Associated PressLocal immigration laws bring high costsFarmers Branch, Texas -- Cities across the U.S. are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending themselves against lawsuits and other challenges to ordinances enacted to keep out illegal [aliens... criminals]. -- Some are warning that these communities are risking financial disaster in their effort to curb illegal immigration.

Salt Lake TribuneJunior High students walk out to protest immigration policiesAbout 100 Utah junior high students reportedly walked out of class today in protest of U.S. immigration policies. -- KSL News reports that pupils three schools walked out and headed toward Pioneer Park. They were carrying Mexican and American flags.

Sacramento BeeFamilies kept apart...Most Americans take it for granted that if a foreigner marries a U.S. citizen, that person will likely be welcomed with legal residency. This hasn't been true since 2001, when federal statutes adopted in 1996 began kicking in. -- Now, if a U.S. citizen or legal resident wants to sponsor a spouse or other close relative...

Washington PostU.S. targeting illegal alien abscondersAt 2:10 a.m., a fleet of dark SUVs surged from the garage beneath a federal building onto the deserted streets of Fairfax County, carrying a raiding party of flak- jacketed immigration agents. -- Their quarry: illegal [aliens... criminals] who have ignored and evaded deportation orders. Called "fugitive aliens" or "alien absconders," they have nearly doubled...
'The Boot'

Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) PressRep. says cops should have authority to boot invadersLocal police should be able to begin deporting [illegal aliens... criminals] in the county illegally, U.S. Rep. Bill Sali said in Coeur d'Alene on Friday. -- The Idaho Republican said during an interview at The Press offices that President Bush's plan to deal with those who sneak across the border is flawed.