Agreement permits specially trained State Troopers to enforce federal immigration law

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department State House Boston, MA 02133 (617) 725-4000 MITT ROMNEY GOVERNOR KERRY HEALEY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2006 CONTACT: Eric Fehrnstrom Felix Browne (617) 725-4025 Kelly Nantel (EPS) (617) 727-7775 Paula Grenier (ICE) (617) 565-4216 GOVERNOR ROMNEY, ICE SIGN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PACT Agreement permits specially trained State Troopers to enforce federal immigration law Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ICE that will give specially trained Massachusetts State Troopers the authority to administer and enforce federal immigration laws in the Commonwealth. "The scope of our nation's illegal immigration problem requires us to pursue and implement new solutions wherever possible," said Romney.   "State Troopers are highly trained professionals who are prepared to assist the federal government in apprehending immigration violators without disrupting their normal law enforcement routines."  "I am pleased that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has joined this very successful program.  The 287(g) program represents a unique and effective partnership between ICE and state and county law enforcement agencies," said Myers.  "The goal of the partnership is to seek out those who both break our nation's immigration laws and the laws of Massachusetts by engaging in criminal activity."  The ability to enter into this agreement originates from the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, effective September 30, 1996, which added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act.   The section was enacted to enhance the federal government's ability to identify and remove foreign nationals that pose a threat to national security or public safety through closer cooperation and communication with state and local law enforcement. Under 287(g), ICE provides state or local officers with the training and authorization to enforce federal immigration law as necessary in the course of their criminal investigative duties. "This is a program where ICE utilizes cross-designated state and local law enforcement officers to identify and remove criminal aliens.   Here in Massachusetts, we look forward to a partnership with the Massachusetts State Police to reach that goal," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Boston. Thirty Massachusetts State Police troopers from five units – the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad, the Criminal Investigation Section, the Anti-Gang Unit, the Drug Enforcement Unit and the Community Action Team - have been selected to attend a specialized training course developed by ICE for Massachusetts.   The troopers will begin a five-week training course with ICE early next year. The training focuses on immigration law, civil rights, intercultural relations and the issues surrounding racial profiling.   Once troopers successfully complete the course and pass the related examinations, they receive official certification from ICE that grants them special 287(g) authority.  After certification, ICE will continue to provide supervision and support, working with the troopers as they carry out their immigration enforcement functions. "The Massachusetts State Police are uniquely positioned to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the enforcement of immigration laws here in the Commonwealth," said Public Safety Secretary Robert C. Haas.   "The 287(g) provision provides them with the requisite authority to do so." Under 287(g) authority, when a trained and certified trooper conducting state criminal investigations encounters an individual who is an immigration violator, he or she may question and detain the individual, charge them with a violation of immigration law if appropriate, and place the individual in removal proceedings.   Section 287(g) provides a valuable extra tool to local and state authorities, particularly in cases where the individual is a criminal alien, violent felon, gang member, has been previously deported or is an immigration fugitive. Already, 287(g) has achieved numerous successes in cooperative criminal law enforcement efforts with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Alabama Department of Public Safety and several counties in California and North Carolina.  ###

B.O. ()

Read Amanda Carpenter's report on Obama and his conflicting rhetoric .

 

Barak Hussain Obama

Deadline Approaching: 2007 RNC Calendar is Running Out

	Dear Michael, Don't wait a minute longer to get your 2007 RNC Calendar - - copies of this limited edition are going fast.  In order to receive your calendar by Christmas, orders must be placed no later than this Thursday, December 14. Your limited-edition 2007 RNC calendar includes monthly photos of our President, Vice President, and First Lady, and features little-known facts about our Party and the American Presidency. You can preview each month by going to our special 2007 Calendar Web page.   The holidays can be a hectic time of year for us all - - cross one more item off your to-do list by purchasing this limited edition calendar as a gift for your friends and family today.  Not only will they enjoy this special commemoration of our President and our Party, but your gift will help the RNC close the books on 2006, and enter into the 2008 election cycle on strong financial footing. As a great supporter of our President and our Party, don't miss this last opportunity to get your RNC calendar in time for holiday gift-giving.  Click Here to order your calendar before Thursday's deadline. Thank you for your continued commitment to our cause.  Best wishes to you and your family in 2007.  Sincerely, Sue Gazdo RNC Membership Services Director

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From Nathan

Dear Americans for Mitt Members,

 

As you may have noticed, there has been an onslaught of misleading attacks on Governor Romney's record over the past few days.   The folks over at  www.evangelicalsformitt.org have done a great job of responding to the allegations.  Give them a visit and check out all the great information they provide.  Yours truly got involved by responding to a specific attack from a group called Right March PAC: http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/front_page/marching_all_over_the_facts.php.

 

Also, Warren Bell, a contributor on National Review Online, offers his recap of a Romney event last night.  Further proof that when people get to know Governor Romney, they like him! Check it out here:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MmIwZmMyODMwMTU2Y2U4YWYxMGMyNDgxZTRhN2ZmM2E

 

If he's really on the verge of being"S-MITT-EN", shouldn't he check out our Smitten Store?

http://www.cafepress.com/smitten08

 

GOPBLOGGERS have launched another version of their 2008 GOP Primary Straw Poll.   Governor Romney has done very well in this poll in the past, so give them a visit and vote for Mitt:

http://www.gopbloggers.org/mt/archives/004517.html

 

Additional links to recent articles are below.  Remember to visit www.americansformitt.com for all the latest news, articles, and updates!  And please encourage your family and friends to join our e-mail list!

 

Thanks,

Nathan Burd

www.americansformitt.com

 

 

Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington:

http://www.american.com/archive/2006/december/mitt-romney

 

2008 Hopefuls Wooing Bush Network:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mantle11dec11,0,7194078.story?coll=la-home-headlines

 

Romney in Beijing:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/12/romney_gets_sni.html

Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."

That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.

Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.

Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington

Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington

By Matthew Rees
Friday, December 01, 2006
Mitt Romney, Massachusetts governor and Olympics savior, aspires to the White House. What does his background as a Bain consultant and hyper-successful venture capitalist tell us about how he'll perform? MATTHEW REES has the answers.

Click here for the full article:

and some of the most clever Romney art to date:

The episode highlights what would become the defining characteristic of Romney's career as a venture capitalist—and later as a government executive. He was willing to pursue—and analyze—data that others wouldn't bother to chase down. His dogged persistence paid off. During the 14 years Romney headed Bain Capital, the firm's average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was a staggering 113 percent. At that growth rate, a hypothetical $1,000 investment would grow to $39.6 million before fees. Few, if any, VC firms have ever matched Bain Capital's performance under Mitt Romney.

This article is one of the best 5 articles on about Romney. I consider myself an expert, but there were major things about Romney that I had not yet known in this Article.

I like the story were:

True to form, Romney became deeply immersed in crafting the health-care proposal. Moffit recalls that when he was asked to brief Romney, he found the tables turned. Romney was the one who gave Moffit the comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. "In 25 years of briefing elected officials and senior government executives, this was the first time I was the one who got briefed," Moffit says. "It was like being in a private class with a very high-energy professor, and Romney was the professor and I was the student."

I think that it is pathetic that "22 percent said they would not vote for an evangelical Christian; 14 percent would not support a Jewish candidate; and 9 percent, a Catholic candidate."

~~~Mike

Romney reaching to right?

The following is a brief responce to an article by SARAH LIEBOWITZ

Here is the full path.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/REPOSITORY/612100304

Everything she says can be refruted by a quick 30 second Romney Google Search.

re: "The Mitt Romney who twice ran for statewide office in Massachusetts is a different politician from the Romney who will likely court New Hampshire voters in the 2008 Republican presidential primary."

He is the same man. You keep keep saying he changed, but the people of the United States, in general, want slightly different things than the people of Massachusetts. If Romney's job is to represent the people who vote for him, and listen to what they want, do you think he would advocate the exact same things for the citizens of Massachusetts and the larger United States?  Abortion is the only stance which has changed, so stop  making yourself look un-educated by overgeneralizing.

re: " As a Massachusetts candidate, Romney pledged to keep abortion "safe and legal."

He did keep abortion safe and legal in Massachusetts. He said that he believed in the Rule of Law and that he knew Massachusetts had decided on Abortion. We wants to let every state decide.

re: "He called on the Republican Party to provide "more support" for the gay and lesbian community and won the support of many gay Republicans."

He still says the exact same thing. On Octover 16th, 2006 Romney said the following.

"In fact, as Americans, I believe that we should show an outpouring of respect and tolerance for all people. I believe God loves all of his children, that no one is abhorred -- that regardless of the differences and different choices, we should show that same respect. As Americans, we must vigorously reject discrimination and bigotry."

re: "In recent months, he has made headlines for his efforts to overturn same-sex marriage in the only state that allows it."

This is exactly what Romney, the candidate, said he would do. When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions. [6] "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union," said Romney in an October 2002 gubernatorial debate. He also voiced support for basic domestic partnership benefits for gay couples.