Major setback to years of economic, tourist ties between Koreas
Los Angeles Times Dec 1, 08 1:50 AM CST
(Newser)
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North Korea today made good on its threat to restrict border crossings from South Korea, severely hampering trade and ending tourism with its neighbor. The move, blocking large numbers of South Koreans and reducing border-crossing hours, is a protest against South Korea's new hardline president that negates years of hard-fought progress. It's likely also a signal to Barack Obama not to underestimate North Korea, reports the Los Angeles Times.
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ANALYSIS
Rumored Homeland Security nominee has hawk cred on border
CQPolitics Nov 21, 08 12:45 PM CST
(Newser)
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If Janet Napolitano is indeed Barack Obama’s pick for Homeland Security chief, it likely signals a shift in the department away from terrorism and toward immigration issues, CQPolitics reports. The Arizona governor has been on the front lines of the immigration battle. “She would do a pretty serious systematic review of the border strategy,” a Clinton administration immigration official said.
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Measure also targets animal-rights groups, anti-abortionists
Daily Telegraph (UK) Oct 28, 08 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Britain has new rules designed to keep “preachers of hate” off the island, the Telegraph reports. The measures shift the burden of proof from authorities to the foreign-born accused, who must retract controversial statements and sometimes make pro-democracy public statements to enter or remain in the UK. While terrorists are the obvious target, those barred have included anti-abortionists and animal-rights activists.
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Agents will track crossings and store info for 15 years
Washington Post Aug 20, 08 4:22 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The federal government has begun tracking the border crossings of US citizens and building a huge database with the information, the Washington Post reports. The data collection, made possible by machine-readable documents, has alarmed privacy groups. The government plans to keep the information for 15 years and share it with investigators whenever needed.
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Smuggling's a cinch
as officials look to immigration, drugs
Los Angeles Times Aug 10, 08 7:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Thousands of powerful automatic weapons used by drug cartels in Mexico have been traced back to US shops, and little is being done to curb the guns’ flow southward, the Los Angeles Times reports. More than 90% of guns taken at the border and picked up after clashes come from the US; last year, 2,455 traced weapons originated here.
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GLOSSIES
Lax gun control and leaky border towns allow a brisk barter trade
Portfolio Jun 22, 08 4:31 PM CDT
(Newser)
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When Mexican authorities seize a cache of weapons from a drug-cartel hitman, their first call is long distance: to the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Because, Portfolio reports, chances are any gun used in Mexico’s noxious drug war—which has left close to 10,000 dead since 2001—was made in the US and smuggled through the leaky border.
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Immigrants account for half of prosecutions; critics question White House priorities
Los Angeles Times Jun 18, 08 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Prosecutions of illegal immigrants have soared in recent months, now accounting for half of all federal cases, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some 9,350 illegal immigrants faced federal charges in March of this year, up from 3,746 in March 2007, as the Bush administration ratcheted up efforts to use jail time, and the prospect of a criminal record, as a tactic to dissuade illegal border crossers.
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Troubled system already operational
Associated Press Feb 22, 08 12:14 PM CST
(Newser)
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The government has just given the green light to a 28-mile “virtual fence” along the Arizona/Mexico border, the AP reports. The system, which uses cameras, radar, and other sensor devices to detect border jumpers, is already partially constructed, and working. Last week Border Patrol caught 38 would-be illegal immigrants thanks to a system tip off.
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Government equates computers with bags; civil-liberties groups disagree
Washington Post Feb 7, 08 12:18 PM CST
(Newser)
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US border agents tell travelers there’s no difference between a laptop and a suitcase; both are fair game for searches. People crossing into the US have found their electronics confiscated, and their data copied, the Washington Post reports, all without explanation. “The government is going well beyond its traditional role of looking for contraband,” said one irate lawyer.
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Proof of citizenship now needed; 'Time to grow up,' says Chertoff
Associated Press Jan 18, 08 8:00 AM CST
(Newser)
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All travelers entering the US, including Americans, will face tough new ID requirements beginning in two weeks. "It's time to grow up and recognize that we've got to take determined steps to getting better security," homeland security chief Michael Chertoff told the AP.
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Environment minister warns US against proceeding with plan
BBC Jul 31, 07 5:14 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Citing environmental concerns, Mexico is calling on the US to revise its plan to expand border fences. The current layout threatens fragile ecosystems in the Sonora Desert area and could wipe out endangered species like the Mexican black bear, a new report shows. Mexico is ready to take the US to international court if it doesn't respond, the BBC reports.
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FDA stats on food alerts show China has
plenty of company
New York Times Jul 12, 07 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Contaminated Chinese seafood is the latest high-profile export turning American consumers off their feed, but they might want to save some caution for Dominican produce and Danish candy, FDA stats suggest. Inspectors stopped more food shipments from India and Mexico than from China in the past year, the Times reports, and the flood of imports is overtaxing the agency's enforcement system.
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Facing killer waits for passports, new anti-terror rules
may be suspended
USA Today Jun 8, 07 9:16 AM CDT
(Newser)
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With waits for passports now running as long as three months, the feds are considering suspending new anti-terror requirements that caused the nasty backlog. Since January travelers have been required to show a passport when flying to Mexico or Canada; until September 30th, travelers to those destinations will be able to show a receipt proving they applied, rather than an actual passport.
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Senate immigration bill is assaulted by amendments from bipartisan critics
Los Angeles Times May 24, 07 7:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Key provisions of the immigration bill were altered yesterday as the Senate passed a raft of amendments designed to make the bill more palatable to critics from both political parties. Provisions to beef up security at the border were strengthened, while the guest worker program offering two-year visas to 400,000 temporary workers a year was cut in half.
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Bipartisan compromise tackles citizenship, border security, but faces uphill battle on Capitol Hill
Los Angeles Times May 17, 07 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Illegal immigrants are offered a path to citizenship for the first time under a new Senate immigration reform package unveiled today. A precarious compromise hammered out by Bush administration officials and top senators, the bill trades hard-line border control measures for controversial provisions like a guest-worker program and a system for earning citizenship.
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