Free Republic

Monte Lake, a labor and immigration lawyer in Washington D.C., called on farmers in the audience to quickly become familiar on the plethora of immigration proposals swirling in Congress thanks to a fiery debate on the issue playing out in the media. ...Lake said efforts to deport existing illegal aliens immediately would be the “death penalty” for the agriculture sector and also have a ripple effect on the rest of the nation’s economy. “The economic study shows that for every field worker you have, you create four to 10 other jobs. These exist because of these people and all of...

The impact of immigration on the state economy is becoming more significant as the number of workers born in another country has doubled in the past 25 years, according to a study released last month by a Boston-based think tank. The report by MassINC, titled "The Changing Face of Massachusetts," explained that a new immigrant population lacks English proficiency necessary for an increasingly competitive labor force. "Businesses say, of course, they want a skilled workforce," said Jane C. Edmonds, director of the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, who was one of six panelists discussing the implications of the MassINC study...

July 9, 2005, 3:13PM Minutemen headed here warned they, too, will be watched Rights groups, archbishop say border watchers aren't welcome By EDWARD HEGSTROM Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The local Catholic archbishop and immigrant rights activists want to roll up the welcome mat before the Minutemen arrive to patrol for illegal immigrants in Houston. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, an organization working to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, announced this week that it would send observers to watch day laborers in Houston beginning in October. Previous plans called for placing patrols only along the Mexican border. But Archbishop Joseph...

TUCSON, Ariz. A Border Patrol agent has been arrested today after he allegedly brought an illegal immigrant into the U-S. Thirty-two-year-old Ephraim Cruz of Douglas was arrested today at the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Headquarters after a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment. The indictment alleges that on or about January 22nd, Cruz knowingly brought an illegal immigrant into the U-S. Cruz is also charged with harboring, concealing, or shielding an illegal alien and with transportation of an illegal alien. Two other counts allege that Cruz failed to report the illegal entry and that he aided and abetted the...