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CNN Lou Dobbs

video here: Court Transcripts in Ramos and Compean Case Finally Released

The U.S. Justice Department has finally released long-awaited, long-overdue trial transcripts in the Ramos and Compean case. The 3,000-page transcript shows that even before the trial started, several key rulings went against the Border Patrol agents. One passage shows how eager prosecutors were to grant immunity to Mexican drug smuggler Oscar Aldrete-Davila and throw the book at the Border Patrol agents. Assistant U.S. attorney Debra Kanof said to the judge, "... we basically had to beg him. He didn't want to come and talk to us about this. And so we basically gave him blanket immunity for any drug or immigration crime that he might have been committing on that day." Agent Compean's defense attorney pointed out how the government could have sought up to 40 years in prison for the drug smuggler. And an attorney for Agent Ramos said the drug smuggler "could be prosecuted for possession of some 700 pounds of marijuana, for smuggling it into the country, for illegally entering the United States. All of these actions are actions which the government apparently has chosen to forgive in order to obtain his testimony against these defendants, the agents." In fact, prosecutors sought to prevent defense attorneys from even disclosing that Aldrete-Davila was transporting 750 pounds of marijuana when he encountered the Border Patrol agents. The judge did allow those facts into evidence, but only on a limited basis.

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CNN Lou Dobbs

video: Bank of America Issues Credit Cards to Illegal Alien "Market"

Bank of America is now issuing its credit cards to people with no Social Security number, who have broken the law, and who are in this country illegally. To Bank of America, apparently, they are simply a new market. Bank of America says the program has nothing to do with illegal aliens and defends the program, saying it's only a pilot program in 51 banks, saying, "This initiative lets customers build a solid credit history with a leading bank." But the bank only requires a taxpayer identification number, something many illegal aliens have, something the IRS Web site says should not be used as identification. Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies said: "Well, there's no question that the intent of this new policy is to give credit cards to illegal aliens. They're hoping to tap a new market. They're hoping to make some money. So anyone who suggests otherwise is just silly." The worry is the program aides and abets any illegal alien to stay in the country, establish credit, and put down roots. The Department of Homeland Security today said, "We are not privy to all of the details of the program. We will be looking at it very carefully." And added, "It facilitates the risk of identity theft," and said money laundering through the program could be "entirely possible."

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CNN Lou Dobbs

video: States Selling Off Their Lotteries for Quick Cash

The days of the taxpayer-owned, state-owned lottery may be ending in some parts of this country. That's because some states are so strapped for cash, they're actually thinking about selling their lotteries. State officials are moving to put the Illinois lottery on the auction block. Under the proposal, private investors would buy the rights to operate and collect the profits of the lottery for 30 to 75 years. The state would get a lump sum of as much as $10 billion. Sixty percent of the money Illinois would rake in would be used for future school funding, the remaining amount for current education projects. This new lottery mania is spreading. Indiana, Texas, Michigan and New Jersey are all considering proposals to sell off their state lotteries. It's part of a larger trend where states have either sold or are considering selling off taxpayer assets from the Chicago Skyway, the Indiana toll road, to the Midway Airport. Opponents call these proposals extremely short-sighted.