Secretary Chertoff, Call Off These Raids
Driven by the most savage talk radio and cable news anti-immigrant propaganda campaign in our nation's history, the Department of Homeland Security has unleashed an unprecedented crackdown on undocumented workers. In an effort not seen since the panic unleashed by the Great Depression, federal law enforcement has been targeting technically illegal workers who have been long tolerated in industries like meat packing, poultry processing and agriculture. In the terror created, fruit trees are being cut down and fields lie fallow, for want of traditional workers.
Many hundreds of otherwise law abiding, hard working, family men and women have been arrested in recent weeks under circumstances more appropriate to operations targeting al Qaeda. With noise and fury, these heavily armed and armored SWAT teams from ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are surrounding a particular plant, then with great quasi-military flourish sweeping in to arrest and handcuff the 'aliens', bring them en masse to a hearing, conviction and sentencing, all pending deportation. These completely overdone costume dramas are targeting cowering economic refugees just trying to feed their families. They would be ridiculed as overkill and posturing by any real soldier or cop.
And aside from every humanitarian concern, they violate ICE's own 2007 guidelines regarding the need to consult local social services and church officials, and negotiate a less violent surrender before raids of this magnitude are contemplated; given the tremendously unsettling effect the invasions have on the migrants, their millions of often U.S. citizen spouses and children, and the larger Latino community, which is the nation's largest minority and the victims of twice the hate crime this year from last.
The obscene spectacle is as pathetic and unnecessary as the raid on the Michael Bianco leather goods factory in New Bedford Massachusetts that separated nursing mothers from their children in March 2007, or the Pilgrims Pride Poultry plant raids this year incredibly staged during the pope's recent visit. Bizarrely, those raids were happening at the same moment the pope and president were emphasizing the need for immigration reform in a face-to-face Rose Garden meeting. And why the heavy hand? These are non-violent people. Their crime is almost invariably that they are here, their presence, not that they did anything wrong while they were here. Even minimal physical resistance to authority is rare. The federal government could have as easily sent in a couple of civilian garbed immigration officials and handed out summonses to report to a certain gathering spot to await detention and deportation following a hearing. The vast majority of those honest workers would have shown up without the pathetic show and without the terror gratuitously inflicted on these poor working families.
And what exactly did our heroes under the direction of Secretary Michael Chertoff accomplish? They shut down or severely crippled production at the food plants and fields and orchids, so the nation's food supply has been aversely affected. (The New Bedford plant was sewing knapsacks for our GI's). DHS/ICE has expended millions in executing these operations. They have denied the Social Security trust fund of the millions of dollars these workers were paying into accounts that they have no dream of ever redeeming, because they did not really exist. They have separated working parents from their children, many of whom are citizens. And they have denied the workers' commerce to their communities, many of which have been resurrected by the immigrant's presence in recent years.
I have previously written in His Panic, Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S. that, "any Latino who votes for a Republican or a Democrat who opposes rational immigration reform is an Uncle Tom." In view of the pending Puerto Rico Democratic primary and the island commonwealth's rare opportunity to explain itself and amplify the growing importance in the larger nation's future of the Latino vote; it is time to say to all three candidates that our votes will go to the presidential aspirant who has the courage to defy the mob and call for an immediate cessation of ICE's draconian workplace campaign. Leaving a trail of broken hearts and disrupted communities is not the way to fix America's broken immigration system.
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It is stupid to think that the US has to deport anything close to millions of people. All that has to be done is to make it imposible or extremely difficult to get a job for illegals. We did not import them, so they got here on their own, and they can and will leave the same way when they cannot get jobs which is the reason that they came in the first place. They don't even have to get their feet wet going back since they don't have to clear US customs to leave. If they are not Mexican, they will have a problem since the Mexicans enforce their laws on immigration. But the Mexican government will give them a free ride to their southern border.
Jay Leno once said "Why can't we deport 12 million illegal aliens? Mexico did".
He actually thinks people would show up voluntarily to be deported. That's not what happens. And "technically illegal"? Is that like a little bit pregnant?
Yup Geraldo,
Let's just declare all our Borders OPEN. We should take in anyone from, Libya, Russia, Venezuela, Sudan, Iran, N. Korea, N. Vietnam, Syria, Mexico, Guatemala, Palestine, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Columbia, Lebanon, Cuba and China that can get one foot on US Soil.
Our population should only grow by 50 Million per Year. Since there will not be jobs for all these LEGAL Immigrants they will live "FREE" off our taxpayer dollars and the result will be lowering of the standard of living for every current US Citizen.
We're already the third largest country in the world in population, but we're not supposed to think about that.
Immigration is an intractable problem. Period. Live with it. That's all you can do. You can not deport 12 million people. Period. Live with it. That's all you can do. Find and get rid of the criminals. Increase border security. Put the rest, especially those who have paid taxes and are property owners on some path to citizenship. Yes it's called amnesty. Yes it's not fair. Get over it.
Illegal aliens pay very little in taxes (mainly sales, gas, tobacco, and alcohol taxes) and an extremely small number own property (as you must have proper documentation to secure a mortgage). So I guess that by your own argument, we should deport them all.
We don't have to get over it we are just getting started after 30 years of giving these people a free ride and don't get me started on the anchor babies born never should have been legal if their parents were illegal. If they can't get jobs here and can't get welfare or any other benefits they will go home and we won't have to deport 12 million of them. Go after the employers and stop the benefits that is the only solutions. Fine them huge fines (employers) and no benefits (illegals)
If we can't deport 12 million illegal aliens, how on earth are we going to be able to process 12 million to become citizens which seems like a harder task?
the criminals don't usually come from mexico we've long had our own criminal problems not having to do with immigrants. but as we destroy each country's democracy, the strings are attached when their citizens suffer.JIMMY CARTER ROCKS!!!!!!!TRUE MORAL COMPASS. and what chertoff has in common is his mother first host of el al israel air.
And all this fuss; do u know howmany amricans are illegal in mexico living like royalty on their retirement. also workers from us making us wages in mexico tech industry, lets tell both sides of the story. plus mexicans leave more money here in unclaimed overpayments of taxes. My culture is too rich for this cultureless country as we deport the culture, VIVA MEXICO ITALY PALESTINE
I guess you have not read what's happening in AZ. Since they started cracking down on employers. Illegal's are leaving without our, Train, Buses and Airplanes transporting them to their home countries.
Wow, reading the replies to this blog would make one believe he is reading AOL posts. Anyone that has ever read comments posted by AOL users replying to an article would know exactly what I'm referring to.
A lot of talk of "amnesty" in the replies and the ones who mention it are vehemently against it. As far as I'm concerned, amnesty is something for nothing. Why not give them (undocumented immigrants) a pathway to citizenship? One that is fair and doesn't give them a cut in the line in front of those who obtained their citizenship legally. That would seem a lot more pragramatic and cheaper than rounding up 12 million plus people and deporting them.
OK, let's start deporting ALL Illegal Aliens; the list should include all those coming from the following countries:
In Alphabetical order:
Armenians, Canadians,Central Americans, Chinese, Cubans, Eastern Europeans, Israelis(yes, visit N.Y & L.A.), Irish(yes, visit Boston & N.Y.), Mexicans(musn't forget THEM),Russians, South-East Asians, etc.
When do we START ?
Let's not wait, let's do it NOW !
Call of these raids?
They should be doing a hundred times more. They should have started seven years ago. Americans don't want this flood of illegal immigration.
In fact Mr. Chertoff, why not resign?
http://www.light-to-dark.com/pox_americana.html
Yes, the people know why the "project" didn't work. Creating a protections racket out of engineered fear looks and feels like a real bad deal for the People.
If you knew Chertoff's and Sam Alito's real histories as sleazy NJ corrupt Federal prosecutors this is nothing compared to what they've done in the past..they invented racial profiling Alito and Chertoff both..
As a matter of fact Alito was Chertoff's mentor..
Now if Chertoff would get off his serial lying ass and go after those illegally here who are members of these criminal murdering gangs which are a greater real threat to every decent American than al-Qaeda then I'd say finally good go get these murdering bastards that have invaded our country..
But Chertoff and Alito were always both sneaky punks who would always rather pick on and victimize the weak and poor than the dangerous street gangs that have all but taken over our cities and spreading into the outer suburbs and even more rural towns in every state of the Union..
Imagine 85,000 known criminals who are here illegally running around loose and Chertoff is worried about some single mother or poor guy who is willing to work in a dirty factory or picking lettuce in the sun which already killed one poor woman from exposure this season..
If you knew how corrupt and what trained liars Chertoff and Sam Alito are a pair of bookends who moved up by telling right wing scum bags what they wanted to hear and were willing to violate people's civil rights for years in New Jersey now able to do the same to every American..
All ILLEGAL ALIENS no matter where they come from should be deported, those who hire ILLEGALS should be heavily fined and jailed, and we should return to the original intent of the 14th amendment and do away with anchor babies. We are spending BILLIONS on ILLEGAL ALIENS. We need to use that money on our own poor.
All 12 million? That's equivalent to the entire population of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Aside from the logistically impossibility, the economic and humanitarian costs would far outweigh the benefits, if any, of removing illegal immigrants. It would be far better to give these people a track to citizenship.
It would be cheaper to have the CIA do something positive for once and weapon them up, send them back to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, wherever, and help them stage people's revolutions that would stick this time! We can't cure all of the world's problems by bringing them inside our borders!
AND, so that we can throw out those workers, YOU will volunteer to work an agricultural job for one week out of each month for the prevailing Mojo wage.
Also, YOU and every loyal American citizen will personally clean their h
We will not have to volunteer for these jobs. Once the illegals are deported, the wages will go up in order to attract legal workers, and when the business owners start paying a decent wage for these jobs, they will be filled. The influx of illegal workers, who don't understand the economics of this country, has lowered wages for almost all unskilled or semi-skilled jobs in this country for the last 20 years. In 1980, average pay for a meat packing worker was over $16 per hour; now it is barely $9 an hour, and that's just 1 example. Illegals are not doing jobs that Americans won't do; they're doing these jobs at wages Americans will not accept. Get rid of the illegals, and wages go up and unemployment heads to very near zero.
AND, so that we can throw out those workers, YOU will volunteer to work an agricultural job for one week out of each month for the prevailing Mojo wage.
Also, YOU and every loyal American citizen will personally clean their hotel room upon departure including cleaning the toilet, vacuuming, and changing the linens to be compensated at minimum wage for 20 minutes however long it actually takes to clean your room. People need to wash up their own dishes when they dine out. The cost of dining out should go up enough to pay an American cook a dignified wage. etc.
OK
In discussing the problems of immigration -- legal or illegal -- I feel that we musn't lose sight of an important context. That context is the long history of interference by American presidents -- especially Republican presidents -- in the affairs of Latin American countries. Had this interference not taken place, the governments in Latin America might be better, the economies might be better, and we wouldn't have all these people trying to get into the U.S. Fortunately, some Latin Americans are realiziing how the GOP has ripped them off (it rips just about everybody off, that's for sure!) and Geraldo Rivera, as a well-known media figure, could do his part by lending them a more sympathetic ear and giving them a voice. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela would be a good person to start with. If all Latin American leaders were as capable and forward-looking as Hugo Chavez, we wouldn't have so much pressure on our borders from people trying to get in to have jobs. And I don't think I should need to tell Geraldo that it's George Bush, not Michael Chertoff, who's reallly behind the raids.
Three words. GUEST WORKER PROGRAM. In Germany they had this program and it worked ( for awhile) for Turks and Yogoslavians. Until of course Germany started allowing family re-unificaqtion. And then the thing went to sh*t
If someone wants to work in U.S. TEMPORARILY, why not. Let them come here and benefit themselves and the American employers--without families!!!
Right to move to any country is not a natural right.
Every country, based on internal debate, has the right and duty to establish its own immigration laws.
Actually I want Swiss or Monaco citizenship. Do I have the right to it? Of course not. Is it unfair? Of course not.
Berlin wall hits snag - christians.
The Berlin Wall between Mexico and US is coming down.
Christians are going to their senators and congressman and requesting they give citizenship to all immigrants that apply for it.
Christians believe we should share our great country will all immigrants now - this will stop all the hate talk and bring all brothers and sisters together.
Stop the hate.
Remember to vote all.
:-)
If it were known that all the illegals were devout atheists, would the christians feel the same?
If you have come to America for a better life, then I suggest you
do these things:
Get legal status and papers
Learn about this country, including English
Pay taxes, support your community
If you haven't done this, you are here because
your employer wants cheap labor, then expect
to pack your bags. Illegal immigration needs
to stop, now.
HuffPost's Pick
I came to this country when i was 8 yrs old. I graduated from Fordham University (NY). I was a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps I had been paying taxes since 1979 . Unfortunately, while growing up in the ghetto I committed a grave error while hanging out with the wrong people and in 1983 i was convicted of a felony after pleading not guilty and did three years in prison. For the next 25 years I posed no problems for this country but became a model citizen. When I applied for citizenship in 2006 I was arrested in my home, handcuffed and shipped off to Piedmont, a facility in Virginia to face deportation charges. Because congress took away all rights immigrants had for relief in 1996 with the Illegal Immigration Reform Act I was deported in January of 2008 without having any say in the matter. I leave behind a daughter who is twelve years old; a son with is 16 years old; and an older daughter who is 25 years old, along with my grandchildren. I am now 48 years old and have nothing left. I will not now (because of deportation) be eligible for the social security I have contributed to and earned when i retired in 15 years. So in essence, I have been deported and exiled to a country i don't even know to live the rest of my old age as a pauper.
You sound intellegent and caring. My question is, why didn't
you apply for citizenship before college or joining the Marines?
Your mistake cost you very dearly in a personal way. And we
probably lost a valuable asset to the country in the process.
Good question, deminmo, i never applied for citizenship because other than voting, i lived here like any other American. I never felt like an alien. So i fell into this comfort trap for many years. Then, unfortunately the law was changed in 1996, sometime after the world trade center garage bombing.
This is the most bogus story I've ever read. Person who wrote this little fiction should be embarrassed.
Oh, based on the stylistic similarities, it's the same shameful person who wrote the "I worked in a hotel a couple of years ago" post.
I have to question the validity of this post. First of all, he said that he waited until 1996 to apply for citizenship, and he had served in the Marines. During the time that he supposedly served in the Marines, they probably would have rejected anyone who was not in the country legally. I checked that out with a retired military friend. Either that, or he would have been required to have completed residency or citizenship requirements at that time.
Then, he would have been eligible for amnesty and citizenship when it was offered before. Why did he not avail himself of that?
I just have to question this post and what he claims.
Caught that too huh? Interesting how it's a huffpo pick.
I was a recruiter for the military for 10 years the guy could not get into the military with out a green card, or been in prison for three years (felony) not the Marines.
Paying taxes since 1979 three years in prison 1983 he should have been deported then.
It's phony.
It is when you young, you make your bed and then you have to sleep in it. It was the wrong
choice hanging out with crooks. It is sad for your situation, but we all face the consequences.
In your case even harsher.
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