Thread: Testimony shows lines are drawn on issue of immigration

http://www.stltoday.com

Testimony shows lines are drawn on issue of immigration
By Jonathan Rivoli
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/23/2006

TROY

The national fault lines on illegal immigration were on full display in Troy on Thursday as state legislators held a forum on the issue that attracted a wide range of viewpoints.

The hearing, one of a series to be held throughout the state by the House Special Committee on Immigration Reform, was convened to help lawmakers decide whether Missouri's immigration laws need an overhaul during the next legislative session.

But if lawmakers came looking for a clear message, they were surely disappointed. As testimony unfolded, it became clear that the only thing everyone could agree on is how deeply divided people remain over an issue that has also split Congress and affects an estimated 12 million people who are in the U.S. illegally.

On one side, advocates for immigrants pleaded with lawmakers to see all people in this country - legal or illegal - as fellow human beings who are simply here to make a better life for themselves and their families. On the other side, opponents of illegal immigration stressed that the U.S. should uphold its laws, and they decried the effects of cheap immigrant labor on Americans who play by the rules.

Mary Meinhardt, a teacher and Catholic charity volunteer from Wright City, said many of the illegal immigrants she has come in contact with are simply fleeing severe poverty.

"I would like to see us realize we are a world community and understand why these people are coming here," she told the committee.

Janet Renner, founder of the St. Louis Minutemen Project Chapter, called illegal immigration an "invasion" that's draining America's resources and disrespecting its laws.

"To allow the continuation of any American benefit to an illegal alien and his family, I feel, is to slap the face of every law-abiding American," Renner said.

The national arm of her group is known for its effort to form citizen patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Committee members also heard testimony on the effect illegal immigration has on industries in the St. Louis area, such as construction.

Earlier this year, 13 illegal immigrants were found working at an apartment complex under construction in O'Fallon. Most of the work at the site has stopped as a local company tries to get control of the project and use union workers.

Thomas Heinsz, organizer for the Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, said contractors who play by the rules are facing a new onslaught of competition from those who employ illegal immigrants at a fraction of the cost of American workers.

Many of these contractors skirt the rules - and avoid paying taxes on these workers - by listing illegal immigrants as independent contractors instead of regular employees.

Roger Loesche, representing the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, said the availability of illegal labor provides another tool to dishonest contractors.

"There's a lot of things some contractors will do just to get work," he said.

The House special committee, which includes 10 Republicans and six Democrats, was formed in April by House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill. It briefly considered a bill in May that would have given local law enforcement agencies more power over enforcement of immigration laws, but it dropped the idea after lawmakers were unable to work out details before this year's legislative session adjourned.

Further action is expected next session after the committee gathers testimony from additional hearings across the state this summer.

"I think we need to acknowledge that ignoring this is not the answer," said Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, who heads the committee.

jrivoli@post-dispatch.com 636-255-7204

"I think we need to acknowledge that ignoring this is not the answer," said Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, who heads the committee.

Ignoring it for decades certainly HAS NOT been the answer!

The situation seems to be coming to a head, so fast now.

The situation seems to be coming to a head, so fast now.

This amnesty thing was supposed to be done now. We didn't let it happen. We need to be watching for the elements of Plan B.

Mary Meinhardt, a teacher and Catholic charity volunteer from Wright City, said many of the illegal immigrants she has come in contact with are simply fleeing severe poverty.

"I would like to see us realize we are a world community and understand why these people are coming here," she told the committee.

Well, since we're a world community Mary, you should be happy to work for world community wages. As a teacher, that works out to around $2.00 per day.

Remember, Mary, poverty, like disease, knows no borders.

Enjoy your pay cut.

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.stltoday.com

Testimony shows lines are drawn on issue of immigration
"I would like to see us realize we are a world community and understand why these people are coming here," she told the committee.

Who the hell made the decision that the USA should become a world community? Hillary Clinton? Some of these jackasses don't seem to understand that the USA is a sovereign nation and not a world community.
The WORLD is not ready to become a world community. There are just too damn many that cannot pull their own weight.
Increased socialism is not the answer to the problems of the world as a whole, since the 'Law of the jungle' is the only law that governs everyone universally.
As part of a world community, the average American is recognized as having it too easy. But the rest of the world fails to understand that the real reason that America is great is simple. For more than 200 years, Americans have been the hardest working poeple on the face of the Earth.
And now, during the first part of the 21st century, some expect us to absorb every ass backward ideology of every third world parasite that manages to infiltrate our borders?
There is absolutely no benefit to the average American in being part of a WORLD COMMUNITY!!

Who the hell made the decision that the USA should become a world community?

Good point wep561! Hillary's village which GW seems to embrace.

The national fault lines on illegal immigration were on full display in Troy on Thursday as state legislators held a forum on the issue that attracted a wide range of viewpoints..... But if lawmakers came looking for a clear message, they were surely disappointed. As testimony unfolded, it became clear that the only thing everyone could agree on is how deeply divided people remain over an issue that has also split Congress and affects an estimated 12 million people who are in the U.S. illegally.

I wasn't there but notice how the Dispatch seems to give equal weight to both sides. As if to say the American public is equally split on this issue.

wep561

The WORLD is not ready to become a world community. There are just too damn many that cannot pull their own weight.
Increased socialism is not the answer to the problems of the world as a whole, since the 'Law of the jungle' is the only law that governs everyone universally.
As part of a world community, the average American is recognized as having it too easy. But the rest of the world fails to understand that the real reason that America is great is simple. For more than 200 years, Americans have been the hardest working poeple on the face of the Earth.
And now, during the first part of the 21st century, some expect us to absorb every ass backward ideology of every third world parasite that manages to infiltrate our borders?

I agree! The below thread is my story and a small except:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-25749-.html

We cannot take
care of the world. We're being regarded as fools. I heard one recent
Cuban smuggelee (I don't consider them legal), who was working at my
hospital, say in Spanish, translated by one of my Cuban friends, that
"Americans work too hard, and that he'd go home (Cuba) except that
Americans are so easy to steal from, because we want to believe good about
everyone." My Cuban friends, have told me that they live in fear of the
phone ringing...that it's a distant relative from Cuba, who wants to be
sponsored. That most folk coming from Cuba, now, are criminals. That
they have had to be in Cuba to survive, but they continue that behavior
here. They have been raised as Communists, so believe that they should be
taken care of, and that every friend of theirs, who has taken in such a
family member, has either been robbed by them, or they have had to pay for
legal fees because the immigrant gets into trouble with the law. On the
island, the people are told about "La Ayudar". The Help. They are told
they can get anything they want by calling 911. I have personally seen
this in action, and told about it by new immigrants. I hung up the phone
after a discharged patient called 911 from the ER to get a "ride home".
She got very angry at me when I told her that 911 was for life-threatening
emergencies only. That in the USA, people are responsible for taking care
of themselves. She started shouting "La Ayudar, La Ayudar" at me. When I
enquired of her frustrated family member, I was told the above.