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| Andres Magana Ortiz raised a family, bought a coffee farm, built a house and and is facing deportation to Mexico. Image from www.hawaiinewsnow.com |
On Tuesday, the Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals denied an emergency appeal to overturn a deportation order for Big Island coffee farmer Andres Magana Ortiz. Judge Stephen Reinhart described the man as being treated unfairly. "President Trump has claimed that his immigration policies would target 'the bad hombres.' The government's decision to remove Magana Ortiz shows that even the 'good hombres' are not safe," wrote the judge, noting that the court did not have the legal means to grant a stay in the deportation matter, since the Trump administration recently changed the deportation guidelines. "We are unable to prevent Magana Ortiz's removal, yet it is contrary to the values of this nation and its legal system," wrote Reinhardt.
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| Magana Ortiz is known for opening his farm to help research pest control and coffee plant health. Photo from Kona Coffee Farmers Association |
Kona Coffe Growers Association President Suzie Shriner said he is a good citizen and has provided his farm to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct pest control studies for the coffee industry.
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| Kona Coffee Farmers Association stands up for Magana Ortiz as a good citizen who has contributed to the coffee industry. |
His business partner Brian Lindau told Hawai`i News Now,"When you get a guy like Andres who's a model citizen, been in business for years, pays taxes and is one of the heavy hitters in the coffee industry here, you're shooting yourself in the foot and you're shooting down the Kona coffee business."
The federal judge concluded, “Magana Ortiz is by all accounts a pillar of his community and a devoted husband and father. It is difficult to see how the government’s decision to expel him is consistent with the President’s promise of an immigration system with ‘a lot of heart.' I concur as a judge, but as a citizen I do not.”
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THE U.S SHOT DOWN ITS OWN MISSILE NORTH OF HAWAI`I after launching it from Kwatjalein Atol in the Marshall Islands on Tuesday. The mock Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test was aimed to fortify U.S. defenses against the threat of a nuclear North Korean missile, which could reach Guam, Hawai`i and possibly the mainland.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard released the following statement: “There are a wide range of threats posed by North Korea that we must be prepared to defend against, including thoseraised by Admiral Harrisabout the threat posed to Hawaiʻi, and the need to ensure our missile defense infrastructure includes layers of protection for Hawaiʻi. Our successful tests against an iICBM threat are a positive development, which further reinforces the need for continued strengthening of our ballistic missile
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| A U.S. missile launched from Kawjalein Atol (1) in the Marshall Islands yesterday was intercepted and destroyed (3) by a U.S, Missle launched from California (2) in order to test defense against a possible nuclear missile launch from North Korea in the future. Image from U.S. Department of Defense |
Gabbard stated that missile defense and the protection of Hawaiʻi have been among her top priorities throughout her time in Congress. Last year, she passed two amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act —one to provide funding to begin the process of bringing an MRDR to Hawaiʻi, and the other to require the Missile Defense Agency to brief Congress on their short-term plan to enhance missile defense capabilities in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. She also questioned then SECDEF Ashton Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the need to increase Hawaiʻi’s missile defense. She has had ongoing conversations and meetings with the Missile Defense Agency Director, Vice Admiral James Syring, to discuss possible options for the defense of Hawaiʻi, to deal with short term and long term needs. This includes quickly deployable options that may be available to further strengthen the defense of Hawaiʻi within the state.
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MORE LIMITS ON AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTING in nearshore waters are on Gov. David Ige's desk and the Humane Society of the United States is asking him to sign the bill. A new poll shows that 90 of citizens favor the sustainability measures and the caps on the permits contained in SB 1240 which just passed the Hawai`i Legisllature. Some 83 percent favor ending the fish collecting trade in Hawai`i altogether, according the poll conducted by QMark Research.
A statement today from the Humane Society says that "The Department of Land and Natural
Resources is tasked with protecting Hawaii’s reefs from activities, especially those of a commercial nature, that may 'disturb, degrade, or alter the marine environment.' DLNR has long held the position that no take or permit limits are necessary to protect reefs. That position is in sharp contrast to the growing concerns of the vast majority of Hawai`i residents who cited environmental impacts as the most important issue related to the aquarium trade. Compared to a similar poll conducted five years ago, which showed 66 percent supported ending the trade, results from this poll show a 17-point surge of public awareness and support for ending the trade to 83 percent.
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| Collecting in Hawaiian waters to sell fish, crabs and other sealife to aquarium shops and collectors would face more regulations if Gov. David Ige signs the bill. Photo from Earth Justice |
"Catch reports filed with DLNR document that at least 700,000 fish, hermit crabs and other reef creatures are captured and sold for personal aquariums outside Hawai`i each year."
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Worldwide Voyage: Hawai‘i Shares its Culture with the World, daily through July 2, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Artwork inspired by Hōkūleʻa’s Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and curated by Gary Eoff. Reception Friday, June 30, 3 – 5 p.m.
Ka‘ū Community Development Plan Meeting & Hearing, Thu, June 1, 9 a.m., Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Public is invited to Windward Planning Commission’s review of the plan.
Keiki Learn to Swim Registration, Thu/Fri, June 1/2, 1 – 4 p.m, Pāhala Pool. $15 per student, per nine-class session. 928-8177Ocean View Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thu, June 1, 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-2442 & 928-2015
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