Month: March 2012

Somali jihadists with British accents

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Update (related story):  Leader of British Freedom Party, in speech in NYC recently, tells America not to go down the same road as the UK by allowing mass Muslim immigration, here.  Too late I am afraid.  (Hat tip: Ed)

Here is a piece about the increasing number of former Somali refugees and immigrants (or children of immigrants) who have lived in the UK and are now back in Somalia having joined Al Shabaab (just like dozens of Somali-Americans have done).  There is nothing particularly new, especially for readers here who have followed the issue for years.  And, although the article kind of meanders around, it is on CNN and so maybe some Left-leaning folks will actually read it.

Security Clearance on CNN:

Friday’s conviction of Shabaaz Hussain, a former British teaching assistant for donating thousands to Al Shabaab is just the latest reason the Somali terrorist group is increasingly a priority for British security services.

With news stories of somewhere in the region of 50 British passport holders fighting alongside Al Shabaab, British officials are vigilant to the potential for terrorist plots that might emanate from Somalia in the future.The security of the region was in the spotlight last month at an international conference that drew top government officials from around the world.

It came on the heels of Al Shabaab’s announcement that it has officially joined the family of organizations under the al Qaeda banner.

Read it all.

New food stamp bust in Dearbornistan; Rep. Issa holds Congressional hearing

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Just as Rep. Daryl Issa’s hearing on food stamp fraud was taking place this week, we see yet more scammers busted in Michigan.   Here is the story from the Detroit News:

Detroit— Three Metro Detroit men have been charged with felony counts for a $262,000 food stamp fraud scheme at west side store.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette listed the charges Friday against 37-year-old Dani Mohamed-Kami Itani of Canton Township, Hassan Raychoini, 54, of Dearborn Heights and 22-year-old Raed Youseff of Dearborn for the alleged fraud at Schaefer Dollar Mania in Detroit.

According to the complaint by Schuette, store manager Itani and his employees Raychoini and Youseff, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of food stamps for purchases that did not qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from January 2011 through September 2011. The items included clothing, electronics and watches, according to the criminal complaint.  [other reports also mentioned cash–ed]

The men face charges of racketeering, conspiracy and food stamp fraud. They were arrested by Michigan State Police Wednesday and arraigned in 36th District Court in Detroit on Thursday. A preliminary examination has been scheduled for March 20 in 36th District Court.

Using Baron Bodissey’s (Gates of Vienna) scale for measuring “International cultural enrichment” this story has a 33 and 1/3% ‘Mohammed Coefficient’!  I’ve joked (sort of)  many times about how many of the food stamp fraudsters nabbed come from a certain part of the world.

Hearing in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

What Issa was getting at this week was the news (uncovered by Scripps Howard) that, although many stores have been busted, the Dept. of Agriculture has allowed an undetermined number of them to continue to participate in the program.

Here is the Heritage Foundation’s Bluey Reports on the hearing:

Food-stamp fraud and the government’s failed attempts to stop it were the focus of a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing yesterday.

Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) called the hearing in response to a Scripps Howard News Service investigative report exposing widespread abuse. The investigation revealed that retailers who lost authorization to accept food stamps were still conducting business despite their restrictions.

“[D]ozens of individuals who had been banned as food-stamp vendors nonetheless remained in the business in New York; Los Angeles; Phoenix; San Diego; Tulsa, Okla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Baltimore* and other communities across the country,” according to the report. Scripps Howard discovered this by comparing U.S. Department of Agriculture disqualification records against documents from health-inspection reports to business filings and corporate certificates.

At yesterday’s hearing, Kevin Concannon, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, defended the government’s efforts to combat fraud. He also cast blame on the messenger.

“As with other leads and observations we receive from the public, we took this information very seriously. We began an immediate investigation into all of the stores that were brought to our attention and we have added further layers of security to our retailer oversight process. However, our research indicates that many of the cases identified by Scripps Howard do not involve improper activity,” he said.

[….]

Issa, meanwhile, vowed to keep a watchful eye on USDA, demanding additional documents and information.

“With record numbers of Americans using food stamps, with an annual price tag of $75.3 billion, anything short of rigorous anti-fraud measures will be very costly to taxpayers,” Issa said.

[….]

“The crime is as widespread as it is simple: Stores accept food stamps, but instead of requiring that customers walk away with wholesome groceries, they provide the customers a small amount of cash — typically 50 cents on the food stamp dollar. While taxpayers lose out — the money isn’t going toward wholesome food — food stamp recipients are receiving no-strings attached cash while stores are taking a hefty profit for serving as a moneychanger,” according to the Scripps Howard report.

* Baltimore too!  For my Maryland friends here (via San Diego News):

A Scripps Howard News Service investigation has found records indicating that dozens of individuals who had been banned as food-stamp vendors nonetheless remained in the business in New York; Los Angeles; Phoenix; San Diego; Tulsa, Okla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Baltimore and other communities across the country.

Case in point: The Foods Mart convenience store in Baltimore’s gritty Remington neighborhood. In December, Scripps identified one of the store’s owners, using Maryland corporation records and city business filings, as Nasir Pervaiz — who was permanently barred in January 2011 by the USDA.

Upon learning of Scripps’ discovery, the USDA opened an investigation and notified the storeowners that they would face a hearing, agency officials said. As of mid-February, the store was no longer taking food stamps, a visit there showed.

Here, also, is a story about Mohammed Khan and his convenience store being raided in Hagerstown, MD in 2007.  I’ve been waiting for nearly five years for the feds (for someone) to pay attention to this problem!

If you are suspicious about a store here is where you can go to report:

The USDA has a hotline — 1-800-424-9121 — and a new website for the public to report alleged fraud: www.fns.usda.gov/fightingsnapfraud.htm

ANC: Too many foreigners in South Africa, new policy on refugees proposed

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Previously:  too many foreigners in France, here.

Did you know that just earlier this year the African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela and the now ruling party of the “rainbow nation,” turned 100.   And, it was just last week that President Obama likened himself to Mandela saying it takes time for change, for peaceful change.  I wonder does Obama have any idea what the myth of the “rainbow nation” has come to in S. Africa?

Before I tell you the latest on the proposed crackdown on “refugees,” below are some of the promises the ANC makes to its citizens (no wonder “refugees” are pouring into the country).  Sounds a bit like a bunch of commies wrote this:

* The people shall govern
* All national groups shall have equal rights
* The people shall share in the country`s wealth
* The land shall be shared among those who work it
* All shall be equal before the law
* All shall enjoy equal human rights
* There shall be work and security
* The doors of learning and culture shall be opened
* There shall be houses, security and comfort
* There shall be peace and friendship

Who wouldn’t run to a country with promises like that!  Now to reality….

We reported recently that white South Africans are seeking asylum around the world, here.

And here is the latest news on South Africa trying to get its borders under control and deal with the  masses flowing into the country.   I love these delicious irony stories!  You didn’t hear this from any US media did you?

When “rainbow nation” mumbo jumbo hits reality

From the Mail & Guardian of S.Africa:

South Africa should take “robust steps” to refuse to grant refugee status to asylum seekers who have transited through one or more “safe” countries, according to the ANC policy discussion document released this week.

“Building appropriate relationships with other such countries, which are also signatories to the conventions on refugees and in particular our neighbours, is key to resolving this problem,” the document states in the chapter on home affairs. “The UN conventions on asylum seekers provide for the ‘first country’ rule, which states that an asylum seeker should seek refuge in the first safe country that he or she reaches.”

[This is international law—legitimate asylum seekers must ask for asylum in the first safe country—not hop around the world looking for the best deals.  As a matter of fact, most asylum seekers on our southern border have traversed through recognized safe countries in Central America and Mexico, yet we don’t turn them back.—ed]

Can you believe it?  Traffickers are moving people into the “rainbow nation:’

A combination of large numbers of asylum seekers, gaps in the law, weak systems and corruption has led to widespread abuse of an overloaded system by criminal syndicates that smuggle and traffic people, the document points out.

Just like Israel and other countries which don’t want to be destroyed, the ANC wants detention centers on its borders:

It suggests that asylum seekers who present a high risk must be accommodated in a secure facility until their status has been determined and that low-risk asylum seekers will be processed while they are assisted by various organisations.

[….]

The document claims that “refugee reception centres” will be relocated along the borders of South Africa, but suggests that a discussion is needed to ensure the home affairs department gets the support it needs to run and house these centres.

One thing that really bugs them (and it bugs me too) is this business of “refugees” who escaped “persecution” in their home country and then just bop back for a visit from time to time.  In the US we have large numbers of Somalis who regularly fly back to the supposed Islamic terrorist-filled country of Somalia to visit.  What is up with that?  Here the ANC suggests that if they leave and go “home” for a visit that they then be barred from re-entry to S. Africa (great idea!):

Among its concerns is that some refugees, including those still seeking asylum, tend to travel to their home countries for visits and return to South Africa. It is proposed that such people should be refused re-entry because they are flouting UN conventions and there is no evidence to show they have anything to fear in their home countries.

And, here is the kicker—give or take a few percentage points around the world—this is the truth!

“As a security department, home affairs will contribute to achieving two overriding goals: national security and public safety,” the document states. “The main challenge currently is that over 95% of those claiming asylum in South Africa are not genuine asylum seekers, but rather are looking for work or business opportunities.”

Read it all here.

Sarkozy: France has too many foreigners

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in an uphill battle to stay in office.

Here he campaigns on immigration.  From the BBC:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said there are too many foreigners in France and the system for integrating them is “working worse and worse”.

In a TV debate, Mr Sarkozy defended his plan to almost halve the number of new arrivals if re-elected next month.

Mr Sarkozy is trailing in the opinion polls behind the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande.

He is also competing for conservative voters with the far-right National Front party led by Marine le Pen.

The president said while immigration could be a boon for France, it needed to be controlled more tightly through tougher qualification rules for residency.

Wants to cut the number of immigrants arriving to nearly one half:

He has said that if re-elected, he will reduce the number of immigrants to France from 180,000 a year to 100,000 and introduce tighter controls on access to welfare benefits.

As president, Mr Sarkozy has already pushed through tough new immigration rules, including the controversial deportation of Roma gypsies.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon caused dismay among Muslim and Jewish groups by suggesting the religious slaughter of animals was out of date.

The controversy started when a TV documentary said last month that all the abattoirs in Paris region only produced halal meat.

Be sure to visit the story and check out the 600 plus comments.

Frankly, if the Socialist wins and immigration goes unabated it’s bye-bye France and French culture faster then its already leaving the world stage.  Watch for it—election is April 22nd.

Imagine any politician, let alone a President, of the US calling for a near halving of the immigration numbers!

Special government-funded employment services for special people

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

That means for refugees (and employers of refugees) and not you!   (This is another in my recent series of posts in a category I’ve titled ‘legal immigration and jobs‘ here.)

I’ve told you before, here, about the Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee (CRIT) whose Director Abdirizak Hassan was charged some years ago with misusing government grant money and subsequently changed the name of his organization from the Somali Community Center to the present innocuous sounding name—Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee (henceforth CRIT). Well, he is still getting federal government grants—no debarment for him!  Debarment is when someone has cheated on a government grant and is then not allowed to apply for another one.

Hassan has also been known to pop back and forth to Somalia from time to time—I thought that was a dangerous country from which he sought asylum in the US?

Here is what CRIT says on its website about their employment services (I have highlighted my favorites, and added some notes!):

Are you an employer who needs good, conscientious workers?

The Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee (CRIT) can help you find good employees without a placement fee! [yippee it’s free! because the feds are picking up the tab!—ed]

We have unrestricted work-authorized refugees with experience in assembly line/production, warehouses, hospitality, quality control, and professional fields.

Why hire a refugee?

* Refugees are permanently work-authorized: You don’t have to worry about tracking them down annually to ensure they are still work-authorized

* You could qualify for tax incentives by hiring refugees: Since many refugees receive public assistance, your company could qualify for tax credits and training incentives when you hire them.   [So, what did I tell you special deals for employers—WHAT TAX CREDIT?—ed]

* Our job placement services are FREE: Rather than spend money placing job advertisements, contact the Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee. Let us help you find qualified workers FREE OF CHARGE.  [Your business doesn’t have to spend money because the US taxpayer is picking up the tab for special people—ed]

* Refugees have passed numerous background checks during their resettlement: If employers hire refugees, they will not have to incur the significant cost of performing background checks because extensive background checks were done before they arrived in the U.S.  [Kind of like those Iraqi refugees in neighboring Kentucky charged in a terrorism case, turns out they lied on their background checks—ed]

* Refugees have higher job retention rates than other groups in entry level jobs: According to the National Immigration Forum, Dee Zee Manufacturing’s Human Resources Manager Cindee Moyer said “Before I hired refugees, I had a 60% turnover rate. Now I have a 20% [turnover]. I had a 6% absentee rate, now it’s down to .1%.”

* Refugees receive free support from the Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee: CRIT provides post-placement support for our clients to help them retain their jobs. We assist with filling out paperwork, resolving any on the job issues, and accessing social services. We are always here to serve both the refugee employee and the companies they work for. [Again, employers can pay lower wages because worker needs (food, shelter, healthcare) are being subsidized by the taxpayer—ed]

* Refugees are motivated, hard workers: Because refugees lost their homes as well as their careers in their home countries, they want to regain what they have lost and achieve economic stability. [It’s kind of like slave labor because they can’t go home.—ed]

And, last but not least, they don’t say it, but refugees are willing to work on the following holidays because they are Muslims and don’t give a hoot about our holidays!

    * Refugees are flexible about what shift they work and what days they work: Many refugees will work second or third shift or weekends and holidays. Many of our refugee workers can work on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.

So again, who is funding CRIT’s “free!” special headhunter service for big business in Tennessee—you are—the US taxpayer!

Here is CRIT’s most recent Form 990.  Out of a gross income of $243,185, $213,105 comes from you via government grants (p. 9).  So, although it is politically incorrect for me to say it so bluntly, you are funding headhunter services for employers who then hire Muslim refugee workers over American workers in Tennessee.  Great huh!

End note:  I wonder if CRIT is working with Tyson Foods to fill their cheap/captive labor needs, here.