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US to leave Mexican border crossing to rangers

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:34:54 +0000

“The bloody drug war in Mexico shows no sign of relenting. Neither do calls for tighter border security amid rising fears of spillover violence.
This hardly seems a time the U.S. would be willing to allow people to cross the border legally from Mexico without a customs officer in sight. But in this rugged, remote West Texas terrain where wading across the shallow Rio Grande undetected is all too easy, federal authorities are touting a proposal to open an unmanned port of entry as a security upgrade.”

(The Associated Press: US to leave Mexican border crossing to rangers)

Social Network Surveillance by Feds in Spotlight

admin — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:29:53 +0000

“A Freedom of Information Act request by privacy watchdogs revealed the Department of Homeland Security surveilled social networks during President Obama’s inauguration as well as an effort to use social networks to investigate citizenship petitions.”

(Source: Social Network Surveillance by Feds in Spotlight – Security from eWeek)

Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:39:34 +0000

“Indian professionals grabbed one-third of the H-1B visas in 2009, even as there was a slump for the most coveted US work visas in the past two years.

For the second year in running, there appears to be a low key response to the US HS-1B visas with only 24,200 applications being received until July 2.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received some 10,400 applications against the Congressional cap of 20,000 for individuals with advanced degrees. “

(Source: Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas – India – The Times of India)

Arizona governor signs immigration bill

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:13:51 +0000

“Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill Friday that requires police in her state to determine whether a person is in the United States legally, which critics say will foster racial profiling but supporters say will crack down on illegal immigration.

The bill requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect that they’re in the United States illegally. It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them.

The Republican governor also issued an executive order that requires additional training for local officers on how to implement the law without engaging in racial profiling or discrimination.

‘This training will include what does and does not constitute reasonable suspicion that a person is not legally present in the United States,’ Brewer said after signing the bill.

‘Racial profiling is illegal. It is illegal in America, and it’s certainly illegal in Arizona,’ Brewer said.”

(Arizona governor signs immigration bill – CNN.com)

Immigration sweep nets 280 with criminal records

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:28:36 +0000

“Immigration agents arrested 280 people in California in their biggest push yet to round up suspected illegal immigrants with criminal records in local communities, authorities said Friday.

More than 400 agents and local law enforcement officers fanned out across the state in the three-day search led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

‘These are not people who we want walking our streets,’ ICE director John Morton said. ‘We’re going to focus on those people who choose to pursue a life of crime in the United States rather than pursue the American dream of education, hard work and success.’”

(The Associated Press: Immigration sweep nets 280 with criminal records)

ICE to Audit 1,000 More Companies in Immigration Crackdown

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

“Immigration enforcement officials said Thursday that they were expanding a program for auditing companies that might have hired illegal immigrants and had notified 1,000 companies this week that they would have to undergo such a review.”

(Source: ICE to Audit 1,000 More Companies in Immigration Crackdown – NYTimes.com)

Detroit-based task force targets crime spilling over U.S. border

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:08:33 +0000

“The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unveiled today a 50-member task force comprised of federal, state, local and Canadian agencies designed to combat cross-border crimes.

The Border Enforcement Security Task Force, or BEST, will focus on national security and terrorist threats, human smuggling and trafficking, contraband smuggling, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, transnational gang activities and other criminal acts. The team, which is the third along the northern border, covers 721 miles. The initiative will be housed in the federal building downtown.

‘For those who are involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking or selling firearms, the international border really doesn’t exist,’ said Terrence Berg, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “

(Detroit-based task force targets crime spilling over U.S. border | detnews.com | The Detroit News)

Napolitano: local partners essential in the fight against terrorism and border security

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:17:37 +0000

“Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Denver, Colo., emphasizing her commitment to enhanced information sharing with state and local law enforcement partners to combat threats of terrorism.

‘Effective information sharing is essential to our partnerships with state and local law enforcement as we work together to secure our country,’ said Secretary Napolitano. ‘DHS will continue to strengthen fusion centers and other collaborative initiatives across the country to enhance our capabilities to combat terrorism and serious crime.’”

(Source: Napolitano: local partners essential in the fight against terrorism and border security)

At least 4 people shot in Mexico-U.S. border incident

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:54:11 +0000

“The San Ysidro Port of Entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in California was temporarily closed Tuesday after four people were wounded by gunfire that erupted from three vans packed with than 70 people headed from Mexico toward the border, officials said.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer also fired their guns, said Angela Decima, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Border Patrol.

Three of the casualties were critically wounded, said San Diego, California, Fire Department Spokesman Maurice Luque. The fourth person wounded was in a separate vehicle, said Decima.”

(Source: At least 4 people shot in Mexico-U.S. border incident – The CNN Wire – CNN.com Blogs)

Feds to start immigration crackdown on contractors

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:50:48 +0000

For federal contractors, it’s time to start checking whether employees are able to legally work in the United States.

Beginning Tuesday, the federal government is requiring federal contractors to use the E-Verify system to check the immigration and citizenship status of the people they hire and assign to new federal contracts.

“Don’t panic about this. You do have time, but the time will pass quickly, so vigilance is important,” Bonnie Gibson, a partner with New York-based Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy law firm, told hundreds of contractors who dialed in to a conference call last week for an explanation of the Obama administration’s latest immigration enforcement rule. (AP)