county

Cartel-backed pot grows linked to human trafficking, inhumane working conditions

TRINITY COUNTY, Calif. — If you buy weed illegally, you unwittingly could be supporting Mexican cartels and other criminal syndicates that lure workers to farms in Northern California and Southern Oregon, where they often suffer inhumane conditions and sometimes sexual abuse. Or worse.

Some disappear, presumed murdered, their bodies discarded within the area's vast wilderness.

Others are held against their will. Sometimes, workers' passports, visas or driver's licenses and cell phones are locked away until they finish the harvest season. And cultivators often threaten to harm the workers or the workers' families if they run off or talk to police, said Trinity County Sheriff Tim Saxon.

"They're basically being held prisoner," he said. . . . Read more about Cartel-backed pot grows linked to human trafficking, inhumane working conditions

20-year-old convicted on multiple counts in Washington Co. child sex abuse case

HILLSBORO, OR (KPTV) – A 20-year-old man has been found guilty of six counts of first-degree sodomy according to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

Jesus Gongora Dominguez was found guilty on April 15.

In December of 2019, the victim disclosed to a mandatory reporter that he was sexually abused by Dominguez four years prior. Hillsboro police were notified and talked with the victim and his family.

Investigators say the victim reported that the defendant had sexually abused him multiple times. He told investigators that the defendant would lure him into his bedroom with the promise of candy or video games and would sexually abuse him. He told the victim not to tell anyone about the abuse.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victim in this case for his bravery in reporting this abuse.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2021. Dominguez will remain in custody until that time.

 
 

Copyright 2021 KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. 

  Read more about 20-year-old convicted on multiple counts in Washington Co. child sex abuse case

Oregon jail releases illegal aliens arrested in possession of illicit drugs, over immigration detain

PORTLAND - On Tuesday, April 28, an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F-150 pickup, for multiple traffic violations, on Interstate 5 northbound near milepost 39, according to an OSP press release.

The release states that the trooper observed signs of potential criminal behavior and a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search the trooper located 19.7 pounds of methamphetamine and $16,660 cash.

The driver of the vehicle was Leonel Campos-Valdez (25), and the passenger was Francisco Vazquez-Cruz (24).

Leonel Campos-Valdez and Francisco Vasquez-Cruz are both citizens of Mexico and in the United States illegally. Both men were charged with unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, laundering a monetary instrument and unlawful possession of methamphetamine and booked into the Jackson County Jail in Medford, Oregon.

On April 29, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) lodged immigration detainers on Campos-Valdez and Vasquez-Cruz with the jail. The Jackson County Jail did not honor the detainers and released both illegal aliens back into the community the same day. . . Read more about Oregon jail releases illegal aliens arrested in possession of illicit drugs, over immigration detain

Oregon Department of Corrections: Foreign National Homicide Report December 2017

Information obtained from the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) indicated on December 1, 2017 that 136 of the 973 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) in the state’s prison system were incarcerated for homicidal crimes (various degrees of murder and manslaughter), 13.98 percent of the criminal alien prison population.

Using DOC U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainer numbers, the following table reveals the total number criminal alien inmates along with the number and percentage of those alien inmates incarcerated on December 1st in the state’s prisons for homicidal crimes.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Month/Day/Year

DOC Total Inmates W/ICE Detainers

DOC Number of Inmates W/ICE Detainers for Homicidal Crimes

DOC Percent of Inmates W/ICE Detainers for Homicidal Crimes

December 1, 2017

973

136

13.98%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 December 17.

Using DOC ICE immigration detainer numbers, the following table reveals the number and percentage of criminal alien inmates incarcerated on December 1st that were sent to prison from the state’s 36 counties for homicidal crimes.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

County

DOC Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers by County Incarcerated for Homicidal Crimes

DOC Percent of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers by County Incarcerated for Homicidal Crimes

Multnomah

39

28.68%

Marion

22

16.18%

Washington

22

16.18%

Umatilla

9

6.62%

Clackamas

7

5.15%

Jackson

6

4.41%

Lane

5

3.68%

Klamath

3

2.21%

Linn

3

2.21%

Yamhill

3

2.21%

Benton

2

1.47%

Josephine

2

1.47%

Lincoln

2

1.47%

Polk

2

1.47%

Clatsop

1

0.74%

Coos

1

0.74%

Douglas

1

0.74%

Gilliam

1

0.74%

Hood River

1

0.74%

Jefferson

1

0.74%

Malheur

1

0.74%

OOS (Not a County)

1

0.74%

Tillamook

1

0.74%

Baker

0

0.00%

Columbia

0

0.00%

Crook

0

0.00%

Curry

0

0.00%

Deschutes

0

0.00%

Grant

0

0.00%

Harney

0

0.00%

Lake

0

0.00%

Morrow

0

0.00%

Sherman

0

0.00%

Union

0

0.00%

Wallowa

0

0.00%

Wasco

0

0.00%

Wheeler

0

0.00%

Total

136

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 December 17.

Using DOC ICE immigration detainer numbers, the following table reveals the self-declared countries of origin of the 136 criminal alien inmates by number and percentage incarcerated on December 1st in the state’s prisons for homicidal crimes.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Country

DOC Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers by Country Incarcerated for Homicidal Crimes

DOC Percent of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers by Country Incarcerated for Homicidal Crimes

 

Mexico

106

77.94%

 

Cuba

4

2.94%

 

Canada

3

2.21%

 

Vietnam

3

2.21%

 

Cambodia

2

1.47%

 

El Salvador

2

1.47%

 

Guatemala

2

1.47%

 

Laos

2

1.47%

 

South Korea

2

1.47%

 

China

1

0.74%

 

Costa Rica

1

0.74%

 

Japan

1

0.74%

 

Mariana Islands

1

0.74%

 

Marshall Islands

1

0.74%

 

Nicaragua

1

0.74%

 

Nigeria

1

0.74%

 

Peru

1

0.74%

 

South Africa

1

0.74%

 

Turkey

1

0.74%

 

Total

136

100.00%

 

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 December 17.

Criminal aliens from 19 different countries have committed homicidal violence against residents in the state of Oregon.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. This report is a service to Oregon state, county and city governmental officials to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the state. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/ Read more about Oregon Department of Corrections: Foreign National Homicide Report December 2017

Oregon’s Marion County First in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

On March 1, 2017 Oregon’s Marion County had 236 of the 974 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) incarcerated in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) prison system; the county was first in foreign national crime in the state with 24.23 percent of the criminal aliens in DOC prisons.

The following table reveals how Marion County residents were harmed or victimized by the 236 criminal aliens incarcerated on March 1st in the DOC prison system with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainers.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

50

21.19%

Rape

47

19.92%

Sodomy

33

13.98%

Homicide

22

9.32%

Assault

15

6.36%

Drugs

12

5.08%

Robbery

12

5.08%

Kidnapping

10

4.24%

Theft

7

2.97%

Burglary

4

1.69%

Driving Offense

2

0.85%

Vehicle Theft

1

0.42%

Arson

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

21

8.90%

Total

236

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

This table reveals, using the DOC ICE detainer numbers from March 1st, the total number of criminal alien inmates incarcerated in the DOC prison system by type of crime from all Oregon counties, the total number of criminal alien inmates from Marion County in DOC prisons by type of crime and the percentage of those alien inmates who were from the county by type of crime.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from all Oregon Counties by Type of Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

197

50

25.38%

Rape

170

47

27.65%

Homicide

137

22

16.06%

Drugs

111

12

10.81%

Sodomy

97

33

34.02%

Assault

76

15

19.74%

Robbery

55

12

21.82%

Kidnapping

26

10

38.46%

Burglary

22

4

18.18%

Theft

19

7

36.84%

Driving Offense

7

2

28.57%

Vehicle Theft

4

1

25.00%

Arson

0

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

53

21

39.62%

Total

974

236

 

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

The following table reveals the self-declared countries of origin of the majority of the 236 criminal aliens with ICE immigration detainers who have harmed or victimized the residents Marion County in the DOC prison system.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Country

Total Inmates W/ ICE Detainers from Marion Country by Country of Origin in DOC Prisons

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers by Country of Origin from Marion County in DOC Prisons

Mexico

208

88.14%

Federated States of Micronesia

3

1.27%

Cambodia

2

0.85%

El Salvador

2

0.85%

Marshall Islands

2

0.85%

Russia

2

0.85%

Other Countries

17

7.20%

Total

236

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

Criminal aliens from 21 different countries have harmed or victimized the residents of Marion County.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. This report is a service to state, county and city governmental officials in Marion County to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the county. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/

https://docfnc.wordpress.com/2017/04/17/oregons-marion-county-first-in-foreign-national-crime-in-march-2017/


  Read more about Oregon’s Marion County First in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

Oregon’s Multnomah County Second in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

On March 1, 2017 Oregon’s Multnomah County had 207 of the 974 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) incarcerated in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) prison system; the county was second in foreign national crime in the state with 21.25 percent of the criminal aliens in DOC prisons.

The following table reveals how Multnomah County residents were harmed or victimized by the 207 criminal aliens incarcerated on March 1st in the DOC prison system with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainers.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Multnomah County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Multnomah County by Type of Crime

Drugs

39

18.84%

Homicide

37

17.87%

Sex Abuse

30

14.49%

Rape

26

12.56%

Robbery

23

11.11%

Assault

17

8.21%

Sodomy

16

7.73%

Burglary

6

2.90%

Kidnapping

6

2.90%

Driving Offense

2

0.97%

Theft

1

0.48%

Vehicle Theft

1

0.48%

Arson

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

3

1.45%

Total

207

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

This table reveals, using the DOC ICE detainer numbers from March 1st, the total number criminal alien inmates incarcerated in the DOC prison system by type of crime from all Oregon counties, the total number of criminal alien inmates from Multnomah County in DOC prisons by type of crime and the percentage of those alien inmates who were from the county by type of crime.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from all Oregon Counties by Type of Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Multnomah County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Multnomah County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

197

30

15.23%

Rape

170

26

15.29%

Homicide

137

37

27.01%

Drugs

111

39

35.14%

Sodomy

97

16

16.49%

Assault

76

17

22.37%

Robbery

55

23

41.82%

Kidnapping

26

6

23.08%

Burglary

22

6

27.27%

Theft

19

1

5.26%

Driving Offense

7

2

28.57%

Vehicle Theft

4

1

25.00%

Arson

0

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

53

3

5.66%

Total

974

207

 

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

The following table reveals the self-declared countries of origin of the majority of the 207 criminal aliens with ICE immigration detainers who have harmed or victimized the residents Multnomah County in the DOC prison system.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Country

Total Inmates W/ ICE Detainers from Multnomah Country by Country of Origin in DOC Prisons

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers by Country of Origin from Multnomah County in DOC Prisons

Mexico

138

66.67%

Vietnam

10

4.83%

Cuba

8

3.86%

Guatemala

7

3.38%

Russia

5

2.42%

Honduras

4

1.93%

Ukraine

4

1.93%

Egypt

2

0.97%

England

2

0.97%

Ethiopia

2

0.97%

Somalia

2

0.97%

Tonga

2

0.97%

Other Countries

21

10.14%

Total

207

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

Criminal aliens from 32 different countries have harmed or victimized the residents of Multnomah County.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. This report is a service to state, county and city governmental officials in Multnomah County to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the county. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/

https://docfnc.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/oregons-multnomah-county-second-in-foreign-national-crime-in-march-2017/ Read more about Oregon’s Multnomah County Second in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

Oregon’s Washington County Third in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

On March 1, 2017 Oregon’s Washington County had 189 of the 974 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) incarcerated in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) prison system; the county was third in foreign national crime in the state with 19.40 percent of the criminal aliens in DOC prisons.

The following table reveals how Washington County residents were harmed or victimized by the 189 criminal aliens incarcerated on March 1st in the DOC prison system with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainers.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Washington County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Washington County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

47

24.87%

Rape

41

21.69%

Assault

20

10.58%

Homicide

20

10.58%

Sodomy

18

9.52%

Drugs

15

7.94%

Robbery

11

5.82%

Burglary

5

2.65%

Kidnapping

3

1.59%

Theft

3

1.59%

Driving Offense

2

1.06%

Arson

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0.00%

Vehicle Theft

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

4

2.12%

Total

189

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

This table reveals, using the DOC ICE detainer numbers from March 1st, the total number of criminal alien inmates incarcerated in the DOC prison system by type of crime from all Oregon counties, the total number of criminal alien inmates from Washington County in DOC prisons by type of crime and the percentage of those alien inmates who were from the county by type of crime.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from all Oregon Counties by Type of Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Washington County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Washington County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

197

47

23.86%

Rape

170

41

24.12%

Homicide

137

20

14.60%

Drugs

111

15

13.51%

Sodomy

97

18

18.56%

Assault

76

20

26.32%

Robbery

55

11

20.00%

Kidnapping

26

3

11.54%

Burglary

22

5

22.73%

Theft

19

3

15.79%

Driving Offense

7

2

28.57%

Vehicle Theft

4

0

0.00%

Arson

0

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

53

4

7.55%

Total

974

189

 

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

The following table reveals the self-declared countries of origin of the majority of the 189 criminal aliens with ICE immigration detainers who have harmed or victimized the residents Washington County in the DOC prison system.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Country

Total Inmates W/ ICE Detainers from Washington Country by Country of Origin in DOC Prisons

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers by Country of Origin from Washington County in DOC Prisons

Mexico

147

77.78%

Guatemala

8

4.23%

Cuba

4

2.12%

EL Salvador

3

1.59%

Federated States of Micronesia

3

1.59%

Honduras

3

1.59%

Ukraine

3

1.59%

Marshall Islands

2

1.06%

Philippines

2

1.06%

Other Countries

14

7.41%

Total

189

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 March 17.

Criminal aliens from 23 different countries have harmed or victimized the residents of Washington County.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. This report is a service to state, county and city governmental officials in Washington County to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the county. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/

https://docfnc.wordpress.com/2017/04/09/oregons-washington-county-third-in-foreign-national-crime-in-march-2017/ Read more about Oregon’s Washington County Third in Foreign National Crime in March 2017

Oregon’s Marion County First in Foreign National Crime in January 2017

On January 1, 2017 Oregon’s Marion County had 232 of the 953 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) incarcerated in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) prison system; the county was first in foreign national crime with 24.34 percent of the criminal aliens in DOC prisons.

The following table reveals how Marion County residents were harmed or victimized by 232 criminal aliens incarcerated on January 1st in the DOC prison system with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainers.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total Number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

47

20.26%

Rape

46

19.83%

Sodomy

32

13.79%

Homicide

21

9.05%

Assault

15

6.47%

Robbery

13

5.60%

Drugs

12

5.17%

Kidnapping

10

4.31%

Theft

7

3.02%

Burglary

4

1.72%

Driving Offense

2

0.86%

Vehicle Theft

2

0.86%

Arson

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

21

9.05%

Total

232

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 January 17.

This table reveals, using the DOC ICE detainer numbers from January 1st, the total number criminal alien inmates incarcerated in the DOC prison system by type of crime from all Oregon counties, the total number of criminal alien inmates from Marion County in DOC prisons by type of crime and the percentage of those alien inmates who were from the county by type of crime.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from all Oregon Counties by Type of Crime

Total number of Inmates W/ ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers in DOC Prisons from Marion County by Type of Crime

Sex Abuse

185

47

25.41%

Rape

170

46

27.06%

Homicide

136

21

15.44%

Drugs

112

12

10.71%

Sodomy

93

32

34.41%

Assault

75

15

20.00%

Robbery

54

13

24.07%

Kidnapping

26

10

38.46%

Theft

21

7

33.33%

Burglary

20

4

20.00%

Driving Offense

9

2

22.22%

Vehicle Theft

4

2

50.00%

Arson

0

0

0.00%

Forgery

0

0

0.00%

Escape

0

0

0.00%

Other / Combination Crimes

48

21

43.75%

Total

953

232

 

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 January 17.

The following table reveals the self-declared countries of origin of the majority of the 232 criminal aliens with ICE immigration detainers who have harmed or victimized the residents Marion County in the DOC prison system.
 

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Country

Total Inmates W/ ICE Detainers from Marion Country by Country of Origin in DOC Prisons

Percentage of Inmates W/ICE Detainers by Country of Origin from Marion County in DOC Prisons

Mexico

204

87.93%

Federated States of Micronesia

3

1.29%

Russia

3

1.29%

Cambodia

2

0.86%

EL Salvador

2

0.86%

Marshall Islands

2

0.86%

Vietnam

2

0.86%

Other Countries

14

6.03%

Total

232

100.00%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Report ICE inmates list 01 January 17.

Criminal aliens from 20 different countries have harmed or victimized the residents of Marion County.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He is a weekly guest on the Lars Larson Northwest Show. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/ Read more about Oregon’s Marion County First in Foreign National Crime in January 2017

Internal investigation underway into whether deputy improperly assisted in ICE arrest

MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR (KPTV) - The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office confirmed to FOX 12 Wednesday that an internal investigation is underway into whether a deputy may have improperly assisted immigration agents in arresting an illegal immigrant.

The county, like the city of Portland, considers itself a sanctuary zone which means law enforcement is not supposed to help federal immigration officers find someone who is in the country illegally.

A source with knowledge of the situation told FOX 12 Julio Montejo-Mex was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers earlier Wednesday.

Court documents confirm that Montejo-Mex was arrested for assault and had to check in with deputies on Wednesday, and that is where ICE officers were waiting for him.

Multnomah County passed the sanctuary ordinance in December, although officials said that does not mean they will hide illegal immigrants from federal agents.

It's unclear whether this case even falls under sanctuary status since Montejo-Mex is a convicted felon and is now facing those assault charges.
  Read more about Internal investigation underway into whether deputy improperly assisted in ICE arrest

Milwaukee County a step closer to ID cards for illegal immigrants, others

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County is poised to take another step toward creating local identification cards to be issued to illegal immigrants, the homeless and others.

The Milwaukee County Health and Human Needs Committee on Wednesday is expected to take up a resolution that would establish a “Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards.”

The proposed task force, represented by the county and the city of Milwaukee, would review and make recommendations related to the creation and issuance of community ID cards, according to the resolution’s sponsor Supervisor Peggy Romo West, vice chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and chairwoman of the health committee.

Taxpayers would cover the cost of the ID program, at an initial cost of $300,000 — split evenly between the city and county.

Photo by Glendale Post 416

Photo by Glendale Post 416

VOTER INTEGRITY BATTLE: Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander was labeled a racist by her colleagues last month for offering an amendment that would require proposed Milwaukee County ID cards to clearly state that the IDs could not be used for voter registration.

Such an ID is needed, according to Romo West, because “many Milwaukee County residents face barriers to obtaining state identification and could benefit from a community identification card…”

That list includes, among others, low-income elderly, individuals with mental illness, survivors of domestic violence and formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering the community, according to the resolution.

It also includes the homeless, illegal immigrants and transgendered individuals.

The resolution notes “cities and counties across the nation are investing in local community identification programs in an effort to promote community unity and safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of all community members.”

That is a huge overstatement.

An analysis conducted by Milwaukee County’s deputy corporation counsel notes municipal ID programs exist in about a dozen municipalities and two counties, both in New Jersey.  Colleen Foley‘s August memo to County Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic and Khalif Rainey asserts the New Jersey ID programs aren’t as expensive as the initiative contemplated in Milwaukee County.

“Monmouth County, New Jersey issues cards only to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Mercer County, New Jersey’s program is actually issued by a local, nonprofit,” the attorney wrote.

Such IDs are “primarily intended to permit a person lacking photo identification to access municipal and private services,” like prescriptions, bank accounts, library cards, crime reporting, etc., but the cards are “multi-purpose,” Foley noted.

It’s the potential for open-ended access, particularly to illegal immigrants, that concerns fiscal watchers and voter integrity advocates.

“It’s obvious the long-term goal of this proposal is to subvert the voter ID law to give undocumented immigrants the opportunity to vote here in Wisconsin,” said state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, and a former Milwaukee County Board member. “And to make matters worse, it appears the Milwaukee County Board is trying to use state funding to achieve their goal. We must keep a close eye on this as it proceeds so we can do whatever it takes to protect the integrity of the voting process in Wisconsin.”

Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander last month urged the county’s Finance, Personnel and Audit committee to approve an amendment to the proposal that clearly states the cards would not be used for voting.

RELATED: Taxpayers to cover cost of Milwaukee County ID cards for illegal immigrants

Alexander was the only board member to vote in favor of the amendment.

The supervisor was basically called a bigot, a racist and compared to Donald Trump because of her voter integrity concerns.

“We need to be sure that we’re honest with people,” Alexander said in a statement in early November. “The authors of the legislation funding the Community ID program with taxpayer dollars have said publicly that the ID cards will not be used for voting. If this is true, then why are they so adamantly opposed to marking that right there on the cards?” she asked.

Foley, in her memo, wrote that while the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 prohibits the awarding of state or local benefits to unlawfully present immigrants, she quickly added this disclaimer:

“The act does not bar states from delegating to administrative agencies or local government’s authority to determine whether unauthorized aliens may be granted certain benefits.”

Foley also wrote it “can be argued that municipal IDs are not a public benefit since they do not involve payments of assistance but rather access to services.”

But the money to set up the ID program and produce the cards would come from taxpayers.

The funding, which would be drawn from a state exempt computer aid fund, would be available as of Jan. 1, Alexander said.

“That money will be there for whatever task force is born,” she said. “In my opinion, it is going to be staffed with people who believe in illegal immigration and the transgender agenda,” not citizens who may oppose such cards.

Romo West asserts the IDs would “grant marginalized communities access to basic necessities that others take for granted…”

While it appears the ID program is on the fast track, Alexander said she will continue to fight for taxpayer and voter integrity protections.

“The county has a right and responsibility to ensure that if new ID cards it develops or funds for the benefit of the general public are not able to be used for something as essential to our way of life as voting, they should be clearly marked,” she told Wisconsin Watchdog last month. Read more about Milwaukee County a step closer to ID cards for illegal immigrants, others

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