Immigration continues to rock the nation

The issue of illegal immigration is continuing to rock the nation. Yesterday, a study reported that the number of illegal immigrants in the United States is falling, protests took place in San Francisco over the city's alleged sanctuary policy, and the Government announced a new scheme which invites illegal immigrants to turn themselves in for deportation.

A report yesterday indicating a marked decline in the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. fueled a widening national debate over the Bush administration's policy of immigration enforcement through aggressive workplace raids, writes Nicole Gaouette from Washington.

The largest such enforcement action was in May in Postville, Iowa, where federal immigration agents descended on a meatpacking plant and arrested nearly 400 workers later detained in a building used to house cattle.

The findings have given fuel to the argument that the method of "attrition" -- making life as difficult as possible for immigrants living in the United States illegally -- might be working.

The report from the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank, says that the number of illegal immigrants fell about 11% between last August and May, from 12.5 million to 11.2 million.

The study was based on an analysis of census data and concludes that if that rate of decline is sustained, the number of illegal immigrants will be halved in five years.

Over in San Francisco, a small group of Minuteman Project activists demonstrated Wednesday against the city's sanctuary policy, but their call for Mayor Gavin Newsom's ouster was drowned out by hundreds of chanting immigration rights supporters, reports Maria L. LaGanga.

Jim Gilchrist, founder of the anti-illegal-immigrant group, stepped inside City Hall, where he told reporters that Newsom should resign because of "his endorsement and support of sanctuary city status that led to the horrific slayings of the Bologna family."

Gilchrist said his organization was now going to begin targeting sanctuary cities nationwide

Meanwhile, federal authorities are launching a pilot program next month to allow noncriminal illegal immigrants with final deportation orders to surrender rather than face possible arrest and detention, reports Anna Gorman from Los Angeles.

Two Southern California cities -- Santa Ana and San Diego -- are among five cities nationwide where immigrants can turn themselves in from Aug. 5 to Aug. 22.

Certain immigrants who do so will be given up to 90 days before being required to leave the United States. And in some cases, the agency will pay for the flight for the illegal immigrants and their relatives.

Activists on both sides of the immigration debate expressed skepticism.

Read Anna Gorman's full story, "U.S. to launch program allowing illegal immigrants not wanted in crimes to turn themselves in."

For more stories on immigration, click here.

Photo: Isaac Chang of the Minuteman Project, left, argues with a counter-protester at a rally in San Francisco by the group to demand the resignation of the mayor. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Comments

[Karlos]

Old Mo,

You live in ABQ, New MEXICO, which has been a majority people of color state since, well, forever. It also, like, has the name MEXICO in it. Get over yourself.

[ccollins]

We were told that we needed millions of "illegal immigrant" construction workers. Now all the houses they had built are in foreclosure! The housing boom turned out to be a FRAUD and the responsible citizen/taxpayers will be paying for this fiasco for years along with the cost of the illegal workers and their families. I'm sick and tired of this illegal immigration rip off and their supporters. I'm so tired of the graffiti, gangs, drugs, ID/credit card theft and the thinning of state and local resources. Safety nets for citizens are being crowded out! Our bridges are CRUMBLING! They are RUSTING AWAY! We cannot afford freebies for an endless stream of foreign nationals unlawfully residing in our country.

We need to clean up this immigration mess and then think about accepting immigrants AFTER an assessment of need. We need to ABSORB them---not be overwhelmed by them. For every immigrant sob story there are numerous stories of innocent citizens killed or victimized by illegal aliens. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! It is hard to care, because there are simply too many illegal immigrants here. I wish they would just go home!

[Jacquie Evans]

The United States of America should have been closed and cleaned up a long time ago. To All The Arrogant Illegals in The United States of America. Please pack your bags and take your kids and your wifes with you. To The Government and The Congress out there in Washington, DC. Close The Borders and clean up the country.
We need the old school rules back into The 21st Century and now The Future.

[UWorlds1]

I have a friend that cannot get a job in Houston because of illegals. He is Black. The Mexicans don't want to learn English and don't won't to go throught the process of becoming citizens.

They don't like Blacks, and as a matter of fact have started a process of 'ethnic cleansing' in LA to rid 'their' streets of Black people. This is a most pressing issue. Not for just whites, but blacks also. We need laws so illegals have to go through the same processes that other immigrants go through. They should not get special privileges.

Black people have earned their right to be here. We did not asked to come here. Haitians are being held in special camps. Why do Mexicans get special privileges. This is racism to the 10th degree. Deport!!!

[dharc]

I don't think illegals are going to line up to get deported. On the other hand stupid liberals probably would line up to get deported..

[Ed weirdness]

The SAVE Act is responsible legislation, and should and must be voted on! House Leaders are resisting calls for a vote because they fear that it will deny them an issue and a constituency come this November.

Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, diminishing resources, crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded schools and emergency rooms, vanishing farm land and green space, lack of affordable housing, crime, pollution, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, the balkanization of our communities, the marginalization of American workers, tax payers and voters, the overall decline in quality of life, are all the result of unconstrained immigration. We're already expetiencing fuel, food and fresh water shortages in this nation. Concerns over food safety are of increasing concern for America's Citizens

Too many people competing for the same limited resources cannot be considered sound economic, environmental, social or cultural policy!

Indeed, our goal of energy independence is threatened by overpopulation. Wind, solar, hydro, bio fuels are all dependent on vast amounts of real estate. Real estate close enough in proximity to population centers that attachment to the existing grid is realistic. Real estate that is becoming scarce and mosntrously expensive as the result of overpopulation and urban sprawl. All our efforts at conservation of our existing resources will be a waste of time unless we stabilize our population and reduce the demands we place on those resources.

Virtually every industrialized nation, China, Mexico, Great Britain, and most recently the 27 member states of the European Union has taken steps to end illegal immigration, remove illegal populations, and to curtail legal immigration to only that which is prudent, demonstrably necessary, and above all other concerns, in the best interests of their native populations. It's dangerously misgudied to suggest that the United States not do likewise!

[old mo]

I live in Albuquerque, N.M. This city has always been known as the welfare capitol of America. Even our own cops are afraid to go into certain parts of town after dark. The druggies have virtual total control in places. If you are white (or black for that matter) you lock your door at sundown. Our once great and proud city (established in 1706) actually condones this. Why ? More illegal's (they are still counted in population census) more federal money. More federal money, more welfare. More welfare more illegal's. More illegal's more..........All they have to do here is go down and sign up for welfare. They do not need to have a residential address. They can say they are staying with family or friends temporarily, do not need social security number, if they talk to a "friend", they don't need any I.D. of any kind. And still they get their EBT card. I am so sick of these people in line at grocery stores buying better groceries than I can afford, and whipping out their EBT card to pay for them, all on our tax dollar. Is this what you want in your home town ? It's a pretty vicious cycle you will not hear about on CNN or FOX, these large news machines are not stupid, and they white wash everything they feed us. They do not want to be sued. Be careful how you vote in November. I can just imagine the people in California have the same problem.

[Carracticus]

If we don't force House leader Nancy Pelosi and host of genuflecting Democrats to sponsor the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). The illegal immigration occupation of our nation will never stop. ICE letting illegal aliens voluntary leave at their own accord, but Lets-be-honest how long before, their climbing that fence again? All we need is the Mandatory E-verify system to make employers comply with our laws. If you listen to the rhetoric and lies, the Democrats say it doesn't work? Then why does the Fed's use to extract illegal aliens from their employment. Want to learn more? http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=155652

They will keep coming and taxpayers will keep having to support them and the pariah businesses that attract them. Without the SAVE ACT enacted, not even a border fence will stop them? Once they get Obama or McCains Amnesty, millions more just waiting in third world countries will expect a welcome. They have powerful influences including the Church, corporate opportunists and ethnic caucuses. a whole list of Special Interest lobbyists.

Then not even the US border patrol, the National Guard or the regular army, navy, air force will stop the tsunami. It will be like a ever increasing swarm of human locusts, that eat everything financial in sight.

Your wages will go down, when your jobs are given to cheap foreign labor. The globalist, open-border free traders will have won. Overpopulation will be a paramount stigma that will not be irreversible. After November election it will be far too late. NUMBERSUSA to fax free your representative

[Robert Dion]

No senator should capitulate to the blackmail of holding up e verify.......where does menendez's priorities lie evidently not in the United States but rather the foreign place of his ancestors. They do not assimilate and this proves the fact!!

[USA#1]

"Today, the Immigration Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee will vote on a bill (H.R.5882) that would create more than 500,000 permanent visas for foreign workers. These are simple "skilled" visas, where an individual doesn't need any specialized training or education. As such, the legislation would keep a half-million Americans out of work. H.R 5882 mirrors the changes that Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) is seeking in exchange for his “hold” on E-Verify reauthorization legislation in the Senate."

Seems we have some Anti_Americans working really hard in Congress to push more Americans out of JOB!