Consul-related Immigration News Archives
This is a very large file. For the full smaller digest version, click here.Nine Latin American consulates in New York area join to push immigration agenda inside U.S.
The New York-area consulates from nine Latin America countries have joined forces in an effort called the "Coalition of Latin American Consulates in New York." From this:
...the group plans to work together on issues they consider common to their immigrant populations _ from holding informational "consular fairs" and public health screenings to meeting as a group with U.S. immigration officials. The group's first event will be a consular fair to be held this Saturday at the Mexican community center Casa Puebla in Harrison, N.J... The consular coalition also hopes to present a more united front in the U.S. immigration debate _ not by taking a political position, but by working to defend immigrant communities many feel have been vilified by the tone of the debate...
Casa Puebla was also where the Mexican consulate recently handed out Matricula Consular ID cards.
Mexico is, of course, one of the countries involved. The others are: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
Mexico admits: Matricula Consular ID cards are for illegal aliens (Elizabeth Llorente/North Jersey Record; ACORN?)
Some years ago, the Mexican government found a new purpose for their old Matricula Consular ID card: indentification for illegal aliens. However, in past reports that I've seen they haven't explicitly admitted its real purpose, only saying that they hand out those cards to their citizens without regard to their immigration status.However, a consulate spokesman has now explicitly admitted what those cards are for ("Mexican consulate helps out local Mexicans" by Elizabeth Llorente, link). While the article includes quotes from an ICE spokesman, the overall tone of support for illegal activity also makes it yet another example in the long line of Hispanic reporters putting their racial interests ahead of national and journalistic interests:
Mexican consulate officials issued hundreds of passports and identification cards to Mexicans in Passaic this week, in the hope that official documents will help illegal immigrants avoid arrest and deportation.In other words, they admit that they hand them out to those they know to be illegal aliens, and that the purpose of the IDs is to skirt our immigration laws.
Mexican officials said their citizens... are particularly vulnerable to harsh treatment by local and federal law enforcement authorities since they're the largest portion of the illegal population...
"Having government-issued documentation is the first line of defense in this climate," said Cesar Romero, spokesman for the consulate in Manhattan, which also serves New Jersey. "Our main mission at the consulate is to provide a safety net for our people. Since they cannot obtain U.S. documents, they turn to us for valid IDs that they can show authorities here."
The mobile consulate - which will be visiting other NJ cities in the near future - was apparently hosted by the local organization Casa Puebla, but the caption to the photo accompaning the article has two people "organiz[ing] all of the necessary papers prior to going to ACORN to get their passports during the "Consulate on Wheels" visit from the Mexican Consulate." Any involvement by that national organization isn't detailed in the article.
Mexico to reopen New Orleans consulte, George Bush to appear
From this we learn that Mexico is reopening their consulate in New Orleans, which they'd closed in 2002. Not only that, but putative U.S. president George Bush will be there to celebrate the event. This coincides with the fourth annual SPP North American Leaders Summit to be held in that city.
And, it follows a completely corrupt, anti- and un-American Bush scheme under which U.S. citizens were moved out of the city and warehoused in Atlanta and Houston while corrupt, connected contractors were allowed to move in illegal aliens largely from Mexico to do the jobs that Americans could and should have done. The profits from Bush's scheme flowed to those contractors and the Mexican government, while the costs of Bush's scheme were born by everyone else in the U.S. Those costs include overpriced multilevel contracts, the costs of warehousing U.S. citizens in other cities, the social costs of not getting New Orleans' underclass to work rebuilding their own city, and hidden long-term costs such as the health effects of those illegal aliens who worked without proper safety equipment.
Louisiana lieutenant governor Mitch Landrieu welcomes the reopening. This is Mexico's 48th consulate in the U.S.
And, from this:
[At the summit], [o]bservers say [Felipe Calderon] is eager to tout the role his 30,000 countrymen played in the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005... Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, said New Orleans is a good place for Calderon to remind Bush of Mexican workers' contributions to the U.S. economy... "I will expect the president to touch on the economic contributions of migrants to the U.S. economy, particularly to an area like New Orleans, where I understand a big part of the cleaning and reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina has been done by immigrants -- not just Mexicans, but immigrants in general," Alday said.
Mexican consulate spokesman: "This has been and will be Mexico"
On the following video you can see someone identified here as Alberto Lozano, spokesman for the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, tell a group of protesters in front of that consulate what the Mexican government really thinks:
"This has been and will be Mexico"
Expect apologists try say he was referring to the consulate property itself; see the first link. Expect them to also attempt the dodge of saying that the protesters shouldn't have told him to "go back to his third-world craphole"; indeed, they shouldn't have. However, the bottom line is that he told us exactly what they think of us:
Mexican consulate in Boise pushed by Mexico-linked activists
The Mexican government has apparently applied to the U.S. State Department to open a new consulate in Boise, Idaho, and they might have already rented office space. This followed a petition drive which garnered 10,000 signatures in support of the new consulate.
At least two of those pushing the scheme have links to the Mexican government.
The first mentioned in the article is Lucio Prado of Boise. He has a radio show (link) and has or had some involvement with an Acapulco restaurant (link). He also serves on the board of the Catholic Charities of Idaho (link). And, from this:
SALT LAKE CITY-- The Local Council of Mexicans Abroad West of the Rockies was formed on September 17 in Salt Lake City. The Council is part of the Mexican Consulate. The formation of the council was attended by 45 advisors or community leader from the four states that are covered by the Mexican Consulate - Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. Representing Idaho were Lucio Prado, Juan Jose Mena and Juanita Gonzalez of Boise, Rafael Ortiz of Nampa and Esperanza Taylor of Caldwell.
Gonzalez is also noted as one of those involved in the petition drive. There's local opposition from Republican Congressmen Bill Sali and possibly Mike Simpson, but it might not be enough.
Mexican official hits U.S. citizen while passing out Matricula Consular cards at public school?
I don't know how much credence to give the possible assault charge discussed here, but a mobile Mexican consulate from their Santa Ana office held an event at a public school in San Juan Capistrano, California to pass out, among other forms of ID, Matricula Consular cards. Having to use one of those cards as ID is a very strong indicator of being an illegal alien.
An unidentified person who was apparently a Mexican government official told the Minuteman group they couldn't be there and couldn't take pictures. There's no video of that, but, if it did happen as described it takes a lot of gall for a foreign government official to tell U.S. citizens to vacate government property. The police were called; they informed the official that the Minutemen had a right to be there and didn't ask them to leave. Apparently there was some sort of scuffle, with the page claiming that the official struck one of the protesters.
If the mainstream media weren't completely corrupt this would be a fairly large story, but things like this will never be. The only way around that is what I've been saying for over a year: go out and ask politicians tough questions designed to discredit them, and then upload their responses to video sites. That will have a far greater impact than local protests that never receive MSM coverage.
Jennifer Delson/LAT gushes over departing Orange County Mexican consul (Haro; MC cards)
Luis Miguel Ortiz Haro - Mexican consul for Orange County, CA - is being reassigned, apparently as part of the Mexican government's normal process of shifting their agents around. Jennifer Delson of the Los Angeles Times says bye-bye in her own special, pro-Mexico way (link). And, oddly enough, she discusses the identity cards that that country passes out, glossing over the fact that they do so to assist illegal immigration. First, the tears:
He ran his Santa Ana office in the style of a populist Latin American patriarch, peppering his conversations with popular idioms and spending countless hours on the problems of immigrants, which fell beyond the formal scope of his job... Leaders of community organizations have streamed into his office to bemoan his departure. Employees held back tears...
Don't worry: there's more at the link (although it doesn't rise to the gush-o-meter busting level of Yvette Cabrera). Then, the part where she doesn't tell their readers the whole truth:
During his tenure, the Santa Ana office increased the number of Mexican identification cards issued. Ortiz Haro recently said that his consulate issued more of the cards, known as matriculas consulares, than any other consulate in the U.S., with the exception of Los Angeles and Chicago.
She doesn't describe that the Mexican government passes out those cards so that illegal aliens can open bank accounts and even obtain driver's licenses in some states. Nor does she go into the fact that due to massive immigration from Mexico that government has been able to obtain a great deal of political power inside the U.S.
In a way, it's like someone writing a glowing article about a union boss that most people realize works for a crooked organization. I wonder whether if we looked back we could find that these types of articles are part of a decades-long pattern of deception by the Los Angeles Times.
Felipe Calderon explicitly wants Mexican consuls to meddle in U.S. immigration debate (non-profits)
The only thing shocking about this is that he'd openly admit it:[Today, Mexican president Felipe Calderon] asked his diplomatic representatives in the U.S. to participate in the public debate on immigration by appearing at public events, talking more to the media and working with nonprofit groups to promote Mexican immigrants' role in supporting the U.S. economy.Several non-profit groups have direct or indirect links to the Mexican government, such as the ACLU, SPLC, AFSC, and MALDEF via membership in a group headed by Peter Schey, someone with a long list of links to that government. He also heads the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, which has been an occasional quote source for the MSM.
"The key is to neutralize this strategy of confrontation and discrimination that forms part of U.S. society's mistaken perception, and be able to newly focus arguments on the complimentary aspects of our economies," he said [to the consuls].
Another group is the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, whose president serves on an advisory council to the Mexican president. That group helped organize some of last year's illegal immigration marches, and is in turn linked not just to Rod Blagojevich but also to the Blue America PAC (run by some bloggers).
Another frequent quote source, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, has a direct albeit somewhat minor link to the Mexican government.
New Haven's Junta for Progressive Action is/was collaborating with that government and sued to block immigration raids. Kica Matos, their former president, now works for that city and pushed through their efforts to give ID cards to illegal aliens. And, she's married to Henry Fernandez of the Center for American Progress.
Needless to say, there are many others.
In fact, it's difficult to find a non-profit involved in immigration matters that doesn't have some sort of a link, whether direct or first or second-level indirect. When nonprofit groups are involved in immigration matters in the future, it will be even more difficult to tell whether they're speaking for the Mexican government or not, and it will be even more important to attempt to call them on any links they have. In some cases their public funding should be eliminated, and if it applies they should be requested to register under the DOJ's Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Also:
Calderon's instructions came two days after he accused U.S. presidential candidates of "swaggering, macho and anti-Mexican" posturing. He also warned the U.S. Congress not to impose conditions on a $1.4 billion anti-drug aid package.Related:
Mexican diplomats meddling in our internal politics
"Mexico's Defense of Illegal Immigrants"
American Jewish Committee collaborates with Mexican government to support illegal immigration
Mexican consul meddling in Irving Texas (Matricula Consular cards to prevent arrests)
New York Times alludes to Mexican meddling via consulates (Little Rock)
Ramos/Compean trial transcripts; meddling Mexican consuls initiated case?
Nancy Pelosi didn't meet the meddling Mexican congressmen?
Dianne Solis, Alfredo Corchado, Dallas Morning News downplay Mexican meddling
More meddling by Mexican consuls
"Bush Bill Would Aid Mexico's Meddling in U.S."
"Mexico is meddling in US military"
Mexican consul meddling in Irving Texas (Matricula Consular cards to prevent arrests)
From this:The Mexican Consulate wants to send mobile units to Irving [Texas] to issue identification cards [Matricula Consular cards] to illegal immigrants to try to save them from arrest and deportation.
Irving Mayor Herbert Gears said the ID cards could prevent only a few arrests, but he promised to meet monthly with Consul Enrique Hubbard Urrea to review any complaints stemming from the city's Criminal Alien Program.
Mexican consuls to increase push for amnesty (propaganda, anti-defamation)
From this:The Mexican government is giving its consulates in the U.S. wide latitude to ramp up a campaign to toughen their defense of immigrants and plans to give them more resources as well, officials familiar with the strategy said.As indeed it should be.
...Among the actions under discussion are the creation of an anti-defamation league similar to that focused on protecting Jews; budget increases for some of the 47 consulates, especially in regions such as North Texas, where Mexican migration has been swift and plentiful; and a media campaign aimed at counteracting groups opposed to illegal immigration and sometimes legal immigration.
..."Our fight is no longer inside the Beltway," said one senior Mexican official, who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity. "We have been forced to change our strategy."
...Nearly two dozen U.S.-based immigrant leaders, including North Texans, flew to Mexico City recently [around Sept. 15] to meet with senior officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry to discuss the strategy. The Foreign Ministry and its Institute for Mexicans Abroad, or IME, is carrying out the government's plan.
Mario Ramirez, a Dallas businessman and Mexican immigrant who attended the meeting, said he knows his loyalty to the U.S., as a naturalized citizen, will be questioned.
Note that those linked to the IME were also involved in organizing the big Chicago immigration marches, and one IME member is even an Illinois state senator (Martin Sandoval).
It would be nice to get a full list of those attending the MC meeting; for now, this is the only other one mentioned:
Primitivo Rodriguez, a Mexico City resident ... coordinator of the Coalition for the Political Rights of Mexicans Abroad, which has members in Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.
Thanks, Huckabee: Arkansas Mexican consul opposing immigration laws
Back in 2003, former Arksansas governor and current presidential contender Mike Huckabee asked Vicente Fox to establish a Mexican consulate in Arkansas. They opened that earlier this year, and consul Andres Chao has been a busy beaver:A sweeping [Prop. 200/187-style] Oklahoma law denying benefits and jobs to illegal immigrants raises concerns among the Hispanic community around the region, the region's Mexican consul said Thursday.I'll try to look into whether those lawyers have links to the Mexican government, or whether they're just useful idiots.
Consul Andres Chao said those concerns come as police agencies in northwest Arkansas prepare to send officers to federal immigration training. However, as Arkansas' cost of living remains low, the state and surrounding area will draw immigrants wanting to save money to send home to their families, he said.
"The Hispanic community is worried about this new law," Chao said in an interview with The Associated Press. "They are working together to try to convince (them) that this new law is not perfect. They are doing the jobs over there and they insist there are other options."
...Chao said lawyers working with immigrants groups planned to challenge the law on constitutional grounds. He said the consulate, based in Little Rock, would work to protect the human and labor rights of Mexican immigrants, without mentioning how state laws should treat them...
Chao is also complaining that Steve Womack, the mayor of Rogers, AR has been stonewalling him on a meeting; that city is among others sending their police officers for 287 (g) training, which would allow them to participate in federal immigration enforcement:
Chao said he has scheduled meetings in September with the Rogers police chief and with the sheriffs of Washington and Benton counties.Related:
"It's my point of view that it's better to talk with the community, to know each other and understand the situation and fix it," Chao said. "The (Hispanic) community is worried about this situation. They are wondering what is going to be the next step."
He said the consulate in Little Rock has received numerous calls from people who fear unjustified arrests and deportation.
Mexican consul from Little Rock encourages advocacy for illegal immigration
Mexican consul from Little Rock encourages advocacy for illegal immigration
Andres Chao - Mexico's consul for their new outpost in Little Rock, Arkansas - visited Memphis and spoke to the "local Mexican community" at an event organized by the Hispanic Business Alliance:...The office has faced heavy demand for Mexican passports and matricula consular identification cards since its official opening in April, he said. Chao said there's a six-week waiting list for the in-person appointments required to get the documents...He is, in effect, encouraging those "civil leaders" to advocate for illegal immigration.
...Chao said the Little Rock consulate, which is about two hours' drive from Memphis, doesn't plan more mobile consulate events here this year. It will hold them in places much further away from Little Rock, such as southern Mississippi.
In response to a question about new laws in Tennessee and other states meant to crack down on illegal immigration, Chao said he can only go so far in his advocacy.
"As a diplomat, I have a limit," he said. But he said the civil leaders gathered in the room could do more and expressed hope that many such laws would be found unconstitutional.
Recall that in 2003, Arkansas governor Mick Huckabee asked Vicente Fox to build their new consulate in Little Rock. He even temporarily housed them in a state agency office at a rental rate of $1 per year.
Mexican ambassador admits mistakes, hypocrisy, changes tactics not goal
From this:Mexico's ambassador to the United States yesterday said previous Mexican officials made a "dumb mistake" by issuing comic books to aid illegal aliens crossing the border, and said his government cannot criticize U.S. treatment of illegal aliens as long as Mexico has harsh laws on its books.You betcha:
"It's very hard for Mexico to preach to the north what it does not do to the south," Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan said in a meeting with editors and reporters at The Washington Times, referring to Mexico's felony penalties for, and sometimes cruel treatment of, those caught crossing its southern border.
"Unless we correct the fundamental challenge of the violation of human rights of Latin American or Central American migrants crossing the border into Mexico, it's very hard for me to come up and wag a finger and say you guys should protect the rights of my citizens in this country," he said, adding that changes to the Mexican law are now pending.
..."The debate over immigration is an internal debate of the United States, and as such, I hope, this house noted a dramatic shift in the positioning of the Mexican government as of Dec. 1..."
From May 18, 2007: "The Mexican government has been in permanent communication with distinct actors in the [immigration] debate."
From April 1, 2007 (no, not a joke): Mexican government wants to take Minuteman Project members "into custody"
From February 21, 2007: Mexico to push even harder for a massive illegal alien amnesty
But Mr. Sarukhan said Mexican officials understand Americans' trepidation and desire for a secure border, and he said they are well aware of the consequences if a breach of the U.S.-Mexican border were to be involved in a future attack on U.S. security.No doubt he means as "guest" workers, or via massive chain migration, or perhaps even as part of the "North American Community".
"The day that happens, this relationship as we have known it, is over," he said. "I would say Mexico and the United States are working extremely well in trying to ensure that border is not used to underpin or challenge the national security of the United States."
...The ambassador said Mexico's eventual goal is the same as that of the U.S.: "The end game for us, the Mexican government, is to ensure every single Mexican who crosses this border does so legally."
Bank of "America" signs up customers at Dallas Mexican consulate
The article "Mexican consul's biggest challenge is immigration" by Dianne Solis of the Dallas Morning News isn't as bad as other articles about a paper's local Mexican consul, but, as with the others, it avoids asking the tough questions, and it gives the consul an opportunity to make questionable statements unopposed. And, there's this:
The fastest-moving product [at the consulate] is the $37 matricula consular, a Mexican identification card, given at a clip of about 1,300 per week. But there are also birth and death certificates to issue. There are kiosks to spread the word on medical plans; videos that explain U.S. laws to lobby audiences; and a platoon of bilingual Bank of America workers who greet prospective customers in need of a special account to send money back to the homeland.
I'm currently trying to determine the exact relationship between the consulate and Bank of America; I'll update when I find out whether they have a satellite branch there or whether another branch sends their employers to go hang out in the lobby. In any case it helps show that money lies at the root of illegal immigration, and just how our system has been corrupted. Without the massive corruption of the Bush administration, banks would not be able to take those Matricula Consular cards, and BofA probably wouldn't be there.
The head of the outpost is Enrique Hubbard Urrea:
His father was fond of joking that the Hubbard surname was Aztec "for son of an Englishman," laughs Mr. Hubbard [editor's note: ho ho ho ho ho!]... Mr. Hubbard even personally answers e-mail from angry Texans... "Once in a while there is someone I can really get a dialogue with," Mr. Hubbard says. "But most are not interested in a dialogue. They just want to scream, yell and vent their hate. There is no other way to describe it."
I'm sure he's telling the truth! There's very little chance he could simply be trying to portray patriotic Texans who oppose an aggressive foreign government's attempts to profit from illegal activity as racist yahoos. Dianne Solis was right not to call him on that.
Related:
Bank of America loses contract over credit card for illegal aliens (Gaston County, NC)
Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis defiantly says won't cancel credit card for illegal aliens
The Bank of America boycott
Bank of "America": credit cards for illegal aliens
"Mexican Consulate seeking free [office] space [in Dallas]"
Michael Chertoff: Mexicans aren't encouraging illegal "migration"; Senate bill is "straight with the American public"
This CSPAN WMV file has DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff saying the following:"If we're going to change the dynamic here we've gotta be completely honest with the American people about what's practical and what's impractical, about how long it's going to take, about how much it's going to cost and about what the collateral consequences are going to be and this bill was an effort to really be straight with the American public...I would hope that even an NYT/CBS poll would show that a vast majority think the Senate bill itself, the way it was created (even including secret meetings), the way it's been handled, and the entire immigration "debate" are completely dishonest and reveal deep political corruption. And, I would hope that Congress would look into Chertoff's refusal to do his job, as well as whether he's spending too much federally-subsidized time being a snake oil salesman rather than running the DHS.
After promoting a "holistic" aka comprehensive approach, the host asks about NYT Mexican consulates article. Chertoff replies:
"I don't think the Mexicans are encouraging illegal migration in this country, I don't think they're discouraging it... I think they're servicing their citizens in another country... as long as they comply with the law that's really their business.I guess it depends on your definition of "the law". Back in 2003, 12 Congressmen complained to Colin Powell about Mexico's "breach of international protocol" regarding their consular activities. And, as detailed in the many other posts here, Mexican consuls are extremely aggresive, with Mexico's former foreign minister even making a sideways threat to the U.S. Wait, what was I thinking? The Bush administration is complicit in their schemes, such as by allowing the FDIC to work with the Mexican consulate in Chicago to give home loans to illegal aliens.
...I think they realize that in the long run they're better off [with a "guest" worker program with circular movement]"
New York Times alludes to Mexican meddling via consulates (Little Rock)
Randal Archibold of the New York Times offers "Debate Raging, Mexico Adds to Consulates in U.S." about Mexico's latest outpost, this one in Little Rock, Arkansas. Somewhat to my surprise, they actually include some of the downsides and question some of Mexico's motives although, of course, they don't go far enough. This is just a fly-in report, not investigative journalism:Increasingly, [Mexico's consulates] are also acting as influential free agents in a broken immigration system that Congress is trying to overhaul. As the consulate that opened last month in Little Rock illustrates, the Mexican government is following its citizens far from the border into the growing quarters of Latino migration, much of it illegal...Previously: over two years ago I first mentioned the planning for the outpost (with a Mike Huckabee link) and a month ago I posted about its grand opening.
...Consulate officials in Little Rock acknowledge that the 6,000-square-foot piece of Mexican territory occupying a former medical clinic serves all Mexican citizens, regardless of immigration status...
...The [Matricular Consular card] is honored in the United States by many police agencies, employers and - most important - by banks, which are used by countless immigrants to send billions of dollars home every year. But it is a lightning rod for critics of illegal immigration, who see it as a demonstration of the Mexican government's helping its citizens live in the United States illegally...
...There are 539 foreign consulates in the United States, and Mexico has more than any other country. (After Mexico, Canada has 19, Japan 17 and Britain 12)...
...[Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies] said Mexico went further than other countries that issue such cards, including the United States, by lobbying banks and law enforcement agencies to recognize the cards as valid identification, knowing full well that most legal residents would not need such a card...
...The [Matricular Consular card] was "one of the major areas of activity" at consulates, he said, adding, "The point being to 'document' the undocumented and make an end run around Congress."...
Mexican consulate opening in Little Rock (Huckabee, Beebe)
A new Mexican Consulate is opening in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow. The consul is Andres Chao and the "event coordinator" for the opening is Liliana Olea.Gov. Mike Beebe will be out of town and is sending Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, but he's nonetheless ecstatic:
"Any time you have a foreign government that chooses your city for a location, it's potentially an economic boost, it's certainly a cultural boost and it certainly allows interaction between people that have a kinship to whatever country that might be."As you might expect, there's a "Huck" connection:
The idea of establishing a Mexican consulate in Arkansas was first discussed by former Gov. Mike Huckabee after his trip to Mexico City in 2003.More at the link; see the comments for the details on a couple protests. More on Mexican consuls working Arkansas here.
Last year, Huckabee struck a deal with Mexican officials to house the consular office in a state agency office for $1 a year while the consulate facilities were being refurbished. At the time, some lawmakers complained the governor made the deal without notifying the Legislature.
"Minutemen Scare off Mobile Mexican Consulate" (Costa Mesa)
Apparently a mobile Mexican consulate - from which our friends to the south distribute Matricula Consular ID cards - tried to set up shop at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa, California. A group of protesters from the Minuteman Project were apparently able to get enough support from the church members that the consul decided to pack up and leave after just a half-an-hour. The thread here is short on details, but has several photos.
I'm going to assume that the Church supported the event, so you can write their pastor at tim *at* pccov.org.
Mexican government wants to take Minuteman Project members "into custody"
From KGBT's Victor Castillo we learn this:Miriam Medel, Mexican Consulate [in McAllen] spokesperson, tells Action 4 News they'll be very vigilant all weekend [due to the Minuteman Project patrolling the Rio Grande Valley based out of Mission, Texas]. "We want to make sure that no human rights are violated, and make sure that it's only the authorized personnel, the people who have had the training and the mandate to do so, the only ones that are making the arrests" said Medel...Did Mexico or the Mexican partisan "reporter" just accuse the MMP of "detaining migrants"? The choice of words there is a bit ambiguous, so let's just say they meant the possibility of "migrants" being detained.
...The Mexican Government has expressed concern with the Minuteman Project, and asks that state and federal measures be taken to safeguard the rights of Mexicans crossing the border illegally.
"If it happens, we are going to ask for the appropriate authority to take those people into custody, to take action against them because they are going to be violating the American law by taking justice into their own hands" said Miriam Medel when describing what the Mexican Consulate will do if they detect that a Minuteman volunteer comes in contact with or arrests a Mexican national trying to cross into the United States.
While condemning the act of detaining migrants by the Minuteman Project, the Mexican Government continues to look for mechanisms that ensure Mexican migration is legal, orderly and respectful to the United States.
Action 4 News has learned that because of the Minuteman's position in the Valley, some human smugglers are now charging between $2,000.00 to $2,500.00 dollars per person, to cross someone illegally into the United States and then taken to Houston.
Ramos/Compean trial transcripts; meddling Mexican consuls initiated case?
A series of PDF files containing the transcripts of the trial of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean is here:usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/index.html
An MSM report with very little information gleaned from them is here, and a thread that may in the future have some more information is here. I've cached the PDFs in case they go missing.
Then, we come to "Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents":
The Mexican Consulate played a previously undisclosed role in the events leading to U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's high-profile prosecution of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who are serving 11 and 12 year sentences for their role in the shooting of a drug smuggler, according to documents obtained by WND.Much more at the link, including what appears to be yet another contradiction by Sutton.
And Mexican consular officials also demanded the prosecution of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Guillermo "Gilmer" Hernandez, who subsequently was brought to trial by Sutton, the documents reveal...
UPDATE: There's a Jerome Corsi interview here:
"...For several weeks [after the February 17, 2005 incident at the border] no investigation was ongoing. The Border considered the incident to be completely normal, the reporting to be acceptable and nothing was being done. Then on March 4 the request came through from the Mexican Consulate to the U.S. consulate in Mexico demanding an investigation on the basis that the Mexican Consulate was bringing forth [drug smuggler] Davila and wanted the agents to be punished..."
Posted at 08:03 PM | Comments (2)
Mexican consulate given free reign of Border Patrol station?
From this (no permalink):
Local 2544 has credible reports that the Naco Station PAIC allowed Mexican Consulate personnel full, unsupervised access to illegal aliens being held at the Naco Border Patrol station. Mexican Consulate personnel were personally escorted into the Naco Border Patrol detention area by the PAIC, and were allowed to interview the witnesses of an officer-involved shooting BEFORE any law enforcement personnel interviewed them. The Mexican Consulate personnel were allowed to independently remove illegal aliens from their detention cells, move them around in the detention area, and otherwise act as though they owned the place. We must note that the last time we checked, the detention area at the Naco Border Patrol station was the property of the United States, it was a "secure" area intended for law enforcement operations, and was paid for by American taxpayers. Allowing the Mexican Consulate personnel full and unsupervised physical access to the Border Patrol detention building is not only a grave security risk, but it's disgraceful. There have been numerous reports of the Naco station PAIC kowtowing to Mexican government officials, as well as calling illegal aliens "my people" and telling area ranchers that they "stole" their land from Mexico...
Posted at 01:44 PM | Comments (1)
N.C. Aizenman/WaPo (hearts) El Salvador's consul general
N.C. Aizenman of the Washington Post delivers a wet sloppy one on Ana Margarita Chavez, El Salvador's Washington DC consul general. With her "long black curls" and "bubbly laugh", she makes sure that the one-quarter of that country's population that lives in the U.S. keeps sending their money back home to the tune of $3 billion per year. The only discordant note in the whole two-screen piece is some expats complaining about not having the right to vote in their elections. Never fear, the consul is here to win everyone over!
Don't expect the WaPo to ask tough questions about, for instance, whether El Salvador promotes illegal immigration in order to bring in money. Don't expect tough questions about whether that country has an extremely unhealthy dependence on our country.
Those are questions a real newspaper would ask, and the WaPo just isn't in that league. (You can send their ombudsman an email through this form.)
On our "GushOMeter", this only gets a 6, but we suggest that Aizenman keeps trying. He/she is joined at that level by Janie Har of the Oregonian, who also got a 6. They've both got their work cut out for them, since the current leader is OCRegister columnist Yvette Cabrera with an 8 for her gushing profile of a meddling Mexican consul.
Related:
El Salvador president Tony Saca to his citizens: get a green card
"Temporary" Protected Status extended; preview of "guest" worker schemes
Posted at 02:55 AM | Comments (0)
Mexico consul general in Oregon profiled
Janie Har of the Oregonian offers "Mexican consul walks a fine line" about Mexico's consul general for Oregon, Fernando Sanchez Ugarte. Despite having five screens (!) to work with, there is very little of interest to those who've, for instance, watched how the government of Mexico has been able to obtain political power inside the U.S. by sending us people and by their resulting aggressive actions to make sure those people have everything they need to keep sending their money home.
The only slight nod to our reality is this:
About a year ago, critics began protesting the weekend sessions that Sanchez's office hosted around the state for Mexican nationals. The consulate offered information on worker safety and Oregon driver's licenses. It issued "matricula consular" identification cards, which opponents say are used by illegals to get state services... Under pressure, Gov. Ted Kulongoski pulled state agencies from participating at the weekend events. Ever diplomatic, Sanchez shrugged off the move, saying it was Kulongoski's call.
We do, however, receive the urgently important news that:
He is dressed in his usual suit and tie, his brown hair tinged with silver. He wears a pair of stylish gray Gucci eyeglasses, selected by his wife. She's dressed casually in slacks and a white knit shirt, black earrings dangling against her blond hair.
Despite that, on the GushOMeter this only gets a "6", and we suggest that Janie Har and the Oregonian try harder next time. (For reference purposes, OCRegister columnist Yvette Cabrera gushing over (her) Mexican consul scores an "8" on the GushOMeter, although some judges on the panel wanted to give it a "9").
I take pity on those who think the Oregonian is a news source and not just a propaganda vehicle.
Posted at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
Consul: we both want a "legal, orderly and humane flow of people"
It was a canard fest at Ohlone College in Fremont (Bay Area, CA) on Tuesday as Mexican Consul General Alfonso de Maria y Campos spoke about illegal immigration. All of his statements have been heard many times before from both Mexicans and Americans. And, Angela Woodall of The Argus (part of the ANG Newspapers group) served only as a transcription service. If - and it doesn't seem likely - she asked him any questions, they aren't included in her report. They probably provide more hard-hitting coverage of local city council meetings:
"It is only by sharing responsibility that we can (achieve) what we both want: a legal, orderly and humane flow of people," he said.
As revealed later, he (of course) isn't just refering to visitors but to low-wage labor.
Mexico doesn't promote illegal immigration — the country wants people to stay in Mexico and contribute to the economy, Campos said.
No, they just print up comic books, herd potential crossers into areas without patrols, profit from billions of dollars of remittances sent from the citizens they've sent here, and the like.
He compared attempts to prevent illegal immigration to Prohibition; needless to say, Woodall didn't call him on that.
Then, he promoted a "guest" worker program:
"Migration needs to be circular" by allowing temporary workers to return home, he added.
Of course, what would happen is that they would send us "guests" and then take actions - probably including working with the NGOs with which they have links - to keep those "guests" in the U.S. so they can keep sending money home and also so they can provide a political power base for Mexico.
Then, it was time for a couple old chestnuts:
Mexican workers fill jobs that others will not take and keep the economy competitive by lowering overhead costs, Campos said.
Note the same adapted talking point that Bush now uses: instead of "jobs Americans won't do", now it's "jobs Americans will not take". And, the "illegal-worker discount" is very small. Then again, the target of that remark is probably the corrupt employers and not the consumer.
After warning that our hugely-important wine industry might collapse without cheap labor:
"We must have security while allowing trade," he said, noting that there has never been a terrorist incident that originated south of the border. "Mexico is a partner."
Actually, one of the 9/11 hijackers used a "feature" designed for use by illegal aliens to obtain a CA DL.
Two other 9/11 hijackers obtained VA DLs with the help of an illegal alien and the illegal immigration infrastructure that corrupt politicians have allowed to develop.
And, the 9/11 Commission Staff Report has extensive information on terrorists being familiar with and taking advantage of weaknesses in our immigration system. And, those who then say that most of that was of the legal immigration system are "fighting yesterday's war."
Bear in mind that all of the points above could have been made by Angela Woodall, but weren't.
Related: Mexican diplomats meddling in our internal politics
If 1000 Americans were made familiar with all the things Mexico does regarding illegal immigration, 900+ of them would not consider Mexico a "friendly" country. Start your education with this.
Posted at 03:23 PM | Comments (2)
50th Mexican consulate in Wichita? TreatCo.
Mexico has 49 or so consulates in the U.S., more than any other country. Some Wichita residents are trying to get the 50th built in Wichita, Kansas. The nearest consulate is in Kansas City, Missouri, just 200 miles away. From the report by Christina M. Woods in the Wichita Eagle:Officials from the Kansas City, Mo.-based Mexican consulate got to witness the local Mexican community's interest in opening a permanent Wichita office.The last bit is the only hint in the article that many or most of those receiving those Matricula Consular cards might in fact be illegal aliens. This is just the latest in a long line of puff pieces (and a small number with some truth) announcing appearances by representatives from Mexico, and one is forced to wonder why almost all of them seem to have been written by the same person.
At a temporary office in Treatco at 2300 N. Broadway on Saturday, consulate officials assisted about 500 people and more than 1,000 people picked up information and applications, according to Beatriz Ledezma, who works for Tiempos, a Spanish-language newspaper in Wichita, and who is coordinating the effort for a Wichita consulate...
..."We have the roots here," [Alejandro Molina, another volunteer coordinator] said, but added that, in many instances, the community's needs are overlooked because of immigration status or language barriers...
As for TreatCo, they appear to be a manufacturer of pet food; whether it's possible to boycott them or not is not known.
Posted at 02:02 AM | Comments (4)
More words of advice from Mexican Ambassador Carlos de Icaza
Mexican Ambassador Carlos de Icaza visited his forward outpost in Atlanta and proferred words of wisdom for us all:
"We need to start talking like neighbors, stop the 'blame game' and start looking at this issue constructively... We need both the United States and Mexico to acknowledge that international cooperation is essential in immigration issue. No country can solve this dilemma by itself... The fact that Congress is holding hearings all around the country means there is a great interest in reforming the immigration laws... We sincerely hope while doing this they acknowledge they have a neighbor to the south, that it is a friendly neighbor to the U.S."
Previously: "Mexican ambassador endorses comprehensive immigration reform" [safe, legal and orderly]
Posted at 11:18 AM | Comments (2)
"Mexican ambassador endorses comprehensive immigration reform" [safe, legal and orderly]
Speaking at the third annual Border Security Conference at UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso), Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Carlos de Icaza, gave his stamp of approval to "comprehensive" immigration "reform." He not only joins Bush, Fox, Kennedy, McCain, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jack Kemp, and a host of others in supporting the scam, but U.S. ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza spoke at the same gala and also supported the scam:[De Icaza] praised growing cooperation that has allowed increased trade and security efforts between Mexico and the United States while encouraging U.S. lawmakers to approve reforms that allow "legal, safe and orderly human migration."It's good to know that he's going to allow us to have certain rights, but the second sentence is wrong. Enforcement across the board would be enough.
"We respect the right of every country in the world ... to enforce its laws and protect its borders," de Icaza said. "But enforcement by itself won't be enough."
The ambassador, who said the decisions on immigration policy lie in Washington and with the American people, also acknowledged that his country was to blame for not creating economic conditions that encourage Mexican citizens to stay in Mexico... "We have a shared responsibility," de Icaza said. "In Mexico we also have to recognize that we need our people to stay."There's no time like the present, and helping us repatriate their citizens would be a good way to show that they're not just full of hot air.
Icaza's remarks are similar to what he said before (which I thought I'd covered but I guess not):
Mexico's ambassador to the United States says his country is committed to finding a solution to the growing problem of illegal aliens, but the United States and Mexico "must address this phenomenon in a comprehensive and mutually beneficial manner."
"Mexico absolutely respects the sovereign right of every country to control its borders and enforce its laws," Ambassador Carlos de Icaza told The Washington Times. "However, given that this is a complex challenge that affects both countries, we are absolutely convinced it is necessary to work together under the principle of shared responsibility for the proper bilateral management of the migration phenomenon.
"It is essential that Mexico is engaged in the solution because of the international implications, which require actions and commitments from Mexico," Mr. de Icaza said.
Posted at 09:10 PM | Comments (2)
Note to Mexico: Americans love being told what to do
The Mexican consul general in Colorado, Juan Marcos Gutierrez-Gonzalez ("JMGG"), has thoughts and notes on their new law against illegal immigration.JMGG says the new laws are creating "a climate of fear and anxiety", even causing some Mexicans living in Colorado to consider a change of venue: "Some are asking which is closer, Wyoming or New Mexico."
He also says that Luis Ernesto Derbez:
sent a letter to Colorado Gov. Bill Owens to express his concerns. Derbez said the "migration phenomenon" is complex and the United States needs to find a solution at the federal level.That's a close one. For a moment there I thought the third world kleptocracy to our south wasn't going to let us enforce our laws. Thankfully, they gave us some leeway. We can find a solution but, of course, it has to be solution in line with Mexico's agenda.
Gutierrez-Gonzalez said he acknowledges Colorado's right to enforce its laws but his country is asking Owens to ensure it is done fairly.
"The consul general of Mexico is respectful of the right to find a solution," he said.
Posted at 05:53 AM | Comments (2)
Alicia Robinson, Daily Pilot pimps ID cards for illegal aliens (Matricula Consular)
Alicia Robinson of Orange County's Los Angeles Times-affiliated Daily Pilot offers "ID card seen as ticket to a brighter future" about Mexico's Matricula Consular cards, aka "IDs for illegals". Mexico passes those IDs out to their citizens in the U.S. irrespective of their immigration status, and they're mostly used by illegal aliens in order to obtain some form of legitimacy. Legal immigrants and visitors already have all the ID they need to obtain state driver's licenses and such, and have no need for the MC cards.
The article is so similar to other articles about the Mexican consulate passing out the cards that I have to wonder what's going on. Did Robinson write this article from scratch? Did she follow a template and, if so, who provided that template? Or, was it derived from some earlier article, or from a press release from the government of Mexico or from one of the organizations involved?
For instance, here's the first paragraph:
Like many teenagers, Ivan Hernandez wants to buy a car someday. On Sunday, he went to get a wallet-size laminated card that may help.
This is similar to other PIIPPs, and in the particular case of ID cards, compare that to the first two paragraphs of "Mexican Consulate helps locals with their papers" from September 2004:
Yara Duran wants to open a bank account to start saving money for her 1-year-old daughter, Ashley... With two babies in her arms, Duran spent two hours Friday at the Cristo Rey Parish, 800 Wisconsin Ave., waiting for her "matricula consular," a form of identification issued by Mexican consulates all over the world that identifies her as a Mexican citizen. With that document, she will be able to open a bank account.
Like all the other articles, the benefits of the cards are then enumerated:
For people who don't have another photo ID or can't get one, the cards are important if they need to they apply for a library card, enroll children in school or identify themselves to the police.
Then, like some of the articles, just a few of the downsides of the cards are mentioned. And, as in all other articles that mention those downsides, those objections are quickly countered:
"I think it's misunderstood," [Patrice Mariscal, an organizer with the Unico Foundation] said. "This is a Mexican document for Mexican people, so we're not doing something wrong; this is just simply saying people are Mexican because they proved they're Mexican."
(Usually someone from the Mexican consulate provides that answer, but apparently he was tied up.) Since this article is so similar to just about every other Matricula Consular card article I've seen, what's going on?
Let's ask publisher Thomas H. Johnson (tom.johnson@latimes.com) and editor S.J. Cahn (s.j.cahn@latimes.com) or the reporter herself (alicia.robinson@latimes.com). Due to those email address, let's throw in readers.rep@latimes.com for good measure.
Note that the Catholic church - or at least the St. Joachim Catholic Church - was promoting this event at masses, and Bank of "America" had a table at the big event. In addition to Unico, another group involved was the Orange County Congregation Community Organization.
Here are some of the previous posts about similar stories:
Florida Times-Union helps Mexico distribute illegal alien ID cards
"Immigrants" get Matricula Consular cards in Watsonville; some downsides noted
Bank of "America", Part 2
"Mexican residents gain ID benefits"
No, I'm pretty sure Salem, Oregon is in the U.S. Why do you ask?
"New ID Cards Help Immigrants Keep Their Money Safe"
"Conferring Legitimacy, This Card Draws a Crowd"
Their money or your safety (several articles)
"Mexican Consulate helps locals with their papers"
"Mexican ID opens doors for undocumented workers in U.S."
Posted at 11:42 PM | Comments (1)
Mexican consuls allowed to meddle at Border Patrol offices
Here's Part 2 of an interview with former US Border Patrol Supervisor David Stoddard:Agents tell me that these Mexican Consul officials are allowed unrestricted access to roam the different Border Patrol Stations in order to "service" illegal Mexican aliens. During their rounds, these foreign consular officials are allowed to “interview” aliens at will, and they interfere with ongoing investigations and otherwise hinder ongoing Border Patrol operations...Previously: "Mexican government running US immigration policy--Part I"
...Furthermore, these Agents tell me that the Mexican Consul routinely solicits complaints against agents directly from illegal aliens. This is unprecedented and goes way beyond any notification requirements of any existing treaties. It has become apparent that the Mexican Government has undue influence over U.S. Immigration Law Enforcement. Agents also tell me that if the Mexican Government objects to any particular Border Patrol enforcement effort, the Border Patrol immediately curtails or discontinues that operation...
...The Mexican Government is constantly complaining about all forms of enforcement against illegal aliens...
...Up until about 15 years ago, the Mexican military was the only agency in Mexico that was relatively uncorrupted by the drug cartels. Slowly, certain generals and other Army officials were bought off. Now, the Mexican military forces are just as corrupt as the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Practically on a nightly basis some element of the Mexican military assists drug or human smugglers to enter the United States...
...I don’t know about that particular camp. I do know that there are camps in South and Central America where middle-eastern individuals are "Latinized". There are credible reports of schools where suspicious individuals are taught Spanish, Latin culture, idiomatic expressions, and mannerisms to help them pass as Mexican or Central American...
...I and others have found Arabic documents and Muslim items discarded in "stash" locations along the border where illegal aliens lay up to be picked up by smugglers...
Posted at 02:23 AM | Comments (1)
Venezuela has mobile consulates
As discussed many times, Mexico has mobile consulates that they set up in small towns in order to provide Matricula Consular cards and other services to their citizens, many or most of whom are here illegally.
Now, Daniel Connolly of the AP offers a nary-a-dissenting-word article with the news that Venezuela had a mobile consulate in Little Rock, Arkansas. No word is provided on that country's position on illegal immigration, but Honduras made their position clear:
"We always tell them, it doesn't matter if you are legal or illegal in this country, you have to have your Honduran passport," said Fabio Murillo, a chancellor with the consulate of Honduras in Chicago.
Posted at 02:09 AM | Comments (1)
Is the Pikes Peak Library District breaking federal law?
The Pikes Peak Library District will be allowing the Mexican consulate to give out Matricula Consular cards and other services at its Sand Creek branch on Saturday Feb 11.
Knowing that many of those receiving these cards will be illegal aliens, and they will use those cards to stay in the U.S., is that district violating federal law? Let's turn to 8 U.S.C. 1324.
Whether they're breaking the law or not, one thing is clear: they're helping a foreign government with their agenda of sending us illegal aliens in exchange for the money they send home. No public agency should do that.
Sid Stanfill is the Branch Manager of the Sand Creek library and you can contact him with this form or at 719-597-7070. Also contact the Executive Director using this form.
Posted at 02:40 PM | Comments (1)
Mexican diplomats meddling in our internal politics
Heather MacDonald has a summary here. I believe this is a shorter version of this article. Highly recommended for various apologists who refuse to acknowledge the problem we have with our "friends" to the south.
Posted at 12:06 PM | Comments (1)
Mexico has a Matricula Consular brochure
The article "Controversy roils over Mexican ID" has a detail-rich roundup of Mexico's Matricula Consular cards, aka "IDs for illegals". It includes this bit that I didn't know:
A glossy brochure handed out at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego promises Mexicans that having one of the cards "can make your dreams come true," allow Mexican citizens to open bank accounts, get credit cards and even "own the home of (their) dreams."
And, all aided and abetted by our "American" banks and "American" politicians.
Related past stories include: "Guide for the Yucatecan Migrant", "The Everymigrant's Guide to Crossing the Border Illegally", and "A partial translation of Colorado's guide for illegal aliens".
Posted at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)
Florida Times-Union helps Mexico distribute illegal alien ID cards
The Mexican government passes out Matricula Consular ID cards to their citizens who are in the U.S. illegally. The cards allow illegal aliens to open bank accounts and in some states obtain driver's licenses. And, Mexican consuls travel from outpost to outpost in the U.S. distributing them to their citizens.On Saturday one of those events was held involving the Florida Times-Union. If you ever see an article from that paper (jacksonville.com), you now know which side they're on:
...The Mexican consulate in Orlando advertised that its staff would be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take applications and issue official Mexican identification cards. But by 5 p.m., there were still at least 100 people waiting in the auditorium at The Florida Times-Union building in Riverside. The Times-Union was a co-sponsor of the event.Previous coverage of these cards starts in "Immigrants" get Matricula Consular cards in Watsonville; some downsides noted. For a backgrounder, see "The 'Matricula Consular' Advances Mexico's Immigration Agenda"
In some cases, those waiting in line were legal immigrants or American citizens, trying to get the cards for themselves, friends or relatives. In other cases, those applying were undocumented aliens, mostly migrant farm workers...
Posted at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
Apparently they don't get google in Tyler Texas
Lindsay Randall of the Tyler Morning Telegraph covers Henderson and Van Zandt counties. She also has apparently never heard of Google, Yahoo, or even Altavista.
The article "Mexican Consulate Brings Outreach Program to Tyler" describes a story similar to many covered here in the past: the Mexican government comes to town to pass out Matricula Consular cards to their citizens who are in our country, most of them illegally. The cards - dubbed "IDs for illegals" - facilitate illegal immigration and the sending of money back to Mexico.
Apparently Randall has never heard of these cards or this scheme before, or perhaps there's something else involved. But, if you want to read someone who apparently has no clue or doesn't think her readers have any clues, click the link. At least there are two comments from people who understand what this is about.
Posted at 08:26 AM | Comments (1)
More meddling by Mexican consuls
In the latest case, it involved Suffolk County (Long Island) Executive Steve Levy's attempts to shut down clown houses. Backstory in "Suffolk County's Steve Levy has a spine".Levy's actions have prompted our "friends" from the south to swing into action: "Mexican official: Farmingville among places for top anti-Mexican acts". The titular official is Arturo Sarukhan, also mentioned here.
Sarukhan has some friends in America too:
"If I look at a map of the United States, Farmingville is clearly a red zone after the Arizona border," Sarukhan said in a news conference at the Hempstead headquarters of the Workplace Project, a nonprofit pro-immigrant group...Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to deal with this crap?
Sarukhan called on Levy to meet with day laborers and advocates the county executive has called "extremists," including Nadia Marin-Molina of the Workplace Project, the Rev. Allan Ramirez of the Brookville Reformed Church and Patrick Young of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance.
"They are my friends and they have done a fantastic job in defending the day laborers," said Sarukhan, who also spent the day meeting with Latino leaders and politicians including Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington).
See also "Members of Levy's Hispanic Board resign seats". At least we know which side they're on.
Posted at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)
Quislings in Minnesota
Yes, I realize the title is a bit... strong. However, sometimes it's good to call things by their real names.
The report "Mexican Consulate Opening in Minnesota" informs us that the new consulate:
will issue passports and an identification card called a "matricula consular," which can be used to open bank accounts, cash paychecks and obtain marriage licenses...The opening follows a long courtship, lead by luminaries such as:
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly and his predecessor, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, had worked to entice Mexican diplomats to locate in the state's capital city, despite efforts by Minneapolis claiming a large and fast-growing Latino population.Yes, and our "leaders" either believe him or want the rest of us to believe him.
In announcing the opening of the consulate, Kelly acknowledged potentially high-profile controversies over Mexican nationals but said the city would not become actively involved in enforcing federal immigration policy.
Mexican Consul General Carlos Sada said at November's press conference that consulates do not promote illegal immigration or pose national security threats.
For a sickening editorial on the new outpost, check out "Mexican Consulate enhances community" from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. I think we know which side they're on.
Coverage of this troubled state starts in "Would Al Franken be any worse than Norm Coleman?"
Posted at 11:29 AM | Comments (1)
Richfield Minnesota gets infiltrated
Keep reading, because you might be shocked how this ends up. From "Mexican consulate representative joins in ordinance debate":A representative of the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago joined several other panelists last week in supporting a proposed ordinance that would officially restrict Richfield city employees from asking about immigration status in most cases.Of course, you already know that Mexico's "stake" in their exported population is a multi-billion dollar industry. And, you know that there are not 10 to 20 million illegal Americans living in Mexico, unlike our situation. I don't have to go into all the other ways her analogy is just a line that only the most brain-dead liberals would fall for. And, if you've been following along the idea that Mexican consuls would try to meddle in our laws - even attending local council meetings, sometimes with an illegal alien cheering section in tow - is not that surprising.
Consulate representative Joyce Graciela Stellick took part in a community forum sponsored by the Richfield Human Rights Commission. She said that in her 2 1/2 years of experience in Minnesota and Wisconsin, she has seen many cases in which Mexican victims of crime have been unwilling to come forward to report crimes because they fear police...
...The Mexican government has a stake in policies outside its borders just as the United States has a stake in what happens to its citizens in Mexico, Stellick said.
"It's just like you wouldn't want something to happen while you're sitting on a beach in Mexico, with someone asking for your passport or visa," she said...
...Although Stellick wasn't originally a panelist, Human Rights Commission Chair Mark Olson asked her to join the panel after she introduced herself...
But, what's disturbing is what you find when you search for more information on this representative of a hostile foreign nation. From this:
...Joyce Graciela Stellick, who was born the daughter of a high ranking civilian government interpreter in Puerto Rico. "My mother spoke six languages and was an interpreter for the U.S. government for three presidents," Stellick explained, "Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Kennedy."Hey, what a coincidence! I'm thinking of the "T" word too.
...Stellick moved to Colorado when her mother was transferred in 1964. Growing up there, she said, was sometimes difficult for a young Puerto Rican girl. "When I went down for my drivers license test, they asked me for my Green Card," she said, shaking her head.
Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens, and are not immigrants when they come into the United States.
Stellick never thought it was unusual that, while growing up, she had been in the Pentagon, the White House and NORAD, and it was not until after her mother's death that she learned why her mother was traveling in those circles. "I didn't realize this until after my mother died, but she actually worked for the CIA," Stellick explained. Stellick, although not working for the CIA, did follow in her mother's footsteps by becoming an interpreter, speaking six languages. She is certified to provide interpreter services all the way up to the Minnesota Supreme Court Roster, a high honor for interpreters...
Posted at 05:19 PM | Comments (1)
"Mexican residents gain ID benefits"
There's so much wrong with this May 1 article from Oregon that I don't know where to start:For the first time in Ashland - and with no questions about immigration status - Mexican-born residents of the valley flocked to get a highly valued card called the matricula consular, a secure ID card that enables them to open bank accounts, get a driver's license and start on the road to work and legal residency.Wow. The FBI says the cards aren't secure. Who are you going to believe, them or some smalltown newspaperman who seems to have believed everything he was told by the guy who was handing out IDs for illegals? Plus, these cards do nothing to help people gain legal residency. They only make it look like they're here somewhat legally.
The optically scanned, photo ID cards were given to 200 locals by the Mexican consulate from Portland, whose officials travel to the main towns of Oregon once a year for that purpose...See also "Their money or your safety" for other examples of Mexican consuls doing an end around of our immigration laws.
... Claudia Guzman of Medford, speaking through an interpreter from RCC, said her three trips to the DMV resulted in widely varying requests for documents, with the matricula finally being named as the vital, missing piece of ID.
"It's very important," said Guzman. "You can't get a license without it. And I've found out that it will definitely be accepted at Wells Fargo to open an account."
... Oregon, she added, is in a small minority of states that don't require a Social Security card to get a driver's license. California, Arizona and many other states have set up that hoop, Copeland noted, thus producing a ripple effect of Mexican immigrants to Oregon...
... Consulate official Martin Alcalia from Portland, who was issuing the cards, said determination of one's legal status in the United States is solely the job of the INS and that "it's not a matter for us. We just care if they are Mexicans."
Posted at 04:01 PM | Comments (0)
No, I'm pretty sure Salem, Oregon is in the U.S. Why do you ask?
After reading the Statesman Journal article "Waiting for documentation" I'm not so sure. Could Salem, Oregon have changed hands and is it now under the jurisdiction of Mexico? Let's find out:
Nearly 2,000 people converged on McKay High School on Saturday to obtain services from the Mexican government...[...poetic bit deleted...]
Partnering with Oregon state agencies, the Mexican government's daylong event was an attempt to reach out to its rapidly growing community in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Estevan Garcia Neri, 62, and four nephews were there for matricular consular cards, necessary to cash payroll checks and obtain driver's licenses...
Let's see if we can use the above to determine whether Salem, Oregon is still part of the U.S. or not. A foreign government set up a booth at a U.S. school in order to hand out ID cards specifically intended to allow Mexican citizens who are in the U.S. illegally to get U.S. driver's licenses. And, they partnered with Oregon state agencies to do it.
If you can locate any clues in the article that Salem, Oregon is still under the control of the U.S., please leave them in the comments.
I note also that almost exactly two years ago the same rag published a long AP lie entitled 'Hispanics get affordable car loans'. You ignore them for two years and they've only gotten worse.
Also, in case you think this was just an isolated event, read "Their money or your safety". That has several examples of a Mexican consul coming to small towns to hand out Mickey Mouse ID cards. Corrupt or just extremely ignorant local officials and papers lend them a hand in their efforts.
Posted at 08:59 PM | Comments (3)
L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich wants to stop use of Matricula Consular cards
LOS ANGELES - County supervisor Mike Antonovich said Monday he received a fraudulent Mexican identification card with his own photo on it and wants the county to stop recognizing the consular cards as valid identification.
Antonovich, who was the lone vote among the county's five supervisors against first recognizing the cards in 2002, said he was concerned that the card could be misused for criminal and even terrorist purposes.
Antonovich said in a statement the card is "designed to give Mexican nationals, primarily those here illegally, a valid form of identification," and said he will bring a motion Tuesday requesting his colleagues rescind their acceptance of the cards.
Mexican Consul General Ruben Beltran said the cards are secure and listed in an easily searchable, computerized database. He added that Mexico has used them since 1871, and other countries including Argentina, Guatemala and Spain have also used them as a way to document the number of citizens living abroad...
Yes, well let us know when Spain has a deliberate policy to send us millions of people and gives them the cards in an attempt to skirt U.S. laws.
Mexico's Beltran was last featured here trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the L.A. Times' own Steve Lopez. The price of lettuce was involved. There's more on him in this search.
For the scoop on Matricula Consular cards, see "Their money or your safety".
(The same or similar AP reports are here, here, and here.)
Posted at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)
"Mexico's consul general visits day labor center"
Last paragraph:
"He basically told us to stay on a straight path and avoid getting into trouble," Hilario Morales, 48, a day laborer [and presumably an illegal alien --LW] from Oaxaca, said after the consul general's visit.
Whole thing here, but I think you can figure out what it's about from that paragraph alone.
Posted at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
"Mexican president vows to fight for continued U.S. acceptance of matricula identity cards"
No surprises in the headline or the story. The only question is: "how many hours until the administration caves in to his demands?"
...Fox appeared to play on his name -- which in Spanish would be "Zorro," the legendary masked sword fighter -- saying he would defend the so-called matricula cards "with a cape and a sword."
"The Matricula Consular cards are again being questioned, but we will defend them with a cape and a sword, because our countrymen who live up there are neither criminals nor terrorists," Fox said...
Posted at 07:18 PM | Comments (2)
"New ID Cards Help Immigrants Keep Their Money Safe"
The following is an alleged news report from Austin TX's KXAN:The Mexican consulate has announced a program which puts a face, literally, on thousands of Mexican immigrants.Like I said, the preceding is alleged to be a news report.
Authorities say something as simple as an identification card will save money and lives.
It's an important day for immigrants. Many of them live and work in the shadows, with no formal identification card and no place to put their money.
"People carry their money, their savings, in their pockets because they were unable to open bank accounts," said Javier Alejo Lopez, Consul General of Mexico...
[... several heart-warming paragraphs deleted ...]
"Before Wells Fargo came, they were using unconventional ways of sending money back to Mexico, and it was high risk," said Henry Moreno with the Austin Police Department. "The people are not carrying around a lot of money now."
...The additional banking service is possible because of an agreement between Wells Fargo and the Banorte Financial Group in Mexico.
Even though Wells Fargo will accept the matricula card as identification, Governor Rick Perry continues to oppose the use of the cards as legal ID in Texas. He says Mexico still lacks a formal birth registry system to keep track of its citizens.
Now, go read "Consular IDs help illegals evade immigration law" or Their Money or Your Safety for the real story.
Posted at 12:04 PM | Comments (2)
"Consular IDs help illegals evade immigration law"
The WashTimes reports on the GAO telling us something we already knew:
Foreign nationals illegally in the United States are using identification cards issued by the governments of Mexico and Guatemala to avoid apprehension and deportation, a government report said.
According to the Government Accountability Office, weaknesses in U.S. government policy regarding the issuance of the cards, also known as matricular consular cards, failed to prevent their delivery to and use by illegal aliens...
As pointed out Their Money or Your Safety, the consuls who distribute these cards freely admit they aren't concerned about the recipient's immigration status. That post also discusses how the Bush administration worked to allow banks to accept those cards.
Posted at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
"Conferring Legitimacy, This Card Draws a Crowd"
In "Conferring Legitimacy, This Card Draws a Crowd", the L.A. Times discusses a visit of a friendly Mexican consul to south Orange County to pass out ID cards that the FBI considers a security threat.
It has the standard bits, ending with a heartwarming vignette about one of the new ID cards ("Matricula Consular" cards).
It even contains yet one more reason to boycott CitiBank:
...while waiting for their cards, hundreds listened as Citibank employees gave out banking information. Calculators, mugs and fans with the Mexican flag were given out too.
"Even if you don't open it today, open a bank account," Lorena Maae, Citibank's assistant vice president for community relations in O.C., told one group in Spanish...
However, the L.A. Times must be feeling the heat because they devote no less than three paragraphs to sobering information. That's a full three paragraphs out of 21 total, a whopping 14%:
Sunday's event came just days after a measure that would have prohibited banks from accepting the matricula consular failed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The matricula consular stirs the ire of illegal-immigration opponents who see the card, and the Mexican government's promotion of it, as a well-orchestrated campaign to bestow quasi-legal status to those who have entered the country illegally.
Although more than 1 million people in California carry the cards, which resemble driver's licenses and display the bearer's U.S. address, the FBI does not consider them a reliable form of identification...
They actually called them a security threat, but I congratulate the L.A. Times on their baby steps to somewhat accurate coverage.
For much more on this issue, including excerpts from newspapers that didn't even include that 14% dissenting content, see "Their Money or Your Safety".
Posted at 09:21 AM | Comments (2)
"My understanding is this isn't ID for illegals"
The titular quote is from none other than St. Clair (MI) County commissioner Pamela Wall, discussing Matricula Consular cards in the article "County to decide on Mexican ID card; Consul: Document should be accepted as legal identification".
Mexico's consul in Detroit wants the fine St. Clair county commissioners to accept those IDs.
You know, the ones mentioned in "IDs for Illegals: The 'Matricula Consular' Advances Mexico's Immigration Agenda" or "FBI Official Says Matricula Consular Card Is Security Threat".
Thankfully, someone there has some sense:
The cards have sparked controversy in various communities. Critics said the cards grant legal status to illegal aliens.
Commissioner Patricia Anger, R-Clyde Township, wants to make sure that's not the case.
"I would not want to make something available that would help illegals get services our residents need," she said.
Her email is panger@stclaircounty.org. Please send her the two links above as well as any other useful information.
Posted at 02:47 PM | Comments (1)
Evasion of our laws, threats to our sovereignty go mobile
From Lexington, KY's TV station WKYT comes "Mexican government helps immigrants acquire passports, identification cards":
MAYFIELD, Ky. -- The Mobile Mexican Consulate visited Mayfield over the weekend to help Mexican immigrants apply for passports...
"These are illegal and legal people," [a Baptist minister] said. "This has nothing to do with immigration..."
[A Mexican citizen visited] the center while she presented documents needed for a Mexican government-backed ID, or matricula.
[She] said being able to receive her matricula in Mayfield was "muy facil," or very easy...
The matricula cards are issued by the Mexican government to its nationals living in other countries. Kentucky is not yet one of the thirteen states that accept the cards as valid identification...
This article does have one small mention of "illegal," so at least it's a small step up from the other recent report that had no mention of illegal vs. legal.
This appears to be an AP report written by or published in the Paducah Sun. It'd be nice if the AP would expand their style guide on the Matricula Consular card to include some of the information presented in "IDs for Illegals: The 'Matricula Consular' Advances Mexico's Immigration Agenda" or "FBI Official Says Matricula Consular Card Is Security Threat".
Please contact these people and suggest they provide more detailed information on these Matricula Consular cards:
rclark@paducahsun.com
Jim.Ogle@wkyt.com
info@ap.org
Posted at 02:15 PM | Comments (1)
"Mexican Consulate helps locals with their papers"
PIIPPs ("pro-illegal immigration puff pieces") don't just appear in the NYT, they also appear in smaller papers like the Racine, WI Journal Times.
Here's the first paragraph of "Mexican Consulate helps locals with their papers":
Yara Duran wants to open a bank account to start saving money for her 1-year-old daughter, Ashley.
It gets much, much worse:
[Duran obtained] her "matricula consular," a form of identification issued by Mexican consulates all over the world that identifies her as a Mexican citizen. With that document, she will be able to open a bank account.
"In the bank they told me I needed that," Duran said. "And here I am."
...Alberto Martin, North Shore Bank branch manager in Milwaukee [said] "This is our third venture with the Mexican Consulate. We have participated in activities like this before in Milwaukee and Green Bay and now in Racine.
"I believe we are creating a union, a joint work with the Mexican consulate to help Mexicans to obtain matriculas consulares."
As you might imagine, nowhere in the article does it mention that the only people who have any use for Matricula Consular cards are illegal aliens. So, in effect, the bank is working with a foreign nation to enable illegal immigration.
According to the Bush administration, that's OK.
What do you think? Contact the bank's president, Jim McKenna, at 1-800-236-4672 or through this complicated form. The editor of the Racine Journal Times is Randolph Brandt: rbrandt@journaltimes.com
Posted at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)
"House Backs Bush on Mexican ID Cards" (FBI calls cards a security threat)
America's amigos in the Bush administration have scored another partial victory:
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to support a Bush administration plan to allow the use of Mexican identification cards ["Matricula Consular" cards] to open U.S. bank accounts.
The House voted 222 to 177 remove language in an $89.9 billion bill funding the Transportation and Treasury Departments aimed at preventing the use of the cards. The House has yet to vote on the overall bill...
I believe the language was inserted in the bill by Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), as discussed here.
To give you a little insight into the problem:
The FBI and the Department of Justice say that the cards are not a reliable form of identification and pose "major criminal threats" and a "potential terrorist threat."
So, to summarize: the FBI and the DOJ say they pose a potential terrorist threat, but the Bush administration supports them. I guess we can see the kind of tradeoffs they consider acceptable.
You can contact your congressman here. It might be too late, but at least you can find out how they voted and let them know what you think of their actions.
(Via this)
Posted at 09:27 PM | Comments (1)
Is the Onion based in Minneapolis?
And, did one of their stories get loose and end up in a Minneapolis indie paper? The article "Mexicans Anticipate Consulate: Proposed center would be boon to immigrant community" would be funny if it weren't so sad. I've saved off a copy in case it gets re-written, and here are some excerpts:
...Mexican president Vicente Fox announced in June that Minnesota would be the next state to host a Mexican consulate.
For Fox, the first Mexican head of state to visit the region, the trip was intended not only to strengthen trade relations between Mexico and Minnesota, but also to strengthen his connection to Minnesotas roughly 96,000 Mexican immigrants.
...Mexican community [...] turned out in such force to see Fox that he made his announcements in Spanish instead of English as planned...
[...a member of a Racial Identity group explains things to our reporter...]
Consulates help provide immigrants with anything involving government authorization, including identification, marriage certifications and work permits -- any legal papers necessary to obtain an education, reunite a family or find a good job.
In addition to general immigration-type authorizations, one of the strongest services it provides is a matricular consular [MC], which is a Mexican government-issued ID, Fuentes said. ["FBI Official Says Matricula Consular Card Is Security Threat"; see also this backgrounder --LW] This ID is very helpful because many immigrants dont have access to state-issued IDs. In Minnesota, if you need a drivers license, they ask you for your social security number, so if you dont have a number and the two other forms of ID they require, you dont have access to a drivers license. In the absence of a drivers license, then, what can you use to get basic things like a bank account? The matricular consular serves this purpose.
Why all the subterfuge then? Oh, yeah, I forgot. They aren't "immigrants," they're illegal aliens. Sorry, I momentarily forgot that semantic game we were playing.
Here are the excerpts about the city's "leaders:"
In recognition of the growing Mexican population and in anticipation of the potential consulate, in 2003 the city passed a resolution deeming the MC as valid for all city purposes... [once again: "FBI Official Says Matricula Consular Card Is Security Threat" --LW]
Minneapolis city officials had offered the consulate 5,000 square feet of rent-free space in Lake Streets renovated Sears building, but were turned down. (WHEN?) City officials said they will put together another official offer soon.
The "WHEN?" is in the original article; I assume the author meant to fill that in at a later date but was so excited about the new consulate she forgot.
What about an unintentionally scary quote? Here's one:
We could start a new country called US-Mexico with all of the Mexicans that are here, laughs Teresa Ortiz, a workers rights program director with the Resource Center of the Americas.
Yeah, that's funny.
The article provides a comments section; at post time there are five comments. They're all mostly responsible comments detailing what trouble Minneapolis is setting itself up for. The comment I left is in the extended entry.
From this: Los Angeles County school districts recently received a gift of 27,000 textbooks written for 1st- through 6th-graders in Mexico. "About 45% of our students are Hispanic," a Los Angeles County elementary school teacher specialist said. "It's beautiful for all of our kids to have access to that." Colorado schools received 90,000 textbooks last year, the most of any state. The Mexican consul general has contacted Wyoming to offer Spanish books and instruction guides there, on subjects ranging from math to geography.
Do we really want "immigrant" children learning about history and other subjects from a Mexican perspective?
From this: At a ceremony commemorating the opening of a new $8 million Mexican Consulate [in Chicago], Fox also called on municipalities to recognize cards handed out by Mexican consulates as legal forms of identification... Opponents contend the ID cards, called matricular consular, allow illegal immigrants access to services they aren't eligible for... "We are Mexicans that live in our territories and we are Mexicans that live in other territories," he said in a 20-minute speech in Spanish. "In reality, we are 120 million people that live together and are working to construct a nation."
So, Fox is saying that all Mexicans - even Mexican-Americans - are part of the Mexican Nation. Note also that the Matricula Consular cards are considered a security threat by the FBI.
From this: in the 1990s, Mexico embarked on a campaign of extending its political authority into the United States - not just over Mexican immigrants, but also naturalized and native-born Americans of Mexican ancestry. There are 10 million Mexican-born people in this country (including 5 million illegals) plus more than 10 million additional Americans of Mexican descent...
There's nothing secret about this effort. President Vicente Fox once referred to himself as president of all 118 million Mexicans - the 100 million in Mexico and the (then-)18 million in the United States, the majority of whom are U.S. citizens. And this is a long-term proposition for them: In June 2001, Juan Hernandez, former head of Fox's cabinet-level office for relations with Mexicans abroad, said on ABC's "Nightline," "I want the third generation, the seventh generation, I want them all to think, 'Mexico first.'"
Wake up Minneapolis.
Posted at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
Mexican agents in the state houses? Part 2
Almost six months ago I blogged about Georgia Rep. Pedro Marin and his ties to the non-profit Mexican Center of Atlanta. The Mexican Center had had ties to the Mexican consulate before Marin was selected to be their director. That job paid him $50,000 per year. However, before he was hired the Center moved out of the Mexican consulate's offices and appeared to have disolved its links to the Mexican consulate.
A couple months ago, the Georgia State Ethics Commission declared that everything was on the up and up. They fined Marin a whopping $150 for failing to disclose his membership in that organization, but they rejected the claim that he was lobbying for the Mexican government. It looked to me like the Mexican Center might be a front, but then again I didn't have all the facts and I'm sure the Georgia State Ethics Commission did an in-depth investigation.
See also the Pedro Marin Watch and search for 'maus' here.
Posted at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)
"House panel blocks rule that lets banks take Mexican IDs"
From Knight-Ridder:
Banks would no longer be able to accept a Mexican identification card popular with illegal immigrants under a measure approved Thursday by a House subcommittee.
The House appropriations subcommittee that funds the Treasury Department, on a 9-7 party-line vote, blocked a Treasury rule that permits banks to accept the matricula consular as a valid ID document.
The measure's sponsor, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, said use of a foreign ID card viewed as insecure by the FBI and Homeland Security Department presents a national security threat...
...immigrant advocacy groups and bank trade groups vowed to mount a vigorous lobbying effort to derail the measure in full committee next week..
I say we hand them a defeat. Here's the full committee and here's Chairman C.W. Bill Young's page.
Posted at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
Ein Volk, Eine Heimat
From the AP, always an unbiased source of immigration information:
Mexican President Vicente Fox said Wednesday that Mexicans in the United States have improved their standard of living, but must still fight for better access to education, jobs and social services.
"Mexicans?" As in, Mexican-Americans? Or, as in Mexican tourists and the small number of legitimate temporary workers and visitors? Or, as in the millions of Mexican illegal aliens in the U.S.? I believe Fox is claiming all of them as his own.
At a ceremony commemorating the opening of a new $8 million Mexican Consulate...
"We are Mexicans that live in our territories and we are Mexicans that live in other territories," he said in a 20-minute speech in Spanish. "In reality, we are 120 million people that live together and are working to construct a nation."
That's OK, don't worry about it. A foreign leader is just claiming a sizable chunk of our population as his own. Don't worry about it!
Here, have some cheap lettuce.
Posted at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
Mexican Aggression And Its American Collaborators
This article is a few years old, but the issue is still ignored by our (current) "leaders": 'Mexican Aggression And Its American Collaborators':
Armed with a population that doubles every 24 years and strengthened by the overwhelming popularity of their newly-elected president, [Mexico is] launching a demographic war against the U.S. A multi-million man army of colonists, euphemistically referred to as "undocumented migra