Gilliam ignores constituents on immigration

Letter date: 
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Letter publisher: 
Woodburn Independent
Letter author: 
Cynthia Kendoll
Letter body: 

In 2013 Rep. Vic Gilliam (R-Silverton/Hubbard) spearheaded the failed attempt to put driver cards in the hands of people in our country illegally. Now, he’s at it again.

Gilliam ignored the objections of his own constituents, who voted over three to one against issuing driver cards to illegal immigrants.

But Rep. Gilliam, in his Jan. 27 editorial “Immigration reform, not discrimination, is needed” (see Page A7 of Jan. 27 edition), casts an even wider net, implying that nearly a million Oregon voters who defeated the driver card law, including members of the Oregon House Republican Caucus and members of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, are racist for wanting our immigration laws enforced and for lawmakers to put American citizens first.

Foreign nationals work in Oregon illegally, often using a stolen identity or Social Security number to do so. They steal jobs from low skill, entry-level workers (especially teens, veterans, minorities and legal immigrants) their children overwhelm our schools, and their ever increasing numbers threaten our natural environment.

Unfortunately, as an elected official sworn to uphold the laws of this country, Gilliam seems to think it’s best, instead, to embrace the wishes of those that disregard our laws by coming here illegally.

Rep. Gilliam stated, “Largely as a result of a failed federal immigration policy, we have undocumented workers in our state who are proven hard-working citizens and trusted friends.” Undocumented workers are now citizens? According to Gilliam they are.

I’ve got news for you Vic: Our immigration policy has not failed; it’s simply not enforced!

Elected officials like you have compounded the problem. I blame lawmakers that pick and choose which laws to enforce and which laws they and their deep pocketed donors choose to ignore for their own benefit.

Rep Gilliam, you were elected to protect and serve your constituents, not foreign nationals illegally present in our state.