Author: mopress

Bulletin from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Syracuse University.

In January 2008, there were 4,739 federal prosecutions classified as immigration matters, according to timely enforcement data from the Justice Department. This is up over 20% from the previous month, and represents the largest monthly number of such prosecutions in the past seven years.

There has been substantial growth in the number of cases handled by U.S. Magistrate Courts, and some portion of this increase may reflect improvements in the recording of these magistrate cases by the Justice Department.

The Southern District of Texas (Houston) — with 354 prosecutions — was the most active during January 2008. The Southern District of Texas (Houston) was ranked 1 a year ago, while it was ranked 1 five years ago.

Judge Randy Crane in the Southern District of Texas (Houston) ranked 1st with 77 defendants in immigration cases. Judge Crane also appeared in the top ten rankings one year ago (ranked 7).

Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa in the Southern District of Texas (Houston) ranked 2nd with 75 defendants in immigration cases. Judge Hinojosa also appeared in the top ten rankings one year ago (ranked 10).

For reports on the latest enforcement trends, go to:

http://trac.syr.edu/tracreports/bulletins/

URGENT HELP NEEDED

MNN: April 25, 2008. Mohawks surrounded at the quarry in Tyendinaga. Ontario Provincial Police OPP fully armed with guns drawn. They are yelling through blow horns ordering the Rotiskenekete to come down with their hands up, or else they are going to take them out. The Rotiskenekete have told the OPP they are not coming down from there.

We have been informed that help will probably not arrive in time. The OPP have said they are coming right away. There are 20 left at the quarry. Many have already been arrested.

DO SOMETHING QUICK! WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR PEOPLE.

BACKGROUND from Mohawk Nation News

This situation could be more complicated than
appears at present. The Canadian Special Forces,
which is the main military unit that would be active in the United States under the “Civil Assistance Plan”, is moving the so-called Joint Task Force 2 to the Trenton area, just 25 miles from Tyendinaga. They will be forming a new special forces battalion. Land in the Trenton area is being secretly bought up by the government for a base and training site. A total of 400 hectares (1.5 square miles) will be purchased.

This is Mohawk land. Could this be the reason for the over-the-top reaction by the Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP)? Or is it a case of insiders trying to profit from foreknowledge of the government’s plans?

“JTF-2 plans $220M move: Counter-terrorism unit expected to vacate Dwyer Hill for Trenton.” David Pugliese, with files from Jessey Bird, The Ottawa Citizen (Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2008.)

The Canadian military has earmarked $220 million to build a new base for the Joint Task Force 2 counter-terrorism unit, with plans calling for the secretive formation to move out of Ottawa sometime after 2010.

Defence Construction Canada , a Crown
corporation that handles the Defence Department’s building needs, is asking for
“expressions of interest” from contractors and consultants for the development of what it calls a multi-functional training and administrative campus.

The new facility is to be in ” Eastern Ontario ,” with the specific location considered secret at this point, according to the information provided so far to construction and engineering contractors. But Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier has recommended to cabinet that JTF2’s new base be located at Canadian Forces Base Trenton.

Public Works and Government Services Canada has already purchased three properties adjacent to CFB Trenton for the Defense Department.

Those total just under 130 hectares. Another 270 hectares are also being looked at for purchase.

“It’s a number of properties that we’re continuing to negotiate with,” said Public Works
spokeswoman Meeta Bhimani. . . .

“In 2005, when the immigration crackdown got underway and lawmakers debated how to meet the need for detention, CCA paid close to $3.5 million for lobbying focused on immigration and national security. One of its key lobbyists was Phillip J. Perry, son-in-law of Vice President Dick Cheney, who was appointed general counsel for DHS. The next year CCA reported its highest revenue ever.”

“CCA’s general counsel, Gustavus Puryear IV, could give the revolving door another turn. Puryear made headlines this year when President Bush nominated him for a federal judge seat in the Middle District of Tennessee, where CCA is headquartered. Puryear has worked as a speech writer for Vice President Dick Cheney. He testified during a Senate hearing that he would recuse himself from cases involving the company.”

See the full story at business of detention com

Note: thanks to Pancho Garcia for sending this along–gm

Just as we were googling to find what happened at the “invitation only” press pool tour out at the T. Don Hutto prison for immigrant women and children, the motive for the tour was not difficult to find. It kept the press away from this story–gm

OVER 80 ORGANIZATIONS JOIN IN OPPOSITION TO LEGISLATION DETAINING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

Contact: Christopher Spina
(202) 657-0677
(202) 674-2450 (mobile)

April 22, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a letter to the House of Representatives, over 80 federal, state, and local organizations from across the nation expressed their strong opposition to the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R. 4088) of 2008, legislation that explicitly calls for the creation of a family detention facility that will result in the “incarceration” of immigrant children. The letter was spearheaded by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization.

The SAVE Act disregards recommendations repeatedly made by Congress that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should “release families or use alternatives to detention…whenever possible.” Instead, the SAVE Act encourages the practice of detaining innocent children who are often caught in the crossfire of U.S. immigration policy, holding them in facilities that resemble prisons instead of nurturing home environments.

Recently, the Act was subject to a discharge petition, a procedural maneuver which, if a simple majority 218 Representatives sign a petition in support of the bill, shall allow the legislation to bypass the committee process and be placed on the House floor for a vote, despite objections by House leadership. Currently, the petition has over 150 signatures. The Act was introduced by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-NC), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), and Tom Tancredo (R-CO).

“The outpouring of opposition to this bill should send one message to the House of Representatives – placing children in prison-like settings is not who we are as a nation and we will not sit idly by while legislation that would do so is slipped onto the House floor through procedural maneuvers,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “The sad fact is this bill calls for the creation of a detention facility modeled after the controversial T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility, which has been found to be an ‘inappropriate and disturbing setting’ to hold families. The inappropriate setting and inadequate living conditions of these facilities have led to poor childhood development, education, health care, and nutrition, as well as minimal time for recreational activity and threats of separation from parents. We hope this letter, supported by a broad cross section of organizations from across the nation, will convince many Members of Congress to oppose this ill-advised legislation.”

The letter has been signed by 32 national organizations, including First Focus, National Council of La Raza, the National Education Association, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and the Episcopal Church. Moreover, over 50 state and local organizations from across the country also signed the letter.

From CAUSA