ICE won't attend Mexican consulate event.

Immigration officials have been alerted to the Mexican consulate’s visit to Concord tomorrow to help its citizens apply for passports and IDs.

Ivan Ortiz, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency’s Homeland Security Investigations unit and the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations were contacted. They will not however attend.

“ICE will not have a presence at the event,” he said.

Groups that support greater immigration enforcement plan to protest the mobile consulate event at Concord High School.

Protesters contacted Concord School Board and ICE. They requested that the agency register illegal immigrants.

Officials of the Mexican consulate said no U.S. documents will be provided. They said they will be providing Mexican passports and IDs that can be used only in Mexico. They said Mexican nationals are returning home and need proper Mexican passports and IDs to get back into the country.

Mexican consulate braces for CLT protest

The Mexican Consulate expects protests Saturday when it brings its mobile offices to the Charotte area. Members of the consulate's Raleigh staff will be at Concord High School Saturday morning to help Mexican citizens living in the Carolinas apply for Mexican passports and other forms of Mexican IDs.

NCFIRE has called for its supporters to protest the event.

James Johnson, President of NCFIRE, which advocates for greater immigration enforcement, said in an email that the event is designed for one purpose only -- to "document the undocumented." He says that people in the country legally already have the necessary legal documentation to be here, including passports, green cards, and student visas.

At least one protest supporter has emailed members of the Concord School Board in protest. He also said that he has contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Officials of the Mexican consulate said no U.S. documents will be provided. They said they will be providing Mexican passports and IDs that can be used only in Mexico. They said Mexican nationals are returning home and need proper Mexican passports and IDs to get back into the country.

NBA team dons 'Los Suns' jerseys to protest Arizona law

The Phoenix Suns will wear the jerseys in tonight's playoff game on the Cinco de Mayo holiday to "to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation," says the owner.

Owner Robert Sarver told the Associated Press that frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the illegal immigration issue led to the passage of what he called "a flawed state law."

"However intended, the result of passing the law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," he said, "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."

The law passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer defines illegal immigration as trespassing and allows local law enforcement agencies to question people they suspect of being undocumented.

Opponents of the law say it will encourage racial profiling, break up families, and harm communities by making illegal immigrants fearful of co-operating with police investigating crimes.

Supporters of the law in Arizona say it's not about race, but rules. And that the state was essentially forced to confront the issue because of the federal government's failure to act.

Sarver came up with the idea for the jerseys, but left it up to the players for a final decision. Suns guard Steve Nash said it was a unanimous decision.

"I think it's fantastic," Nash said after Tuesday's practice. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties. I think it's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."

Check out ESPN's interview with Nash for more on the controversy.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told the Associated Press said his team was interested in taking part but couldn't get new "Los Spurs" road jerseys in time for the game.

"It's a wonderful idea," Popovich said. "because it kind of shows what we all should be about. Sure there needs to be a lot of work done, obviously. A lot of administrations have done nothing about the immigration deal and now everybody's paying the price, especially a lot of people in Arizona. That's a bad thing, but the reaction is important, too, and this reaction [the Arizona law], I believe with Mr. Sarver, is inappropriate."

Photo: Getty Images

Charlotte activists protest Arizona law and 287(g)

Local immigration activists and supporters will march from Charlotte's Marshall Park to the Mecklenburg County jail tomorrow to protest the Mecklenburg County sheriff's 287(g) program and a new Arizona state law that criminalizes illegal immigration.

The rally will begin at 11 a.m. It's one of many such protests around the country that have stolen the spotlight from many other issues this week.

The Arizona law defines illegal immigration as trespassing and allows local law enforcement agencies to question people they suspect of being undocumented.

On Thursday, protesters rallied outside Wrigley Field in Chicago, where the Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the Cubs. One congressman called for Major League Baseball to pull next year's All-Star game out of Arizona.

Opponents of the law say it will encourage racial profiling, break up families, and harm communities by making illegal immigrants fearful of co-operating with police investigating crimes.

Ruben Campillo, N.C. director for Reform Immigration for America, sees the Arizona law as
an extension of 287(g), which allows local law enforcement to place arrested illegal immigrants into deportation proceedings. He said its another example of local governments overstepping their roles to confront an issue that is really the responsibility of the federal government.

Supporters of the law in Arizona say it's not about race, but rules. And that the state was essentially forced to confront the issue because of the federal government's failure to act.

A recent Rasmussen poll indicated 70 percent of likely voters in Arizona support the intent of a law authorizing police to check people they suspect of being illegal immigrants.

According to the Arizona Republic, in the past week, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's office said it received 5,186 calls in favor of the bill, 2,006 against.

The Census Boycott is on…

Some clergy call on illegal immigrants to boycott the Census. “This is a matter of moral principle,” Miguel Rivera, leader of the boycott, says.

The National Coalition Of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders called for the boycott last year in an effort to push leaders to pass immigration reform.

Now Rivera, president of the coalition, says it's in the best interest of millions of illegal immigrants to “exercise their right to free expression maintaining themselves silent and not exposing themselves further.”

The group estimates more than 3 million illegal immigrants won’t cooperate with the Census.

The U.S. Constitution calls for a nationwide count every 10 years. The data is used to distribute some $300 billion to state and local governments and adjust congressional representation.

Census officials say its critical that every resident be counted, and that immigration status is not part of the query.

An undercount could affect millions of dollars coming to the Carolinas for roads, schools and hospitals. It could also determine whether either state gains a congressional seat.

The pastors however say political representation and federal money don't matter to illegal immigrants, who can't vote and don't get to enjoy many of the benefits of living here.

Here are excerpts from a letter Rivera sent out this morning:

"The Census boycott is on. This is a matter of moral principle and pastoral care.

Congress will not move forward with legalization, there is no moratorium on executing raids and deportations.

It is in the best interests and the welfare of millions of undocumented immigrants, to exercise their right to free expression maintaining themselves silent and not exposing themselves further…

… We recognize that the Census is important, but its own importance and accuracy, converts itself into a weapon of families destruction."

…Only a Cease and Desist on Raids and Deportations would move us to call the boycott effort to stop.

File photo: Radio host Jorge Medina asked listeners last year if they'll participate in Census. Many said they'll boycott.

Enforcement advocate drops Dobbs

A N.C. immigration enforcement group has withdrawn its support for Lou Dobbs and suspended its website calling on Dobbs to run for President. Americans for Legal Immigration PAC announced yesterday they're responding to membership angered over Dobb’s about-face on immigration issues.

Once one of the staunchest anti-illegal immigration advocates, the former CNN anchor angered supporters when he told Spanish-language network Telemundo that he now supports a plan to legalize millions of undocumented workers. He long called these programs an unfair "amnesty."

Dobbs is reportedly considering a run for Senate or possibly even President. He seemed to be trying to change his image as an enemy of Latino immigrants by re-positioning himself as a champion of one of their main causes. Both sides of the debate doubted his sincerity.

"While Mr. Dobbs claims his positions have not changed, however, that is not the perception of many of our mutual supporters," said William Gheen of ALIPAC, which opposes giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. "His recent comments on Telemundo and his national radio show supporting some kind of path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is inconsistent with positions of ALIPAC and the views of most American citizens."

ALIPAC officials say they circulated the video of the entire Lou Dobbs interview on Telemundo to over 30,000 national supporters. Gheen said internal polling showed that over 70 percent of the group’s supporters were upset with Dobbs's comments in support of legalizing illegal immigrants. ALIPAC opposes any path to citizenship form of Amnesty for illegal aliens

ALIPAC created the Loudobbsforpresident.org website. The group says it was the first national organization to call on Dobbs to run for President. Gheen was invited on Dobbs show to speak about the effort.

"We've received so many demands from prior Dobbs supporters to remove their pledges of support that we have to suspend all operations on the Dobbs fan sites," said Gheen. "Lou Dobbs has deeply offended his base of supporters and ALIPAC is going to remain loyal to those Americans who support our existing immigration laws instead of Amnesty disguised as reform."

'Bad bill of the year'

Voters selected a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to enroll in N.C. community colleges as the year’s worst bill.

The Civitas Institute, a Raleigh-based conservative think tank, hosted the NCAA march madness-style competition. The tournament began with 32 bills that Civitas staff had written about and nominated throughout 2009 as a “Bad Bill of the Week.” More than 10,000 votes were cast throughout the tournament, according to the institute.

State Senate Bill 848 defeated a public financing of municipal campaigns bill by a vote of 63-37. Neither of the two bills passed.

“The voters have spoken and declared SB 848 as this year’s worst bill of the year,” said Francis De Luca, executive director of the Civitas Institute. “SB 848 was able to defeat some really bad pieces of legislation on its way to the title, so it truly earned its victory.”

The bill was introduced in the midst of controversy over whether the state Board of Community Colleges should admit illegal immigrants to the state's 58 community colleges.

In September, the board approved a policy that would admit illegal immigrants provided they pay out-of-state tuition. The policy is expected to be implemented sometime in 2010.

NC Listen, which advocates for stronger immigration enforcement, is lobbying to prevent the policy change from being enacted.

“In the middle of one of the worst recessions in American history, our N.C. Community College Board decides to help illegal immigrants enroll in college when our state unemployment rate is 11 percent and citizens need help with retraining and education” said Ron Woodard, director of NC Listen.

Supporters of the policy say it will only impact a small amount of people and won't take away seats from U.S. citizens.

Community colleges to admit illegal immigrants?

Conservative groups are planning protests of Thursday's state community college board meeting where members are expected to discuss whether to let illegal immigrants attend their schools.

Leaders are expected to vote Friday on a new policy that would admit undocumented immigrants and require them to pay out-of-state tuition rates. The policy also stipulates that U.S. residents would be given priority for admission when classrooms are full.

During last year’s election campaign, the board stopped a longtime practice of allowing illegal immigrants to enroll at its 58 campuses at out-of-state tuition rates. It did so on the advice from the attorney general's office. The office later reversed its opinion, but the board decided to halt any additional action until it could review its policy.

The review, conducted by the consulting firm JBL Associates, concluded there would be no public subsidy of undocumented students who pay out-of-state rates. The report found that illegal immigrants paying out-of-state rates would pay an average of $1,680 more than the costs to the taxpayer of providing the educational opportunity.

Supporters say community colleges were created to give an education to anyone who wanted to learn and that these students, many brought to the country as young children, shouldn't be punished for their parents actions.

William Gheen, head of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, said several groups who believe illegal immigrants should not be allowed in public colleges are planning a protest at the Raleigh meeting.

"Since people will not be allowed to speak at this meeting, we are protesting outside," Gheen said. "Important decisions like these should be left to state and federal elected officials, not appointed bureaucrats. This board voting to allow illegal aliens access to our community colleges is against the wishes of a vast majority of NC citizens and is depriving us all of a voice and representation."

Photo: Charlotte students Laura, born in Mexico and Ed, born in El Salvador, were crushed when they found out last year that CPCC and other N.C. community colleges would no longer accept undocumented immigrants. DANA ROMANOFF - dromanoff@charlotteobserver.com