6. New Bytes:

Sweeping enforcement bill headed for AZ House

The KPHO News in Arizona reports that a bill that would allow police officers to ask about anyone's immigration status—even if they're not suspected of a crime—passed in the Arizona Senate.

The bill would make it a state crime to transport or conceal an undocumented immigrant or to be in Arizona without authorization. The bill would also make it a crime for an unauthorized immigrant to solicit work in a public place or for anyone to hire someone from a vehicle. Those opposed to the bill say that it is racial profiling, while those in favor said it protects police and citizens statewide.

http://www.kpho.com/politics/22585166/detail.html

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ID lawmaker seeks to revoke business licenses

The Spokesman Review in Idaho is reporting that state representative Phil Hart presented legislation that would suspend business licenses to penalize employers who knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants. The measure also includes misdemeanor penalties for using false identification to secure employment and misdemeanor and felony penalties for falsifying records for someone else for employment. The Representative believes that those measures would eliminate any incentive for undocumented immigrants to seek employment in Idaho.

Those questioning the bill believe that local prosecutors would be unable to track all possible business licenses that could be affected. Others also worry about the effects of the legislation on Idaho farmers.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2010/feb/18/hart-us-magnet-these-people/

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CA Rep. wants probe of deportation by fake ‘agent’

The Associated Press is reporting that a California Congressman has called for an investigation into how a man in San Diego was able to pose as a U.S Marshal and deport his cousin's wife to the Philippines.

Police said that the subject under investigation handcuffed the Filipino national at gunpoint and forced her husband, who is his cousin, to buy a plane ticket for her to be deported. The suspect then used a fake badge to get through security at the airport and put her on a plane to the Philippines where she remains.

The prosecutors have not decided whether he will face charges, which could be state or federal.

After the incident, the Transportation and Security Administration said its San Diego supervisor will get more training and that policies and procedures will be reviewed.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/22/us/AP-US-California-False-Deportation.html

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Activists surprised by low rate of application for Haitian TPS

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that although thousands of Haitians have applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) only a month after that special designation was announced following the earthquake, immigration officials and activists are surprised at the relatively low number. The temporary status will be granted to those residing in the country as of January 12, 2010—the day of the earthquake—who do not have a felony or up to two misdemeanors on their criminal record.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has processed approximately 28,000 applications nationwide. That number is only a fraction of the immigrants expected to become legalized before the July 20 deadline. Immigration officials had first predicted that anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented Haitians would be eligible for the temporary status, especially because undocumented Haitian immigrants have long sought ways to become permanent residents.

Some speculate that Haitians have been slow in applying for TPS because of mistrust and believe they are reluctant to register with the government. Others believe that some eligible Haitians are having difficulty coming up with the money for application fees and that they do not apply for fee waivers because they worry those requests will delay the applications. Another speculation is that some eligible Haitians might be delaying their applications because they mistakenly think that a later filing date would extend the time they would be able to stay legally in the U.S. However, the temporary status will be granted until July 22, 2011 regardless of when applications are approved.

USCIS reports that about 7 percent of all TPS applications received have been rejected, mostly because they were incomplete. Therefore, it is being advised that those Haitians eligible to apply for TPS should send their applications early so that they have more time to re-file if necessary.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/os-haitians-tps-florida-20100222,0,4733651.story

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