JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — An ambitious, $6.7 billion government project to secure nearly the entire Mexican border with a "virtual fence" of cameras, ground sensors and radar is in jeopardy after a string of technical glitches and delays.Having spent $672 million so far with little to show for it, Washington has ordered a reassessment of the whole idea. The outlook became gloomier this week when President Barack Obama proposed cutting $189 million from the venture.Ultimately, the project could be scaled back dramatically, with the government installing virtual fences along a few segments of the nation's 2,000-mile southern boundary but dropping plans for any further expansion, officials said."The worst that happens is that we have a system which gives us some value but we conclude that it's not worth buying any more of it," said Mark Borkowski, the government's director of the project at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.The first permanent segment of virtual fence — a 23-mile stretch near Sasabe, Ariz. — was supposed to be turned over to the Border Patrol by the main contractor, Boeing Co., for testing in January, but the handover has been delayed by problems involving the video recording equipment.
For more, here
[Posted by Julia Matinez]
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
California gets help paying for jailed illegal immigrants in Obama's budget
(Posted By Uriel Rivera)
Source L.A. Times
California stands to receive more than $1 billion from President Obama's budget plan to help cover healthcare for the poor and the cost of jailing illegal immigrants.
The budget proposal includes $25 billion in additional Medicaid funds for states, of which California is projected to receive $1.5 billion. States received a funding boost in the economic stimulus bill that Congress passed one year ago. Obama's budget plan would extend the funding through mid-2011.
The proposal also includes $330 million to help states pay for jailing illegal immigrants. The money has long been a priority for California officials, who argue that local and state taxpayers should not have to bear the burden of Washington's failure to control U.S. borders. California's expected $90-million share would represent a fraction of the nearly $1 billion the state probably will spend this year on incarcerating illegal immigrants.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
ICE operation targets 83 cities nationwide Gang bust nets 5 in Phoenix area
(Posted by Uriel Rivera)
PHOENIX — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Wednesday announced the arrest of 476 gang members, gang associates and other criminals, including five in the Phoenix area, as part of Project Big Freeze. The ICE-led enforcement operation is targeting gangs in 83cities.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Proud to be racist
Counselman Bob Kellar from Santa Clarita makes a remark that he is a "proud racist". Even though Kellar argues that people misunderstood his words, he will not apologize for his remark. His remarks have caused people to praise him and call him a "patriotic hero". To read the full article http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-santa-clarita28-2010jan28,0,4156451.story
Posted by Enedina Garcia
(Posted By Uriel Rivera)
PHOENIX, Ariz.— Miriam Mendiola-Martinez, an undocumented immigrant charged with using someone else’s identity to work, gave birth to a boy on Dec. 21 at Maricopa Medical Center. After her C-section, she was shackled for two days to her hospital bed. She was not allowed to nurse her baby. (read the entire story by clicking on the following link)
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=bc96e9bf40ad9ac97a78dba165ea2448&from=rss
Illegal Immigrants Make 1,500-Mile March to Washington
(Posted By Uriel Rivera)
Three undocumented immigrant students have embarked on a four month, 1,500-mile campaign, walking from Miami to the nation's capital to advocate for immigration reform legislation that would give them a path to citizenship.
Arizona Republic: Changes to immigrant-detention system coming, official says
(By Uriel Rivera)
WASHINGTON - The head of U.S. immigration enforcement on Monday announced plans for an overhaul of the government's controversial detention system for people who face deportation.
The moves described by John T. Morton, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, address oversight, medical care and tracking of detainees at facilities in Arizona and across the country.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/25/20100125immigration-detention-ice-arizona.html
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