Arizona law puts Democrats’ seats in peril – Scott Wong – POLITICO.com Arizona’s controversial new immigration law is imperiling a trio of centrist Arizona Democrats who are caught in powerful crosscurrents in their Republican-leaning House districts. The leader of their party, President Barack Obama, has criticized the state law as “misguided,” and the Justice Department […]
CQ Homeland Security: Support for Virtual Fence Collapsing as Quickly as Expectations, Officials Say If the Southwest border surveillance technology initiative known as SBInet still has any wholehearted defenders, they didn’t speak up Thursday during a joint House subcommittee hearing to evaluate the current state of the program. “We suffer from two fundamental flaws: One […]
By Michael T. Dougherty
It is an open question whether Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year or find time to work on smaller immigration packages such as the DREAM Act or AgJOBS. Immigration reform poses many difficult issues for Congress, and if any legislation includes a pathway to citizenship for some or all the 10.8 million illegal immigrants that DHS estimates reside in the United States, Congress should ensure that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has the resources that it needs to promptly and accurately enroll that population.
New concerns arise over body scanners – Chicago Tribune
As the government begins deploying whole-body imaging machines to replace metal detectors at airports nationwide, some security experts worry that the new technology could make it easier, not harder, to sneak weapons and explosives onto airplanes.
On June 3, DHS announced that it had completed an agreement with France to implement the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) at the Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris. When Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are deployed later this summer, Paris will join Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Tokyo and Seoul (among other locations) as places where the IAP operates. The IAP enables the identification of high-risk travelers at foreign airports before they board aircraft bound for the United States, and DHS should continue to work with partners to export best security practices and standards more widely.
Unions unfazed by TSA nominee’s punt on collective bargaining – Government Executive
During his confirmation hearing on Thursday, President Obama’s nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration largely punted on the issue of collective bargaining rights. Nevertheless, federal employee unions said TSA needs a permanent leader and John Pistole should be confirmed.
In November 2009, DHS proposed establishing Global Entry – a pilot “trusted traveler” program – as a permanent fixture at U.S. airports. The final rule should be published soon, and in the meantime, the program continues to expand and facilitate international travel. Global Entry currently operates at 20 U.S. airports and allows U.S. citizens entering the country by air to skip immigration lines in favor of kiosks. The number of participants in these programs likely will continue to grow, particularly as Global Entry partnerships expand. This should be welcomed and encouraged, as it facilitates both travel and security.
Among the issues awaiting Secretary of State Clinton on her trip to Latin America is U.S. immigration policy and combating narco-trafficking. The Secretary could advance both issues while simultaneously stressing the Obama administration’s commitment to the Western Hemisphere by offering the prospect of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) membership to qualified Latin American countries. Currently, no country from the region is on the VWP list. This absence of our neighbors to the south is something that can and should be remedied.
The Department of Homeland Security’s continued commitment to E-Verify is apparent from the new E-Verify re-design, which will be launching on Sunday, June 12, 2010. The new re-design is a huge improvement in terms of the look and feel of the E-Verify program, giving users enhanced security, accuracy and efficiency. Unfortunately, the new system still does not address the most pressing need of many employers – an ability to address prevalent identity theft and false claims of U.S. citizenship. Regardless, the system should be a welcome improvement for employers. The enhanced tools and information also demonstrate the broader DHS commitment to enhance the E-Verify system. This commitment is a positive sign that the government is serious about helping employers successfully determine employment verification.
On July 11, 1947, a ship carrying more than 4,000 Jews sailed from the south of France and headed to Palestine. The Zionist movement endeavoring to create the State of Israel as a home for the Jews sought to “break the embargo imposed by Great Britain on immigration to Palestine.” On May 30, 2010, more than 500 Palestinian activists and sympathizers sailed from Turkey aboard the Mavi Marmara ship as part of the “Free Gaza Flotilla” in an effort to “break the siege imposed by Israel on Gaza.” Will the Mavi Marmara end up having the same historical significance to Palestinians as did the Exodus 1947 for Jews? Only time will tell.
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