For all you bleeding heart types that invade our board with cries of compassion and tolerance for Mexican illegals (you know who you are) please read.


http://www.swdtimes.com/swdtimes/2005/0 ... inion.html



Mexico should be forced to help itself

Earl Watt
PUBLISHER

They call it "safe harbor," but the question begs to be asked -- Who is really safe?

Cities like Los Angeles and Denver exercise these laws, and it relates to illegal immigration.

What safe harbor means in these communities is that police officers cannot assist federal investigators or even question a suspect to find out if he is an illegal alien.

This is not a state law, and it certainly isn't federal. It is a local ordinance limiting the ability of local law enforcement in these specific cases.

Recently, two law enforcement officers were allegedly shot in the back by an illegal immigrant in Denver, and the suspect fled across the border to Mexico.

With safe harbor laws, local law enforcement never had a chance to discover this person's illegal status and were helpless to do anything about it.

Here's another law that may be of a surprise -- despite the heinous crime, Mexico's policy is not to extradite criminals for trial in the U.S. if they may face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

So, we have policies that protect illegal aliens in some of our largest cities, and when they commit a capital crime, they simply return home where they are out of the reach of American justice.

This is not a caucasian versus Hispanic issue. Several Hispanics live in this country legally and are hard-working members of society. They should be protected by the laws, not put at risk by local ordinances.

Last year alone, more than 4 million illegal immigrants found their way across the Mexican border. Some were found dead in the desert. Others paid a high price to human traffickers to get them into America. Still, others purchased stolen identities to attain jobs and services.

Importing people to America has been big business for a long time, most of it illegal.

That's not to mention the illicit and illegal drug traffic that flows over the border.

So why do they do it? Why do Mexicans leave Mexico by the millions to relocate to the United States?

We all know the answer -- opportunity.

But there is a deeper problem here that America has failed to realize since the founding of both countries and yet we hold other nations accountable for it every day.

The standard of living in Mexico is poor. The wealth of the nation is consolidated in the hands of a few, the government is riddled with corruption and law enforcement can detain anyone for any reason for any amount of time.

Mexico is not a shining example of democracy in action. Due to the poor living conditions, the poverty, the lack of health care and the limited education system, it is no wonder Mexicans choose to leave their country to find something better in America.

This problem does not happen with Canada.

Why?

Canadians experience a high standard of living, a strong democratic tradition and a good educational system. They see no need to seek a better situation by any means necessary.

Are we really helping Mexico by allowing its people to freely flow to America, by offering them safe harbor in our largest cities, and perhaps some smaller ones as well? And when a heinous crime is committed, is it fair to return home to avoid prosecution?

The answer is no.

These people escaping the oppression would be the best at making internal changes in Mexico. They see, want and expect better. America can do more for Mexico by sealing the border and demanding Mexico enhance the quality of life inside its own borders.

Mexico can help itself by extraditing those accused of crimes to show that no one can escape justice.

For decades, American industry has exploited this illegal flow of immigrants as a source of cheap labor, and by doing so has lowered the standard of living in the U.S.

It's time to shut off the spigot and demand Mexico improve from within, and both countries will benefit. {AMEN}