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NEWS BYTES
Despite assurances from the agency that the INS would maintain a low profile during the census count, a raid was conducted in Mesa, Arizona while the census was being conducted nearby.  According to the INS, the raid did not violate its stated census policy because the agency was following through on a tip from police rather than conducting independent action. 
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The manager of the Census Bureau office in western Oklahoma is worried that recent apprehensions of 200 undocumented immigrants will undermine her months of work to encourage immigrants, both legal and undocumented, to participate in the census.  The people were primarily migrant workers who were stopped on highways as they traveled to places of employment, primarily in the southeastern US.  The INS’ census policy limits activities only in residential areas, so such traffic stops can continue throughout the census.  According to the census office manager, many of those who she had convinced to work as community liaisons have, since the traffic stops, become reluctant to continue their participation. 
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The INS has announced that it will add seven new employees to the INS office in East Los Angeles to help the current staff deal with the numbers of green card renewal applications being submitted.  It is hoped this move will shorten the lines at the office, where many people stand in line all day only to have the office close before they are served.  The office currently processes about 200 renewals a day.  The INS hopes the additional staff will allow it to process up to 500 each day. 
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The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of the Congress, will look into the INS’ role in the Los Angeles Police Department scandal.  The investigation was called for by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) after the Los Angeles Times reported on collusion between the police and the INS.  The INS is also conducting its own internal investigation. 
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Another indictment has been issued in the sex and smuggling scandal surrounding Lakireddy Bali Reddy, a Berkeley, California landlord.  The man who posed as the father of the two young girls Reddy is alleged to have brought to the US for sexual purposes has been indicted on charges of smuggling and of conspiracy. 
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Backers of an attempt to put a ballot proposal similar to Proposition 187 on the November ballot in California are experiencing difficulty in their efforts.  To be placed on the ballot the new measure must first get 670,816 signatures by the end of April, and those in charge of the efforts are running out of money and time.  Also, the effort to recall Gov. Davis after he agreed to a settlement of the lawsuit over Proposition 187 has failed. 
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association this week reported that the California Service Center has begun processing applications for Family Unity benefits.  The Family Unity program was established to prevent the separation of families when only one member was granted amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.  It had been almost three years since such applications were routinely adjudicated, meaning that there is a tremendous backlog of cases.