Letters page
I have just one question for all the liberals and people who think we should allow in and feed “everyone” from Central America who wants to come here.
Unless my map of this continent is wrong, isn’t Mexico between us and Central America? Why doesn’t Mexico take all of these poor children into their country and house and feed them? Simple, because we are being invaded, and until we understand that allowing millions into our nation, as the Democrats want, just to get their votes, we will continue to be overrun.
And for all those who think I’m un-feeling, will you feed me and let me move into your house when I run out of money? It’s not about race, as Obama and supporters claim, it’s all about dividing this nation under their new world agenda.
It’s not the conservatives as much as the rich liberals who want their yard mowed or their children taken care of by some illegal just so they don’t have to pay a fair wage. I’ve never hired anyone to mow my yard, nor would I allow a contractor to hire an illegal just to save a few dollars while I’m living on a huge retirement.
Illegal is illegal, and to use the world “un-documented” just to be politically correct is ludicrous and insulting. Let’s not forget who will end up paying for thousands of illegals and their (free?) benefits.
I would strongly suggest that you write, call or email your representative and tell them to fight Obama on his border policy. Remember, this November, which party is bankrupting this country.
Roger Wilson
Coos Bay
Sen. Harry Reid says not to worry, the border is secure. He must mean our border with Canada.
In Victor Davis Hanson’s commentary article in The Bulletin on July 13, he offered the idea of having “advocates such as Mark Zuckerberg or Michael Bloomberg offer one of their mansions as a temporary shelter for needy Central American immigrants.” I agree this would be a good start in addressing the problem, for these people feel no discomfort or personal expense in the influx of the thousands of children.
To expand on Hanson’s suggestion, I would require each member of Congress, and each senior member of the White House staff, to accept five immigrants into their home and provide food, clothing, shelter and medical support. At the end of 30 days, if proper immigration laws have not been enacted, then they would be required to accept five additional. Our vaunted representatives feel none of the personal stress and expense of the problem and take a detached view of any solution.
I challenge members of Congress, and the White House, to take this suggestion and share the burden personally, and act with dispatch to find the solutions. Most likely a means of securing the border would quickly be found and a means of deporting the immigrants would also be found. A nation without a secure border is not a nation. We welcome immigrants who go through the proper process to gain citizenship, but we should not provide comfort to those who do not.
Nations who dump their problems on us should receive no aid of any kind until their attitude has changed.
Jack Cook
Bend
My mother and father arrived in this country independently of one another in the early 1900s. They both had sponsors. They learned to speak, read and write the English language. They studied American history and the Constitution. They took the certification exam. They swore to uphold the laws of the United States ...
Norm Ottoman
Sherwood
The exodus of children from Latin American countries across the border into the U.S. continues while the people who can do something about it would rather win political points than address this humanitarian crisis.
Many of the children, some as young as four, are escaping dangerous life in their home countries, especially Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. They are escaping deprivation and violent gangs; many of these younger immigrants have witnessed what no innocent child should see.
More than 50,000 children have been caught crossing the border since October 2013. Minors from Central America cannot be deported immediately according to the 2008 law that had bi-partisan support. The children are given a hearing before they are deported. Before that they are given a health inspection; many are placed with a sponsor or a family member while their case winds through the immigration court system. Those children that are not quickly sent back can expect to be in this country for up to two years.
President Obama has called for $3.7 billion to address this issue, including increased border patrols and more immigration judges to clear the backlog.
It would be as effective to use that money to address the causes of the immigration surge in the countries the children are fleeing. Life in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador has been dangerous for decades. Poverty and violence is a way of life there for the average citizen.
Instead of addressing only the symptoms of this crisis, the U.S. (we’re looking at you Mr. Obama and Congress) should address the cause. The requested $3.7 billion allocation would do more good if used to improve the economies of the three coutnries with a total population of 30 million.
The U.S. can provide micro-loans for the impoverished in Central America. Miccro-financing has yielded wonderful results where it has been applied in places like India and some of the poorest areas of Africa. The idea is that you loan small amounts to people who create a small business in their neighborhood, as the business grows, they pay back the loan, hire employees and help others with their businesses.
The cost to the American taxpayer will be much less taking that route than serving the needs of more than 50,000 kids here for the next few years—or forever
Can someone please help me understand how the Democrats can feign compassion for the children at the Mexican border ("Obama seeks to shift political debate around immigration, border crisis," July 10) when they are the party of 50 million unborn children murdered?
Can someone please help me understand ...
Can someone please help me understand...
Jeff Mackey
Hillsboro
Most of the illicit drugs killing Oregonians are produced, manufactured and smuggled into the state by drug cartels operating out of Mexico.
On April 24, Oregon’s medical examiner reported that there were 222 deaths in 2013 related to the use of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine or a combination of drugs...
Mexican cartels’ drug mules and dealers are operating the motor vehicles that are used to carry drugs into the state or to distribute drugs across the state. And they need some form of identification, like an Oregon Drivers License or Drivers Card...
Senate Bill 833, which was signed into law during the 2013 Legislative session, would literally give the cartel members operating motor vehicles in this state a get-out-of- jail-free-card, because law enforcement authorities would not have probable cause to search their vehicles unless a serious automobile accident or traffic violation has occurred.
... make it more difficult for Mexican drug cartel operatives to access licenses. Oregon’s registered voters will have the opportunity to do just that in the November general election. If voters overturn the law on Nov. 4, they can put the brakes on Mexican drug cartels’ ability to distribute drugs in this state.
Vote no on Referendum 301, and send Senate Bill 833’s Driver Cards for those who cannot prove legal status in the U.S. to the archives of bad legislative history.
David Olen Cross is a resident of Salem.
In January, the administration contracted for escort services for an estimated 65,000 unaccompanied alien children proving advance knowledge of the impending situation.
Two primary issues:
1. President Obama did nothing to mitigate or stop this situation. He could have: talked to Central American leaders; placed public service announcements in Central American media advising people not to come or send children; or beefed-up border manning to better secure it. The president said he was blindsided. Either his staff once again failed to keep him informed (which is his leadership failure), the president is incompetent, or more seriously he knew and let it happen for political/ideological reasons (e.g., desire for open borders or even worse, used children to create a humanitarian crisis to get his Immigration Reform passed). The president, allowing it to continue unabated, speaks volumes towards his motives.
2. Despite at least six months of preparation, the administration failed to competently manage the influx, creating a major humanitarian crisis. Children are kept in grossly substandard conditions. The administration bars real access by legislators with oversight authority, restricting visits to “sanitized” areas. Border patrol agents report (anonymously due to supervisors’ threats) lice and scabies abound and gang members are included. Kids are released to illegal aliens without familial relationship proof, endangering them. Border patrol hasn’t agents for patrols, allowing really bad guys and drugs traffickers unrestricted access.
The president has legitimate tools to ease this threat to U.S. citizens’ safety/security. It’s time the president brings in competent experts and acts.
For the second time in a week, Register-Guard editors have called for “comprehensive immigration reform” (“Fixing the border crisis,” July 10).
Two reasons given are to “bring the 11 million undocumented immigrants already in this country out of the shadows” and to recognize “the nation’s long-term economic needs.”
“Comprehensive immigration reform,” as envisioned by Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden when they voted for Senate Bill 744, would certainly bring undocumented immigrants “out of the shadows.” It would legalize them for work and effectively grant them amnesty. That’s why SB 744 has been dubbed “The Gang of 8 Amnesty Bill.”
It would also more than double the number of foreign work visas. Please tell us how this “recognizes the long term economic needs” of the millions of Americans still out of work who have to compete with low-wage immigrant labor. Also tell us how will bringing in millions more people help the worsening water crisis in the Southwest. How will it relieve the strain on social welfare programs? How will it reduce class sizes? Why are business interests lobbying so hard for this 1,200-page monstrosity?
I cannot blame anyone for wanting to better his or her life. However, the United States cannot continue to be the world’s safety valve, and U.S. taxpayers should not be held accountable for the failed policies of other nations.
Also, vote “no” on the illegal immigrant driver card referendum in November!
JERRY RITTER
Springfield
It is no surprise how ill informed liberals are when it comes to the president’s immigration policy (“Fixing the border crisis,” July 10). Like Pavlovian dogs, The Register-Guard’s editors simply spout what the president says — it’s all Republicans’ fault, throw more money at the problem, bring 11 million illegals out from the shadows, etc.
In 2012, the administration shifted attention and administrative resources away from U.S. citizens waiting to bring family members in legally to a program giving deportation deferrals to young immigrants in the country illegally. This meant longer waits, separation, and uncertainty for U.S. citizens with foreign family members, who must wait outside the United States to receive IR1 visas (immediate relative) and green cards.
I am sick of the drivel on the left about how we suddenly must give a pathway to those who broke the law. What does that say to people who follow the rules and enter legally? Shame on The Register-Guard.
MATTHEW DURBIN
Springfield
