VoteKansas.org

September 29, 2011
Amy Cowman
WCNC-TV, Inc.

Gov. Rick Perry greeted by protestors in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Texas Governor Rick Perry made a stop on his fundraising trail in Charlotte on Thursday, but it wasn't his supporters who made the most noise. Protestors took to the streets outside San Antonio’s Mexican Grill at SouthPark.

It was anything but a southern hospitality welcome.

"Rick Perry is the only candidate that signed in state tuition for illegal immigrants into law, " said William Gheen, President of Americans for Legal Immigration, or ALIPAC.

Subjects: Illegal immigration, William Gheen, ALIPAC, campaigns, in-state tuition for illegals, Texas Dream Act

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Police in Alabama are getting ready to enforce what is considered by many as the toughest immigration law in the nation.

Beginning Thursday, authorities can question people suspected of being in the country illegally and hold them without bond, and officials can check the immigration status of students in public schools, Gov. Robert Bentley said.

Those two key aspects of Alabama's new law were upheld by a federal judge on Wednesday. The governor said parts of the law take effect immediately.

"We intend to enforce it," Bentley said.

Topics = Illegal immigration, state immigration laws, immigration court rulings, Alabama immigration law

September 29, 2011
Mike Esterl and Miriam Jordan
The Wall Street Journal

A federal judge Wednesday greenlighted key parts of an Alabama law aimed at curbing illegal immigration, rejecting the federal government's request to block them and strengthening the likelihood that the Supreme Court ultimately will decide whether states can pass their own immigration laws.

The Alabama law, widely seen as the nation's toughest, could embolden other states weighing stiff measures to stop illegal immigration after federal courts curbed such laws in Arizona, Utah, Indiana and Georgia in recent months. The federal government argues immigration is a federal matter.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn in the Northern District of Alabama upheld a contentious provision requiring police in Alabama "to make a reasonable attempt" to determine the immigration status of any individual they stop if there is "reasonable suspicion" the person is in the country illegally.

Subjects = Illegal immigration, state immigration laws, immigration court rulings, Alabama immigration law

Janet Napolitano spent much of the spring sounding like a broken record ensuring that the U.S.-Mexico border is safe when the reality is that stretches are controlled by drug-trafficking organizations.

A new federal report exposing the ugly truth about the southern border has left President Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary with egg on her face. Published by the Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center, the document contradicts much of what Napolitano has preached in the last few months during highly publicized jaunts to the crime-infested region.

Remember this? The Mexican border “is as secure as it has ever been.” Or what about this; violence along the Mexican border is merely a mistaken “perception” because the Obama Administration has successfully fostered a “secure and prosperous” region. Napolitano also said that “misinformation about safety” is negatively impacting border communities and that the U.S.-Mexico border is not “overrun or out of control.”

Topics: Illegal immigration, DHS, Mexican drug cartels, gangs, Los Zetas, border violence

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested more than 2,900 convicted criminal aliens over the past week as part of “Operation Cross Check,” a law enforcement sweep that spread across all 50 states and four U.S. territories — the largest-ever ICE criminal alien operation.

The arrests came a month after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, bowing to pressure from immigration activists, announced that ICE would focus its interior enforcement efforts in the future on serious criminals and delay deportation cases for most non-criminal immigrants who don’t pose a threat to public safety or national security.

ICE described the arrests as part of the Obama administration’s “ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators.”

Subjects: Illegal immigration, ICE, DHS, illegal immigrant arrests, amnesty

For National Release

September 29, 2011

CONTACT: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC)
                 (866) 703-0864    Press@alipac.us

ALIPAC is announcing that today's protest in Charlotte, NC, at the intersection of Carnegie Blvd. and Barclay Downs Dr. near Rick Perry's fundraiser at a Southpark Mall restaurant will be the first in a series of protests at his events across America.

This first protest, being held from 11:30am to 1:30pm, will be attended by both local and national media, and is designed to forewarn the 81% of Americans found in numerous polls to oppose in-state tuition for illegal aliens about Rick Perry's unpopular support for illegal immigrants.  

Rick Perry apologized yesterday for calling those that oppose high taxpayer tuition payments to illegal immigrants "heartless."

For National Release

September 27, 2011

CONTACT: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC)
(866) 703-0864 Press@alipac.us

ALIPAC's prediction that "Rick Perry Is Finished" went viral on the web and in the media this weekend. This has led to the group announcing plans to protest outside of Rick Perry events in an effort to forewarn voters about Perry's numerous efforts to support the illegal immigrants and encourage illegal immigration.

Rick Perry's support levels have fallen dramatically since he reaffirmed his support for in-state tuition subsidies for illegal immigrants, legislation he signed into law in Texas which is opposed by 81% of Americans of all races and parties according to recent national polling conducted by Rasmussen Reports. Perry accused opponents of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants of being heartless.

ALIPAC has helped to defeat similar legislation in 20 states in the last six years starting with the dramatic defeat of HB 1183 in North Carolina in 2005.

"This was Rick Perry's 'Dukakis moment' when he told the over 80% of Americans who opposed his radical support for illegal immigrants that they were heartless for opposing the replacement of their own children with illegal aliens in our limited seats in college," said William Gheen, President of ALIPAC. "How many tens of thousands of innocent American students have been denied the limited seats in the colleges of their choice thanks to Perry's incentives for illegal immigrants?"

Tired of hearing from Obama White House that the Texas-Mexico border is more secure than ever, the Texas Department of Agriculture, along with the Department of Public Safety, hired two retired U.S. generals to evaluate the true status.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today released “Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment,” an independent study, former generals Barry McCaffrey and Major-General Robert Scales, at the Protect Your Texas Border Summit in Austin.

Among their findings is that “criminality spawned in Mexico is spilling over into the United States.”

Subjects: Illegal immigration, Border violence, U.S. security, U.S.-Mexico border, human traffickers, Mexican drug cartels

Texas governor Rick Perry has pointed to job growth in Texas during the current economic downturn as one of his main accomplishments. But in a new report for the Center for Immigration Studies, based on data collected monthly by the Census Bureau, we found that newly arrived immigrants (legal and illegal) have been the primary beneficiaries of this growth between 2007 and 2011, not native-born workers.

We found that of jobs created in Texas since 2007, 81 percent (225,000) were taken by newly arrived foreign workers (legal and illegal). The Census Bureau asks immigrants to say when they came to the United States, so it is easy to look at new arrivals who took jobs. Of newly arrived immigrants who took a job in Texas, the data show that 93 percent were not U.S. citizens. We estimate that about half of newly arrived immigrants who took jobs in Texas since 2007 were illegal immigrants. This means that about 40 percent of all the job growth in Texas between 2007 and 2011 went to newly arrived illegal immigrants and 40 percent went to newly arrived legal immigrants.

Topics: Illegal Immigration: Immigration Law: Rick Perry: CIS

PRINCETON, NJ -- A record-high 81% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the country is being governed, adding to negativity that has been building over the past 10 years.

Majorities of Democrats (65%) and Republicans (92%) are dissatisfied with the nation's governance. This perhaps reflects the shared political power arrangement in the nation's capital, with Democrats controlling the White House and U.S. Senate, and Republicans controlling the House of Representatives. Partisans on both sides can thus find fault with government without necessarily blaming their own party.

The findings are from Gallup's annual Governance survey, updated Sept. 8-11, 2011. The same poll shows record or near-record criticism of Congress, elected officials, government handling of domestic problems, the scope of government power, and government waste of tax dollars.

Topics: Government: Democrats; Republicans

A letter forwarded on Friday by a proven reliable source to Gun Rights Examiner and Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars documents Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives management authorizing the sale of firearms, which sources say were intended for delivery to cartel purchasers as part of the “Fast and Furious” / ”Gunwalker” scandal. Written by then-ATF Phoenix Group VII Supervisor David Voth, the June 01, 2010 letter to a Federal Firearms Licensee, whose name is redacted, advises:

Per Section925(a)(1) of the Gun Control Act (GCA) exempts law enforcement agencies from the transportation, shipment, receipt, or importation controls of the GCA when firearms are to be used for the official business of the agency.
Please accept this letter in lieu of completing an ATF Form 4473 for the purchase of four (4) CAI, Model Draco, 7.62x39 mm pistols, by Special Agent John Dodson. These aforementioned pistols will be used by Special Agent Dodson in furtherance of the performance of his official duties. In addition, Special Agent Dodson has not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. If you have any questions, you may contact me at telephone number 602-605-6501.

A hand-written note at the bottom says:

Picked up guns 6/10/10

Paid Cash [underlined in original]

A copy of the letter is posted at this correspondent’s Scribd account, and a jpg version is included as this column’s sidebar photo.

Dodson is the agent who put a face to the whistleblowers in Sharyl Attkisson’s bombshell CBS News interviews. Other sources tell Mike Vanderboegh that this letter indicates Dodson would have been fearful to proceed without documentation to prove management not only knew and approved of this activity, but had directed it.

Topics: illegal immigration, ATF, Fast & Furious, drug cartels, Mexico, ICE

It calls for full and consistent enforcement of immigration laws.

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th) along with members of the bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus signed a letter to President Obama opposing his Aug. 18 announcement of “the use of prosecutorial discretion to achieve amnesty for individuals who are illegally residing in the U.S.”

“The selective enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws is a step backwards in the process of reforming our immigration system,” said Fitzpatrick, in a release.

“The announcement of the administration’s new policy in August is a tacit admission that we are unable to secure our border and effectively enforce our immigration laws," the congressman added. "I hope the President reconsiders this decision and instead pursues a policy of full and consistent enforcement.”

The letter urges the President to “enforce our immigration laws evenly without passion, prejudice or preference.” A full copy of the text is included below:

Topics: illegal immigration, President Obama, Executive amnesty, US Immigration System

Friends of ALIPAC,

We want each of you to know that ALIPAC's press release titled "Rick Perry Is Finished" has gone completely viral on the web and in the main stream media.

Despite intense and protracted efforts to silence us and prevent news agencies from quoting us, we have succeeded once again.

The false and defamatory attacks by numerous multimillion dollar organizations that support amnesty and the illegal immigration invasion of America, such as ADL, SPLC, NAACP, LULAC, MALDEF, and La Raza, have failed to stop ALIPAC's ability to remain a notable national organization.

It is clear to all that ALIPAC is a national leader in the fight against illegal immigration and against Amnesty, and that we are influencing which candidates will or will not win races for Congress, US Senate, and the Presidency.

Our national press release and the materials contained in it have been picked up by major wire services Reuters and Associated Press as well as Fox News. Our position that Rick Perry just destroyed his chances due to his support for in-state tuition benefits for illegal aliens appears in hundreds of newspapers across America today...

September 24, 2011
Carl Cameron & the Associated Press contribued to this report
FOX News Network, LLC

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's stance on immigration is causing an uproar among conservative voters, jeopardizing his front-runner position in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Perry's support of education benefits for illegal immigrants has led one national immigration group to say he is finished. And a key Iowa conservative said evangelical supporters are abandoning Perry after he doubled down on his support of the policy in the last two GOP debates.

"If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they've been brought here by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," Perry said at Thursday's Fox News/Google debate in Orlando.

Subjects: Illegal immigration, ALIPAC, William Gheen, Gov. Rick Perry, GOP, in-state tuition for illegals

September 23, 2011
Jay Root
The Texas Tribune

ORLANDO — Welcome to the Rick Perry pile-on.

After his relatively lackluster debate performance Thursday night, the conservative political pundit class has basically concluded that the Texas governor is not yet ready for prime-time.

Influential blogger Erick Erickson, the RedState editor who hosted Perry’s announcement speech in Charleston, called the governor’s showing a “train wreck,” and said Perry had “flubbed” and “stumbled” during the Fox/Google debate.

It wasn’t much better in the conservative National Review, where editor William Kristol wrote a special editorial entitled “Yikes.”

Topics = Illegal immigration, ALIPAC, William Gheen, campaigns, Gov. Rick Perry, in-state tuition for illegals

New is wearing off for Perry; doubts grow after debates, but supporters say he's still strong

Perry on shaky ground? Doubts among some in GOP

Rick Perry is struggling.

Republicans in early voting states, once excited about the Texas governor's presidential bid, are openly questioning the strength of his candidacy. High expectations have been met by the sudden national scrutiny that comes with the front-runner bull's-eye.

Perry is leading national polls, but he is also facing intensifying criticism from the right and left. Some Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire are expressing doubts, especially after debates in which rivals raised questions about his record on immigration, public health and Social Security.

Subjects: Illegal immigration, ALIPAC, William Gheen, Gov. Rick Perry, campaigns, in-state tuition for illegals

ORLANDO, Fla. - Mitt Romney and others kept Texas Gov. Rick Perry on defense Friday over a state law that offers discounted college tuition to illegal immigrants, as Perry worked to bounce back from an unsteady debate performance that left some conservatives wondering about his bona fides.

Playing off Perry's contention that anyone opposed to the tuition policy doesn't understand life on the border and doesn't "have a heart," Romney pressed the case that Texas' policy only encourages illegal immigration.

"If you're opposed to illegal immigration, it doesn't mean that you don't have a heart," Romney told thousands of Florida Republicans at a daylong convention for conservatives. "It means that you have a heart, and a brain."

Subjects: Illegal immigration, Gov. Rick Perry, campaigns, ALIPAC, William Gheen, U.S.-Mexico border, Dream Act Amnesty

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Friday pounced on rival Rick Perry's record on illegal immigration to try to raise doubts among conservatives about the front-runner for the party's 2012 nomination.

A day after a Republican U.S. presidential candidate debate on Orlando, Romney clearly believed he had found a weak spot in Perry's tenure as Texas governor -- a policy that allows the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Texas colleges.

At the debate Perry had defended the policy as appropriate for a state with a long border with Mexico and said to those who oppose it, "I don't think you have a heart."

Romney, speaking to the Conservative Policy Action Conference of Florida, rejected that view with a shake of his head.

"I think if you're opposed to illegal immigration, it doesn't mean that you don't have a heart. It means that you have a heart and a brain," he said.

Legal immigration, he said, is good for the country but illegal immigration is "something I will stop if I'm president."

Subjects:  Presidential candidates, illegal immigration, election, debate, William Gheen, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney.

For National Release

September 23, 2011

CONTACT: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC)
Press@alipac.us (866) 703-0864

Texas Governor Perry destroyed his chances of winning the GOP Presidential primary during last night's debate when he defended his support for in-state tuition for illegal aliens which is opposed by 81% of all Americans.

"Rick Perry proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is not the right choice for America by supporting these radical illegal immigration attracting measures," said William Gheen, President of ALIPAC. "Perry's support for in-state tuition for illegals forces taxpayers to pay to replace their own children in the limited seats in our colleges!"

Prior to 2005, several states like Texas passed in-state tuition for illegals into law without adequate public or lawmaker debate and knowledge.

SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) - The heat is about to get hotter on state lawmakers over the issue of giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

Thousands of activists from the national political strongarm "Americans For Legal Immigration" stepped forward Wednesday to support Gov. Susana Martinez' call to kill the controversial license law.

"They're calling, e-mailing and faxing New Mexico lawmakers asking them to stand with the 77 percent of Americans that oppose licenses to illegal immigrants," said William Gheen, director of ALIPAC.

The group says the current policy is hurting all Americans. They're pressuring legislators to support Martinez's efforts to repeal the 2003 law.

"It's very clear that the current laws in New Mexico are being fully exploited by illegal immigrants that need those licenses to conduct other illegal activity in the U.S." said Gheen.

But the group has some competition. A handful of religious leaders also descended on the Roundhouse on Wednesday to argue the exact opposite.

"In order to provide them with basic rights and access to the things our society provide, it's important to provide them with a driver's license," said Reverend Brandon Johnson of The United Church in Santa Fe.

Topics: illegal immigration, New Mexico, US  immigration laws, Alipac