Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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

"EVEN THE GOOD HOMBRES ARE NOT SAFE," blared a headline in the Los Angeles Times. The Ka`u and Kona Coffee communities are a brew about a farmer on this island being deported.  "A federal judge called the Trump administration deportation order of a coffee farmer  'inhumane," stated an NBC News headline.
      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.

Magana Ortiz is known for opening his farm to help research pest
control and coffee plant health.
Photo from Kona Coffee Farmers Association

    Magana Ortiz is a Kona Coffee farmer in Holualoa who moved to Kona to pick coffee nearly three decades ago. He entered the U.S. illegally when he was smuggled across the Mexican border by human traffickers in 1989 at age 15 to join his mother who found a job in California. After moving to Kona to pick coffee, he began to farm and saved money. He married and raised his children who were born here - his wife and three children all citizens. He said he has applied for legal status and has never hidden his illegal status as he works, pays taxes, bought and developed his own El Molinito Farm and mill and manages numerous other coffee orchards.
     Kona Coffee Farmers 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.

Kona Coffee Farmers Association stands up for Magana Ortiz
as a good citizen who has contributed to the coffee industry.

   The eldest Magana daughter will soon turn 21, and as a citizen, she could apply for an immigrant visa for her father to return, if he is in fact deported, or stay if the federal government gives him more time. The deportation order comes with a ten year ban on his returning to the U.S. Magana Ortiz is 43 year of age.
     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 those raised by Admiral Harris about 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 ICBM threat are a positive development, which further reinforces the need for continued strengthening of our ballistic missile

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

defense infrastructure. I'm continuing to look at all options available to us and pursuing those which will ensure Hawaiʻi is defended from simple and complex attacks now, and into the future.”

     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 (Mid-Range Discriminating Radar) 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 Secretary of Defense 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

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

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.

     "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. 928-8177

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thu, June 1, 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-2442 & 928-2015

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