LatinaLista — Today the Department of Homeland Security released a sudden press release to say that ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers is leaving November 15.
Resigning Assistant Secretary of ICE Julie Myers.
According to the press release, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff claims that Myers told him about her resignation in September. In fact, he wants everyone to know that she told him in September:
Assistant Secretary Julie Myers has announced that she will depart the department on Nov. 15. Julie has been an extraordinary Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and when she approached me in mid-September to discuss her departure, I knew this would be a loss for the department. Julie has been a major force in transforming ICE into a 21st century law enforcement agency.
If that were the case, why wasn’t this announced sooner? Since their boss wasn’t running for re-election, the excuse, or maybe alibi is a better word, should not have been a factor in delaying announcing this piece of news.
As a result of its timing, many people inside and outside the blogosphere see a curious connection with Julie Myers’ resignation and the fact that there is now an investigation into who leaked to the media the illegal immigration status of Barack Obama’s aunt.
If there is anything we’ve learned in observing the people who serve in this administration it’s that there are no coincidences or accidents — everything is a calculated move.
The clearest writing Latina Lista has found that intelligently connects the dots in this matter and illustrates the unlikelihood that Myers resignation is just odd timing is from Tim Dickinson at Rolling Stone.
From this list of three careerist immigration officials and one deeply controversial political appointee the choice of a prime suspect isn’t difficult.
Julie Myers.
Myers is a loyal Bushie whose appointment was a clear case of nepotism — she is both the niece of Gen. Richard Myers and is married to John F. Wood the chief of staff for the homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff.
Myers was such a controversial pick that she was initially installed at ICE in 2006 via a recess appointment, and she was not confirmed by the Senate until last December.
If this still sounds implausible to you, let’s remember that it is this same administration that was found guilty of leaking the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame to the media.
It is said that the Department of Homeland Security is conducting an internal investigation into who leaked the immigration status of Obama’s aunt.
Just to keep appearances of transparency, Congress should demand the investigation be conducted by an outside law enforcement agency with its own independent investigators. The culprit should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for not just leaking the information but abusing the confidentiality they were entrusted by virtue of their position.
The truth will come out — but probably not until Obama’s administration because if there is one expectation left of the Bush Administration it is to not have one, especially with one dealing with the truth.
Comment(17)
Irma
If Mexicans from Mexico who are in the US illegally have to go back – so does
Obama’s aunt. Fair is fair.
As for leaking someone’s immigration status, seems to
me -if that is against the law, that person should be punished for breaking the law.
By the way, if Obama shows any favoritism at all concerning
his aunt breaking US immigration laws- it will be a political disaster.
He is supposed to represent
US interests not those of
Kenya.
laura
Why does the Julie Myers connection not surprise me? Because ICE shows their lack of ethical standards in the human rights abuses they commit against immigrant families? Because Julie Myers posed for a snapshot a year ago at Halloween with the ICE agent in blackface costume and gave him the ICE Halloween party prize for most original costume?
Because the Department of Homeland Security under Micahel Chertoff, who is Julie Myers’ boss, showed us their level of professionalism during Hurricane Katrina?
This whole story throws another spotlight on what kind of people are running ICE. It is a rogue agency, and this story shows that again.
laura
The search for the source of the leak about Barack Obama’s aunt’s immigration status makes me think about the degradation of so many federal agencies under Bush. The Environmental Protection Agency has been turned into the Agency to Advance Oil and Coal Company Profit Margins. The Food and Drug Administration is the Administration of Drug Companies’ Profits No Matter How Many Patients Die.
It will be an enormous job, and a critically important task, for the Obama administration, to purge these agencies of the people who went there to work not toward the public good, but toward the narrow special interests of some rich people. The federal government stopped doing its job a long time ago under Bush. Iy won’t be easy to start getting these bureaucracies to do their job again. And that is the case despite the fact that there are many devoted and highly talented public servants in these agencies, who want to work for the benefit of us, the people, and do the right thing. I know this from personal acquaintance.
Julie Myers and her ilk have cushy jobs waiting for them at some right-wing foundation or other. Definitely she did not gamble her job with such a leak without that guarantee. Even she cannot have been so stupid as to assume McCain’s victory as so certain that she would have risked her juicy benefits without knowing an even juicier position awaited her – maybe at an anti-immigration organization.
Lastly – I hope Obama’s aunt receives the careful consideration of the dangers in her home country that all asylum seekers should receive. The institution of asylum has the role to protect individuals from persecution. There was much violence in Kenya this year around elections, based in tensions between tribes among which the Luo, to whom Obama’s aunt belongs, are the underdogs.
And Irma – I am sorry but I am ashamed of you. Why join in the evil game of turning a person who was quietly minding her own business, into a political pawn? None of us know the exact circumstances of the aunt’s asylum case. Let’s leave her alone.
Irma
If we have to go back, then so does she. Look most of us, are basically Native American, we have a right to live anywhere on the American continent.
If she overstayed her stay – she must
return and pay the PIper like everybody else. This is a test for President Elect Obama – if he is lucky, Bush will do the
deed for him.
Sandra
I agree with you, Irma. There should be no double standard with Obama’s aunt. Our immigration laws say that one must be deported if they are in this country illegally and she shouldn’t be treated special.
I noted your remark that Obama shouldn’t be representing the interests of Kenya rather than the U.S. The same applies to anyone who thinks we should be representing the interests of Mexico rather than the U.S.
Horacio
Marisa,
In your opinion, are these announcements of a ” … record number of deportations …”;
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1267712965&hl=en&topic=n
all over the place and all of a sudden related to the leak of Obama’s aunt (and Julie Myers?) related? See also;
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&nolr=1&q=%22julie+myers%22&btnG=Search
Cheers,
H.
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Indiana Bob
This is another thing that kind of confounds me. I think that Bush is the absolute worst president in the history of this country, but on the immagration front, he seemed to have a decent, not perfect, but decent policy. Being a governor from a border state, it is one issue that he really does understand.
The Natzification of ICE under his watch suprised me.
Irma
I agree that the US should not represent the interests of any country including Mexico. Immigration reform however is a US problem. Families that include US citizens are being torn apart. The rights of these American
citizens are being denied. As an American citizen, I believe I have the right to bring my parents to the US.
There has to be some solution to this
AMERICAN problem.
Sandra
Irma,
Our government isn’t tearing families apart, it is the decisions that the families themselves are making that are tearing themselves apart. In the case of illegal aliens coming here and giving birth on our soil, they know full well that their child becomes an instant citizen and yet they themselves do not have the right to be here and are subject to deporation for it. If that happens they can take their U.S. born children back to their homelands with them.
Sorry, I disagree about you having the right as a U.S. citizen to bring your parents here. Immigration is a priviledge and not a right. One of the things destroying this country now is chain migration. If they apply and are denied just as Obama’s aunt did, it is our right as a country to say who can come and who can stay here.
John
I disagree with you Sandra.
Using the words “chain migration” means your just another right wing idealog.
Our country was founded by free men. It’s always been a free and open society. You just don’t want it to be. Lou Dobbs would probably would just love you.
aortizx
Again people whine about the immigration debate what people fail to understand it is a tool for some foregin governments like ireland, mexico and others to export their poor. Mexico’s president is an example I am sure while folks in poverty in Mexico mean nothing to him once they leave and go to the US and progress and earn an income then he pops up and calls them “My People” just so they can send money bak to mexico to keep the corrupt politicians living . Mexico is a rich country with corrupt politicians.
Sandra
Chain migration is the common term used for an initial immigrant who uses his status to bring in his extended family. That isn’t a right wing term.
Our country represents freedom but it is also a nation of laws. One of those laws are our immigration laws. So no, since the 1920’s we have not been an open borders nation. Learn some history. I want to continue our freedoms but freedoms do not equate to open borders for anyone who wants to come here without papers nor should it.
Grandma
I think we should adopt Mexico’s immigration laws:
Mexico’s main immigration law.
Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society:
Foreigners are admitted into Mexico “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)
Immigration officials must “ensure” that “immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents. (Article 34)
Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the national demographics,” when foreigners are deemed detrimental to “economic or national interests,” when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when “they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.” (Article 37)
The Secretary of Governance may “suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest.” (Article 38)
Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:
Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)
A National Population Registry keeps track of “every single individual who comprises the population of the country,” and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)
A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).
Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:
Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)
Foreigners who sign government documents “with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses” are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)
Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:
Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)
Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)
Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.
Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says,
“A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.” (Article 123)
Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)
Foreigners who “attempt against national sovereignty or security” will be deported. (Article 126)
Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law:
A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)
Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132)
laura
To get back to the point – I am waiting for the criminal investigation of who gave immigration-related information about President-Elect Obama’s aunt to the press.
Some sort of justice will be coming to these abusers of human rights, some time. Michael Chertoff will at some point be held responsible for the people who drowned in New Orleans during Katrina. Julie Myers will stand trial for the immigrants who died in ICE “detention centers” which are actually concentration camps.
Just as I am convinced that in 15 or 20 years George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld will be indicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity in Iraq. They won’t be able to leave the United States, or they will risk being arrested – like General Pinochet of Chile.
josie gates
http://www.josieg6.wordpress.com
Everything this woman Myers has done, has been a perversion of the truth. I was a detainee, i was tehre when they posted all of hte signage the mornign she came thru with visitors to show them the ‘conditions’ in the jail; hardly anyone was out of their bunks, cos the senior citizens falsely arrested by ICE were shivering in their bunks with a 1 inch mattress on metal, and one blanket, and the temperature had been turned so low their hands were turning blue, this is why there was no one to question her or the visitors about the terrible conditions for detainees… I demanded she look into my case; she did, and so documents were quickly ‘created’ and backdated, and served on my attorney, as justification for holding me (but they used the wrong date!! so where is the justification for my arrest on May 9,08???
These falsified documents were used to deport me, as there was no case against me. I plan on coming home, and she will ahve to kill me herself to shut me up.
becca garcia
its really sad that when the issue of illegal immagrents comes up the first thing people say is the mexicans.im so sick of it if people here in the us would wake the hell up and see the real picture they would be devastated of the fact the main problem is the people that can come here and declare they are sooo scared of their goverment and get to come here for free, dont have to pay taxes for what is it oh yea 5 years ,welfare,school for free,food for free,english as a second language for free,cars better than some americans,they can bring their familys here with help oh let me refrais that free legal assistance,and on top of that my fellow americans they really hate americans ,they could kill us and not think anything of it and then be glorified in their native land .so my fellow american brother and sisters you should turn your attention to the real threat to america instead of the average mexican trying to come here to make a honest living,paying taxes,loving america,proud to be here and to call there self mexican american.there is a bigger picture so wake up and look at it they like all the bad attention toward the mexicans ,very sad very prejudice alot of us feel that way,we are suppose to love are neigbor ,hello mexico is are neighbor .i also wonder how many mexican american men and women are over in iraq and afganastan ,should we deport them as well from over there and just leave the ‘americans’ by their self to defend freedom ? you should be thinking ,where the hell is osama bin laden!
Sandra
Illegal aliens are not here earning an “honest living.” They are here in violation of our immigration and labor laws.
Some do not pay taxes and some do collect welfare and other benefits and some commit other crimes. Stating otherwise is a lie.
Mexican nationals comprise the largest majority of illegals in this country so that is why they are focused on, duh!
Most are here to earn a living, they have no loyalty to this country for the most part. Some come here with a chip on their shoulder about so-called stolen land from the past.
Mexico may be our neighbor but they aren’t a very good one. If they were they would make sure their citizens stay in that country and provide jobs for them rather than dumping their poor and illiterate on us.
As far as those fighting in the war. In the first place illegal aliens are not supposed to be in our military. If you are talking about Mexican-Americans that is a whole different issue.
Most Americans welcome legal immigration in reasonable numbers. You are mixing apples and oranges and not respecting our immigration laws.
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