Oregon Legislature

Mark your calendar - Tuesday, February 25

Alert date:

February 19, 2014

Alert body:

Join Oregonians for Immigration Reform and Protect Oregon Driver Licenses at the Oregon State Capital as we gather to host the War Room.

If you have never heard of the War Room, if you have never spent time at the Capitol, if you are uncomfortable being in the Capitol when you are there, I encourage you to drop in and spend some time with us.

This is the place to be to learn about all things related to the Legislature. How a bill is written, moved through the Legislature, sent to Committee, debated and voted upon or killed. This session, there are no immigration bills being introduced, so it's the perfect opportunity to get comfortable being in the building and meeting and visiting with other activists that care about Oregon as much as you do.

The doors will be open from 8am – 5pm and you may arrive and depart at any time. We will be in Room 243 at the State Capitol. You can ask for directions at the kiosk in the lobby.

The parking meters are $1.50 per hour or you can purchase an all-day pass for $15.00.

Parking tickets are $30.00 so don't let your meter expire.

SPECIAL NOTE: We have arranged to meet with two of the Protect Oregon Driver Licenses Chief Petitioners so that we may thank them in person for their support of the veto referendum to overturn SB 833 – the new law granting state issued ID in the form of a driver privilege card to illegal aliens in Oregon.

If possible, plan to be there for one or both of these appointments:

Rep. Kim Thatcher - 9:45am & Rep Sal Esquivel – 12:30pm

If you know for certain you will be joining us – drop us a line. Otherwise just drop in anytime.

By the numbers - crime statistics

David Olen Cross tracks and reports on illegal alien crimes in Oregon. He is on the Lars Larson show weekly - usually on Thursday afternoons about 2:45pm with the criminal alien of the week report.

David also tracks the prison and jail populations and prepares detailed reports for those interested in such statistics. Legislators, law enforcement officers and many others have thanked David for his continued efforts to track and report the often forgotten or overlooked crimes perpetrated by those in our country illegally.

It is important to remember that for nearly every criminal alien in the Oregon prison system, there is at least one victim. This report can't contain the pain, heartache and loss that many have felt at the hands of an illegal alien criminal.

Thank you David for your continued work on this most serious problem. David can be contacted at: http://docfnc.wordpress.com/

___________________________________________________________________

According to the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) Inmate Population Profile dated January 1, 2014 DOC indicated there were 14,664 prisoners incarcerated in DOC’s 14 prisons (See attachment).

Not included in DOC’s January 1st Inmate Population Profile was DOC data indicating there were 1,165 foreign nationals (criminal aliens) incarcerated in its prison system (See attachment).

All 1,165 criminal aliens incarcerated on January 1st by DOC had United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detainers. The U.S. DHS–ICE is responsible for indentifying whether a DOC inmate is a criminal alien or a domestic inmate. If an inmate is identified as being a criminal alien, at U.S. DHS–ICE’s request, the DOC places an “ICE detainer” on the inmate that directs DOC officials to transfer custody to ICE following completion of the inmate’s state sanction.

Criminal aliens made up approximately 7.94% of the DOC January 1st prison population (See table).

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Month/Day/Year	DOC Total Inmates	DOC Domestic Inmates	DOC Inmates W/ICE detainers	DOC % Inmates W/ICE detainers
January 1, 2008	13,405	12,378	1,027	7.66%
January 1, 2009	13,631	12,495	1,136	8.33%
January 1, 2010	13,784	12,564	1,220	8.85%
January 1, 2011	13,924	12,670	1,254	9.01%
January 1, 2012	13,937	12,751	1,186	8.51%
January 1, 2013	14,285	13,052	1,233	8.63%
January 1, 2014	14,664	13,499	1,165	7.94%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Unit-ICE inmates lists 01 JANUARY 08rtf – 01 JANUARY 14.rtf and Inmate Population Profile 01 JANUARY 08– 01 JANUARY 14.

Comparing DOC criminal alien incarceration numbers from January 1, 2008 (1,027 criminal aliens) and January 1, 2014 (1,165 criminal aliens), the DOC prison system incarcerated 138 criminal aliens more than it did on January 1, 2008, a 13.44% increase (See table).

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Month/Day/Year	DOC Total Inmates W/ICE detainers	DOC Inmates W/ICE detainers # Increase or (Decrease) from Previous Year	DOC Inmates W/ICE detainers % Increase or (Decrease) from Previous Year
January 1, 2008	1,027	————	————
January 1, 2009	1,136	109	10.61%
January 1, 2010	1,220	84	7.39%
January 1, 2011	1,254	34	2.79%
January 1, 2012	1,186	(68)	(5.42%)
January 1, 2013	1,233	47	3.96%
January 1, 2014	1,165	(68)	(5.51%)
Total		138	13.44%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Unit-ICE inmates lists 01 JANUARY 08rtf – 01 JANUARY 14.rtf and Inmate Population Profile 01 JANUARY 08– 01 JANUARY 14.

When comparing DOC domestic criminal incarceration numbers from January 1, 2008 (12,378 domestic criminals) and January 1, 2014 (13,499 domestic criminals), the DOC prison system incarcerated 1,121 domestic criminals more than it did on January 1, 2008, a 9.06% increase (See table).

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Month/Day/Year	DOC Total Domestic Inmates	DOC Domestic Inmates # Increase or (Decrease) from Previous Year	DOC Domestic Inmates % Increase or (Decrease) from Previous Year
January 1, 2008	12,378	————	————
January 1, 2009	12,495	117	0.94%
January 1, 2010	12,564	69	0.55%
January 1, 2011	12,670	106	0.84%
January 1, 2012	12,751	81	0.64%
January 1, 2013	13,052	301	2.36%
January 1, 2014	13,499	447	3.42%
Total		1,121	9.06%

Source: Research and Evaluation DOC Unit-ICE inmates lists 01 JANUARY 08rtf – 01 JANUARY 14.rtf and Inmate Population Profile 01 JANUARY 08– 01 JANUARY 14.

Bringing the preceding numbers together, from January 1st 2008 – 2014, six years, the DOC prison population grew by 1,259 domestic and criminal alien prisoners; 10.96% of the overall growth was in criminal alien prisoners.

A review of the 1,165 criminal aliens in DOC prisons by number per county and percentage (%) per county equated to the following: 0-Baker (0.00%); 17-Benton (1.46%); 79-Clackamas (6.78%); 6-Clatsop (0.51%); 2-Columbia (0.17%); 6-Coos (0.51%); 2-Crook (0.17%); 0-Curry (0.00%); 17-Deschutes (1.46%); 6-Douglas (0.51%); 1-Gilliam (0.08%); 0-Grant (0.00%); 0-Harney (0.00%); 6-Hood River (0.51%); 49-Jackson (4.21%); 9-Jefferson (0.77%); 7-Josephine (0.60%); 8-Klamath (0.69%); 0-Lake (0.00); 56-Lane (4.81%); 8-Lincoln (0.69%); 26-Linn (2.23%); 12-Malheur (1.03%); 279-Marion (23.95%); 4-Morrow (0.34%); 269-Multnomah (23.09%); 1-OOS (0.08%); 18-Polk (1.54%); 0-Sherman (0.00%); 5-Tillamook (0.43%); 21-Umatilla (1.80%); 4-Union (0.34); 0-Wallowa (0.00%); 3-Wasco (0.26%); 214-Washington (18.37%); 0-Wheeler (0.00%); and 30-Yamhill (2.57%).

No member of the Oregon State Legislature should forget the uncounted crime victims and their families, no matter what their immigration status, all victims of the 1,165 criminal aliens incarcerated in DOC prisons.

A review of the 1,165 criminal aliens in the DOC prison population by numbers per crime and percentage (%) per crime equated to the following: 2-arsons (0.17%); 113-assaults (9.70%); 24-burglaries (2.06%); 19-driving offenses (1.63%); 172-drugs (14.76%); 0-escape (0.00%); 2-forgeries (0.17%); 148-homicides (12.70%); 47-kidnappings (4.03%); 61-others (5.24%); 179-rapes (15.36%); 74-robberies (6.35%); 215-sex abuses (18.45%); 92-sodomies (7.90%); 11-thefts (0.94%); and 6-vehicle thefts (0.51%).

Oregon State Legislators should not overlook the source of the preceding crimes, the country of origin of the 1,165 criminal aliens in DOC prisons.

The self-declared countries of origin of the 1,165 criminal aliens in the DOC prison population by numbers and percentage (%) per country equated to the following: 7-Canada (0.60%); 10-Cuba (0.86%); 14-El Salvador (1.20%); 7-Federated States of Micronesia (0.60%); 31-Guatemala (2.66%); 12-Honduras (1.03%); 7-Laos (0.60%); 950-Mexico (81.54%); 6-Philippines (0.51%); 84-others (7.21%); 9-Russia (0.77%); 13-Ukraine (1.11%); and 15-Vietnam (1.29%).

Beyond the DOC criminal alien incarceration numbers and incarceration percentages, per county and per crime type, or even country of origin, criminal aliens pose high economic cost on Oregonians.

An individual prisoner incarcerated in the DOC prison system costs the state approximately ($87.08) per day; the cost to incarcerate a prisoner increased ($2.27) per day in January 2014, a 2.67% increase from 2013’s cost of ($84.81) per day (See link).

http://www.oregon.gov/doc/GECO/docs/pdf/IB_53_quick_facts.pdf

The DOC’s incarceration cost for its 1,165 criminal alien prison population is approximately ($101,448.20) per day, ($710,137.40) per week, and ($37,028,593.00) per year.

Even taking into account fiscal year 2012 United States Federal Government State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) award of $1,996,569.00, if the State of Oregon receives the same amount of SCAAP funding for fiscal year 2014, the cost to incarcerate 1,165 criminal aliens to the DOC will be at least ($35,032,024.00) (See link).

https://www.bja.gov/Funding/12SCAAPAwards.pdf

None of my preceding cost estimates for the DOC to incarcerate the 1,165 criminal aliens include the dollar amount for legal services (indigent defense), court costs, nor cost estimates to cover victim assistance.

An unfortunate fact, the State of Oregon is not fully cooperating with the U.S. DHS–ICE to fight crime committed by criminal aliens who reside in Oregon.

In year 2007, a United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) report titled “Cooperation of SCAAP (State Criminal Alien Assistance Program) Recipients in the Removal of Criminal Aliens from the United States, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General Audit Division, Audit Report 07-07, January 2007, Redacted-Public Version” identified the State of Oregon as having an official “state sanctuary statute,” ORS 181.850 Enforcement of federal immigration laws (See link).

http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/OJP/a0707/final.pdf

The USDOJ, the federal governments top law enforcement agency, identified Oregon as a “sanctuary” for criminal aliens.

An Oregon law, Oregon Revised Statue 181.850 (ORS 181.850), Section (1), prohibits Oregon law enforcement (Oregon State Police (OSP), county sheriffs, city police departments) from asking immigration status of anyone residing in the State of Oregon “for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.” Under ORS 181.850, Section (2), Oregon law enforcement may exchange information with U.S. DHS–ICE . . . “in order to: Subsection (a), “Verify the immigration status of a person if the person is arrested for any criminal offense;” or, Subsection (b), “Request criminal investigation information with reference to persons named in records of the” U.S. DHS–ICE . . . (See link).

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2011ors181.html

The State of Oregon should no longer be classified by U.S. federal government law enforcement as having an official “state sanctuary statute” for criminal aliens, nor should Oregon be a sanctuary for criminal aliens to kill, rape, maim or abuse Oregonians.

Tags:

crime

drugs

drunk driving

illegal aliens

Oregon legislation

Oregon Legislature

OFIR - PODL meeting - Saturday, March 15, 2:00pm

Alert date:

February 16, 2014

Alert body:

Saturday, March 15th - Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR) will hold their quarterly meeting in Salem.

Protect Oregon Driver Licenses (PODL) will be kicking off the referendum election campaign at the meeting, as well. Bring your enthusiasm, your ideas and your friends!

Joining us will be Ben Pollack who is running for Rep. Kurt Schrader's seat in Congress. Come and meet this dynamic young man.

Mark your calendar now:

Saturday, March 15 at 2:00pm

Best Western Mill Creek Inn - Salem (just across from Costco)

Sorry: Due to circumstances beyond his control Rep. Esquivel will be unable to attend our meeting

Oregon's unlicensed, uninsured driving rates almost unchanged since 2008 law tightening identification requirements

The rate of Oregon drivers who are unlicensed and uninsured remains largely unchanged since a 2008 law tightened identification requirements to obtain driver's licenses, a state report shows.

The Oregon Department of Transportation report comes months before voters in November will decide whether to grant driving privileges to Oregonians who can't prove their legal presence. The Legislature last year approved offering four-year driver cards, but opponents successfully referred the issue to voters....

It found that the rate of unlicensed, uninsured drivers declined by 0.14 percent between July 2007 and July 2013.

Learn more about the referendum campaign to overturn the new law giving driver cards to illegal aliens at the Protect Oregon Driver Licenses website. Read more about Oregon's unlicensed, uninsured driving rates almost unchanged since 2008 law tightening identification requirements

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Had enough? Want to get involved? Learn how this Saturday!

Alert date:

January 22, 2014

Alert body:

SOUND AWESOME? ...IT IS! Attend the Western Liberty Network's Second Annual Leadership and Training Conference and Expo.

The event's theme is “TAKE THE OFFENSIVE!” and will start at 9:00AM on Saturday, January 25^th, 2014 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel located at 8235 NW Airport Way in Portland.

You can take in a full day of training that will give you the tools you need to be a more effective activist or volunteer. Additional courses will be offered to those interested in applying or running for local public office, those interested in building their local grassroots organizations, and for veterans who want to participate more effectively in the communities they helped to protect. Cynthia Kendoll - OFIR President and Authorized Agent for the Protect Oregon Driver Licenses successful veto referendum campaign, will be speaking about how to manage a grassroots referendum or initiative campaign. Click on the agenda link for time and location of each break out session.

Before the debate, awards will be presented to leading activists and grass roots organizations.

STOP PLAYING DEFENSE...learn how you can go on the offense to create the change we are all working toward.

On January 25^th you can see the first major US Senate candidate debate of 2014 hosted by national news personality Lars Larson. You can also see presentations by candidates running for Oregon governor, and enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch prepared by an award winning restaurant.

KXL Radio, the Lars Larson Show, Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon Capitol Watch, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, I-Spy Radio, and author and entrepreneur Sam Carpenter are sponsoring the debate. The night before the conference there will be a reception at the hotel free to all registrants featuring live music and hot appetizers. This promises to be the premiere grass roots training event of the year. Registrants can submit questions to be asked during the debate and will assist in enforcing time limits. This is going to be a FUN, INFORMATIVE, and INSPIRING.

To REGISTER, click HERE or go to the www.westernlibertynetwork.org website to download a full agenda and click on the “REGISTER NOW” button when you are ready to register.

Check us out - Protect Oregon Driver Licenses Facebook page

Alert date:

January 15, 2014

Alert body:

Protect Oregon Driver Licenses would like to invite our OFIR friends to check out our new Facebook page. The PODL facebook page is dedicated to educating the public about the problems associated with granting state issued ID - if the form of a driver privilege card - to illegal aliens.

Leave a comment and share the link with your friends. Help us spread the word - Vote NO on driver cards for illegal aliens!

Clammy hands, dry mouth, churning stomach - thinking about speaking in public?

Alert date:

January 6, 2014

Alert body:

Good communication skills are the key to success in most things we hope to accomplish. But, if the thought of speaking in public makes you shake in your boots, you should plan to attend this month's 912 meeting!

Le and Ann Snelling

Revolutionary Persuasion

The Snellings are public speaking coaches and will be sharing their expertise in passionate and truthful communication skills. If you get nervous about what to say when going door to door for a candidate or you get clammy hands and dry mouth at the thought of calling on constituents, you don't want to miss this meeting! Le and Ann are dedicated to helping men and women develop skills to become revolutionary and persuasive speakers - something that is invaluable when reaching out to the community!

We will be hosting a KidsTEA again this month, focusing on virtue, values and the role both play in a vibrant economy. Your kids will participate in a game and discussion on how government involvement in the economy tends to cause more problems than solutions!

Please join us ---

Friday, January 10th at 6:30 PM

(doors open at 6)

Scottish Rite Center

4090 Commercial St SE

Salem;, OR

Salem 912 - 912projectsalem.org

Get Connected. Get Educated. Get Active!

Legislators predict the year's top stories in politics

What will be the biggest political story in Oregon in 2014? Lawmakers and political candidates share their predictions.

Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem: Marijuana legalization is Berger’s prediction for the biggest political story in 2014. Supporters of legalizing recreational usage of the drug have been gathering signatures to put the idea to voters in November, and Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, announced plans to pass a referral on legalization during the 2014 Legislative session.

“I think it’s coming at us like a freight train,” Berger said. “I don’t think that the Legislature is adequately preparing for that.”

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem: Oregon has managed to avoid “polarizing fights that plague other states,” but Courtney thinks that will come to an end in 2014. The Salem Democrat worried that a series of ballot initiatives on divisive social issues such as same-sex marriage, right to work and driver ID cards for undocumented immigrants would bring in a tidal wave of out-of-state donors and caustic rhetoric.

“You will have a battle of ballot measures like you have never had before, and it will tear the state up,” Courtney said. “It will bring a political war the likes of which we have never seen before in Oregon.”

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River: Oregon’s timber counties have struggled to pay their bills for two decades since federal protections curtailed 90 percent of logging on federal forest lands, but Walden thinks 2014 could be the year the government eases those restrictions.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to increase logging on about 2 million acres of federal forests in Western Oregon in September, and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has proposed a similar bill in the Senate.

“Our plan would provide the certainty that Oregon’s forested communities are demanding by creating jobs in the woods, improving forest health and providing revenue for essential local services like schools and law enforcement,” Walden said. “I predict that final passage of a historic forestry plan will be the biggest story of 2014 because we must help Oregonians who live in rural communities.”

Environmental opponents argue increased logging would hurt fish and wildlife while damaging the state’s growing outdoor recreation industry.

Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point: The Republican gubernatorial candidate predicted that he and his political party hopefuls would beat the Democrats in enough races to take back control of the Oregon Legislature and the governor’s mansion.

“It’s going to change the political course of Oregon back towards the middle,” Richardson said.

Democrats currently hold 16 of the state’s 30 Senate seats and 34 of the 60 House seats.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield: “In a matter of months, the Highway Trust Fund will essentially run dry, meaning there will be no new spending to fix our nation’s crumbling infrastructure,” DeFazio said. “Without a fix, the state of Oregon alone will lose half a billion dollars in 2015, resulting in thousands of lost jobs. This issue affects anyone who uses a road to drive, ride, bike or walk but it’s going to be tough to get Republicans to agree to funding.”

House of Representatives candidate Bill Post: The Republican talk show host who is running for Rep. Kim Thatcher’s seat this year thinks the Affordable Care Act and Cover Oregon will continue as the biggest stories of 2014.

“Both will continue to be plagued by technical glitches and the price tag that those who do sign on will be shocked by,” Post said. “This story will be the one that continues from the primary in May through the General in November. It will hurt anyone attached to it.”

House Minority Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte: The ranking House Republican predicted his party would make gains in the 2014 elections, and Cover Oregon would continue to be plagued by delays.

McLane added one more prediction for Rep. Carolyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie, who made headlines in 2013 when she substituted the word “love” for God in the Pledge of Allegiance. “Rep. Tomei won’t say the Pledge of Allegiance with an open mic,” McLane said. Read more about Legislators predict the year's top stories in politics

Tags:

driver's license

illegal aliens

Oregon Legislature

Oregon laws on driving, teen tanning, medical marijuana, others take effect Jan. 1

Hundreds of new laws passed by the Oregon Legislature on driving, teen tanning, animals and other issues go into effect Jan. 1, 2014....

...one new law that is not going into effect as scheduled Jan. 1:

Driver cards: The new law would have allowed Oregonians who can’t prove their legal presence to obtain four-year driving privileges. Opponents gathered enough signatures to refer the issue to voters on the November 2014 ballot. DMV subsequently suspended implementation of the program.

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Only FIVE DAYS left to take advantage of this great opportunity

Alert date:

December 16, 2013

Alert body:

Just how often does an awesome win – win opportunity come your way? You can help your favorite Oregon Political Action Committee and it won't cost you a dime! But, you must hurry – this opportunity ends December 31, 2013.

The choice is yours - you can do nothing and let the government take your money and do what they do best. Better yet, you can send your contribution to OFIR PAC and let us put it to work for you in the fight against illegal immigration here in Oregon and across the country.

The New Year promises to bring a new fight in the continuous effort by Congress to pass a mass amnesty bill. Active, grassroots organizations like OFIR have been successful in stopping any bills from getting through Congress again this year. Contributions from our members have kept us involved and in the fight.

Oregon residents can make a contribution to one Oregon Political Action Committee per year. Through Oregon's political tax credit, married couples filing joint Oregon Income Tax Returns receive a dollar for dollar credit of up to $100 - (it's $50 for singles and married couples filing separately) - for contributions to a Political Action Committee like OFIR PAC.

This is not a tax deduction but a credit. If you owe money on your tax return, you would owe $100 less. Of course, you may contribute in excess of the deductible amount, and we encourage you to do so, but you may only deduct the allowable limit.

OFIR has become one of the most active immigration groups in the country.

Please send your PAC contribution to:

OFIR PAC

P.O. Box 7354

Salem, OR 97303

For even greater convenience, you can contribute online at: http://www.oregonir.org/donate-ofir

You know how OFIR will squeeze every dime out of your contribution! We have an all volunteer Board and incredible members who volunteer their time and talents to OFIR!

If you have not yet taken advantage of this unique opportunity, please do so before the end of the year so that you can get credit for your OFIR PAC contribution against any taxes you owe in 2013. Don't miss out - it's a win – win for everyone!

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