Thread: Dallas: Taking sides on immigration

Letters: Taking sides on immigration
09:35 AM CST on Sunday, December 2, 2007


More going-home stories
Re: "Mom's dilemma: dad deported, kids 'are from here' – Irving crackdown chases family of five to Mexico," Wednesday news story.

What a touching story about the success of Claudia and Jose Garcia, who were in the United States illegally and since have relocated to their home country of Mexico. He has a good job, she is still a stay-at-home mom and their kids are in private school. Neither of them was sent to prison for breaking the law while here. They are now living legally without the fear of being apprehended. We need to see many more positive stories about illegal immigrants who have returned to their home country.

If all of the illegal immigrants would follow the example set by the Garcias, the illegal immigration problem would be solved.

Doug Griffith, Irving

Problems are self-imposed
By pulling her children out of school Claudia Garcia is only thinking of herself. Her children have done nothing wrong, but she is an illegal immigrant, so her children must suffer with her.

It seems to me that illegal immigrants like Mrs. Garcia are learning the consequences of their actions. The city of Irving didn't tear her family apart. Jose and Claudia Garcia did it to themselves.

Brian Jagielski, Irving

We have laws here
Jose Garcia and his wife settled in Irving and had three children to make a better life and find the American dream.

There is one thing wrong with this picture. We have laws in the United States. As an immigrant, you have to abide by laws, just as a citizen does. Jose Garcia was arrested in Irving for driving with an expired license plate, just as I would be.

He had no driver's license and a fake Social Security card. He was here illegally, not like some of us. To go through legalization is tough, expensive, takes a long time and is a lot of trouble. But it is the law.

If immigrants really want the American Dream, then do whatever it takes to do it right. Illegal immigrants are the problem, not immigrants. I know for a fact that many illegal immigrants are just moving to other communities in the area that are not enforcing the immigration laws like Irving.

The entire United States needs to enforce immigration laws or we will continue to see lawlessness escalate.

Judy Trammell, Dallas

Hypocrisy is relative
Re: "Point of no return? Many workers say jobs in U.S. not worth hassle," Wednesday news story.

So Raul Faustino Reyes calls the U.S. hypocritical – even though he was working in this country without permission – because we want cheap labor so that prices will continue to remain low here. Yet the main reason Mexicans are thinking twice about remaining here illegally to work is because employers are finally following the law.

Then Santiago Crespo openly admits he has worked illegally in Denver, Colo., for the past 10 years. He is taking consumer goods back across the border to Mexico, buying land and opening his own business with money he earned in the U.S.

Hypocrisy can be a relative term.

Pam Littleton, Lewisville

We are in crisis as a nation
Re: "Giving Up on Immigration – Feds' pullback makes mockery of the rule of law," Tuesday Editorials.

Now that at least one city, Irving, has taken the proper course and had a real effect, the feds are backing off. I can only conclude that they do not want effective immigration laws enforced.

We are in a crisis and the future of our country is at stake. We either are a nation of laws or we are not. I am sure the Hispanic leaders will accuse you of being racist. That is the standard attack when there is no logical argument to refute facts. I have a much-loved adopted grandson who is Mexican, but that does not keep me from seeing the truth and speaking out for it.

Vernon Lambert, Flower Mound

Grabbing the prize
It is amusing to watch the battle for the moral high ground on the immigration issue. One side tugs at our hearts with stories of human suffering, while the other yearns for a return to the rule of law. Both arguments are compelling, but irrelevant.

European invaders took this land from Native Americans because they wanted it and because they could, not because it was right. Illegal immigrants now seek to take a piece of this country because they want it and believe they can take it, not because it is right.

Both sides of the immigration debate end up in the same place: peace, harmony and well-being for the "good guys." Unfortunately, they both also begin in the same place: with the forced acquisition of rights and property.

Orlyn Bostelmann, Richardson

They're scofflaws
Re: "Taking on a cause – Dallas woman leads the charge against an illegal influx that she says threatens 'American culture,' " Monday news story.

I hope interested parties, which should be every citizen, will go to the Citizens for Immigration Reform Web site and participate or at least keep informed.

As our illustrious leader, Jean Towell, says, "Get out of your comfort zone." The next meeting is scheduled for January.

As far as Rev. Portillo goes, he is infinitely naive and unworldly if he truly thinks that it is only a "little group of persons" who object to the large numbers of illegal immigrants invading this country. He really thinks we may be passing up a chance to enrich ourselves culturally.

I, myself, have been overly enriched and am sick to death of the demands these scofflaws are making.

Felicity Pearson, McKinney

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 8af4b.html

These comments and feelings are growing by leaps and bounds. Let's say it again, the sleeping giant has awaken.

Now we need to get together and put the right people in office.

What I am sick of is the news people who report we let this happen, we let them come here and work and now we want to throw them out.

well I did not let them come here, WE THE PEOPLE pay good money to have our laws enforced, WE THE PEOPLE elected people who were suppose to be up holding the laws of this country and took an oath to protect it.

So don't blame me and my fellow Amerians for what our incompetent public officals and elected politicans have refused to do( BLAME THEM) not us.
We the people want law and order back in our country and illegal aliens out of it.

It is the government and lawyers who need to be blamed. Miami Dade Police officers were all given notices that told them they did not have the right to ask people immigration status as per the legal department. There are other police departments who also have the same orders. How can an officer do their job when your hands are tied. These departments rely on the jail to contact ICE and I am not sure what their policies are on every case. I know jails do notify ICE if the person is arrested for murder and attempted murder. The one law enforcement agency who does call ICE the most is Florida Highway Patrol. If they pull someone over and they don't have a Florida driver's license or any picture ID indicating status or a visa then they call ICE. Another department who delivers them to Border Patrol instead of arrest them for a misdemeanor is Hollywood Police. They are smart as that saves the taxpayer money and you know that within a week they will be deported.