http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 70358/1015

Lee not safe haven for illegal immigrants
Originally posted on November 07, 2006


There is no question that illegal immigrants in these United States are stirring controversy and passionate debate.

Obviously, lax policies and porous borders should have been rectified many years ago at the federal level.

Despite technology that takes us to and from outer space, there are stretches along the U.S.-Mexican border where the barrier is nothing more than a few boards.

The lure of bountiful labor remains the primary attraction and here in Florida, this fact becomes obvious on every construction site and in nearly every service-related business.

Since 57 percent of illegal immigrants are Mexican and 24 percent are Latin American, Hispanics draw the most attention; however, it is noteworthy that 9 percent are Asian and 6 percent European, while the remaining 4 percent are from Africa and other nations.

The best, current estimates suggest that approximately 2,000 people enter the United States illegally every day, adding to the estimated 12 million who are already here.

While there are many efforts under way to stem the tide, reality dictates that the problem is here to stay.

Recent efforts by your Sheriff's Office have been misunderstood by some, and I want to make it perfectly clear that we fully support enforcement initiatives.

The educational and public awareness efforts we have undertaken in the Hispanic communities of Lee County are only for crime prevention.

These presentations are not to suggest safe haven or sympathy for illegal immigrants; rather, they are to alleviate the unnecessary drain on our resources of investigating street robberies and other crimes of violence that target Hispanics, whether that victim has immigrated legally or illegally.

By educating against and preventing predictable violent crime, law enforcement for our entire county is much improved.

A News-Press editorial suggested that we do not report illegal immigrants to the federal authorities and further, that we do not stand with Collier Sheriff Don Hunter as relates to enforcement. This is not accurate.

As the problem grows and the debate rages on, I assure you that the Lee County Sheriff's Office will maintain a firm, no-nonsense position with anyone who breaks the law.

— Mike Scott is Lee County sheriff.