Sunday, July 31, 2005

Latino Service day II

My view: Repeal incentives that attract illegal immigrants
. . . . Yes, let us all continue in service to our fellow man but continue to recognize that service needs to come from individual effort, not government handouts. We are all aware that Hispanics are generally industrious people, but perhaps service projects should not be used to enhance a political objective. . . .

Latinos gather to offer service around the stateSalt Lake Tribune, United States - 20 hours ago
. . . They were held throughout the state to help dispel misconceptions that Latinos are a burden on the state and its resources. . .,
. . . I don't just want to say I'm from Argentina. I want to say I'm American. . . .. . . moving to Utah to improve her children's educational opportunities . . ..
Latino Hold Service Day Across The StateKUTV, UT - 22 hours ago(KUTV) Latinos in Utah took part in a big effort Saturday to show community pride. From Logan to St. George more than 25 projects ... . . . The Latino population in Utah is about 300,000, . . .
. . ."People just want an opportunity to better themselves, to have an education for their kids, and to have a better life for their kids," . . .
. . . "We are living here. We are raising our families here, and we need to feel that this is our country, it’s our nation, and we have to work together," . . .

Latino Community Plans Service ProjectsKSL-TV, UT - Jul 29, 2005Minutemen have taken their fight to keep illegal immigrants out of the country to the Utah Statehouse. But Utah Latinos say they ...
. . ."Our population is so young, so new to the state, and I don't think a lot of our community has instilled service in their blood yet." . . .
. . .Yapias admits there is an immigration problem, but also wants people to know not every Latino is an illegal immigrant. . . .

IN OUR VIEW Latino service project attacks stereotypesProvo Daily Herald, UT - Jul 30, 2005

. . . They're also hoping to change some people's perception of the area's growing Hispanic population. . .
. . . as with other ethnic groups that have come to America, there has been friction between Hispanics and their neighbors. . . .
. . . this strain has led Hispanics to stage boycotts to show the community their economic power .
. .

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Latino Service Day

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600150738,00.html

Yes, a Service Day is a fine idea - all citizens should (and do) participate in Service. Yes, good will is always a good option. As far as your reference to "the negative buzz of anti-immigration groups," we can only assume that the Deseret News includes Utahns for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (UFIRE) in this category. We have seen little "negative publicity swirling about immigrants;" in fact, we have seen a great deal of positive publicity emanating from the presses of the Deseret News about immigrants. There is little controversy, within the State of Utah, over immigrants, but there is a large controversy over ILLEGAL Immigrants. The majority of Utahns favor the Rule of Law; they welcome incoming immigrants entering our country using the proper legal avenues available.

The United States currently allows about a million people a year to take up legal residence in this country; this number is now becoming overshadowed by the massive influx of those who sneak across nearby borders, urged on by the promise of better jobs, government benefits, free education for their children, health care and a better life. By entering illegally, they are basically supplanting many who have waited years to enter this country, including many relatives and friends of US citizens.

Apparently, the Deseret News has adopted Chris Cannon's declaration in 2002, when receiving the "Excellence in Leadership" from the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), "We love immigrants in Utah. . . . And we don't often times make the distinction between legal and illegal." Most Utahns cherish our immigrant heritage and welcome new people, but we do demand that people obey immigration laws. Continually adding enticements and benefits to illegal entrants will do nothing to stem the ever increasing tide. The past and proposed amnesties have done, and will do, nothing to solve the problem. Employers evading employment laws and hiring illegal aliens are as guilty as those breaking the entry laws.

UFIRE calls on the State of Utah to continue forward with repealing instate tuition for illegal aliens and to look for ways to decrease, rather than increase, taxpayer-provided benefits which further attract more illegal immigrants to our State. We also encourage the legislature to conduct an audit of the true cost of illegal aliens to the taxpayers of Utah to refute the erroneous platitude that "cheap labor" benefits us all. Cheap labor may benefit some employers, but unwarranted benefits parlay the hidden costs to all taxpayers. The United States, and in particular, the State of Utah cannot continue to fund the benefits not provided by employers.

UFIRE is inviting Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo to visit our fair state to discuss immigration issues. Mr. Tancredo is in the forefront of the national effort to resolve illegal immigration problems. He will be attending meetings in St. George, Utah County and Salt Lake City on August 24th, 24th and 26th.

Yes, let us all continue in service to our fellow man, but continue to recognize that service needs to come from individual effort, not government handouts. We are all aware that Hispanics are generally industrious people, but perhaps service projects should not be used to enhance a political objective.

Friday, July 22, 2005

Have we really stopped illegals from getting Driver's Licenses?

Have we really stopped illegals from getting Driver's Licenses? Have we solved the problem of 95,000 illegal aliens with fraudulently issued Utah documents? Have we made our voting integrity more secure?

The regulations remain unchanged for Driver's Licenses. Apparently a Maticula Consular card is sufficient to get a Utah Driver's License.

***comments and BOLD added***


http://driverlicense.utah.gov/id.html
"When you first apply for a Utah driver license, you must provide proof of name, date and place of birth and your social security number. Items on the following lists are generally acceptable as proof. At least one form must be from the list of Primary Forms of Identification."


Primary Forms of Identification

  • Certification of Naturalization
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Delayed Birth Certificate*
  • Driver License issued in the U.S.
  • Foreign Birth Certificate with Notarized Translation*
  • Foreign Passport with VISA stamped on attached
  • I-94 Card of INS I-551 Card
  • Indian Blood Certificate
  • Matricular Consular/ID (issued in Utah only)
  • Resident Alien Card
  • U.S. Birth Certificate*
  • U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad*
  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Military ID Card or DD-214


Secondary Forms of Identification

  • Marriage License/Certificate
  • BIA/Tribal Treaty/ID Card
  • Medical Insurance ID Card
  • Motor Vehicle Clearance Letter
  • Out-of-Country Driver License
  • Employee ID Badge (with Photo)
  • International Driver License/Permit
  • Veterans Administration Card
  • IRS Generated Documents
  • Concealed weapons Permit
  • Employee Authorization Card (with passport)
  • Court of Record Documents: Adoption, Bankruptcy Decree,Divorce, Emancipation, Name
    Change
  • Bank Card ***can be obtained with Matricula***
  • Church Records
  • Credit Card (with photo)
  • School ID (with photo)
  • Professional License
  • Voter Registration Card
  • Selective Service Card
  • Selective Service Reg.
  • Social Security Card ***Remember recent ID theft news in Utah***

Below are the new requirements for a Driver Privilege Card (DPC).


Does this meet the intent of the law? A DPC apparently requires two things - an ITIN (supposedly to indicate "worker" or taxpaying status - and not to be used for ID purposes, per IRS) and two forms of address ID - one filling the requirement could be a "Court order of probation, order of parole or order of mandatory release" which certainly sounds like someone having been involved in, shall we say, "unfriendly" activities. Recently we had identity theft arrests involving illegal aliens; if Social Security numbers are for sale for $20, it seems certain that ITIN's might go for $10. What have we accomplished with this legislation? Have we made Utah safer? Have we caused people to become more law abiding?


http://driverlicense.utah.gov/Driving%20Privilege%20Card.htm
Driving Privilege Card
Senate Bill 227 became law, effective March 8, 2005 with the signature of Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. The law provides for a “Driving Privilege Card” for applicants who meet all requirements for a regular driver license, with the exception of qualifying for a Social Security number. The card allows for driving only and is not valid for identification purposes with any government entity.

  • Applicant must provide an individual tax identification number (ITIN) from the IRS. ***fake ones for sale for $20??? Are they verified on application?***
  • Applicant must provide proof of Utah residence address using two different types of verifiable documents from the list below.


In order to verify a residence address as the individual’s place of domicile or an address where the individual resides as a resident, an application for a Utah driver license, Utah driving privilege card, or Utah identification card shall be accompanied by a minimum of two different types of original (current and valid) documents from the following list identifying the individual’s name and residence address:
(a) Property tax notice, statement or receipt, within 1 year
(b) Utility bill, billing date within 60 days, no cell phone bill
(c) Utah Vehicle registration or title, current not expired
(d) Bank statement, within 60 days ***can be obtained with Matricula***
(e) Recent mortgage papers
(f) Current residential rental contract
(g) Major credit card bill, within 60 days
(h) Court order of probation, order of parole or order of mandatory release, must display residential address on the order ***illegal alien ex-convicts on parole are eligible for DPC????***
(i) Transcript(s) from an accredited college, university, or high school

Friday, July 15, 2005

Illegal Alien Employment Documentation

Following is the law on documentation requirement for employment - ID's fall in two categories employment authorization and identity -It is required to have either one from paragraph B or one from C AND one from D. In other words, it appears that a SS Card AND a Driver's License is required if the employee does not have a Passport or Alien Card - so an illegal with a Driver's Privilege Card could NOT be hired, even with a fake unverified SS Card. (of course this is only my interpretation of this law)

Note that the Attorney General (US??) can prohibit the use of various forms of ID:


http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/whd/0006.iana.htm
(B) Documents establishing both employment authorization and identity.­ A document described in this subparagraph is an individual's
(i) United States passport;
(ii) resident alien card, alien registration card, or other document designated by the Attorney General, if the document
(I) contains a photograph of the individual and such other personal identifying information relating to the individual as the Attorney General finds, by regulation, sufficient for purposes of this subsection,
(II) is evidence of authorization of employment in the United States, and
(III) contains security features to make it resistant to tampering, counterfeiting, and fraudulent use.


(C) Documents evidencing employment authorization.­ A document described in this subparagraph is an individual's
(i) social security account number card (other than such a card which specifies on the face that the issuance of the card does not authorize employment in the United States); or
(ii) other documentation evidencing authorization of employment in the United States which the Attorney General finds, by regulation, to be acceptable for purposes of this section.

(D) Documents establishing identity of individual.­A document described in this subparagraph is an individual's
(i) driver's license or similar document issued for the purpose of identification by a State, if it contains a photograph of the individual or such other personal identifying information relating to the individual as the Attorney General finds, by regulation, sufficient for purposes of this section; or
(ii) in the case of individuals under 16 years of age or in a State which does not provide for issuance of an identification document (other than a driver's license) referred to in clause (i), documentation of personal identity of such other type as the Attorney General finds, by regulation, provides a reliable means of identification.

(E) Authority to prohibit use of certain documents.­ If the Attorney General finds, by regulation, that any document described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) as establishing employment authorization or identity does not reliably establish such authorization or identity or is being used fraudulently to an unacceptable degree, the Attorney General may prohibit or place conditions on its use for purposes of this subsection.


(2) Individual attestation of employment authorization.­ The individual must attest, under penalty of perjury on the form designated or established for purposes of paragraph (1), that the individual is a citizen or national of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or an alien who is authorized under this Act or by the Attorney General to be hired, recruited, or referred for such employment.


Huntsman to Mexico III

Huntsman tells Fox of plan to push immigration issue
"telling Mexican President Vicente Fox and other officials here that he'll take on the immigration issue with the help of America's Western governors.
As for immigration, Huntsman said he'll work through the Western Governors Association to search for a solution. That could involve organizing a task force, the governor said, that would consider a variety of proposals to speed up the process by which immigrants can become U.S. citizens."

Comment: speeding the process for legal immigrants is nice, but how does that solve the ILLEGAL alien problem.

"That just came out of discussions with senior officials," Huntsman said of his decision to tackle the issue. "I think there's a serious need to reinvigorate the whole discussion on immigration. It's falling victim to politics here in Mexico and maybe to some level of indifference at home. I think it's one of the most critical issues of our time and requires a good public policy solution."

"Indifference" in Utah???? Well, at least, he's right on "critical issue" - but what is critical the speed or the illegality?

"Immigration, he said, came up repeatedly throughout his four-day visit. "I don't think we had a conversation where it didn't come up in some form or fashion."

Sure, Mexico wants no restrictions and unlimited immigration to help solve their economic problems - by pawning off the costs to American taxpayers.

""We all need to pull together as nation-states."

Is Utah now a Nation-State? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation-state
Is Gov.Huntsman suggesting joining together in regional government?

http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=4615 "In a world of near instant communications, the nation state is irrelevant. One of the outward symbols of its existence is the national border, staffed by uniformed officials checking papers and manning barricades. But what use are such border controls in the world of the Internet, for example?

Quite simply, the world has moved on. For many "statists," the concept of the national centralized government was — in its day — progressive and forward-looking."

Illegal Aliens and ID theft

http://radio.ksl.com/index.php?sid=219062&nid=19

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL News Services) -- SALT LAKE CITY (AP) --

Arrest warrants were issued Friday for five illegal immigrants who fraudulently used the Social Security numbers assigned to Utah children to get jobs.

The five were expected to be arrested on identity theft and forgery charges by early next week in an ongoing operation that could eventually land hundreds of undocumented workers in jail, Utah Assistant Attorney General Rich Hamp said.

"The numbers are being sold on the streets, you can virtually buy for $20 and get a forged Social Security card that you present to employers to get employment," he said. The Social Security Administration initiated the investigation when it came to the state, saying there seemed to be a problem in Utah with compromised Social Security numbers.

The ensuing investigation turned up at least 1,800 Social Security numbers assigned to Utah children 12 or under, with 90 percent to 95 percent of them being used by someone working.
Realizing that number was too unwieldy, investigators whittled the list down to about 200 names of children supposedly collecting wages.

"In terms of catching them (illegal immigrants), it was a matter of taking a kid's number, coming back with 5-year-olds that were making several thousand of dollars a year in a county other than where they live," Hamp said.

"It became kind of easy, the number is what is bothersome," he said.

Identity theft problems also were cropping up, he said, like when parents sent their child's Social Security number into CHIP, the state-run insurance program for children. "We've had kids that have gotten letters from the state, saying they can't get CHIPs program benefits because 'You're 30 and working,"' he said.

The numbers are easy to forge. Since those applying for Social Security numbers from Utah receive either a 528 or 529 number as the first three digits, forgers just make up at random the remaining six numbers, which are then put on a faked Social Security card.

Since this is being done at the street level and in a number of states, Hamp said it's too difficult to go after the sellers, and it's easier to find the buyers at their new jobs. Hamp said potential employers could prevent this problem by calling the Social Security Administration on a toll-free number to see if an applicant's Social Security number is valid. "The problem could be readily solved up front," he said.

The state investigation is a joint operation with the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(Copyright 2005 KSL NewsRadio 1160 & The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Gov Huntsman to Mexico II

Part II http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600148232,00.html
"Besides promoting economic development and tourism, it also encourages education and cultural exchanges."

Isn't 250,000 people enough cultural "exchange"?


Let's see $122 million in trade gives maybe $40 million in profit to a few companies vs. $100 million to educate the illegals children. what's wrong with this equation?


"As for education, Huntsman said he was inviting the Mexican secretary of education to visit Utah to see what kind of language exchange programs might be possible. He has suggested that could include tapping Mexican teachers to help immigrant students learn English as a second language."

Oh, that's how we can have cultural exchange and "save" taxes for Utahns - hire Mexican teachers (at US salaries??). They can probably come in "legally" with necessary language teaching credentials that the current 250,000 do not have. Or maybe we can hire ALL teachers from Mexico (at Mexican rates) and teach all Utah students Spanish, English, math and culture and save education costs.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Huntsman to Mexico

SL Trib
Utahns to guv: Tackle immigration on trip

"Jose, who didn't want his last name used because he's an undocumented resident, . . . Jose, who's in the process of getting U.S. residency papers . . . "

How does an illegal alien get residency papers????

"Huntsman plans to talk about immigration, but it is unclear with whom or in what meetings, a Huntsman spokeswoman said."

Will he talk about increasing or decreasing illegal immigration??

"Julio, another undocumented worker . . . Julio says it's going to be tough for the United States to keep undocumented immigrants from coming."


Huntsman aims to bring Utah, Mexico a bit closer

"He says his main priorities are to get a commitment from Mexican President Vicente Fox to visit Utah and to connect with two or three industries that might be compatible with state businesses. . . . He said he recognizes the Mexican community in Utah is growing rapidly, and it's only natural he makes ties in Mexico and learns more about it. . . . "As governor, you're the governor of all the people," he said. "I want to make sure we are aware of the questions on the minds of the Mexican community." "

Does a governor represent illegal aliens or legal citizens???

"Huntsman is taking a handful of people - Chris Roybal, senior adviser for economic development; Michael Lee, general counsel; a couple of security guards; and Joe Reyna, a Utah resident paying for his own trip. . . . Reyna, who volunteered on Huntsman's campaign, is a volunteer member of the 77-member Mexico Advisory Council, which is Fox's advisory group on international trade, business, immigration and politics. He said he helped organize Huntsman's Mexico trip . . . Reyna, a Zions Bank regional president."

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Atty Gen opinion on Instate Tuition

This is the AG opinion on the subject (bold added):

October 9, 2002
Bernard Machen
President
University of Utah
201 South Presidents Circle, Room 203
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

Re: Eligibility for In State Tuition

Dear President Machen:

This letter is in response to your inquiry concerning the validity and current applicability of Utah’s statute allowing students (except specifically defined nonimmigrant aliens under federal law) to pay only resident tuition at a Utah institute of higher education if they have attended a Utah high school for three or more years and received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Based on the following analysis, I conclude that the Utah statute is valid and is currently enforceable.

The Utah statute in question, Utah Code Ann. § 53B-8-106, provides:

(1) If allowed under federal law, a student, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph (15) of subsection (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, shall be exempt from paying the nonresident portion of total tuition if the student:

(a) attended high school in this state for three or more years;
(b) graduated from a high school in this state or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state; and
(c) registers as an entering student at an institution of higher education not earlier than the fall of the 2002-03 academic year.

(2) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (1), a student without lawful immigration status shall file an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he is eligible to do so.

This Utah statute provides, by its own terms, that it is only operational “[i]f allowed under federal law”. Federal law places limitations on a state allowing higher educational benefits to aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States unless the same benefits would be available to any other individuals in the United States regardless of whether they are residents of Utah. 8 U.S.C. Section 1623 provides:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration, and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident.

The Utah statutory criteria for being exempt from the nonresident portion of tuition, namely (a) attending a Utah high school for three or more years and (b) receiving a high school diploma or a equivalent, can be met by “a citizen or national of the United States” regardless of whether he or she is a resident of Utah. Utah’s Public Education Code provides that students who reside in one school district may, to the extent reasonably feasible, attend school in another school district (Utah Code Ann. § 53A-2-207). Likewise, a school district may permit a child residing outside of the state to attend school within the district on the payment of tuition at least equal to the per capita cost of the school program in which the child enrolls, though the tuition may be waived by the school board (Utah Code Ann. § 53A-2-205). In general, a child’s residence for purposes of obtaining a free public education in Utah is based on whether the child resides in the district, apparently without regard to citizenship or immigrant status (Utah Code Ann. § 53A-2-201). This is the case even if the child is not living with its parents but with a responsible adult designated by affidavit by the child’s parents as a legal guardian.

Therefore, there appear to be a number of options available to a child and its parents to allow the child to attend and graduate from a Utah high school regardless of citizenship, state of residence, or immigrant status. Based on this flexibility in Utah law relative to high school attendance and graduation, the federal prohibition against postsecondary education benefits for an illegal alien appear not to apply because the same opportunities are equally available to citizens or lawful residents of any other state. Utah law allowing Utah high school graduates to pay resident tuition does not appear to violate either the letter or spirit of the federal limitation and appears valid. Thus, this education benefit appears “allowed under federal law” and is valid and enforceable.

We have not found applicable judicial opinions interpreting 8 U.S.C. Section 1623, so there is always the possibility that a different or more strict interpretation might be applied by the courts, but on its face, at this preliminary juncture, we are of the opinion that it does not override Utah’s tuition statute.

Sincerely,



WILLIAM T. EVANS
Assistant Attorney General
Chief, Education Division

WTE/bk

************************************

Note: This appears to be a rather convoluted argument saying that: we have created a residency requirement specifically for "a student without lawful immigration status" to be eligible for instate tuition, all nonresident US citizens must meet that requirement, even though the federal law says "without regard to whether the (nonresident) citizen or national is such a resident," because we have residency requirements for High School. If, and when, a court case arises from a nonresident paying nonresident tuition, I hope, for the taxpayers of Utah that they are right.

The requirement to educate illegal alien children in K-12 was decreed under Plyler v Texas, 1985, and has no requirement basis in higher education.
***********************************

US Code Title 8, Section 1623.
Limitation on eligibility for preferential treatment of aliens not lawfully present on basis of residence for higher education benefits (a) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration, and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident. http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001623----000-.html

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Immigrant Births

BIRTHS TO IMMIGRANTS AT ALL-TIME HIGH Nearly 1/4 of New Mothers Are Foreign-Born, 1 in 10 an Illegal Alien WASHINGTON (July 7, 2005) -- A new analysis of birth records by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that in 2002 almost one in four births in the United States was to an immigrant mother (legal or illegal), the highest level in American history. In addition, nearly ten percent of all births in the country were to illegal-alien mothers.

This is important for at least two reasons: first, it is currently U.S. government policy to award American citizenship to all persons born on U.S. soil, even the children of tourists and illegal aliens. In addition, the number and share of children born to immigrants is now so large that it may overwhelm the assimilation process. The new report, “Births to Immigrants in America, 1970-2002,” by the Center’s Director of Research, Steven A. Camarota, is on line at http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/back805.html.
Among the findings:
* In 2002, 23 percent of all births in the United States were to immigrant mothers (legal or illegal), compared to 15 percent in 1990, 9 percent in 1980 and 6 percent in 1970.
* Even at the peak of the last great wave of immigration in 1910, the share of births to immigrant mothers did not reach the level of today. And after 1910 immigration was reduced, whereas current immigration continues at record levels, thus births to immigrants will continue to increase.
* Our best estimate is that 383,000, or 42 percent, of births to immigrants are to illegal alien mothers. Thus births to illegals now account for nearly 1 out of every 10 births in the United States.
* The large number of births to illegals shows that the longer illegal immigration is allowed to persist the harder it is to solve, because these U.S. citizen children can stay permanently, their citizenship can prevent a parent’s deportation, and once adults, they can sponsor their parents for permanent residence.
* The issue of births to illegals also shows that a “temporary” worker program would inevitably result in the permanent addition of hundreds of thousands of people to the U.S. population each year, exactly what such a program is supposed to avoid.
* The dramatic growth in births to immigrants has been accompanied by a significant decline in diversity. The top country for immigrant births C Mexico C increased from 24 percent of births to immigrants in 1970 to 45 percent in 2002. “Research shows that one of the biggest challenges immigrant-receiving countries face is the assimilation of the children of immigrants, who will have much higher expectations than their parents,” said Camarota. “With immigrants accounting for such a large, and growing, share of births, America is headed into uncharted territory. We simply don’t know how these children will assimilate -- but it is clear that the stakes for America are enormous.”
Among the new report’s other findings:
* In 2002, births to Hispanic immigrants accounted for 59 percent of all births to immigrant mothers. No single cultural/linguistic group has ever accounted for such a large share of births to immigrants. * Immigrant mothers are much less educated than native mothers. In 2002, 39 percent lacked a high school degree, compared to 17 percent of native-born mothers. And immigrants now account for 41 percent of all births to mothers without a high school degree.
* The states with the most dramatic increase in births to immigrants in the last decade are Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona, Tennessee, Minnesota, Colorado, Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland.
* Immigrants account for such a large percentage of births because they have somewhat higher fertility and are more likely to be in their reproductive years than natives. Nevertheless, the differences with natives are not large enough to significantly affect the nation’s overall age structure.
* Immigrants who have arrived over the past two decades, plus all of their U.S.-born children, have only reduced the average age in the United States from 37 to 36 years.
* Looking at the working-age (15 to 64) share of the population also shows little effect from immigration. With or without post-1980 immigrants and all their U.S.-born children, 66 percent of the population is of working age.
* While immigration has little effect on the nation’s age structure, each year new immigration (legal and illegal), plus births to immigrants, adds at some 2.4 million people to America’s population, making for a much larger population and a more densely settled country. For further information about “Births to Immigrants in America 1970-2002,” contact the author, Steven Camarota, at (202) 466-8185 or sac@cis.org. # # # The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institute which examines the impact of immigration on the United States.

Kansas Instate tuition Ruling

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600146785,00.html

Plaintiffs' co-counsel Kris Kobach on Wednesday called the ruling "unduly narrow." Kobach said he plans to appeal the dismissal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also oversees Utah. If the ruling is overturned, the case will go back to the Kansas District for arguments on the merits. The Kansas law is similar to one in Utah that grants in-state tuition to illegal immigrants who attend a Utah high school for three years and graduate here, or obtain the equivalent of a diploma. They must also be seeking legal immigration status or plan to do so when they are eligible. . . .
However, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said the ruling hasn't changed his decision to sponsor the repeal of the tuition law, which he says is "still against the law. "I'm sure that people will say we don't have a problem here, but we still have a problem here," Donnelson said. U. of U. sophomore Kelly Wolfe, who is among those considering a suit, says it's a matter of principle. "We are being affected," Wolfe said. "They should not be allowing illegal aliens to have something the federal government says they can't have unless citizens have it.". . .
Utah Latino rights activist Tony Yapias said the Kansas ruling "gives us more fuel to the fire" in efforts to persuade lawmakers to keep the law intact. "I think the biggest thing right now is that a judge has said there isn't a case," Yapias said. "I'm just concerned our legislators could have waited a little bit longer, rather than take an anti-immigrant group and attorney at face value."

Monday, July 04, 2005

John Florez: Huntsman must confront Fox on illegal immigration

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600146022,00.html

John Florez: Huntsman must confront Fox on illegal immigration

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s visit to Mexico this month will test his leadership and ability to live up to the principles he espoused at his inauguration. Is he willing to use his political capital for the good of the state and put immigration on the table? Or will the governor, by default, consent to have Utah taxpayers pay for the benefits the business community is reaping from illegal immigration?
. . .

Maybe the governor could propose to President Fox that for every matricula card issued, the Mexican government would put $5,000 (or some other amount) in the state's education fund. Maybe he could propose to tax any financial institution accepting matricula cards in transferring money. The governor might recommend that any employer who does not have workers' compensation insurance pay for the cost of the injured worker's medical care. And, perhaps he could challenge Utah businesses to help Mexico create jobs there that would curb the need for Mexicans to leave their country.