Illegal alien pleads guilty to strangling filmmaker

Diego Pillco, an illegal alien from Ecuador, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the November 2006 strangling death of "Waitress" filmmaker Adrienne Shelly in New York City's Greenwich Village. The construction worker admitted he strangled Shelly, 40, in her Manhattan apartment after she caught him snatching money out of her handbag. He is due to be sentenced to 25 years in prison.

"Waitress," which Shelly wrote, directed and co-starred in with Cheryl Hines and Nathan Fillion, earned rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival when it was released two months after her death.

Last spring, Hines said that promoting the film without Shelly was “bittersweet." "This movie is so beautiful and it's very exciting that people are noticing that . At the same time, Adrienne should be right here and it's not fair," she told UPI. "I wish she could be here to hear people tell her and to see for herself how she has affected them," Fillion said. "What should have been one more piece in a long line of beautiful works has become a legacy."

"Adrienne and our family suffered an unimaginable horror that nobody should have to go through," said her husband Andy Ostroy, who has set up the Adrienne Shelly Foundation to help women filmmakers establish themselves.

Mexican President tells Mexicans in California "Don't give up"

On Valentine's Day, Mexican President Felipe Calderon delivered an emotional message to fellow Mexicans living in Los Angeles and throughout California - "In Mexico, we miss you and think about you a lot. You work hard for this country and help Mexico at the same time. Don't give up."

Calderon told his compatriots he would give them more support while they are in the United States. Mexico's government, he said, wants to promote and even increase migration to the United States

Los Angeles is already about half Hispanic, with Mexicans citizens accounting for the vast majority of Hispanics. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, whose father was a Mexican immigrant, demonstrates the political influence of illegal aliens.

"We need to generate the conditions for work, opportunity and a dignified life so that these people never, ever have to leave," Calderon said. "We don't want to be a country that expels its people.

Federal judge upholds Arizona law penalizing hiring of illegals

A federal judge has upheld an Arizona law that mandates the closure of businesses which knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The law became effective in January.

In making his decision, U.S. District Judge Neil Wake rejected the arguments of business and immigrant-rights groups. They had sued, saying the law was unconstitutional. Wake disagreed,'The act does not make employers conform to a stricter form of conduct than federal law.'

Wake also noted that federal law specifically lets states regulate business licensing. 'Preservation of that state power was itself part of Congress' careful balancing of policy objectives,' he wrote.

Under the law, a company is placed on probation the first time it is found to have knowingly hired undocumented workers. The second time, its license is revoked, essentially ending its ability to operate in Arizona.

The Arizona law is the only one in the country which mandates the closure of businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Several states have contacted Arizona looking to duplicate it.

After three years, Texas incident remains a hot immigration issue

Three years ago this month, U.S. Border Patriol agents Ignacio 'Nacho' Ramos and José Compean encountered a Mexican citizen in the Texas desert, heading north with a van full of 800 lbs. of marijuana. The Mexican, Osvaldo Adrete Davila, ran south, ditching the van just before the border. Davila sprinted across the border, half-turning and waving something silvery in the air. Ramos and Compean fired, hitting him in the buttocks.

Davila disappeared across the border, and the agents discovered the contents of the van. After close to a year, a jury in El Paso convicted the two of assault, obstruction of justice and civil rights violations. Each received lengthy federal prison sentences: 11 years for Ramos, 12 for Compean.

Conservative media took up the cause, portraying Ramos and Compean as martyrs to an immigration policy out of control. CNN's Lou Dobbs called the agents' imprisonment an 'outrage' and 'warrantles.' At a 'Meet Mike Huckabee' event last month in Iowa, the former Arkansas governor said, 'Of course I would review their case,' adding that he hoped the agents would be back home by Valentine's Day 2009, just after a new president takes office. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have not commented on the case.

Bush has so far declined to pardon the agents. His spokeswoman noted that their case is on appeal, and that neither has applied for a pardon, which requires admitting guilt.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has held hearings on the case, saying the agents' sentences were too harsh and their case should be reviewed. Democratic Rep. Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts has introduced a resolution in the House calling on Bush to commute the agents' sentences to time served. The bill has bipartisan support with 75 co-sponsors.

Florida legislators propose immigration enforcement bills

Florida state legislators have unveiled a series of immigration-enforcement bills which would make it tougher to hire illegal immigrants, limit public services illegals can receive and penalize anyone who brings illegals into Florida.

The majority of the bills echo legislation proposed in other states across the country. One is a response to a unique problem facing Florida: the growing number of Cubans and others smuggled across the Florida Straits every month.

In introducing the bills, Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said 'We want to make sure the state of Florida can do everything in its power to deal with illegals. It's a federal issue, but there are things states can do.' Harrell proposed a law making it illegal for state funds to go to day labor centers where illegal immigrants are among those seeking work.

Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, sponsored the most comprehensive bill, much of which simply codifies existing practices or parallels federal law. It would also prohibit cities from restricting efforts to enforce immigration laws, pre-empt municipalities from creating so-called 'sanctuary cities' for illegal immigrants, and would require drivers licenses to be issued only to U.S. citizens or those with legal status in Florida.

Brown's proposal would affect Florida business by requiring that anyone contracting with the state participate in the federal government's volunteer worker verification program. Under the program, employers run the names of prospective employees through Social Security and Department of Homeland Security databases.

Texas Governor now supports border fence

Texas is faced with illegal immigrants flowing in from other U.S. states as well as over the Mexican border, and Governor Rick Perry is talking tough on immigration and border security, saying he favors border fences in some areas.

Nearby states have enacted laws cracking down on the hiring of illegal workers. As a result, illegal immigrants are driving down Interstate 35 from Oklahoma or heading east to Texas from Arizona to flee the tough new laws.

In August 2007, ahead of a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City, Perry railed against all the 'mean rhetoric' sparked by the immigration debate in Washington and declared that border fences 'absolutely won't work.'

But in February 2008, Perry is embracing fencing. 'There is some strategic fencing that we support. There are areas, particularly in metropolitan areas, that you can use strategic fencing to help control the flow of illegal activities,' he said.

Perry is now emphasizing border security over immigration reform, and says that if a comprehensive overhaul occurs he wants temporary workers who apply for U.S. citizenship to wait their turn behind others who have already done so. 'There's a line. Get in just like everybody else,' he said.

Phoenix group backs Romney, rejects McCain immigration stand

A Phoenix organization critical of Arizona Sen. John McCain's immigration policy is backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the presidential race.

The group, Mothers Against Illegal Aliens, is looking for a get-tough approach to illegal immigration including stiff penalties against businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

Business interests have opposed such sanctions, instead backing a guest worker plan and pathway to legal status for illegals already in the U.S. McCain also has advocated such a plan.

In a statement, Michelle Dallacroce, a USAF Veteran, a mother and President and Founder of Mothers Against Illegal Aliens, said "As a mother, I know that respect for the Rule of Law and the enforcement of our laws that have been ignored, will ensure that our American children enjoy the promises that we as parents have made to them. With Mitt Romney as our President, the American Dream and our Nation, will remain alive and well. There is only one real statesman who happens to be Republican who seeks to lead this nation as our President, and that man is Governor Mitt Romney!"

Tancredo - Congressional stumulus package is a giveaway to illegal aliens

Former presidential candidate and Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo has criticized the tax package passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress as a 'giveaway' to illegal aliens. Among other problems, the package directs the Internal Revenue Service to issue checks of up to $600 to individuals and $1,200 to married couples, and also offers rebates for any children. The legislation, however, does not contain any provision barring illegal aliens from receiving the checks.

“This package will stimulate one thing for certain - more illegal immigration,” said Tancredo. “It’s just the latest unfortunate example of American workers footing the bill for illegal aliens.”

The bill also allows “Resident Aliens” to receive rebate checks. The Treasury department classifies someone as a “Resident Alien” based on how much time that person has spent in the United States. No proof of legal presence, however, is required.

“A large portion of this money will just be sent back to the home countries of illegal aliens,” concluded Tancredo. “So it might stimulate someone’s economy – just not ours.” The bill was considered under a procedure in the House of Representatives that did not allow for any opportunity to amend the bill to restrict payments to illegal aliens.

Obama broadcasts his support for drivers licenses for illegals in California

To woo California Latinos, Senator Barack Obama is spotlighting his support of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Latinos want them. But the general electorate vehemently does not. Drivers licenses for illegal immigrants helped undo former California Governor Gray Davis.

Said Federico Peña, Denver mayor now supporting Obama. 'I think when the Latino community hears Barack's position on such an important and controversial issue, they'll understand that his heart and his intellect is with Latino community.'

One in 3 Californians is Latino, although they make up just 14 percent of the electorate.

Obama has also made a promise to Latino leaders to take up immigration reform in his first year. Clinton has not made such a promise, only that she would make her best effort.

Clinton directs $303,000 earmark to group that encourages HIV/AIDS victims as immigrants to U.S.

The Gay Men's Health Crisis Center, a group that lobbies for needle exchanges, for allowing immigrants with HIV/AIDS to legally enter the country, and for condom distribution in prisons, has received a $303,000 in U.S. federal funds in an earmark pushed by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

The earmark funding came through the $555 billion FY 2008 omnibus bill. Clinton's 261 earmarks contrasts dramatically with those of other presidential candidates. Of those still in the primary race, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had 46 earmarks, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) had 10 earmarks, Rep. Dennis Kucinich had 9 earmarks and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had no earmarks, said an analysis by the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW). Under ethics reform legislation passed last year, 2008 is the first year that members of Congress have to put their names on earmarks.

This particular earmark is from the Department of Justice and is specifically aimed at fighting methamphetamine use. Clinton announced the grant in October 2007, a month after receiving a $750 donation and a $250 donation from Felix Lopez, an attorney for the Gay Men's Health Crisis and for a clinic based in New York.

The Gay Men's Health Crisis Center, based in New York City, has a public policy agenda for the federal, state, and city level that includes a needle exchange program to curb the spread of HIV, allowing non-profit groups to distribute condoms for free throughout prisons, and opposition to abstinence-only sex education. The group says its top legislative agenda item at the federal level involves changing immigration policy to eliminate HIV/AIDS as grounds for inadmissibility as a disease of public health significance.

McCain doublespeak on border security includes advice from ‘Mexico-First’ promoter

John McCain claims he has “learned his lesson,” that he has heard the concerns of Americans and now understands that we need to secure the border before enacting any “comprehensive” immigration reform. McCain likes to appear at campaign events where he meets with security-oriented groups, such as the VFW.

But McCain also says that he hasn’t changed his position. He supported amnesty in 2003, and proposed it in 2006 and 2007 with Massachusetts Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy. Where does he stand now?

The truth becomes clearer knowing that the McCain campaign’s Hispanic Outreach Director is none other than Dr. Juan Hernandez, an open-borders, ‘Mexico First’ fanatic, a Texas-born dual citizen who served as Director of the Office of Mexican’s Living Abroad for Mexico President Vicente Fox.

Hernandez lobbied to make life easier for Mexican migrants in the United States, worked to cut the costs of money transfers, helped win lower tuition at Texas state universities, and has urged U.S. states to loosen restrictions on drivers' licenses. Is there any reason to think that Hernandez would encourage a President McCain to secure the border? Is there any reason to believe a candidate will secure the border if he is getting his Hispanic Outreach advice from Dr. Juan Hernandez?

What if the illegal aliens left?

What would happen to the U.S. if 20 million (or more) illegal aliens just left? It's a good question, and deserves an answer, but the answers may surprise you!

In California, if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico, it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupt hospitals and overrun prisons. The highways would be cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone could understand one another as English became the dominant language again.

It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from gridlocked cities in Colorado. In Florida, 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America , the rule of law, and English. In Chicago , Illinois , 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience.

If 20 million illegal aliens returned 'home', the U.S. Economy would return to the rule of law. Employers would hire legal American citizens at a living wage. Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn't be working off the books. That would result in an additional $401 billion in IRS income tax revenue collected annually, and an equal amount for local, state and city coffers.

15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs each year would leave. In cities like L.A., 20,000 members of the '18th Street Gang' would vanish from our nation. No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft! No more foreign rapists and child molesters!

Over $80 billion annually wouldn't return to the aliens' home countries by cash transfers. At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country. At least 86 hospitals in California , Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupt and closed. Americans wouldn't suffer thousands of TB and hepatitis cases brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders.

Twenty million illegal aliens should be invited to go home, fix their own countries and make a better life in Mexico.

Border Patrol agent killed in Arizona

U.S. Border Patrol Senior Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar was intentionally struck and killed Saturday by a Hummer vehicle fleeing law enforcement officers as he put down spike strips near the entrance of a popular campground about a mile from the border in Arizona. 'The Hummer sped up and swerved toward our agent, killing him,' said Agent Eric Anderson, spokesman for the Border Patrol's Yuma sector.

A half hour earlier agents had seen a brown Hummer and a red Ford F-250 pickup crossing from Mexico into the United States.
The vehicles traveled west on Interstate 8, and the vehicles turned around, heading back the way they had come with the Border Patrol in pursuit. 'We don't know if they were smuggling people or drugs,' Anderson said.

After the agent was struck, both vehicles escaped into Mexico. Anderson said Mexican authorities are cooperating in the search for the suspects. Agent Aguilar was based at the Yuma sector, where about 850 agents work.

In a statement, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said "I am outraged by this tragic loss. I have spoken to the Mexican ambassador who gives me both his condolences and deep assurance that their government will be resolute in tracking down the perpetrators, and bringing them to swift justice. I'm insisting that the full force of the law be used in this investigation."

GAO finds lax border procedures weaken security

Video surveillance and investigations at U.S. ports of entry reveal significant security risks and failures, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported to Congress. As a result, serious national security weaknesses continue to plague the border inspection system at ports. The weaknesses increase the potential for terrorists, criminals and illegal goods to enter the country undetected.

Richard Stana, GAO's Homeland Security and Justice director, told Congress 'Without checking the identity, citizenship, and admissibility of travelers, there is an increased potential that dangerous people and inadmissible goods may enter the country and cause harm to American citizens and the economy. Alien smuggling organizations have been aware of weaknesses in Customs and Border Patrio's (CBP) inspection procedures and they have trained operatives to take advantage of these weaknesses.'

GAO reviewed videotapes and found numerous vulnerabilities, including CBP officers 'waving in vehicles without stopping the vehicle or interviewing the driver.' The tapes also showed motorcycles passing through inspection lanes without stopping, CBP officers waving traffic through while they were replacing another officer going off duty, and officers waving pedestrians through without looking at them, making verbal contact, or inspecting travel documents.

Despite technology to help inspect vehicles for smuggled aliens and illicit cargo, and to help check traveler documents against law-enforcement databases, CBP concluded that 'several thousand inadmissible aliens and other violators entered the country at air and land ports of entry' in just one fiscal year. Privately, CBP agents and inspectors said the number of illegal entries may be much greater than that.

Chinese smuggler owns almost $1 million in Pennsylvania property

Bao Ping Zheng, 39, owns nearly $1 million in property -- including his Chinese restaurant supply business and his home, government records show. Zheng, however, is an illegal immigrant, and has been charged with harboring aliens from his native China.

An illegal immigrant can run a business in the United States without too many obstacles, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. 'We've actually made it pretty easy to do business as an illegal alien -- a lot easier than most people think,' he added.

Zheng appeared before U.S. Magistrate Robert C. Mitchell in Pittsburgh. He has been in federal custody at the Allegheny County Jail since September

Department of State documents list Zheng as president of New Chinatown Inc., located at 1300 Island Ave. in Stowe. These documents, filed from 2000 to 2002, name the businesses as New Chinatown Realty LLC, New Chinatown Trading LLC and New Chinatown LLC.

Overwhelming majority of Americans want steps taken to curb illegal immigration

Adults in the United States want to see punitive measures established to curb illegal immigration. The British publication The Economist, had the poll conducted in mid-December.

At least 75 per cent of respondents supported increasing fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants, requiring police to report illegal immigrants to the federal government, and making it a crime to hire illegal immigrants.

Two-thirds (67 per cent) want the National Guard to patrol the Mexican Border, and 57 per cent want more border fences built.

Polling Data

• Increasing fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants - 81% support, 11% oppose,  8% not sure
  
• Require police to report illegal immigrants to federal government - 77% support, 14% oppose, 10% not sure
  
• Making it a crime to hire illegal immigrants - 75% support, 15% oppose, 10% not sure
  
• Using the National Guard to patrol the Mexican Border - 67% support, 20% oppose, 13% not sure
  
• Building more border fences - 57% support, 27% oppose, 16% not sure
  

New laws prompt Arizona church to close its day-labor center

New laws in the town of Cave Creek and in the state of Arizona have prompted a Cave Creek church to close its seven-year-old day labor center. The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church had seen its center as a safe place for illegal laborers to hook up with employers.

Operations at the day-labor center ended in early January, and the 40 illegal workers who gathered are now seeking work elsewhere,

In September, the Cave Creek Town Council passed two laws, touting them as safety measures. One toughened the town's ban on loitering, and the other banned cars from stopping on town streets.

Also with the new year, an employer-sanctions law passed last year by the Arizona Legislature and signed by the governor took effect. The new law targets businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.

Illegals cost Arizona workers at least $1.4 billion in 2006

A Harvard University economist, commissioned by the Maricopa County (Arizona) County Attorney, has determined that illegal immigrants depressed wages in Arizona by at least $1.4 billion in 2006 and forced down the wages of lower-skilled legal workers by 4.7 percent.

Economist George Borjas said hiring illegal immigrants depresses wages because they work for lower pay and sometimes are paid under the table. He said that illegals make up 10 percent of all workers in Arizona and decrease all wages by 1.5 percent, but illegal immigrants primarily impact the wages and jobs of legal workers with lower education levels

County Attorney Andrew Thomas said the Borjas' report has been filed with U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake, who is considering the Arizona sanctions law case. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Contractors Association, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Association are among the business groups challenging the law in federal court. The law allows the suspension or revocation of the business licenses of employers caught knowingly hiring illegals.

Large majority in new poll say illegal immigration is a major problem

A new Arizona State University poll finds that illegal immigration is seen as a serious problem for a large majority of people living in four Southwestern states.

The poll, by ASU's Institute for Social Science Research, found that 58 percent of those polled in the states of Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Nevada believe illegal immigration is a very serious problem. Another 27 percent believe illegal immigration is a somewhat serious problem.

At the same time, asked their overall opinion of various ethnic groups, 34 percent of those polled were 'very' positive about Mexican Americans and other Latino/Hispanic Americans. Another 32 percent were 'somewhat' positive and another 19 percent were neither positive nor negative about Mexican Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans. Only 13 percent had a 'somewhat' or 'very' negative overall opinion of the group.

The telephone poll of 1,013 adults was taken from Nov. 6 to Dec. 19 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Border Security Guard Killed on El Paso's Paso Del Norte

The first murder of 2008 in El Paso, Texas, was a security guard working at the border. The security guard was working for a private firm at the bridge in El Paso, and was killed by a man trying to cross the border.

Cruz Vite, 58, was guarding the pedestrian toll booth at the bridge when 29-year-old Pablo Aragon attempted to enter. A fight occurred and Aragon struck the guard a several times before running off. Vite was taken to the hospital where he later died.

A woman who has worked at a nearby parking lot for 16 years said the killing is disturbing. “It’s scary you know, you never know what's going to happen. You know you don't know if you’re going to get assaulted, you really don't know."

Police have charged Aragon with one count of felony assault, but the charge could change depending on the autopsy results.

Tancredo sees Huckabee Iowa win as a loss

Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo decided to run for President last year in order to make illegal immigration a major issue, and succeeded in his goal. He left the race in late December, throwing his support to Mitt Romney in the Republican primaries.

But he sees Mike Huckabee's big win in the Iowa caucuses on Thursday as a setback. Before the caucuses, Tancredo had told a reporter "The biggest blow to my cause would be if Huckabee wins in Iowa, which damages Romney and allows McCain to do even better than he would have otherwise done and go on with more steam."

After hearing the results, Tancredo said "It's a discouraging thing, because, to tell the truth, the real winner in this thing is McCain. . . . I think he's the worst in the bunch." During his run for the nomination, Tancredo had deeply criticized McCain for sponsoring an amnesty proposal last spring with Senator Kennedy.

Tancredo said he thinks Romney could fight back, if he has the will. Asked whether he wished he had remained in the race, Tancredo said no, adding that he was happy to be home with his family in Colorado. "I'd rather be here tonight than anywhere in Iowa," he said, laughing.

LA Latino gang sought to ‘cleanse’ their turf of Blacks

One of the most vicious Latino gangs in Los Angeles has been accused of targeting victims for murder based on race. Their quest has been to “cleanse” their turf of snitches and rival gangsters.

If the intended victim could not be found, sometimes the gang’s leader said “well, shoot any black you see.” In the Florence-Firestone neighborhood, gang violence has been common for decades. But there were 20 murders among more than 80 shootings during the gang’s rampage. Evidence of the gang, Florencia 13, or F13, is seen in arrows spray-painted on the wall of a liquor store marking the gang's boundary, and graffiti warning rivals to steer clear.

Federal, state and local officials worked together to charge 102 men linked to the gang with racketeering, conspiracy to murder, weapons possession, drug dealing and other crimes. More than 80 of those indicted are now in custody. The gang’s reach extends to Nevada, Arizona and into prisons, where prosecutors say incarcerated gang leaders were able to order hits on black gangsters.

Last year, four members of The Avenues, a gang from the Highland Park area east of downtown Los Angeles, were convicted of hate crimes for killing a black man in what prosecutors called a campaign to drive blacks from that neighborhood. And last January, authorities announced a crackdown on the 204th Street gang following the killing of a 14-year-old black girl.