Thread: State of Maine's become a haven for illegal aliens

State of Maine's become a haven for illegal aliens
February 10, 2008 6:00 AM
Editor's note: The writer is a resident of Eliot, Maine, and a GOP candidate in Maine's 1st Congressional District.
By Dean Scontras

One of the great travesties of the Bush administration has been an unwillingness to deal with the crisis of illegal immigration. One of the greatest travesties of the Baldacci administration is an executive order issued in 2004 that has transformed our state into a sanctuary for illegal aliens.

The citizens of Maine and the Legislature were never asked if they approved of such an appalling decision. The governor took it upon himself to devise a plan to welcome illegals to Maine and to force the taxpayers to support them with the vast array of welfare benefits that this state provides. It is no wonder our taxes are so high.

We don't know how many illegal aliens are currently in Maine. We do know that we have issued more than 5,300 driver's licenses to people who do not have a Social Security number. We can assume that most, if not all of them, are in the United States illegally. But in the world of illegal immigration, complete with its human smugglers and fake ID industry, it is reasonable to assume that word has spread far and wide that Maine is a sanctuary state that will not only protect illegals, but will give them all the financial benefits of citizenship.

To me, this is not only an economic issue and violation of federal law, it is also a national security threat. In this age of terrorism, it makes no sense to establish Maine as a sanctuary for anybody who manages to sneak into our country. Not all of the "migrants" come across the Mexican border, although that is ground zero for the Third World invasion. Many of them fly in on tourist visas and never leave, including people coming from countries well-known as terrorists strongholds.

In late November, for example, federal prosecutors broke up two of the largest human smuggling rings ever discovered in the northeastern United States. The smuggling rings were run by Koreans operating from Toronto and Montreal. They had smuggled hundreds of illegals into our country beginning in 2004, moving them across the Vermont border.

The aliens had come from Central America, India, Korea and, most disturbingly, from Pakistan, a hotbed of Islamic extremism. The smugglers charged up to $10,000 per person to get these aliens into the United States. People with that kind of money are not coming here to pick crops.

It is fair to ask how many of these Pakistanis may be terrorist "sleepers" who have slipped into Maine and are basking in protected status. Thomas Anderson, a U.S. attorney involved in busting the smuggling rings, put it this way: "When an organization has established a pipeline to aliens from various countries, including countries with terrorists, into the United States, they don't care who's passing through the pipeline as long as they are paying."

Under Gov. Baldacci's executive order, state employees are prohibited from inquiring about immigration status when someone applies for state services. That means staffers in a welfare office cannot ask an applicant if he or she is in our country legally. It means that employees at a motor vehicle office cannot ask license applicants if they are U.S. citizens or legal residents. An illegal alien from Pakistan gets exactly the same treatment and level of service as a Mainer whose family has lived here and paid taxes for generations.

We all know by now that illegal immigration has become a monstrous problem. Washington is to blame. The current administration and its recent predecessors have refused to secure our borders or reform our visa policies.

This unforgivable failure during a time of war has allowed millions of illegals to enter our country. Washington tells us that there are now 12 millions illegal aliens in our country, but other estimates put the number in the 20 million to 30 million range. Time magazine, in a special immigration report, said 3 million illegals enter the country every year. That means we'll have another 30 million here in 10 years' time. Many of them will find their way to Maine, where the generous social services serve as a magnet.

With the collapse of leadership in Washington, the states are now taking action. They have watched as their hospitals were overrun with nonpaying illegals, as their prisons were packed with illegal alien felons, as their social welfare budgets were wiped out by illegals, and as alien drug gangs eroded their quality of life.

The number of states passing immigration-related bills has skyrocketed this year. No fewer than 1,404 pieces of immigration legislation were introduced in state legislatures during the first half of 2007. All told, 46 states enacted 194 new immigration-related laws in 2007 — triple the number from the previous year. Maine now remains one of only seven states that continue to issue driver's licenses to people here illegally.

As a candidate for Congress, I am deeply worried about the future of our country and our state. In Congress, I intend to work to control our borders and end this illegal immigration disaster. But for now I am a Maine resident and taxpayer and the father of two young children. I want them to grow up in a Maine that is safe and secure and free of illegal aliens of unknown origins and intentions. I believe most Maine parents want the same for their kids.

Therefore, I recently called on Gov. John Baldacci to rescind his executive order and restore Maine as a place of law and order. The citizens of Maine deserve a state government that works for their best interests, not against them.
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what a dumb move.....Maine was one of the few states left without many illegal invaders

People who dont live with this problem are so dumb, they invite the problem in, then figure out too late that they have ruined their community.

uggh...our family has been enjoying family summer retreats in Mid-Coast Maine for years and yes little, by little, the summer jobs held by college/high school students in the inns, restaurants and bars have now been taken over by illegal aliens. Every summer, we see more and more. Shameful.

Maine residents may change their minds after they get a full dose of this diversity from the Third World. They will not wake up until they suffer, and then they will learn that charity begins at home.

Our politicians are hoping they will get all of these people legalized before the majority realize just what has happen and once legalized it will be to late.