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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Judge upholds key parts of Ala. immigration law! FINALLY!!!!!

 
For years now I've been accosted by people trying to get me to support the efforts of illegal immigrants on this oh so hot topic....why? I don’t know. The law is the law, here is how I see it; am I in favor of amnesty? No. Am I in favor of charging those who have been caught trying to commit or committing a crime? Yes. Is being in this country or any other country without the proper authorization illegal? YES! In addition to this, there are those who argue that illegal aliens have rights….exactly what rights do they have? Last I recall, all US citizens do have rights in this country, but isn’t that the issue to begin with, they are not U.S. citizens, nor are they guests, or tourists or any other legally recognized designation though Immigration and Naturalization Services. I’ve heard people say, this is racism! No, I don’t think so, regardless of whether you are Chinese, Armenian, Russian, Indian, Japanese, African, Australian or Canadian if you are here illegally, you are committing a crime.



More on this amnesty topic, I understand it to be interpreted as this, if you’ve lived in this country for x amount of years and your still not legal then you should be able to stay legally. So I guess if I rob a bank and don’t get caught for x amount of years…I get to keep the money and not go to prison? Or how about this example….I have a home in several states….so its possible for me to not be in one of them for more than a year….one day I decide to fly to New York and stay in my apartment there…when I get there, there is a family living there. I didn’t invite them, I don’t know them and so I call the police and report them. NYPD arrives and promptly tells me that they can do nothing, because this family has been living in my home for a years or so…yes illegally, but since I didn’t catch them breaking into my home, I have to give them amnesty and let them stay! OH YEAH, and provide food, health care and an education for their children. And we wonder why hospitals in places like L.A are closing. Finally, I’m going to touch on the latin issue. There has been arguments that our government only focus on latins, Mexican in particular. Simply put, statistically, latins and Mexicans make up the majority of illegal aliens in this country, and this makes sense, because aside from Canada they are the only nationality of people that can enter the USA without having to get on an airplane or a large ship…which verify and investigate entry documents, and last I checked there wasn’t a handful of Canadians scrambling to live in the USA.
Well, I think you get my point and definitely understand where I stand on this topic, and yes, I even have a personal interest in immigration that if you are curious enough to want to know about, I’d be more than happy to share with you, just e-mail me, or post to this blog. In the meantime, I’ve found a bit of good news on this issue out of Alabama, that I believe is on the right track, and I do support Arizona as well!





------REPOSTED---------

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge refused Wednesday to block key parts of a closely watched Alabama law that is considered the strictest state effort to clamp down on illegal immigration, including a measure that requires immigration checks of public school students.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn wrote in a 115-page opinion finding some parts of the law that conflict with federal statutes, but others that don't. Left standing at least temporarily are several key elements that help make the Alabama law stricter than similar laws passed in Arizona, Utah, Indiana and Georgia. Other federal judges already have blocked all or parts of those.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said most of the law was still intact and the state will enforce it. He planned to work with the state attorney general's office to appeal those parts that the judge blocked. The judge's previous order blocking the entire law expires Thursday.
"With those parts that were upheld, we have the strongest immigration law in the country," he said. "I believe that all sections of our law will be upheld."
There are three separate lawsuits against the Alabama law, including the main challenge from President Barack Obama's administration. In all, Blackburn's orders temporarily blocked several parts of the law until she can issue a final ruling. Those measures would:

— Make it a crime for an illegal immigrant to solicit work.
— Make it a crime to transport or harbor an illegal immigrant.
— Allow discrimination lawsuits against companies that dismiss legal workers while hiring illegal immigrants.
— Forbid businesses from taking tax deductions for wages paid to workers who are in the country illegally.
— Bar illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.
— Bar drivers from stopping along a road to hire temporary workers.
— Make federal verification the only way in court to determine if someone is here legally.

 
The judge could still allow any or allow of those sections to take effect after further litigation.

 
Blackburn, who was appointed by Republican President George H.W. Bush, heard arguments from opponents including the Obama administration, immigrant-support groups and civil libertarians before it was supposed to take effect Sept. 1. The Justice Department contended the state law encroaches on the federal government's duty to enforce immigration law, and other opponents argued it violated basic rights to free speech and travel.

 
The judge Blackburn said federal law doesn't prohibit checking students or suspects pulled over by police. She also refused to stop provisions that allow police to hold suspected illegal immigrants without bond; bar state courts from enforcing contracts involving illegal immigrants; make it a felony for an illegal immigrant to do business with the state for basic things like obtaining drivers licenses; and make it a misdemeanor for an illegal resident not to have immigration papers.

 
Immigration became a hot issue in Alabama over the last decade as the state's Hispanic population grew by 145 percent to about 185,600. While the group still represents only about 4 percent of the population, some counties in north Alabama have large Spanish-speaking communities and schools where most of the students are Hispanic.

 
Alabama Republicans have long sought to clamp down on illegal immigration and passed the law earlier this year after gaining control of the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Bentley signed it, saying it was vital to protect jobs of legal residents.

 
Agricultural leaders fear those parts of the law could cost farmers money this autumn by scaring away Hispanic workers who are vital to harvesting crops statewide.

 
"There are some sweet potato farmers in this state it's really going to hurt. I don't know how they're going to get their crops out," said Jeremy Calvert, a farmer in rural Bremen.
Zan Green, a tea party activist in metro Birmingham, said she was happy with the decision, saying citizens of foreign countries have benefitted for years through welfare, entitlements, education, medical care and child tax credits.

 
"''Judge Blackburn's ruling is the beginning of removing the enormous financial burden of illegal immigration from the backs of Alabama citizens," she said in a statement.

 
Both supporters and critics say it is the nation's toughest partly because of the section that would require public schools to verify the citizenship status of students and report statistics to the state. Illegal immigrants wouldn't be barred attending public schools, but opponents contend the law is designed to decrease enrollment by creating a climate of fear.

In a statement on behalf of 150 United Methodist pastors who signed a letter opposing the law, Revs. Matt Lacey and R.G. Lyons said church leaders were "pleased to see some of the harsh and far-reaching elements of the law have been struck down."
"We feel that many of these elements, written by members of the State House and Senate who campaign on Christianity, are not representative of the message of Christ who welcomed the stranger despite country of origin or status," they said.

 
___ Associated Press Writer Phillip Rawls contributed to this report from Montgomery.




Monday, September 19, 2011

A SPOTLIGHT ON FNO!

Last Thursady, September 8, whether in Paris, Milan, New York or Los Angeles it didnt matter, even fashion needs a night out and definitely if it includes Nordstroms rackish and trunk show-like sales; wine and cigar tastings, makeovers and red carpet events. Of course no city puts a spotlight on Fashion Night Out (FNO) like Sin City, Las Vegas! Remember what happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas; except for the couture you pick up between shows, fine dining and clubbing!

Designers and design houses from around the world with boutiques in Las Vegas held events some such as the Venetian Hotel even had hosts like Giuliana Rancic from E-Entertainment, others held shows on the runway, like shops at the Fashion Show Mall. Of course places like Caesars Palaces Forum Shoppes and City Centers Crystals went all out with a plethora of choices from their couturiers.  Participating retailers at Crystals donated a percentage of sales to the local charity partner they have selected for the evening, which included:


Fendi and Keep Memory Alive
Dior and Communities in Schools of Nevada
Yves Saint Laurent and Opportunity Village
Lanvin and Lied Discovery Children's Museum
Stella McCartney and the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas
Donna Karan and United Way of Southern Nevada
Kiki de Montparnasse and Nevada Cancer Institute
Nanette Lepore and Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas
Assouline and UNLV Foundation / University Libraries
Mikimoto and Nevada Pops
Emilio Pucci and The Shade Tree
de Grisogono and Spread the Word Nevada
TAG Heuer and Cleveland Clinic' Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Tom Ford and The Smith Center for Performing Arts


All in all, we simply cant resist the fact that FNO is the only night that the mainstream designers, couturiers and the like even gesture at a “sale”. The GREAT thing is that many proceeds go to well regarded charities…so until next year I’ll bid you fashionistas, metrosexuals and bon vivants well.