Friday, April 27, 2012 | 2:36 p.m.
There was a lot of news regarding immigration policy, border enforcement and migration trends this week. Here's a rundown.
May Day March: Proponents of immigrant and worker's rights will stage a rally and march Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.
People will gather at 4:30 p.m. at Village Square Commercial Center, Commercial Center Drive and East Sahara Avenue. At 5:30 p.m. they will march to the Federal Court House at East Clark Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.
In 2006, the year of large immigration marches across the country, an estimated 50,000 people (maybe much more, maybe much less depending on whose estimate you use), marched on the Las Vegas Strip. In recent years the march has attracted much smaller numbers. Organizers are hoping for an improved turnout in 2012, and election year in which immigration reform is a prominent issue.
The Supreme Court considers Arizona law: The Supreme Court conducted its highly anticipated hearings on Arizona's immigration law, SB 1070, Wednesday, with news reports indicating the justices were leaning toward upholding at least parts of the law.
The Sun's Karoun Demirjian explained why Democrats could benefit in the election if the court upholds the law.
The Associated Press explored the possible ramifications of the Supreme Court decision.
Mexican immigration at net zero: The Pew Hispanic Center released a report Monday that indicates net migration from Mexico, which totaled 12 million over the last four decades, has fallen to net zero.
From 2005 to 2010 the number of people entering the United States from Mexico is matched or exceeded by those exiting on their own or by deportation.
"The standstill appears to be the result of many factors, including the weakened U.S. job and housing construction markets, heightened border enforcement, a rise in deportations, the growing dangers associated with illegal border crossings, the long-term decline in Mexico's birth rates and broader economic conditions in Mexico," the Pew report said.
ATF traces source of firearms seized in Mexico: On Thursday the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released data from a program that traced the origin of weapons confiscated by Mexico authorities.
Between 2007 and 2011, of the more than 99,000 firearms Mexico submitted to the ATF for tracing, 68,000, 69 percent, came from the United States.
The report notes that Mexican authorities say criminals and gangs are transitioning to more powerful weapons.
"Since 2007, trace data shows a trend in recovered and submitted crime guns from Mexico shifting from pistols and revolvers to rifles," an ATF statement said. "Law enforcement in Mexico now report that certain types of rifles, such as the AK and AR variants with detachable magazines, are used more frequently to commit violent crime by drug trafficking organizations."
Rubio's father evaded deportation: A forthcoming biography of Sen. Marco Rubio indicates his maternal grandfather received a deportation order to return to Cuba but ignored it.
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