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"Thirty sought in illegal driverâ??s license scheme"
Hi Gang:
Today’s commentary is predicated on an article I recently wrote for the CAPS (Californians for Population Stabilization) website which is attached below. That article was, itself, based on a news release that was posted by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to announce that 30 illegal aliens had been indicted for allegedly participating in a massive criminal conspiracy that involved the creation of a fraud document ring to provide driver’s licenses to unknown numbers of illegal aliens.
Whenever the discussion about immigration comes up, almost invariably the issue most likely to be considered is whether or not our borders are really secure and if we need to construct a fence along our nation’s southern border. In point of fact, immigration is not a single issue but a singular issue that has a huge impact on nearly every challenge and threat that confronts our nation today- especially during this era where there are justifiable concerns about terrorism, transnational gangs, narcotics trafficking and a faltering economy with record numbers of Americans living below the poverty line and record numbers of homes being lost to foreclosure.
Similarly, immigration is just about whether or not our southern border is secure or if a fence should be built. Immigration must be thought of as a massive system with many moving parts. Certainly our immigration system should do much more to prevent the entry of aliens into our country whose presence poses a threat to our well being. Securing our borders- both north and south are important priorities. It must also be understood that the wrong headed Visa Waiver Program that enables aliens from some 36 countries to seek to enter the United States without first applying for a visa removes an important layer of security. Yet our government continues to look to expand this wrong-headed program.
Once in the United States aliens currently have little to fear from law enforcement for violations of our borders or immigration laws that they may have committed. Especially now that the Supreme Court has handed the federal government a near monopoly in enforcing immigration laws that clearly this administration in particular is loathe to enforce! What has not been noted in the coverage of the even more recent Supreme Court decision in passing the health care bill is that it must be presumed that the millions or perhaps tens of millions of illegal aliens will now be able to seek even more extensive health care as a result of the decision adding yet another incentive to aspiring illegal aliens to enter the United States either by running our nation’s borders or by entering via the inspections process and then violating the terms of their admission into the United States once they have been admitted.
Once in the United States aliens need to find a way to operate as normally as possible. This is especially important for criminal aliens who may be fugitives from other countries, attempting to evade law enforcement officers in other countries or who have entered the United States to continue their criminal careers. Terrorists also need to acquire identity documents in false names because they know that their own names may already be on various “no fly” and terrorist watch lists.
Fraud document vendors, such as those 30 who are now being sought are not short of customers! When aliens seek the false documents that such fraud document vendors sell, the possibility must be considered that these customers have more on their minds than simply working! They may well be seeking to cover their tracks by disguising their true identities so that they can embed themselves in our country. Yet the DHS, and agency I have come to refer to as the Department of Homeland Surrender lacks the resources and commitment to track down those who would seek false identity documents even though such action should reasonably call into question what their motivation might be to be able to operate surreptitiously in our country.
The TSA has been getting hammered for taking stringent measures, presumably to try to keep terrorists off of airliners. This is an important goal- I frequently fly to various speaking venues around the United States and do other such business travel. I certainly do not want a window seat on a de facto cruise missile! However, there is precious little being done to make certain that we don’t allow terrorists from entering our country and then hiding in plain sight by using false documentation or taking other such measures to conceal their identities, movement or other potential preparatory actions as they may prepare to carry out an attack! These failures also leave our nation and our citizens vulnerable to the continuing entry of transnational criminals and gang members whose presence poses a clear and present danger to the safety and security of our country!
If our government’s failures to secure our nation’s borders and effectively enforce our immigration laws concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-
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http://www.caps-blog.org/articles/2012/06/27/thirty-sought-in-illegal-drivers-license-scheme/
Thirty sought in illegal driver’s license scheme
Fraud comes in two fundamental categories–fraudulent schemes and fraudulent documents.
Fraudulent schemes are generally criminal conspiracies in which two
or more individuals enter into a business arrangement (such as a sham
marriage), to provide an alien with benefits he (she) would not
otherwise be entitled to.
Fraudulent documents also come in several varieties. It may involve
the production and sale of counterfeit or altered identity documents
such as driver’s licenses or alien registration cards (green cards), or
supporting documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, or
school transcripts. (School transcripts will likely be in great demand
by aliens who will falsely claim to have attended school in the United
States to participate in the program announced by the President that
will largely involve aliens who would have benefited from the DREAM Act,
had Congress passed that legislation.)
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) issued a news release
on June 21, 2012 that heralded the indictment of 30 illegal aliens who
are accused of procuring driver’s licenses in New Mexico (where
applicants for driver’s licenses do not need to prove that they are
legally present in the United States), then arranging for them to be
sent to South Carolina where, other illegal aliens would be waiting to
purchase these licenses.
According to the news release, “…each carry a maximum sentence of
15 years imprisonment. Conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, as well
as transporting illegal aliens, both carry a maximum sentence of 10
years imprisonment.”
It is important to understand that this sort of fraud is commonplace,
and that fraud rings have become very sophisticated in identifying
holes in the system to exploit. It is especially disconcerting that
more than a decade after the attacks of September 11, 2001 that certain
states, such as New Mexico, are willing to compromise the security of
the United States by allowing illegal aliens to acquire driver’s
licenses. It appears to be an obvious effort to please the various
groups and individuals who oppose the enforcement of our nation’s
immigration laws; laws that have two primary, simple goals: 1) Protect
American lives, and 2) protect American jobs.
The ICE news release stated that none of the criminal aliens who were
indicted are in custody but are being sought for the crimes that they
allegedly committed. It is entirely possible that many of them have
fled the United States and are back in their home country or countries.
Therefore it is absolutely possible that most of these alleged
criminals may never be apprehended and prosecuted for their crimes.
It is also important to note that terrorists have used driver’s
licenses procured under assumed identities to enable them to hide in
plain sight or, in the jargon of the 9/11 Commission, embed themselves
in communities around the country as they go about their preparation to
launch a terrorist attack.
I bid “Happy Hunting” to the agents who are seeking the 30 defendants
in this case. But I wish that they were also seeking to hunt the many
customers who did illegal business with those 30 defendants. Under the
policies and priorities of the current administration, if any efforts
are expended to find those customers who are, actually unindicted
co-conspirators, it will be to provide them with employment
authorization!