Please take advantage of the opportunity to hear former U. S. Representative Tom Tancredo on November 12. Note that this will not be a Saturday meeting but it will take place on Thursday evening. We are privileged to have him speak. Many years ago when the immigration movement was in its infancy Texans for Immigration Reform, Inc had a magnificent luncheon for him and he spoke and presented his slides of the invasion across our borders. He showed pictures of the Mexican army and their many incursions into the United States among other things. It made a lasting impression and we have remained steadfast in our efforts to educate the public about what is happening. If you didn’t have time to read the last newsletter go back and do it now for his article that we published reveals the problems of dealing with both the Republican and Democrat Party on the immigration issue.

October 27^th and 28^th were red letter days for Houston, Texas. The two bodies of local government went in opposite directions.

 Sheriff Adrian Garcia opened Commissioner’s Court with a concise and compelling statement on why Houston needs to continue the 287g program. This is a welcome surprise from a sheriff just elected and it was unexpected.  Reports that “he is a good man” seem to be true. Members from US Border Watch, Texas Border volunteers and Texans for Immigration Reform, Inc. had members who testified. Commissioner’s Court voted overwhelmingly for continuing 287g. There was only one vote in opposition.

Mayor Bill White, without a discussion with the City Council members, had eliminated the 287g program. Council Member Toni Lawrence called for a special session of City Council to discuss the measure the day following Harris County’s decision.  The four council members attending did not have a quorum so everyone proceeded to the Rotunda area for a press conference. All four spoke affirming the need for this program and not just the Secure Communities program that the mayor proposed. Secure Communities will be beneficial to getting hardened illegal criminals removed but will ignore others. 287g will identify those without citizenship status.

287g has been successful in establishing coordination between the federal government and local governments. Harris County Commissioner’s Court voted to continue with this program. Houston should be doing the same.