Free Republic

WASHINGTON - The U.S. population is on target to hit 300 million this fall and it's a good bet the milestone baby — or immigrant — will be Hispanic. No one will know for sure because the date and time will be just an estimate. But Latinos — immigrants and those born in this country — are driving the population growth, accounting for almost half the increase last year, more than any other ethnic or racial group. White non-Hispanics, who make up about two-thirds of the population, accounted for less than one-fifth of the increase. When the population reached 200...

Citizens group confronts sheriff on immigrants 'Copwatch' calls for sheriff to release immigrants from jail Friday, June 16, 2006 Members of a citizens group known as Copwatch protested outside Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office Friday morning. They held signs asking Arpaio to release illegal immigrants that his deputies and volunteer posse members have arrested. The arrests came under a state law making it illegal to conspire to smuggle humans into Arizona, or to conspire to be smuggled. Arpaio came down from his 19th floor office in the Wells Fargo Building to let the members of Copwatch present their complaints in person....

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A civil rights watchdog agency opened an investigation on Monday into a Philadelphia cheese steak restaurant that posted a sign saying "This is America - when ordering, speak English." The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations complaint effectively opens a case against Geno's Steaks of South Philadelphia, said Rachel Lawton, acting executive director of the agency. The Philadelphia controversy has fed a national debate over immigration in which the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would declare English the national language and politicians have raised objections to a Spanish version of the national anthem.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The two Massachusetts women walk down a fly-infested alley where sewage from mud huts drains onto the dirt walkway. In a tiny backyard, they find two dozen chickens, five children -- and one Afghan war widow. Patti Quigley of Wellesley and Susan Retik of Needham -- whose husbands were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks

This Local has nothing to do with any alleged management directives to report the location of the Minutemen volunteers to the Mexican government. Our position on the Mexican government and their military is very clear. They are corrupt, they shoot at us, they smuggle drugs, they encourage illegal aliens to invade this country...

I've never posted a new thread before and was going to put this with Santa Ana but now there are details so I think it needs it's own thread. Reports for help from all police to respond to Vista, California for unrest related to the immigration protests. I'd been hearing sirens racing north on 15 for over the last 50 minutes and was trying to find out what was going on, as after hearing and seeing groups of 2-6 patrol cars racing up the freeway sirens wailing every 4-8 minutes made it apparent something was going on.

Monday's immigration march exceeded the expectations of its organizers, angered some opponents but remained peaceful throughout. Nearly 1,500 people walked across the city in one of the largest demonstrations in Yuma. The march through the city was followed by the sounds of cheers, honking horns and, at times, words of rebuke. When people were gathering near the Yuma Civic Center prior to the event, counter-protesters were already out with their own messages. When asked why he was marching, 15-year-old Jesus Ruiz had a simple answer: "For my country," he said. When asked which country that was, he said Mexico. This...

OLYMPIA -- A state audit has questioned nearly $1 billion that Washington's Medicaid program spent last year -- including $75 million that may have to be repaid to the federal government because it was used for unauthorized medical services for undocumented aliens. Undocumented aliens received prenatal care, chemotherapy, kidney transplants and other procedures the federal government prohibits its money from being spent on, the audit released Thursday found. The report examined Medicaid payments in the fiscal year that ended in 2005. Medicaid, a joint state and federal program, spent $6.2 billion last year on health services for the state's poor...

Well, the U.S. Congress has been given plenty of time to work on addressing our illegal immigration problem. Commentators across the country have provided lots of thoughts on the issue, including lots of ideas on how to address the problem. You would think that our elected representatives would listen to the people (meaning the citizens, not the law-breaking illegals), thoughtfully consider all the polls, review the studies on the economic impact (good and bad) of the huge illegal influx, think back on their oaths of office and what is expected of them by the citizens that vote, and come to...

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names” – Old Chinese proverb. The elite media have always been out of touch with American values, and their reporting has often been at odds with reality. (See “Offensive, Tet.”) However, their coverage of the last week’s massive pro-illegal immigration rallies bordered (no pun intended) on the Orwellian, virtually requiring one to believe the inverse of everything they reported. Among their many distortions, sanitizations, euphemisms, and lies were: “Pro-Immigration Rallies.” The elite media consisted presented the protests as rallies in favor of immigration or immigrants rights. The Washington Post...

I always love reading articles by Walter Williams, well-known professor of economics. He has a succinct way of avoiding a lot of verbal claptrap and cutting right to the chase. In a recent column on illegal immigration he wrote: "At the heart of today's immigration problem is its illegality. According to several estimates there are 11 million people who are in our country illegally, mostly from Mexico...First, there's the refusal to call these people 'illegal aliens.' The politicallY preferred term is 'undocumented workers,' which is nothing less than verbal sleight-of-hand." Professor Williams also mentions his colleague, Thomas Sowell, who refers...

LOS ANGELES — The protests that drew national attention to the future of an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are relaunching even though sweeping reform legislation has stalled on Capitol Hill. Weeks ago organizers picked Monday for dozens of demonstrations nationwide, a signal that what began as a string of disparate events — attracting tens and even hundreds of thousands of people — has become more coordinated. “We don’t have a leader like Martin Luther King or Cesar Chavez, but this is now a national immigrant rights movement,” said Joshua Hoyt, director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee...

You've got to hand it to Americans. If ever there was a group of people more patient, more willing to turn the other cheek, more forgiving and tolerant – I just don't know who it would be. Every day now, it seems, hundreds of thousands of ungrateful human parasites rally in American cities condemning their host country's lack of hospitality. Think about this. Somewhere around 20 million foreigners have entered this country illegally and stayed here – taking advantage of America's health-care system, educational system, welfare system, taxing its criminal justice system and competing for jobs with those at the...

I've had it! I've watched Mexicans all over the Houston area and nationally waving Mexican flags. I've seen Mexicans raise the Mexican flag at public schools. I've seen Mexicans carrying signs stating "I'm Already Home!" I've heard over and over again that Illegals are here because they will do jobs Americans will not. I have had a Mexican lady cleaning my house twice a month and a Mexican lawn crew doing my lawn. I make a check out to the Mexican lady by name and leave the lawn guys check blank. I have never asked if they are illegal or...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMarch 25, 2006 President's Radio Address       Audio      In Focus: Immigration      THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Monday, I will attend a naturalization ceremony here in Washington. It's always inspiring to watch a group of immigrants raise their hands and swear an oath to become citizens of the United States of America. These men and women follow in the footsteps of millions who've come to our shores seeking liberty and opportunity, and America is better off for their hard work and love of freedom.  Radio Address 200620052004200320022001  Radio Interviews 20052004 America is a nation...

Hudson (N.H.) police Chief Richard E. Gendron says he has nothing against immigration but warns that "if you want to come to this country, come in the front door." Otherwise, he vows, illegal aliens caught in his town of 25,000 will be charged with criminal trespass.

HOUSTON- The reputed leader of a violent gang with roots in El Salvador was sentenced to seven months in prison Friday for illegally re-entering the country, U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg announced. Lester Rivera Paz, 29, of Honduras, is expected to be deported after completing his sentence. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in February near Falfurrias. He was indicted in March on one count of illegal entry into the United States after being deported. Rivera, who officials say has many aliases, including "El Culiche" or The Tapeworm, Eber Anibal Rivera Paz and Franklin Jairo Rivera-Hernandez, was the...

Lee Driscoll is cracking down on illegal immigrants in his restaurants. And it's breaking his heart. He's not just going the extra mile. He's taking the full trip. And it's tearing him up inside. He's going to fire as many as 51 of his employees - for crimes that include trying to make a living for their families. And, Driscoll says, it's not unlike firing members of his own family. "I think it will make me very emotional," he is saying on the day the story breaks. "I think it will make me cry." Lee Driscoll is CEO of...

There are untold and extraordinary costs to US taxpayers and individual Americans associated with the illegal criminal activities of those Mexicans who sneak into the US in violation of US law.Why isn't the Mexican government held responsible for these costs? The Mexican government has an obligation to prevent it's citizens from committing crimes. The fact that the victim is the US doesn't change that obligation.If our courts can blame all sorts of companies for asbestos damage and accept the claims of millions of claimants, why can the courts do the same for claims against Mexico. Where are the predatory US...

A new opinion poll by Zogby International indicates Americans are hardly pleased with the Bush administration on the subject of illegal immigration. The poll, cited on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" program yesterday, noted a huge majority – 81 percent – believes local and state police should help federal authorities enforce laws against illegal immigration. Only 14 percent disagreed. Voters were also asked, "Do you support or oppose the Bush administration's proposal to give millions of illegal aliens guest worker status and the opportunity to become citizens?" Only 35 percent gave their support, and 56 percent said no. "A majority opposed...