The Teeth in Trump’s New Immigration Rules
Posted: January 25, 2017 Filed under: Crime & Corruption, Health and Social Issues, Mediasphere, White House | Tags: Donald Trump, Electoral College (United States), Priority Enforcement Program, Sanctuary city, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States, United States Department of Homeland Security Leave a comment
It sounds bureaucratic, but the shift in “enforcement priorities” could change life drastically for undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s two executive orders, signed Wednesday, made headlines for other reasons—a wall along the southern border and the plan to cut off federal funds from sanctuary cities. But for the 11 million people living undocumented in the U.S., the sharp end of the stick is buried in a bureaucratic-sounding section titled “Enforcement Priorities.” The priorities give immigration agents a broad new rein to enforce immigration law, dictating who gets swept up into the system and how the department uses its limited resources.
[Read the more here, at politico.com]
The new enforcement priorities don’t just mark a sharp change from the more forgiving regime created under Barack Obama, starting in 2010; they represent a break from Trump’s previous commitment to only target undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions. Under the new orders undocumented immigrants are considered a priority if they have been convicted of any crime; have been charged with a crime, even if it has not been resolved; “have committed acts that constitute a chargeable offense”; have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation before a government agency; “have abused” public benefits; have received a final order to leave the country but haven’t done so; or are judged by an immigration officer “pose a risk to public safety and national security.”
These could net hundreds of thousands of people without any convictions, experts said—specifically due to the prioritization of people who have received a final order to leave the country but have not done so.
“That’s going to sweep up a lot of families, a lot of folks who have children, a lot of folks who have been here a long time,” said John Sandweg, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency under Obama.
[Read the full story here, at politico.com]
Immigration hardliners welcomed the new orders as an overdue correction to the Obama-era enforcement priorities, which they said had narrowed to the point where too many undocumented immigrants could stay too easily. The new priorities, they say, simply enforce the existing law, a prerequisite to any type of broader immigration reform. Read the rest of this entry »
Counterfeit Electronic Products Worth HK$1.3 Million Seized in Hong Kong
Posted: January 4, 2017 Filed under: Asia, China, Crime & Corruption, Global | Tags: Amos Yee, Babatunde Fashola, Beijing, China, Google, Hong Kong, Human Rights Watch, O'Hare International Airport, South China Morning Post, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States Leave a comment
Clifford Lo reports: About 200 parcels mailed from the mainland to the United States carrying counterfeit electronic products were intercepted in a three-day joint operation mounted by Hong Kong Customs and United States authorities.
In Hong Kong, about 1,300 fakes including mobile phones, tablet computers and chargers were confiscated in 54 parcels totalling an estimated street value of HK$1.3 million, the Customs and Excise Department said.
It is understood some of the parcels intercepted in the United States were confiscated based on intelligence from Hong Kong customs officials.
Initial investigation showed the fake products were mailed from the mainland and destined for the US via Hong Kong, a source said. Read the rest of this entry »
[VIDEO] Sen. Cruz Questions DHS Sec. Johnson on Admin’s Willful Blindness to Radical Islamic Terrorism
Posted: June 30, 2016 Filed under: Censorship, Global, Law & Justice, Religion, Terrorism, War Room | Tags: 2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Anwar al-Aulaqi, Baltimore–Washington International Airport, Barack Obama, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida, Islamism, Jihadism, ORLANDO, Ted Cruz, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States Armed Forces, United States Department of Justice 1 Comment
Robert Eno reports:
…Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson faced roughly ten minutes of questioning from Senator Ted Cruz, R-TX. During the testimony, Johnson repeated the administration’s line that it doesn’t matter what the terrorists are called, especially if it’s the word “Islamic.” Cruz tried to get Johnson on record answering the question of whether or not DHS purposely scrubbed Islamic from documents. The most shocking part of Johnson’s testimony, however, was near the end. Johnson blatantly lied about what the administration knew regarding the Fort Hood Jihadist, and when it knew it.
Watch:
Cruz: One, is it true or false that the administration knew before the attack that Nidal Hasan was communicating with Anwar al Awlaki?
Johnson: How are you defining the “Obama administration” sir?
Cruz: The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Johnson: The entire Federal Bureau of Investigation? I can’t answer that question sitting here. [unintelligible]
Cruz: The answer is yes, and it is in public record.
Senator Cruz is absolutely correct. Not only did the Obama administration know about Hasan’s communications, they shut down an investigation field agents wanted to conduct into Hasan’s behavior.
In The United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists, which I recently reviewed, Peter Bergen details in painstaking fashion what the Obama administration knew and when it learned that information. His information came from the public record.
[Read the full story here, at ConservativeReview.com]
They Obama administration did in fact know beforehand about the communications, as The New York Times reported shortly after the attacks.
“Not only did the Obama administration know about Hasan’s communications, they shut down an investigation field agents wanted to conduct into Hasan’s behavior.”
Intelligence agencies intercepted communications last year and this year between the military psychiatrist accused of shooting to death 13 people at Fort Hood, Tex., and a radical cleric in Yemen known for his incendiary anti-American teachings.
But the federal authorities dropped an inquiry into the matter after deciding that the messages from the psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, did not suggest any threat of violence and concluding that no further action was warranted, government officials said Monday.
Major Hasan’s 10 to 20 messages to Anwar al-Awlaki, once a spiritual leader at a mosque in suburban Virginia where Major Hasan worshiped, indicate that the troubled military psychiatrist came to the attention of the authorities long before last Thursday’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood, but that the authorities left him in his post.
The Times report goes on to say that “authorities” thought the questions were consistent with a report Hasan was preparing on PTSD. Bergen reports that much of Hasan’s work did not deal with PTSD but with whether or not the United States armed forces should be allowed to fight in Muslim lands. Read the rest of this entry »
Surge in Children, Families at the U.S. Border May Be the ‘New Normal’
Posted: December 19, 2015 Filed under: Crime & Corruption, Law & Justice, Politics, Terrorism, White House | Tags: American Samoa, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Asia, Associated Press, Central America, Chicago, Mexico–United States border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States, United States Border Patrol 1 Comment
Mark Potter and Elizabeth Chuck report: A dramatic spike in unaccompanied children and families trying to slip in across the U.S.-Mexico border may be “the new normal,” officials say, with some believing the surge is linked to a federal ruling that ended long-term detentions.
“The word is, come on ahead and the border is open, the Obama administration is going to take good care of you.”
The number of apprehensions of unaccompanied minors and family units — legal guardians with children under 18 — rushing the nation’s southwestern border peaked last year, then fell off as Obama tapped the Federal Emergency Management Agency to figure out what to do about the young refugees.
“Many Border Patrol agents and officials believe there may be a link between the current surge and a federal court ruling over the summer, when U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ordered federal officials to change how long they detain the thousands of mothers and children who are caught crossing illegally into the U.S. while fleeing violence in their home countries.”
But in recent months, apprehensions have proliferated again: More than 10,000 undocumented children have been stopped in just the last two months, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The 10,588 apprehensions are a 106 percent increase over the same Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 period from last year, when 5,129 kids were picked up.
A large group of Immigrants, guided by two “coyotes” or guides, walk on the desert of Sonora bound for the border with Arizona. This group consisted of 37 border crossers, from four different countries- They included people from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and one Brazilian.
Sasabe, Mexico. 01/23/05
“We could very well be seeing the new normal.”
— Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Apprehensions of family units have jumped too, with 12,505 detentions in those two months, representing a 173 percent increase from last year’s 4,577 seizures in the same time frame.
“We could very well be seeing the new normal,” Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told NBC News.
Sources told NBC News that many Border Patrol agents and officials believe there may be a link between the current surge and a federal court ruling over the summer, when U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ordered federal officials to change how long they detain the thousands of mothers and children who are caught crossing illegally into the U.S. while fleeing violence in their home countries.
In a scathing ruling in which Gee said it was “deplorable” that families and young migrants are languishing in detention centers, she argued long-term detention is also in violation of an 18-year-old court settlement that restricted how long the government could house migrants while they pursue asylum. She gave federal officials until Oct. 23 to change the policy.
Under the new rules, an unaccompanied minor must be released from a federal detention center to a relative elsewhere in the U.S. after no more than five days, and their parent should be, too, so long as officials have determined they are not a flight risk. In rare exceptions, migrant children and families can be held up to 20 days, Gee ruled. Read the rest of this entry »
Not a Mystery: Border Figures Posted, Removed Month Before Election
Posted: November 7, 2014 Filed under: Breaking News, Health and Social Issues, Law & Justice, U.S. News, White House | Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gil Kerlikowske, Jason Chaffetz, Jeh Johnson, McAllen, Mexico–United States border, Obama administration, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States, United States Border Patrol 1 Comment
Staggering statistics that show nearly a half-million people were caught trying to enter the U.S. illegally — and more than half were not Mexican, a number far higher than in 2013 — reportedly were posted on a U.S. government website for just a few hours last month before being taken down.
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, the numbers were posted on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website on Oct. 10 for roughly five hours. The dramatic numbers raised questions over whether they were yanked to protect the administration before key midterm elections.
“According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, the stats showed about 53 percent of the migrants, or 253,000, caught at the U.S.-Mexico border this year were not Mexican — a number far higher than in 2013. A decade ago, fewer than 10 percent were from countries other than Mexico.”
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told the Center he’s worried “they may have been taken down for purely political reasons.”
“If the information is ready it should be made available. The idea that it was and then yanked down for political reasons is outrageous,” he said.
“This year, some of CBP’s data was posted on the website prematurely and removed later that day. One of the statistics released was the number of Southwest border apprehensions by the Border Patrol, which was 479,371.”
— CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske
The numbers could have become a political football less than a month before the elections. They emphasize the challenge still facing U.S. border agents — the reported number of apprehensions is larger than the population of major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans. The number has dropped from even higher levels a decade ago, but the flow is staying strong, even as a virtual army of border agents numbering close to 20,000 remains posted, to catch them.
The stats also point to a startling shift, with more and more border crossers coming from other countries. It is already well-known that illegal immigrant children from Central America have been crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, but some lawmakers also have suggested the border could be a crossing for Middle East extremists. Read the rest of this entry »
Delicioso y Estimulante Relleno! Cocaine-Stuffed Tamales Seized at Houston Airport
Posted: August 24, 2014 Filed under: Crime & Corruption, U.S. News | Tags: Cocaine, Drug Smuggling, El Salvador, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Harbourmaster, Houston, New York, Tamale, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 1 CommentCan’t eat just one. RT @ABC Cocaine-stuffed tamales seized at Houston airport: http://t.co/LPSVJQW2D2 pic.twitter.com/c66UwRsqNA
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) August 24, 2014
Health & Human Services: Teen Males Majority of Illegal Aliens For Years
Posted: August 3, 2014 Filed under: Health and Social Issues, Politics, U.S. News | Tags: Alaska, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, UAC, United States 1 CommentFor Brietbart.com, Michelle Moons reports: A great deal of attention has been focused in recent months on the surge of illegal aliens, particularly unaccompanied alien children (UAC), through the southwest border of the United States. However, a federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) fact sheet points to the fact that a large number of male teens have been arriving in exponentially increasing numbers for several years.
According to an HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) fact sheet, “Most [illegal aliens] are over 14 and approximately three quarters of them are boys.” In addition, there has been a steady upward trend in the number of UAC’s entering the country since at least 2012. The number “jumped dramatically” in fiscal year 2012, almost doubling to a total of 13,625 served by ORR. That number nearly doubled again from FY2012 to FY2013 as the ORR saw “24,668 UAC referrals from DHS” for FY2013.
Most recently updated in May 2014, the fact sheet goes on to project a greater exponential increase in UAC at more than double the previous year, approximately 60,000 for FY2014. However, some estimates expect even greater numbers. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s On: Armed Militia Sets up Texas Command Center to Defend National Sovereignty
Posted: July 10, 2014 Filed under: Breaking News, Law & Justice, Politics, U.S. News | Tags: Chris Davis, Laredo, Militia, patriot, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States, Von Ormy Texas, Washington Times 8 Comments
Demonstrators on opposing sides of the immigration debate are separated by police officers Friday outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, California. The town was the latest flashpoint for standoffs over the transport of illegal minor immigrants. (Associated Press) Photo by: Mark J. Terrill
For Washington Times, Jessica Chasmar reports: A militia has set up a command center south of San Antonio to prepare for what they say is a mission to protect the United States from the influx of illegal immigrants.
“We have patriots all across this country who are willing to sacrifice their time, their monies, even quit their jobs to come down and fight for freedom, liberty and national sovereignty.”
— Chris Davis, militia member
The militia, operating via the website PatriotsInformationHotline.com, founded by Barbie Rogers, said members at the command center in Von Ormy will deploy to Laredo first and spread to other parts of the border, a local ABC affiliate reported.
“CBP appreciates the efforts of concerned citizens as they act as our eyes and ears…”
Chris Davis, the 37-year-old commander of the group, would not disclose how many members make up the militia, but said the troops would deploy “in a few weeks.”
“… Securing our nation’s borders can be dangerous. Interdicting narcotics and deterring and apprehending individuals illegally entering the U.S. requires highly trained law enforcement personnel.”
— Customs and Border Protection statement
What is National Sovereignty?
- The principle of the sovereignty of states and the fundamental right of political self determination
- The principle of legal equality between states
- The principle of non-intervention of one state in the internal affairs of another state
Flood of Non-Mexicans to Border Control’s Rio Grande Valley Sector Began in 2011
Posted: June 17, 2014 Filed under: Health and Social Issues, Mediasphere, White House | Tags: Border Patrol, Illegal immigration, Mexico, Mexico–United States border, Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States, United States Border Patrol Leave a commentThe flood of illegal immigrants in South Texas, some of them unaccompanied minors, is largely made up of people from countries Other Than Mexico, or OTMs. To provide context for this unfolding story, this figure shows total apprehensions of non-Mexicans in the Border Patrol‘s Rio Grande Valley Sector:
Source: Center for Immigration Studies
(CNSNews.com) — There were 255 illegal aliens from countries such as Pakistan and Iran that have been officially linked to terrorism by the U.S. government apprehended along the southwest border by Border Patrol in fiscal 2011, data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) show.
In fiscal 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 thru Sept. 30, 2011), the Border Patrol — under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) component of the DHS — arrested a total of 327,577 illegal aliens along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Among those arrested, 46,997 were “Other than Mexican” (OTM), including the 255 who originated from what DHS referred to as “special interest countries,” the data showed.
CNSNews.com obtained from Customs and Border Protection a country-by-country breakdown of the nations of origin for the 327,577 total apprehensions along the southwest border, including the 46,997 OTMs…(read more)
$4 Million Dope Bust on Texas Border
Posted: May 5, 2014 Filed under: Mediasphere | Tags: Cannabis, Kristin Tate, Laredo, Mexico, Reynosa Tamaulipas, Texas, Twitter, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 2 Comments
Kristin Tate reports: Over $4 million in narcotics were confiscated on the Texas/Mexico border, a spokesman with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) informed Breitbart Texas.
One significant seizure occurred on April 25, when officers at the Laredo Port of Entry confiscated more than one ton of marijuana from a cargo vehicle. More specifically, 834 packages containing 2,688 pounds of marijuana were found hidden in a shipment of blackberry and mango pulp. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1.3 million.
“This was a significant seizure,” a CPB spokesperson told Breitbart Texas. “When we find seizures in cargo vehicles, they are typically much larger than seizures in passenger vehicles. The smugglers have more room to hide the drugs.”
834 packages containing 2,688 pounds of marijuana were found hidden in a shipment of blackberry and mango pulp. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1.3 million.
He said that while smaller drug busts in passenger vehicles are more common, large-scale confiscations like that which occurred on the 25th also happen relatively frequently. Read the rest of this entry »
Exceptions Made: State Department Barred Inspection of Muslim Brotherhood Delegation, Report Shows
Posted: January 18, 2014 Filed under: Breaking News, Politics, U.S. News | Tags: Egypt, Freedom and Justice Party, IPT, State Department, STEVEN EMERSON, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States, United States Department of State 4 Comments
The Investigative Project on Terrorism reports: The State Department broke with normal procedures last week when it ordered the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) not to conduct a secondary inspection on members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood‘s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) on their way to visit government officials and think tanks in the United States.
This happened despite the fact that one member of the delegation had been implicated – though not charged – in a U.S. child pornography investigation, the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) has learned.
pundit from another planet 