Thread: OR: Did the city go too far in assisting illegals?

Did the city go too far in assisting illegals?

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Story Published: Dec 12, 2007 at 10:39 PM PST

Story Updated: Dec 13, 2007 at 7:16 PM PST
By Bob Heye and KATU Web Staff
Video

PORTLAND, Ore. - Remember that immigration raid at Portland's Fresh Del Monte packing plant back in June?

While federal officials cracked down on workers who were here illegally, the City of Portland turned around and offered $20,000 in aid to the workers' families.

City officials said it was a temporary effort aimed mostly at helping innocent children, but some say the city went too far in handing out taxpayer's money.

City Commissioner Erik Sten's office handled the grant and said he not only considered it a moral obligation for taxpayers, but there was a practical side too.

"You pay one way or the other," he said. "If people end up on the street with nowhere to go, police pick them up and they end up somewhere. It causes more harm and costs more money."

Vern Cook, who is on the board of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, could not disagree more.

He said taxpayers should not get stuck paying the bill for supporting children of parents who have no legal right to be in the United States in the first place.

"This is a particular situation of homelessness where they are here illegally, so they can't hold a job legally to earn the money that they need," he said. "Whose fault is that? It's their fault."

Sten said while $20,000 is a lot of money, it is only a drop in the multi-million dollar bucket of money the city sets aside for housing assistance. He also said that if there is another immigration raid, he would offer city grant money to those workers' families too.


http://www.katu.com/news/12452741.html

I wonder how many Portland citizens have been denied housing assistance because of any shortage?

So if a drug dealer is busted, his family gets 20k? How about a murderer? Bank robber? Rapists?

NO, the families should be deported with the criminal!

Having posted an array of stories about my humble stomping grounds...

Let me offer a deeply philosophical commentary about some [not all, but MANY] of our local elected officials here...

A line in the movie Goldmember (the 3rd Austin Powers movie) from the prison scene whereby one of the large bystanding prisoners says...

"I know guys on crack that makes more sense than you"

(Well, I really don't know anyone on crack, but if I did they probably would make more sense the city commissioner Sten and like minded fools)

There is a city official just begging to be recalled or impeached (IMHO, of course).

IF IT HAD IT BEEN MY CITY I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED OUT LOUD. HOW DARE THEY SPEND MY MONEY ON ILLEGAL ALIENS. I REALLY THINK THAT BEFORE THEY SPEND ANY OF OUR MONEY THEY SHOULD ASK US. ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN THEY KNOW THAT SO MANY AMERICANS DISAGREE WITH THIS. THE ILLEGALS KNOW THAT WE ARE CRACKING DOWN AND IF THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR CHILDREN THEY WOULD LEAVE AND GO HOME AND NOT TAKE A CHANCE ON DEPORTATION.

Miguelina - your question is perfect -

I wonder how many Portland citizens have been denied housing assistance because of any shortage?

This is ironic, as in contrast to most other major metro areas in the nation (we are about 25th largest, last time I checked... BTW), our housing prices haven't dipped much at all. They are still high and holding their value.
And yes, I know several people that are just barely hanging on to their homes amidst the higher mortgage rates and job uncertainty. Yes, you are absolutely right. This is SOOOOO wrong, it should not even be seriously discussed. Further, there are many poor, working (or trying to be working), and law abiding people that apply for, and are summarily denied (or provided only the most minimal assistance) social services/related benefits.

Earth to commissioner Sten.... "Can you hear me now?" "Can you hear me now?" ... CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW???!?!?!?!?

I have a feeling our friends at OFIR will chime in on this. Don't be surprised if you hear more, and more, and more, about it. Hopefully, we can change Sten's mind. What an absolute idiot.

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

IF IT HAD IT BEEN MY CITY I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED OUT LOUD. HOW DARE THEY SPEND MY MONEY ON ILLEGAL ALIENS. I REALLY THINK THAT BEFORE THEY SPEND ANY OF OUR MONEY THEY SHOULD ASK US. ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN THEY KNOW THAT SO MANY AMERICANS DISAGREE WITH THIS. THE ILLEGALS KNOW THAT WE ARE CRACKING DOWN AND IF THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR CHILDREN THEY WOULD LEAVE AND GO HOME AND NOT TAKE A CHANCE ON DEPORTATION.

I agree completely! We need folks like you in office -someone with common sense...

Thank you PhredE, I hope those citizens sue for discrimination based on nationality or race, whichever fits.

Illegals have no problems suing everyone if they don't get their way, while we Americans don't want to burden the system? BS! I say, go for it!

I can just see the joy this news will bring to all illegal aliens everywhere, as they pack up their gas guzzling SUV's and head to Portland.

For $20k, they'll be calling ICE themselves to have one of their relatives deported and be back again in a week!

Get ready Portland, heeeere they come!

Yes indeed Miguelina. And, before these idiots do anything they should call the OR DHS or local mental health or social services to get a first-hand reality check about what life is like for poor Portlanders. The reality-check is LONG overdue... :GRRRRRR!

Oh, BTW, we *DO* have a problem with homelessness and people not being able to afford to buy or even rent sufficient housing around here. Why doesn't the City give each of these families 20k to help them as well????!?!?!?