From Canada

Ontario boater baffled by lengthy U.S. internment

Trevor Wilhelm
CanWest News Service

Monday, August 27, 2007

WINDSOR, Ont. — The man from Woodstock, Ont., who spent weeks languishing in a U.S. immigration jail after refusing to boat back to Canada because he had been drinking, was back in this country Monday, minus his identification, credit cards, $400 in cash and his clothes.

Terry DaCosta, 39, had been in a Michigan jail since Aug. 3, despite committing no criminal offence.

He appeared at the Windsor tunnel’s immigration office Monday, in a T-shirt, rolled-up blue jeans and shoes from the Monroe County Jail’s lost-and-found box. The jail had lost his effects.

During his ordeal, DaCosta said he endured cramped quarters, grumpy guards, a broken toilet and the company of dozens of others detained for long periods for similarly unclear reasons.

He said the U.S. border patrol jailed him after he was denied access to the country, and he was unable to boat back to Canada because he’d been drinking.

DaCosta and some friends, who drove their own pleasure boats, left Leamington, Ont. on Lake Erie and docked at Put-in-Bay near Sandusky, Ohio, on Aug. 3. While tying off the boats and waiting for entry approval — which he’d been granted several times previously, including two weeks prior — DaCosta had a few beers.

Then the border patrol said they were denying him entry. He still doesn’t know why.

Since DaCosta had been drinking, he and his friends had dinner to decide what to do. While they were thinking about the dilemma, border guards returned.

DaCosta opted to be detained instead of risking the loss of his licence, his boat and jail time if he were caught boating under the influence.

DaCosta said he ended up in a jail cell and was given the choice of checking one of three boxes on a form. The first was to claim he feared for his life in his own country. The second was a request to see a judge, something he was told could take a month.

So he checked the third box. In exchange for promising not to return to the U.S. for 10 years, the border patrol said they could have him back to Canada in a day or two.

The next morning he was sent to the Monroe jail, where he got some bad news

….more

From the Washington Times

Border Patrol chief apologizes for remarks

A Border Patrol chief yesterday apologized for saying the agency’s mission is stopping terrorists, not illegal aliens or drug smugglers, a stance that outraged congressional lawmakers.

“It’s painfully obvious to me that I could have done a better job of articulating my talking points,” said sector Chief Carlos X. Carrillo, who made the controversial comments last week at a town hall meeting in Laredo, Texas.

“As long as the resources are made available to the people who can make it happen, we will certainly do everything we can to ensure that a zero tolerance policy is brought forward. But to initiate a program like this, without the funding, would not be wise.”

Rep. John Culberson, Texas Republican, was angered by Chief Carrillo’s comments and contacted him yesterday for clarification. Mr. Culberson, a member of the House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee, said the Laredo chief apologized and promised to continue strict apprehension policies along the border.

“Chief Carrillo promised me that he will do his very best to implement Del Rio’s zero tolerance policy,” Mr. Culberson said, referring to the Del Rio sector’s strong policies to incarcerate all illegal aliens caught in high traffic areas. “I promised the chief that we are totally committed to finding the funds that he needs to make that happen.”

The rest here.

Fast Fact: 40% of illegal aliens in U.S. came AFTER 9/11 – fell safer? Pew Hispanic Center, March, 2006 – here.

We don’t think Jerry, MALDEF and the rest of the illegal alien/open borders lobby are going to like this one from ICE!

New ICE ACCESS program highlights various law enforcement partnerships
ICE and locals working together in different ways, for maximum effectiveness

Please send this to your local sheriff…tell him you want a crime free county. Illegal immigration and illegal employment are crimes.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announces the new ICE ACCESS (Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security) program. ICE ACCESS will provide local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to team with ICE to combat specific challenges in their communities.

“Local law enforcement agencies have shown tremendous interest in working with ICE,” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary, Julie L. Myers, who oversees ICE. “Combining federal, state and local resources has proven successful in safeguarding the public. Now, we want to build on that success by using ICE’s unique authorities to further aid communities who seek our assistance.”
ICE developed the ACCESS program in response to the widespread interest from local law enforcement agencies that have requested ICE partnerships through the 287(g) program, which cross-designates local officers to enforce immigration law as authorized through section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In the past two years, the 287(g) program has identified more than 22,000 illegal aliens for possible deportation. More than 60 municipal, county, and state agencies nationwide have requested 287(g) MOAs with ICE and more than 400 local and state officers have been trained under the program.
The 287g program is only one component under the ICE ACCESS umbrella of services and programs offered for assistance to local law enforcement officers. Other ICE ACCESS enforcement options include the creation of local task forces targeting specific challenges like gangs or document fraud, the presence of a Criminal Alien Program (CAP) team in local detention facilities to identify criminal aliens, or training to utilize the ICE Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) which provides officers the ability to inquire about a person’s immigration and criminal history. One especially successful joint initiative is Operation Community Shield, a national program aimed at dismantling violent transnational gangs that threaten the public.
“Operation Community Shield is an excellent example of the outstanding relationship the Miami-Dade Police Department has fostered with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Miami-Dade Police Department Assistant Director James Loftus. “Law enforcement working together with each other, as well as with the community, can and will continue to make a difference.”

ICE agents and officers will meet with agencies requesting ICE ACCESS assistance to assess local needs. Based upon these assessments, ICE and local agencies will determine which type of partnership is most beneficial and sustainable before entering into an official agreement.

Law enforcement agencies interested in reviewing the myriad of enforcement programs under the ICE ACCESS program are encouraged to call their local ICE office or visit www.ice.gov for more information.

— ICE —

Below in the news today from the Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb congressmen blast Bush partnership with Canada, Mexico

By Ken Eysaman
Marietta Daily Journal News Editor

WASHINGTON – Cobb Congressmen Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta) and Tom Price (R-Roswell) have joined 20 other U.S. House members in urging President Bush to oppose a partnership with Mexico and Canada that some fear could lead to a North American Union.

Earlier this month, Gingrey and Price signed a two-page letter to the president outlining concerns that Congress has about the Security and Prosperity Partnership, or SPP, Bush launched with Canada and Mexico in 2005.

“The SPP process … is being conducted in a secretive manner with a view to ‘harmonizing’ U.S., Canadian and Mexican policies, regulations and practices in ways that may actually undermine our security and sovereignty,” the letter states.

Critics say the Bush initiative includes measures that would make it easier to move goods and people across borders and could weaken the country’s ability to secure its borders and curb illegal immigration.

House members called on Bush “not to pledge any further movement in connection with the SPP at the upcoming North American Leaders Summit,” which begins today in Montebello, Canada, and involves Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican president Felipe Calderon.

Among items slated for discussion is ways to advance the SPP.

“In the interest of transparency and accountability, we urge you to bring to the Congress whatever provisions have already been agreed upon and those now being pursued as part of the initiative (to obtain) authorization through the normal legislative process,” the letter states.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-East Cobb), a leading proponent for border security in the Senate, also opposes the partnership.

“The United States for over 220 years has enjoyed the freedoms and responsibilities of an independent nation. To allow our country to participate in a rumored ‘North American Union’ would take away our sovereignty and place an undue burden on the citizens of America, Isakson said.

“It would be a terrible mistake for the U.S. government to engage in any proposal that would diminish our independence or lessen our strength. I wholeheartedly oppose any such effort.”

To bolster public scrutiny of the little known “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America,” leading east Cobb border security activist D.A. King has planned a rally at noon today in the Rotunda of the state Capitol in Atlanta.

King plans to outline potential threats to American sovereignty involved in the virtually unpublicized executive branch initiative. The rally is timed to coincide with Monday and Tuesday’s North American Leaders Summit.

“The true intent and lack of transparency and accountability concerning the SPP should be a matter of great concern to all Americans and those in the media, King said.

“The SPP seems to closely follow the 2005 Council on Foreign Relations report titled, ‘Building a North American Community,’ which makes recommendations that include combining the Social Security systems of the U.S. and Mexico, and creating a common security perimeter around North America within which people would flow freely between the three nations – essentially integrated nations and open borders.”

King also plans to announce formation of “Americans for Sovereignty,” a recently incorporated Georgia-based national organization aimed at educating the public about consequences of the SPP and attempts to create an arrangement in North America similar to the European Union.

keysaman@mdjonline.com

Copyright © 2007 Marietta Daily Journal. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Americans For Sovereignty in the news…a news report on our first press conference.

The below report is from Insider Advantage Georgia, a subscription Website – Mr. Dick Pettys editor.
Reposted here with permission.

Do Talks Between U.S., Canada And Mexico Threaten National Sovereignty? Activist Says ‘Yes’

(8/20/07) Could America be on the verge of losing its national sovereignty through a little-publicized tripartite agreement with Mexico and Canada that some fear could morph into a European Union-type government in North America? That’s one of the questions being raised by Georgia-based anti-illegal immigration activist D.A. King in a new national campaign he’s launched.

He announced the campaign Monday during a news conference in the state Capitol on the same day President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon were meeting in Montebello, Quebec for talks on the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

The partnership was created by executive order of the leaders of the three counties in 2005 to develop new levels of cooperation. But critics in the United States and in Canada believe it could lead to an erosion of national sovereignty.

King, who proved the reach of his megaphone in the battle over the Senate immigration bill this year, said in the news conference this isn’t a new battle for him; it’s the same battle he’s been fighting for years.

“Many of us have to ask ourselves if the President of the United State has not secured the American borders since 9-11, if he actually has any intention of actually doing so … I do not believe the President of the United States ever has any intention of securing our borders.”

He continued, “I believe the goal is to create the free flow of people. Illegal immigration, the open borders agenda and the Security and Prosperity Partnership are not separate issues. This is two sides of the same coin. People paying attention don’t have much trouble seeing that.”

He has created a new website to call attention to what he described as perhaps the most sensational yet underreported story of the century. The website can be found here.

King said he fears the partnership may be following a blueprint that ultimately could lead to combining the Social Security systems of the U.S. and Mexico and creating a common security perimeter around North America in the name of more efficient commerce and a lower wage.

“I am one of the many Americans who will not stand by and watch as anybody in any office diminishes or compromises the sovereignty of the United States of America in the interest of commerce, increased profit and lower wages. Not many of us want to imagine our children reciting, ‘I pledge allegiance to the continent and to the commerce for which it stands.”

Sen. Nancy Schaefer, R-Turnerville, joined King at the news conference. She vowed to press again next year for passage of SR 124, which would have urged Congress to withdraw the U.S. from the partnership.

“The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, known as the North American Union, and illegal immigration are all one issue. The dots can be connected,” she said.

Rep. Tim Bearden, R-Villa Rica, also attended the news conference, saying he opposed any threat to the sovereignty of the United States, and vowing to push next year for passage of his Constitutional amendment declaring English the official language of Georgia. It is HR 413.

Here is a link to the 2005 White House press release announcing formation of the partnership.

Incidentally, more than 20 congressmen have signed a letter of concern to President Bush about the partnership. Two are from Georgia – Reps. Tom Price and Phil Gingrey. Here is a link to the letter.

Not a peep about the SPP … by name.

Associated Press

Bush to tighten ties with Mexico, Canada
By BEN FELLER | Associated Press Writer
August 18, 2007

Never fond of interrupting his Texas vacation, President Bush is doing it this year to bolster ties with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, two friendly neighbors and vital partners. — Bush joins Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Montebello, Quebec, on Monday in hopes of expanding cooperation

“What’s really important is that they continue to reflect the significance of North American integration — the fact that there are post 9/11 problems, but they aren’t going to undermine trade and investment,” said Charles Doran, a scholar at John Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

The rest here.

I’m a globalist” – Former Georgia state Senator Sam Zamarripa , also MALDEF board member and Chairman and co-founder of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) and who works closely with the Georgia China Alliance (GCA), a nonprofit group he helped create in 2003.

GALEO proudly lists Jane Fonda as one of its “founding friends” and benefactors.

Zamarippa is also co-founder and Marketing Director of United Americas Bank in Georgia, one of the pioneers in making mortgage loans to illegal aliens …with bi-lingual services. United Americas Bank is one of many nation wide that accepts the federally issued Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) as valid ID in lieu of a Social Security Number, in direct violation of IRS regulations and intent regarding the ITIN.

However, as quoted in the Atlanta Progressive News ( May 2006), Zamarripa’s Executive Director of GALEO, Jerry Gonzalez, blames globalization and free trade for illegal immigration into the United States: “Gonzalez agreed that globalization, free-trade agreements, and bad economies created by bad governments were the root causes. The U.S. government, ultimately, has to address the economic prosperity of the entire hemisphere in order to curtail immigration.”

On its Website, GALEO promoted an Emory University Goizueta Business School October 2006 seminar titled “Beyond NAFTA: Prosperity and Security in an Integrated North America” outlining the “benefits” of expanding NAFTA and the deep integration of the three nations of North America.

Follow the money. Try hard to forget about the sovereignty of the United States of America.

Coming soon: Americans for Sovereignty.

MEDIA RELEASE 17 August, 2007

Americans for Sovereignty Contact: D.A. King
3595 Canton Rd.
A-9/337
Marietta, Ga. 30066

www.AmericanSov.org ( under construction)

In an effort to draw media attention and public and Congressional scrutiny to the little known ‘Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America’ (SPP), border security activist D.A. King will be available to the media to outline the potential threats to American sovereignty involved in the virtually unpublicized executive branch initiative.

When: Monday, August 20, 2007 NOON
Where: The Rotunda, the Georgia Capitol Building

The press conference is timed to coincide with the August 20 -21 “North American Leaders Summit” in Montebello, Canada involving President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican president Felipe Calderon which will focus on advancing the SPP.

King expects several elected officials to speak at the press conference.

“The true intent and lack of transparency and accountability concerning the SPP should be a matter of great concern to all Americans and those in the media” notes King. “The SPP seems to closely follow the 2005 Council on Foreign Relations report titled “Building a North American Community” which makes recommendations that include combining the Social Security systems of the U.S. and Mexico, and creating a common security perimeter around North America within which people would flow freely between the three nations….essentially integrated nations and open borders” King said.

King will also officially announce the formation of ‘Americans for Sovereignty’ (AFS), a recently incorporated Georgia – based national organization aimed at educating the public on the consequences of the SPP and any attempt to create an arrangement in North America similar to the European Union. King is co-founder and CEO of Americans for Sovereignty Inc. (501 c 3 status from the IRS for AFS will be applied for soon)

Americans for Sovereignty shares the deep concern regarding the SPP indicated in an August 6, 2007 letter to the President of the United States signed by more than twenty U.S. Congressional Representatives including Georgia’s Dr. Tom Price and Dr. Phil Gingrey.

King will provide copies of that letter and other background information to any members of the media who have an interest at the press conference.
End

Repost from February:

The column below ran in today’s Marietta Daily Journal in February.

North American Union would be terrible mistake

D.A. King
Columnist
February 15, 2007

“There shall be open borders”
– A recurring 1984 proposal promoted by the Wall Street Journal for a five-word amendment to the Constitution.

“By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America”.
– Presidential candidate George W. Bush in a 2000 campaign speech on Latin America in Miami.

As someone who studies our intentional lack of border security and the resulting terror threat and illegal immigration crisis in the new America of the Bush administration, the most common question I hear after people begin to suspect that the president of the United States has no intention of securing American borders – Sept. 11, 2001, be damned – is natural enough: “Why?”

Why would the president – and a large part of Congress – refuse do everything possible to stop what a 2006 House Committee on Homeland Security report estimated to be somewhere between four and ten million illegal and uninspected border crossings in 2005 alone?….

Please read the rest/original here and see the video.

I cannot make stuff like this up… CONTACT INFO FOR THIS GUY BELOW. Call him, I am.

Border Patrol agents dont have the responsibility of apprehending illegal immigrants, Carlos X. Carrillo, chief patrol agent for the Laredo sector, said at a town hall meeting Wednesday.”The Border Patrol is not equipped to stop illegal immigrants,”

Read it here from the Laredo Morning Times.

FYI:
Laredo Sector (Texas)
The Sector encompasses 116 counties and covers 101,439 square miles of southwest and northeast Texas. The Rio Grande River is both the southwest and international boundary. The Laredo Sector is situated between the Del Rio and Marfa Sectors on the west and the Rio Grande Valley Sector on the southeast. The northern boundary extends to the Oklahoma border

Contact Information: Phone Number – (956) 764-3200; Sector Headquarters Mailing Address – 207 W. Del Mar Blvd., Laredo, TX 78041

Community Feedback: We strive to provide quality service to our customers. If we have not lived up to this commitment, we would like to know. If we have met or exceeded your expectations, please let us know that as well. To comment on the services provided by this office, please write to the Sector Chief Patrol Agent. If you feel you were mistreated by a Border Patrol employee or wish to make a complaint of misconduct by a Border Patrol employee, you may write to the Chief Patrol Agent