Green card scam - A Question of Connotation

Cross posted from DeMediacratic Nation

When the media finally makes the crossover to just using the term “immigrant” to cover the whole lot, it is extremely difficult to discern the status of those involved. The subtext of the article title “Police say man posing as agent cheated immigrants out of thousands for bogus documentation,” implies “legal” immigrants….

It’s hard to say, are these illegal aliens/immigrants involved? Are these immigrants that have taken the legal route, yet worked with this Nevarez on the promise of expediting the bureaucracy?

Usage of various terms flow throughot the story where in the first paragraph of the story, they’re: “undocumented,” then “immigrants,” then “undocumented immigrants,” then “recent immigrants,” then they are “South and Central American immigrants,” then “victims,” and just finally “45 people.”

The promise of expediting the process for the “immigrants” is interesting because it sounds innocent and above board on the “immigrants” part. Further into the story though, it says “Nevarez created and filed paperwork for his victims - affidavits, school and hospital records - that falsely showed they were living in the country between 1982 and 1986. That time frame made them eligible for green cards - or permanent resident status in the United States - under a federal program.”

So is this just the scam process he used or is this part of the deal that they were aware of? Am I trying to read too much into this? I don’t think so, I just want to understand what the facts are and it is not readily, if at all, apparent.

From New York Newsday:

John Nevarez never worked a day as an immigration agent, but he did such a good job impersonating one that he was able to scam 45 undocumented immigrants out of nearly $300,000 in bogus green cards, officials said yesterday.

The career criminal, of Manhattan, operated out of an East Harlem storefront, where a crude sign read “Tickets R Us,” officials said. Using a Bronx pastor as an unsuspecting middleman, Nevarez, 53, charged $8,000 for the counterfeit documents, which he never produced. Threats of physical violence kept the victims, all recent immigrants, at bay, officials said.

“They were quite fearful of him,” said Lt. John Zerillo, commanding officer of the police department’s impersonation investigation unit, who investigated the crimes along with Manhattan prosecutors. “They thought this was a legitimate agent who … could expedite their paperwork.”

Nevarez was indicted at Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday and charged with possession of forged documents, grand larceny, criminal impersonation of a police officer and scheming to defraud, officials said. He faces more than 10 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Officials said Nevarez has 28 prior arrests for burglary, weapons possession and drug offenses, had served time in prison and was recently on state parole.

The probe began earlier this year, after one victim, suspicious of Nevarez’s violent threats, contacted authorities, police said.

Prosecutors said Nevarez created and filed paperwork for his victims - affidavits, school and hospital records - that falsely showed they were living in the country between 1982 and 1986. That time frame made them eligible for green cards - or permanent resident status in the United States - under a federal program.

A Bronx church pastor, who ran a community assistance program, along with the pastor’s secretary, unwittingly supplied Nevarez with a stream of equally unsuspecting South and Central American immigrants, officials said. Nevarez never dealt with walk-in customers.

Eventually, 45 people - who paid Nevarez a collective $288,000 - cooperated in the probe. Individual losses ranged from $3,000 to a high of $22,000, police said.

“We know there are additional victims out there,” said Zerillo, who with Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joanne Siegmund, is still investigating the case.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**

Harry Ringside Reid put efforts to end Catch and Release on the shelf

Cross posted from Morning Coffee

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the Immigration and Border Security subcommittee, offered an amendment to the pending homeland security funding bill Tuesday that would end the practice of “catch and release” for hundreds of illegal immigrants each week. The Cornyn amendment would require federal judges to take into account national security and border security when imposing any injunction that restricts the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to administer immigration laws. The amendment closes a current loophole in the law for illegal immigrants from El Salvador.

Harry Reid Raised a “point of order” to kill the amendment, clearly demonstrating his commitment for national security… He has none… Like most Democrats.

Hat tip to Stuck on Stupid, and to Kathryn Lopez of National Review Online 

Michelle Malkin Has more here

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**

1965 Voting Rights Act Up For Reauthorization

Cross posted from The Uncooperative Blogger
House is debating and voting on reauthorizing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. One Amendment you should support is the King Amendment which would get rid of the provision for bi-lingual ballots. There is no need for bi-lingual ballots people. Everyone who becomes a citizen has to prove a working knoledge of the english language. So, ballots in other languages are for non-citizens? Well, if you are not a citizen, you should not be voting, right?

So, call your Representitives now and ask them to vote for the King Amendment

Congress.org

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.

Colo. OKs toughest U.S. immigration bills

Cross posted from The Uncooperative Blogger

The AP reports that Colorado lawmakers ended a five-day special session on illegal immigration with approval of several bills that Democrats call the toughest in the nation and Republicans say don’t go far enough. I am with the Republicans on this one, we can’t be too tough on this issue.

The legislation will force a million people receiving state or federal aid in Colorado to verify their citizenship. Horror of all horrors, require you be a U.S. Citizen to receive tax payer dollars. How can we be so cruel?

It would deny most non-emergency state benefits to illegal immigrants 18 years old and older.

The state Senate passed it 22-13 and the House voted for it 48-15. The strange part is both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

Republicans said the legislation still left glaring loopholes, including allowing benefits for minors and denying voters the chance to have a direct say on the issue.

The bill would apply to Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, energy assistance programs and aging and adult services. Owens has said an estimated 50,000 illegal immigrants could be thrown out of those programs; thank all that is holy.

One of four Democrats to vote against the measure, Sen. Dan Grossman, said: “I don’t think the poor people of the state of Colorado or businesses of the state of Colorado should have to pay because we want to play politics with immigration.” I agree I don’t think Businesses and poor people should pay taxes that go to illegal alien invaders, but that is not what he meant, obviously.

Last month, the City Council of Hazleton, Pa., tentatively approved a measure that would revoke the business licenses of companies that employ illegal immigrants; impose $1,000 fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants; and make English the city’s official language. This city council is my hero! We need the State and local governments to step up until we get the Federal government to do its job and defend our borders

Hazleton’s Republican Mayor Lou Barletta said “Illegal immigrants are destroying the city,” “I don’t want them here, period.” Applause! Ditto they are destroying my country and taking jobs away from U.S. Citizens.

Two Florida communities, Palm Bay and Avon Park, are considering similar immigration measures.

Idaho’s Canyon County took an interesting approach to this problem. It filed a racketeering lawsuit against agricultural companies accused of hiring illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, a federal judge threw the case out, but county commissioners voted to appeal.

Meanwhile, Karl Rove asks the racist group La Raza to help him defeat the enforcement first movement in the House and the President continues to push for a “comprehensive” approach.

Well Mr. President I have your comprehensive plan right here:

• Secure the border by any means necessary. This includes the Military.
• Stiff penalties for employers, which are actually enforced.
• No taxpayer funded programs for illegals or their families. (including school for children of illegals and non-emergency medical care for any illegal)
• No “Anchor Babies” (no automatic citizenship for children of illegals born in the US)
• No path to Citizenship in any name or form for those here illegally.
• No Guest worker program until the above measures are put in place and the need can be PROVEN
• English only education and the official language of the USA

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.

Operational language

Cross posted from Toms’ FlashBack

While having served in the Army for many years I was exposed to many people of differing backgrounds. Conversations around base could be heard in many languages and it was never begrudged. But when it came time to move out and accomplish a mission we all knew English was the operational language. When orders were issued, relayed and executed they were in English. No one cared or thought of any other way. Why would we. Can you imagine having a military that has to issue orders in multiple languages, translations, searching out people that could understand instructions within a platoon or unit, or in the heat of battle not being able to get your people to do what was needed because you spoke on language and some spoke another? Dear God what a mess that would be. Can you just picture the chaos? I can tell ya, it was hard enough dealing with the Iraqis trying to get them to follow directions let alone having a barrier within the groups of soldiers fighting for their lives having to be able to communicate.

Now, why are we doing it in our society? Why is it that everywhere we go signs, literature and announcements are in English and Spanish? Why are we separating the two when we need but one? Why are businesses expected to pay double for everything said? Imagine the cost. (Where are the tree-huggers protesting the waste of paper?) Most importantly, why are we catering to Spanish? What about all the other languages spoken from by all the others that have come here? I know plenty of Haitians, Africans and Russians that have come here, learned English and moved on, of course most of them came here legally.

There is no reason whatsoever for it not to be expected that people coming to live here not learn English at least enough to operate. There is also no reason to expect that we should cater to those that don’t make any effort to learn our operational language. Minimal rules should apply no different than we currently do for the blind and deaf. Then that is it. Unfortunately, big biz is more concerned with pulling in the dollars than social norms. People need to be expected to live within the values of our nation. Just let any business you see know you want English only. Just as the “Holiday Tree” was done away with last Christmas, so can this be if enough people speak out.

Is there something wrong with enforcing the norm? Nope nothing at all. All we are doing by not pushing the Spanish people to learn English is to continue on with the welfare state we created. For some reason it is no longer expected that people should better themselves of become a productive part of society. Even though it is against the will of the people the government keeps dictating the majority conform to the minority.

There is nothing racist about this issue. Racism accusations are merely a diversion from the facts that puts the issue on defense instead of moving forward. I think the time of the race card is about over. When people are spouting out hate and then throw out the race card as a defense when challenged it cheapens the true racial issues we have as a nation and makes people just roll their eyes and walk off. People like me are sick of it along with the political correct mumbo-jumbo. Simple deal, come here, be a part of our society, and make it, legally. Other than that, do not expect us to change for you. There are too many of us, to many others of different origins that are willing to be Americans and not make demands for things not deserved.

I have been to three continents and eight countries and never once did I see any of the locals think that they should all speak the language of us visitors. On that, never once did I or any of my buddies make demands on our hosts. Pretty sure that wouldn’t have gone over very well, some of the places were the origin nations of martial arts, not messing with them, well, without an M16 anyway. Just as the demanding illegals should go back, do it right and be a part of America, not a separating faction.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**

Wal Mart Hates America

Cross posted from Toms’ FlashBack

Just a few days before the 4th of July I was in Wal-Mart of Bartow when my little eyes happened upon the flag display. There it was for all to see, the true loyalty of American business. Not to the Nation that fosters the profits and to the people that made the company as big as they are, but to the illegals that have laid waste to the American Dream. For there were but a couple American Flags on the hooks, and many, many more of Mexico’s’ standard. Here it was just days before this great nation celebrated its 130 years of existence that I find just one more eroded value. The value of Unity.

At a time when we have illegals, communist, socialist and racist, (LaReza, Mecha) marching in our streets waving flags of several nations and demanding rights that they are not entitled to as ILLEGAL ALIENS, Wal-Mart is helping them obtain the flags in the name of Profit. (Again I ask, why are they not marching for change in the countries they fled to here from?) Wal-Mart showed us once again that allegiance to ones nation means nothing to a corporate entity. Just because you can sell something, doesn’t mean you should.

I did something that normally I would not do; I called for the manager with the offensive flag in hand. Introduced myself and explained that I do some writing, am a proud Veteran and a Patriot. I explained that I found the display inappropriate and disproportionate given the world events and closeness of the 4th. She of course gave me the corporate gobblty-gook answer about diversity. I explained that diversity equals division, we need Unity. To pull people into the mainstream, become a part of America and not cater to people to lazy to learn the language. She said that if I understood where they came from. I countered that I have been to Mexico and pointed out that it was Mexican corruption that keeps Mexico poor. I made a point about all the boxes having to have English and Spanish, why not others then, why are they catering to Spanish speakers? This went on for a few minutes and I knew it was pointless anyway. She has no idea the turmoil that illegals cause in our society. A store manager has no say so, but I asked her to pass on our encounter to her District Manager, maybe just one person speaking up will make some sort of difference. I doubt it but hey, it was where my Ameri’Can heart took me. I have been back to the Wal-Mart in Bartow and Winter Haven and while nothing has changed, I tried. Care to join me?

Now I am no Wal-Mart hater. I like the store, as a working man; really there aren’t many affordable choices. I hate all the “Made in China” tags and purchase as few as possible, feel like I’m funding a future war against us.

It has become clear that Wal-Mart along with most of Corporate America and our elected officials are more interested in pulling in dollars than maintaining that people coming to this country should assimilate.

Well, everyone seems to join the group but the Spanish speakers. They turn were they settle into little versions of wherever they came from. (See Wahneta)

I do not care where anyone comes from, as long as they got here LEGALLY. I do not care what country, tribe, or religion. All I care about is that you join the club. It is a good group and I, and a lot of others are proud of what has been accomplished. Sure messy sometimes, what society is perfect, but I’ll tell you what, we try hard, to hard in some cases, and we learn. Does anyone know of such an amazing mix of peoples anywhere else in the world that work together as well as we do? America is of the People, not the politicians. Because we are Unified. But the rifts being created by all the efforts to segregate us into all these ethnic classes is taking away from what makes this Nation great. Once you cater to one, some other group will want special attention and so on until every box you pick up will be like a Rubik’s Cube trying to find the English part.

The solution is simple. Unity. One common language. One common goal. One Nation. One Flag. Wal-Mart, Corporate America, stop being a part of the problem. Stop worrying about Political Correctness and get some backbone and common sense. Help Spanish speakers learn the operational language of the US by not giving them the choice but to learn it. But most of all, if it is near the 4th of July, after just having Memorial Day and Flag Day, you sure had better have some American Flags prominently displayed and maybe just maybe, show a little concern about what it is exactly that the Flag of the United States stands for. Or have some riled Veteran come talking to you.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**