Employers Targeted by Immigration Officials

In contrast to the Bush administration's penchant for attention-grabbing raids resulting in worker arrests, the Obama administration has chosen to ramp up its immigration enforcement program with an eye towards I-9 audits that target small and big employers alike.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/tagblogsfindlawcom2011-freeenterprise-idUS265803715120110915

Hearing on tough Utah immigration law delayed

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah state attorneys said in a court filing Tuesday that federal authorities might get involved in a lawsuit challenging the state's tough immigration enforcement law that civil rights groups argue is unconstitutional.

It's not clear, however, if the U.S. Justice Department plans to take action regarding the Utah law. Spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the department was reviewing the law but didn't elaborate.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705390824/Hearing-on-tough-Utah-immigration-law-delayed.html

Utah’s “Show Me Your Papers” Law Hearing Postponed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The federal district court today granted a request by the Utah Attorney General’s Office to delay a hearing regarding the state’s anti-immigrant law. Utah requested the delay because of possible future involvement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the lawsuit.

DOJ has not filed a lawsuit against Utah’s law, but has done so with similar anti-immigrant laws in Arizona and Alabama. The hearing on Utah’s law, HB 497, was originally set for Friday but has been rescheduled for Nov. 18.

http://www.acluutah.org/PR_HB497_Hearing_Postponed091311.html

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Confirms that Grandparents Were Undocumented

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Embroiled in a high controversial push to bar the ability of undocumented immigrants from legally acquiring New Mexico driver's licenses, Gov. Susana Martínez has acknowledged for the first time that her paternal grandparents came to the U.S. illegally.

"I know they arrived without documents, especially my father's father," the Republican said Wednesday in an interview in Spanish with KLUZ-TV, the Albuquerque Univision affiliate.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/09/09/new-mexico-gov-susana-martinez-confirms-that-grandparents-were-undocumented/#ixzz1XYa9j5zt

Immigration offenses makes Latinos majority in federal prison

Immigration offenses are making Latinos the new majority in federal prisons, according to a government report analyzed by The Associated Press.
For the first time, Latinos make up more than half of all federal felony offenders sentenced so far this fiscal year, according to a report released by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/immigration-316316-program-latinos.html?nstrack=sid:2484512%7Cmet:102%7Ccat:3165555%7Corder:3

New Mexico Gov.Martinez: License Bill A ‘Gimmick’

SANTA FE – House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Nambé, on Friday introduced what some Democrats are calling a compromise bill that would toughen requirements for foreign nationals who apply for New Mexico driver’s licenses but would not stop illegal immigrants from obtaining them. House Bill 22 would require foreign nationals and illegal immigrants to provide two forms of official photo identification, fingerprints and proof of at least six months of residency in New Mexico. Licenses would be issued for only two-year periods, rather than the regular options of four or eight.

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/09/10/news/martine-zlicense-bill-a-gimmick.html

Estatus de la LEY HB-497...postergado hasta Septiembre

Por Mark Alvares:

El 10 de mayo del año 2011, el juez federal Clark Waddoups impuso una medida cautelar en contra de HB497, la ley de Utah que pretende asumir algunas responsabilidades federales sobre la inmigración. Se conoce como "Arizona Light" o "Enséñame los documentos." Se planeó una audiencia para discutir la ley en el juzgado el día 14 de julio de 2011. La oficina del fiscal general del estado (Mark Shurtleff) pidió una extensión de tiempo para preparar documentos en apoyo de HB 497. El juzgado federal ha aplazado la audiencia de hoy. Se ha concertado la próxima audiencia para las nueve de la mañana del día 2 de septiembre del año 2011.

 

On May 10, 2011, Federal Judge Clark Waddoups blocked the implementation of HB 497, a Utah immigration law that has been referred to as "Arizona Light" or "Show Me Your Papers." A court date for further argument was scheduled to take place on July 14, 2011. The Utah Attorney General's office asked for an extension of time to file documents in support of HB 497. The federal court has postponed the hearing scheduled to take place today. The hearing is now scheduled to take place at 9:00 am on September 2, 2011.