I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
While parts of the Georgia immigration law haven’t taken effect because of a federal injunction, one did on July 1: Use false identification for a job and receive up to 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The offense is called “aggravated identity fraud.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has details:
It applies to everyone, not just illegal immigrants. The penalties are on par with possessing up to 10,000 pounds of marijuana.
“It’s a harsh penalty,” said Frank Rotondo, executive director of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. “But it is meant as an eye-opener, to send a message.”
In addition to illegal immigrants, those the law might snare, officials said, are deadbeat parents who are trying to hide income and young people lying about their age in order to get a job. (However, penalties are lower — no more than three years and $5,000 — for culprits younger than 21.)
Before July 1, the crime of using a false form of identification often resulted in probation and a small fine, Rotondo said.
As in Arizona, the stricter parts of the law dealing with employment verification have taken effect, while the measures allowing — or even compelling — police to ascertain the legal status of immigrants have been put on hold because of court challenges.
