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1. Obama promises amnesty
2. Researchers say 'so what'
3. AZ sees drop in births
4. MO Jail to house illegals
5. NV advertises census

1.
White House prepares for immigration fight
United Press International, December 30, 2009

Washington (UPI) -- The Obama administration has told immigration reform backers the president is committed to giving illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship, officials said.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and other top officials delivered the message in a conference call, the Los Angeles Times reports. Staff members have also told Hispanic leaders privately that President Barack Obama will back legislation in the next year.

Former President George W. Bush failed to win significant support for immigration reform within the Republican Party and some prominent Republicans, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, back reform but may not back an Obama bill, the newspaper said.
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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/30/White-House-prepares-for-immig...

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2.
Tax dollars funding illegal immigration
The Examiner (DC), December 29, 2009

Federally-funded researchers at the University of California are developing a GPS-enabled cell phone that can guide illegal immigrants safely across our southern border. The phone will help them navigate and find water stations along the way, making it easier to break our laws with impunity.

When confronted about the likely public outrage over rewarding those who cut in front of law-abiding immigrants to further burden our already teetering economy, the ultra-liberal "technology chief" had the following to say:

"There are many, many areas in which every American would say I don't like the way my tax dollars are being spent. Our answer to that is an in-your-face, so what?"
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http://www.examiner.com/x-17412-Macon-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2009...

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3.
In down economy, Arizona has fewer births
By Ginger Rough
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), December 30, 2009

Arizona's anti-illegal-immigration laws and the poor economy have had a chilling effect on the number of babies born in the state.

Newly released figures from the state's Department of Health Services show a 7 percent drop in the number of infant births in the past year alone and a more than 10 percent drop over the past two years.

Much of that drop has come in births to Hispanic mothers, state data show.

There were more Latino babies born each year in Arizona from 2003 to 2008 than any other ethnicity. But in the past two years, thousands of Latinos, both legal and illegal, have left in search of jobs and a friendlier climate.

Valley obstetricians and statisticians say they aren't necessarily surprised by the overall drop in births: Historically, couples have put off starting or expanding their families in tight economic times.

"We've seen this since the Great Depression," said Dr. Dean Coonrod, chairman of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Maricopa Medical Center.

"I think people just decide that it's going to cost a lot to have a baby, so they put it off . . . until they feel more secure," Coonrod added.

Data provided by the DHS' Office of Vital Records show that 84,368 babies were born in the first 11 months of 2009, compared with 90,876 in the same period in 2008.

In the first 11 months of 2007, 94,110 babies were born in Arizona.

That is a "significant" drop, said Christopher Mrela, a statistician for the DHS.
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/12/30/200912...

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4.
Jail in southeast Missouri gets to house detainees for federal immigration agency
The Associated Press, December 29, 2009

Benton, MO - A southeast Missouri sheriff has tried for years to bring in extra revenue by housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the county jail.

Tthe efforts by Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter now are paying off.

Earlier this month ICE detainees were moved to the jail in Benton. The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported that the jail was holding 10 prisoners.
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http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/1655124.html

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5.
Campaign urges illegal residents to answer census
By Ed Vogel
The Las Vegas Review Journal (NV), December 30, 2009

Carson City -- When it comes to the U.S. census, every person counts, even illegal residents. In fact, each of them is worth $917 a year to Nevada in additional federal funds.

That is why the state has launched an $886,000 media campaign to encourage residents to answer a questionnaire the U.S. Census Bureau will send out to all known Nevada households in March.

Those who do not receive or respond to the questionnaire will be visited by census takers starting in May.

The number of illegal immigrants in Nevada was pegged at 250,000 in November 2008 by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., but might have dropped since then because of the lack of jobs in the state. Nevada's population is between 2.6 million and 2.8 million.

"Clearly a big part of the campaign will be aimed at Spanish language speakers," said David Byerman, who leads the Nevada census effort for the U.S. Commerce Department.

Some Spanish language speakers have a distrust of government officials, and the campaign will try to eliminate their concerns, he said.

Byerman said any information residents share with census takers will remain confidential. It will not be given to the police or immigration authorities.

Secretary of State Ross Miller said the U.S. Constitution states the government will conduct a census and count all people, not just legal residents.

"Unfortunately, the largest percentage of persons who may not participate are those with a general distrust of government," Miller said.

While undocumented residents do "stay in the shadows," Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Director Bob Fulkerson believes they will participate in the census.

However, he finds the emphasis on lost tax revenue disturbing and an issue that might turn off some people.

"We have done workshops with Latino people," Fulkerson said. "It's more holistic to talk about what our neighborhoods will receive -- community centers, schools, roads and infrastructure -- than talk about $917 a year."

Vincenta Montoya, an immigration lawyer in Clark County, said it always has been a problem to persuade some citizens and undocumented residents to participate in the census.

"There is a good education process already taking place" in Spanish newspapers, TV and radio stations explaining to residents the importance of the census, she said.
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http://www.lvrj.com/news/campaign-urges-illegal-residents-to-answer-cens...