1. States crack down on DL fraud
2. NM Gov. nixes idea of AZ law
3. IA board votes against ICE site
4. Illegal use island off CA coast
5. Boston vendor busted, fined

1.
The future of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants
By Elise Foley
The Washington Independent, November 8, 2010

Illegal immigrants can only get driver’s licenses in three states: New Mexico, Utah and Washington. As other states crack down on illegal immigration, the three states are reportedly receiving higher numbers of illegal immigrant applicants for driver’s licenses — either because more undocumented people are moving to the states or because they are visiting to get a license they can take back to where they live.

But the future of that practice is looking hazy: In all three states, officials and lawmakers have pushed for tighter restrictions on licenses to keep them out of the hands of undocumented immigrants, particularly those who reside in other states.

In Washington, a new policy went into effect today requiring driver’s license applicants to give either a verified Social Security number or proof they live in the state. The new policy is part of a larger effort “to clamp down on license fraud,” Washington Licensing Director Liz Luce told the Associated Press last week. The agency will copy and verify documents proving residency before it issues permanent driver’s licenses to people who do not give a valid Social Security number.

New Mexico has yet to change its policies on illegal immigrants and licenses, but that could change under Governor-elect Susana Martinez (R). Martinez reiterated her support for repealing the current driver’s license laws during an interview with Univision on Sunday. “Around 80 percent of people in New Mexico don’t want the people who are here illegally to have a driver’s license,” Martinez said. “They want to ensure that those who get licenses are from the United States.”
. . .
http://washingtonindependent.com/102966/the-future-of-drivers-licenses-f...

********
********

2.
New Mexico's governor-elect unlikely to follow Arizona's lead
By Alan Gomez
USA Today, November 9, 2010

The GOP wrestled control of the New Mexico governor's office from the Democrats last week, but don't expect the border state to adopt the tough anti-immigration law of its neighbor, Arizona.

Republican Gov.-elect Susana Martinez told Spanish-language cable network Univision over the weekend that she would not embrace the most contentious aspect of Arizona's law, which requires police officers to determine a suspect's immigration status if the person is stopped and there is "reasonable suspicion" the person is in the USA illegally. That portion of the law was blocked by a federal judge; Arizona is appealing.

Despite her reluctance to follow Arizona, Martinez has been a vocal opponent of the state's law that allows illegal immigrants to receive driver's licenses.
. . .
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates tighter immigration controls, said Martinez's stance on Arizona's law won't upset conservatives because she embraces other versions of immigration control.
. . .
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-11-09-newmexico09_ST_N.htm

********
********

3.
Urbandale board votes to nix ICE holding site
By Sara Sleyster
Des Moines Register, November 9, 2010

The Urbandale Planning and Zoning Commission listened to concerned residents for two hours Monday night before rejecting plans for a federal immigration enforcement facility near residential areas.

The board's unanimous vote is a recommendation. The City Council will consider the matter Nov. 30.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, requested the zoning variance for an office that would include holding cells for alleged illegal immigrants. The site would be a warehouse along 121st Street near Meredith Drive.

More than 100 residents filled the Urbandale City Hall council chambers and hallways to protest. Immigration officials asked the city to allow government use of the warehouse, which isn't currently allowed under Urbandale's comprehensive plan.

"I can't support what I wouldn't want next to my personal residence," Commissioner Paul Pick said before the vote.

Urbandale's city planning staff has recommended approving the request, saying there was no evidence the facility would hurt public safety. No one would be held at the offices overnight, officials have said - instead, people would be processed and interviewed there and then, if applicable, taken to a county jail or other detention facility. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's current offices are in downtown Des Moines.

The warehouse is about 150 yards from residences.

Bob McCann of the 12300 block of Twana Drive asked commissioners to consider not only the views of people like himself who live near the building but also whether the facility could harm the perception of Urbandale as a good place to live.

"I don't think it's good for our residents, our community or our national image," McCann said.

Megan Robinson, owner of Sapphire Gymnastics Academy, urged the commission not to endorse the request for the sake of her business on the east side of 121st Street.
. . .
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101109/NEWS/11090366/-1/ENT06...

********
********

4.
Deserted Island Being Used By Illegal Immigrants
10News (California), November 8, 2010

10News uncovered the deserted island and the risky operation that is making it possible for illegal immigrants to sneak into San Diego.

Abandoned fishing pangas have become a common sight on San Diego beaches. Very rarely are the passengers found, since they are illegal immigrants who are smuggled into the United States in the dark of night.

Illegal border crossings are down, according to the Department of Homeland Security. However, the number of immigrants using the sea to illegally enter the United States in panga boats is up.

10News rode along with a group called the Desert Angels to know more about the route immigrants take.

The Angels told 10News immigrant smugglers use an island, known as "Smuggle Island" in the northern part of Mexico's Coronado Islands in an attempt to throw off U.S. tracking techniques.

Some immigrants are temporarily dropped off at the island. However, when the weather is bad or when the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for illegal immigrants, the immigrants are sometimes left behind for days without food or water.
. . .
http://www.10news.com/news/25680019/detail.html

********
********

5.
Fenway Park food vendor hit with immigration fine
By Mike Beaudet
MyFoxBoston.com, November 9, 2010

Federal immigration authorities fined Red Sox concessions vendor Aramark $50,000 last year for failing to show that many Aramark’s Fenway Park employees were legally authorized to work in the United States.

While details of the violations are confidential, the fine is by far the biggest levied by the federal government last year against a New England company, making it seem likely that illegal immigrants were working at Fenway Park.

Fenway Park isn't, of course, the only place where illegal immigrants may have access to jobs. A FOX Undercover investigation found illegal immigrants still have easy access to work at a time when the federal government's shifting attention away from workers and toward employers is getting mixed reviews.

At Legacy Place mall in Dedham, a FOX Undercover camera was rolling when admitted illegal immigrants confronted a drywall contractor whom they said hasn't paid them in weeks. FOX Undercover reporter Mike Beaudet talked to the contractor.

“Why are you hiring undocumented workers?" Beaudet asked.

“I try and go and get all the information I can from these guys," drywall company owner Jared Stevens said.

“You don't care if they're undocumented?" Beaudet asked.

“I definitely care. But we all have a right to work," he replied.

Stevens claims the men made it onto the worksite through a subcontractor, who Stevens says he paid for the work. Legacy Place said their tenant doing construction, not mall management, who is in charge of hiring contractors.

One worker told Beaudet he is from Honduras and has been in the US for 9 years. Asked if he had papers to be in the US, he said, “No." “Is it tough to find work being undocumented or are there plenty of guys out here who are willing to hire you?" Beaudet asked.

“It's not difficult," replied the worker, who did not give his name.

Jessica Vaughan with the Center for Immigration Studies said it's still far too easy for employers to hire illegal immigrants.

“Essentially what happens is these workers pretend to be legal and the employers pretend to believe them. And that's how everybody is able to keep the system going. “It is easy for them to get away with it because there are no penalties. There's no deterents for them. In most cases, what they're facing is a slap on the wrist or a warning," she said.
. . .
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/undercover/fenway-park-food-vendor-h...