REGION: Illegal immigrants less than 7 percent of people booked into jail

By Edward Sifuentes Just less than 7 percent of people booked into San Diego County jails were identified as illegal immigrants, according to figures released by the federal government covering a 21-month period between May 2009 and February 2011. The figures suggest that illegal immigrants are not committing more crimes than the general population in the region, a North County Times analysis found. Crimes committed by illegal immigrants are often used by anti-illegal-immigration groups to...

States Rebel Over Deportations

By Miriam Jordan Lawmakers and law-enforcement officials in several states are turning against a mandatory federal program that is a cornerstone of the Obama administration's immigration policy. The Secure Communities initiative is designed to spot and deport illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. Under the program, fingerprints of people booked into a jail are transmitted to a database reviewed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. If found to be in the U.S....

Coalition Responds to President Obama’s Speech in El Paso,Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Thanu Yakupitiyage,  Main Phone: 212-627-2227 x235,  E-mail: tyaku@thenyic.org New York City  (Tuesday, May 10, 2011) Coalition Responds to President Obama’s Speech in El Paso,Texas NYIC to President: Yes You Can Stop the Deportations The President’s speech today was, unfortunately, much ado about nothing; his expressions of support for immigration reform sound like empty promises to immigrant communities since they’re not backed up by action...

Immigration bills signed amid arrests

By Carrie Ritchie 8:55 AM -- Immigration protesters released from jail Five undocumented immigrants arrested for trespassing after slipping into the governor’s office Monday have been released from Marion County jail. Jail spokesman Julio Fernandez said the six were each released on $150 cash bond. The first was released last night and the final one this morning. Uriel and Erick Gama, 20; Ana Ruiz-Toyar, 23; Guadalupe Pimentel, 18; and Sayra Perez, 19 were scheduled to appear...

SBCC ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA REGARDING VISIT TO THE BORDER

May 10, 2011 Mr. President: Border families deserve justice The recently formed Southern Border Communities Coalition, comprised of over 60 community groups serving border communities from San Diego to Brownsville is pleased to learn that President Barack Obama will visit the border city of El Paso to deliver remarks on the prospects for immigration reform.  Equally important will be his highlighting the fact that the border region has registered the lowest crime rates in the United S...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SBCC ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO OBAMA REGARDING BORDER ENFORCEMENT

WHO: Southern Border Communities Coalition WHAT: Open letter to President Obama regarding his visit to the border region WHEN: President Obama to speak in El Paso on May 10, 2011, 3:30 pm EST WHERE: US/Mexico Border Region In response to President Obama’s visit to the border and speech today regarding border enforcement and immigration reform, the Southern Border Communities Coalition have ...