Man Accused Of Bilking Immigrants Stays In Jail
By DAVE ALTIMARI
Courant Staff Writer
July 3, 2007
NEW HAVEN
A Superior Court judge kept bail at $3.5 million Monday for the Branford man accused of bilking illegal immigrants out of more than $500,000 under the guise that he worked at the Yale Law School.
Ralph Cucciniello made his first appearance in a Connecticut court. By the time he appears on July 17, Cucciniello may be facing more charges. Investigators say they have identified more than 110 victims.
In seeking to keep the bail at $3.5 million, prosecutor Brian Leslie informed Judge Richard Damiani that the state isn't done investigating Cucciniello.
"These are very serious charges and additional charges are likely to be filed in this case," Leslie said.
Cucciniello was arrested late last week in Warwick, R.I., on an arrest warrant charging him with 59 counts of larceny.
Damiani signed the warrant after investigators from New Haven State's Attorney Michael Dearington's office got word that Cucciniello was living in a hotel near the airport in Rhode Island. The judge dismissed a recommendation from the bail commissioner and a public defender appointed for Monday's court appearance to lower the bond to $100,000.
Investigators do not know why Cucciniello left his Branford home, where he had lived for more than three years, and moved into a Marriott Residence Inn off I-95 in Warwick. He had been living there for at least a few weeks, giving him ample time to disappear if that's what he intended to do, law enforcement sources said.
Cucciniello was arrested Thursday night by Warwick police. He was wearing a light blue Yale T-shirt when detectives knocked on his hotel door and told him they had a warrant for his arrest.
Cucciniello waived his extradition rights during a brief appearance in a Rhode Island court Friday and was brought back to Connecticut early Monday.
He was wearing a Rhode Island prison-issued blue T-shirt with his hands handcuffed behind his back when he was led into the Elm Street courthouse with the 24 other people from the New Haven area arrested and held over the weekend.
Cucciniello, 55, did not speak during his brief court appearance. He was shuffled back to lockup by a marshal. The case was transferred to the courthouse which handles serious crimes. The arrest warrant in the case remained sealed.
Authorities say it was through his affiliation with the prestigious Yale University Law School that Cucciniello convinced possibly hundreds of illegal aliens, mostly Irish, that he had found a loophole in the immigration laws and could obtain green cards - proof of permanent residency - if they gave him $5,000.
Cucciniello claimed he was a professor working on a program to recruit illegal immigrants that was authorized by the dean of the law school. Many of the illegal immigrants brought the cash into the law school and handed it to Cucciniello as he sat at a desk in what he said was his office, police charge.
The charges include two counts of first-degree larceny, 57 counts of second-degree larceny and one count of violating the state racketeering act. In one of the larceny cases he is accused of bilking more than $100,000 from a Long Island couple.
Cucciniello had a Yale identification card and an e-mail address through the law school. Cucciniello gained access to the school through his affiliation with Prof. Steven B. Duke, who had worked on the case of New Jersey mobster Martin Taccetta, an acquaintance of Cucciniello.
Contact Dave Altimari at daltimari@courant.com.
Copyright © 2007, The Hartford Courant
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Cardinal Mahony reacts to Congressional failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform
Death of a bill: Senators kill legislation to reform U.S. immigration system
By Kaitlynn Riely
7/2/2007
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The day after Hispanic congressmen gathered with priests and Hispanic families to pray that wisdom be granted to members of the Senate, a bipartisan bill to reform immigration failed to garner the votes needed to move into voting on the issue.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a member of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, led a news conference on the terrace of the Cannon House Office Building on the morning of June 27. He said the purpose of the assembly was "so that together with our prayers we can enlighten the Senate of the United States and encourage people to have the courage to do what is right and what is correct."
Gutierrez and Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., along with religious leaders, spoke in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, a topic Gutierrez called a "moral issue."
But June 28 the Senate, after weeks of debate, failed to pass a bill that would have established a path toward citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States while strengthening border security. The vote to limit debate and proceed to a vote on the bill was 14 votes short of the 60 it needed, with a vote of 46-53 in favor of limiting the debate.
Catholic reaction to the failed attempt to pass the immigration bill has been largely negative.
Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., issued a statement June 29 as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, saying the bishops were troubled by the failure to reform the immigration system. He called the current state of the system "morally unacceptable."
"The U.S. bishops shall continue to point out the moral deficiencies in the immigration system and work toward justice until it is achieved," he said.
Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, called the Senate's inability to agree on comprehensive immigration reform a "monumental failure for our country." He lamented the unchanged fate of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants who live in fear of deportation.
"Today's action to give up on the bill leaves in place the status quo – a deeply flawed, untenable and much-criticized immigration system that is (in) desperate need of reform," Father Snyder said in a statement.
Opponents of the bill, mostly Republicans, refused to approve the legislation because they said strengthening border security should be a prerequisite to expediting the legalization of millions of immigrants.
Speakers at the Hispanic caucus' news conference argued that the immigration system, as it currently exists, damages immigrant families. An immigration system that splits up families is wrong, Gutierrez said.
"Our families are the cornerstone of society," he said.
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles also issued a statement about the failed bill, which he said would have affirmed human dignity for immigrants. He echoed the message of those at the news conference, saying that the current system contributes to the separation of families.
"Every day that this status quo is permitted to exist is a moral failure for our nation, as well as a legislative one," he said.
Although most analysts predict that the issue of immigration reform will not come to a vote again until after the 2008 elections, Father Snyder encouraged Congress to rise above partisan politics to deliver a solution this year.
Cardinal Mahony acknowledged it is unlikely that the Senate will take up the immigration topic again in the next few months but said the Catholic Church would remain active in supporting effective immigration reform legislation.
Gutierrez expressed confidence that religious communities would play the role of advocate for immigrants on social justice issues as they have done in the past -- such as for civil rights for African-Americans in the 1960s. And the government should listen, he said, because it has a responsibility to protect immigrants.
"We will stand up in every church across this country to say that our government has a responsibility to defend the most vulnerable of our society," Gutierrez said. "And the most vulnerable of our society today is our immigrant community -- our undocumented community."
At the caucus' news conference, speakers refuted the idea that illegal immigration is limited to the U.S.-Mexican border. Many of them interspersed their English with Spanish, but stressed that the immigration debate is not just a Hispanic issue, but rather an issue that affects all Americans.
"Immigration is not just a Hispanic issue, or an Irish issue. It isn't just an African issue; it isn't just an Asian issue," Baca said. "It isn't an issue specific to one group of people nor is it an issue specific to any one place. It's not just about security issues, agricultural issues, business issues -- it's America's issue."
Irish-born Father Brendan McBride, coordinator of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco, and Father Michael Leonard of the Chicago Irish Immigrant Support Center, who is also a native of Ireland, told the mostly Hispanic group that – as Irish Catholics – they could empathize with the experience of prejudice and exclusion.
"We understand the hurt of not being able to travel back for a funeral, of not being able to travel home for a wedding," Father McBride said. He said the Catholic community would keep the fight for comprehensive immigration reform alive.
Before the measure died in the Senate, Gutierrez had expressed confidence that the immigration bill would proceed to the House, but warned Republicans that the patience of the immigrant community was running out. The members of the immigrant community, he said, are not "hordes of people that have come here to destroy our American way of life," as he said some people claim.
"We are hardworking people that want an opportunity to contribute even better to America," Gutierrez said.
Catholic News
By Kaitlynn Riely
7/2/2007
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The day after Hispanic congressmen gathered with priests and Hispanic families to pray that wisdom be granted to members of the Senate, a bipartisan bill to reform immigration failed to garner the votes needed to move into voting on the issue.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a member of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, led a news conference on the terrace of the Cannon House Office Building on the morning of June 27. He said the purpose of the assembly was "so that together with our prayers we can enlighten the Senate of the United States and encourage people to have the courage to do what is right and what is correct."
Gutierrez and Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., along with religious leaders, spoke in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, a topic Gutierrez called a "moral issue."
But June 28 the Senate, after weeks of debate, failed to pass a bill that would have established a path toward citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States while strengthening border security. The vote to limit debate and proceed to a vote on the bill was 14 votes short of the 60 it needed, with a vote of 46-53 in favor of limiting the debate.
Catholic reaction to the failed attempt to pass the immigration bill has been largely negative.
Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., issued a statement June 29 as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, saying the bishops were troubled by the failure to reform the immigration system. He called the current state of the system "morally unacceptable."
"The U.S. bishops shall continue to point out the moral deficiencies in the immigration system and work toward justice until it is achieved," he said.
Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, called the Senate's inability to agree on comprehensive immigration reform a "monumental failure for our country." He lamented the unchanged fate of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants who live in fear of deportation.
"Today's action to give up on the bill leaves in place the status quo – a deeply flawed, untenable and much-criticized immigration system that is (in) desperate need of reform," Father Snyder said in a statement.
Opponents of the bill, mostly Republicans, refused to approve the legislation because they said strengthening border security should be a prerequisite to expediting the legalization of millions of immigrants.
Speakers at the Hispanic caucus' news conference argued that the immigration system, as it currently exists, damages immigrant families. An immigration system that splits up families is wrong, Gutierrez said.
"Our families are the cornerstone of society," he said.
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles also issued a statement about the failed bill, which he said would have affirmed human dignity for immigrants. He echoed the message of those at the news conference, saying that the current system contributes to the separation of families.
"Every day that this status quo is permitted to exist is a moral failure for our nation, as well as a legislative one," he said.
Although most analysts predict that the issue of immigration reform will not come to a vote again until after the 2008 elections, Father Snyder encouraged Congress to rise above partisan politics to deliver a solution this year.
Cardinal Mahony acknowledged it is unlikely that the Senate will take up the immigration topic again in the next few months but said the Catholic Church would remain active in supporting effective immigration reform legislation.
Gutierrez expressed confidence that religious communities would play the role of advocate for immigrants on social justice issues as they have done in the past -- such as for civil rights for African-Americans in the 1960s. And the government should listen, he said, because it has a responsibility to protect immigrants.
"We will stand up in every church across this country to say that our government has a responsibility to defend the most vulnerable of our society," Gutierrez said. "And the most vulnerable of our society today is our immigrant community -- our undocumented community."
At the caucus' news conference, speakers refuted the idea that illegal immigration is limited to the U.S.-Mexican border. Many of them interspersed their English with Spanish, but stressed that the immigration debate is not just a Hispanic issue, but rather an issue that affects all Americans.
"Immigration is not just a Hispanic issue, or an Irish issue. It isn't just an African issue; it isn't just an Asian issue," Baca said. "It isn't an issue specific to one group of people nor is it an issue specific to any one place. It's not just about security issues, agricultural issues, business issues -- it's America's issue."
Irish-born Father Brendan McBride, coordinator of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco, and Father Michael Leonard of the Chicago Irish Immigrant Support Center, who is also a native of Ireland, told the mostly Hispanic group that – as Irish Catholics – they could empathize with the experience of prejudice and exclusion.
"We understand the hurt of not being able to travel back for a funeral, of not being able to travel home for a wedding," Father McBride said. He said the Catholic community would keep the fight for comprehensive immigration reform alive.
Before the measure died in the Senate, Gutierrez had expressed confidence that the immigration bill would proceed to the House, but warned Republicans that the patience of the immigrant community was running out. The members of the immigrant community, he said, are not "hordes of people that have come here to destroy our American way of life," as he said some people claim.
"We are hardworking people that want an opportunity to contribute even better to America," Gutierrez said.
Catholic News
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Legalize the Irish!
I have to say, I'm glad theres only a hour left in this week - its been roller coaster, to say the least.
But tomorrow morning is truly the beginning of the next phase of our campaign. Over the last 18 months, we have collectively learned so much, we've achieved so much and we have educated so many people along the way, who never even knew there was such a thing as an undocumented Irish immigrant! These achievements are the foundation we can build the next phase of this campaign on. We knew this wasn't going to be the 100 yard dash – nothing in politics ever is. The marathon to legalize the Irish was always going to be just that, a marathon. And we have all done the necessary training to get us over the finish line together!
Lets continue to build on all our hard work of the last 18 months and get this job done, once and for all!
But tomorrow morning is truly the beginning of the next phase of our campaign. Over the last 18 months, we have collectively learned so much, we've achieved so much and we have educated so many people along the way, who never even knew there was such a thing as an undocumented Irish immigrant! These achievements are the foundation we can build the next phase of this campaign on. We knew this wasn't going to be the 100 yard dash – nothing in politics ever is. The marathon to legalize the Irish was always going to be just that, a marathon. And we have all done the necessary training to get us over the finish line together!
Lets continue to build on all our hard work of the last 18 months and get this job done, once and for all!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Labour Party Leader Speaks Out in Ireland
STATEMENT BY MICHAEL D HIGGINS TD
Irish Labour Party President and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Friday, 29 June 2007
POLITICAL PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED ON BEHALF OF UNDOCUMENTED IRISH
Labour Party President and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Michael D Higgins TD, has expressed sincere disappointment at last night's US Senate vote that saw the proposal to debate a new Immigration Reform Bill defeated by seven votes.
Deputy Higgins commented, "Last night's decision not even to debate the reform proposals comes as a real setback for all those who have campaigned to legalise the status of the many thousands of undocumented Irish living, working and raising families in the United States.
"These people make a significant contribution to the US economy, yet enjoy no security of status or the ability to return home to visit their wider families.
"I am therefore calling on the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, in particular, to continue to press their American counterparts for a new deal for the undocumented Irish.
"The Labour Party has long supported the main elements of the original Kennedy/McCain initiative and we continue to support all efforts being made to regularise the status of the estimated 30,000 Irish people in the United States who find themselves in this position.
"The political pressure must be maintained and I will continue to raise this issue with US authorities and representatives at every opportunity."
Irish Labour Party President and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Friday, 29 June 2007
POLITICAL PRESSURE MUST BE MAINTAINED ON BEHALF OF UNDOCUMENTED IRISH
Labour Party President and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Michael D Higgins TD, has expressed sincere disappointment at last night's US Senate vote that saw the proposal to debate a new Immigration Reform Bill defeated by seven votes.
Deputy Higgins commented, "Last night's decision not even to debate the reform proposals comes as a real setback for all those who have campaigned to legalise the status of the many thousands of undocumented Irish living, working and raising families in the United States.
"These people make a significant contribution to the US economy, yet enjoy no security of status or the ability to return home to visit their wider families.
"I am therefore calling on the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, in particular, to continue to press their American counterparts for a new deal for the undocumented Irish.
"The Labour Party has long supported the main elements of the original Kennedy/McCain initiative and we continue to support all efforts being made to regularise the status of the estimated 30,000 Irish people in the United States who find themselves in this position.
"The political pressure must be maintained and I will continue to raise this issue with US authorities and representatives at every opportunity."
Time to return the Statue of Liberty
I'm writing this as I watch a woman I know bring her children to the local park. She is undocumented, her husband is undocumented but the children are US citizens. I don't know who Senators DeMint and Sessions were speaking for yesterday. They weren't speaking for these two small US citizens whose lives continue to be in jeopardy.
Amazing really, that this country, which attracts so many people from around the world is turning its back on immigrants. We should think about giving the Statue of Liberty back. We don't deserve it.
Amazing really, that this country, which attracts so many people from around the world is turning its back on immigrants. We should think about giving the Statue of Liberty back. We don't deserve it.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Message for the future from Niall O'Dowd
I know the news today has been personally devastating for all the undocumented Irish who have fought the good fight to become legal in the United States.
It was always going to be a very difficult road to immigration reform but we need to understand that there is more than one way to approach this issue.
Comprehensive immigration reform is dead until after the November 2008 election. We need to follow another path in order to achieve our aims. We were unable to do that while comprehensive reform, involving 12 million undocumented, was under consideration.
Statement from Dermot Ahern re Senate Bill
Expressing his deep disappointment at today's developments in the US Senate on the issue of immigration reform, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., said:
"I greatly regret that the courageous efforts of many members of the US Senate to achieve support for a wide ranging, cross-party bill on immigration reform, has not been successful in attracting the necessary level of support to ensure its progress.
"I appreciate the determined efforts of those Republican and Democratic Senators and of President Bush to achieve a bipartisan agreement on this important matter. I would echo the sentiments of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham today in the Senate when he said "you cannot wish away 12 million people" and those of a great friend of Ireland, Senator Ted Kennedy, who in his address in the Senate said "that the Senate resume its belief in the American dream….will we vote on our fears or for the future?
"I have asked our Ambassador in Washington to provide a full assessment of the situation we now face so that we can review how our efforts can best be brought forward for the benefit of our undocumented in the US.
"In addition, we will maintain our engagement with key Members of the US Congress and I have already been in contact with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform which provides an effective voice for the Irish undocumented throughout the US.
"The Government is fully committed to responding to the concerns of the undocumented Irish and will continue to take every opportunity to convey to US political leaders the urgent need to address this major issue, which impacts directly on many families in Ireland. The Government will continue to support our citizens in the United States who find themselves in this difficult situation
"This set-back will not diminish our determination to secure the fair deal for the undocumented Irish and their families."
"I greatly regret that the courageous efforts of many members of the US Senate to achieve support for a wide ranging, cross-party bill on immigration reform, has not been successful in attracting the necessary level of support to ensure its progress.
"I appreciate the determined efforts of those Republican and Democratic Senators and of President Bush to achieve a bipartisan agreement on this important matter. I would echo the sentiments of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham today in the Senate when he said "you cannot wish away 12 million people" and those of a great friend of Ireland, Senator Ted Kennedy, who in his address in the Senate said "that the Senate resume its belief in the American dream….will we vote on our fears or for the future?
"I have asked our Ambassador in Washington to provide a full assessment of the situation we now face so that we can review how our efforts can best be brought forward for the benefit of our undocumented in the US.
"In addition, we will maintain our engagement with key Members of the US Congress and I have already been in contact with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform which provides an effective voice for the Irish undocumented throughout the US.
"The Government is fully committed to responding to the concerns of the undocumented Irish and will continue to take every opportunity to convey to US political leaders the urgent need to address this major issue, which impacts directly on many families in Ireland. The Government will continue to support our citizens in the United States who find themselves in this difficult situation
"This set-back will not diminish our determination to secure the fair deal for the undocumented Irish and their families."
WE ARE NOT GIVING UP OR GOING AWAY
Today's news is disappointing but it is not the end. For some time we have been pursuing other means of legalizing our community and we will be actively pursuing those aims in the weeks and months ahead.
We believe it is still possible that we can legalize our community, and we ask our thousands of volunteers to keep faith with the effort despite this setback.
We believe it is still possible that we can legalize our community, and we ask our thousands of volunteers to keep faith with the effort despite this setback.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wall Street Journal Warns GOP over Anti-Immigrant Action
The ultra-conservative Wall Street Journal today warned the Republican party that it risked political suicide by killing the immigration bill. PLEASE KEEP SENDING THE FAXES AND MAKING THOSE CALLS
Read The Full Story Here
Read The Full Story Here
The danger is that the GOP is sending a message to Latinos that it doesn't want them in the party. And if that message sticks, Republicans could put themselves back in minority party status for a generation or more...
ILIR quoted in national news round-up
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Senate Passes Vote To Allow Debate On Immig Bill
The Senate has passed a vote 64 - 35 allowing debate on the immigration reform bill. This is the first of three votes we need the Senate to pass. The second - which would limit the debate to a timely manner - is expected to take place tomorrow. Please keep sending those faxes. This is the week to put all our effort into lobbying our Senators.
ILIR SUPPORTERS BOMBARD SENATE WITH 6000 FAXES
YOU SENT 6,000 FAXES TO THE SENATE!
The ILIR would like to thank everyone in San Francisco, Florida, Boston and New York who took part in the National Action Day. You sent 6,000 faxes to the Senate offices of Senators Boxer, Schumer, Reid and McConnell. Congratulations!
However, we cannot take any of the Senate votes coming up for granted – there are a lot of reports about waivering or faltering resolve. We cannot allow the Senate to close the door on comprehensive immigration reform.
LET'S KEEP THOSE FAXES AND CALLS GOING! We need to increase calls to Senate offices next week. At this point, given how close together votes may be, we should ask people to call EVERYDAY to urge their Senators to move forward.
lET'S KEEP THE FOCUS ON OUR TOP FOUR: Senators Boxer, Schumer, Reid and McConnell. Please call them and ask them to support this process. Let them know the Irish SUPPORT this process. Please don't let the bill die in the Senate. It will kill our communities.
Click here for scripts, phone numbers and faxes
IMMIGRATION UPDATE
Saturday, June 23, 2007
No Green Card? Pick up the phone/fax on Monday
This post is aimed at every single Irish person out there who needs a green card - pick up the phone on Monday 25 and make FOUR calls or faxes to Senators Boxer, Schumer, Reid and McConnell. Or print the faxes from the ILIR website and send them in. It's that simple.
The Senate will vote on Tuesday on whether or not to move the bill to the next process. This vote is called cloture, and if this vote fails, we fail. That's it folks. The Bill will live or die in this vote.
Why do you need to call? These four Senators are powerful enough to drive this bill out of the Senate and into the House. BUT, they are not hearing from supporters of the bill like us. The people they're hearing from are the idiots on the right, who say it's amnesty, and the idiots on the left who say it's not good enough. IT IS GOOD ENOUGH!
The folks at ILIR have put together pre-written faxes and phone scripts for you to use. Please click here to get the phone numbers, scripts and faxes. And please ask everyone you know to sign faxes and send them in.
The Senate will vote on Tuesday on whether or not to move the bill to the next process. This vote is called cloture, and if this vote fails, we fail. That's it folks. The Bill will live or die in this vote.
Why do you need to call? These four Senators are powerful enough to drive this bill out of the Senate and into the House. BUT, they are not hearing from supporters of the bill like us. The people they're hearing from are the idiots on the right, who say it's amnesty, and the idiots on the left who say it's not good enough. IT IS GOOD ENOUGH!
The folks at ILIR have put together pre-written faxes and phone scripts for you to use. Please click here to get the phone numbers, scripts and faxes. And please ask everyone you know to sign faxes and send them in.
McCain Optimistic on Immigration Vote
In LI, McCain pushes immigration bill, troop surge
BY TIMOTHY ROBERTSONtimothy.robertson@newsday.com
Newsday, June 23, 2007
Presidential hopeful John McCain appeared in Upper Brookville Friday for a fundraiser in which he said he was "guardedly optimistic" about the success of immigration reform legislation that will return to the Senate for consideration on Tuesday.
The Arizona Republican, a co-signer of the immigration bill, which secures the Mexican borders and puts 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship, spoke at an event hosted by real estate magnate Mark Broxmeyer.
The fundraiser drew approximately 220 people to Broxmeyer's residence and brought in more than $340,000 for the candidate, campaign officials said.
He will make a second fundraising stop on Long Island, in Southampton, later this week.
At the Upper Brookville event, McCain said he hopes to have the immigration reform legislation wrapped up by the end of the week, before Congress breaks for the Fourth of July recess.
"There will be some tough votes," the senator said. "I think we have the votes; I'm guardedly optimistic."
The bill will need 60 votes on Tuesday in a test vote that would limit debate on the legislation.
Two weeks ago, the test vote only received 45 yeas -- and just seven from Republicans, meaning that debate was open-ended and the bill could be bogged down.
The candidate warned that if the stalled legislation isn't pushed through before the break, it "maybe a long time before we take it up again."
"If we do nothing, we have broken borders, we have 12 million people with de facto amnesty," said McCain, who has drawn sharp disapproval from the conservative base for his position on the issue.
Friday, June 22, 2007
CCIR News Clips June 22 2007
Courage at a Cost
Washington Post, United States
Home Depot Amendment
New York Times, United States
On the Rio Grande, Anger Swells Over Plans for Fence
Washington Post, United States
Seeing the World Through Manu Chao's Eyes
Washington Post, United States
Immigration concerns were heard, group says
El Paso Times, TX
Bush: If we both agree, one of us isn't necessary
Chicago Tribune, United States
Video raises concern about firms' H-1B abuses
San Francisco Chronicle, USA
Hutchison refuses to back immigration bill
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX
Feeney: Wake up, Senate: No immigration-amnesty sellout
Orlando Sentinel, FL
Courage at a Cost
Monday, June 18, 2007
Boston Herald reports on "The Lack of the Irish"
The Boston Herald reports that Irish sporting traditions that predate baseball in much of America are seriously threatened by America's dysfunctional system of immigration and the resulting "Lack of the Irish."
Twenty-five years before ground was broken on Fenway Park, in 1886, the first Gaelic football match was played on Boston Common. Since its founding in 1884, the Boston Northeast Gaelic Athletic Association has done more than organize these matches. It has nourished and spread Irish culture and political viewpoints and provided a critical economic and social safety net to new Irish immigrants.READ FULL REPORT AND VIEW AUDIO SLIDE SHOW AT BOSTON HERALD WEBSITE
Irish Independent: "Reform bill gives new hope to Irish illegals in US"
Independent.ie
Reform bill gives new hope to Irish illegals in US
By Patricia McDonagh
Saturday June 16 2007
Following a deal reached by Democrat and Republican leaders, the immigration reform bill will be considered for another term, despite fears it would be shelved last week. If passed on July 4, the bill would create a new Z-Visa, allowing those currently living in the US illegally to work upon payment of a fine and to eventually apply for a green card.
It would also create a guest-worker programme, allowing Irish people to spend a short time in the country.
Although greeted by the Irish immigration lobby, the pressure group admitted reservations regarding some of the "punitive measures" in the bill
"We are very pleased," said president of the group Niall O'Dowd. "It's a huge turnaround from a week ago when the process looked completely dead in the water.
"However, we have a lot of reservations, particularly about the future flow of immigrants. We still don't know if they will be entitled to immigrate legally, as the language is undecided." Despite this, O'Dowd says the lobby is prepared to put any reservations behind it if the most important principle, the legalisation of the undocumented Irish, is gained.
"It's not the perfect bill, but it does have the most important principle - giving Irish people who are already here legal status. At the moment, people can't go home and they can't drive.
"The clampdown on illegal status is becoming tighter every day and it is becoming harder for Irish people living here." Coupled with the bill are plans for a $4.4bn (€3.2bn) border security plan which would enable officials to keep tabs on the number of people entering the country.
According to Mr O'Dowd, this is a "carrot" to get hard-nosed Republicans to vote for the controversial immigration reform bill.
"I think that President Bush felt that they had to be given some incentive to vote for such a controversial bill," he said.
READ AT IRISH INDEPENDENT WEBSITE
Reform bill gives new hope to Irish illegals in US
By Patricia McDonagh
Saturday June 16 2007
Following a deal reached by Democrat and Republican leaders, the immigration reform bill will be considered for another term, despite fears it would be shelved last week. If passed on July 4, the bill would create a new Z-Visa, allowing those currently living in the US illegally to work upon payment of a fine and to eventually apply for a green card.
It would also create a guest-worker programme, allowing Irish people to spend a short time in the country.
Although greeted by the Irish immigration lobby, the pressure group admitted reservations regarding some of the "punitive measures" in the bill
"We are very pleased," said president of the group Niall O'Dowd. "It's a huge turnaround from a week ago when the process looked completely dead in the water.
"However, we have a lot of reservations, particularly about the future flow of immigrants. We still don't know if they will be entitled to immigrate legally, as the language is undecided." Despite this, O'Dowd says the lobby is prepared to put any reservations behind it if the most important principle, the legalisation of the undocumented Irish, is gained.
"It's not the perfect bill, but it does have the most important principle - giving Irish people who are already here legal status. At the moment, people can't go home and they can't drive.
"The clampdown on illegal status is becoming tighter every day and it is becoming harder for Irish people living here." Coupled with the bill are plans for a $4.4bn (€3.2bn) border security plan which would enable officials to keep tabs on the number of people entering the country.
According to Mr O'Dowd, this is a "carrot" to get hard-nosed Republicans to vote for the controversial immigration reform bill.
"I think that President Bush felt that they had to be given some incentive to vote for such a controversial bill," he said.
READ AT IRISH INDEPENDENT WEBSITE
Wall Street Journal Focuses on Children
CHILDREN PAY HEAVY PRICE IN IMMIGRATION RAIDS: On the morning of Dec. 12, a schools superintendent in Nebraska issued an "urgent" email about a major immigration raid at a local meatpacking plant that would have "significant impact on many students." Children might go home to find one or both parents gone, or might not be picked up from school at all, it noted. Read More
June 18 News Clips from CCIR
Immigration reform gets another chance
Corpus Christi Caller Times, TX
Activists push for immigration reform
Rockford Register Star, IL
Get back to work
Charlotte Observer, NC
Giving a face to immigration debate
Chicago Daily Herald, IL
Immigrants embark on tour to foster understanding
Boston Globe, United States
Immigrant advocates off to DC
St. Petersburg Times, FL
Believing in the American Dream -- for all
Roanoke Times, VA
Our view on immigration: Long waits, onerous rules invite ...
USA Today
Immigration ripping the GOP at its seams
Journal Review, IN
Friday, June 15, 2007
CCIR Immigration News Clips: June 15
Immigration Bill Has New Life in Senate
Washington Post, United States
Good Fences
Washington Post, United States (Krauthammer)
The GOP's Identity Crisis
Washington Post, United States (Dionne)
The DJ Who Decided It's Drive Time
Washington Post, United States
Senators Agree to Revive Immigration Bill
New York Times, United States
Senate strikes deal to revive immigration bill
Los Angeles Times, CA
Not Dead Yet
The American Prospect, MA
Senators Plan to Revive Immigration Bill
Chicago Tribune, United States
New Haven's Immigration Drama Grows
Hartford Courant, United States
Immigration reform gets second chance
Houston Chronicle, United States
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