Do you remember civics class in high school? I remember clearly the often repeated mantra “No one is above the law, not even the President!” That is what is meant by a nation of law, not of men. But that is a rule that we have allowed to slip away.
If we are going to live under the rule of law, we have to obey the law — all of it. If we chose to follow some laws and ignore others, then law no longer has any authority. That is, to me, the whole problem of illegal immigration. We have a very clear set of laws about immigration. They are clearly written and easy to understand. If you enter the United States without proper documentation, you are violating the law. And if you are allowed to stay, then the law becomes meaningless.
Other countries rigidly enforce their immigration laws. Remember last year when two young reporters slipped into North Korea illegally? They were treated harshly, and it took a special delegation of powerful Americans to get them out. Right now, three young Americans are sitting in cells in Iran because they strayed across the border while hiking.
Mexico has very tough immigration laws. Illegal immigration there is a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison. If you are deported and attempt to re-enter Mexico you can be imprisoned for 10 years. Violating the terms of your Visa can get you a sentence of up to six years. Mexicans who help illegal immigrants are considered criminals.
So why are we in such an uproar because Arizona wants to enforce immigration laws in their state? Let me say it again: Illegal immigration into the United States is a criminal act. Allowing it to go unpunished is a direct insult to the rule of law.
Now if the law is unfair, or in some other way unacceptable, then it is the duty of our lawmakers to change it. But until they do, the law is the law and needs to be enforced.
Arizona has every right, even a responsibility, to enforce all federal, state and local laws within its border. That is especially true when the federal government has abandoned its responsibility. People in Arizona are being kidnapped, assaulted, even killed by illegals crossing the border from Mexico.
Authorities there have a responsibility to investigate all people who might be violating our laws. If that causes some people who are here legally to be inconvenienced, I am sorry. But it is a necessity. Their best response is to provide all assistance to the authorities in detecting and arresting illegals in their communities. Their safety is just as much at risk as anyone else.
Arizona is attempting to reinstate the rule of law which has been abandoned in so much of our nation. I say good for them.
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County Journal. His e-mail address is frank@frankgillispie.com. His website can be accessed at http://www.frankgillispie.com/gillispieonline.
It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any alien who is in the United States in violation of law.16 Harboring means any conduct that tends to substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally.
Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)
"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:
* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.
All of our elected officials that are pushing for amnesty should be arrested and tried for treason! However with Eric Holder in Obamas' pocket I don't see this happening.
I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels
Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens Huntington Park , etc., where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.
Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten.
I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids.
I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing
funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America ..
I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students, here in the country less then 3 months, who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas"(wh#$%s) and throwing things, that the teachers were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, free day care etc., etc, etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.
Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
Americans, We need to wake up.
It does, however, have everything to do with culture: It involves an American third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about" political correctness" that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to everyone you know.
CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?
Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.
Consumers don't want expensive produce.
Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.
But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor."
Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are, or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. If qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicaid. All of this is at (our) taxpayer's expense.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.
Working Americans
are lucky to have $5.00 or $6..00/hour left after paying their bills and his.
Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT!
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS OF EITHER PARTY. 'AND WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY SAY, WE SHOULD REPLACE THEM ...
You see Bill the best way to make sure they arent being exploited by those greedy people is for them to come here Legally and not hide in shadows. And 6 bucks per hour isnt even the legal minum wage now so who is the criminal paying them so little. While I agree that true justice can only be served when tempered with compassion it doesnt mean to give a free pass to anybody in this country who breaks the law Black Caucasin Hispanic Latino African Asian etc etc..Most people come here to escape their country of orgin to get away from corrupt goverment and preferential treatment for specific groups of people that are denied to them. Then to come here and try to turn our country into the same as the one they left doesnt sit well with me and alot of other people who see the trutht for what its.
We have Federal polocies that openly descriminate against whites Such as hiring for Fderal Government Jobs , Federal Governemt Contract Jobs . Inrollment in to Colleges etc etc. Look it up for youself dont take my word for it .Why is that not considered for exactly what it is Discrimination based on skin color and ethnicity. Nobody ever talks about that . Double Standard Hypocricy will not stand in a Nation where the promise given is Equal Justice and Liberty for all Citizens. I welcome an Open honest debate with anyone who can reamin civil in doing so . But to try and silence me and marginalize me with racial slander will not work on me because I know who I am and what I am . I was born after slavery and the civil rights movement and I will be damned if Im gonna sit by and just take these lies by some perverted Idea that I or my race should have to pay for something that happend in the past before my time. You see Civil Rights dont just belong to certain groups they belong to all citizens in this country and Legal Immigrants. So flush out your mind clear it of those perverted thoughts and re evaluate what you truly stand for. I would like to to close by syaing I mean no disrespect for you or your belief . I only wish to point out to and any others who believe the way you do that you might be wrong.
I appreciate your rebuttal! I had ,nor do I have any intention of calling you a racist.Yes It did seem as if I did but I assure you that was not my intention because I do not know you. My intent was to make the point of how that term is always used to marginalize people meaning whites who oppose special treatment of any person over another based on race ,ethnicity or gender etc.etc.
The job itself is not the Issue . The issue is those people being exploited by greedy people who just don't want to pay a descent living wage , just so they can have what they want.
If they need so much to have a good life, why is it that they think so much less is a good life for the person actually doing the work to produce the wealth? The same applies to those people who you are trying to help. $12 dollars and hour isn't much of a descent living wage either in today's economy. Especially with no benefits. Those people would still need Govt assistance to live.
It really shouldn't matter if people graduated high school or not as to whether they get paid a descent living wage or not. If the person can do the job and there is a demand for the service or product they are working to provide don't they deserve to be treated equally and fairly and to get paid a descent wage? Perhaps their life isn't worth anything to those who chose to pay so little. Its long been a true fact that no wealth has ever been created just by ideas and wealth, but only with labor.
Today as in the past the world doesn't seem to understand that. You see Bill we are all on the road to feudalism again if that mind set doesn't change. You have served in the Armed forces for many years and Thank You for your service.But what do you actually produce today ? From what you have said it sounds like to me you have always lived on the tax payers dime.Where do you think the money to pay you comes from?
As you also said it would be nice if every person was a valuable working member of society
but where is the value added to that workers life getting such low wages? Another problem with that is society is a myth and who would receive that value if not the one earning it? I have read your comment and Like you I was not even aware of the real total impact that illegal's have on our country and economy, I do not agree with just giving them a fast track to a green card or citizenship because it sends the wrong message . Besides that isn't fair or right for those who came here the right way to put criminals at the front of the line. Our own citizens that break the law and commit a felony they aren't even given back their right to vote carry a firearm even if it wasn't a violent crime. They can serve their time and return to the work force and pay taxes but aren't even allowed to have the same rights as the rest of us. Sounds a little like taxation without representation . So you believe that people breaking our laws by coming here Illegally should be given a free pass? I strongly disagree!!! One other thing .I assure you Bill I will not ever Hide behind anything and especially our Nations Flag . I can make you this promise though ,I will most definitely speak out and stand up for that Flag and this Country and what is right, always. I also know exactly what I am mad about and now you do to . That's just the way it is !!!
I agree with you on many of your points. I don't care from where a person comes from or how much "education" they have. If a person does a good job, so be it. As for earned wages, I have always been a proponent(sp?) that the hardest workers seem to get the less money and that isn't right. As for living off the government dime. I did for 5 years in the military and for about five years working for a state agency but other wise I have held many different type of jobs, from a therapist in psych hospitals and recovery centers to working in warehouses and as route drivers, to owning my own business. I understand your slightly-backhanded insult as a way to prove that I am a government shrew, walking in lockstep with others, but I am not. I think too few have too much but I also believe that most anyone can do something. I know that this country needs a welfare payment for the many of people who really cannot work due to physical or mental situations. I also understand (too intimatly, I'm afraid) that families lose thier jobs and houses and these families need a helping hand, a boost. That being said I also know, first hand, of many rural country folk stealing from the govenment by collecting their welfare checks yet these people are capable of working. All in all I am in agreement with you so stop trying to prove everyone else wrong.