Abandoned Boat Believed Used for Smuggling Immigrants Found on Aliso Beach

An abandoned capsized boat found on Aliso Beach is believed to have carried at least a dozen illegal immigrants who made their way to shore and to a waiting van, Laguna Beach police said.

The 18-foot skiff was discovered by a resident at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. He said he saw the boat wash ashore and that several people ran out of it, some of them wearing life jackets, said Lt. Jason Kravetz...

Gwinnett Sheriff: Illegal Immigrant Program Successful

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway said the jail population is down and fewer illegal immigrants are committing crimes.

Conway said it's all because of the highly controversial 287(g) program.

That's the federal program that allows cops to detain and deport people who are in the country illegally.

Man is Charged in Fatal Christmas Wreck

A man believed to be in the country illegally has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication in connection with a fatal Christmas morning wreck.

Ramon Nerl Olea, 22, was northbound on Haywood Lane at 8:30 a.m. when he lost control of his car and crashed into a vehicle driven by Moni Rai, 22, police said in a news release...

Stopping Illegal Immigration

It has been said that the United States is a nation of immigrants. I agree with that. Unless you are of Native American ancestry, your forefathers came to these shores from some other part of the world. We have a rich history of ethic diversity and cultural influences. It is one of the things that has made us unique in the world. However, it is important to separate those who immigrate here from other countries through legal channels from those who attempt to by-pass our laws and sneak in illegally. We are a nation of laws and illegal/criminal activity runs contrary to that principle...

Eight Men Charged in Kidnapping, Assault of Mother (Columbus, Ohio - December 24, 2009)

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A Franklin County grand jury has indicted eight men on kidnapping and assault charges after a central Ohio mother and daughter were kidnapped at gunpoint from their car...

Obama Positioning for Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON — With the health-care battle still unfinished, the Obama administration has been laying plans to take up an issue that could prove even more divisive — a major overhaul of the nation's immigration system.

Senior White House aides privately have assured Latino activists that the president will back legislation next year to provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented workers now living in the United States.

In addition to the citizenship provision, the emerging plan will stress efforts to secure U.S. borders against those trying to cross illegally. But that two-track approach was rejected repeatedly in the past by Republicans and other critics who insist a border crackdown must demonstrate its effectiveness before any action on citizenship is considered...

Greyhound Lines Inc. Accused of Racial Profiling

Traveling home for the holidays might not be as cheerful as you may think if you plan on taking a Greyhound bus. According to a recent article in the Contra Costa Times, an immigrant rights group in San Bernardino, CA, is accusing Greyhound Lines, Inc. of racially profiling their Latino customers. The rights group, Immigration Raids Response Network, alleges that Greyhound Lines Inc. targets Latino riders by allowing Border Patrol agents -- along with Greyhound employees -- to "conduct immigration checks of passengers upon their arrival at the San Bernardino Greyhound bus station." The rights group is now urging Latinos not to ride Greyhound buses nationwide...

It's Time for Real Immigration Reform

Congress should move quickly from health care to immigration reform. But to succeed, it will have to beat back specious anti-immigrant claims.

On Dec.15, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act. The bill is the first effort to pass federal immigration reform under the Obama administration and a Democratic-controlled Congress after several failed attempts during the Bush era...

A National Campaign for Immigration Reform Heats Up in Ohio (Cleveland, Ohio - December 22, 2009)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With health-care reform nearing reality, some Ohio activists think the Buckeye State and America are ready for another big, important, emotionally charged debate.

They are calling for immigration law reform. They aim to re-launch a crusade that failed twice in recent years but that candidate Barack Obama promised to make a national priority...

Town Divides Over Law Aimed at Day Laborers

FIRST came the anti-loitering decrees, then legislation to punish employers and landlords who hire or house immigrants. Now, this Nassau County town of 300,000 people has passed perhaps the most stringent of ordinances attempting to control immigrant day laborers: a law that makes even waving one’s hand punishable by a $250 fine...

Grinch Stole Reform

SAN DIEGO — Just in time for Christmas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has given Latino voters a valuable gift: clarity.

So much of politics is masked in smoke and mirrors. If you convince Latino constituents that the other party is out to get them, you'll become their BAF — best amigo forever. And so it is that most Latinos I know have been led to believe that on immigration reform, Republicans are inherently bad and Democrats are intrinsically good...

Illegal Aliens Can't Dodge Theft Charges in Utah

Utah’s identify fraud law has been specifically designed to protect the victims of identity theft who suffer real harm when their Social Security numbers are used by illegal aliens to obtain jobs and benefits reserved for American citizens and legal residents...

Teen Suspect's Residnecy Status Eluded Feds

LAKELAND | Through nine arrests, no one questioned whether 14-year-old Noel Cruz-Diego was in the U.S. legally until he was charged with burglary, robbery and stabbing a Lakeland man 43 times last month...