December 23, 2011
Border Agents Dispute Janet Napolitano's Report
Immigration News Update
“However, members of the Border Patrol agents' union -- the National Border Patrol Council -- say the report is misleading and that the increase in drug seizures actually means the Mexican cartels are more active and smuggling more drugs into the U.S.”
State & Local Update:
State legislators looking to crack down on illegal immigration in 2012 are turning away from the law enforcement laws that dominated state houses this year, and instead are pushing other measures that can make life just as difficult for illegal immigrants.
CHARLESTON — South Carolina will know by the New Year whether police will be able to check the immigration status of anyone they detain, including people pulled over for minor traffic violations.
Alabama recently made national news when it passed a strict new illegal immigration law, in fact, the federal government filed a lawsuit against the southern state. However, a funny thing happened in Alabama, their unemployment rate fell more than a half of a percent last month. State officials suggest the tough new illegal immigration law led to illegals leaving the state and prompted local businesses to hire American citizens and legal immigrants to alleviate unemployment levels.
Interior Enforcement:
The Homeland Security Department will use 50 immigration agents to screen jail inmates in Arizona's most populous county after revoking the sheriff's authority to access its systems, the agency said Monday in a letter to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.).