Mediaboss Marketing

Democratic lawmakers announced broad legislation on Tuesday aiming to decriminalize migration and disrupt the prison-to-deportation pipeline.

The New Way Forward Act from Rep. Jess Chuy Garca (D-Ill.) co-sponsored by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and dozens more aims to correct racial and anti-immigrant injustices embedded in our immigration laws, per a release from Garcas team.

The package includes a slew of proposed legislation to overhaul the immigration system, including ending mandatory immigration detention, generally blocking local police from engaging in immigration enforcement and decriminalizing border crossings.

It would also seek to disrupt laws that broadly make involvement in the criminal justice system a threat to immigrants status in the U.S. namely by ending automatic deportation proceedings for people whove had certain convictions or other contact with the criminal legal system.

We must end the labels of the good versus bad immigrant used to dehumanize and divide communities, Garca said in the release. An attack on one community is an affront to us all.

Its time to end the criminalization of immigration, reads the release.

The new legislation would decriminalize border crossings, a contentious issue among Democrats in recent years. It would repeal sections 1325 and 1326 of U.S. federal immigration law code, which make it a criminal, not civil, offense for someone to enter the U.S. outside official ports of entry or reenter after being deported.

Under the guise of section 1325 of the U.S. code, President Donald Trumps administration notoriously separated thousands of migrant children from their parents at the border in 2018.

The new package also attempts to undo some of the 1996 Clinton-era laws that added more severe punishment for immigrants who violate U.S. immigration or other criminal laws.

The 1996 laws notably removed much of judges discretion in immigration proceedings for people with previous criminal convictions for instance, green card holders (or permanent residents) are subject to mandatory deportationfor many convictions that occur within seven years of their being in the U.S.

The new legislation would allow immigration judges to exercise discretion in cases, for instance, on humanitarian grounds. It would also stop summary or automatic removal procedures for immigrants based on prior criminal convictions, ensuring them a shot at a fair day in court.

An explainer on the new proposalspoints to how immigration reform is connected to racial and criminal justice issues. Law enforcement practices like stop-and-frisk and traffic stops have been shown to disproportionately target people of color.

Convictions, often steeped in racial profiling, should not lead to deportation, the explainer reads.

The explainer details the case of Howard Bailey, who came to the U.S. from Jamaica at age 17 as a lawful permanent resident with his mom, a U.S. citizen. After serving in the Navy, he was later convicted of a first-time drug offense in 1995 and pleaded guilty on the advice of his lawyer. A decade later, as a father of two who had started two small businesses, Bailey applied to become a U.S. citizen. In 2010, his application was denied and Immigration and Customs Enforcement came to his home and detained him. He was eventually deported to Jamaica, a country he hadnt been to in 24 years, and remains there to this day.

The proposed legislation would create a statute of limitations for removals based on past behavior meaning the government could not start deportation proceedings based on criminal conduct that made someone removable more than five years earlier.

It would also limit ICEs power to detain immigrants for the duration of their deportation proceedings by adopting presumption of liberty for all immigrants, as well as by requiring the government to establish probable cause within 48 hours of a persons detention and ensure they have a bond hearing.

The legislation would notably block local law enforcement from broadly partnering with ICE in its enforcement of federal immigration laws, including having to share information on detainees.

And under the new legislation, people previously ordered deported, like Bailey, would be able to apply to return to the U.S. if they can show they would not have been deported under the terms of the new laws.

Calling all HuffPost superfans!

Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter

Read more here:
Democrats Introduce Sweeping Plan To 'End The Criminalization Of Immigration' - HuffPost

Review of: Michelle Malkin, Open Borders Inc.: Whos Funding Americas Destruction (Washington,DC: Regnery Publishing, 2019).

Conservative pundit Michelle Malkins latest book is required reading for anyone wishing to understand the forces and interests behind the open borders and mass migration lobby. Open Borders Inc. is a scathing indictment of this irresponsible and dangerous lobby, and exposes it as a corrupt racket aiming to undermine the United States and other Western nations by making borders irrelevant and encouraging and facilitating massive and unsustainable levels of migration.

Malkins left-wing critics frequently label her (andpretty much anyone who supports common-sense pro-American immigration reform)as anti-immigrant. In fact, she is the daughter of legal immigrants from thePhilippines, who inculcated in her an attitude of gratitude the antithesisof the toxic defiance, arrogance, and resentment that typifies the newgeneration of open-borders beneficiaries, such as Somali-born MinnesotaCongresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who is just one example. As opposed to herdetractors, Malkin believes in immigration policies that benefit the Americanpeople and respect our borders and national sovereignty. Open Borders Inc.has a very different vision, however.

The book dispels the illusion promoted by themainstream media and pro-mass-migration activists that the Central Americanmigrant caravans and the great waves of Muslim migrants pouring into Europe area largely spontaneous response to gang violence, war, and poverty. The reality,Malkin demonstrates, is that there are entire networks of people who encourage,organize, transport, feed, guide, smuggle, and otherwise facilitate these vastarmies of migrants. Much of this is driven by virtue signaling, utopianopen-borders zealotry, and, yes, also genuine compassion, but Open Borders Inc. shows that the entireenterprise is also big business.

Malkin does not mince words about the main mover andpusher funding the migrations to America and Europe: Its not a conspiracytheory. Its a conspiracy truth. Hungarian-bornbillionaire George Soros is the mastermind of mass-migration chaos. He is thecenter of the globalist galaxy, and its central financier. Furthermore,while the globalist left-wing multi-billionaire can plausibly deny directly subsidizing any specific orsingle caravan attempting to violate our borders, his elaborate network ofnonprofit grantees and sub-grantees around the world serve as advocates,activists, organizers, lawyers, and enablers for illegal alien and refugeeinfluxes. Between 1997 and 2013, his Open Society Foundations spent more than$100 million on immigrant rights, and in 2017 Soros transferred $18 billion of his wealth to the OSFs.

Why is Soros so committed to this cause? The reason isthat he like much of the globalist establishment in the West sees nationalsovereignty and borders as obstacles to some global system of politicaldecision-making () to stabilize and regulate a truly global economy and thepursuit of the common interest. The sovereignty of states, according toSoros, must be subordinated to international law and internationalinstitutions.

Other chapters of the book focus on topics such as:the Abolish ICE movement, which seeks open borders and views mass illegalimmigration as a way to decolonize America; the thugs and anarchists ofAntifa (self-described anti-fascists who often resort to violence andintimidation in pursuit of their radical agenda kind of like actualfascists); the Southern Poverty Law Center, which rakes in millions whilebranding any right-of-center individuals or organizations includingpro-American immigration reformers such as FAIR hate organizations; and thehypocrisy of the Hollywood elites who preach about the alleged morality of openborders and mass migration while simultaneously living comfortably and securelybehind walls and protected by armedsecurity.

Malkin also provides useful indices ofSoros-affiliated NGOs, a list of 60 Jihadis/terrorists who originally came tothe U.S. as refugees, and sanctuary jurisdictions. While the chapters may atfirst seem to jump from subject to subject, the reader will see that they formpart of a larger coherent whole. If you have friends or family who are on thefence about immigration, Open BordersInc. may be a great Christmas present for them.

Here is the original post:
Michelle Malkin exposes Soros and the globalist mass-migration racket - ImmigrationReform.com

This Saturday marks the seventh anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. In Eugene, community members will hold a remembrance vigil and peace rally for issues impacting youth.

The names and biographies of 20 children and six staff members who were murdered in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting will be read during the vigil.

The event will be held by Peace For Our Children, a group founded by Pastor Fred Lydum with Asbury United Methodist Church, and Jan Osoinach Smith. Smith said it is important to remind the public of these incidences so we dont see more victims.

We see incidences of gun violence almost on a daily basis in our country, said Smith. And people say, Oh, we're so sad. We're sending you our prayers. We're so sorry for your loss. But nothing is changed to prevent further acts of violence.

The vigil will also honor the following victims and survivors of recent acts of violence in Oregon.

Five Violent Incidences of Oregon in Recent History:

Smith said the large amount of gun violence doesnt have to happen.

If we can change our culture and we can decide we're not willing to accept this as the reality of today and tomorrowwe [can] vote [against] people who make these rules and laws and make these decisions, said Smith.

Although the event focuses on gun violence, it will also will address social issues that will impact the next generation.

It's our choice how we're going to leave this planet for the next generation and if we continue to live the way we're living right now, then the planet is not going to be livable for very much longer, said Smith.

After the vigil, government officials and local activists will give speeches to promote gun safety, immigration reform, and climate justice. Speakers include Mayor Lucy Vinis of Eugene, Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, Oregon State Senator James Manning, Patty Hine from 350 Eugene, and Lex Worden with Sunrise Eugene.

Smith said if the country truly cares about freedom and human rights, people need to express these concerns to their lawmakers.

We don't want children to be treated like criminals when they come across the American border, said Smith. They're fleeing war-torn countries and drug cartels. They're coming here because their lives are in danger in their countries and we're treating them as criminals when we've all come here from an immigrant past.

The goal of the rally is to draw attention to issues not just in the United States, but worldwide.

We already have a lot of species of plants and animals that have gone extinct or on the brink of becoming extinct, and if we don't do things to protect these living plants and animals, then the world is going to change in a way that is not for the better, said Smith.

Smith said people need to take action if they want a peaceful and law-abiding society.

Theyre big goals, but if we just sit back and say, We can't do anything, then nothing's going to change, said Smith.

The rally will be held Saturday at noon at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza.

Visit link:
Remembrance Vigil and Peace Rally for Sandy Hook Victims and Youth Issues - KLCC FM Public Radio

On December 9, a Saudi national opened fire at a naval air station in Pensacola, Florida, killing three people and injuring eight others. The shooter, Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, was in the United States as part of a military program that allows some foreign military members to train inside the United States.

Just prior to the attacks, Alshamrani wrote on Twitter that he hated Americans for committing crimes not only against Muslims but also humanity. He also blasted Washington for supporting the State of Israel.

While the case is currently being treated as an act of terrorism, the FBI has yet to officially label it as such. We are looking very hard at uncovering his motive and I would ask for patience so we can get this right, said Rachel Rojas, who is the special agent in charge of the case.

While the FBI is exercisingcaution, mass-immigration proponent and self-proclaimed elitist, AlexNowrasteh, director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, wantsAmericans to believe that this horrific attack is no reason for even mildconcern.

On the day of the shooting, Nowrasteh wrote a blog suggesting that this incident doesnt make a case for stricter immigration measures. In the blog, he promotes a recent study of his that called acts of terrorism in the United States committed by foreign-born individuals a manageable threat given the huge economic benefits of immigration and the relatively smaller costs of terrorism.

Thats right, when three Americansare murdered and eight others wounded, Nowrasteh wants us to remember that itssimply a relatively small cost that should not factor into discussions regardingimmigration reform.

Besides the tone-deaf timing and appallinginsensitivity, his blog and study are fatally flawed as well. In the report,Nowrasteh does several things to make the threat of terrorism look smaller thanit actually is:

The about 1 in 4 million per yearnumber that Nowrasteh pushes is the purported likelihood that a person iskilled in the U.S. by a foreign-born terrorist in a particular year. This isproblematic because it only considers a very limited period of time, not apersons entire life. The lifetime probability that a person might be killed,based on Nowrastehs figures, is actually closer to about 1 in 50,000. Thatnumber is considerably more alarming.

Furthermore, Nowrastehs figuresdont include those who die from conditions developed later in life as a resultof a foreign-born terrorist attack, such as cancer and chronic respiratoryconditions stemming from exposure to toxic rubble and ash produced on 9/11.

According to Dr. Michael Caine, Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital, since the attacks, more than 2,000 deaths have been attributed to 9/11 illnesses. These people should be considered victims of terrorism. Nowrasteh also excludes the thousands who suffer non-fatal injuries during attacks committed by foreign-born terrorists on American soil, as well as those who develop non-fatal health conditions later on like asthma or post-traumatic stress.

Trying to predict the exact likelihoodof a person dying in a terrorist attack of any kind is ultimately an impossibleart since the threat of terrorism constantly changes due to a large number offactors. But what we can conclude empirically is that the statistics looselytossed around by the Cato Institute are designed to make the threat of foreign-bornterrorism in the U.S. appear much lower than it actually is.

We owe it to those brave police,firefighters, first responders, and other everyday Americans who have sufferedand/or died due to terrorist attacks to craft immigration policies that preventknown, suspected or potential foreign-born terrorists from entering the UnitedStates. Nothing about the price they have paid is small.

NOTE: This isnt the first time that the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has called out the Cato Institute for publishing false or misleading statistics regarding immigration. In March of 2019, FAIR noted that Nowrasteh and the Cato Institute vastly underestimated the rate at which illegal aliens commit crimes. As in this case, the incorrect statistics were used to promote irresponsible mass-immigration policies.

Read the original:
The Cato Institutes Factually Flawed Attitude Toward Terrorism is Disturbing - ImmigrationReform.com

Theres a moment near the end of Control that is so unabashedly thrilling, joyous, and decadent in its design that it would make most roller coaster creators reflect on their life decisions. To say much more about the Ashtray Maze would be to spoil the giddy surprise. But its worth noting that, when its over, protagonist Jesse catches her breath and offers her analysis of the mind-blowing events that just transpired:

That was awesome.

Its not something youd expect the normally stoic Jesse to let out, given her predicament. Control is a game about navigating a paranormal US government agency in an attempt to find out the truth about what happened to your brother, and things get pretty dark. But it cuts to the core of why this is my favorite game of 2019. Remedy Entertainment didnt just create an exhilarating action sequence; it had the confidence to know that its players would be thinking the exact same thing as Jesse.

That same confidence is key to Controls storytelling, which leans heavily on the assumption that players will be invested in Remedys enigmatic lore. Control throws a lot of cryptic terminology at you from the start and trusts that youll be intrigued enough to figure out what it means down the line. For me, at least, the payoff was more than worth it.

Control is not exactly shy about its influences. There are clear references to the likes of Lost, Annihilation, SCP fiction, Twin Peaks, and House of Leaves, all wrapped up in a distinctive visual design that references brutalist architecture and 70s typography. The resulting bricolage is tremendously satisfying, feeling entirely like its own thing without being shy about the homages it is paying.

It all works because, unlike any of those aforementioned inspirations, Control is a video game. And video games, more than any other medium, are uniquely suited to the concept of a character digging up information on fascinatingly arcane subject matter. Control is a game that spends most of its running time placing you in dour office blocks, yet every dusty computer and abandoned cubicle around the corner of each right-angled corridor feels ripe with possibility. There might just be another heavily redacted email to read or grainy videotape to watch that gets you that little bit closer to understanding the Astral Plane.

Of course, Control isnt all about rifling through filing cabinets. This is an action game at its core, and Remedy adopted a relatively conventional Metroidvania-style structure where you start from a hub area and gradually unlock abilities that grant you access to new locations. The important twist, however, is that much of the best stuff is optional. Useful combat abilities are often unlocked through narrative side-quests that reward you for investigating further.

Control can be a tough game at times, and it doesnt have any difficulty settings. In the end, though, I didnt have much trouble finishing it. Far more than other comparable action-adventure games, I found myself compelled to finish as many side missions as I possibly could, which had the welcome bonus of making Jesse a lot more powerful by the end of the story. Control doesnt necessarily have the tightest combat, and some of its level-up systems are a little over-designed. But when you get to the point where youre able to fly around a vast room and use concrete pillars as a shield before flinging more masonry at your unfortunate adversaries, it rarely feels like a chore.

Thats what makes Control so special. Its unusual to come across such an ambitious game where each of its elements feels so perfectly in tune with one another, the pursuit of one rewarding you with progress elsewhere. Controls lore is rich and engrossing, and the best way to delve into it is by taking on combat challenges. The combat is experimental and satisfying, and the best way to get better at it is by exploring the games fiction. If youre not into either of these elements, you wont like Control. If youre into both, you will love it.

Control is a knockout game. It clicked with me on a level so few games do, where I wanted to read it as much as play it and play it just so I could read it more. It all comes down to Remedys confidence and, yes, control over the vision it had from the start. I believe its the best game Remedy has ever made and the best thing I played all year.

Original post:
Why Control is my game of the year - The Verge