From my archive of press clippings:
Los Angeles Times
Homeland Security shifts focus to employers
A new policy will aim enforcement efforts at those who hire illegal workers. But immigration raids will continue, sources say.
By Josh Meyer and Anna Gorman March 31, 2009
Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington -- Stepping into the political minefield of immigration reform, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano soon will direct federal agents to focus more on arresting and prosecuting American employers than the illegal laborers who sneak into the country to work for them, department officials said Monday.
The shift in emphasis will be outlined in revamped field guidelines issued to agents of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, as early as this week, several officials familiar with the change said.
Read the whole article here.
_________
josh.meyer@latimes.com
anna.gorman@latimes.com
Antonio Olivo of the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
Showing posts with label Anna Gorman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anna Gorman. Show all posts
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
LAT - Obama budget puts security first at the border. He'll ask Congress to help curb the flow of arms to Mexico before seeking any immigration reform
Los Angeles Times
Obama budget puts security first at the border. He'll ask Congress to help curb the flow of arms to Mexico before seeking any immigration reform.
By Anna Gorman and Peter Nicholas
May 6, 2009
Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles -- President Obama will ask Congress for $27 billion for border and transportation security in the next budget year, fulfilling a promise to the Mexican government to battle the southbound flow of illegal weapons and setting the stage for immigration reform by first addressing enforcement, administration officials said Tuesday.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The spending, an 8% increase over this year's, will enable the administration to hire more agents and enhance security at air- and seaports. Obama also will request more money to expand screening for illegal immigrants in jail and to improve a Web-based program for verifying workers' employment eligibility."
"During his visit to Mexico last month, Obama said the U.S. would do more to stop the weapons that have found their way from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels."
&
"Specifically, the budget doubles Department of Homeland Security funding to nearly $47 million to combat southbound firearms and currency smuggling, and adds more than 100 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers."
Let me be sure I've got this right: the increases in DHS's budget are to keep Mexico's border with us secure, because of all the traffic headed south from the U.S.
Okay, right, got it now.
peter.nicholas@latimes.com
Obama budget puts security first at the border. He'll ask Congress to help curb the flow of arms to Mexico before seeking any immigration reform.
By Anna Gorman and Peter Nicholas
May 6, 2009
Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles -- President Obama will ask Congress for $27 billion for border and transportation security in the next budget year, fulfilling a promise to the Mexican government to battle the southbound flow of illegal weapons and setting the stage for immigration reform by first addressing enforcement, administration officials said Tuesday.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The spending, an 8% increase over this year's, will enable the administration to hire more agents and enhance security at air- and seaports. Obama also will request more money to expand screening for illegal immigrants in jail and to improve a Web-based program for verifying workers' employment eligibility."
"During his visit to Mexico last month, Obama said the U.S. would do more to stop the weapons that have found their way from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels."
&
"Specifically, the budget doubles Department of Homeland Security funding to nearly $47 million to combat southbound firearms and currency smuggling, and adds more than 100 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers."
Let me be sure I've got this right: the increases in DHS's budget are to keep Mexico's border with us secure, because of all the traffic headed south from the U.S.
Okay, right, got it now.
_____
peter.nicholas@latimes.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
LAT - LAX worker gets 3 years for immigrant smuggling
From my archive of press clippings:
Los Angeles Times
LAX worker gets 3 years for immigrant smuggling
Longtime elevator mechanic Roberto Amaya Canchola, 54, was caught on surveillance video guiding passengers from Mexico to bypass federal inspectors. He admits receiving payment.
By Anna Gorman
February 25, 2009
A longtime elevator mechanic at Los Angeles International Airport was sentenced this week to three years in federal prison for smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.
Roberto Amaya Canchola, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in an illegal immigrant for financial gain. The North Hills resident admitted smuggling in five foreign nationals Aug. 9 after they had arrived from Mexico. He admitted receiving $1,800 for each passenger.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"In late July, federal authorities began an investigation after Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a discrepancy in the number of passengers from a Mexicana flight that went through federal inspection."
&
"Canchola, who was arrested Aug. 23 and sentenced Monday, had spent nearly two decades working for Los Angeles World Airports before his badge was confiscated the day of his arrest.
Agents believe Canchola was part of a larger smuggling organization."
___________
anna.gorman@latimes.com
Los Angeles Times
LAX worker gets 3 years for immigrant smuggling
Longtime elevator mechanic Roberto Amaya Canchola, 54, was caught on surveillance video guiding passengers from Mexico to bypass federal inspectors. He admits receiving payment.
By Anna Gorman
February 25, 2009
A longtime elevator mechanic at Los Angeles International Airport was sentenced this week to three years in federal prison for smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.
Roberto Amaya Canchola, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in an illegal immigrant for financial gain. The North Hills resident admitted smuggling in five foreign nationals Aug. 9 after they had arrived from Mexico. He admitted receiving $1,800 for each passenger.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"In late July, federal authorities began an investigation after Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a discrepancy in the number of passengers from a Mexicana flight that went through federal inspection."
&
"Canchola, who was arrested Aug. 23 and sentenced Monday, had spent nearly two decades working for Los Angeles World Airports before his badge was confiscated the day of his arrest.
Agents believe Canchola was part of a larger smuggling organization."
___________
anna.gorman@latimes.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
LAT - U-visa program for crime victims falters.
Los Angeles Times
U-visa program for crime victims falters. llegal immigrants who help law enforcement officials are eligible, but although 13,300 people have applied, only 65 documents have been issued.
By Anna Gorman January 26, 2009
When Jorge Garcia delivered a pizza in Van Nuys in September 2003, he was forced at knifepoint to enter the apartment.Garcia said two men choked him until he passed out. When he awoke, his neck and wrist had been sliced and his stomach burned with an iron. The men told Garcia they had a gun and threatened to kill him. Then the assailants picked him up, threw him in the trunk of his car and dumped the vehicle.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Congress created the U-visa in 2000 to bolster law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute certain crimes while offering protection to the victims.
After an eight-year delay, the government issued its first U-visa last summer.
Through the end of 2008, 65 such visas had been issued, although about 13,300 people have filed applications.
Twenty have been denied.
After a preliminary review, the government also has given temporary benefits to 10,800 applicants while they wait for a final decision, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration."
&
"To be eligible for a visa, the victim must have information concerning the crime, be helpful in the investigation or prosecution and have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of the crime.
After three years, visa holders can apply to become legal permanent residents and can eventually become U.S. citizens.
The law allows 10,000 applicants to receive visas each year.
They can petition for certain family members to also receive visas.
Because it took so long to create the regulations for the visas, the government created an interim relief for qualified applicants. Until a decision is made on the visa, those applicants are protected from deportation and can receive work permits and access to public services while they are waiting, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services."
U-visa program for crime victims falters. llegal immigrants who help law enforcement officials are eligible, but although 13,300 people have applied, only 65 documents have been issued.
By Anna Gorman January 26, 2009
When Jorge Garcia delivered a pizza in Van Nuys in September 2003, he was forced at knifepoint to enter the apartment.Garcia said two men choked him until he passed out. When he awoke, his neck and wrist had been sliced and his stomach burned with an iron. The men told Garcia they had a gun and threatened to kill him. Then the assailants picked him up, threw him in the trunk of his car and dumped the vehicle.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Congress created the U-visa in 2000 to bolster law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute certain crimes while offering protection to the victims.
After an eight-year delay, the government issued its first U-visa last summer.
Through the end of 2008, 65 such visas had been issued, although about 13,300 people have filed applications.
Twenty have been denied.
After a preliminary review, the government also has given temporary benefits to 10,800 applicants while they wait for a final decision, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration."
&
"To be eligible for a visa, the victim must have information concerning the crime, be helpful in the investigation or prosecution and have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of the crime.
After three years, visa holders can apply to become legal permanent residents and can eventually become U.S. citizens.
The law allows 10,000 applicants to receive visas each year.
They can petition for certain family members to also receive visas.
Because it took so long to create the regulations for the visas, the government created an interim relief for qualified applicants. Until a decision is made on the visa, those applicants are protected from deportation and can receive work permits and access to public services while they are waiting, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services."
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