Thread: Nebraskans show immigration frustration

http://www.localnewsleader.com/kindred/ ... &id=191107

Nebraskans show immigration frustration

Staff and agencies
31 May, 2006

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press Writer 2 minutes ago

CRETE, Neb. - Forget the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

"It isn‘t so much that people don‘t like the immigrants or don‘t think there‘s a place for them," said Gary Pence, a 59-year-old Crete salesman. "It‘s just not that ‘Leave it to Beaver‘ era we grew up in."

Immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala have come to America‘s heartland for jobs at the Farmland Inc., meatpacking plant, working for about $9 an hour slaughtering hogs, boxing frozen hams and pork chops and cleaning up entrails.

In 1990, there were some 40 Hispanics in Crete and 10 years later there were some 800. Now, Rev. Julius Tvrdy at Sacred Heart estimates they probably number 1,700.

Some disagree. A recent conversation between Pence and buddies over coffee at a Crete diner exposed raw emotions about how the nation should handle illegal immigration.

"I honestly think the only hope for Crete is if Farmland closes up," said Pence.

One issue in the governor‘s race was legislation to make children of illegal immigrants eligible for in-state tuition at Nebraska schools.

Rival Tom Osborne — the legendary University of Nebraska football coach and three-term congressman — backed supporters of the legislation.

Republican voter Stan Sipple of Lincoln, Neb., said Heineman‘s veto of the tuition bill sealed the deal.

Nelson, a moderate Democrat seeking a second term, has adopted a hard line on immigration, even opposing a bipartisan Senate bill with increased border security that also contains a guest worker program and a shot at citizenship for many illegal immigrants. His office says Nelson‘s own proposal would increase border security, but not include a guest worker program or a path to citizenship.

Republican Ricketts opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants but says they should be able to get residency if they pay a fine, go through a criminal background check, have a job, pay taxes and learn to speak English.

Nebraska is a solidly Republican state — President Bush won with 66 percent of the vote in 2004. Nelson‘s Republican colleague in the Senate, Chuck Hagel, was an outspoken supporter of the Senate measure.

Bush wants to send National Guard troops to secure the U.S. border with Mexico, but he also favors a way to citizenship for the millions of immigrants here illegally.

Nebraska ranks 34th nationwide in the number of Hispanics. Many live in Crete, Omaha, Lexington and other towns and cities with meatpacking plants. Between 2000 and 2004, the increase in the state‘s Hispanic population accounted for 70 percent of the state‘s overall growth. The number of Hispanics grew by about 26,000 while the number of non-Hispanic whites fell by 500.

Kirk Beekley, a 52-year-old worker at the Bunge Milling plant and a Democrat, feels the influx of Hispanics has changed Crete‘s character.

"While overall immigration isn‘t a huge issue in Nebraska, it imprints itself on people‘s minds who have had a greater influx of Hispanics on their community," said Beth Theiss-Morse, political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Some natives complain that immigrants have created problems in their communities, but numbers on education and crime in Crete suggest otherwise.

Crime remains virtually unchanged, with 194 crimes reported in 1995, and 201 in 2004, the most recent year available.

While the percentage of minority students rose from 5 percent to 35 percent in 10 years, Crete school superintendent John Fero said state aid covered the additional costs for bilingual teachers and other expenses.

The influx of packing plant workers has benefited residents financially. The district has been able to keep property taxes below the state-mandated level and four years ago persuaded voters to back a bond issue to build a new middle school.

Unlike other rural school districts, Crete‘s population has steadily increased about 1 percent annually for the past 20 years.

"I feel very good about our adapting to it," Fero said.

There are some things in that story that just don't ring true.

Of course, the first thing I caught was 'immigrant'.

But to say that many illegals has not changed the crime statistics just means they are not arresting them or charging them or recording the statistics.

There are so many places if an illegal steals something, unless it is a car or gun or something really big - nothing is ever said or done.

Also to say that such an influx of students hasn't created problems in the schools just makes no sense.


To say the 'state' is paying it - who does this writer or the speaker think the 'state ' is.

I am just not buying this, everything is rosy here in Nebraska, we don't have a problem stuff.

While the percentage of minority students rose from 5 percent to 35 percent in 10 years, Crete school superintendent John Fero said state aid covered the additional costs for bilingual teachers and other expenses.

Hello? The State has that money because of tax paying citizens. He acts like the money fell from the sky and landed in the State's Treasury.

Official federal government report that sure uses the word "Mexican" a lot in regards to drugs and crime.

A very interesting read that provides good facts and data to help support our cause.


http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs4/4934/4934p.pdf

Text version.... click on the links to see the various pages of the report.

Publication Date: July 2003
This document may contain dated information. It remains available to provide access to historical materials

Assuredly the problem is even worse, now!!!!

http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs4/4934/4934t.htm#Top

Remember.... with very very few exceptions (classified documents, etc.) everything published by the government is in the public domain and can be distributed in any manner you want to.

"The financial impact on Nebraska's government from substance abuse-related costs is significant. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reported that in 1998--the most recent year for which these data are available--Nebraska spent over $291 million--approximately $176 per resident--on substance abuse-related costs. This accounted for over 8 percent of the state's total budget."

http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs4/4934/overview.htm