Thread: MA: MARIE PARENTE: The licensed, unlicensed and the incensed

MARIE PARENTE: The licensed, unlicensed and the incensed

By Marie Parente/Daily News columnist
GHS
Posted Dec 16, 2009 @ 12:45 AM
MILFORD —

The last time we chatted about State House battles on in-state college tuition discounts for undocumented students, the outcome of the vote was omitted inadvertently. Ninety-seven legislators voted to reserve the discounted tuition for children of legal American citizens residing in Massachusetts. Fifty-seven legislators voted for the measure that would have extended it to undocumented students.

Changes have taken place in the State House and the Congress. Anything can happen. Therefore, it is imperative that you inform your state legislators and members of Congress of your position on this important issue.

Advocates for tuition breaks and driver's licenses for undocumented aliens are working at both levels of government to re-introduce the controversial measures for enactment.

The same column mentioned Gov. Deval Patrick's observation that immigrants sent $657 million to their home countries last year. How did they accomplish that working at 'low paying jobs they say Americans do not want to do?" The answer lies in the rich assortment of public assistance programs available to them as outlined in a memo, "An Advocate's Desk Guide to Non-Citizen Eligibility for Mass Health."

Another pamphlet assures undocumented aliens their questions about eligibility for public programs will not be reported to immigration. MassHealth, worker's compensation, disability, housing subsidies, food stamps, free school lunches, K-12 education, children's clothing allowances and Social Security benefits are among the sought-after benefits.

It is sad to see unemployed American taxpayers in supermarkets carefully choosing food items, often returning them to shelves, while undocumented aliens check out shopping carts loaded with choice items, using taxpayer-funded food vouchers and leaving in late-model vehicles.

Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo blasted the welfare car program for handing out donated cars, taxpayer-subsidized car insurance and AAA memberships to welfare recipients but stopped short of canceling the program. Undocumented aliens on public benefits are eligible as well. In fact, I asked a local public program intake worker why undocumented aliens are often taken first. The answer? "No paperwork."

Compounding this issue is the local effort to discontinue profiling undocumented immigrants. If state police are mandated to end profiling "suspicious" undocumented aliens, does that mean the undocumented should be the exception and the rest of us be the rule?

Why do colleges, banks and a variety of other institutions ask for specific profile check-offs on applications? I am always "all other."

The state police and our local police officers are sworn to keep the public safe on our roads and in our homes. It is no secret that illegal aliens drive cars, trucks and trailers without training and cause numerous accidents and loss of life.

The latest effort to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens who work is no different than aiding and abetting any other criminal to do a better job at breaking laws.

There is an organized effort at state and national levels to grant driver's licenses to undocumented aliens.

At least, Public Law 109-13, passed in 2005, prohibits federal agencies from accepting state-issued driver's licenses or identification cards unless such documents are determined to meet minimum security requirements.

Public Law 109-13 mandates a digital photo ID. A non-photo ID is acceptable if the applicant submits a legal name, gender, signature, Social Security number, birth date and submits proof of lawful entry into the country or has a valid or pending visa. Should certain information be unavailable, color-coded licenses would be granted. Sounds responsible.

However, federal "motor voter" laws require each state's motor vehicle driver's license application, including renewal applications, submitted to motor vehicle regulatory agencies, to serve as an application for voter registration in certain federal, state and local elections. Thus, allowing illegals to obtain licenses will encourage them to vote. Interpreters of more than 25 languages will be provided.

Some say, "we have to deal with the fact that illegal aliens are here."

The response is simple. All government officials have an obligation to protect American citizens and legal residents from criminals and terrorists. It is time to take a stand. According to the citizen's lobbying group FAIR, more than 4,000 undocumented aliens cross our borders each night. They undergo no physicals or criminal background checks necessary to prevent spread of disease and threats to national security.

Driver's licenses are seen as valid basic identification documents. The terrorists used their ill-gotten licenses to sign leases, buy cars, open bank accounts, rent hotel rooms and as identity confirmation for boarding planes and for flying licenses.

When I questioned the veracity of information submitted to obtain driver's licenses, I was told they "sign under threat of perjury."

Really? They crossed the border illegally and obtained jobs illegally while on public assistance. Does anyone think one more deception is too difficult to master?

What about the comment, "immigration is a federal matter so it should not be dealt with locally?"

Not paying federal taxes, bank robberies, spying and kidnapping are all federal matters, yet no one at state or local level would reward those federal lawbreakers.

Some say illegal aliens need licenses to drive to work. Driver's licenses allowed the terrorists to blend in and board planes like ordinary Americans.

Amnesty is next. Stand up for the American rule of law.

Marie J. Parente of Milford, a former state representative and town official, writes on alternate Wednesdays for the Daily News.

www.milforddailynews.com

Why would illegal aliens need a driver's license to drive to a job they're prohibited from having under US law?!

It is nice to see Marie still active she was the most driven advocate for our rights. Driving should be enough grounds for illegal aliens to be deported.

Originally Posted by Richard

It is nice to see Marie still active she was the most driven advocate for our rights. Driving should be enough grounds for illegal aliens to be deported.

Now we agree on 2 things, Richard!

LETTER: Immigrants should prompt voter revolt

By Scott Ellmore/Milford

Posted Dec 17, 2009 @ 12:46 AM
MILFORD —

I would like to respond to Mrs. (Marie) Parente's article, "Licensed, unlicensed, and the incensed," published Dec. 16, regarding the exploding quantity of benefits, undocumented aliens receive from U.S. taxpayers.

It seems that with all good intentions, our elected officials have determined that the best way to solve a problem is by throwing money at it. As a state, we have changed from a land of opportunity, into a land of entitlement, all at the expense of legal residents doing the right thing day in and day out.

Our elected officials have removed all incentive to assimilate, conform and pursue the American dream from any individual entering this country illegally. By providing free health care, food stamps, housing and all the other perks not available to legal residents, they have removed the very reason people came here in the first place. They have provided these people with just enough to get by, and to stay in the same social position without enabling the drive which all past generations of immigrants entering this country came here with.

They have mandated an "English as a second language" curriculum, which allows children of illegals to graduate without ever learning a word of English which is producing a generation of immigrant offspring destined to remain in low paying, unfulfilling employment. Our politicians fail to realize that the more we give these people, the more we take away from them.

In order for an individual to attain self-fulfillment, they need to become an assimilated, productive member of society. One that comes home from work every day with a sense of acceptance and pride in the knowledge that he is providing for his family, contributing to society, and pursuing the American dream. Hard work is not a penalty. And entitlements in no way compare to the rewards of hard work. All incentive to enter this country by legal means has been removed by our elected officials. To enter legally, means to be documented, and thus not entitled to the generous benefits package afforded to illegal immigrants.

Why would anyone want to wait years, and pay thousands of dollars to enter legally, only to obtain a tax ID number and have to work hard from the bottom up as immigrants have had to do in the past?

Our politicians, in pandering and enabling illegal non-voting immigrants are quickly alienating legal, voting citizens. They have formulated a declining society in that illegal immigrants have become the "haves," with no incentive to excel, and legal citizens who have become the "have nots," living paycheck to paycheck with a huge portion of it paying for those entitlements.

Where are our entitlements? Where is our bailout? Why is the shopping cart of the non-English speaking family in front of me, paying with food stamps, full of choice cuts of meat and produce, and mine is filled with macaroni and cheese, PBJ and chicken?

Oh wait, I know why, it's because they're not paying for it, I am.

I hope those days are coming to an end. With the looming elections, I'm hoping a voter revolt will send these politicians a message that says loud and clear, "this is our country, not theirs, it's my paycheck, not theirs and I want both of them back!!"

www.milforddailynews.com

Absolutely!! A voter revolt to send these traitors packing to a soup line and I hope with all my heart, a lawsuit to boot, to hold them accountable for the damage and harm they've caused to millions of dear Americans who were owed loyalty but were paid with betrayal.