E!!

Ernest Istook @ Heritage’s Foundry blog has a good post stating concerns about Obama’s new Census Czar and his methods.  Seems that Robert Groves supports “statistical sampling” even though the administration (officially, at least) does not.  This practice attempts to make “adjustments” for under-counted people by creating fictitious profiles and assigning them a zip code, gender, race, and so on.  And then it counts them, just as if they were being counted by a census worker.

The argument in favor of the method is that poor minorities and illegal immigrants are usually under-counted so census results are skewed.  The argument against is that assumptions and formulas can be wrong.  And that data can be manipulated.

Though I think this needs watching, it is good to note that the Supreme Court ruled (in 1999) that the census has to be an actual count, so there is current protection under the law on this issue.  Any attempt to incorporate statistical sampling into the census could be legally challenged.  And I assume would be.

Istook’s closing lines are winners:

As Joseph Stalin said, “Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.”

And so could those who count the voters.

Vin Suprynowicz, one of my favorite local writers, penned a great column on immigration law enforcement (or lack thereof) in the RJ over the weekend.  As usual, he wipes the floor with his critics (albeit not very bright ones).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides a map and photos showing the current status of The Fence between the U.S. and Mexico.

Hat Tip: Mark Krikorian @ The Corner

This 2006 Pew Hispanic Center report is entitled and contains “Estimates of the Unauthorized Migrant Population” by state.  Nevada is 15th with between 150,000 and 200,000 illegals.  As you’d expect, California and Texas are #1 and #2 followed by Florida, New York and Arizona.  When combined, the illegal population of these five states is estimated at between 5.6 and 6.4 million. 

The top ten list is rounded out by Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, New Jersey and North Carolina.  States with the lowest totals (under 10,000 each) are Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Maine, Vermont, North Dakota, Montana, and West Virginia.

What struck me most about the report was not numbers but the title.  The word “Unauthorized” in place of the more commonly used “Illegal” smacks of political correctness.  But I suppose it’s not as bad as other words that could have been used like:  Non-certified, Unaccredited and/or Unempowered.  

Really, I’m surprised some Lefty pro open borders group hasn’t already dreamed up that last PC label and re-cast our illegal population as “Unempowered Newcomers.”

Not sure if anyone else caught Laura Ingraham’s interview with Danielle Bologna on her radio talk show last week?  This is the San Francisco woman whose husband and two sons were brutally murdered last month by Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.  Thanks to the policies of America’s most famous “Sanctuary City,” authorities failed to place an immigration hold on Ramos despite TWO prior convictions on gang-related FELONIES…AND an arrest on gun charges in March.

Click here to contact San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome’s office and let him know what you think about this!  You can also contact your Senator and/or Congressman with your thoughts about illegal immigration.

My three cents:  ALL illegal immigrants – not just those who violate ADDITIONAL laws after breaking our immigration laws to get here - should be reported and deported on “first contact” with a U.S. citizen and/or our authorities.  Our immigration laws are not (and should not be treated as if) they are casual suggestions. 

For an example of the proper care and handling of illegal immigrants, see this story re: a major raid and dozens of arrests in northern Nevada last fall and this follow up story describing the consequences for a company’s failure to comply with immigration law:  a Reno McDonald’s franchise owner was ordered to pay $1M in fines for knowingly employing illegal immigrants.

A couple of Nevada lawmakers are trying to get a bill passed that will do something about illegal immigration in Nevada – but unfortunately there does not seem to be wide support in the Nevada Assembly.