Governors denounce Chaffetz's 'tent cities' idea

PROVO — Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson have distanced themselves from Jason Chaffetz's claim that his idea to detain illegal immigrants in tent cities surrounded by barbed-wire fences came from the Western Governors' Association.
Chaffetz, the Republican nominee for Utah's 3rd District seat in the U.S. House, only regrets using the word "tent."
Chaffetz has been under fire lately for his position that illegal immigrants who have committed crimes should be held in tent cities surrounded by barbed-wire fences. His immigration policy also would detain undocumented immigrants in those facilities if they don't return to their countries of origin.
Chaffetz tied his idea to a proposal by the WGA, which includes Huntsman, who is his former boss, and Richardson.
"What did (Sheriff) Joe Arpaio do in Maricopa County (Arizona)?" Chaffetz said at the state Republican convention. "He put up tents. He put barbed wire around them. Now this isn't some wild Jason Chaffetz plan, this is a concurrent resolution — a joint resolution — between Republican and Democratic governors."
Huntsman, who has endorsed Chaffetz, recently told radio journalist Doug Fabrizio that Chaffetz's suggestion of a tent city was "extreme" and different from the WGA proposal.
"I heard somebody reference the Western Governors' model," Huntsman said on the live broadcast. "I was involved with drafting that with (Arizona Gov.) Janet Napolitano. We talked about a regional correctional facility to handle some of the overload that the states can't handle. Nobody talked about tent cities with barbed-wire fences around (them)."
Richardson, a Democrat, went further.
"Mr. Chaffetz's immigration proposal is offensive and inhumane and should be rejected out of hand," Richardson said. "His statements do nothing more than add more of the same divisive political rhetoric that incites confrontation and does not solve the problem, and is not what the Western Governors' Association supports."
Chaffetz said Thursday his idea is simply a cheaper alternative to the WGA's call for federal correctional facilities in the West.
"We agree on the need and the function if not the form," Chaffetz said. "I recognize the word 'tent' is sensational."
Chaffetz said a company in the 3rd District, Sprung, makes quality tents for the military and correctional facilities that are a far cry from those available at Cabela's. Images of the tents can be found at sprung.com by clicking on "Industry Gallery" near the bottom of the home page and then clicking on "Correctional Facilities."
"These tents are being used in Idaho, Florida, Texas, Hawaii and even in Washington County," Chaffetz said. "I keep getting tripped up by the word 'tent.' I could do better if I called them eco-friendly, highly portable, innovative structures."
Chaffetz continued Thursday to blame the ongoing controversy on misrepresentations from his Democratic opponent, Bennion Spencer, whose staff sent a letter to the WGA requesting a response to Chaffetz's plan.
Spencer was quoted in an Associated Press story saying that Chaffetz would put people "in a tent city because of their ethnic persuasion."
"I've never taken the position I want to round everybody up based on ethnicity and throw them in a tent city," Chaffetz said. "That's a complete fabrication and a lie. If someone said we should, I'd get whipped up over it, too. That's irresponsible. Fortunately, I've never taken that position."
Spencer continued to say Thursday that Chaffetz's plan is offensive, calling it racial profiling. Now, he said, the issue is helping him raise money. The AP story was published around the country and led to radio appearances by Spencer that he said prompted donations.
"When my financial disclosures come out you'll see donations from Florida, New Jersey, Missouri," Spencer said. "People have heard me on the radio, and they're sickened by his immigration position. They go online and give me money. They go, 'Stop the Nazi.'"

© 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company All rights reserved
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265411,00.html?pg=2

Immigration Contributing to Economic Crisis, Experts Say

FAIR-Washington

With American financial markets facing severe crises meriting intervention from the federal government, several experts have recently argued that granting subprime mortgages to immigrants - both legal and illegal - have played a role in bringing about the current economic decline. During "the boom years," many immigrants took out high-interest fixed-rate loans or subprime mortgages with a low entry rate that later rose sharply in order to buy homes in the United States that they could barely afford. (Reuters, January 30, 2008)
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) pointed out in April of last year that recent immigrants often turn to subprime lenders for several reasons. (USA Today, April 25, 2007) According to NCLR, 35% of Hispanic families do not have checking accounts. Furthermore, recent immigrants typically do not have credit histories and are more likely to have undocumented income. This in turn causes immigrants to seek out lenders who do not require income verification. Additionally, subprime lenders have been supported by politicians and community organizations wishing to promote minority homeownership. The subprime crisis led NCLR last year to call for a moratorium on subprime home foreclosures. (Id.)
Subprime loans have been instrumental in bringing about a recent fourfold increase in home foreclosures in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. (Cape Cod Online, July 3, 2007) Pam Parker, a mortgage prevention counselor at the Housing Assistance Corporation in Barnstable County, observed that many immigrants had taken these loans "because they don't know our language and they don't know our culture." (Id.) In 15 San Diego County, California zip codes - where home values have fallen as much as 40% - roughly 45% of home loans granted in 2005 and 2006 were subprime. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 20, 2008) According to Gabe del Rio, vice president of lending and homeownership at San Diego-based Community HousingWorks, many of the individuals who come to his agency for financial counseling are recent immigrants who spoke little English and did not understand the terms of their subprime loans. (Id.)

***UMP PRESS RELEASE***

October 1, 2008
Contact: Alex Segura

Since April 2005 members of the Utah Minuteman Project have been involved performing border patrols to subsidize the work of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Our patrols provide any extra set of ears and eyes as well as a voice to help the border patrol and their officers who serve as our country’s first line of defense to keep unauthorized people and cargo from entering into the United States.
We have planned yet another trip to the Arizona Mexico border October 18th to the 20th. We will work in conjunction with the local border watch groups to help patrol in the capacity of neighborhood watch volunteers.
This year a Republican member of the House of Representatives Stephen Sandstrom from District 58 has enlisted us to assist him during this October’s eighth border watch event.
He has also invited Rep. Chris Herrod from District 62 a Republican to join in the October event and he has accepted.They will be joined by Utah Minuteman Project Founder Alex Segura and Director Eli Cawley.
House members will inspect the new fencing, patrol the Arizona Mexico border both during the night and day, will be actively involved in meeting with local residents who live along the border fence, with Tucson sector border patrol officers, Tucson sector legislators as well as with local law enforcement personal.
This trip is planed as a way to have members of the Utah legislature directly involved in the everyday lives of the people who live and work on the border and what they endure.
There are also the indirect effects of Utah laws that encourage illegal immigration from Mexico through Arizona and its ill effects on Arizona as a result, even in the face of Arizona’s new get tough law.
Our hope is to have the House Members bring back their experience and pass it along to their counterparts in the legislature as a guide to understand the effects of the immigration laws they draft here have on other bordering states and their citizens.

Lou Dobbs Headlines 2008 FAIR Hold Their Feet to the Fire

Lou Dobbs, who has added a nationally syndicated radio show to his role as host of the highly rated CNN program, is among 50 or so talk radio personalities participating in the 2008 Hold Their Feet to the Fire event. Broadcasting from the Phoenix Park Hotel on Capitol Hill on September 10 and 11, talk radio hosts from all across the United States will devote their programs to the issue of immigration.
Hold Their Feet to the Fire has become an annual event, attracting some of the leading talk radio programs to the nation’s capital to raise an important issue that many of the nation’s leaders would prefer to ignore: immigration reform that places the interests of the American people first.
The 2008 Hold Their Feet to the Fire event is being organized by the FAIR Congressional Task Force (FCTF), a 501(c)(4) organization affiliated with FAIR. Hold Their Feet to the Fire is co-sponsored by Roger Hedgecock, host of a popular talk radio program on KOGO in San Diego. Hedgecock originated the Hold Their Feet to the Fire concept and has worked with FAIR and FCFT to expand it into a major annual event.
Talk radio has had an undeniable impact on the outcome of the immigration debate. This year’s Hold Their Feet to the Fire event is designed to provide millions of talk radio listeners in every state with a high profile forum to express their views about this vital national issue.
Energized by the highly successful Hold Their Feet to the Fire event which took place in April 2007, talk radio and their listeners generated unprecedented public opposition to the Senate amnesty and guest worker bill that was introduced the following month. The level and intensity of public opposition to amnesty and millions of new guest workers was directly responsible for the defeat of the bill that had the backing of the White House and many congressional leaders. Hold Their Feet to the Fire is designed to ensure that as a new administration and a new Congress take office in 2009 they are fully aware of overwhelming public support for immigration reform legislation without amnesty or guest worker provisions, and for overall reductions in immigration levels.
Arguably no media figure has had a greater impact on the immigration debate than Lou Dobbs. Dobbs’ CNN program carried live feeds from the 2007 Hold Their Feet to the Fire, and his relentless coverage of the clear sell-out of the public interest was instrumental in the defeat of the Senate amnesty bill. Dobbs now has a daily radio broadcast as well, syndicated nationally on the United Stations Radio Network. The inclusion of Dobbs’ radio program to the 2008 Hold Their Feet to the Fire line-up adds star power to an already high profile event.
Like FAIR, the mission of the FCTF is to educate the American public about the importance of adopting immigration policies that serve the public interest. The reputation that FAIR and FCTF enjoy with leading media organizations makes it possible to communicate our agenda for true immigration reform into homes across America. We are honored by the trust many in the media place in us, as exemplified by their willingness to participate in Hold Their Feet to the Fire 2008.

Legislative panel urged to 'hang tough' against illegal immigration

By Christopher SmartThe Salt Lake TribuneSalt Lake Tribune
08/28/2008 06:41:58 AM MDT

KIMBALL JUNCTION - Crime would go down. Taxes would go down. Unemployment would go down. And everyone would speak English. That would be the result if federal officials enforced immigration laws, according to various speakers Wednesday evening before the Utah legislative Immigration Interim Committee. But since that is not going to happen, Utah must enact SB81 - passed earlier this year but not slated to take effect until July 1, 2009 - and make sure police and employers throughout the state enforce it. The committee's third of eight such hearings was held at Ecker Hill Middle School, a stone's throw from Kimball Junction, where Summit County's booming resort economy is underpinned by immigrant labor. Speakers, like retired U.S. Border Patrol officer Eugene Davis, stressed they weren't against legal immigration, but that undocumented workers were crippling the country economy and culture. And Davis added, that porous borders also are an invitation to terrorists. "I have grave concern that we continue to swim in a sea of illegal immigration," he told the committee. "If we cannot control our borders, we cannot control our destiny." The Utah law that outlines, among other things, that local law enforcement be included in immigration policing and that employers be held responsible for hiring undocumented workers, was based on Oklahoma legislation. "I want you guys to hang tough," said visiting Oklahoma Rep. Randy Terrill. "Don't be harassed or bullied or intimidated by the naysayers. There is going to be an outcry from the business community." Oklahoma was sued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce. Portions of the law were struck down. But Terrill said lawmakers would prevail on appeal. The new law will save Oklahoma taxpayers $200 million a year in costs incurred in health care, education, welfare and corrections by undocumented aliens, Terrill said. When asked by committee member Utah Rep. Neil A. Hansen what should happen to American-born children whose undocumented parents are deported, Terrill said that lawbreakers of any kind are separated from their families when they go to prison. That comment left Park City outreach worker Shelley Weiss livid. "I find that morally reprehensible," she said in an interview outside the hearing room. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will sue Utah, just like they did Oklahoma." Park City businessman Brian Harlig said the testimony Wednesday evening did not reflect opinions in Summit County, where unemployment is practically nonexistent. "Nobody disagrees that immigration needs to be addressed," he said in an interview. "But they want to handcuff them and send them back. It's B.S." But speaker after speaker told the committee that undocumented workers keep wages down. "It's a contemptible statement to say they take jobs Americans just won't do," said Kent Lundgren, president of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers. Without a large pool of cheap labor, employers would raise wages and unemployment would go down, Lundgren explained. Others, including Alex Segura of the Utah Minuteman Project, testified that such things as the state's driver privilege card for immigrants is a great aid to undocumented workers and helps them obtain false documents and perpetrates identity theft. Utah Rep. Christopher Henrod, who is not on the panel but was speaking as a citizen who is married to a legal immigrant, said the Beehive State has a reputation of being friendly to undocumented workers. "Do we want to be known as the state that opens its arms to illegal aliens?" csmart@sltrib.com