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by Niall O'Dowd

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comment on article 90 Comments
Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 at 05:53 PM


Arizona governor Jan Brewer immigrant crime claims revealed as nonsense


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Thank goodness for good journalism.

In one of the best examples of digging beneath the headlines Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank has skewered the nonsense from the right that crime on the Arizona border is out of control.

Instead he finds the border has never been more secure.

Milbank believes Arizona governor Jan Brewer,(above), has lost her mind.

He uses this quote "Our law enforcement agencies have found bodies in the desert either buried or just lying out there that have been beheaded," she announced on local television.

Turns out there is not a shred of evidence to support her claim.

Medical examiners in Arizona's border counties say they had never seen an immigration-related beheading. Brewer's press office refused to comment when asked to defend their claim.

Milbank also nails several other immigration falsehoods being spread by Arizona politicians.

He says these include "Border violence on the rise? Phoenix becoming the world's No. 2 kidnapping capital? Illegal immigrants responsible for most police killings? The majority of those crossing the border are drug mules? All wrong."

He quotes the Arizona Republic which published an exhaustive report that found that, according to the FBI and Arizona police agencies, crime in Arizona border towns has been "essentially flat for the past decade."

For instance , "In 2000, there were 23 rapes, robberies and murders in Nogales, Ariz. Last year, despite nearly a decade of population growth, there were 19 such crimes."

The Pima County sheriff stated that "the border has never been more secure."

FBI statistics also show violent crime in all of the border states are lower than they were a decade ago.

Enter Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who claims that violence is "the worst I have ever seen."

When President Obama told the truth last week that "the southern border is more secure today than any time in the past 20 years," Rush Limbaugh said the president was "fit for the psycho ward" on the basis of his remarks.

Despite this McCain told NBC, ABC and CNN that Phoenix is the "No. 2 kidnapping capital of the world" behind only Mexico City based on an entirely erroneous ABC report in February 2009 "

In fact kidnappings in Phoenix are declining.

Then there's Brewer's claim that "the majority" of people immigrating illegally "are coming here and they're bringing drugs, and they're doing drop houses and they're extorting people and they're terrorizing the families. That is the truth."

How come then the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector has apprehended more than 170,000 undocumented immigrants since Oct. 1, but only about 1,100 drug prosecutions have been filed in Arizona in that time.


So where Milbank asks is this "terrible border security crisis" that Brewer claims has only "gotten worse"?

Fact is it is not remotely as bad as the anti immigrant groups are claiming.

Milbank has done a great service by pointing that out.



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Posted by maloney on Sep 07, 2010, 08:52 PM EDT
Never let the truth get in the way of another obama lie!!
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Posted by maloney on Sep 07, 2010, 08:49 PM EDT
I used to live in Scottsdale AZ. I have many friends that live there still. Dana Milbank is a liar. No surprise, she works for the washington post, another liberal obama loving rag about to go under like the times. O'dowd.. you should be ashamed to perpetuate these lies. Do your homework, oh I forgot, your just another liberal hack yourself. July 2010 body found beheaded in AZ. just across boarder by local sheriff. Other bodies without heads found across southwest US, Also in TN. KY. & ILL. Now who's the liar. O'Dowd, get it right or shut up, obama lover.
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Posted by DeaconJack on Aug 08, 2010, 11:40 AM EDT
My cousin, who is a Trooper there would probably pop his top to read this piece of trash reporting. Did Milbank choose his interview questions soas to put the Gov.in a bad light???? Hmmmmmm?
Report abuse
Posted by hancock on Aug 02, 2010, 12:55 PM EDT
Nancy you are a right wing bigot, how dare you say anything different than the all knowing Irish and Australian expert immigration commentators.
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Posted by NancyLou9 on Aug 02, 2010, 10:33 AM EDT
As someone who lives in Arizona less than a mile from the border, I can assure you our gracious Governor is NOT exaggerating the situation in any way, shape or form. The truth of the matter is: Of COURSE the coroners are going to say they have no be-headings related to the drug trade and illegals because no one has been caught so blame and motive can be placed. However, the be-headings ARE happening and they are done so different gangs from the south can gain control of favorable drug routes into Arizona. Currently, near Yuma, there are 2,000 acres of a National Park that had to be abandoned because of the danger to Americans (and anyone else who wishes to enjoy the beauty of the region) to go there, except people involved in the drug and illegal alien trades. How easy for Seanomelbourne to stand there, high on his self-proclaimed high horse to judge the US, a country with a history of accepting LEGAL immigrants, when his country is filled with descendants of criminals from the UK which would lead one to believe HE is the descendant of a criminal sent to Aussie land by the UK. Sean - you don't live here and you have no right to judge us for how we choose to take care of an expensive and on-going problem - one the feds don't care to address. I LIVE here, I LIVE in Arizona, I LIVE on the border, I SEE the problem, up close and personal. I SEE the fires, I SEE the dead/stolen live stock, I SEE the burned homes, I SEE the stolen cars and trucks, I SEE the accidents caused by illegals who have no insurance or driver's license, I SEE them processed and returned to Mexico - only to try it again the next day. I SEE it all, not you. Now go hit a pub and drink yourself stupid - oh, wait, you already did, and let the good people who actually SEE the problem take care of their own business. When your country is in order, THEN you MIGHT be able to tell us what to do - and we still won't listen.
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Posted by ThomasCoolberth on Jul 25, 2010, 03:23 PM EDT
Its "illegal" immigrant. We have laws that regulate immigration just like Ireland does. How about we ship the 20 million illegals to Ireland if the invasion is so benign.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 20, 2010, 08:32 PM EDT
Maybe!!!
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Posted by hancock on Jul 19, 2010, 10:46 PM EDT
You're kidding , right?
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 19, 2010, 08:10 PM EDT
That's ok hancock when you have nothing of interest to say be an attack dog and yap on and on ad infinitum.
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Posted by HBDuncan on Jul 18, 2010, 11:11 AM EDT
@Starlet Gov. Brewer did not ever have a compaign. Brewer became Governor of Arizona as part of the line of succession as determined by the Arizona Constitution after the resignation of Janet Napolitano after being selected as Secretary of Homeland Security in 2009. This is a security issue which should have been addressed years ago and not a race issue. The fact is what the government is sueing bout is not racial issues. Florida, Texas, and seven other states filed a brief supporting Arizona's law aimed at cracking down on illegal migrants after the U.S. government sued to block enforcement of the law. Arizona's statute does not establish an immigration policy that would interfere with federal law. The federal government seeks to negate the pre-existing power of all the states to simply verify a persons immigration status. Eight states have joined in the brief and our in support of Arizona. Current US policies have resulted in the state being "under attack" from Mexican Drug and immigrant smuggling cartels I believe that D. Milbank has an agenda as to why she refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of Arizona and Gov. Brewer best interest, care and concern for all citizens (multicultural and legal) in the great state of Arizona. What is the agenda of the government except to take away all states rights which is unconstitutional? What is at stake next the sovereignty of America next? This is just the beginning as we crated a monster. The government is to serve the people not oppress them and instigate crisis for their progressive/socialist NWO agenda! Not on my watch!
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Posted by hancock on Jul 18, 2010, 12:57 AM EDT
The US jails illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Is that OK with you. Worry about your own country.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 18, 2010, 12:00 AM EDT
I'm Irish Hancock. By the way the U.S. jail illegal immigrants how tough is that. Maybe your not looking at the problem objectively enough.
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Posted by Ajreaper on Jul 17, 2010, 10:19 PM EDT
Immigration policies are in no way related to secure borders- 2 entirely different things as is an immigration policy that is not enforced.
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Posted by hancock on Jul 17, 2010, 02:24 AM EDT
Australia and Mexico have a much tougher immigration policy than the joke that is the US border. America takes in more legal immigrants each yr than those two countries combined. A typical lefty crybaby, I thought Australians were men.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 17, 2010, 01:53 AM EDT
Hancock I suppose you would have sent them back in their leaky boats to drown as the previous conservative government did in Australia. Or maybe gas chambers whatever fulfills your racist fancy.
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Posted by AmAncINED on Jul 16, 2010, 05:28 PM EDT
My Hispanic sister-in-law's grandparents and their siblings entered the U.S. from Mexico LEGALLY. They learned English and fulfilled all the requirements to become Am. citizens. They deeply resent all those who enter the U.S. illegally. Elena's entire family believes in Arizona's immigration law. They say they are proud to show their citizenship papers and valid driver's licenses, whenever, wherever. Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. And yes, they all live in Arizona.
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Posted by hancock on Jul 16, 2010, 10:25 AM EDT
A more tolerant society? I don't think so . Holding camps until they check out? That doesn't sound so warm and fuzzy. Typical lefty hypocrite. We should do that here . What do you say?
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Posted by Monsoonman on Jul 16, 2010, 10:12 AM EDT
Just so we can get a monument point for clarification Dennis and find some common ground perhaps. You say the American public is easily duped and swindled. Do you think some of the main perpetrators have been Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank?...Just trying to find where your indignation stops and mine starts.
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Posted by DennisQ on Jul 16, 2010, 06:36 AM EDT
Thank you for your kind remark, Sean. I've been wondering why the Republicans are so confident of victory in November that they've lifted their oars out of the water already. They're not participating in governing the country anymore - everything coming out of Washington is the result of Democratic initiatives. So I wondered how Republicans predict great electoral success without any accomplishments. It turns out that there's a new theory being kicked around among pollsters - the midterm elections are already decided by the incumbent president's approval rating five months out. But Republicans are like investors who buy a stock based on its historical price performance. They are betting the rent money on their belief in a system that can't lose - all they've got to do is fiddle with the numbers. If they drive down Obama's approval with smear and fear attacks, there's no way they can lose. However, Wall Streeters know that so-called "technical analysis" is a sucker's bet if insiders can manipulate the figures to falsely suggest a buying opportunity.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 16, 2010, 04:14 AM EDT
I don't have to post here Denis says it all so succinctly.
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Posted by DennisQ on Jul 16, 2010, 02:56 AM EDT
America is losing its grip. We haven't won a war since 1945, there's massive unemployment, and we're in debt up to our ears. A frightened people are easily swindled, as was noted over a century ago by historian Jacob Burckhardt. Burckhardt predicted that 20th century would be dominated by violent demagogues, whom he called "terrible simplifiers." What I've called cartoon journalism is an oversimplification of political reality. Fox News is popular because it's entertaining, but also because it makes ignorant people feel like they understand what's going on. Hitler scapegoated the Jews; Gov. Brewer scapegoats foreign workers who come to Arizona.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 15, 2010, 07:27 PM EDT
Right on DennisQ! but one only has to look at the audience they're trying to convince. Smear and fear works well on their party faithful.
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Posted by DennisQ on Jul 15, 2010, 09:29 AM EDT
Governor Brewer's world is like the Saturday morning cartoons - its characters are so broadly defined that even a 5-year old can tell the good guys from the bad guys. Republican political narratives are cartoon-like in their view of human motives. Immigrants don't come here to find work; they come here to loaf around, sell drugs, corrupt our young people and destroy our way of life.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 15, 2010, 04:48 AM EDT
We are an island(which helps)but we do intercept boat loads of refugees,they are sent to holding camps. Over 90% of them will eventually be released into the community after their bona fides are checked.Our biggest problem is people flying in and overstaying their visas.After all we do have the best economy in the world and have superior working conditions to the U.S. WE have a more tolerant society than yours or so it would seem going by your antics.
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Posted by hancock on Jul 14, 2010, 11:13 PM EDT
How is the immigration policy in Austalia? or in Mexico? Maybe we should adopt similar plans. Then you will here some howling from the left.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 14, 2010, 08:38 PM EDT
I have posted about 6 or 7 down the line,I did mention you in dispatches.
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Posted by hancock on Jul 14, 2010, 03:09 PM EDT
Sean any question for me?
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Posted by Kilrush1 on Jul 14, 2010, 12:28 PM EDT
Good to read factual reporting; we don't often see it in the US. Too much vested interests and axes to grind!
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Posted by JimThompson on Jul 14, 2010, 10:17 AM EDT
Don't know what world Milbanks lives on but it is not this Earth. till can't understand why ILLEGAL is now considerede as alright.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Jul 14, 2010, 05:25 AM EDT
Incorrect though that statement is, Dennis ('cartoonish notions of good and evil'), at least those on the right even HAVE a notion of good and evil. When a person is so deliberately nuanced that they can't tell gray from black from white (like a typical LEFT winger), they've truly lost it. The only thing that becoming more and more cartoonish, Dennis, are your posts. You've almost become a parody of yourself, if you'll pardon me.




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