Letters page
Welcome to the OFIR Letters and Op-Eds section. Here you can read Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds that have been published in various newspapers and news sources.
Cynthia Kendoll’s June 9 guest opinion was extremely accurate and complete. She obviously has a clear understanding of the out-of-control illegal immigration problem in Oregon.
The blame must be put on the lack of enforcement by President Obama and Gov. Kate Brown and the law enforcement department. Too many Oregonians have been victimized by illegal immigrants and the blame rests entirely upon those who are supposed to be protecting us, which is their responsibility!
It is incredible that the authorities release incarcerated illegal immigrants back into our communities where they will be free, once again, to victimize our fellow law-abiding citizens. Illegal immigrants should be deported and, if they return, they should be re-incarcerated for a minimum of five years.
Is this a matter of incompetence, irresponsibility or just plain stupidity?
It is up to “we the people” to vote them out of office and replace them with responsible leaders. The November elections cannot come too soon to install leaders who will do their jobs.
It is amazing that a citizen like Cynthia Kendoll could intelligently and easily solve the problem that our current leaders either cannot or will not do.
Lester Busby
Salem
"The population explosion" was an openly discussed issue some 40 or more years ago. But in recent decades the whole idea of overpopulation and even the word itself have come into ill repute and are studiously avoided in public conversation.
Unpleasant problems, however, cannot be neglected forever. Today, conditions are forcing policymakers and concerned citizens to think about population policy, the numbers of people in the U.S. and how those numbers relate to economic and social circumstances.
Cities and states are faced with many problems arising from huge increases in population in recent years. Schools everywhere are overcrowded and have insufficient funds to function satisfactorily for the numbers enrolled. Established neighborhoods resist enforced density. Expansion of buildings into natural areas is a constant source of conflict. Perhaps half of all political issues covered in news media today are related to increases in the size of the population.
We must think about the impact on the environment and quality of life as the U.S. population burgeons at the rate of one person added every 12 seconds, with no end in sight. Census figures show that in the U.S. we now have one birth every eight seconds, one death every 13 seconds and one international migrant every 28 seconds — making a net gain of one person every 12 seconds.
Population growth in Oregon and the United States at present is mainly triggered by international immigration, not births to native-born American citizens. The Center for Immigration Studies has recently issued an interactive map showing details of population growth for each state.
Overall, one-third of the nation's 50 states now have immigrant populations (immigrants with their minor children) which are over 15 percent of total, and six states have over 25 percent immigrant populations. Oregon's total population in 2015 was 4,050,000, and 16.9 percent of that was composed of immigrants and their minor children. There were 683,000 immigrants and their minor children here in 2015. In 1970, within the lifetime of millions of citizens, Oregon had only 2,091,000 people — of whom only 5 percent (105,000) were immigrants with their minor children.
Without reductions in immigration levels, we are headed for unsustainable population growth in the near future. Recent Census figures show that 3.1 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) settled in the country in 2014 and 2015, or more than 1.5 million annually. When immigration problems are discussed, usually illegal immigration is the main focus, but the enormous impact of immigration is largely the result of those brought in legally.
There is an optimum level of population related to the size and resources of a geographical area. Some scientists have made estimates and say at usual consumption rates, the optimum number for the U.S. is about 150 million people. We now have over 323 million people, with large numbers being added constantly. How can our life-giving natural environment survive this onslaught of people? Will all the forests and farmlands morph into housing developments?
The future looks grim for this country and for Oregon if immigration levels are not drastically reduced now. It's time for a lengthy moratorium on immigration on the basis of numbers alone. This would significantly ease current economic and social problems in Oregon and other states and gradually improve the quality of life.
Is it morally wrong to deny admittance to aspiring migrants? The U.S. provides financial aid and technical assistance to poor countries around the world. Citizens of other countries must look to their own governments and institutions to achieve acceptable living conditions at home, and they will do so if easy escape to the U.S. is closed for the millions now emigrating.
Elizabeth Van Staaveren, of McMinnville, is a longtime member of Oregonians for Immigration Reform.
Three weeks ago, two students hung a banner that proclaimed “Build a wall” — the “wall” being Donald Trump’s proposed barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border — in a hallway of heavily-Hispanic Forest Grove High School. The response: highly-publicized, anti-banner protests by students and their supporters at FGHS and throughout the metro region.
At a protest in downtown Portland, some leveled claims that Hispanic students, at FGHS and other schools, are routinely victimized by racial bias. State-legislative candidate Diego Hernandez, reported Pamplin Media Group’s Joseph Gallivan, decried an alleged “history of discrimination at Forest Grove High School.” He was joined by United We Stand’s Eddie Bolaños, who issued a statement “demanding a change of policy and protocols, and an action planto deal with systematic racism in the schools.”
This is interesting. “Systematic racism” — leveled against Hispanic students? Let’s look at one of the “policies and protocols” that, for years, already has been aimed at young Hispanics: affirmative action.
Princeton University professor Russell K. Nieli, summarizing a 2009 study of elite colleges’ admissions data by two of his Princeton colleagues, reported that “being Hispanic conferred an admissions boost over being white ... equivalent to 130 SAT points (out of 1600).” The University of Michigan’s Mark J. Perry capsulized data from the Association of American Medical Colleges to show that from 2007 to 2009, medical-school applicants with GPAs of 3.00 to 3.19 and MCAT scores of 24 to 26 were almost ten times likelier to be admitted if they were Hispanic, black or Native American than if they were white or Asian.
And, reported Capitol Media Services’ Howard Fischer, a 2008 study by the Center for Equal Opportunity found that at Arizona State University’s law school “a Hispanic is 85 times more likely to be admitted ... than a white with equal qualifications.”
Even young Hispanics here illegally (Hispanics, the Pew Research Center reports, have recently comprised four-fifths of illegal immigrants) are sometimes favored for college admissions over their American peers. In 2011, for instance, Maryland required its state universities to grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. Afterward, former University of Maryland assistant dean James Purtilo told Fox News, admissions personnel routinely favored illegal immigrants over Americans because they helped “fill out the diversity picture for the admissions office.”
And what, specifically, of Oregon?
In 2013 the state legislature passed and Gov. John Kitzhaber signed House Bill 2787, which grants certain illegal immigrants — those who entered the United States as minors and graduated from Oregon high schools — in-state tuition to the state’s public universities. In 2015 lawmakers went further, approving Senate Bill 932, which credentials illegal-immigrant college students to compete with U.S. citizens for taxpayer-funded Oregon Opportunity Grant scholarships.
And to ice the cake, that year they also passed House Bill 2407, which gives illegal immigrants race-based preferences for those scholarships over American students.
Hard to believe? Here’s how it works: HB 2407’s text authorizes the state Office of Student Access and Completion to “prioritize awarding Oregon Opportunity Grants to qualified students ... whose circumstances would enhance the promotion of equity guidelines published by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.” Those guidelines, explains Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, are based upon an “equity lens” whose purpose is to maximize “funding for students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.”
And foremost among those “underrepresented” groups? Illegal-immigrant youths, who are overwhelmingly Hispanic — a fact which, thanks to HB 2407, gives them preference for Oregon Opportunity Grants over white and, in many cases, Asian-American applicants.
Does all this sound like “systematic racism” against Hispanic students?
Since before the current demonstrators were born and right up to the present day, Hispanic students in Forest Grove and across the nation — including many here illegally — have benefited mightily from the affirmative-action preferences that give them significant educational advantages over their white and Asian counterparts. Rather than level unsubstantiated charges of “systematic racism” in schools, they should express appreciation for those advantages.
And they should understand they receive them for the very reason they claim they are “discriminated” against: because they are Hispanic.
Richard F. LaMountain, a former assistant editor of Conservative Digest magazine, lives in Cedar Mill.
Oregonians have recently chosen major-party nominees for governor and the Legislature. Now those candidates should explain how they would take action to solve a serious state problem: crime by illegal immigrants.
Should citizens and lawmakers be concerned about the crimes committed by illegal immigrants? In April 2016, almost half of Oregon’s Department of Corrections foreign inmates awaiting transfer to U.S. authorities (some 47 percent) were incarcerated for rape and other sex crimes. More than 14 percent were serving time for murder and 11 percent for drug offenses. These crimes have real victims.
David Olen Cross, a Salem-based expert on foreign-national crime, has analyzed DOC data to elucidate the problem’s magnitude. His findings: In April, 948 foreign nationals awaiting transfer to federal immigration authorities (the great majority of them almost certainly illegal immigrants) were incarcerated in Oregon state prisons. (DOC does not disclose how many of its foreign inmates are here illegally. But a recent Syracuse University study found that nationally, more than 90 percent of foreign inmates held by state and local law-enforcement agencies for eventual surrender to U.S. immigration authorities were illegal immigrants.)
Obama administration policies have compounded illegal-immigrant crime. The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Investor’s Business Daily reported recently, “last year opted not to deport but to release 19,723 criminal illegal immigrants, including 208 convicted murderers, more than 900 convicted sex offenders and 12,307 convicted drunk drivers.” Many, the paper noted, will “go on to commit additional crimes.”
Rather than deport all of Oregon’s currently incarcerated illegal immigrants, then, after they complete their sentences, federal authorities may release some back into Oregon communities where they will be free, once again, to victimize our fellow citizens.
Strong action against illegal-immigrant crime should be an urgent priority of our next governor and Legislature. And the best way to fight crime is to prevent it: to dissuade illegal immigrants (who, after all, are violating federal law by their very presence in our country) from coming to Oregon in the first place.
To this end, lawmakers first should reject any new effort to give illegal immigrants the driving privileges that would attract even more of them to Oregon — the privileges, remember, voters rejected overwhelmingly in 2014.
Second, they should mandate that Oregon employers vet their new hires’ legal U.S. presence through the free, federal E-Verify system — a mandate that, enacted in Arizona in 2007, between 2008 and 2009 helped reduce that state’s illegal-immigrant population by 100,000.
Third, they should pass a law to deny illegal immigrants most non-emergency state services.
And last, they should repeal Oregon Revised Statute 181.850, a de facto “sanctuary” law that presumes to limit state and local law-enforcement agencies’ efforts to help apprehend illegal immigrants. After that repeal, they should offer federal immigration authorities (who may, under our next president, resume strong immigration-law enforcement) their robust cooperation.
Too many Oregonians have been victimized — some irreparably — by illegal immigrants. It is time for this to end. Illegal-immigrant crime is eminently preventable by keeping illegal immigrants from our state in the first place. Such a goal must be a foremost priority of our next governor and Legislature.
Cynthia Kendoll of Salem is president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform. She can be reached through oregonir.org.
THE NEWS TRIBUNE
June 7, 2016 4:03 PM
Immigration: Newcomers responsible for assimilating
Otto Matsch, Tacoma
Should immigration be restricted or should it be open to anyone who can get here? From 1492 until the 20th century, anyone who could get here was allowed entry and could become an American. The immigrants, primarily Europeans, brought their own cultures, languages and religions into the melting pot, but made no efforts to assimilate with the Native Americans. Ask the tribes how that turned out.
A few years after World War II, as a young child, I immigrated to the U.S. The screening process for my parents was thorough and lengthy. We became Americans. Those who seek political, religious and economic freedom should be welcomed, and those who seek to forcibly impose their cultures should be excluded.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article82357932.html
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BND BELLEVIEW NEWS-DEMOCRAT
June 7, 2016 7:00 PM
Immigrants should adapt to their new home
I still remember as a little boy walking with my mom on Saturdays to a local school for our weekly handouts of powdered milk and cheese. We were told it was a gift from America. At that time I didn’t know much about America but we were grateful because Americans’ generosity kept us from going hungry.
Back then the desire to move to the land of “milk and cheese” was born and when the opportunity presented itself I left everything behind, even my dying father, to achieve my dream. As I arrived the process of assimilation began. This was rather easy for me because I wanted to live American dream. I also had plenty of people who embraced me and reached out to help. I will never forget my naturalization ceremony and the gleaming pride and joy I felt that day.
This doesn’t seem to be the case with today’s immigrants. They seem to resist assimilation. They tend to create their own enclaves, little countries of their own and physically they are here but their hearts are not. They don’t seem to appreciate a second chance on life gifted to them. You get impression they don’t love this land and want to be here. I often argue with my countrymen about this, they criticize me for being too Americanized, I tell them thank you for the compliment. The choice for immigrants is simple, you either love and live the life of this country or move out.
Anton Babic, Belleville
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article82168357.html
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The Herald News
Letter: Sheriff Tom Hodgson applauds Gov. Charlie Baker's immigration action
Baker's action will lead to increased communication, cooperation and intelligence-sharing between law enforcement agencies on all levels, from local police and sheriff's departments to state and federal authorities.
Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Is the opioid epidemic solely the responsibility of the Drug Enforcement Administration?
Is illegal drug trafficking, from large scale to neighborhood dealers, also the DEA’s responsibility?
The suggestion that immigration enforcement is only a federal responsibility and we should prohibit local and state law enforcement from supporting and working with federal authorities is just like tasking the DEA, and the DEA alone, to solve those drug problems.
That’s why I fully support and applaud Gov. Charlie Baker’s action last week to reverse a Gov. Deval Patrick-era policy and allow state police to detain undocumented immigrants at federal authorities’ request.
Baker’s action will lead to increased communication, cooperation and intelligence-sharing between law enforcement agencies on all levels, from local police and sheriff’s departments to state and federal authorities.
Since when should the security of our citizens and legal residents be compromised by elected officials who encourage less cooperation between state, local and federal authorities by way of sharing resources and coordinating our enforcement and detention of law breakers to keep us safe?
Why would anyone, especially an elected representative of our citizens and legal residents, want law enforcement to have less tools to keep us safe?
Thankfully for Baker’s actions, more communication and cooperation are on the horizon in the ongoing battle against the illegal immigration problem in our country. Let’s hope the many other elected officials that are pro-illegal-aliens follow suit.
How do those officials reconcile the differences between the 5 million people waiting behind their borders, respecting the laws of the United States and lawfully completing the citizenship application process, and those who refuse to obey our laws and either pay to be smuggled or sneak across our border?
Those who immigrate legally pay a good deal of money to obtain their citizenship and, yet, we have elected officials who believe those who violated our laws and enter the country illegally should be given housing, welfare, free air/land transportation to their U.S. destination, medical benefits and education — all paid for by U.S. citizens, legal residents and those who earned their citizenship by adhering to our laws and the procedures required to become a U.S. citizen.
It’s simply moronic and grossly unfair.
Thomas M. Hodgson
Bristol County Sheriff
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WEST HARTFORD NEWS - Serving the West Hartford community since 1931
Don Pesci: Death in a closet
June 07, 2016
When Casey Chadwick’s friend opened the door to a closet on June 15 a little less than a year ago, he found her body stuffed in a dark corner drenched in blood. At the trial of Jean Jacques, an illegal Haiti alien, a medical examiner would later tell a jury how she died. Jacques had slashed and stabbed Ms. Chadwick 15 times. A severed jugular vein and carotid artery caused her to lose 40 percent of her blood within seconds of the attack.
Jean Jacques was convicted of murder on April 11 and will be sentenced June 6 by Judge Barbara Jongbloed. The convicted murderer faces between 25 years and 60 years in prison. Connecticut’s Democrat dominated General Assembly a few years ago abolished the state’s death penalty for all capital murder crimes, however heinous.
This was the second time around the block for Mr. Jacques. Having earlier been convicted of attempted murder, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Upon release, Mr. Jacques should have been remanded to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported back to Haiti. Even now it is unclear whether ICE had physical or administrative custody of Mr. Jacques three times and failed to deport him each time.
Wendy Hartling, Chadwick’s mother, wants to know who slipped on her daughter’s blood. She had been given to understand that Connecticut prison authorities should have delivered their prisoner to ICE officials. Connecticut official have pointed an accusing finger at ICE. When ICE did not pick up their package, Connecticut authorities washed their hands of the matter. Following the murder, ICE claimed it previously had tried and failed to deport Mr. Jacques to Haiti, which would not accept him without proper citizenship papers. At the completion of his 17 year sentence, Mr. Jacques was jailed once more on a parole violation and then released in January.
One bloody hand washes the other: An illegal alien who had been convicted of attempted murder spends 17 (SEVENTEEN) years in the custody of Connecticut’s prison officials, the guest of Michel Lawlor, Governor Dannel Malloy’s Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning; having served his time, Mr. Jacques escapes the prehensile grasp of both ICE and Connecticut prison authorities and then murders Ms. Chadwick, not the sort of turn of events that would make any citizen of the state sleep soundly in their beds.
Judicial Watch, the organization responsible for prying loose through a FOI suit many of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s unvetted and incriminating-mails, has taken an interest in the case. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General,” according to Judicial Watch, “has reluctantly agreed to ‘investigate’ how the agency could possibly fail to deport an illegal immigrant with a serious criminal record at least three times, allowing him to murder a young woman in Connecticut. Pressure from the state’s congressional delegation landed the probe on the busy watchdog’s lengthy list of ‘ongoing projects,’ so interested parties shouldn’t hold their breath for answers.”
Among the interested parties are Connecticut’s two U.S. Senators, Dick Blumenthal, for twenty years Connecticut’s Attorney General, and Chris Murphy. Mr. Blumenthal has spent nearly all the years of his public service muscling businesses on behalf of consumers, a politically rewarding activity he has continued in the Senate. He may be just the man to light a fire under ICE. There are, of course, countervailing political eddies pushing such cases to and fro.
Judicial Watch notes: “Well known for supporting illegal immigrant rights, the Connecticut lawmakers are only demanding answers because Chadwick’s murder occurred in their backyard. In fact, both senators helped block a bill last year that would have stripped federal policing grants from sanctuary cities and states like Connecticut. Now they’re getting the runaround from ICE which has responded to their ‘repeated inquiries’ in an ‘incomplete and unsatisfactory’ manner, according to a joint announcement. The lawmakers also blast ICE, stating that it is ‘unacceptable’ that the agency failed to remove the Haitian illegal alien considering his criminal record.”
Everyone involved in this mishap – if a brutal murder of one of Mr. Blumenthal’s innocent constituents may be called such – is very busy. Casey Chadwick’s mother is less busy. She sits at home wondering how long her daughter’s body will remain in the closet, whether the mishap has been corrected, whether someone else’s daughter will, be brutally murdered by yet another illegal alien who has turned to drug running to make a living, confident that in Connecticut’s new reality no one is manning the state’s penology ship.
Don Pesci is a writer who lives in Vernon. E-mail: donpesci@att.net
http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2016/06/07/opinion/doc57506d3b935b1278673834.txt
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The News- Gazette
Immigration now a woe worldwide
06/07/2016
Immigration is becoming (and has become) a problem almost the world over.
The most serious evidence is found in Europe and neighboring countries, where many of the immigrants are Muslim.
Where are all the immigrants coming from — and why? Is the oppression so widely spread in the world that people running from their homes is the only solution? Or is there another motivation?
One has to ask what our "beloved" United Nations is doing (if anything) to curb this "migration."
The United Kingdom is seriously considering dropping out of the European Union — mainly due to immigration policies in member countries (although Britain itself apparently has open doors also).
Germany, when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened its doors to immigrants, has finally had its "fill" of immigrants (thousands upon thousands), as have other countries.
The United States has also seemingly opened its doors (mostly illegals, supposedly also in the thousands).
The long view for countries who accept them is be careful.
Apparently vetting is almost impossible (even if they have the means to do it) with the number of people involved.
Be careful, America.
HERB KRUEGER
Champaign
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/letters-editor/2016-06-07/immigration-now-woe-worldwide.html
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The Mercury News
OPINION
06/06/2016
Don't blame Trump for S.J. rally violence
Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose and others have said that it was in part Donald Trump's fault that there was violence in San Jose. This is twisted logic. Trump is not responsible for there being many illegal immigrants in the country. He is not responsible for our government failing to send them home. And he is not responsible for violence outside his rally. Public officials should speak out against violence. And they should work to see that our immigration laws are enforced.
Olga Day
Sunnyvale
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_29985211/june-7-readers-letters
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PENSACOLA
News Journal
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Pensacola 9:35 a.m.
Enter U.S. legally
In response to the letter of May 15, regarding deportation, I would like to offer an opinion. The lady who wrote in lamented that deporting a young girl’s parents was somehow “sickening.” What is sickening to me is that this child’s parents did not care enough about her to take the necessary steps to be in the country legally.
We have something called the Constitution and these things called laws. If you break the law you pay the consequences. If I was knowingly doing something that would have a bad effect on my child, I would try desperately to rectify the situation. Any good parent would do the same.
One is either on the side of the law or against it. A criminal is a criminal; it’s that simple. A child left behind is the result of averting the law.
— Delta Hixon, Pace
http://www.pnj.com/story/opinion/2016/06/06/letter-thought-pensacola-friendly/85482112/
OWATONNA.com
READERS WRITE: Time for Illegals to get out of the country
Jun 4, 2016
To the editor:
After seeing the anarchy in San Diego at Trump's rally, it seems he's right about the kinds of people coming across our borders.
It would be interesting to know how many of these cowards are illegal alien felons that Obama had released from prisons by the thousands.
You expect this stuff to happen under this administration led by a president who constantly breaks the laws of the Constitution. It's a shame these two-bit punks with their faces covered didn't end up with a few broken bones and some sense knocked in to their heads.
If they're illegal, they should be deported and take their Mexican flags with them. This is what we get when we pander and don't punish illegal aliens and so called refugees that wander in to this country.
Just think, we actually have people here that think we're enriched by allowing illegals and people that don't and won't assimilate, and they are also the ones pushing the Dream Act and don't want us to separate families.
Sorry, that's not my problem. The Illegals should have thought of that before they crossed our borders.
It's time our country becomes our country and not a sanctuary for degenerates and anarchists.
Larry Taggart
Owatonna
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THE DAILY JOURNAL
The Peninsula’s homepage
Letter: Ending illegal immigration
Jun 3, 2016
Editor,
Trump wants to end illegal immigration — is that wrong or just “politically incorrect” for Democrats? By definition, breaking U.S. immigration laws is “illegal” behavior so how is it controversial to end something that is illegal? Democrats want to encourage illegal immigration, however, because their Hispanic voting block votes 96 percent in favor of Democrats. But that it traitorous conduct toward low-income and middle-class U.S. citizens who lose jobs, have their wages suppressed and who, ironically, pay their U.S. tax dollars to support immigrants receiving free health care/education/welfare/driver’s licenses/etc. Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for supporting Mexican flag-waving immigrants who burn U.S. flags at Trump rallies, and who attack police vehicles, assault Americans and hurl insults at U.S. veterans. A sovereign country has a right to end illegal immigration, without any apologies to lawbreakers, and the United States should do that here and now. Democrats can find new voters somewhere else.
Mike Brown
Burlingame
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/opinions/2016-06-03/letter-ending-illegal-immigration/
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Missoulian
Guest column
GOP candidates condemn court ruling on illegal aliens
TAYLOR ROSE and 12 CO-SIGNERS [June 2, 2016] 12 hrs ago
In 2012, the people of Montana spoke loud and clear on the issue of illegal immigration when 80 percent of Montana voters passed Legislative Referendum 121, a law to prohibit state taxpayer-funded services from being utilized by illegal aliens.
Since the passage of LR-121, two Montana courts have ruled directly against the law and the will of the people. The most recent blow came from the Montana Supreme Court.
We believe these courts made a bad decision when they ruled against LR-121. It is the job of the courts to determine whether a law is being followed or not. It is not within the court’s authority to make laws. That power rests solely with the people, or the elected legislature.
Jeffrey Sherlock, a liberal District Court Judge in Helena, struck down most of LR-121 in 2014. On May 12, the Montana Supreme Court struck down the remaining provision that would have required state workers to report to federal immigration officials the names of job or benefit applicants who are in Montana illegally.
The adversarial court rulings seriously interfere with Montana’s ability to protect not only our state finances, but also our state sovereignty against a lawless federal government that is unwilling to enforce immigration law.
The plaintiff’s attorney in last month's decision, Shahid Haque-Hausrath, said the people of Montana have no business creating enforcement schemes, and that the law is “discriminatory” against “immigrants.”
We, the Republican legislative candidates, soundly reject this misrepresentation of LR-121 and declare that it is wrong to place the interests of people who enter our country and state illegally over the rights and interests of lawful taxpayers, citizens, voters and working families.
According to the Federation For American Immigration Reform, Montana spent nearly $33 million on illegal aliens in 2009, and since then the number of illegal aliens has risen. This is money that is being diverted from communities and law-abiding Montanans in need.
We need to fix roads and bridges, ensure public safety, care for seniors and veterans, fight crime and provide essential services at the state and local level. However, since the court says we cannot even verify the citizenship of applicants for public services, we are open to a flood of financial demands that will continue to take funds away from our citizens and provide incentives for illegal immigration.
These courts have acted in manner adversarial to the law enacted by the people of Montana. We condemn this recent ruling and affirm our support of the law that prohibits illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer funds. We believe it is our duty to put Montana first and stand against judicial activism and federal overreach.
This opinion is signed by Flathead Republican state legislative candidates Taylor Rose, candidate for House District 3; Matt Regier, candidate for House District 4; Chet Billi, candidate for House District 5; Rep. Carl Glimm, candidate for House District 6; Rep. Steve Lavin, candidate for House District 8; Rep. Randy Brodehl, candidate for House District 9; Rep. Mark Noland, candidate for House District 10; Derek Skees, candidate for House District 11; Rep. Bob Brown, candidate for House District 13; Sen. Dee Brown, candidate for Senate District 2; Rep. Keith Regier, candidate for Senate District 3; Rep. Al Olszewski, candidate for Senate District 6; and Sen. Jennifer Fielder, candidate for Senate District 7.
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N&R greensboro.com
Published by the NEWS & RECORD
There’s a clear choice for the next president
Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2016 12:00 am
There are very strict federal laws already on the books addressing immigration to the U.S. and the standards that must be met for citizenship. Being able to climb over a flimsy fence under the cover of darkness in the deserts of Arizona, Texas or Southern California does not satisfy the federal laws or meet the standards for citizenship.
Of late, no U.S. president has bothered to enforce these laws due to either pandering for votes by Democrats or pandering to business interests by Republicans.
We are down to two candidates who are vying for the job of chief law enforcement officer of the country.
One of them advocates following the federal laws already on the books while the other advocates allowing those able to crawl over/under a flimsy fence to continue to flood the country with cheap, illegal labor, and if that fails, granting them “government assistance” in the form of welfare cash payments, food stamps and “free” education along with “free” health care.
One candidate is a child of government who married her politician meal ticket while the other was wildly successful in the rough and tumble private-sector business world.
The choice is stark.
John Parson
Stokesdale
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Record Gazette
Your community. Your Newspaper
Illegal immigration
June 2, 2016
To the Editor,
In last week’s issue of the Record Gazette, a contributor wrote, “Illegal immigration is a complex issue which both extreme sides reduce to a single problem – single solution agendas, neither which is a good solution.”
How so? Illegal has a meaning and there are those who attempt to confuse and obfuscate the true answer! Look up the definition of illegal and you have the answer. Two sides – nope!
It is illegal to drive on the wrong side of the street! Two sides – hardly!
It is illegal to stop in at your local bank and make a withdrawal at the point of a gun! Two sides – not in this world!
Why are there then two sides on the question of illegal immigration? There are two sides only because there are those simple souls in this country who put the needs of these illegals over the needs of our own people. This isn’t a question of racism whatsoever; that is a fallback argument of those who choose to neglect our own people over the needs of those from other countries which countries, by the way, have no interest at all in stopping the outgoing flood. It’s much easier to dump these people on the Americans and let those poor fools bear the cost.
When my grandparents came to this country in the late 1800s, they entered through Ellis Island; those who failed to meet the requirements were sent back to their country without delay. My grandparents went on the learn the language and went to work.
Why is there a problem now? It exists because of special interests; these people care little about the fact that illegal immigration is weakening our country or that these illegals are driving up the cost of everything from education to health and welfare as well as the cost of living. A complex issue? Only if it suits your personal agenda
R.S. Bibbo, Banning
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Montana Standard
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Trump would offer 'something different' as president
Gary Kump June 1, 2016]
Like it or not, it appears that we have two presidential candidates to choose from. Some say our choice is the lesser of two evils, either “Crooked” Hillary or “Loose Canon” Trump. I have a little bit of a different take. I see this presidential contest as a choice between “Same Old” vs. “Something Different.”
“Same Old” means the continuation of a failed administration along with a do-nothing Congress (Democrats and Republicans). “Same Old” means continuing to increase our national debt, continuing to decimate our military, continuing to allow illegal aliens to pour across our Southern border, a continuation of American businesses building factories abroad, and a continuation of forcing political correctness down our throat. Rather than trying to solve the problems that affect our well-being as a nation, our leaders appear to be more concerned with what bathroom a transgender person should use. They allow protesters to burn the American flag while waving the flag of Mexico. They treat illegal aliens better that they do our military veterans.
The age-old definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. By this definition, we Americans are insane! We keep voting for politicians who continue to do nothing and have no accountability.
Theoretically, Congress works for us, yet they set their own salaries, set up their own generous healthcare system, ensure that they have lucrative retirement benefits etc.! Is it time to try “Something Different”? Is Trump the answer? We don’t know, nor can we guarantee that he can make things better. But he knows how to create a budget, how to create jobs, how to negotiate, and how to make people accountable. He tells it like it is rather than parsing his words to be politically correct.
Think hard before you cast your ballot for president. Decide whether you are choosing between the lesser of two evils or are choosing between “Same Old” or “Something Different." “Same Old” is destined for failure while choosing “Something Different” at least gives us a chance at improving the future of our great country.
-- Gary Kump, Butte
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Daily Globe
Letter: More attention needed on immigration issues
June 1, 2016
By Mike Bogle, Windom
Gayle Huehn’s letter, “Enough with the lies about immigration,” in the May 25 Daily Globe was confusing because she failed to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. While legal immigrants can take jobs legally, illegal immigrants can’t. They create a shadow economy and because they can’t integrate fully, they are more prone to crime to meet their needs. The greater problem is that a country that cannot secure its borders cannot preserve its identity and keep its citizens safe (remember Kate Steinle).
While both Republicans and Democrats claim to support the rule of law, Democrats tend to turn a blind eye to “sanctuary cities” and catch-and-release policies in order to court the Latino vote. This is putting their jobs above the safety and security of the citizens.
Democrats want to discourage domestic energy production by over-regulation. Donald Trump wants to turn our economy loose, make trade fair and incentivize industry to stay and even return to America. Don’t let a few “red meat” remarks distract from the main menu.
We shouldn’t forget how we got fooled by a politically correct sweet-talker last time who did nothing about immigration reform in the two years his party controlled the House and Senate. By all means, vote as if your life and livelihood depended on it. Tis time it probably does.
http://www.dglobe.com/opinion/letters/4045587-letter-more-attention-needed-immigration-issues
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The-Dispatch.com
Davidson County’s News Source
Letter to the editor
Legislator gets criticism for bill
June 1, 2016
Editor: I am writing concerning the candidacy of Harry Warren for U.S. Congress. Many in our county have probably never heard of Mr. Warren of Rowan County, but they should be forewarned of his stance on immigration. Last year Mr. Warren was the primary sponsor of a bill (HB 328) that would have granted North Carolina driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants (Editor's note: The bill uses the term "undocumented aliens" and would have allowed them to obtain restricted drivers permits and restricted identification cards).
Mr. Warren has changed his tune since being the primary drafter, sponsor and advocate for a bill that would have granted driving privileges and state-issued documentation to illegal immigrants, but, he cannot change the facts. He supported amnesty and now wants to be our congressman.
A vote for Harry Warren is a vote to legitimize illegal immigration.
Larry Allen
Lexington
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The Modesto Bee
May 31, 2016
Dean Russell: Immigrants should embrace English, our flag and all Americans
Theodore Roosevelt made a statement back in the year 1907, 109 years ago. We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith to become an American, and assimilates, he or she shall be treated equally with everyone else. It is an outrage to discriminate against anyone because of creed, birthplace or origin.
But this is predicated upon the person becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Anyone who says he or she is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for only one flag – the American flag. We have room for only one language – English. We have room for but one sole loyalty – to the American people.
In case some of you don’t know American history. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States.
Dean Russell, Modesto
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article81033202.html
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in 2015 released 19,723 criminal aliens into the country who had been convicted and served time in federal and state prisons for serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault, drugs, driving under the influence, hit and run and a multitude of other crimes.
Here is a breakdown on the circumstances or stated reasons why ICE and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have released these criminal aliens instead of deporting them to their country of origin:
First, federal immigration judges, who are employed by the DOJ, released on bond or custody redetermination 10,175 criminal aliens.
Second, ICE discretionally released 7,293 criminal aliens.
Third, 2,166 criminal aliens were released by ICE because a federal court decision forbid aliens being held in immigration detention centers for more than 180 days.
Fourth, ICE released 89 criminal aliens because the federal agency was unable to obtain travel documents from the aliens' country of origin.
Countries not providing travel documents, some nations where terrorist groups are active, included: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
To the detriment of public safety, the current presidential administration has been unwilling to limit visa issuance from the preceding countries, even though the administration is legally mandated to hold these counties accountable for their lack of cooperation in taking back their felonious citizens.
Regionally, data obtained from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) indicates the number of criminal aliens released by ICE into the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in 2015: Washington,: 665 criminal aliens; Oregon, 58 criminal aliens; and Idaho, 32 criminal aliens. A total of 755 criminal aliens were released into the three states last year.
Future impact on Pacific Northwest states: Although data are not currently available on Washington and Idaho's Department of Corrections prison systems; data available from Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) indicated there were 948 criminal aliens incarcerated in DOC prisons on April 1, 2016.
Some of these criminal aliens' self declared countries of origin may not provide them travel documents so they can be removed from the country by ICE after they complete their state prison sentences.
The Oregon DOC incarcerated 22 criminal aliens from the following countries whose citizens may be difficult to deport from the United States: Thirteen from Cuba, three from China, two from Liberia, two Somalia, one Eritrea and one from India.
Here are the types of crimes these 22 criminal aliens were convicted of in Oregon county circuit courts and sentenced to serve time in DOC prisons: Four for Homicide, three for Rape, three for Assault, three Theft, two Kidnapping, two Robbery, two Burglary, one Sex Abuse, one Drugs and one for another type of crime or a combination of the preceding crimes.
The most recent recidivism rate, the public safety threat to the state's residents, from convicted felons released from the Oregon DOC prison system is a 24.4 percent likelihood they will be convicted of a new felony after three years of their release from prison.
In the real world, in the daily lives of U.S. citizens and residents, our own federal government, by releasing 19,723 criminal aliens into the population of this country, is likely putting every man, woman and child at greater risk of being harmed or killed by felonious deportable aliens than by global terrorist organizations like ISIS or al-Qaeda.
Jessica Vaughn, Director of Policy Studies for the Center of Immigrations Studies, contributed national and regional data to this report.
David Olen Cross, Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He is a weekly guest on the Lars Larson Northwest Show. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in 2015 released 19,723 criminal aliens into the country who had been convicted and served time in federal and state prisons for serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault, drugs, driving under the influence, hit and run and a multitude of other crimes.
Here is a breakdown on the circumstances or stated reasons why ICE and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have released these criminal aliens instead of deporting them to their country of origin:
First, federal immigration judges, who are employed by the DOJ, released on bond or custody redetermination 10,175 criminal aliens.
Second, ICE discretionally released 7,293 criminal aliens.
Third, 2,166 criminal aliens were released by ICE because a federal court decision forbid aliens being held in immigration detention centers for more than 180 days.
Fourth, ICE released 89 criminal aliens because the federal agency was unable to obtain travel documents from the aliens’ country of origin.
Countries not providing travel documents, some nations where terrorist groups are active, included: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
To the detriment of public safety, the current presidential administration has been unwilling to limit visa issuance from the preceding countries, even though the administration is legally mandated to hold these counties accountable for their lack of cooperation in taking back their felonious citizens.
Regionally, data obtained from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) indicates the number of criminal aliens released by ICE into the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in 2015: Washington,: 665 criminal aliens; Oregon, 58 criminal aliens; and Idaho, 32 criminal aliens. A total of 755 criminal aliens were released into the three states last year.
Future impact on Pacific Northwest states: Although data are not currently available on Washington and Idaho’s Department of Corrections prison systems; data available from Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) indicated there were 948 criminal aliens incarcerated in DOC prisons on April 1, 2016.
Some of these criminal aliens’ self-declared countries of origin may not provide them travel documents so they can be removed from the country by ICE after they complete their state prison sentences.
The Oregon DOC incarcerated 22 criminal aliens from the following countries whose citizens may be difficult to deport from the United States: Thirteen from Cuba, three from China, two from Liberia, two Somalia, one Eritrea and one from India.
Here are the types of crimes these 22 criminal aliens were convicted of in Oregon county circuit courts and sentenced to serve time in DOC prisons: Four for homicide, three for rape, three for assault, three theft, two kidnapping, two robbery, two burglary, one sex abuse, one drugs and one for another type of crime or a combination of the preceding crimes.
The most recent recidivism rate, the public safety threat to the state’s residents, from convicted felons released from the Oregon prison system is a 24.4 percent likelihood they will be convicted of a new felony after three years of their release from prison.
In the real world, in the daily lives of U.S. citizens and residents, our own federal government, by releasing 19,723 criminal aliens into the population of this country, is likely putting every man, woman and child at greater risk of being harmed or killed by felonious deportable aliens than by global terrorist organizations like ISIS or al-Qaeda.
Bio Box
David Olen Cross, Salem, writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He is a weekly guest on the Lars Larson Northwest Show. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/. Jessica Vaughn, Director of Policy Studies for the Center of Immigrations Studies, contributed national and regional data to this report.
OregonLive.com
Why apologize for 'build a wall' banner?
By Letters to the editor The Oregonian
on May 20, 2016 at 4:25 PM
'Build a wall' banner: I want to apologize to the student at Forest Grove High School who had to write a letter of apology for being an American — while protesting students showed their allegiance to another county by waving its flag. Being from the silent generation, I'm glad I don't have children in today's public schools.
Larry G. Basler
Hillsboro
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/05/why_apologize_for_build_a_wall.html
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OregonLive.com
Why apologize for 'build a wall' banner? (Letters to the Editor)
By Letters to the editor The Oregonian
on May 20, 2016 at 4:25 PM
'Build a wall' banner: I have a message for Forest Grove High School students: I do not care what color America is or becomes. I am an American citizen. I want my nation's borders respected. I want my nation's laws respected. I say "please leave" to anyone who is in my country illegally. According to my representative, Suzanne Bonamici, this is a racist and intolerant attitude. In response, I have decided to make a political change: In the past, I was simply content to support Donald Trump. I will now send him money.
Scott Holland
Tigard
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/05/why_apologize_for_build_a_wall.html
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Detroit Free Press
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Free Press readers 4:29 p.m. EDT May 20, 2016
Intention matters in immigration debate
We’re all here because somebody came from somewhere else. However, it’s unfair when illegal immigration is ignored so one political party can have a constituency and another cheap labor.
Dave Crutchfield
Plymouth
http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/05/20/feedback-education-rick-snyder/84670140/
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app.com ASBURY PARK PRESS
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
LETTER: New citizens may regret voting against Trump
7:43 a.m. EDT May 20, 2016
It was sad to read the March 14 story, “Trump’s rise prods N.J. immigrants to naturalize” about the flood of immigrants signing up to be naturalized in order to vote against Trump.
The unfortunate result in electing a Democrat would go a long way to ensure that they would lose their jobs. Hillary Clinton will open our borders to millions of new immigrants who will be more than happy to take the jobs currently being held by our new citizens.
Additionally, since we have not figured out a god way of determining the good immigrants from the bad there is no way of being able to tell which ones might be capable of committing serious crimes or worse, terrorism. Trump, with his exaggerated comments about illegal immigrants, knows he can’t deport all those who have come here, raised families, worked hard and contributed to society.
He does know that a number of immigrants have committed serious crimes, been deported and returned to commit more serious crimes. He is only trying to raise awareness among a very complacent populous. I cringe to think what will happen to our country if the borders are opened wide, with people flooding in without us having any idea of who they are and where they came from. Our new citizens should think twice about what they may be wishing for.
Ed Herr
Oceanport
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Tri-City Herald
May 18, 2016 12:59 AM
Letter: Bob Parks, Trump and the wall
Marco Rubio lost out because he thought that the Democratic liberals like Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer and moderate Republicans like John McCain could be trusted on securing the border, while at the same time making a humane way and path to citizenship of dealing with the 12-15 million illegal immigrants in our country.
Anyone dealing in reality knows that they would never keep their agreement on securing the border. In my opinion, Bob Parks, along with many of us, are totally frustrated with Obama and like Democrats, and the moderate Republicans who reject securing the border to insure more liberal voters for the Democrats, and to create cheap labor for big business. These types of people care more about their own self-interest than our national interest. Because of this, many don’t trust any deal making until the border is secure.
Donald Trump has become popular by promising to do something about it by building a wall. Many don’t necessarily like him, but they trust him far more in solving the illegal immigration problem and securing the border to better our national security than those who are part of the establishment in power now.
Lee Walter, West Richland
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article78119307.html
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Reedsburg
Times-Press
LETTERS
Pocan protects illegal aliens first
May 17, 2016
During his May 5 “listening session” at the Reedsburg Public Library, United States Rep. Mark Pocan (D-2nd) again made it clear that protecting illegal aliens is far more important than putting Americans back to work.
What makes his betrayal of our citizen workers, which has become the trademark of both political parties in recent decades, especially repugnant is that he opposes “bad trade deals” like the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership because they usually result in the movement of U.S. jobs overseas.
How can Pocan oppose the loss of jobs overseas but not object to the federal government allowing seven million illegal aliens to keep their non-farming payroll jobs while 15 million Americans can’t find full-time work?
“There has to be a better way,” he says, to help unemployed Americans rather than disrupting the lives of those here illegally. In Pocan’s “progressive” world, that means ignoring those laws that were created to protect Americans and their jobs.
Illegal alien advocates like Pocan argue that our immigration laws lack fairness, compassion, justice and humanity. That certainly is true for the millions of jobless Americans who go to bed at night wondering what’s become of their search for a better life.
Dave Gorak, La Valle
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Post-Crescent Appleton | Fox Cities
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Illegal immigrants burden the system
Dave Kendall, Community Columnist 7:04 a.m. CDT May 17, 2016
Our national debt is 19.3 trillion dollars and continues to climb by half a trillion dollars each year and, not surprisingly, we have heart-wrenching poverty in America.
A 2013 UNICEF report ranked the U.S. as having the second-highest relative child poverty rates in the developed world. Sadly, one out of every five children goes to bed hungry. There are currently 324 million Americans and, disgracefully, 48 million of them live in poverty.
Charity begin at home is a mantra I fully embrace, but that shouldn’t mean filling the home with unwanted guests and ignoring family.
Undocumented immigrants come to the United States in search of a better life, which most empathize, however emotions and charitable thoughts aside, we as Americans quite frankly cannot afford it. We can’t become a welfare haven for the world. How can we afford to continue to give amnesty to people entering this country illegally when we can’t take care of our own natural citizens? It’s easy to decry America is the richest nation on the earth and we can absorb the cost. But can we really?
Richest nation in terms of personal assets, perhaps, but as a nation we are far from declaring ourselves a big brother.
Currently 11.5 million illegal immigrants are living their dream today in America, of which 8.3 million are from South America and 3.2 million from other parts of the world. A 2014 Pew survey reported one-third of adult Mexicans would migrate to the U.S. if given the opportunity, which equates to 31 million more immigrants. A 2012 Gallup poll revealed that 150 million potential emigrants from all over the world listed America as the No. 1 place they wanted to call home.
Legal immigration is highly regulated and is limited under normal circumstances to a percentage of people per country per year, which varies. Legal immigrants have been screened by the same measures for over a century — self-sufficiency is a requirement. In other words, legal immigrants should not be a burden to taxpayers. Illegal immigrants drain our economy.
Since 1986, Congress has issued a type of blanket amnesty seven times to illegal immigrants. U.S. taxpayers, regardless of myths of illegal immigrants paying their own way, have paid billions of dollars to subsidize them through government benefits. According to an extensive study issued in May of 2013, “The Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer,” by Robert Rector and Jason Richwine, America cannot afford this continual drain on our already depleted resources. Immigrants who enter illegally do not cover the cost of government benefits they receive with their modest paychecks and low taxes.
According to the study, the foundation of their analysis is based on four categories of benefits that U.S. citizens receive from local, state and federal agencies. They are: Population-based services such as police, highways and parks; public education; means-tested welfare; and direct benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and workers compensation. In 2010, the average U.S. household received $31,584 in government benefits and services in these four categories. As expected, highly educated households paid in over and above to cover these benefits. The less-educated households that include illegal immigrants paid in taxes that did not cover benefit costs.
Under current law, all unlawful immigrant households together have an aggregate annual deficit of around $54.5 billion. Money that could have been used to abate poverty and suffering for American citizens.
A 2015 Gallup poll asked Americans what they thought about immigration as we head into the presidential election. Only 7 percent stated it was the most important problem, and health care and the economy were the top worries at 54 percent and 53 percent respectively. Hey America — wake up! Health care costs and the economy are directly affected by illegal immigration benefit costs that drain the system and add additional debt.
If we continue to allow millions of immigrants to slip across our borders unabated, their quality of life is certainly improved but the cost to the rest of us is a lower quality of life, driven by higher national debt. President Barack Obama seems to enjoy apologizing for everything American; I think he owes the American people an apology for allowing this to continue.
Dave Kendall is an Appleton resident. He can be reached at dkendall@new.rr.com.
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DOdelawareonline
The News Journal PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Letters to the Editor 4:46 p.m. EDT May 17, 2016
Questions about illegal immigrants coming
I saw on the news that Delaware is becoming the first safe haven state for illegal immigrants. Police will not be involved with enforcing immigration laws in Delaware, laws that help control the financial burden of immigration. The News Journal reported that DSU will welcome illegals with scholarships that legal residents need, but can’t get. It would appear that these attractive policies are going to cause an influx of new residents. Lax police enforcement will also attract criminals. The News Journal reports that there are no jobs, and young Delawareans, our future tax base, are leaving the state in droves, and that the largest sector of the population who pay taxes will be the seniors, who are retired.
Where are all of these projected illegals going to work? Will they all work and pay taxes, work under the table or go on the dole? Who is going to pay for the benefits our generous governor will doubtless provide, even though non-citizens should not be entitled to anything? How about the burden placed on schools?
It would appear that the burden will fall on those fixed-income senior citizens, the mainstay of the population, most of whom are also on the dole, at least 50 percent supported by the government in the form of Social Security and Medicare benefits. The source of all government money is the taxpayer. Shouldn’t we create jobs and generate income first, before we generously spend what is not there?
Stan Lakey
Wilmington
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/05/17/letters-editor-wont-work/84497526/
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VENTURA COUNTY
STAR
vcstar.com
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Wrong message
[May 16, 2016] Posted: Yesterday 9:08 p.m.
Re: Your story May 13, "Green light":
Your story about Christians hiding illegal immigrants sends the wrong message to our youth and to all American citizens.
America always has proclaimed that crime doesn't pay, yet blatantly Christian ministers plotted with foreign criminals to break American immigration laws and biblical laws. Am I the only one who sees this crime?
Also, how can all these lawbreakers be honored on the front page of our local newspaper and advertise a fundraiser for criminals?
Please explain this situation to law-abiding citizens who respect the law, and the men and women who enforce the laws.
Ray Holm, Thousand Oaks
http://www.vcstar.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/Wrong-message-379744171.html
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UB Union-Bulletin.com
Letters To Editor
When will ‘inclusiveness’ include Americans?
Jerry Votendahl [May 15, 2016] 7 hrs ago
Liberals like to include illegals with their conversation about legal immigrants: “All are just good people wanting to improve their lives,” they say.
They like things “inclusive” — as we have seen by Whitman College’s ridiculous and mind-boggling removal of “Missionaries” as its mascot for not being inclusive enough.
This inclusive approach was mentioned by Sharon Schiller (U-B letter on May 4).
What do she and others think this “inclusive” liberal policy pertaining to “illegals” has cost Americans, whom evidently you failed to include in those “wanting to improve their lives”?
It is not only jobs lost to illegals (estimated to be some 8.5 million to date) but American treasure and lives. Contrary to your assertion illegals’ “only crime has been to immigrate,” please look at the facts.
PJ Media obtained a copy of a Texas Department of Public Safety report on the numbers of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in Texas. From 2008 to 2014 illegals have committed 611,234 crimes, of which 2,993 were homicides and 7,695 rapes and other sexual assaults.
In those states with high “illegal” population, such as Texas, California, Arizona, New York and Florida, illegals account for over 38 percent of all murders, yet constitute only 5.6 percent of the population.
Don’t be so naive as to think we, as taxpayers, are not feeding, clothing, housing, educating and medically caring for illegals. We may have laws intended to prevent such costs for illegals, but you liberals, like Obama, aren’t too concerned with laws.
Finally, I believe a big reason why members of the “working class” aren’t able to provide for their own families is because they lost their jobs to illegals.
My prayer is some day liberals will include Americans in their “inclusiveness.”
Jerry Votendahl
Walla Walla
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BND BELLEVIEW NEWS-DEMOCRAT
May 14, 2016 7:00 PM
Assimilate and learn English
Years ago when I immigrated into this great country, I was given two invaluable pieces of advice: If I wanted to graduate and succeed, I had better learn English and assimilate into this society quickly. Both I took to heart. Learning English first.
Recently we visited the Sunshine State, and as we arrived at the airport, a shuttle car picked us up. Being social as I am, I tried to start a conversation with the driver, but he did not respond. Later I learned he didn’t speak English. At the rental car agency a guy brings us our rented car, and started explaining its features, of course not in English. I had no idea what he said, but after I nodded a few times, he gave me the keys and we left in a hurry. Later at the hotel, again very few people spoke English. Explaining to a cleaning lady, who doesn’t speak English, that you need a toilet plunger with your body language, is a tough one.
It seems if you plan to visit one of the well-populated ethnic areas, whether it’s Florida or a “Little Bosnia” in St. Louis, you better know the body language. There should be a law that would require all immigrants, regardless of their ethnic background before becoming citizens, to take and pass an English exam. Bilingual signs and “for English press one” should also be outlawed. And yes, immigrants must assimilate, but unfortunately today they don’t.
Anton Babic, Belleville
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article77680332.html
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TRIB LIVE
Refugee influx a humanitarian hoax
Letter to the Editor | Friday, May 13, 2016, 8:06 p.m.
Updated 4 hours ago
I lived in Guatemala for many years. Guatemala is, along with El Salvador and Honduras, one of the three Central American countries sending alleged “unaccompanied minors” to the U.S.
As your editorial points out, however, the aliens are neither unaccompanied nor minors, but rather mostly teenage males ( “Refugees ruse: An illegals pipeline” ).
In frequent conversations with my sisters, adult nieces and nephews — all still in Guatemala — they're unanimous in their conviction that what the United Nations and President Obama label as a humanitarian crisis is rather a cruel hoax on taxpayers, who must fund the ongoing invasion.
Advocates have coached the aliens to claim, once they arrival on U.S. soil, that they have a “credible fear of persecution” and are fleeing life-threatening violence. But my family has told me repeatedly that violence is no more common in Central America today that it ever has been.
Now the fraud has another shameless, costly dimension: Certain aliens will be flown from Central America to the U.S. to rejoin their parents, often also aliens, and thus compounding the nation's disastrous illegal immigration problem.
“Remaking America,” indeed!
Joe Guzzardi
Bradford Woods
http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/10440659-74/aliens-america-central
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TRIB LIVE
Put safety before sanctuary
Letter to the Editor | Friday, May 13, 2016, 8:06p.m.
Two U.S. senators of Connecticut who helped block a bill that would have stripped federal policing grants from sanctuary cities and states are now demanding answers after an illegal immigrant with a criminal record murdered a woman in their backyard.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security failed three times to deport this man. Connecticut has long protected illegal immigrants with sanctuary policies. Officials there work hard to restrict the federal government from deporting illegal immigrants, according to Judicial Watch.
Nevertheless, Homeland Security has a duty to remove dangerous foreigners who pose a threat regardless of local policies shielding them.
In this case, Haitian national Jean Jacques stabbed a woman in her apartment. Six months after being released from prison on that charge, he stabbed another woman to death.
Now Democrat Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are getting the runaround. DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has responded to their inquires in an unsatisfactory manner and the lawmakers have blasted the agency for failing to remove Jacques, considering his criminal record.
Perhaps the lesson is this: The road is to hell is paved with good intentions.
Ed Liberatore
Turtle Creek
http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/10452073-74/sanctuary-illegal-woman
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The Grand Island
Independent
State should deport illegal immigrants, not give them licenses
Posted: Friday, May 13, 2016 12:00 am
By Jess Valdez
2318 N. Grand Island Ave
Kathryn Steinle was murdered by illegal alien Juan Frandisco Lopez-Sanchez of Mexico last summer at the San Francisco pier. He had been deported five times and had seven U.S. felony convictions.
The issue of “sanctuary cities” is years old. The term is used and added to a list of other deceptive terms where immigration is concerned.
The people who are being protected in sanctuary cities and states are illegal aliens whose presence in the USA is a violation of USA immigration laws. Sanctuary cities and states provide shelter for the predatory hunters, shielding them from detection and arrest by federal authorities. There should be no federal funds for the above.
Obama’s order granting amnesty to 5 million illegal aliens is unconstitutional if this order is allowed to stand. Obama will be encouraged to issue more illegal orders imposing a Marxist agenda on the American people.
Article 2, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution mandates that the president “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” This provision is a law for the president to execute. Obama is purposefully granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens rather than executing the law. Should this unconstitutional power stand, we will have moved far in the direction of rule by a dictator. The absence of congressional law granting amnesty is not evidence of political failure that must be corrected by unilateral executive action.
The lesson of the last 20 years or more of immigration is — lawlessness breeds more lawlessness.
The state Legislature voted (LB947) to grant professional and commercial licenses to illegal aliens brought to the USA by their illegal parents. They are illegal aliens and are to be deported. The voting to override the governor’s veto was 31 Yes: Baker, Bolz, Campbell, Chambers, Coash, Cook, Crawford, Ebke, Garrett, Gloor, K. Haar, Hadley, Hansen, B. Harr, Hilkeman, Howard, Kolowski, Krist, Lindstrom, McCollister, Mello, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Scheer, Schilz, Shumacher, Seiler, Smith, Stinner, Sullivan and Williams. The above need to read and understand the U.S. Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 8, Clause 18. Five more traitors didn’t vote: Friesen, Hughes, Johnson, Kolterman, Larson.
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SignalSCV.com
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Terri Lovell: If we only had more criminals
Terri Lovell
Right Here, Right Now
Posted: May 12, 2016 5:20 p.m. Updated: May 13, 2016 2:00 a.m.
Although illegal immigration has been an ongoing problem since the Reagan presidency, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has always been allowed to do its job when it comes to deporting criminal illegal immigrants.
One of the fundamental changes Barack Obama has wrought upon this country is seen in his lack of enforcement of deportation laws that apply to criminal illegal aliens.
According to the Center for Immigration Studies, ICE released 19,723 criminal illegal immigrants with a total of 64,197 convictions among them back into American society in 2015.
With an average of 3.25 convictions per person, 208 were convicted of homicide, over 900 were convicted of sex crimes, and 12,307 were convicted of drunk driving.
Burglary convictions among criminal aliens amounted to 1,963, and there were 804 robbery convictions. The largest number of convictions, 12,661, associated with released criminal aliens, was for Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
As shocking as these numbers sound, there were actually 36,007 criminal aliens released in 2013, and 30,558 released in 2014. These numbers make the 2015 numbers look impressive.
ICE director, Sarah Saldana credits this drop in total releases to new policies implemented in 2015, which include, “enhanced oversight,” and “additional monitoring of criminal aliens released.”
But are the reduced number of criminal aliens being released into society due to improved oversight and monitoring, or should we look past the spin and delve into the numbers a little further?
The truth is, fewer criminal aliens were released in 2015 because fewer criminal aliens were arrested to begin with. In 2015, ICE made only 119,772 arrests, compared to 2013, in which 232,287 arrests were made.
Under the strict enforcement rules implemented as part of President Obama’s executive actions announced in 2014, ICE officers are forced to ignore a large share of the criminal aliens, even though local police and sheriffs have urged ICE to take control of criminals in their jails and deport them.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 71 percent of violent offenders, and 77 percent of drug offenders will be arrested for another crime within five years of release from jail or prison.
For the first time, ICE has provided information on the reasons for the criminal alien releases. In 2015, more than half the releases occurred due to a decision by an immigration judge. In more than 2,166 cases, the criminal aliens were released because their home countries refused to take them back.
The Center for Immigration Studies reports that so far, 124 criminal aliens released by ICE have subsequently been charged with homicide. One victim, Grant Ronnebeck’s killer was an illegal alien who was released by ICE in 2013 after being convicted of burglary and kidnapping involving a drug deal.
The blood of these and many other murdered Americans is on the hands of President Barack Obama. In his quest to fundamentally transform America by permanently changing the demographic of the voting public, he seeks to ensure Democrat victories into perpetuity.
Terri Lovell is a lifetime resident of Santa Clarita, a former home-school mom, a current College of the Canyons student and a member of a local Republican club.
http://www.signalscv.com/section/33/article/152056/
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USA TODAY
Sen. Sessions: Election offers a simple choice
Jeff Sessions May 12, 2016
In Donald Trump, we have a forceful advocate for America.
For the first time in a long time, this November will give Americans a clear choice on perhaps the most important issue facing our country and our civilization: whether we remain a nation-state that serves its own people, or whether we slide irrevocably toward a soulless globalism that treats humans as interchangeable widgets in the world market.
In Donald Trump, we have a forceful advocate for America. Trump has said that our trade, immigration and foreign policies must be changed to protect the interests of American workers and our nation.
In Hillary Clinton, we have a committed globalist. Clinton was an ardent supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership — which surrenders American sovereignty to an international union of 12 countries — and has clearly left the door wide open to enacting the pact if elected.
There is only one sure way to defeat the TPP, and that is to defeat Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, Clinton’s immigration platform is the most radical in our history. Freezing deportations. Ending detentions. Halting enforcement. She’d expand President Obama’s illegal amnesty decree, effectively creating open borders.
Clinton’s extremist proposal economically targets our poor African-American and Hispanic communities whose wages and job prospects are being steadily eroded by the huge influx of new foreign workers.
Yet some Republicans persist in saying that they don’t know whether Mr. Trump is a “real conservative.” This charge misleads in two ways. First: Mr. Trump’s cautious approach to mass migration, transnational trade commissions and nation-building are, by definition, conservative.
Second, the divide between Trump and Clinton on the role of government could not be more stark. Consider just a few of the things President Trump would do after taking the oath: repeal Obamacare; nominate constitutionalist justices; replace Obama’s radical Cabinet appointments; reduce taxes and regulations; produce more American energy; rein in the out-of-control EPA; and cancel Obama’s illegal amnesties.
The choice is a simple one: Do we want a country that serves our people, or not?
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., was the first senator to endorse Donald Trump
Lake Oswego
O Review
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Readers' Letters
Thursday, 12 May 2016
Anybody but De Klotz
In a May 5 opinion piece written by Patrick De Klotz, who is running for a state representative position as a Republican (“Oregonians should reject Trump divisiveness, vote for alternative”), De Klotz derided Donald Trump’s stand on immigration, terrorism, etc.
De Klotz found nothing positive about any of Trump’s positions. De Klotz offered his feelings against Trump, rather than state his own solutions to our many national problems. De Klotz concluded he would not vote for Trump for President under any circumstance.
As an example of De Klotz being out of touch, I am a first-generation legal immigrant. It is a personal affront that my family had to wait our turn to legally immigrate to this country while others are now being given a free pass to this privilege. De Klotz and others do not understand how their immigration “open border” and “amnesty” concepts offend. What about my feelings that are being hurt?
I am not an ardent Trump supporter, but I find Trump’s “America First” positions refreshing. The U.S. has spent and wasted plenty of resources and lives on the rest of the world. It is about time we in the U.S. worry about ourselves first.
Gratefully, De Klotz’s opinion piece exposed him as a Republican In Name Only and not worthy of my vote. So I state: “Anybody but De Klotz for Representative.”
Janusz Bogdan
Lake Oswego
http://www.pamplinmedia.com/lor/49-opinion/306373-183622-readers-letters
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Tri-City Herald
MAY 11, 2016 2:48 AM
Letter: Economics, math not strong suits among Seattle protesters
It's ironic anti-capitalist immigrant protesters rioted in Seattle against the very capitalist society they fled to, from their former anti-capitalist countries. Evidently, economics and math are not strong suits among these marchers.
Consider their stance on the minimum wage. You think a skilled worker currently making $20 an hour working in a processing plant isn’t going to demand the same percentage wage increase as those demanding a $15 wage flipping burgers? I don’t see anyone lining up to demand higher prices on goods and services.
Supporters point out that Washington and California cities have set that wage for government workers but fail to disclose these folks are paid via tax revenue, not market revenue like that created by capitalism. It’s easy to pay higher wages when all you do is confiscate it from your neighbor. In addition, if the minimum wage goes to $15 an hour, you think businesses are going to hire the same caliber of folks they hire for today’s minimum wage?
Before you succumb to the union’s attempt to increase their revenues, you might remember why you left one country to live in this capitalist society in the first place.
Laurent Estey
West Richland
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article76781402.html
The survival of our country depends on us being involved and selecting good people who are willing to do the right thing for our country.
While we see ISIS as a serious problem that needs our attention, we are failing to address the serious problem we have with the drug cartels and their use of the illegal aliens who help them to smuggle in the illegal drugs that are destroying millions of our citizens and raising havoc with our economy. We all know of someone whose life has been shattered or destroyed by illegal drugs.
We need to pay attention to the causes of our national debt of $20 trillion. For instance, an illegal alien family with several children will cost taxpayers a lot with their schooling, medical and numerous other benefits.
With all the benefits and support the illegal aliens have acquired, they appear to have more influence with our politicians and especially with Obama than the U.S. citizens do.
For those of you who voted to re-elect Obama in the last election, please consider not ever voting again. We can’t afford this kind of thinking.
Jim Elvin
Salem
The Statesman Journal’s May 2 front page article about 300 people protesting anti-immigrant measures leaves me a little confused. I think that when you sneak across our southern border, you are an illegal alien.
Causa director Andrea Miller says anti-immigrant ballot measures go against Oregon values. I support the measures that require employers to report illegal immigrants. Learn to speak English.
Willamette University student Isa Pena says she is tired of fighting anti-immigrant sentiment. What part of illegal does she not understand?
We need the fence at the southern border now.
Vote for Trump.
Clay Atchison
Jefferson
