Immigration Crackdown and the Border: today's news

U.S. House approves $600 million to improve security in Texas, other border states: (This article gives details of where the money is going.)The U.S. House on Tuesday, Aug. 10, approved legislation authorizing $600 million in federal funding to beef up security along the U.S.-Mexico border, including an additional 1,000 U.S. Border Patrol officers. The bill goes back to the U.S. Senate for final approval. President Obama is expected to sign the measure. August 10, 2010, The Examiner

Secure Communities immigration program spreads at border and in Texas: "The Department of Homeland Security said today that its Secure Communities program is now in use at all 25 border counties (of Texas). The jail screening program links local government computers with two federal databases on criminal records and 'immigration encounters' with Homeland Security. ...

Today, three groups suing the federal government for more disclosure on how the program works said many of those picked up under the program don't have criminal records. As for those who have committed civil offenses under the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act, one attorney said usage of the program by local law enforcement agencies should be stopped because it poisons community relations for local police in immigrant communities." August 10, Dallas Morning News

'Arizona style' immigration law for Florida introduced:

"Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and State Rep. Bill Snyder, R-Stuart, today jointly introduced to the public the draft of an 'Arizona style' immigration enforcement law that they hope will be passed by the Florida legislature.

The bill would obligate Florida law enforcement agents to inquire about the immigration status of people they encounter in the pursuit of their duties when they have a 'reasonable suspicion' that those people may be in the country illegally. The law would require those law enforcement agents to detain anyone in the country illegally and that those not under arrest for some other crime be turned over to federal immigration agents for deportation." August 10, 2010, Palm Beach Post