Manager of Kosher Slaughterhouse Arrested

The former manager of Agriprocessors in Postville, IA, which was raided by ICE in the spring was arrested for violations of immigration law. Already the State of Iowa had fined the kosher meat processing plant for violation of child labor and wage laws. The manager was released after putting up a million dollars bail. (See NY Times article.)

Health Care for Undocumented Varies State to State

A LA Times article reported on the varying provision of health care to the undocumented across the country. Federal law demands that all states provide care in "emergencies", but that's defined so vaguely that each state seems free to interpret the obligation as it sees fit. Using the example of kidney dialysis, the Times found that in California and a few other states this is routinely provided -- even Kidney transplants. The federal government through emergency Medicaid pays part of the cost. In other states patients wait till near death before going to an ER for emergency dialysis. In some states, however, practice may vary. Texas does not provide for routine dialysis, but Houston does using local tax dollars. It's no mystery why some states deny routine medical care to the undocumented -- they don't belong here and medical care would attract more. But the economics of the issue seems to favor routine care, since it's cheaper to deal with ailments of the undocumented routinely than in an ER.

. . . BANDITS PREY ON THE UNDOCUMENTED IN PHOENIX
Undocumented Guatemalan immigrants seemed to have become easy targets to muggers. On weekends, just have cashing paychecks. they are accosted in the streets and asked to turn over their money. The muggers act with impunity, since they know their victims will not go to the police. Both the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the Phoenix Police have signed agreements with ICE to share information on the undocumented that are detained for criminal acts. No telling what Sheriff Joe Apraio would do, but the Phoenix police say they do not share information on crime victims. The message either hasn't go through or is not believed. (See Arizona Republic article.)

Homeland Secretary Pushes for E-Verify

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has urged a U.S. federal court to lift an injunction on the so-called "no match" rule. The rule was one part of the Bush administration's stepped-up enforcement. To the fence and the ICE raids was to be added a requirement that employers fire all employees who names did not match the Social Security Administration's records. It would apply to all workers -- legal or illegal. Suit was brought by such immigrant advocates as the American Civil Liberties Union and business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This unusual alliance argued that the rule will catch in "no matches" citizens because of mistakes at SSA's records and would place an unfair burden on employers. The court agreed enough to place the "no match" in limbo. Now Chertoff wants it restored to join the other strategies which he claims have reduced, if not stopped, undocumented migration. (See LA Times article.)


. . . SHERIFF JOE'S NEW WOES
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff in America", has been called to task by a federal judge. Whether he's the toughest sheriff or not, the court seems to thinks he's the meanest -- especially in handling prisoners in the county jail. He has been ordered to improve conditions -- health care, quality of food and living conditions. These issues antedate his headline-grabbing campaign against the immigrant. (See NY Times article.)

Hispanic Vote Update

A NY Times article updated the quest for the Hispanic vote. As previously reported, it's going heavily for Barack Obama. Though Republican strategy in the past has been to cut into, but win, that vote, it's not working for John McCain. While the immigration controversy initially triggered the drift to the Democrats, as the campaign has progressed Hispanics have cited the economy, education and health care as priority issues.

Supreme Court to Hear Identity Theft Case

The Supreme Court has accepted the case of East Moline, IL, undocumented steelworker charged with two counts of identity theft. (See NY Times article and post for October 19th.) A decision will influence how and how effectively ICE can carrying out plant raids. It uses the threat of a identity-theft charge to win easy cooperation in a deportation proceeding.

Intentity Theft Cases May Go To Supreme Court

Monday, Oct 20th, the Supreme Court will decide whether or not to accept an appeal on one of two identity theft cases in Iowa brought against undocumented aliens. Those rounded up in the Postville raid were given a choice -- either plea guilty to a lesser charge and serve five months in prison and then be deported or face full prosecution on identity theft and be liable to two years in prison. The issue the two cases that might go before the Supreme Court is whether the government has a greater burden to prove that the accused knowingly used another person's identity. For the most part, they didn't. Yet a district federal court and an appeals court found for the government did not. This is the issue the Supreme Court might take up. There are serious consequences if the higher court reverses the decision. ICE and federal attorneys would not be able to use identity theft as a tool to fight illegal immigration. Just the possibility of prosecution intimidated many rounded up at Postville.(See Washington Post article.)

Latino Protestants as Swing Voters

President George W. Bush made great progress in attracting Hispanic votes in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Many of those votes, if not most, are attributed to Hispanic Protestants who made up nearly a third of that block. This year, according to a recent survey, more than half favor Barack Obama, only a little more than a third opting for John McCain. Religiously conservative, they were outraged and hurt by the nasty tone of the House Republicans in 2006. McCain's support of comprehensive reform helped, but his shift to stressing enforcement and border security first seems to dampened their interest. Catholic Hispanic voters tend, like earlier immigrants, to be Democrats through the first generations. (See LA Times article. Note you can click to get to the survey.)

. . . SHERIFF JOE RAIDS CITY HALL IN MESA, AZ
Sherriff Joe Arpaio took his "crime-suppression" circus to Mesa's, second largest city in Maricopa County, city hall and the public library. He did it early in morning, long before business hours. His deputies and assorted volunteers came in with bullet-proof vests and automatic rifles. Who did they corral?Mostly the Hispanic and undocumented cleaning crew. The mayor and the chief of police were incensed, but nonetheless intimidated. Incidentally, Sheriff Joe's on the ballot November 4th. (See Arizona Republic article.)