SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested Saturday a San Juan, Puerto Rico, resident for possession and production of child pornography.

Lisandro Ortiz-Ramos, 31, was arrested by ICE HSI special agents after he was released from the Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan, where he received medical attention for lesions inflicted by unknown individuals caused by an apparent act of indignation related to his alleged possession and production of sexually explicit images of his 6-year-old daughter.

On Aug. 31, HSI special agents received information from the San Juan and Puerto Rico Police Departments that during an incident in the Vista Hermosa public housing project, it was learned that Ortiz-Ramos allegedly had photographs of his 6-year-old daughter exposed in a sexually explicit manner.

ICE HSI assumed jurisdiction of the case and on Sept. 2, Ortiz-Ramos was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession and production of child pornography.

“All children have an absolute right to grow up free from the fear of being sexually exploited,” said Roberto Escobar-Vargas, special agent in charge of ICE’s Office of Homeland Security Investigations in San Juan. “ICE will relentlessly pursue anyone who physically abuses or sexually exploits our most vulnerable asset, our children.”

Producing child pornography is punishable by a statutorily mandated minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; transporting child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison; possessing child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Each statute carries a fine of up to $250,000.

Ortiz-Ramos is in federal custody and was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, awaiting the outcome of his case.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.

Launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested almost 12,000 individuals through Operation Predator.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Executive Summary

The annual inflow of unauthorized immigrants to the United States was nearly two-thirds smaller in the March 2007 to March 2009 period than it had been from March 2000 to March 2005, according to new estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

This sharp decline has contributed to an overall reduction of 8% in the number of unauthorized immigrants currently living in the U.S. — to 11.1 million in March 2009 from a peak of 12 million in March 2007, according to the estimates. The decrease represents the first significant reversal in the growth of this population over the past two decades.1

The Pew Hispanic Center’s analysis also finds that the most marked decline in the population of unauthorized immigrants has been among those who come from Latin American countries other than Mexico. From 2007 to 2009, the size of this group from the Caribbean, Central America and South America decreased 22%.

By contrast, the Mexican unauthorized population (which accounts for about 60% of all unauthorized immigrants) peaked in 2007 at 7 million and has since leveled off. The number of unauthorized immigrants from the rest of the world did not change.

Even though the size of the Mexican unauthorized population living in the United States has not changed significantly since 2007, the inflows from that country have fallen off sharply in recent years.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center’s estimates, an average of 150,000 unauthorized immigrants from Mexico arrived annually during the March 2007 to March 2009 period — 70% below the annual average of 500,000 that prevailed during the first half of the decade.

The recent decrease in the unauthorized population has been especially notable along the nation’s Southeast coast and in its Mountain West, according to the new estimates.

The number of unauthorized immigrants in Florida, Nevada and Virginia shrank from 2008 to 2009. Other states may have had declines, but they fell within the margin of error for these estimates.

Not counting Florida and Virginia, the unauthorized immigrant population also declined in the area encompassing the rest of the South Atlantic division that extends between Delaware and Georgia.2

In addition to the decline in Nevada, three other Mountain states — Arizona, Colorado and Utah — experienced a decrease in their combined unauthorized immigrant population from 2008 to 2009.

As shown in the accompanying chart, there may have been a decline in the unauthorized population between 2008 (11.6 million) and 2009 (11.1 million), but this finding is not conclusive because of the margin of error in these estimates.

The recent decrease in the unauthorized population has been especially notable along the nation’s Southeast coast and in its Mountain West, according to the new estimates.

The number of unauthorized immigrants in Florida, Nevada and Virginia shrank from 2008 to 2009. Other states may have had declines, but they fell within the margin of error for these estimates.

Not counting Florida and Virginia, the unauthorized immigrant population also declined in the area encompassing the rest of the South Atlantic division that extends between Delaware and Georgia.2

In addition to the decline in Nevada, three other Mountain states — Arizona, Colorado and Utah — experienced a decrease in their combined unauthorized immigrant population from 2008 to 2009.

As shown in the accompanying chart, there may have been a decline in the unauthorized population between 2008 (11.6 million) and 2009 (11.1 million), but this finding is not conclusive because of the margin of error in these estimates.

The recent decrease in the unauthorized population has been especially notable along the nation’s Southeast coast and in its Mountain West, according to the new estimates.

The number of unauthorized immigrants in Florida, Nevada and Virginia shrank from 2008 to 2009. Other states may have had declines, but they fell within the margin of error for these estimates.

Not counting Florida and Virginia, the unauthorized immigrant population also declined in the area encompassing the rest of the South Atlantic division that extends between Delaware and Georgia.2

In addition to the decline in Nevada, three other Mountain states — Arizona, Colorado and Utah — experienced a decrease in their combined unauthorized immigrant population from 2008 to 2009.

As shown in the accompanying chart, there may have been a decline in the unauthorized population between 2008 (11.6 million) and 2009 (11.1 million), but this finding is not conclusive because of the margin of error in these estimates.

The recent decrease in the unauthorized population has been especially notable along the nation’s Southeast coast and in its Mountain West, according to the new estimates.

The number of unauthorized immigrants in Florida, Nevada and Virginia shrank from 2008 to 2009. Other states may have had declines, but they fell within the margin of error for these estimates.

Not counting Florida and Virginia, the unauthorized immigrant population also declined in the area encompassing the rest of the South Atlantic division that extends between Delaware and Georgia.2

In addition to the decline in Nevada, three other Mountain states — Arizona, Colorado and Utah — experienced a decrease in their combined unauthorized immigrant population from 2008 to 2009.

As shown in the accompanying chart, there may have been a decline in the unauthorized population between 2008 (11.6 million) and 2009 (11.1 million), but this finding is not conclusive because of the margin of error in these estimates.

Despite the recent decline, the population of unauthorized immigrants was nearly a third larger (32%) in 2009 than in 2000, when it numbered 8.4 million. The size of this group has tripled since 1990, when it was 3.5 million.

During the first half of the decade, an average of about 850,000 new unauthorized immigrants entered each year, increasing the unauthorized population from 8.4 million in 2000 to 11.1 million in 2005. Since then, the average annual inflow dropped to about 550,000 per year from March 2005 to March 2007 and declined further to an average of 300,000 per year for March 2007 to March 2009. As a result, the unauthorized population in 2009 returned to the level it had been in 2005.

The unauthorized population is not a static group of people. Each year, some unauthorized immigrants arrive and some return to their countries of origin. This population can also be reduced by deaths or by conversions to legal status.

Our method of analysis does not permit a precise estimation of how many in this population emigrate, achieve legal status or die. The underlying data are consistent with a previous Pew Hispanic Center report that found a sharply decreased flow of immigrants from Mexico to the United States since mid-decade but no evidence of a recent increase in the number of Mexican-born migrants returning home from the U.S. However, return flows to other countries may have increased.

The estimates presented here document trends in the unauthorized population and flows into the country, but the analysis does not explain why these changes occurred. During the period covered by the analysis, there have been major shifts in the level of immigration enforcement and in enforcement strategies, as well as large swings in the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy entered a recession late in 2007, at a time when border enforcement was increasing. Economic and demographic conditions in sending countries and strategies employed by potential migrants also change. All of these undoubtedly contribute to the overall magnitude of immigration flows. But the data in this report do not allow quantification of these factors and are not designed to explain why flows and population totals declined.

Source: PEW RESEARCH CENTER

MIAMI – More than $389,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise was seized by special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during a two-day enforcement operation targeting flea markets in the South Florida area that were suspected of selling counterfeit trademarked goods.

On Aug. 22 and 23, ICE-HSI Commercial Fraud Investigations special agents, and officers from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), conducted “Operation Fire Sale” at Miami-area flea markets. They seized counterfeit trademarked goods that were being sold by local merchants at numerous booths at the Homestead Bargain Town Flea Market at 24400 Packing House Road in Homestead, Fla. and the Opa Locka/Hialeah Flea Market at 12705 NW 42 Ave. in Miami.

The searches resulted in seizing 28,474 individual items, including counterfeit Adidas shirts and shorts, DVDs, CDs, and knock-off sunglasses by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Christian Dior. Authorities estimate the collective value of the merchandise seized during the operation to be about $389,710, based upon the items’ suggested retail price if they were legitimate. The largest cache of counterfeits, estimated to be worth nearly $204,000, was CDs confiscated during an Aug. 23 search by ICE special agents at the Homestead Bargain Town Flea Market.

“Retailers who sell counterfeit products are ripping off consumers by selling sub-standard products,” said Anthony Mangione, ICE special agent-in-charge of ICE-HSI in Miami. “Selling counterfeit products undermines the U.S. economy, robs Americans of jobs, stifles American innovation, and promotes crime.”

The ICE-led enforcement action was assisted by the following law enforcement agencies: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Import Specialist Branch and Seized Property, the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and the Dade County Medical Examiners Photography Unit. Private industry brand security specialists also assisted from the following companies: Adidas, Coty, the Motion Picture Association of America, and the Recording Industry Association of America; two private investigations companies representing over 100 registered trademarks also participated.

ICE-HSI’s participation in the crackdown on counterfeit goods vendors is part of Operation Fire Sale, an agency initiative targeting intellectual property crime in several major cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. Spearheaded by the ICE-HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), Operation Fire Sale resulted in seizing more than $16 million worth of counterfeit merchandise in those cities last week.

ICE-HSI plays a leading role in investigating the production, smuggling and distribution of counterfeit products and combating intellectual property rights (IPR) violations. While many ICE-HSI enforcement actions involve counterfeit designer clothing and accessories, some of the top commodities seized in ICE-HSI IPR investigations are products that pose disturbing risks to public safety and security, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals and critical technology components, such as computer chips for defense systems and airplane equipment.

ICE-HSI’s intellectual property theft enforcement efforts have continued to escalate in the past 18 months under this Administration. In fiscal year 2008, ICE initiated 643 intellectual property theft investigations during the entire year. In the first two quarters of this fiscal year, ICE-HSI initiated 560 intellectual property theft investigations. At that pace, ICE-HSI expects to increase its intellectual property theft enforcement by 40 percent compared to just two years ago.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved special relief for certain F-1 Haitian students who have suffered severe economic hardship as result of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. This relief applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on Jan. 12, and enrolled in an institution that is certified by ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

The suspension of certain regulatory requirements, by notice in the Federal register, allows eligible Haitian F-1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school term, and, if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status. F-1 students granted employment authorization by means of this notice will be deemed to be engaged in a full course of study if they meet the minimum course-load requirements specified in the notice.

“We want to ensure that students from Haiti, who were here at the time of January’s tragic events, are able to concentrate on their studies without the worry of financial burdens created by the devastation of the earthquake,” said Louis Farrell, director for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. “These students have the full support of SEVP and designated school officials for assistance.”

ICE manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which automated the process for collecting, maintaining, and managing information about international foreign students, exchange visitors and their dependents during their stay in the United States.

To learn more about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, visit the ICE website

WASHINGTON, United States (AP) — US and congressional officials say the Obama administration is considering easing travel restrictions to Cuba and could announce a decision before the end of next week.

The officials said today a decision on the move to increase “people-to-people” exchanges with the communist island has not yet been made. They said political considerations could still hold it up.

But they said the administration is keen to expand opportunities for American students, educators and researchers to visit Cuba. Details of the proposed policy shift were reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because internal deliberations are still ongoing.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas government says it will deport illegal Haitians found on the island after complaining of “a noticeable increase” in the number of people from the earthquake battered country trying to “gain illegal entry into the country”.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that over the past six months, “and, in particular, during the last two weeks”, the authorities have noticed the increase in the number of Haitian migrants attempting to gain entry illegally into the country.

“The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas wishes to remind the general public of its long-standing policy with respect to illegal entry into its territory from all countries including Haiti,” the statement said, noting that following the January 12 earthquake that devastated the country, “The Bahamas was understanding and responsive by temporarily suspending its apprehension exercises with respect to Haitians residing illegally in its territory”.

It said that the Department of Immigration had also issued permits “to reside” to 102 people who were detained at The Bahamas Detention Centre.

“Having regard to the recent heightened infringement of Bahamas Immigration Law, notice is hereby given that with immediate effect, all illegal immigrants are requested to leave The Bahamas voluntarily.
“All persons who are here illegally are in contravention of the laws of The Bahamas, and are advised to return to their country of origin or be subject to apprehension and deportation.

“Persons who are found to be in The Bahamas illegally will be repatriated forthwith,” the statement added. (CMC)

“There is a series of extraditions that the United States still has requested and we look forward to those being processed,” he said yesterday morning at a press briefing at the US Embassy in St Andrew.

The Gleaner understands that the list includes law-enforcement officers, politicians and other high-profile individuals. According to sources, some of the extradition requests are related to the investigation of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, the alleged crime overlord who is in New York facing drug and gun charges.

When quizzed about the extradition requests, Valenzuela asked Isiah Parnell, the chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy, to respond.

Not a public spectacle

Parnell stonewalled reporters on whether the new requests involved elected Jamaican officials, stating that the US Embassy was “discreet and circumspect” in how it handled such diplomatic matters.

“… We have an extradition treaty that has worked well between the US government and the Government of Jamaica … . It has not been our practice to talk about individual extradition requests. We don’t expect that to change,” he told journalists.

Parnell stressed that Washington would continue to work through the normal diplomatic channels to handle any extradition requests deemed difficult.

The chargé d’affaires pointed out that there was nosignificant change in the number of extradition requests made by the US, adding that the range was between 10 and 20 per annum.

“As issues come up … we will process them through the DPP (director of public prosecutions) as we normally do, and the attorney general’s office, and we just look forward to that process running smoothly,” he said.

Dr Paul Gardner, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches – one of the major critics of the Jamaican Government’s handling of the Coke saga – has cautioned that the Golding administration should return to the established extradition procedures, “assuming that we bungled the last one”.

According to Gardner, the level of secrecy should be maintained in terms of information shared between the US and Jamaican governments.

“There is a point when it becomes public knowledge, and I would hope that this is adhered to in terms of those that are pending,” he added.

The fresh extradition requests come on the heels of the June 24 transfer of Coke, the deposed Tivoli Gardens strongman, following a nine-month stalemate between Washington
and Kingston over the request.

Under intense pressure to resign in May, Golding softened his earlier stance on the request for Coke and gave the green light for his extradition.

Last week, news surfaced that US prosecutors had filed a new sealed document with the courts.

Prosecutors gave no indication of what is contained in the document filed on June 20 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York where Dudus is to be tried.

Valenzuela met with Golding yesterday as part of a three-nation tour of the Caribbean. He visited The Bahamas and is to make his final stop in Trinidad and Tobago.

During their meeting, Golding and Valenzuela discussed how the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) could be more effective.

The CBSI, announced by US President Barack Obama during the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago early last year, focuses on three main objectives. The initiative is aimed at substantially reducing illicit drug trafficking, increasing public safety and security and promoting social justice.

Source: Star

PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Two foreign nationals, Roland Kirk Ezell and Andrew Nicholas Martin who were charged for illegal entry, were today fined and ordered deported.

The two — Ezell from Columbia and Martin from the British Virgin Islands — were held by the Jamaica Defence Force and Marine police in waters off Port Antonio last Saturday south-east of the Folly Lighthouse, in a stolen yacht.

When they appeared in court today Resident Magistrate Tara Morrison fined them $7,000 each and ordered that they be sent back to their homelands.

Both were heled aboard the yacht ‘Ruby’ which was tracked to Jamaican waters and the two men taken into custody.

The Portland police are still carrying out investigations into how the yacht ended up into Jamaican territorial waters.

Passport fees are among those being hiked, but US officials say some consular services are also becoming cheaper. The fee for processing adult passport books has been increased from US$100 to US$135 (BDS$273).

Processing a passport book for minors goes from US$85 to US$105 (BDS$212) and passport book renewals for adults now cost US$110 (BDS$222), up from US$75.The changes in 27 fees will become effective from next Tuesday.

“The revised fees will cover actual operating expenses for the 301 overseas consular posts, 23 domestic passport agencies and other centres that provide these consular services to US and foreign citizens,” a statement from the US Embassy in Barbados pointed out.

Some immigrant visa fees are up and others are going down. Processing family-based immigrant visas now costs US$330 (BDS$667), down from US$355. Determining Returning Resident status has gone from US$400 to US$380 (BDS$768).

On the other hand, applicants will have to pay more for the security surcharge, the visa lottery surcharge and the “domestic review of affidavit of support”. The fees for swearing in witnesses, supervising telephone depositions and shipping the remains of non-U.S. citizens are going down. However, it will cost more to get non-immigrant visas as well as certification of true copies of documents and arranging depositions in the judicial services.

The adjusted fees are based on a cost of service study completed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs in June, 2009. The study established the true cost of providing these consular services, which by law must be recovered through collection of fees, according to the embassy. (TY)

This is a golden opportunity for Caymanian employers to play a part in reducing immigration crime in their country and I expect that they will act responsibly and turn in work permits for employees that they no longer can provide work for,” Evans noted. The immigration chief also warned that Caymanians who offer illegal aliens jobs or housing will also face consequences if they are caught after the amnesty.