Federal agents have increased their presence in the Spokane area in what some believe is an overreaching effort to combat illegal immigration at a local level.

Officials with the U.S. Border Patrol say they’re not specifically targeting illegal immigrants and that their presence at police stops in the Spokane County area is part of an ongoing partnership with local law enforcement.

But a Seattle-based immigrant rights group alleges border patrol agents are responding to calls even when their presence is not necessary, simply because they suspect someone may be an illegal immigrant.

“Only people who are Spanish speakers or are perceived to be Spanish speakers are the ones being questioned,” said Jorge Barón, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Read the rest of my story here.

KENNEWICK – A city council candidate in Kennewick has advanced to the general election on a platform that includes calling for illegal immigrants to be executed if they refuse to leave town.

Loren Nichols collected nearly 400 votes in his ward – that’s about 26 percent of Tuesday’s primary vote, enough to place second out of three candidates. He’ll face incumbent Steve Young, who also serves as mayor, in the citywide general election this fall.

Nichols, 56, has said in media interviews that if immigrants are seen entering the country illegally they should be shot on sight, and any who refuse an ultimatum to leave Kennewick should also face the death penalty. More here.

What does it say about this community of Nichols is elected?

President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting Wednesday in Alpha, Ill., during his three-day economic bus tour.

The Obama administration said it will review the cases of 300,000 illegal immigrants currently in deportation proceedings to identify “low-priority” offenders – including the elderly, crime victims and people who have lived in the U.S. since childhood – with an eye toward allowing them to stay.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the review as the Obama administration has sought to counter criticism that it has been too harsh in its deportation policies. By launching the case-by-case review, officials said they are refocusing deportation efforts on convicted felons and other “public safety threats.” More here.

Good idea or bad idea?

OLYMPIA — The Senate began discussion of the 2011-13 Transportation Bill shortly afternoon — and stopped fairly quickly.

A ruling is needed to determine whether Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, can get a vote on an amendment that would require applicants for a drivers license to present a valid Social Security number or some other form of identification that proves they are citizens.

Washington is the only state that does not require citizenship before issuing a drivers license, Benton said. That makes it a “magnet” for illegal immigrants seeking some form of state-issued ID.

Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, argued that the amendment is out of order because it's outside the subject and scope of the transportation bill, which she said is about spending money on transportation projects over the next two years. Benton's proposed change would essentially create a new state law on drivers licenses that would extend beyond the life of the spending plan.

Benton argued it fits in the transportation bill, which has money for a pilot program for a new federal licensing program that mentions Social Security numbers as part of its qualifications.

The budget debate was put on hold, pending a ruling on whether Benton's amendment is out of order. A few minutes later, the Senate adjourned until Wednesday morning because its Ways and Means Committee has a hearing at 2:30 p.m. that will require much of the members to attend.

JEROME, Idaho (AP) — Police in Idaho say a man who asked authorities to arrest and deport him to Mexico stole a squad car after his request was denied.

LOS ANGELES – Two mentally disabled immigrants must be given lawyers as they fight deportation, a U.S. district court judge has ruled. Jose Franco-Gonzalez, 29, of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Guillermo Gomez-Sanchez, 48, of San Bernardino, Calif., are at the center of a case that marks one of the first instances in which a judge ordered representation for an individual in immigration proceedings, according to a coalition of advocacy lawyers arguing the men’s cases.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee came last week just before Christmas. In a March lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other advocates argued that the men’s diminished mental capacities made them unable to voice their own interests.

Thoughts?

A Canadian truck driver is accused of trying to help a man illegally cross the international border into Boundary County, Idaho.

Border patrol agents spotted Brian Meszarosi trying to pick up Darwin S. Canonizado on Highway 1 just south of the border on Oct. 12.

Meszarosi, recognized by agents as wood chip hauler who frequently crosses the border, said he met Canonizado at a small gas station just west of Creston, B.C., and agreed to help him get into the United States for $500, according to an affidavit prepared by investigators.

Meszarosi was to pick up Canonizado after the Philippines native crossed the border on foot and Meszarosi in his truck, investigators wrote. Meszarosi was to then drive Canonizado to Spokane, investigators wrote. Canonizado told investigators he is a Filipino citizen whose Canadian work VISA is set to expire. He hoped to find employment in California.

Meszarosi and Canonizado are in the Boundary County Jail. Their ages were not available.

More than a 1 1/2 pounds of cocaine was seized last week in Grant County.

Investigators found the drugs, along with three guns, on Sept. 6 while searching two homes - one in Quincy and one in Moses Lake - and arresting four people, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

The first search in the 300 block of E Street NE in Quincy recovered about 18 ounces of cocaine. Investigators also seized a late-model BMW convertible and a 2002 Toyota Camry.

Arrested on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver were Felix Torres Maciel, 34, of Moses Lake, and Cesar Alejandro Ayala, 36, of Quincy.

Another search in the 9000 block of Road H. 6 in Moses Lake seized more than eight ounces of cocaine, two semi-automatic handguns, a .22 caliber rifle and more than $10,000.

Suspected illegal immigrants Ricardo Pimentel Maciel, 60, and Estella Torres Maciel, 58, were arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and alien in possession of a firearm.

An interagency drug team arrested two men in Grant County this week on gun and drug charges.

Illegal immigrant Manuel Alvarez-Meraz, 36, (right) was arrested early Tuesday with marijuana and 13 guns during a raid at 13497 Road B.8 SE, near Royal City.

Along with nine semi-auto handguns, investigators seized two shotguns and a .22 caliber rifle, police seized $29,850 in cash, a 2002 Cadillac Escalade and a 2004 Hyundai Accent.

Arrested in Othello that same time was Marco A. Hernandez-Herrera, 32, an illegal immigrant suspected of identity theft and forgery, according to a news release. Investigators seized a two handguns, a 2002 Avalanche SUV, $2,040 in cash during a raid at 515 Rose Drive #5.

Hernandez-Herrera faces two counts of alien in possession of a firearm, along with forgery, identity theft, marijuana and methamphetamine charges.

A new public radio survey shows a majority of Northwest residents believes illegal immigrants take away jobs from native-born Americans. Is that perception based on fact? Some experts say, right or wrong, people’s beliefs are sometimes driven by their fears about their own economic well-being. … Pollster Adam Davis says most of the people included in the recent public radio survey think highly of immigrants, even those who are here illegally/Doug Nadvornek, OPB News. More here.

Question: Have you lost a job to an illegal immigrant, hired one, or been the victim of a crime committed by one?

A two-day gang sweep in Grant County that authorities said arrested violent criminals targeted mostly illegal immigrants and felons wanted for probation violations.

Law enforcement seized Ecstasy, methamphetamine and marijuana and suspected stolen property, including guns, and arrested 32 people, 11 of whom had previously been deported but returned to the country illegally, said John Turley, Grant County undersheriff. 

In light of a news release from the U.S. Marshals Office, Turley clarified that none of the warrants involved homicide charges, and that gang members wanted for attempted murder in Grant County have not been arrested.

Among those arrested was a teenage gang member injured in a fatal shooting in March between Mattawa and Beverly. Carlos D. Leyva, 17, was killed; the boy was shot in the ankle. He was arrested this week with an illegal shotgun, marijuana and ammo, Turley said.

The sweep arrested members of rival gangs, including a suspected leader, Arthur Frank Cardenas, 31, on a probation violation. Cardenas is pictured at left.

Pictured above, left to right and top to bottom:

Juan R. Baeza, Josue E. Trinidad, Jose Ruvio Lopez. Edgar A. Sanchez, Santiago Gonzalez Herrejon, Alfredo Garay.

Read my full story on the bust here.