Immigration rules possible



The Santa Maria Times has in the last few months had articles on hit-and-run accidents as the No. 1 call to the police department. We have also read many opinions in the Times from residents of Santa Maria who want something done about this problem. However, this problem continues.

The mayor of Santa Maria has said on radio that, in 2007, there were 1,400 drivers stopped, and who had their vehicles impounded because they did not have a valid driver's license or no insurance. The mayor also went on to say he believes most were undocumented immigrants, and that the city should not be enforcing immigration laws.

Cities, counties and states across the United States have enacted laws that deal with illegal immigration, with remarkable results.

To say Santa Maria cannot enforce laws of immigration is not true. In 1996, the federal government passed a law so cities could effectively curb illegal immigration. The city of Santa Maria has had since that time to do something about this problem, but has chosen to take the blind-eye approach.

With an estimated 10,000 illegal immigrants in the Santa Maria area, this issue needs to be addressed, and the city needs to use the rule of law and stop helping someone who is in the United States illegally.

Wayne Hampton

Santa Maria

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January 30, 2008

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