Twofer...

U.S. mayors chide Washington for failing to tackle immigration issue

At a press conference, the visibly frustrated mayors of Albuquerque, Phoenix, Denver, and Richmond told of the immigration-related problems rending their cities. Public schools and medical services strained by unlawful residents who don't pay taxes. A serial rapist in the country illegally who was deported twice only to walk right back over the border to continue his crimes.

The mayors met recently with members of Congress and President Bush to make the case for swift action, but were told the issue was unlikely to come up again until 2009 or 2010.

``We can't wait another year,'' said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. ``We can't wait another day.''

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Palomas police chief requests U.S. asylum

DEMING, N.M. - The police chief of Palomas, Mexico, has requested political asylum in the United States. The Luna County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Border Patrol say Emilio Perez came to the port of entry at Columbus late Tuesday night. He told authorities his two officers have fled and he does not know their whereabouts. The agent-in-charge of the Border Patrol station in Deming, Rick Moody, says Perez is in the protection of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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