ICE provides work permits for confirmed illegal immigrants

Twenty-eight immigrants who were arrested in Bellingham, WA two months ago for working illegally and using false documentation have been released from custody and 24 of the immigrants have been given work permits in exchange for cooperation in the investigation of their former employer.

Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) described the situation as “a slap in the face for those who are struggling every day to find a job in this economic downturn.”

On Thursday, Marcy M. Forman, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations, testified before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security, explaining that due to the ongoing criminal investigation, she was unable to give the committee specifics.

“There is a criminal search warrant being executed by ICE agents in Washington State to further the criminal investigation of this company for the employment of illegal aliens,” Forman said.

The company under question is Yamato Engine Specialists, which allegedly hired the 28 immigrants.

Rogers believes this case indicates a “diversion of attention from prosecuting employers,” he said, and provides a magnet for illegal aliens who need work. “I’m nervous that the department is making a big change of policy here,” he said.

Although released from jail, the immigrants "were released with conditions,” Forman told the committee, adding that they have been told to cooperate in the criminal investigation of their employer. While their release is temporary, all released immigrants must report weekly to an ICE agent and meet with an agent at least twice a month. Each of the immigrants have been screened to ensure they are not a risk to national security.

38,000 + signatures against Arizona Sheriff brought to DC

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

“All I want to do is except these petitions, welcome you, advise you that the Department of Justice has an investigation going on surrounding activities in Maricopa County and guess what, your not the only ones that have a sheriff that needs to be investigated in this country.” said Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) at a press conference to present a petition of more than 38,000 signatures calling on the Department of Justice and Homeland Security to investigate Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s alleged civil rights abuses.

Arpaio has 2,700 lawsuits filed against him and this month the House Judiciary Committee called for the Justice Department to conduct a federal investigation on Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio's enforcement tactics.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) expressed that the sheriff's tactics are examples of police power and are a violation of federal law. Nadler said, “In 2009, in the United States, we simply cannot tolerate such patterns of discrimination and denial of due process. Sheriff Arpaio’s malicious and vigilante practices are not immigration enforcement.” stated Nadler.

“We carry the burden of being stuck with this man but it is not an Arizona problem, this is a national disgrace...It can’t be tolerated.” said Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.). Grijalva said he never supported the 287(g) program which trains local officers to enforce immigration law. “Put it in the wrong hands, it becomes abusive, discriminatory, and breaks the law and that's what happened here...That particular program, the worst case scenario was in front of you and that Sheriff Arpaio.” he said.

Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said that the 287(g) program is the Bush Administration’s failed experiment to outsource federal responsibility and expressed that the change we all voted for last November will soon bring order to the broken immigration system. “We must turn the page and we must together restore the nation’s promise for life, liberty and for the pursuit of happiness for all.” concluded Alvarado.

With change comes reaction: Immigrants in the US

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service


Because there is an increasing number of immigrants moving into U.S.
suburban neighborhoods there comes change. At a discussion on
“Immigration, Politics and Local Responses” immigration experts shared
their research from all around the United States on how local
residents reacted to the growing rate of immigrants moving into their
neighborhoods.

Angeles Ortega-Moore, the Chief Executive Officer of the Latin
American Coalition (LAC), said that at first LAC was a cultural
organization for Latinos in North Carolina but as the immigrant
population grew they had to change their programming. “No longer we
were doing Pasofino and horse shows and things like that. We started
to do English as a second language, how do we help people applying for
their driving licenses...We became really fully a social service
organization.” she said.

Audrey Singer, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Metropolitan Policy
Program shared her research on immigration in Prince William County,
Virginia, and said that changes in the suburban neighborhoods got
residents frustrated and in March 2007 some of them started a “Help
save Manassas” group, whose stated goal was, “To reduce the number of
illegal aliens living in our community.” That led to two resolutions
that directed police to ascertain a person’s legal status only when
they had probable cause to believe the person was illegally present
and to restrict unauthorized immigrants from receiving business
licenses and participating in eight social service programs. From her
research, Singer recommended that leaders be more organized when
creating new policies. “Facts are important for policy making...and
officials should communicate policy changes clearly. Many of the
residents were confused by the new policies...and many in the
immigrant community were fearful about how the new policies would
affect them.”

Illegal immigrants: What happens to the children?

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Angeles Ortega-Moore, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin American Coalition, talks about what happens to the children after their parents are caught and deported back to their country. (1:00)

U.S. immigration courts "overburdened, under-resourced"

The Brookings Institution held a meeting today to discuss immigration and the United States court system. The focus was on the many issues in the current system and what needs to be done to improve it. Juan Osuna, Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals, began the meeting by saying, "I think that the most significant issue is basically the lack of resources. There are simply too many cases and too few judges to hear them." He pointed out that the average judge in an immigration court hears about 1200 cases every year, compared to an average 480 case load per year for district judges.

Robert Katzmann, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, stated that the issue is not only with the lack of judges, but with the poor quality of representation. "The problem of quality of representation is a severe problem in the courts... There are many fine immigration lawyers but all too often I see cases where the immigrants representation is substandard." Additionally, he pointed out that only about 35% of immigrants have representation when they go to court. This problem is compounded by the fact that immigrants are prevented by law from working, so they usually cannot afford quality legal council; additionally, language barriers stand in the way of achieving fair representation. Katzmann believes improving the quality of representation is a critical issue to improve the immigration court system as a whole.

Andrew I. Schoenholtz, Deputy Director of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration, stated that the reason immigration courts are so overburdened is because, "We haven't asked ourselves the initial question: Who should be placed into removal proceedings and by whom?" Schoenholtz expressed concern that congress has put into place complex laws which cause any immigrant who breaks any law to go to removal proceedings, regardless of equities they have to stay in the U.S.

The panelists expressed trust in President Obama's administration’s understanding of these issues, and hope that resources will be provided where needed. Schoenholtz stated that he believes making the immigration courts independent of any cabinet agency would improve the quality of lawyers they attract. Additionally, he believes that immigration judges should be required to make written decisions, rather than oral. He also believes that returning to a system where decisions are made by panels will address inconsistencies of the system.