Thread: Patrick stands alone on illegal aliens

Patrick stands alone on illegal aliens

Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)

October 13, 2011 Thursday

Sentinel & Enterprise


When the state's three Republican sheriffs support a federal crackdown on illegal immigrants, no one expects Gov. Deval Patrick to suddenly alter his political DNA and stand with them. But when one of the leaders of the Democratic Party says Patrick is full of hooey, and he still won't change his stance?

Those sheriffs say they will start implementing parts of the federal Secure Communities program in advance of its 2013 implementation, because of the growing problem with illegal immigration in the Bay State. Under Secure Communities, fingerprints collected from crime suspects are shared with the FBI, which then would share them with the Department of Homeland Security. Should those fingerprints show the person is in the country illegally, then deportation proceedings could start.

Secure Communities was more of a slow boil than a hot topic until a series of crimes involving those here illegally. A 23-year-old motorcyclist was struck and dragged to his death; police said the other driver was an Ecuadorean national who had no license. Last month, police arrested a driver in Boxboro for his sixth drunken-driving charge -- a Brazilian national who has been sent home three times already.

And, need we remind you that two of President Obama's relatives are living illegally in Massachusetts?

Patrick argues that Secure Communities is a federal program, so the state can't decide whether to take part. However, Patrick wouldn't sign any memorandum of understanding with the feds. Patrick adds that police already give fingerprints to the FBI (albeit, only for major crimes). He says he's concerned that the federal program would lead to profiling and create distrust between immigrants and law enforcement.

This is a misdirection. Patrick has yet to explain how an immigrant to this country who came here legally and abides by the law will be inconvenienced.

Further, Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano last week called Secure Communities "the single best tool at focusing our immigration enforcement resources on criminals and egregious immigration-law violators," an indirect reference to Patrick's stance. Napolitano, who served as governor of Arizona for six years, knows about immigration more than most. And she's never been confused as being a conservative.

This is not one of those quaint Massachusetts quirks, like being the last state in the country to allow right turns on a red light. It's far more serious business. For every wonderful story about illegal immigrants achieving the American Dream, there are dozens here illegally causing havoc. Patrick needs to reconsider, and end up on the side of his citizens.

www6.lexisnexis.com

Patrick needs to start serving the citizens of Massachusetts instead of illegal aliens at the expense of his state's citizens.

Originally Posted by Judy

Patrick needs to start serving the citizens of Massachusetts instead of illegal aliens at the expense of his state's citizens.

I couldn't agree more!!