DeFazio has his priorities straight

Letter date: 
Friday, January 29, 2016
Letter publisher: 
The Register Guard
Letter author: 
Jerry Ritter
Letter body: 

Michelle McKinley’s Jan. 23 polemic against Rep. Peter Defazio’s failure to support his Democratic colleagues’ protest against immigration raids was something I’d expect from a professor at the University of Oregon, where the left reigns supreme (“DeFazio should back halt to immigration raids”).

McKinley said DeFazio “has a responsibility as a representative of the U.S. government to ensure that these individuals [illegal immigrants] are given due process protections.”

First and foremost, DeFazio is a representative of those who elected him, not the “U.S. government.”

Second, his primary responsibility — as is true for all members of Congress — is to represent American citizens, not foreign nationals.

Unlike most of his Democratic colleagues, DeFazio recognizes that, at least some of the time. He should be commended for that, not condemned.

Would somebody in the “open borders” crowd please explain to America’s working class and poor how continuing to allow the flood of foreigners into our country, both legal and illegal, helps the working class and poor?

Would they also please explain how bringing in tens of thousands of Muslim “refugees” from countries that hate us is going to enhance our security?

Thanks to DeFazio — and shame on his colleagues, who have forgotten their primary duty.