Peninsula Daily News for Friday/Saturday, November 12-13, 2010 Page
C7
Business
Politics & Environment
Deportations drop in the Northwest for 2nd year By Manuel Valdes The Associated Press
SEATTLE — The number of deportations of illegal immigrants from Washington, Oregon and Alaska dropped by nearly 9 percent during the last fiscal year, while deportations of immigrants considered convicted criminals were on the rise, according to new federal data. It was the second consecutive year that ICE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — showed overall removals of immigrants dropped in the Pacific Northwest, where 9,833 people were deported between Oct. 1, 2009, to Sept. 30. By contrast, deportations had increased from more than 4,000 in 2005 to nearly 11,000 in 2008. Breakdowns by state and counties and type of crimes were not released. “We’re meeting our stated goal,” said Lorie Dankers, ICE spokeswoman for the Northwest. “Our stated focus is on convicted criminal aliens — that part of removals did have an increase. “The fact that the overall numbers were down was
not a huge concern.” Nationwide, the number of deportations again had risen, though the latest figures showed there was an increase of just more than 1 percent in the last year, with some 392,000 people removed from the country. That figure falls just below the 400,000 goal ICE had set for itself. Still, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called this past year “recordbreaking.” Deportations have nearly doubled since 2006.
Convicted criminals In the Northwest, 48 percent of the immigrants removed were considered convicted criminals by the government. That share of deportations saw a marginal increase, while deportations of people with no criminal record dropped by more than 1,200 people. Since 2007, deportations in the Northwest of immigrants with criminal records have doubled. Crimes under which a person may be deported can range between a misdemeanor and a felony. Also immigrants with
permanent residencies or refugees can face deportation if convicted of a crime. Congress has pressured Homeland Security to emphasize deporting and removing people considered dangerous to communities or threats to the country. ICE implements a couple of programs to target immigrants with criminal histories. The Criminal Alien Program sends agents to jails to look for inmates with questionable legal status. ICE has also its Secure Communities program, which allows local officials to screen people being booked into jail for their immigration status and do an FBI criminal background check at the same time. Secure Communities has not been implemented in Washington or Alaska, but it is up and running in four Oregon counties. David Ayala, organizing director for Seattle-based OneAmerica, said his organization has asked ICE for a breakdown of the types of crimes that have prompted deportations. He said they haven’t received any data. He, like other immigrant
advocates, suspects a large percentage of those deported are removed because of petty crimes. An analysis of the use of Secure Communities in 16 states by the Center for Constitutional Rights showed that about 80 percent of the people deported were noncriminals or arrested for lower-level offenses.
Overall perception “It’s not good for the overall perception,” Ayala said. “Most [immigrants] are law-abiding people who contribute to the economy of this country.” For Craig Keller, a proponent of stricter immigration enforcement at the organization Respect WA, the new numbers showed the Obama administration, like Bush’s, is not doing enough. “I’m for the deportation of anyone who violates immigration law,” Keller said, adding that illegal immigration supports a wide range of activity that breaks the law, such as forging Social Security cards or other identification.
Pedophile’s Guide to Love no longer sold on Amazon The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Amazon is no longer selling a self-published guide for pedophiles. It wasn’t clear whether Amazon.com Inc. had pulled the item or whether the author withdrew it. Amazon did not immediately return messages Thursday, and the author, Phillip R. Greaves II of Pueblo, Colo., declined comment through a representative. The book, The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover’s Code of Conduct, offers
advice to pedophiles on how to make a sexual encounter with a child as safe as possible. It includes first-person descriptions of such encounters, purportedly written from a child’s point of view. The availability of the book calls into question whether Amazon has any procedures — or even an obligation — to vet books before they are sold in its online stores. The title is an electronic book available for Amazon’s Kindle e-reader and the company’s software for
reading Kindle books on mobile phones and computers. Amazon allows authors to submit their own works and shares revenue with them. Amazon issues guidelines banning certain materials, including those deemed offensive. However, the company doesn’t elaborate on what constitutes offensive content, saying simply that it is “probably what you would expect.” Amazon also doesn’t promise to remove or pro-
tect any one category of books. Once discovered Wednesday, the book triggered outrage from commenters on sites such as Twitter. Some people threatened to boycott the online store until Amazon removed the book. Two petitions on Facebook alone won more than 13,500 supporters. On Wednesday, child online safety advocacy group Enough is Enough said selling the book lends the impression that child abuse is normal.
Few buyers jump in even though mortgage rates fall to fresh lows The Associated Press
peninsuladailynews.com
DETROIT — Nissan Motor Co. is recalling thousands of vehicles due to minor steering or battery cable problems. The Japanese automaker said Thursday that the steering recall affects about 240,000 2002-2004 Frontier pickup trucks and 261,000 2002-2004 Xterra sport utility vehicles in the U.S., and 14,000 2010 Sentra sedans in the U.S. because of the battery cable terminal connector problem. The automaker said it will notify owners in early December when parts are available, and dealers will fix the problem at no cost to the owners. other projects. Brown has more than SEQUIM — Vision seven years of design and Landscape Nursery coestimation experience. owner Claire Bernards Lincoln Industrial recently attended the sev- Corp. is located at 4130 enth annual Focus on Tumwater Truck Route. Farming conference at the For more information, Tulalip Resort in Marysphone Brown at 360-457ville. 6122. She
At conference
attended sessions on soil fertility, landscaping, plants for roof Bernards gardens and trends in commercial agriculture. Vision Landscape Nursey is located at 131 Kitchen-Dick Road. For more information, phone Bernards at 360683-2855.
Joins Lincoln PORT ANGELES — Natalie Brown has been hired at Lincoln Industrial Corp. She will handle the design, estimating and detailing for a wide Brown range of products ranging from structural steel, conveyor systems to ornamental iron in gates, railings and
Free Friday night? PORT ANGELES — Coburn’s Cafe, 824 S. C St., is now open for Friday night dinners. The restaurant serves homestyle meals and has different dinner and dessert specials each week. For more information or to make a reservation, phone 360-417-0991.
Nonferrous metals NEW YORK — Spot nonferrous metal prices Thursday. Aluminum - $1.1021 per lb., London Metal Exch. Copper - $3.9588 Cathode full plate, LME. Copper - $4.0180 N.Y. Merc spot Thu. Lead - $2574.00 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $1.1398 per lb., London Metal Exch. Gold - $1398.50 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $1403.10 troy oz., NY Merc spot Thu. Silver - $27.295 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $27.401 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Thu. Platinum - $1757.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum - $1745.80 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Thu.
Peninsula Daily News and The Associated Press
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The average rate on 15-year fixed loans, a popular choice for refinancing, fell to 3.57 percent from 3.63 percent, Freddie Mac said. That’s the lowest since the survey began in 1991. The average rate for 30-year fixed loans fell to 4.17 percent from 4.24 percent last week. That’s the lowest on records dating back to 1971. Rates on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to their lowest level in at least five years. They averaged 3.25 percent, down from 3.39 percent a week earlier. It is the lowest rate on records dating back to January 2005. Rates on one-year adjustable-rate home loans were unchanged at 3.26. The rates do not include
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postponed some foreclosure “While that put a pause sales, resulting in a 9 per- in the foreclosure process, cent drop in home reposses- that doesn’t do anything to sions in October from the help delinquencies,” said previous month. LendingTree chief econoMajor lenders temporar- mist Cameron Findlay. ily halted some foreclosures Economic woes, such as while they reviewed their unemployment or reduced practices and attorney gen- income, continue to be the erals in all 50 states main catalysts for foreclolaunched a joint investiga- sures. Worst summer in years tion into the issue. Borrowers who owe more But many have resumed than their homes are worth Home sales logged their worst summer in decades, or plan to resume foreclo- are also at high risk, and their numbers are rising. with third-quarter sales sures soon. falling by 21 percent from a year ago, the National Association of Realtors said Avalon Wood & Gas Stoves Thursday. Median home prices fell in half of U.S. cities in the July-to-September period, with purchase of up from a third in the previGas or Wood Stove* ous quarter. And banks are on pace to * Expires Nov. 30, 2010 take back more than 1 milTax Credit Ends Dec. 31. lion homes this year, foreUp To $1500 on Wood & Pellet Stoves closure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. Everwarm Hearth & Home Recent investigations 257151 Highway 101 • 452-3366 into faulty paperwork have
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NEW YORK — The mortgage rate bar is even lower, but few homebuyers are making the jump. Rates on fixed mortgages again fell to their lowest levels in decades this week, Freddie Mac said Thursday as the Federal Reserve worked on its massive bondbuying program to help spur economic growth. This year has been marked in the last six months by record mortgage interest lows. But stiff headwinds — unemployment, foreclosures and tight credit — are undermining these attractive rates and forcing buyers to the sidelines.
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