fleeing persecution is not a defense to this felony, since U.S. law and the UN Protocol on Refugees both require that a refugee must report to immigration authorities without delay upon entry to the U.S.

The penalty for felony harboring is a fine and imprisonment for up to five years. The penalty for felony alien smuggling is a fine and up to ten years' imprisonment. Where the crime causes serious bodily injury or places the life of any person in jeopardy, the penalty is a fine and up to twenty years' imprisonment. If the criminal smuggling or harboring results in the death of any person, the penalty can include life imprisonment. Convictions for aiding, abetting, or conspiracy to commit alien smuggling or harboring, carry the same penalties. Courts can impose consecutive prison sentences for each alien smuggled or harbored. A court may order a convicted smuggler to pay restitution if the illegal alien smuggled qualifies as a victim under the Victim and Witness Protection Act. Conspiracy to commit crimes of sheltering, harboring, or employing illegal aliens is a separate federal offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or five years' imprisonment.

Enforcement

A person or entity having knowledge of a violation or potential violation of employer sanctions provisions may submit a signed written complaint to the INS office with jurisdiction over the business or residence of the potential violator, whether an employer, employee, or agent. The complaint must include the names and addresses of both the complainant and the violator, and detailed factual allegations, including date, time, and place of the potential violation, and the specific conduct alleged to be a violation of employer sanctions. By regulation, the INS will only investigate third-party complaints that have a reasonable probability of validity. Designated INS officers and employees, and all other officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws, may make an arrest for violation of smuggling or harboring illegal aliens.

State and local law enforcement officials have the general power to investigate and arrest violators of federal immigration statutes without prior INS knowledge or approval, as long as they are authorized to do so by state law. There is no extant federal limitation on this authority. The 1996 immigration control legislation passed by Congress was intended to encourage states and local agencies to participate in the process of enforcing federal immigration laws. Immigration officers and local law enforcement officers may detain an individual for a brief warrantless interrogation where circumstances create a reasonable suspicion that the individual is illegally present in the U.S. Specific facts constituting a reasonable suspicion include evasive, nervous, or erratic behavior; dress or speech indicating foreign citizenship; and presence in an area known to contain a concentration of illegal aliens. Hispanic appearance alone is not sufficient. Immigration officers and police must have a valid warrant or valid employer's consent to enter workplaces or residences. Any vehicle used to transport or harbor illegal aliens, or used as a substantial part of an activity that encourages illegal aliens to come to or reside in the U.S. may be seized by an immigration officer and is subject to forfeiture. The forfeiture power covers any conveyances used within the U.S.

RICO —Citizen Recourse

Private persons and entities may initiate civil suits to obtain injunctions and treble damages against enterprises that conspire to or actually violate federal alien smuggling, harboring, or document fraud statutes, under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). The pattern of racketeering activity is defined as commission of two or more of the listed crimes. A RICO enterprise can be any individual legal entity, or a group of individuals who are not a legal entity but are associated in fact, and can include nonprofit associations.

Tax Crimes

Employers who aid or abet the preparation of false tax returns by failing to pay income or Social Security taxes for illegal alien employees, or who knowingly make payments using false names or Social Security numbers, are subject to IRS criminal and civil sanctions. U.S. nationals who have suffered intentional discrimination because of citizenship or national origin by an employer with more than three employees may file a complaint within 180 days of the discriminatory act with the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices, U.S. Department of Justice. In addition to the federal statutes summarized, state laws and local ordinances controlling fair labor practices, workers compensation, zoning, safe housing and rental property, nuisance, licensing, street vending, and solicitations by contractors may also apply to activities that involve illegal aliens.

Comment:

A comment and a published quote by Robert Gaffney, Attorney and County Executive of Suffolk County, LI, NY:

The statutory foundation of United States immigration law has always been the jurisdiction of the federal government, Congress and the federal courts. The preeminent laws concerning the employment of illegal aliens are found in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §~ 1101-1503), as amended by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 CIRCA).

The law states it is a crime to assist an illegal alien who lacks employment authorization by referring him to an employer, or by acting as his or her employer, or as an agent for an employer. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324a(a)(1)(A) (Lexis 1997). Furthermore, it is unlawful to hire an individual for employment without complying with the employment eligibility requirements for every person hired. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324a(a)(l)(B) (Lexis 1997). Moreover, conduct tending substantially to facilitate illegal aliens remaining in the United States illegally, where there is knowledge or a reckless disregard of an illegal alien s unlawful status, is a crime, with escalating penalties, encompassed within the provisions of 1324. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324(a)(l)(A)(iii) (Lexis 1997); United States v. Kim. 193 F-3d 567 (2d Cir. 1999), are considered employees for purposes of immigration law.

[Texas Mom]

HOOVER & EISENHOWER DEPORTED MILLIONS OF ILLEGALS !

] Here is something that should be of great interest for you to pass around. I didn't know of this until it was pointed out to me. But, back during the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of all illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican nationals! The program was called "Operation "Wetback" so that American WWII and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs. It took 2 years, but they deported them!

Now, if they could deport the illegals back then, they can sure do it today!! If you have doubts about the veracity of this information, enter Operation Wetback into your favorite search engine and confirm it for yourself.

[chicagolady]

And you live in......?

[chicagolady]

JUST SAY IT! CHICAGO

[righting-wrongs]

Don’t they ALREADY get all that?????????

[Travis McGee]

Classic double photo.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[Mr. Mojo]

This is precisely what the Bush admin and his pro-amnesty buds on both sides of the aisle have been fearing. ...and why they’ve pushed so hard to legalize the uncounted millions. They knew the states would start taking matters into their own hands.