Immigration problem demands action, not sympathy
March 13, 2009

I had the opportunity to attend the Shrine of St. Joseph/Immigration Forum on March 8. Unfortunately, it did not turn out as well as I would have thought.

The reason I say this is because soon after the forum began, I realized that I was in the minority. I happen to be a person that is anti-illegal immigration. I am pro-legal immigration. It seems that everyone in attendance was pro-any type of immigration.

It would not have been politically correct for me to voice my opinion. The speakers only spoke of the hardships of the immigrants and the conditions that they face after arriving. First of all, as bad as it is, it still must be better than where they are coming from. Secondly, and I don't want to seem harsh, but they aren't forced here.

There are a few facts over which the majority of attendees are in denial. New Jersey spent $2.1 billion last year on health, education and incarceration for illegal immigrants. As you read this, Gov. Corzine is deciding on budget cuts, yet never is this money mentioned.

Why is this money so safe and so secure, so untouchable and so sacred? How do you politicians justify this to the legal, law-abiding taxpaying citizens? The majority of immigrants who I have witnessed are hard-working people and the only thing that I would like to see is their status being changed from illegal to legal.

One of the speakers said that 95 percent of the illegals are positive people. Then how come one out of three inmates are illegal immigrants? Why are they not deported? New Jersey's constitution requires that our budget be balanced. Can someone please show me where in the constitution it states that I'm am obligated to pay for the above services for illegal immigrnats? Social Security? Sen. Menendez and Sen. Lautenberg are in favor of awarding Social Security to illegals. How is that fair?

Do I have a solution? I have an idea. Expand the immigration department. President Obama stated that a major part of his stimulus plan was job creation. I think that we can al agree that there is a need right htere.

I am all for a person trying to better thesmvelsves but I believe that it is time for our politicians to step up and recognize the rights of legal American citizens.

GARY TROISI

Hillsborough

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