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Tag(s): Danger; Immigration; Injustice; Iowa; Police; Security
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August 11, 2008 at 05:10:29

Targeting Immigrants - The Largest Ever ICE Raid

by Stephen Lendman Page 1 of 7 page(s)

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Targeting Immigrants - The Largest Ever US ICE Raid - by Stephen Lendman

The 2002 Homeland Security Act established its largest investigative and enforcement arm in 2003: the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) created "as a law enforcement agency for the post-9/11 era, to integrate enforcement authorities against criminal and terrorist activities, including the fights against human trafficking and smuggling, violent transnational gangs and sexual predators on children" - "criminal" and "terrorist" threats to the nation.

Muslims are its principal targets. So are Latino immigrants, forced to seek work here because of NAFTA's devastating effect on their lives and well-being. Turning logic, fairness and justice on its head in the current climate of fear, ICE calls them (and Muslims) "people....support(ing) terrorism and other criminal activities....against the United States" - 276,912 so-called "illegal aliens" removed from the country in FY2007 to justify its burgeoning budget to "keep America safe."

ICE deters Latinos at the border and targets them at work sites and homes with $4.8 billion of DHS' current FY 2008 $64.9 billion budget. Increasing to $5.4 billion in DHS' FY 2009 $66.3 billion request.

Below is how some of the money was spent in July 2008 alone:

-- on July 28, ICE arrested 13 Guatemalan and Mexican nationals in North Little Rock, Arkansas;

-- on July 23, it seized 58 Mexican nationals in northern Ohio;

-- on July 22, it reported 81 foreign national arrests in San Diego - 43 "criminal aliens" and 38 gang members or their associates;

-- on July 21, it reported a record number of "illegal alien" deportations from Arizona from October 2007 through June 2008 - 38,799;

-- on July 21, it arrested 43 aliens, employed by The Farms, on "administrative immigration violations;"

-- on July 18, it made 49 arrests over four days in Chicago; under "Operation Community Shield" (in partnership with local law enforcement); it targeted "illegal aliens with ties to violent street gangs in (the city's) northern and northwest suburbs;"

-- on July 17, it arrested 45 "gang members, gang associates and immigration violators" over six days in Tulsa, OK;

-- on July 16, it seized 18 "illegal aliens" at a Loveland, CO concrete plant;

-- on July 11, it reported deporting a "record number of illegal aliens from (three) Pacific Northwest states" (Washington, Oregon and Alaska) - from October 2007 through June 2008; 7345 "illegal aliens (were returned) to their home countries" - a 39% increase over the previous fiscal year period;

-- on July 9, it reported deporting 5889 "illegal immigrants" rounded up "in various cities throughout Florida" from January through June 2008;

-- on July 9, it arrested 24 "immigration fugitives and immigration violators" over five days ending July 1 in Nashville, TN;

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5 comments

I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I consider myself above all to be an American, above political parties in thinking and in my desire to see this country return to its former greatness. I therefore look at all issues with a critical eye, toss out the political propaganda and make up my own mind. I am opinionated and set in my ways, it takes some powerful convincing to change my mind once its set.
John ShriverI am neither Republican nor Democrat. I consider myself above all to be an American, above political parties in thinking and in my desire to see this country return to its former greatness. I therefore look at all issues with a critical eye, toss out the political propaganda and make up my own mind. I am opinionated and set in my ways, it takes some powerful convincing to change my mind once its set.

undocumented immagrants

Well written, Stephen but you missed a few. Colorado, the State Patrol stopped a van in southern Colorado with 26 illegal aliens stuffed in a seven passenger van and many other such incidents. It is not uncommon for illegals to move into abandoned, or otherwise unocupied, ranch houses out on the eastern and southern plains until they can find jobs in a nearby community.

This is a big problem and if ICE can't do it, let citizens make arrests.

by John Shriver (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 56 comments) on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 8:12:57 AM

Your average Joe. Degree in computer programming. Believe in freedom.
Ro BoYour average Joe. Degree in computer programming. Believe in freedom.

So what's the problem?

Wow,

A federal agency actually doing it's job, unbelieveable. The vast majority of Americans have a problem with illegal immigration (immigration that is undertaken illegally and yes being 'undocumented' is illegal). I live in California and am tired of this invasion. I have hispanic friends who lament the political condition in Mexico yet still believe in some sort of nonsensical Aztlan here. This is the U.S.A. and like any other country we have an absolute right to police our borders and set immigration policy irregardless of what happend in the past and led up to the current situation. Without laws there is anarchy. Unfortunately, our government has sold the will of it's people up the river. I'm sick and tired of working my butt off to support the education, medical care, welfare, etc. of illegal immigrant families who still subscribe to the catholic view of no birth control. It's not right that I'm a responsible, productive member of society basically forced into slavery to support these people. I have no problem with immigrants coming here to better their lives but stay off the government tit. Forcing me to give the fruits of my labor to others is slavery whether or not it has the 'legal' cover term of taxes.

by Ro Bo (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 12 comments) on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 1:25:48 PM

Stewart Nusbaumer is a journalist and writer. He is currently on the campaign trail writing a book on the "endless campaign." He has written for numerous print publications and online magazines.
Stewart NusbaumerStewart Nusbaumer is a journalist and writer. He is currently on the campaign trail writing a book on the "endless campaign." He has written for numerous print publications and online magazines.

Time for Change

Screw the assumption, workers of the world unite! A planet with open borders will be one controlled by the multi-national corporations. It's time for American progressives to return to defending the American working class. Shame that we left our most vulnerable workers, those with the least education and with the least resources, and often still having to battle racism, open to an invasion of cheap, illegal labor.

by Stewart Nusbaumer (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 3:01:21 PM

Registered voter in West Chester, Ohio
sbakerRegistered voter in West Chester, Ohio

Finally

Finally, a part of the federal government actually DOING something. The employers should be punished more for their illegal hiring policy's. Send a couple dozen company presidents to jail for 6 months, that will go alooong way towards fixing the problem.

by sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 137 comments) on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 4:05:27 PM

I am a 47 years old,married and have a 17 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Gary DensonI am a 47 years old,married and have a 17 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Enforcing fair laws

The vast majority of Americans want the rule of law enforced. people should not be allowed to illegally enter our country and use our social security numbers to under bid American citizens for a job. Illegal immigration is cheap labor perfect for exploitation by greedy corporations. Liberals and progressives need to think of the lower middle class working people of this country instead of the rights of illegal immigrants, many of whom are drug dealers, gang members and criminals. A country that cherry picks which laws it enforces has no system of justice.

by Gary Denson (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 259 comments) on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 5:49:08 PM