Group Plans To Present Immigration Ideas
Last updated Friday, March 2, 2007 9:55 PM CST in News
By Lori Harrison-Stone
The Morning News
ROGERS -- Just Communities of Northwest Arkansas will soon present a report on local immigration issues to Rogers.
Ana Lorena Hart, a Just Communities board member, said Friday the group held three meetings, drawing from local community leaders for input. A report should be presented to Mayor Steve Womack in the next few weeks and a presentation will be made March 27 to the Rogers City Council, Hart said.
The report will include specific recommendations on immigration issues in Rogers. Asked if it will support Womack's request to train city police officers through the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program for local immigration enforcement, Hart declined to provide specifics.
She noted, however, the group reviewed with interest a report supporting the 287(g) program written by James Jay Carafano and published by The Heritage Foundation.
"Section 287(g) provides strong protection to states and their law enforcement officers while requiring that well-trained officers already on the ground conduct immigration investigations," Carafano wrote. "It also allows state and local governments to tailor programs to meet their unique circumstances and requirements."
Womack in October requested the city be allowed to participate in the program. He replied this week to a request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for information on the city's planned implementation of the federal program.
"It's a way to extend the reach of ICE by training and equipping our local police officers to handle immigration issues," Womack said Friday.
Womack also said he's interested in Just Communities' report.
Hart said the meetings were meant to engage the community in discussion that was respectful and accepting of other opinions. The only way to come up with recommendations for dealing with such an important and highly emotional issue is come up with a good base of information that isn't biased, she said.
"We all have to come to the table to address this issue with wide open minds and wide open hearts," she said.
The report will present opinions on immigration issues and offer a plan of action for dealing with the issues. The plan includes involvement of the Just Communities organization on implementing the recommendations.
The group that came together for the meetings wasn't a broad representation of the community, so those involved asked for more input, specifically targeting other members of the community who might offer a different opinion. Hart said there were 10 to 20 people at each meeting, but the report will include input from a number of people who wrote and called the organization.
The report, once presented to the city, will be available at the group's offices, but Hart hopes to also place copies for public review at local libraries, police stations, the Jones Center for Families in Springdale and other public places.
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Reader Comments (49 comment(s))
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Glad to see wrote on Mar 3, 2007 10:12 AM:
" It appears the government has been arresting some of the Mexican Drug Cartel planted here in many states including Arkansas. This should be an issue. It should be pointed out that not all are here to work, but just because their working doen`t mean their not doing other things that are Illegal. "
To Tspud wrote on Mar 3, 2007 1:35 PM:
" The Mexican gov. doesnt send these people otherwise, they would probably be here legally. I am sure they could easily negotiate something with our wonderful president to do that. Working in a dental office I could tell you that the majority of the people with severe dental problems caused by drugs are white people, but since you know everything I am sure you will find a correction to that huh!!! "
Whoa wrote on Mar 3, 2007 2:46 PM:
" 5% percent of the world population (U.S.) is the number one drug consuming whoa, i guess were giving those holanders (amsteredam) a run for theyre money, and to think that using drugs is legal over there along with prostitutes shopping. "
Tspud wrote on Mar 3, 2007 3:04 PM:
" The Mexican government sure looks the other way when it comes to ILLEGALS coming our way. They in fact help it with government programs to show them how. The money that is sent back is a very large part of their economy and their citizens on being taken care of by our dollars. I doubt if the dental work of ILLEGALS is a big part of your business and if it is, you are paid by a government check in some way. No doubt that the drug of choice(Meth)lately damages teeth. Your use of "probably" sure sounds like another poster here, hi Jessica. I never claimed to know everything. "
Senting Money wrote on Mar 3, 2007 3:11 PM:
" What the problem with senting money back to theyre foreign country, yeah there are pros and cons but Think about it the latinos wheter there are legal or illegal that sent money to Mexico or any other country, the people who recieve that money wouldn't have to come to the U.S. for the reason that theyre atleast financial stable. Imagine if they didn't sent money youd have a bigger illegal influx. That's a pro but i'm pretty sure you guys are gonna come out with statistics with the cons of senting money like you always do. "
JESSICA wrote on Mar 3, 2007 4:49 PM:
" THE U.S. IS AN OPEN MARKET FOR ALL KIND OF DRUGS...I GUESS YOU WILL BLAME THE POOR MEXICANS FOR THIS TOO. OH WELL..JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE INTERNET "PHARMACY" STORES, THEY SELL ANYTHING..
"
reason wrote on Mar 3, 2007 6:58 PM:
" Most of the drugs originate in Mexico. Stop all illegal entry and we have made a big dent in the drug problem. "
Tspud wrote on Mar 3, 2007 10:42 PM:
" Directly from DEA site:
FEB 28, 2007 -- SAN DIEGO – A long-term investigation into a Mexican drug trafficking organization and its U.S.-based distribution cells has resulted in the arrest of more than 400 individuals nationwide, including the arrest of more than 66 individuals this morning in California , Arizona , New York and Illinois , Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced today at a press conference in San Diego.
The multi-agency law enforcement effort, called “Operation Imperial Emperor” targeted the Mexico-based Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum, a.k.a. “Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar,” drug trafficking organization, which has been responsible for supplying multi-ton quantities of cocaine, as well as large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana, monthly to distribution cells throughout the United States . The organization has also laundered millions of dollars generated from this illegal activity. "
Tspud wrote on Mar 3, 2007 10:47 PM:
" Directly from US Dept of Justice Site:
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/12620/
Marijuana smuggling into the United States via its borders with Mexico and Canada appears to have increased overall; however, the volume of marijuana seized along the Southwest Border dwarfs Northern Border amounts (see Table 17).
Table 17. U.S. Arrival Zone Seizures, Marijuana in Kilograms, 2001-2003*
2001 2002 2003
Southwest Border 1,059,037 1,034,635 1,173,128
Northern Border 3,601 8,370 11,183 "
Jason wrote on Mar 4, 2007 12:33 AM:
" I,m police officer with San Bernandino city in California where 68 % of the meth
labs in the entire US are found and I hate to tell this but 90% of the suspects arrested are white. 55% of African Americans use marijuana 15% uses cocaine
60% of Hispanics use marijuana 35% uses cocaine. The reason I have this 3 races because they are the primary races in the US
Now talking about immigration I think they should only allowed the hard working non criminals to stay in the US and legalize their status. "
widow wrote on Mar 4, 2007 6:40 AM:
" I think it is time we all woke up to the fact that all illegals are ILLEGAL. Send them home. Make it a felony to hire them. Do not rent to them. I am sick of going broke because they get all the jobs because they work cheap. Also, does anybody really look at the quality of their work? I think not. "
Barb V. wrote on Mar 4, 2007 1:48 PM:
" In this day of common access to the Internet, it would be useful if the newspaper would link readers to a website for all groups listed in each story. I wonder what is the funding stream of the "Just Communities of Northwest Arkansas" group? Also, I hope that the information presented at this report to Rogers won't promote the absolute untruth that massive illegal labor force does not hurt our own legal blue collar workers. My daughter's husband is a house painter. That field has been nearly colonolized by illegal workers. The drives wages down. My daughter and her husband have been severely damaged by these wage reductions from illegal copetition. "
No problem wrote on Mar 4, 2007 3:09 PM:
" i don't have a probelm using a caucasian to paint my house, what i have a problem with is paying them 20.00 dollars an hour, plus paid smoking brakes. "
JESSICA wrote on Mar 4, 2007 5:56 PM:
" TO BARB:
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSAND OF THINGS YOU BUY AT WAL-MART BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP?...THEY ARE IMPORTED FROM CHINA AND MANUFACTURED BY CHINESE HANDS...HELLO?? SORRY, THIS IS AN OPEN MARKET..WE BUY CHEAP.
"
what r we going to do wrote on Mar 4, 2007 7:02 PM:
" what will happen to america if we remove the cheaper labor force. Can anyone give me all the statistics that you guys find on the internet. What about china they have the majority of your industry. Do we need a cheaper labor force to compete with them in a world market, also if we get rid of the illegals are all those jobs going to get imported to china, are we going to have them grow our fruits, raise our cattle, etc... "
La-La Farms wrote on Mar 4, 2007 9:28 PM:
" I think it's time the U.S. government consider setting up "La La Farms".
Anyone over the age of 17 can go there, study a few actual brains of actual cadavres who died from overdosing on one drug or another and, once they've passed a test on the nature and dangers of drug "X", are allowed to purchase as much of that drug as they can afford. A different test for each drug.
BUT! They must remain at the La La Farm (a glorified, Vegas-style hotel and terrace) while they use the crap.
This would take the mystique out of drug use, educate users on the dangers long before they start, reduce the cost of such drugs, make the producers accountable for the formulation and safety, provide tax dollars (where, now, we spend generously to fight drug-use and related crime) and - MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! - disembowel the power structure and profit network of existing, illegal drug providers.
Just a thought. Remember: La La Farms.
"
Deputy wrote on Mar 5, 2007 6:57 AM:
" There are about 20 ICE Agents in the entire State of Arkansas. About 10 Special Agents (SA's) & about 10 Immigration Enforcement Agents (IEA's).
The 10 ICE Special Agents (SA's) are also charged with investigating drug & alien smuggling organizations, counterfeit/stolen document selling organizations, identity theft, human trafficking, forced prostitution rings, employer investigations, counterfeit merchandise, import/export violations, money laundering in connection with all the aforementioned, and even internet child exploitation, etc. etc. etc. (yes, all these things go on in Arkansas) - and still the ICE SA's must stop what they are doing to respond to calls from local jails for drunk Mexicans because there are not enough ICE IEA's to do the job.
Contrast that with about 75 FBI Special Agents in the State of Arkansas. Hmmm, bank robberies must be rampant.
"
Tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 9:23 AM:
" Even when they show up, nothing is done in most cases about the law breaking ILLEGAL
alien. They hide behind the "we don't have the space" or "let's let them go to show up at court" arguments. They should go straight to Federal detention camp for processing and deportation, one less ILLEGAL who has committed another crime in the search for a better life. "
to Tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 10:30 AM:
" You have mellowed. Good observation, and I agree that something needs to be done. AND, you are right, little is. Deputy is right, there are not enough enforcement agents, and they are doing too many jobs to focus on illegal immigrants. Putting them into a Federal facility costs a lot of money, first to build, then to maintain. Especially when the prison system is already over crowded. Feds are leasing prisoner space right now in Benton County. Plus, within 24 hours of dropping them at the border, they're going to swim the river again... nothing gained, and a lot of effort. I still think that denial of services is the answer. Don't "give" them any free public services unless they can prove that they are here legally. Pretty soon, when they can't get free healthcare, water service, electricity, or even rent a house, they'll get the message and leave. The whole reason WHY they're flocking to Rogers is because of the profiling lawsuit. They know that Rogers PD can't ask them for green cards! It's a safe-haven. "
ToJason/Hispanic Lover wrote on Mar 5, 2007 10:58 AM:
" I agree with you... they should let the ones stay here who are here working hard, making a better live for their families. Yes they may have come over here illegally but doesn't mean that they are ALL doing illegal things. Does making a better life for yourself mean you are doing something illegal! CAn we all not grow up and just take care of our own lives and not worry of others. There are all kinds of problems but it is just not with hispanics... we have plenty of problems with our own race. So how can we try to fix the problem with hispanics if we can't even start to begin to fix the problems here in the US?? (and NO illegal immigrants are not our #1 problem!!!) "
To: to jason and hl wrote on Mar 5, 2007 12:23 PM:
" If they come here illegally.... They are ALL doing something .... You guessed it Illegal. By wanting illegals to either become legal or leave is taking care of my own. I do agree that that are not our #1 problem, they are tied for first with pedophiles. "
yargte wrote on Mar 5, 2007 1:13 PM:
" If you want solid information on the Cost and effect of Illegal Immigration
See "Immigration Gumballs" Video on Google This Video will give you a clear understanding of the real issues. "
Tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 1:31 PM:
" Is this a load or what "Does making a better life for yourself mean you are doing something illegal! CAn we all not grow up and just take care of our own lives and not worry of others." When that better life comes at my and my children's expense, yes I should have to worry. I worry about my medical insurance going up, I worry about my taxes going up, I worry about being hit by an uninsured ILLEGAL, I worry my soc sec number being used or identity stolen, I worry about my property values going down and I worry about my children being exposed to so many criminals. If we didn't spend so much on social services for ILLEGALS, we could do more for our citizens. "
to tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 1:59 PM:
" Well i want you to go live in mexico and see how long you could make it there... we had a lot of problems b4 "hispanics" starting coming over here... but they are NOT the cause of a lot of problems we are still dealing with. AND tspud i bet you look at every hispanic person and automaticly think "i bet they are illegal". it is not your place to judge! Just take care of your kids and get off the backs of others! We have enough problems to deal with. "
ME wrote on Mar 5, 2007 2:04 PM:
" You know... i bet you all even go and eat at the mexican restaurants too! "
To going and living in Mexico wrote on Mar 5, 2007 2:05 PM:
" Why would we want to live in Mexico???? The purpose in taking care of our country and not letting it turn in to Little Mexico is because we want a better life a clean life and we have paid for it with blood, sweat and taxes!! I am not against anyone coming here legally and not living on welfare. I include whites and all other races in this statement. I am racist against criminals and lazy tax sucking, deadbeat individuals. "
mother wrote on Mar 5, 2007 2:20 PM:
" you know what scares me most... the way you all talk... i'd hate to see what would happen if a group of you all got together... what would you do to these people... you are hurting the ones that are here legally... what would you do? "
Tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 3:21 PM:
" Mexico has laws against me owning property there. I've made two posts today so it's not "post comments all day about illegals"
I am 55 years old, live in IL and am the 6th generation of my family in a successful business so you can take your assumptions and stick them where the sun don't shine. I stand by my posts and facts, you deal in emotions, I deal in reality. Take a look at my posts, they almost always have "ILLEGAL" in them and are about the law breakers breaking more laws. If that's what you want then you are entitled to your opinion. You did not address my issues in the last post
about what I worry about. "
Tspud wrote on Mar 5, 2007 3:38 PM:
" There always seems to be the common theme about "putting myself in their shoes or they just want a better life" These are not arguments that justify continued law breaking. They are all law breakers as soon as they cross illegally. At what number does it stop? Do we take every uneducated, unskilled, illiterate person in the Western Hemisphere? When a person is here illegally or they have relatives, they use this argument. Since they don't pay their taxes or drive with insurance, is it okay for me to do the same? I am sick of paying higher taxes to support their new better life. I didn't adopt them, they broke into my house and are taking social services that should be going to citizens. "
BCR wrote on Mar 5, 2007 5:31 PM:
" It's unfair to call law abiding, tax paying citizens racist, simply because they object to immigrants who want to fly under the radar of the law. It's not fair that taxes go through the roof to pay for state and county government services that are only serving illegals. No one here is saying that they don't like a person because of race. We don't like people living here that don't fully contribute their part. If you are from Mexico, you have legally become a citizen, pay taxes, and obey the law, Stay here! I have one question... Throughout all of the posts, I have NEVER seen anyone say why they did NOT want to become a citizen. From a hispanic point of view, if it's good enough to live here, why not become a citizen??? "
raised fees wrote on Mar 5, 2007 5:45 PM:
" i'm pretty sure its harder than it seems, there was an article in the news that states that they are going to raise the cost of becoming a citizen, what message are we sending the people who are legal residents that are applying to become citizens with this higher fees; to me it kind of contradicts the laws we want legal residents to become citizens but then they raise the fees. "
The Scoop wrote on Mar 5, 2007 7:05 PM:
" If you really want to know the truth about Immigration, illegal and Legal listen closely to Tom Tancredo. He`s the one politician that will tell it as it really is. All the others are just mumbo jumbo. The process is already there for migrant workers yet the corporations prefer to go the illegal route. "
legalatina wrote on Mar 6, 2007 7:42 PM:
" Jessica obviously is either an anchor baby or an illegal herself. Most mainstream Americans of Hispanic roots, oppose illegal immigration and the granting of rewards and benefits/privileges of citizenship to cheaters, liars and thieves. Play by the rules. Plain and simple. "
legalatina wrote on Mar 6, 2007 7:46 PM:
" Mayor Womack's only duty according to his oath of office is to protect the safety, health and welfare of law-abiding citizens and legal residents. Illegal aliens and their pro-open border lobbyists, miguided and well-funded advocates and of course, the unscrupulous profiteers of illegal immigration should in no way, shape or form be "at the table" when it comes to making the decisions regarding fighting illegal immigration in Rogers, AK. They are the very problem that needs to be addressed. Citizens of Rogers, stand up for YOUR RIGHTS and concerns, don't let the illegal alien lobby influence the elected officials who represent YOU! "
flatbedbill wrote on Mar 8, 2007 11:25 AM:
" Jessica: 2 things; Caps lock, okay? It's a key on the left side of your keyboard. Second, The US has enough of its own problems now. We can't afford to be a toilet bowl for 3rd world corrupt governments. You obviously haven't a clue which flag you owe allegiance to. Come out to California and see how bad it is here due, in large, to the millions of illegals that use the California as a convenient pit-stop, at tax payer expense. expense.Nothing funny about it. "
flatbedbill wrote on Mar 8, 2007 11:35 AM:
" BCR - Being called a "racist" instead of a "Patriot" is how illegals, and their supporters respond to a desire to secure our porous borders, and put an end to this nonsense.They have no valid counterpoint or argument. These "Friends" to our South are everything but. They don't care what they inflict upon us, as long as they get their way. How many Citizens (Born here or Naturalized) will die today at the hands of a drunk illegal, or have their SSN stolen? These are friends? Not !!!! "
disgusted wrote on Mar 8, 2007 8:38 PM:
" I think we should get out the word that we are tired of our government pandering to Illegal Aliens. All of my friends and family are willing to vote for ANYONE that will make it illegal to hire or rent to Illegals. "
legalatina wrote on Mar 9, 2007 4:15 AM:
" The environmental damage and trash left by the 20 million illegal aliens who cross our borders is astounding. Shame on them. Shame on Mexico. "
amazed wrote on Mar 9, 2007 5:41 AM:
" Simple solution -- Go down and get 15/20 buses and go door to door and ask for proof of indentification, green card, etc and if they cannot produce them, load them up and take them back. THEY CALL THEM ILLEGAL'S BECAUSE THEY ARE ILLEGAL. "
anonymo wrote on Mar 9, 2007 7:00 AM:
" To disg/flat bill wrote on March 09, 2007 1:34 AM: "They should also make a law for you stupid people that go to Mexico to party on the weekends and trash their beaches Every year more then 15,000 lbs of trash are collected by Mexico to prevent it from going to the ocean this trash is all do to spring break parties summer parties,exc can you imagine what will be of our world if this wasn't done we need a better world a healthier world."
Well, think of the jobs being created cleaning up the beaches and other things by all those American spring break partiers bringing tons of their, or their parents, hard earned money down there & spending it in their economy. How about a moratorium on American tourists in Mexico? Do you think that would help the Mexican economy & create jobs there so they won't come here? "
Anonymo wrote on Mar 9, 2007 7:02 AM:
" There is a certain wing of the Sierra Club & other environmental groups who claim serious studies show the biggest threat to the natural environment in the United States is Overpopulation via the influx of Third World illegal immigrants!!!! "
Anonymo wrote on Mar 9, 2007 7:07 AM:
" Serious economic studies have also shown that were US lettuce producers required to use "legal" labor and payer higher wages to get it, it would increase the price of a head of lettuce by exactly 3 cents!! Yes that's right - same was found for poultry, citrus, etc. Turns out most of what you pay for in the price of your food in the US is for transportation, land, buildings fertilizers, machinery, equipment, refrigeration, packaging, interest & Capital!! Labor costs are actually a very small percentage of the price of your food on the grocery store shelfs. There has been a big myth going on about this for years by illegal alien activists - that you would pay $10 for a head of lettuce without illegal aliens. It's bull. "
ABOUT JESSICA wrote on Mar 10, 2007 2:17 AM:
" WELL JESSICA, WASN'T DRUGS THE REASON WHY YOU WERE IN JAIL? "
reason wrote on Mar 10, 2007 2:34 AM:
" Dear r.arcos, Mexico has laws making it illegal from other countries to go there and get work. When other countries want to invest in Mexico, they can not send their own people to work without employing a Mexican to be trained for the position. It is understandable that jobs should go to Mexicans first in Mexico. And in the United States, the jobs should first go to Americans. Mexicans have double standards. "
Not already registered?
BCR wrote on Mar 3, 2007 9:08 AM: