E-Verify

Welfare Costs for Children of Illegal Aliens Exceeds $646 Millon

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – Year-end closing 2011 figures from the Department of Public Social Services reported that over $646 million in welfare and food stamp benefits were issued to illegal alien parents for their native-born children, announced Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

The $646.2 million consisted of $258 million in CalWORKs (welfare) and $388 million in Food Stamps) — a $21 million increase over the previous year.

“With the $550 million for public safety and nearly $500 million for healthcare, the total cost for illegal immigrants to County taxpayers exceeds $1.6 billion dollars a year,” said Antonovich. “These costs do not include the hundreds of millions of dollars for education.” Read more about Welfare Costs for Children of Illegal Aliens Exceeds $646 Millon

This tragedy could have been prevented

An illegal alien, hired to be a foster parent by the State of Oregon in 2007, shook his two year old foster daughter so violently he caused irreversible brain damage.  The settlement the state will pay for that horrible abuse will be $3.85 million dollars.

His wife lied on their application about either of them having a very questionable record.

The man was sent to prison in 2009, were he died from an allergic reaction of a preventative medication for TB.  He apparently had repeatedly asked for help and was ignored which resulted in his death. The settlement for his death while in prison, is $2.1 million dollars.

So, a young life altered forever and the death of an illegal alien child abuser results in nearly SIX million dollars paid out in settlements from the state.

If E-Verify had been used at the time, this could likely have been prevented.  A 2010 department policy addresses that issue: It bars applicants who are illegal immigrants from becoming foster parents.  ( The questions is:  HOW?)  An exception can be made for illegal immigrants who are taking in a relative's child.

The 2012 Oregon Legislature would not even schedule a hearing for a bill that would require all state agencies to use E-Verify.  A tragic event could have been stopped and young girl could have had a happy life if they had taken this one simple, FREE, step.  

What a tragedy.  Those in the Oregon Legislature responsible for killing the many E-Verify bills offered up each session, should be held accountable.

Read the full article at: http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2012/05/state_makes_record_375_million.html Read more about This tragedy could have been prevented

Three convicted of Linn murder

The three men accused in the killing of Jose Felipe Hernandez-Leiva were found guilty of murder Tuesday afternoon in Linn Circuit Judge Carol Bispham’s courtroom.

Edgar Hernandez-Mendoza, 25, Abiu Antonio Padilla, 38, and Jose Juarez-Alvarez, 30, beat Leiva to death during a drunken argument April 30, 2011, at an apartment within a warehouse in Harrisburg where they all lived while working together picking salal.

The jury began its deliberations about 2:30 Monday afternoon and recessed at 6 that night. It met at 9 a.m. Tuesday and returned with its decision about 3:30 p.m.

Bispham polled each juror asking if a verdict had been reached for each defendant and if the juror agreed with that verdict for each defendant.

All agreed and a verdict of guilty of murder was read aloud.

The verdict was translated simultaneously into Spanish using an interpreter. The defendants showed no emotion upon hearing it.

“I know it’s been a long case,” Bispham said to the jury. “It’s been a difficult case for you, I can see it in your faces as you are listening.”

“It’s not easy and it’s not always pleasant,” she continued. “But it’s what makes our system work.”

The judge said she would be in the jury room to thank each juror personally.

Sentencing was set for 11 a.m. Thursday, April 26, in courtroom 1. The mandatory sentence for murder in Oregon is life in prison.

According to trial testimony by material witness Luis Martinez-Jimenez, Leiva was still moaning when he implored the other men to not hit Leiva so hard. He testified he told the men to stop or they were going to kill Leiva. He then went to bed.

When he got up the next day, he said he saw Leiva’s lifeless body outside.

The three men then put the body in a sleeping bag, wrapped it with twine and dumped it in some brush nearby — between Interstate 5 and the warehouse on Belts Drive.

Three weeks later, a man out searching for a pet cat discovered the body.

On May 25, 2011, Hernandez-Mendoza and Juarez-Alvarez were arrested on the job at Stahlbush Island Farms near Corvallis. Martinez-Jimenez was also arrested at that time for the lesser charge of hindering prosecution.

Padilla was arrested June 16 at an apartment in Marion County.

The men were being lodged at the Linn County Jail.

George Eder and Douglas Marteeny prosecuted.

Hernandez-Mendoza was represented by Nicolas Ortiz of Corvallis, Padilla was represented by Randall Vogt of Portland and Juarez-Alvarez was represented by John Rich of Corvallis.

  Read more about Three convicted of Linn murder

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New Report Combats Claim that Ending Birthright Citizenship would Cost Taxpayers Billions of Dollars

A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies repudiates claims made by a high-immigration group that ending Birthright Citizenship would cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars per year. Earlier this year, the National Foundation for American Policy released a new report alleging that ending Birthright Citizenship would create a new "baby tax" for all U.S. citizens, create a second-class society, decrease income tax revenues for the federal government, and cause children born to illegal aliens to become stateless.

Jon Feere, a legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies, challenges every point set forth by the National Foundation for American Policy's report and says, "supporters of the status quo understand that history is not on their side and have resorted to scare tactics to discourage discussion about the subject."

The following is a summary of the claims made by the National Foundation for American Policy followed by comments from Feere. To read the full report, visit the Center for Immigration Studies' website.

CLAIM: Not granting automatic citizenship to anyone and everyone born on U.S. soil "will cost new parents in the United States approximately $600 in government fees to prove the citizenship status of each baby and likely an additional $600 to $1,000 in legal fees."

Feere says that this estimate is based on the average cost to a U.S. citizen who gives birth overseas and must show their own proof of citizenship to get citizenship for their newborn. But just because this cost is incurred by U.S. parents who give birth overseas doesn't automatically translate to every parent who gives birth in the United States.

Feere argues that when parents complete a request for a birth certificate in U.S. hospitals, they are not required to provide their own Social Security number on the form. If it were made mandatory that parents need to include their Social Security number, then a quick check by the hospital with the Social Security Administration to ensure the number matches the name of the parent and that the parent is either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident would ensure that citizenship is only given to newborns who qualify. The state's vital statistics office could issue two types of birth certificates - one denoting U.S. citizenship and not denoting U.S. citizenship.

Feere also notes that it is universally accepted that children born in the U.S. to foreign diplomats DO NOT receive U.S. citizenship, but because Social Security numbers could currently be requested for all children born in the U.S., there can be some future confusion when it comes to citizenship status for those individuals.

CLAIM: Not granting citizenship to children born to illegal aliens would contribute to a growing population of illegal aliens.

Feere argues that if immigration laws are enforced and illegal aliens are deported, they won't give birth to children in the United States. The fact that this happens in the first place has nothing to do with our birthright citizenship law, but rather lack of enforcement at the federal level.

CLAIM: Newborns born to illegal-alien parents will be stateless.

Feere says this claim from the National Foundation for American Policy is flat-out false. Children born to illegal-alien parents in the United States are citizens of their parents' home country. A child born to parents from Mexico will receive Mexican citizenship.

CLAIM: Children of illegal-alien parents will work in an underground economy.

Feere says the United States can prevent illegal-alien children from entering an underground economy in two ways. First, the federal government can enforce immigration laws and deport illegal aliens, and second, Congress can pass an E-Verify law, requiring all employers to use E-Verify and imposing heavy fines on companies that participate in an underground economy.

Feere responds to several other claims made by the National Foundation for American Policy and also discusses the foundations and individuals that helped put the report together. For his full report, visit the Center for Immigration Studies' website. Read more about New Report Combats Claim that Ending Birthright Citizenship would Cost Taxpayers Billions of Dollars

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ACTION ALERT: Attend Senator Ron Wyden's Town Hall and ask about E-Verify!

From our friends at NumbersUSA:

Senator, Ron Wyden, will be at home this week and will be hosting town hall meetings. This is a perfect opportunity to ask Senator Wyden why he hasn't signed on to S. 1196, a bill that mandates E-Verify.

E-Verify is an online program that ensures businesses only hire legal workers. If mandatory E-Verify legislation passes, it could get more Americans back to work than any other bill being discussed in Congress right now. Up to 7 MILLION jobs could open up for American workers and legal immigrants.

This is truly a bi-partisan issue. In a public opinion poll, 94% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 81% of Democrats want a mandatory E-Verify law.The most powerful message you can send as a constituent is to ask your Senator, face-to-face, about an issue.

Some talking points:

Senator Wyden, mandatory E-Verify could open up millions of jobs for Americans. Why aren't you supporting any E-Verify legislation? In the House, there is a bill that was introduced by fellow Oregon Democrat, Rep. DeFazio, to mandate E-Verify. This is not a partisan issue, and I think you should support S. 1196 in the Senate.

Senator Wyden, a 50 state E-Verify law needs to be put in place and it needs your support. Co-sponsoring S. 1196 would show me that you are fully dedicated to opening up jobs for Americans and legal workers .

Here is the information for Senator Wyden's town halls:
(We always recommend calling your Senator's office to confirm, in case they have changed or canceled the event. It's rare, but happens)

THURSDAY APRIL 12, 2012:

10:30 AM
Where : Riverside Junior/Senior High School
210 Boardman Avenue
Boardman, OR

3:30 PM
Where : Blue Mountain Community College
Science and Technology, Room 200
2411 Northwest Carden Avenue
Pendleton, OR

FRIDAY APRIL 13, 2012:

2:30 PM
Where : Wallowa Senior Center
204 Second Street
Wallowa, OR

SATURDAY APRIL 14, 2012:

11:30 AM
Where : Union County Senior Center
1504 North Albany Street
La Grande, OR

4:00 PM
Where : Baker City Hall
1655 First Street
Baker City, OR

SUNDAY APRIL 15, 2012:

1:00 PM
Where : Four Rivers Cultural Center
676 Southwest Fifth Avenue
Ontario, OR

If you do have the opportunity to attend one of these meetings, please, let us know how it goes.  Thank you!

  Read more about ACTION ALERT: Attend Senator Ron Wyden's Town Hall and ask about E-Verify!

Senator Merkley's Town Halls

Attend Senator Merkley's Town Hall and ask about E-Verify!

Senator Jeff Merkley will be at home next week and will be hosting four town halls. This is a perfect opportunity to ask Senator Merkley why he hasn't signed on to any E-Verify legislation during this Congress.

E-Verify is a program that ensures businesses only hire legal workers. If mandatory E-Verify legislation passes, it could get more Americans back to work than any other bill being discussed in Congress right now. Up to 7 MILLION jobs could open up for American workers.

Check out the chart... https://www.numbersusa.com/content/files/WM_HR2885.pdf

NumbersUSA has given Senator Merkley the worst grade he could possibly get when it comes to illegal aliens in the workforce. Senator Merkley has voted against E-Verify legislation multiple times in the past.

There are two groups that are benefiting from Senator Merkley's refusal to mandate E-Verify: the illegal aliens who are taking Americans' jobs and big business that still has the ability to hire illegal workers for pennies on the dollar.

So who's getting hurt by Senator Merkley's decisions? The middle class, American worker.

During this slow economic recovery, Americans are still struggling to find work. Mandating E-Verify is good economic policy and fair to the American worker. This is truly a bi-partisan issue. In a public opinion poll, 94% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 81% of Democrats want a mandatory E-Verify law.

We are asking you to attend one of Senator Merkley's town halls and ask him about mandatory E-Verify. The most powerful message you can send as a constituent is to ask your Senator, face-to-face, about an issue.

Here is the information for Senator Merkley's town halls:

April 3, 2012    6pm

Klamath County Town Hall

Lost River Junior and Senior High School

23330 Highway 50

Merrill, OR 97633

 

April 4, 2012      4pm

Jackson County Town Hall

Medford City Council Chambers, City Hall

411 West 8th Street

Medford, OR, 97501

 

April 5, 2012       10am

Curry County Town Hall

Southwest Oregon Community College (SOCC) Curry Campus, Krieger Community Room 138

96082 Lone Ranch Parkway

Brookings, OR, 97415

 

April 5, 2012       3:30pm

Josephine County Town Hall

Josephine County Building

102 South Redwood Highway

Cave Junction, 97523

ASK SENATOR MERKLEY TO SIGN ON TO SENATE BILL 1196, THE ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH VERIFICATION ACT, introduced by Sen. Grassley. Tell him to put good policy before politics. Oregon Democratic Rep. DeFazio introduced very similar legislation in the House, H.R. 483.

See Senator Merkley's grade card on immigration reform:  https://www.numbersusa.com/content/my/congress/1341/reportcard/RECENT/#tabset-1

Make your voice be heard and attend one of the town halls!

[Thanks to NumbersUSA for preparing this Alert.]

  Read more about Senator Merkley's Town Halls

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In Oregon: What Immigration Enforcement Would Look Like With H.R. 2885 Enacted

The Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 2885), sponsored by U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith proposes a national mandatory E-Verify.  NumbersUSA has prepared a chart showing how the bill will impact each state.  You can clearly see that Oregon would benefit greatly if such a bill were to pass.

Go to:  https://www.numbersusa.com/content/oregon-everify.html

Call your Congressmen today, tell them you are a constituent and that you support Lamar Smith's legislation.  Tell them you think Oregon would benefit greatly from the passage of HR 2885 and you are counting on their support of the bill.

 

  Read more about In Oregon: What Immigration Enforcement Would Look Like With H.R. 2885 Enacted

Seventeen Oregon county governments are now using E-Verify to check the legal status of new

Alert date: 
February 24, 2012
Alert body: 

Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties now require that all new hires be run through the E-Verify program.

If your county is not on the list, please call or email your county commissioners and ask them to require that when your county hires a new employee, that new employee will be either a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant.

The Federal E-Verify program is a voluntary, free, internet-based application that allows employers to verify the work eligibility of new employees. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS-USCIS), E-Verify compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

Currently the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),states that over 300,000 companies nationwide have voluntarily signed up for the E-Verify program at over 1 million work sites.

Over 3000 employers in Oregon have voluntarily signed up for E-Verify. Among the companies are Jeld-Wen, Nike, Precision Castparts and the Hilton Hotels. Numerous Oregon School districts use E-Verify. All contractors doing business with the federal government are now required to use the program.

The E-Verify system is very accurate and employers like it. A recent report showed that 98.3percent of employees are automatically confirmed as authorized to work either instantly or within 24 hours, requiring no employee or employer action; 1.7 percent of employees receive initial system mismatches, and of those mismatches, after the employee has been given opportunity to correct any erroneous record, 1.43 percent are not found work authorized.

Oregon counties not currently using E-Verify are: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler.

County Commissioners are usually listed in local telephone books in the Government pages. Alternatively, you can make a search on the internet. For example, enter as search term: Clackamas County, or Union County Oregon if the county name is not unique. The top one or two search results will usually be the county government’s website, from which you can find link to names of County Commissioners and how to contact them by phone, email, or postal mail.

With over 200,000 Oregonians out of work how can anyone be opposed to requiring that all newly hired individuals be American citizens or legal immigrants? * * * * * *
 

 

Keeping Track (Feb. 26)

The story: In December, Salem resident David Cross asked the board of commissioners whether Linn County participated in the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify data, which can help employers determine whether someone has legal residency status in the U.S. The commissioners thought they had been using E-Verify, but were actually making in-depth background checks through the Social Security Administration database.

The latest: According to county administrator Ralph Wyatt, staff recently completed training with the E-Verify system and the county is now registered to use the free system. In addition to searching the Social Security database, E-Verify also searched more than 80 million Department of Homeland Security records. Seventeen of Oregon’s 36 counties are registered with E-Verify.
  Read more about Keeping Track (Feb. 26)

Good News on E-Verify from Washington State

Our friends in Washington State, in the activist group Respect Washington, report that an effort by advocates for illegal aliens to ban the use of E-Verify in Washington State has been defeated. The bill, HB 2568, would have forbidden local governments to require contractors to enroll in E-Verify. This proposed legislation would have struck down E-Verify laws already enacted in several Washington counties. The bill died on Monday, Feb. 13, when it failed to receive a floor vote.

Respect Washington also announces that there will be a new Respect for Law petition drive this year.  Forms will be available for signatures by early March.  See Respect Washington’s website for full description.

The petition has 5 major provisions, summarized here:

1. Restores the right of police and other public employees to communicate with Federal immigration authorities, despite "sanctuary" policies.

2. Requires use of E-Verify by all employers.

3. Requires use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program (similar to E-Verify) prior to administering taxpayer-funded benefits.

4. Requires use of SAVE by the State before issuing driver’s licenses.

5. Mandates courts to inform the Washington Secretary of State of potential jurors summoned who swore ineligibility due to non-U.S. citizenship.  The Secretary of State will then verify that these individuals are not registered to vote.

If you have relatives or friends in Washington State, please alert them to Respect Washington’s activities and the petition project.

  Read more about Good News on E-Verify from Washington State

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