Pioneer Press Jan. 26, 2006
Migrants need to obey laws

The Jan. 15 letter that described the horrors of prosecuting the “simple possession of improper documents” by “undocumented immigrants” brought tears to my eyes (“Let Minnesota’s immigrants earn legal status”). I must have grown up when the forging of federal documents was a criminal offense. Many of my peers would have loved to have been able to use “improper documents” to purchase liquor and cigarettes when we were teenagers. I wish we’d known that false, forged IDs were only “improper” documents and were not illegal.
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Union cancels picnic but supports pro-illegal rally Sept. 4, 2006

Recently union officials lamented the cancellation of their annual Labor Day picnic due to lack of  contributions. Then why would certain local unions - Painters, Food Workers, AFSCME clerical  workers - put their backing behind this Monday’s Immigrant and Worker’s Rights Rally?

Points of Unity touted by organizers included unconditional legalization for ALL, no guest worker  programs, no employer sanctions, amongst others, only one of which was not related directly to illegal immigration.

Well, obviously, a huge new pool of dues paying recruits is a draw. Bernie Hesse of UCFW 789  was quoted in this paper, blithely stating, ” We don’t care if they have a green card. All we care  is they have a union card. ” But, the ramifications of this recent union stance are not so noble, nor  popular.

In my trade, all but one of 100 or so rank-and-file members I’ve interviewed insist that that the influx of illegal workers is endangering their ability to work and thrive, mostly due to exploitive employers who make secret monetary deals with these same new workers. All, including my ” undocumented ” friends, agree that there is not enough work for the monumental numbers arriving in Minnesota, especially now when hundreds of existing members are laid off and struggling. All under the very noses of the union that “represents” them.

Sincerely,

W. S., Member, Painter’s and Allied Trades Local 61
St. Paul, MN 55106

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Election Year Grandstanding?
August 4, 2006

Was the recently published “scenario” by Homeland Security assistant secretary Julie Meyers on  aggressive prosecution of employers who hire illegal aliens just more election year grandstanding?
Or could it be, for the majority of America’s lower classes who now compete with illegals for a limited number of jobs, a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel?
As a less-educated, blue-collar, dues paying union construction worker I hope it is the latter. Having not been born with a silver spoon in my mouth it is to my chagrin to report losing an estimated $150,000 in earnings, minimum, to the invading horde of illegal labor competition. This is income lost to house, clothe, feed and care for my family, and ultimately, my community.

Despite having worked alongside, admired and befriended many falsely documented workers I must make it clear , and they, in confidence, would also, that there are not enough jobs to go around. Certainly not for millions more job seekers lured by unscrupulous employers.

Basically, America’s most economically and educationally disadvantaged, our population,s 20% with the lowest income raising 50% of America,s dependent children, those who have no political voice are fair game to Washington’s 1500 or so corporate, labor, and foreign lobbyists whose agenda, hand in hand with a booming underground industry of documentation fraud, results in the New American Business Plan of American employers screwing their fellow Americans.

Sincerely,
W. S.
St. Paul, MN 55106
Member, Painter’s Union Local 61

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Slave wages don’t aid consumers
April 24, 2006

Regarding Minnesota meatpacking jobs (“Identity Crisis,” April 3), “What was once a coveted, single-breadwinner’s job evolved into a lower-wage position dominated by immigrants” should have been the headline.

Swift and Co. doesn’t need illegal immigrant workers, and taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize Swift’s labor costs. Meatpacking jobs used to be like automobile assembly plant jobs: You would apply and then wait for months until a job opened up. Once hired you kept that job for life, and bought a house and raised your family on the income. It’s a ridiculous canard and an insult to say these are jobs Americans won’t do.

And let’s not pretend that slave wages benefit consumers. Beef and pork are less affordable today than they were years ago. The difference between yesterday’s wages and today’s slave wages goes into the pocket of big business. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, thanks to federal immigration policy.

R. K.
St. Paul

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Letter to President Bush

I was born a citizen of the U.S. My wife and daughter are legal immigrants. We are all law abiding, God fearing, and hard working. We believe in the U.S. Constitution. We believe in limiting government to its proper roles of protecting persons from harm, protecting property from theft, and protecting our liberty. I am a business owner. Yes, we are conservatives and I have always voted Republican. I voted for you in the last election. I have contributed to your campaign fund. I have been on the streets since last February with signs and flags supporting our war against terrorism.

I would like to remind you sir, that belief in God does not give anyone the right to break the law with impunity. I would also like to remind you that those who break the law should live in fear of the consequences; otherwise, the law ceases to be a deterrent. Those criminals, who break the law without fear of consequences, or concern for their fellow citizens, are sociopaths. If we want anyone, to obey any law, we must be willing to uphold all the laws currently on the books; otherwise, we make a farce of the concept of law, and encourage future disobedience. It is not wise therefore to propose to change, or nullify a law because many are currently breaking it with impunity, because the government lacks the resolve to enforce it.

Those who break our immigration laws are criminals, whether they have entered this country illegally, or they are guilty of illegally hiring aliens to satisfy their bottom line. To say that we should mitigate the proscribed penalties for breaking the law, because all of these criminals are willing participants in violating our laws, for their own gain, at the expense of law abiding, legal citizens of this country is absurd! If you would solve the problem of illegal immigration, enforce the current laws, otherwise prepare for an even greater volume of illegal aliens in the future, who have been encouraged by the greed of unethical business and the lack of integrity of our elected officials in upholding our constitution, our laws, our borders, our national sovereignty and the rights and privileges of the law abiding citizens of this country!

J. Q.
St. Paul, MN 55117

Letter from reader in reponse to: “Twin Cities mayors, police chiefs oppose Pawlenty immigration proposal”
by Tim Nelson, Jan. 5, 2006.

Anyone who opposes cracking down on criminal behavior (especially mayors and police chiefs) should be ashamed of themselves. What part of the term illegal alien is misunderstood here? The governor, who now has my utmost respect, made it quite clear that his program would target illegal aliens, not legal immigrants.

The extremely weak argument that so-called “immigrants” would not cooperate with police is pure nonsense. The truth is that illegal aliens have never cooperated with police and legal immigrants have nothing to fear. That’s obvious. It is also a violation of federal law for any city to have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” sanctuary policy for illegal aliens. Are you listening Rybak, Coleman, McManus, and Harrington? These so-called leaders even released a joint statement condemning Pawlenty’s proposals. They should be promptly removed from office!!

The fact is that illegal aliens are responsible for a lot of the crime in the Twin Cities aside from the fact that they are already criminals for being in the country without documentation. ! I wonder how any of the above mentioned mayors and chiefs would feel if one of their relatives was victimized by an illegal alien whose status was ignored by the police?

B. C.
St. Louis Park

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Letter from reader in reponse to: Re: “Hispanics wrestling with walkout”, 4/23/06, by Chuck Haga.

First of all, it is an insult to every legal Hispanic resident of the United States to lump them in with a bunch of illegal aliens (criminals) with no right to be in this country. Apparently, the writer is comfortable with his own racism, I am not.

The phony “huelga” planned for May 1, 2006 should be held to show how much this country doesn’t need cheap, illegal alien labor from whatever country. I doubt one orange will be left to rot in the fields without illegal alien labor. The growers will simply have to raise their wages to acceptable levels for a non-illegal to accept the job. Criminals like the owners of the Swift Company should be jailed for their known hiring of illegals. They are the biggest crooks of them all: Corporate criminals using cheap (to Swift) labor subsidized on the backs of American taxpayers. It is organized crime, plain and simple.

As for the profiles of the “plight” of illegal alien criminals in St. James and other places throughout Minnesota, I say “Who Cares?” They chose to break the door down to the US and cut in line in front of legal immigrants. Maybe they should “marcha” back to where they came from and wait their turn. That’s the American way.

By the way, I’m a pro-borders, anti-illegal immigration, American-born Hispanic who could care less what the out of touch, horse and buggy mainstream media thinks about this issue since I’m on the right side of history.

B. C.
St. Louis Park

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Letter from reader in reponse to: “MADE IN MINNESOTA”, by Kevin Diaz, May 20 2006.

Regardless of this article’s dubious intentions (open-borders, emotionalism over logic, etc.), the Star Tribune has actually helped the cause of Americans (we’re the majority) opposed to mass immigration, especially the organized crime known as illegal immigration.

For those not privy to this issue, the most eye-opening part of this article should be amount of remittances sent each year to Mexico, including towns like Axochiapan. These are dollars stolen from the United States in the form of jobs acquired illegally, often with fraudulent documents. Much of the money “earned” by the illegal aliens is not spent in the American economy but rather sent via wire service (Western Union, MoneyGram and other traitors) to Mexico so Vicente Fox, et al can continue living their lives of luxury while exporting their problems to the dumb gringos (P.C. racial slur).

In the meantime, American taxpayers have to endure lost jobs and wages, crowded or closed hospitals, bi-lingual and dysfunctional schools, ruined neighborhoods, and a continuing erosion of our language and national identity to name a few things. Sounds like a raw deal for the average lower to middle class American.

Anyway, thanks for the coverage of America’s numero uno problem. I’ll be looking forward to more propaganda this week. By the way, English is and always will be America’s language. Providing this article in Spanish is just more liberal pandering to illegal aliens. American Hispanics can read English quite well, thank you.

B. C.

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Letter from reader in reponse to: IMMIGRATION VOICES, by Susan Feyder, July 4, 2006.

Here is yet another extremely biased immigration article published by the “Rag of the Twin Cities”, otherwise known not so affectionately as the Strib.

My main question is: Where was the coverage of the anti-illegal immigration rally/July 4 celebration at the OK Corral in Jordan? This patriotic rally, meant to welcome the American patriots on motorcycles (one of whom is a legal immigrant), was going on about the same time as about 100 anti-American, open-borders anarchists chanted their dumb slogans such as “Minutemen go home”, “no racists”, etc. in St. Paul. What was very revealing about the goon rally in St. Paul was the near complete absence of American flags on our nation’s Independence Day. However, the red flag of communism was prominently displayed.

In spite of the lack of media coverage (with the exception of KARE 11), the rally in Jordan was definitely a success, even with only about 60 people. I would rather hang out with 50 American patriots than 30,000 low lifes in Che Guevara shirts any day.

B. C.

Valley News

Immigrants and legal status

The commentary [Valley News, May 4] about immigration was certainly exemplary. We can certainly appreciate immigrants in our great country.
But when people from other countries flood into our cities, don’t become citizens, then dictate to our government their immigration policies, we have a problem.
Without firm restrictions and quotas, we could eventually become the minority. If this is OK, then let’s do nothing. Otherwise, let’s have these people come here legally.

— E. O.

Shakopee

DFLers soft on illegal immigrants
Post-Bulletin - Tue, Aug 1, 2006

I have read numerous letters in the Post-Bulletin defending the positions taken by our DFL legislators Andy Welti and Tina Liebling regarding illegal immigration.

Welti and Liebling have voted to give illegal aliens in-state tuition at Minnesota colleges. They have blocked attempts to require photo ID proof of citizenship when voting. They and their DFL caucus have prohibited police from inquiring about citizenship status. In each case, their arguments boil down to this:

“They’re here. Let’s give them benefits.”

Advocates of this position think illegal immigrants, and Hispanics in particular, should be able to take from society without society asking anything in return. This is a patronizing view that implicitly assumes Hispanics are incapable of performing the basic things we ask of citizens. Learn English? Understand U.S. civics and government? Pay taxes? According to Welti and Liebling, those things are all too difficult for Hispanic immigrants to do.

My parents were immigrants from South America, and one thing I learned very early was that for immigrants and their children there are two paths. One is to work twice as hard as native citizens. The other is to listen to the likes of Welti and Liebling, and think that the rules don’t apply to you because you’re too helpless. No matter how well intentioned Welti and Liebling claim to be, their permissive attitude toward illegal immigration is patronizing to all Hispanics and destructive to the people they claim to serve.

P. A.
Rochester

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Immigration today far more complex issue
Post Bulletin - Sat, May 20, 2006

Comment on this story Illegal immigration is one of our most pressing problems, and people like Paul Moore who trivialize it need to take responsibility for making the situation worse.

In his letter, Moore states that we need immigrants to fill jobs no one else wants. What we really need is to put unemployed Americans in those jobs. Cutting the social welfare benefits of people who aren’t contributing to society would quickly make those jobs much more appealing.

Moore points to the fact that 66 percent of illegal aliens pay Social Security taxes. With a looming funding crisis for Social Security, we won’t be able to continue sending seniors their checks if 34 percent of the work force evades their taxes.

The 1986 Immigration Reform Act was a compromise — amnesty for illegal immigrants in exchange for laws to stop companies from hiring new illegal immigrants. It’s clear that all we got was the amnesty, and any amnesty compromise today would have the same results.

Everyone in this country is an immigrant, or descended from immigrants. However, the need for immigration when the country was largely unsettled is different from today when the country is fully populated. We can choose any immigrants we need instead of letting just anyone wander in.

It’s time to build a fence, and aggressively deport immigrants who commit a crime by coming here illegally.

M. T.
Rochester

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I’m deeply bothered by all the illegal migrants in this wonderful country of ours. They take our jobs, tax our social services and our schools, and they don’t want to obey our laws. Who knows how many illegals work here.

I have one thing to say: Let the immigrant community complain all they want. If they don’t like it they can go back where they are from. In my book, illegal immigration is just as great a threat as terrorism.

Wake up, America, before it’s too late.

D. O.
Rochester

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No room for divided allegiance
Post Bulletin 2006

Listen to the words of President Theodore Roosevelt: “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here is good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American.
“There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is the loyalty to the American people.” (Jan. 3, 1919)

H. K.
Rochester

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Immigration policy is too costly
Tue, Apr 11, 2006

Most of us can understand tMexico can correct immigration
Fri, Apr 7, 2006he yearning for a better life, but last year a single California county spent over $350 million for health care benefits to undocumented workers, and it is estimated that the total national expenditure on illegal students in grades K-12 is $7.4 billion.

Our borders are poorly guarded, and our immigration policies reek of bureaucracy, but we don’t want to offend anyone (especially non-Christians) so we’ll keep on paying, and some will believe the Post-Bulletin when they keep telling us over and over that diversity is our strength.

R. T.
Rochester

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Mexico can correct immigration
Fri, Apr 7, 2006

We have a major invasion of illegal aliens going on which most politicians ignore at the pleading of special-interest groups like greedy businessmen, drug smugglers and leftists. Please notice that these are not undocumented immigrants. You can’t be an immigrant and not be documented.

We finally have two local politicians who have enough backbone to take action against illegal aliens by proposing to deny them some taxpayer support for their law breaking. Congratulations, Fran Bradley and Tom Emmer, for having the spine to try to do what is right! Now if all state and federal politicians would start acting like law supporters instead of law breakers, Fran and Tom would have a lot of company.

Every religious person who feels sorry for illegal aliens would be advised to protest with Vicente Fox that his country needs to treat its citizens with charity and give them the opportunity to succeed in Mexico. Mexico’s disastrous socialist economy is the driving force behind illegal immigration and they have the power to correct their problem. They have the power to protect their citizens’ human dignity; that is not America’s job or responsibility. America has the right to manage its borders and manage who is invited to become immigrants. Vicente Fox does not have that right.

W. B.
Rochester

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Immigration today far more complex issue
Post Bulletin - Sat, May 20, 2006

Comment on this story Illegal immigration is one of our most pressing problems, and people like Paul Moore who trivialize it need to take responsibility for making the situation worse.

In his letter, Moore states that we need immigrants to fill jobs no one else wants. What we really need is to put unemployed Americans in those jobs. Cutting the social welfare benefits of people who aren’t contributing to society would quickly make those jobs much more appealing.

Moore points to the fact that 66 percent of illegal aliens pay Social Security taxes. With a looming funding crisis for Social Security, we won’t be able to continue sending seniors their checks if 34 percent of the work force evades their taxes.

The 1986 Immigration Reform Act was a compromise — amnesty for illegal immigrants in exchange for laws to stop companies from hiring new illegal immigrants. It’s clear that all we got was the amnesty, and any amnesty compromise today would have the same results.

Everyone in this country is an immigrant, or descended from immigrants. However, the need for immigration when the country was largely unsettled is different from today when the country is fully populated. We can choose any immigrants we need instead of letting just anyone wander in.

It’s time to build a fence, and aggressively deport immigrants who commit a crime by coming here illegally.

M. T.
Rochester

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Liebling, Welti smokescreens
Wed, Aug 23, 2006

It seems as if both Tina Liebling and Andy Welti are trying to do one thing in St. Paul and say something different back here in Rochester. I refer specifically to an Aug. 9 letter from Andrew Westreich which distorts their stance on illegal immigration.

Contrary to Westreich’s letter, both Liebling and Welti do support giving tuition breaks to illegal immigrants. The bill they support is the “Dream Act.” Although Westreich describes this bill as helping “students gain education,” he deliberately does not mention that its primary beneficiaries are illegal immigrants. Mr. Westreich then tries to put distance between Liebling and Welti and the bill, which is difficult since they are both co-authors of the bill.

Westreich also tries to deny that Liebling and Welti voted to prohibit local police from asking questions about immigration status. This is a deliberate distortion.

Several cities in the metro area already limit police in this way. When House Republicans tried to overturn this practice, Liebling and Welti blocked their efforts. Liebling, Welti and metro-area DFLers amended the bill to state that municipalities should have local control over immigration enforcement, thus negating the whole purpose of the bill. Westreich calls this adding “provisions” to “leave local control intact,” when in fact it was catering to Twin Cities municipalities who don’t want to treat immigration laws as “real” laws.

It is unfortunate that Liebling and Welti are resorting to smokescreens to obscure their records.

J. R.
Rochester

Red Wing Republican Eagle
May 19, 2006

Laws mean nothing if never enforced

I applaud Steve Drazkowski for speaking out (R-E May 16). There are many out there with the same beliefs. We must stop this illegal invasion by making our voices heard. If you speed, you are breaking the law. If you drive drunk, you are breaking the law. If you are here illegally, you are breaking the law. Laws are there for a reason and we cannot deviate from this.

Those interested in becoming more informed in this cause please go to http://www.minn-sir.us. I would like it know that I am not a racist,radical or vigilante, just a realist. This problem is not just in the South, but up here where we work and live. It’s time “we” stand and say enough. We need to know who and what is entering this great country of ours.

D. H.
Red Wing

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Illegal immigrants here illegally. Period
Red Wing Republican Eagle - 7/7/06

It saddens me to watch the news, 7-4-06 KARE channel 11 (July 4) and see pro-immigrant protestors at the Minnesota State Capital with no AMERICAN flags. There were none!

It is no secret I stand with the anti-ILLEGAL-immigrant side. There is one word there that the “Pro-immigrant” people do not use, that word is ILLEGAL!

We do not have a problem with those that are here legally; they applied and took the time to gain their right to be an American citizen. Is it fair to them; is it fair to us to allow the millions of illegal’s to stay in this country just because they were able to get through the fence without getting caught? Think about it, this is breaking the law.

Example: You own property and want people to stay off-you put up No Trespassing signs, if someone wrongs you by trespassing you call the authorities and have it dealt with legally!) This is your right and the law; you pay taxes for this right.

If Congress, Senate and the U.S. President allow all illegal’s who are here now- ILLEGALLY, to stay. Then every legal American citizen should be given a “FREE GET OUT OF JAIL CARD”. Sounds stupid right! Think again.

We know nothing about the illegal’s currently in this county, I mean nothing. Their background, arrest records, medical issues, mental health issues, WHERE ARE THEY GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. You need one to gain employment! There is a right way to do things and a wrong way. Sometimes the right way takes time, but it is legal.

Pro-immigrant protestors at the Minnesota State Capital . Shame on you for NO AMERICAN FLAGS displayed (this was the Fourth of JULY) and calling the Paul Revere Riders and those that stand with them racists Maybe similar to color blindness you just can not see the word “ILLEGAL”

We are not racists; we are American Patriots, voters and legal citizens who are just trying to open the eyes of everyone in this county to see the wrong doings be done by many of our political leaders.

Take the time to look the word ILLEGAL up and see its meaning.

D. H.
Red Wing

Drazkowski offers hope for leadership
The Republican Eagle -Published Saturday, July 15, 2006

To the Editor

In the last few months many important issues have been in the public forum, but only one individual has stepped forward and given his thoughts on many of them. He has been clear on where he stands on education, marriage
between one man and one woman, abortion and most recently enforcement of our borders.

On May 15, Steve Drazkowski was the first official in local politics to offer ideas on what Minnesota should do to help secure our borders: send a National Guard contingent. Drazkowski shared his vision on this issue before George Bush and even before our governor shared theirs.

Last week, Gov. Tom Pawlenty announced that up to 500 Guard soldiers would be deployed to the southwestern United States border in an effort to control the illegal immigration problem.

Drazkowski’s vision was nearly two months ahead of the governor’s decision. I believe this gives us a glimpse of the visionary leadership that Drazkowski would bring to public service if elected to Senate District 28. We need a
senator who will not shy away from making decisions on important issues such as border enforcement, taxes, abortion, marriage and more in coming legislative cycles.

He has weathered a lot to maintain his values and principles. He has shown courage and commitment. He has established himself as a political leader who will represent the people of District 28 more successfully than the incumbent. Drazkowski provides hope of honest, loyal, committed representation in a district that has been void of that type of leadership for some time. I hope my fellow District 28 citizens will go to their local polling places to vote in the Sept. 12 primary for Steve Drazkowski.

J. E.
Pine Island