Thread: The Equilizer

I can hardly believe this article is printed in this paper here??? Wow!

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12 ... 143755.txt

Employers stuck in border bind

By: Michael D. Pattinson - Commentary
Dec 25, 2006

Building fences can get you in big trouble these days.

A federal judge recently slapped a $5 million fine on a local fence company that works for me and every other big home builder in North County. Its executives are facing jail time as well.

Because of the severity of the penalty, some thought they were guilty of assault or fraud or something worse. You be the judge: They hired 10 illegal aliens.

Just hours after news of the outlaw fence company became public, the Escondido City Council rescinded its plan to punish landlords who rent to illegal aliens. They did this in the face of a federal court finding against their measure and the prospect of millions of dollars in legal bills.

Hire an illegal alien and go to jail. Give the same people a place to live and the ACLU will make you a local hero.

If you are not confused, it shows you do not understand the situation.

I just returned from Australia, where the government scrutinizes visas as if they are important. Same with China. Those countries know who should ---- and should not ---- be there. Law enforcement, not business owners, is in charge of enforcing the law, .

When they find illegal aliens in Australia and China, they do not throw employers under the bus. They put unwelcome visitors on the bus ---- and send them to jail.

Just after news of the Escondido council's surrender, the immigration authorities in Washington announced that they were abandoning efforts to track immigrants as they enter and leave our country.

They said it is too difficult to do here what in Australia is routine.

For all the talk, all the posturing, all the outrage, all the promises of action, all the danger from an open border, here is the state of immigration reform in America today:

Every city in California has a policy that prevents police from checking the legal status of people they arrest. Landlords are free to rent to whomever they wish. Don't even think about asking for voter ID to prove you are a citizen.

Employers are the first, last and only line of defense against illegal entry into the country. You don't have to wonder any more why 20 million illegal aliens live here with impunity. Now you know.

So much for good fences making good neighbors.

Careful readers of this column may detect a whiff of hypocrisy here. I have called for tougher enforcement of laws at the border. And I do not condone the hiring of illegal aliens for any reason.

However, there has to be a better solution than arresting business people while letting the people who do violate our laws run free. A solution better than putting American citizens in jail while illegal aliens sleep comfortably in their Escondido rentals.

Some would say it is ironic that a fence company is in trouble because the federal government will not build a decent fence.

That's not irony. That's insanity.

Michael D. Pattinson, a freelance columnist for the North County Times, is president of Barratt American, a builder based in Carlsbad.

One comment left so far:
Simon says: wrote on December 25, 2006 9:53 PM:" The fence should go up, illegals should be stopped at the border, city police should determine if a person they have stopped is an illegal and notify ICE, employers are guilty when they hire illegals and landlords should be held responsible for letting space to illegals. If there is probable cause for a felony when an illegal is stopped for a violation by local police, that illegal should be tried locally. The insanity is that Americans are breaking the law across the board for money and nothing is being done about it. "

However, there has to be a better solution than arresting business people while letting the people who do violate our laws run free. A solution better than putting American citizens in jail while illegal aliens sleep comfortably in their Escondido rentals.

Some would say it is ironic that a fence company is in trouble because the federal government will not build a decent fence.

The people who do violate our laws are both the business owners and illegal aliens. The law means for them not to come here, and for them not receive work once here. This guy is saying since they are here I must hire them. Wrong.

This guy likely has illegals on jobs that he runs. Perhaps he really doesn't like employing them. However, some time ago some business people of few morals began to take advantage of the slaves government permitted to enter. Those hiring cheap labor got a competitive advantage. Business must meet the competition or go under. That's the way it is.

This government enabled the first employers and thereby forced the rest to violate our law to survive. I can see how this guy feels. The question is why is our government forcing out honest businesses. That is insanity and a question that needs to be asked of government and the business lobby.