Free Republic

San Francisco's political establishment has long prided itself on providing a haven for illegal immigrants. Mayor Gavin Newsom even launched a taxpayer-funded $83,000 "public awareness campaign" earlier this year assuring illegal immigrants that the "sanctuary city" by the bay was in their court. And indeed it is. Under the city's 1989 voter-approved sanctuary ordinance, police officers and other city employees are prohibited from inquiring into immigration status. In addition, the city will not direct municipal funds or employees towards assisting federal immigration enforcement, unless such assistance is required by federal or state law or a warrant. No doubt such protections...

Sanctuary is the first Web-based (non-televised) science fiction series. Starring Amanda Tapping (who is also an executive producer) and Robin Dunne, the show is billed on the official website as "The first broadcast caliber sci-fi series developed specifically for the Internet. . . ." Sanctuary uses state-of-the-art computer-aided graphic design for the majority of its scenes. The premise of the show is one of science meeting the supernatural, as Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), who is well over 150 years old yet appearing only 35, seeks out and gives protection for (or in some cases, from) various creatures whom have...

SODUS, NY--According to several police officers who wish to remain anonymous, it has become an unwritten policy of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office to not report illegal aliens to the U.S. Border Patrol when they are taken into custody. On April 27th of this year, Juan Casarubia-Rendon, age 24, was stopped by Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies for numerous traffic violations. He was found to be highly intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .32%, four times the State threshold for vehicle operation. Juan had no license and no vehicle insurance, something that would have normally called for an arraignment for...

San Francisco's 1989 sanctuary law grew out of the religious-based sanctuary movement through which churches across the country offered a safe haven to Central Americans who fled civil war and political persecution but were unable to gain asylum in the United States. For local governments, however, the motivation behind sanctuary policies today has more to do with effective policing than humanitarian impulses. "Some police departments say ... 'We don't want our police officers enforcing immigration law because if they do, victims and witnesses of crimes won't cooperate with us,' " said Kevin Johnson, dean of the UC Davis law school...

San Francisco -- An effort by San Francisco to shield eight young Honduran crack dealers from federal immigration officials backfired when the youths escaped from Southern California group homes within days of their arrival, officials said Monday. The walkaways are the latest in a string of embarrassments for city officials who are protecting illegal-immigrant drug dealers from federal authorities and possible deportation because of San Francisco's 1989 declaration that the city is a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. Until recently, San Francisco flew juvenile illegal immigrants convicted of drug crimes to their home countries rather than cooperate with the federal Immigration...

Hope you pay close attention to what San Francisco’s illegal alien sanctuary policy has wrought. Over the weekend, the SFChronicle reported that open-borders radicals in the city’s juvenile probation department are shielding Honduran illegal alien drug dealers from prosecution and deportation by providing them a taxpayer-subsidized escort and plane ride back to their home country–where they can promptly turn around and re-enter the U.S. with impunity. It’s the San Fran illegal alien drug kingpin shuttle service. All in the name of “family reunification” and protecting the “youths,” of course! The feds and the city are pointing fingers. Nobody will admit...

Wading the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass after a harrowing, weeks-long journey through three countries, Devis hopped a train that brought him to San Antonio. The 25-year-old Honduran knew landing work here wouldn't be too hard. A much harder task was finding a place to stay in a city where he didn't know anyone. A night at a homeless shelter among drug addicts and alcoholics was scary. Another on a park bench didn't provide much sleep. He was about to leave for Houston in search of estranged relatives when someone pointed him to Misión Cristiana Internacional, an immigrant shelter on...

SAN ANTONIO — A group of faith-driven activists is trying to organize a network to help illegal immigrants who fear new local immigration-related laws and massive raids. The advocates — all Catholic — hope to provide places to stay, food and health care for immigrants. They have a few families who have volunteered to host immigrants, but ultimately want to open a shelter. If the project is successful, immigrants seeking sanctuary would simply need to ask for "Romo." ...

Catholic Church Chooses Wrong Side Again With the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) raid in Postville, Iowa, and the resulting protests coming from the all too sanctimonious “religious”, maybe it is time to step back and take a look at what is behind these “do gooders” and “saviors” of the criminals crossing our boarders. First of all let's get this straight. An “illegal alien” is a criminal. This person is not misunderstood and needs to be cared for. They are not a pet. They are criminals that made a decision to break our laws when they came across...

Hillary Clinton, in the second half of her first-ever interview with FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly, said that if elected president she would not crack down on so-called illegal immigrant “sanctuary cities.”

FORT WORTH - Churches must continue to shelter illegal immigrants although they may face legal repercussions, some Methodist ministers said Friday. They said the new sanctuary movement, in which churches of various denominations nationwide provide refuge to illegal immigrants, is an important act of civil disobedience that challenges laws many consider unjust. "The underground railroad would help take people to freedom. Well now, this new sanctuary movement is all about helping people find freedom and find hope for those who are enslaved by our current laws," said the Rev. Mary Ann Swenson, bishop of the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The ministers...

The shooting death of a Denver police officer is sparking a fight over immigration reform. The suspect, Raul Garcia-Gomez was in the United States illegally at the time Detective Donald Young was killed. That has stoked the debate on immigration and whether Denver has become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants. On Monday a group that wants to reform immigration laws held a rally at the City and County Building. They believe the door should be shut tight to illegal immigrants. They insist that if Garcia-Gomez had been turned over to immigration authorities when stopped on traffic offenses, Young might be...

ANITA Shaw says, "My country let me down." It's hard to argue with her. Not only did America let Anita Shaw down, so did California and Los Angeles. Truth be told, Anita Shaw is being diplomatic, if not generous, by not lashing out in righteous indignation at the massive tragedy she has suffered at the hands of an indifferent government. Our government: federal, state and local. Who is Anita Shaw and why should you care what she says? Pull up a chair. Anita Shaw is a sergeant in the United States Army. On March 2, little more than a month...

As police sped toward West San Jose on Wednesday night where Homer Bejarano Resendez lay fatally shot, the city of San Jose was accelerating through one of its bloodiest stretches in years.

Four children were murdered here in my home state of Minnesota on Tuesday. The school bus they were riding home in was broadsided by a van driven by an illegal alien, Alainiss Nuñez Morales. Or so we call her now. Even that name is an alias. Just exactly who this person is and what she was doing here when she wasn't supposed to be remains unknown as of this writing. And it would probably stay that way a good long time if the liberals running local government and the news media had their way about it. You see, Miss Morales...

A Chicago church is again in the spotlight in the debate over immigrant rights. Illegal immigrant Elvira Arellano (el-VEE'-ruh ah-ray-AH'-noh) took sanctuary in the Adalberto United Methodist Church for a year before she was arrested on a visit to Los Angeles and deported last August. Now, another illegal immigrant, Flor Crisostomo (floor kree-SOHS'-toh-moh), has defied a deportation order and taken refuge in the same church. Crisostomo is an illegal immigrant from Mexico arrested at a workplace raid at a Chicago site of IFCO Systems in 2006. The 28-year-old told reporters at the church Monday that she chose to defy authorities...

CHICAGO -- Leaders of a Chicago church where an illegal immigrant from Mexico took sanctuary for a year before being deported say they plan to house another immigration activist who is set on defying a deportation order. Flor Crisostomo, 28, an illegal immigrant who came to the U.S. in 2001, was slated to report to federal immigration officials on Monday, but the head of Adalberto United Methodist Church said she will seek refuge at the church in the same way as immigration activist Elvira Arellano, who was deported to Mexico last August. "She wanted to continue the struggle," the Rev....

Residents from Evanston, Chicago and Oak Park voiced their opposition to the proposed immigration resolution at the Jan. 14 City Council meeting. The resolution, which is being held in the Human Services Committee for further discussion, calls for the humane and just treatment of undocumented persons in Evanston. "I don't think [the resolution] encumbers us in any way in doing what we need to do to serve the community. ... If you are doing something criminal, we'll address that regardless of immigration status." -- Police Chief Richard Eddington Rosanna Pulido, a Chicago resident and field representative for the Federation for...

BAGHDAD, Jan. 22, 2008 – Thousands of pounds of bombs rained down near the village of Arab Jabour on Jan. 20 as coalition forces continued their relentless pursuit of al Qaeda. A military commander in the region said the drop was designed to eliminate al Qaeda’s tactical advantage before coalition ground forces move in to clear the heavily agricultural community southeast of Baghdad. Army Col. Terry Ferrell, commander of 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, with responsibility for the Arab Jabour portion of Multinational Division Center, said in an interview that the improvised explosive devices targeted by the bombing...

Elvira Arellano met with Felipe Calderon in his salon. These household names from Michoacán, Mexico followed starkly different paths to celebrity: the latter, a Harvard graduate, had just taken the Mexican presidency with only a .58-percent margin of victory and amidst fervent dissent; the former, a cleaning lady, had just been deported from the United States after taking sanctuary to evade immigration laws. Elvira came to Felipe seeking a diplomatic visa to return to the U.S. legally. Already praised as a peace ambassador and the “Rosita Parks” of immigrant rights, she believed she could help these two nations work out...

Pit bulls trained to fight will go through a program for traumatized animals By Mark Havnes The Salt Lake Tribune KANAB UTAH 17 miles down The road- A charter plane carried 22 dogs here Wednesday for a second chance at life. NFL quarterback Michael Vick raised the dogs for fighting. Now Vick is doing time, and the dogs are under the care of Best Friends Animal Society in a redrock canyon five miles north of this southern Utah city. The turboprop airplane, chartered by Best Friends, arrived shortly after 3 p.m. and the portable kennels containing the dogs were unloaded...

He doesn't speak Spanish and has no idea what America should do about illegal immigration, but Rev. Larry Kreps knows he's now on a list somewhere of people willing to help illegal immigrants in a time of crisis. It started out small enough. Months ago, a member of Kreps' suburban Ohio congregation was looking for a place where local Hispanics could meet, and Kreps offered some space at John Wesley United Methodist Church. A Sunday school lesson on immigration followed in August. Days later, with just a phone call for warning, dozens of desperate immigrants fleeing a massive raid on...

Dozens of Employees Walk Away From Electrolux NewsChannel 5 looked into whether the plant employed illegal immigrants. Sources told NewsChannel 5 more than 100 workers have been let go in the past couple of days. The employees said it was complete chaos. According to a NewsChannel 5 source, so many workers have been let go that it has been hard to do their jobs at the Electrolux plant. Second and Third shifts have been hit the hardest, and they believe the company is taking action to fix a problem that should not have happened in the first place. Diane Casey...

Minuteman co-founder James Gilchrist's endorsement of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has spurred a backlash among illegal-immigration opponents who say the former Arkansas governor is soft on immigration enforcement. "Mike Huckabee is pro-amnesty and favors a path to citizenship for illegal aliens currently in the U.S. that would require a lifting of current penalties," said William Gheen, whose 25,000-member Americans for Legal Immigration sent mass mailings yesterday to more than 300 pro-enforcement groups.

Republican response to the governor's weekly radio address For weekend of December 8-9, 2007 Hello, this is Rich Cebra, state representative from Naples. One of the most pressing issues in Augusta right now concerns Maine's practice of issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens - people who are in the country illegally. Believe it or not, we also give licenses to people who don't even live here in Maine. I know this is hard to believe, but it's true. If anything has made this problem even worse, it is an executive order by Governor Baldacci from 2004 that has turned Maine...

Illegals-law challenge rejected By Seth McLaughlin December 1, 2007 Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A federal judge yesterday threw out a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Prince William County's [Va.] new ordinance denying services to illegal aliens. Judge James C. Cacheris said during a brief hearing at U.S. District Court in Alexandria that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the resolution passed earlier this year by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. Judge Cacheris said he will issue a written ruling at a later time detailing his decision. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund filed...

WASHINGTON - A Tampa Bay area congresswoman wants to deny some federal funding to localities that have what she describes as "sanctuary" policies for illegal immigrants. Under a bill that Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite will introduce this week, states and localities with policies that ban cooperation with federal officials in apprehending or removing undocumented immigrants from the country would lose federal funding that helps them pay for jailing noncitizens who commit crimes. The Brooksville Republican says she continues to explore the idea of revoking other federal payments. She wrote Thursday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking what added authority, if...

<p>Hispanic activist Carlos Quintanilla was arrested in Irving on an accusation of driving with an invalid license and other charges Thursday, the same day he was organizing an immigration rally.</p> <p>Mr. Quintanilla said Accion America was holding its latest rally to urge police to not take people into custody for minor traffic violations just because they don't have a state-issued identification card or driver's license.</p>

"Presionado por su propio partido, el gobernador demócrata Eliot Spitzer dijo que no ha descartado prescindir de un plan ampliamente criticado de otorgar licencias de conducir a los inmigrantes indocumentados, de acuerdo con algunos informes. La propuesta de Spitzer generó un debate político que ha repercutido en la campaña presidencial. El viernes el gobernador expresó que mantenía por ahora el plan, pero sugirió que podría considerar abandonarlo si no encuentra entusiasmo por él, reportó en su edición del sábado el diario The New York Times y otros periódicos neoyorquinos."See below for English/synopsis.

Priests are pledging to go to jail if that's what it takes to protect illegal immigrants from the immigration crackdown. Last Thursday House Bill 1804 went into effect, requiring legal documentation for any immigrant to live or work in the state. About half of the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic Diocese is Hispanic, that's about 60,000 Catholic parishoners. Bishop James Slattery tells FOX23 News it doesn't matter how many are legal or illegal, he doesn't know because the church doesn't ask. He says the Catholic Church will help protect all of them from the new law. This is an issue Bishop Slattery...

http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/ColumnistasDetail.aspx?SectionId=236

The USCCB Committee on Migration sent a delegation to the U.S./Mexico border region to study the plight of unaccompanied minors and human trafficking victims. The ever-growing problems with these populations are some of the gravest and many times most overlooked symptoms of the broken and out-dated immigration system currently employed by the United States. The delegation met with a broad cross-section of agencies and individuals involved with or knowledgeable of these populations to gain critical insights and to understand their needs. The delegation also met with Church officials, government officials, community-based organization, and other with important perspectives. Programs established to...

January 14, 2004 ~~~snip~~~ Immigration politics have similarly harmed New York. Former mayor Rudolph Giuliani sued all the way up to the Supreme Court to defend the city’s sanctuary policy against a 1996 federal law decreeing that cities could not prohibit their employees from cooperating with the INS. When advisors cautioned against it, "Oh yeah?" responded Giuliani, "just watch me. " The INS, Rooty claimed, with what turned out to be grotesque irony, only aims to “terrorize people.” Though he lost in court, he remained defiant to the end. On September 5, 2001, Giuliani's handpicked charter-revision committee ruled that New...

Herndon Police Investigate Homicide posted 12:16 pm Sun October 28, 2007 - Herndon (Virginia) police are investigating a homicide the occurred Saturday night. Officers were called to the 1,000-block of Alabama Drive around 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Investigation revealed 20-year-old Luis Miguel Abrego Romero stabbed Juan Jose Alvarenga Alvarenga in the upper torso. Alvarenga was transported to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he later died. Officers say Romero fled the scene on foot and his current whereabouts are unknown.

SAN DIEGO -- Flames were only one worry for some illegal immigrants in the fire zone. Equally scary were the crowded roads and evacuation centers, heavy with law enforcement officers, including U.S. Border Patrol agents. Some wondered if they would be deported if they went to shelters. "We decided that we wouldn't go because they ask for your name and everything," said day laborer Jose Salgado, waiting for work off the 5 Freeway near Rancho Santa Fe. SNIP (San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders) The mayor, he said, has always looked out for the needs of the migrant community and has...

Sheriff's Lt. Rosie Enriquez chats with day laborers at 47th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. She believes a day labor center could help cut crime by getting job seekers off the streets. Florence Low / flow@sacbee.com Sacramento day laborers who gather in a parking lot at 47th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in hopes of getting work, cluster around a motorist who stops to hire someone Lt. Rosie Enriquez sat in a parking lot in her unmarked cruiser, looking out at a small sea of about 50 men waiting for the promise of work to...

NEW YORK -- Lou Dobbs is sorry about calling Gov. Eliot Spitzer an idiot. Sincerely. As for ripping the New York Democrat as arrogant, spineless and "a spoiled rich kid brat," the host of CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" stands by those nationally broadcast broadsides.

This is an independent panel to review the immigration issue, in regard to illegal in the Thoroughbred and tobacco industries. They will deliver this report to the Mayor, a careful early-term Dem who does not like controversy but will get pressure from the horse farms. This has a chance with the liberals on our council, but we hopefully have enough to block it if the mayor is foolish enough to go with it. Hopefully this will be big enough to affect the governor's race. What insanity.

PHOENIX — A union for police officers broke with leaders of the Phoenix Police Department on Monday in calling for an end to an immigration policy that the union says makes streets in the nation’s fifth largest city more dangerous. The policy prevents police officers from asking federal immigration authorities for assistance in situations where illegal immigrants commit civil traffic violations.

As many of you know, the pastor of our small Maronite Catholic parish purchased a 160 year old, boarded up Methodist / Episcopal Church, 5 years ago, with the intention of converting it into a Catholic Church. The work progressed slowly due to lack of funds. (This is a very small parish of only 35 active families). When I arrived 4 years ago, I approached the pastor to suggest that he apply to the state for a grant. To do this, however, it would be necessary to have the existing church declared a state landmark. We approached NYS OPRHP (NYS...

A California-based immigration reform organization is supporting the decision by the mayor of Simi Valley to bill a church almost $40,000 for harboring an illegal alien to cover the cost for police presence during a protest. For more than a year Mexican national Elvira Arellano made national news as she was holed up inside a Chicago church in order to avoid deportation by immigration authorities. Arellano finally left the church, fled to California, and was deported back to Mexico. Now another illegal, identified only as "Lilliana," has been given sanctuary at United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, California. In...

Total annual cost of illegals on taxpayers exceeds $1 billion . LA County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has announced that a new report shows illegal aliens and their families in Los Angeles County collected over $35 million in welfare and food stamp allocations in July. In the report, illegals are said to have collected nearly $20 million in welfare assistance for July 2007 and an additional $15 million in monthly food stamp allocations for an estimated annual cost of $440 million. “Illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact on Los Angeles County taxpayers,”said Antonovich. “In addition to $220 million...

FReep This Poll! This is the actual poll question: Do you think the federal government should reimburse local governments for illegal immigration costs? Yes No Not sure Link over to the North County Times/The Californian link provided. Scroll down a bit and look for the poll on the right hand side. Vote your choice. This poll should remain active until Thursday (09/27/09) evening PDT.

A new report by Police Chief Charlie Deane showing how an illegal immigrant arrested on suspicion a traffic violation or minor crime could soon face deportation proceedings in Prince William County is expected to set off a strong debate over the issue Tuesday. Although many Prince William County residents have been pushing for tougher immigration enforcement, others have warned that Deane’s proposal could make life tougher for the community’s Hispanic population. “It will instill fear and distress for police in the community and increase racial tension,” said Nancy Lyall, coordinator for Hispanic outreach organization Mexicanos Sin Fronteras. “It will drive...

Immigration Activists Clash At So. Calif. Church CBS News Interactive: Immigration and Naturalization (AP) SIMI VALLEY, Calif. Dozens of activists on both sides of the illegal immigration debate faced off outside a church where an illegal immigrant is being sheltered with her U.S.-born infant son. One immigrant-rights advocate was injured with a chemical spray during Sunday's confrontation at the United Church of Christ, and police were investigating allegations that an opposing protester was responsible, police Capt. John McGinty said. Members of the anti-illegal immigration group Save Our State, which organized the rally that drew about 120 protesters and counter-protesters, said...

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. Dozens of anti-illegal immigration activists faced off against immigrant-rights backers at a rally outside a church where an illegal immigrant is being sheltered with her U.S.-born infant son. One immigrant-rights advocate was injured with a chemical spray during Sunday's confrontation at the United Church of Christ, officials said. Members of the anti-illegal immigration group Save Our State, which organized the rally that drew about 120 protesters and counter-protesters, said they had hoped to make a citizen's arrest of the woman, who has identified herself only as Liliana. Liliana is living in the church's former parsonage as part...

Dozens of angry, loud people stood on each side of a Simi Valley church's driveway using bullhorns and overworked vocal cords to hurl insults at each other in an immigration protest Sunday. They faced off at the United Church of Christ, where a congregation of about 80 people is sheltering an illegal immigrant from Oxnard and her U.S.-born infant son. Wanted for deportation, the woman is living in the church's former parsonage as part of a national New Sanctuary Movement aimed at keeping families together. The protest was organized by an anti-illegal immigration group called Save Our State that came...

Spotsylvania (Virginia) supervisors vote to make English the official language of the county BY DAN TELVOCK Date published: 9/12/2007 BY DAN TELVOCK Spotsylvania (VA) supervisors passed resolutions last night to recognize English as the county's official language and to join a coalition of governments that will study legislative solutions to illegal immigration. Spotsylvania Supervisor Chris Yakabouski, who is running for the state senate against Sen. Edd Houck (D-Spotsylvania), brought forward both resolutions, which passed on 7-0 votes. Supervisors met later in closed session to get advice from legal counsel "on issues affecting local regulations on illegal immigration." The coalition resolution...

Cali, Columbia Lion was found malnourished six years ago and she rescued him. They were together every day until the African lion was put into this animal sanctuary.

Chertoff warns meddling 'sanctuary cities'   September 6, 2007 By Audrey Hudson - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff yesterday told a House panel that his agency will not tolerate interference by so-called "sanctuary cities" when it comes to hiring illegal aliens. Mr. Chertoff said his agency will enforce the Basic Pilot Program that requires businesses to check the legal status of new employees by matching Social Security numbers and information in Homeland Security Department databases. Mr. Chertoff told the House Homeland Security Committee: "I certainly wouldn't tolerate interference" by cities who attempt to block the program. "We're exploring our legal...