lframerica.com Blog

If you have information that would lead to the arrest of any of them, call surveillance officer Beto Borquez at 329-2210, Ext. 2342. If you know any of their immediate locations, call local law enforcement agencies or dial 911. Do not attempt to apprehend them yourself.

Michael Mendez - Male, 40. Height 5 feet 11 inches, weight 250. Black hair, brown eyes. Alias: Mike Mendez. Tattoos: “NC” and Naked City with a marijuana leaf on the left arm, a little “Cholo” man and ribbon with “N.C.” on the left shoulder, various other tattoos on body.  His probation violation is for the original conviction of possession of drug paraphernalia, an undesignated offense.

Efrain Aguirre–Zazueta - Male, 21. Height 5 feet 8 inches, weight 170. Black hair, brown eyes. Alias: Efrain Aguirre. Tattoo: three dots on the left hand. His probation violations are for the original convictions of theft, a Class 5 felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 6 felony.

    Daniel James Greaney - Male, 27. Height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 130. Brown hair, brown eyes. Alias: Daniel Graney. Tattoo: Chinese letters on front of each shoulder. His probation violation is for the original conviction of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 6 felony.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/service_40713___article.html/county_probation.html

If you have information that would lead to the arrest of any of them, call surveillance officer Beto Borquez at 329-2210, Ext. 2342. If you know any of their immediate locations, call local law enforcement agencies or dial 911. Do not attempt to apprehend them yourself.

Shayne Murphy - Male, 18. Height 5 feet 11 inches, weight 175. Blond hair, blue eyes. Aliases: Shayne Donavon Levi Murphy/Davavon Murphy. His probation violation is for the original conviction of two counts of attempted unlawful use of means of transportation, both undesignated offenses.

Armando Perez - Male, 24. Height 5 feet 11 inches, weight 165. Brown hair, brown eyes. Alias: Armando Ray Perez. Tattoo: “Mondo” on stomach. His probation violation is for the original conviction of assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Jose Luis Miranda Jr. - Male, 19. Height 5 feet 6 inches, weight 135. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Aliases: Luis Miranda, Jaime Miranda, Guero Miranda. Tattoos: “South” on the right hand, “Side” on the left hand, tattoo of the rosary on the right finger, “Player 69″ and “Guero” on the chest. His probation violation is for the original conviction of unlawful use of means of transportation, a Class 6 felony.

Brittany Ybarra - Female, 20. Height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 155. Brown hair, brown eyes. Alias: Brittany Danielle Ybarra. Tattoos: “AZ” on the left hand, “E” on the right hand, “Ybarra” on the left shoulder. Her probation violation is for the original conviction of attempted unlawful use of means of transportation, a Class 6 felony.

by Joe Johnson

Credit cards, mail, a stolen cell phone and clothing from a recently burglarized store were among the items found in the home of a local resident arrested on Thursday after the 25-year-old allegedly broke into 10 vehicles during a two-day period in Avenal.

Joseph Torres of Hanford was charged with multiple counts of vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property and a violation of parole. Between Wednesday and Thursday of last week, Torres apparently stole items from five different locations across Avenal and burglarized area business Angel’s Clothing Store.

A Sheriff’s Department investigation into the numerous incidents led deputies to identify Torres and search his home, where numerous stolen items were found.

Torres was being held at the Kings County Jail without bail, due to a parole hold. He was recently released from state prison, according to Sheriff’s Department officials, although his previous charges were not given.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Kings County Sheriff’s Department substation in Avenal at 386-5361.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,342616,00.html

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island  —  Linking the presence of undocumented workers to Rhode Island’s financial woes, Gov. Don Carcieri signed an executive order that includes a series of steps to combat illegal immigration.

The order signed Thursday requires state agencies and companies that do business with the state to verify the legal status of employees. It also directs the Rhode Island State Police and prison and parole officials to more aggressively find and deport illegal immigrants.

The Republican governor said he understands that illegal immigrants face hardships — but he does not want them in Rhode Island, America’s smallest state. “If you’re here illegally, you shouldn’t be here illegally. You shouldn’t be here,” Carcieri said.

Immigrant advocate Juan Garcia feared Carcieri’s proposals would drive a vulnerable community underground. He said illegal immigrants who are victims of crime will fear approaching police, and that children could suffer if parents lose their jobs.

“These people are not criminals,” he said. “This is affecting the poor people.”

Carcieri’s popularity has plummeted in recent months as Rhode Island faces an estimated $550 million (euro348.41 million) budget deficit, its worst financial crisis since a series of bank and credit union collapses in the early 1990s. He has proposed cutting school funding, reducing welfare and health care benefits and even letting prisoners out of jail early.

He blamed Congress for failing to set a new immigration policy. He said he supported increasing the number of legal immigrants and skilled workers allowed into the country.

Carcieri was testy when taking questions after signing the order. When a reporter asked if his order might embolden xenophobes, Carcieri blamed the media for inflaming the immigration debate.

Under his order, state police will enter an agreement with federal immigration authorities permitting them access to specialized immigration databases. That information would allow police to identify and detain immigration violators.

State police could investigate the legal status of anyone they suspect is an immigration violator, including crime victims, witnesses and people supplying police with confidential tips, state police Maj. Steven O’Donnell said.

Department of Corrections Director A.T. Wall said the prison system will negotiate a similar agreement so it too can identify illegal immigrants in state custody as well as legal immigrants who are subject to deportation if convicted of crimes.

Carcieri said he supported legislation that would force all companies in Rhode Island to do the same. He said he did not know how much his initiatives would cost, although he assumed they would save money in the long run.

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-wtbyforgery,0,3380765.story

WATERBURY - The owner of a driving school on Fairfield Avenue was charged Thursday with forging documents to help illegal immigrants obtain drivers’ license – a week after a similar arrest in Stratford, state police said.

Fernando Diaz, 57, faces one count of racketeering and nine counts of second-degree forgery.

State police said documents for Connecticut drivers’ licenses issued at Diaz’ Classic Driving School were similar to the phony documents produced at Express Driving School in Stratford to help undocumented immigrants obtain driver’s licenses.

State police detectives executed a search warrant at Diaz’ Classic Driving School on March 20, the same day Henry Kruszewski, the owner of the Stratford school and Diaz’ former business partner, was arrested on similar charges, police said.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23447777-664,00.html

STATE-backed sovereign wealth funds are likely to diversify their investments and move away from US dollar-denominated assets, a World Bank official says.

Central banks are likely to follow suit, shifting away from the US dollar over the next “three to five years,” World Bank principal investment officer Arjan Berkelaar told a business conference in Sydney yesterday.

Sovereign funds, which are either government-owned or controlled, will increasingly switch from high-grade fixed-income assets such as government bonds to equities and broader-based assets including infrastructure and commodities, he said.

Alternatives would include investments denominated in the euro and pound, with some possible interest in the higher-yielding Australian and New Zealand currencies.

But any moves by central banks and sovereign wealth funds to move out of the dollar will be a “slow process,” Mr Berkelaar said.

He cautioned that moves by sovereign wealth funds to buy offshore assets may cause concern for some Western governments.

“There is a danger that sovereign wealth funds will cause protectionism and capital controls by Western governments,” he said.

There are about 50 sovereign wealth funds globally, with 10 holding 77 per cent of a total of $US5 trillion ($A5.45 trillion) in assets .

Berkelaar said the rise of these funds had been driven by a significant accumulation of foreign exchange reserves by central banks, huge fiscal surpluses by commodity export-driven countries and rapidly ageing populations in developed economies.

Unfortunately Duane, so can we. 

http://www.allamericanblogger.com/2484/new-state-computers-missing-vital-programs/

Duane Lester - March 31, 2008

We all know how efficient a state agency is, especially a streamlined department like the Department of Public Health and Human Services. That is why I find it so troubling to hear about the problems they had with their new computers. It seems they were missing some programs other departments were using.

At least some hard-chargin’ all-go, no-quit government employees spoke up:

The issue arose recently when the Child Support Enforcement Division received new computers, but without the games like solitaire, hearts and minesweeper that come with Microsoft software.

Some employees complained that the games weren’t on the new machines while other employees in the department had games, said Lonnie Olson, division administrator.

That’s right. Their computers didn’t have the same games that other computers had. So they complained. And they almost got what they wanted:

“I said if they want them, we’ll put them on,” Olson said, adding that he wanted to make sure all employees in the department are treated the same.

OH GREAT CAESAR’S GHOST, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

There is at least one person with some senblance of gray matter between their ears. I give you Sheryl Olson, deputy director of the Department of Administration:

“To me, the broader policy is nobody should be playing games on state computers,” she said. “We’re at work to work. Why is this even a question? Who has time to play games?”

Can you imagine waiting on authorization for your important health procedure at the new Department of Crappy Government Run Health Care, while the government boob behind the desk tries to complete Minesweeper on expert?

I can.

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2008/03/29/news/doc47ee9c3b7e1a8228683964.txt

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is preparing the International Wash on 1st Street for an extreme makeover.

In support with the U.S. Border Patrol, the army engineers are re-grading and lining the channel bottom and slopes with concrete. They are also doing work on the road there.

The International Wash stretches from A Avenue to J Avenue, which is east of the Douglas Port of Entry.

The project is scheduled to continue until August 2008.

On Monday, March 31 through Friday, April 4, milling will continue on E Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street.  Crack-sealing will continue between 11th Street and 15th Street from Van Buren to Washington.  Curb, gutter, and sidewalk demolition continues on A Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

The City is urging motorists not to park their vehicles in the area. Earthwork and drainage realignment work is still in process on Chino Road. Please be alert of detours in these areas.

Water main extension continues on Irvin Street from Douglas Avenue to Udall Avenue in Pirtleville.  Please be alert to possible street closures and detours.

Fire hydrant maintenance and water system maintenance continues throughout the city.  A Avenue from 1st Street to International Avenue excavation will continue to install a fire hydrant and for water main work.

Water main excavation will take place on 15th Street and Dolores Avenue and 15th Street and Florida Avenue.  Caution should be taken when driving or walking near or around an area where city personnel are flushing and testing fire hydrants.

There will also be other miscellaneous concrete repairs, pothole patching, and graffiti cleanup throughout the city.

If you should have any problems with water and or sewer services on the weekend or a holiday, please contact the Douglas Police Department at 364-8422 and staff on call will be dispatched to your residence.

The City of Douglas asks that you please use caution while driving or walking through these construction zones.  Please help keep everyone safe.

http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/002743.html

An estimated 304,000 criminals in prisons throughout the United States are eligible for deportation ICE head Julie Myers recently stated. Myers estimates that each year there will be between 300,000 and 455,000 criminal immigrants in prisons that can be deported and that for the foreseeable future it will remain at that level.

I’m no fan of Julie Myers and in the article below she states that it would cost $2 billion a year to find and deport them. Some representatives question her numbers, the inflated costs and the relatively long timetable of Myers’ plan.

I personally have a couple questions on deporting criminals. What is going to stop them from just coming right back, since we have no border security? As for those who would balk at spending $2 billion a year, how much does illegal alien crime cost us a year in damage and victim suffering?

NY Times

This week, Ms. Myers presented a plan to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security intended to speed the deportation of immigrants convicted of the most serious crimes by linking state prisons and county jails into federal databases that combine F.B.I. fingerprint files with immigration, border and antiterrorism records of the Homeland Security Department.In an interview on Thursday, Ms. Myers said the plan would bring “a fundamental change” by streamlining deportations of foreign-born criminals.

The fact is we need to keep these criminals from getting here in the first place. Once here they must be treated harshly, as any foreign invader who goes into another country and commits criminal acts should be.

As for Julie Myers, it’s criminal that she even still holds a position. Since taking office as the head of ICE, illegal immigration has ballooned even further.

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/doc47ed560b3c29e132179588.txt

Migrant Injured Jumping Border Fence 

By XAVIER ZARAGOZA, The Daily Dispatch

An illegal immigrant attempting to jump the international boundary in Douglas injured his back as he landed on the ground.

Douglas paramedics responded at about 8:15 p.m. Thursday and treated the migrant and determined that he needed to be transported to Tucson Medical Center.

The empty lot behind Mustang Gas Station on 10th Street was cordoned off and used as a helio pad for the helicopter that transported the migrant to Tucson.