It's not illegal "immigration," people. It's CRIMINAL.

I’ve got my harp (and maybe a rag), so now is the time to click away if you don’t aren’t interested in another round of spewing on this issue.

Last night, as I was in bed winding down and mostly asleep, I was jolted into awakeness by this piece of news:

So what has me spitting nails, you might wonder?

Well, firstly, the language makes me angry. If a person is in the USA illegally, that person isn’t an IMMIGRANT.

No, folks, sorry.  Immigrants come to the USA legally. They apply for residence legally. They jump through the hoops. They get frustrated, but stay the course, because it’s worth it to them. As they work towards citizenship, they often take classes, to learn our history and to learn our language.

After all, why would you want to become part of a country and expect it to cater to you? If that’s the case, why leave your own country of origin if you want things to be the same?

The United States of America is largely comprised of these fine folks. I know *numerous* Americans and others here legally who are native Spanish speakers. (so much so, that my girls are learning Spanish at our weekly Bible study because they spend a lot of time with these ladies, who are kind enough to teach them) These folks are some of the most proud; most patriotic Americans I know.

They, too, are ticked off the situation with the illegals. Ask any one of them. It’s a total slap in their faces to give away to illegals what they worked hard for; had the patience to wait for, and obtained LEGALLY. And not a one of them that I know consider these folks to be “immigrants,” either.

People!

These individuals ARE NOT “illegal immigrants.” They are actually CRIMINALS.

At the very least, they should be called “aliens” or “illegal aliens.”

a·li·en/ˈālyən/

Adjective: Belonging to a foreign country or nation.
Noun: A foreigner, esp. one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.

Now, just because someone wants to settle somewhere outside their country of origin permanently, that does not make them an immigrant- they are still an alien until they get APPROVAL from the place they wish to settle. And why on earth would anyone feel they have the “right” to do so?

Not only does the United Sates of America have laws with regard to immigration and the handling of illegal aliens, they also have laws for the people helping them.

“INA: ACT 277 – AIDING OR ASSISTING CERTAIN ALIENS TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES

Sec. 277. [8 U.S.C. 1327] Any person who knowingly aids or assists any alien inadmissible under section 212(a)(2) (insofar as an alien inadmissible under such section has been convicted of an aggravated felony) or 212(a)(3) (other than subparagraph (E) thereof) to enter the United States, or who connives or conspires with any person or persons to allow, procure, or permit any such alien to enter the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.”

 

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.f6da51a2342135be7e9d7a10e0dc91a0/?vgnextoid=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&CH=act

 

In New Mexico, some of our legislators voted years ago to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. There were enough of these legislators that the measure not only passed, but remains, despite the outrage and efforts of not just the majority of NM citizens, but the legislature as well. The revocation of these driver’s licenses was a key issue in the recent election of our current governor, whose campaign platform highlighted this as a main issue. This is one of those rare issues that crosses political party lines.

 

(For those of you wondering, Susana Martinez is the first woman Hispanic governor, and she was the former district attorney of a southern town, which is the “red-headed step child of the state,” as it were. The southern part of the state historically is more conservative, and has real issues with regard to illegals.

 

It’s also a thorn in the side of towns like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, who often act like the opinion(s) of the southern part of the state doesn’t count because it’s not as populated. Gee, I don’t know, but those opinions might have something to do with actually sharing a border with Mexico…… )

If you think giving driver’s licenses to illegals is not a problem, here is some information that should get you thinking twice:

“��New Mexico issued 10,257 licenses to immigrants through the first six  months of 2010, compared with 13,481 for all of 2009. The pace has intensified  since April, when neighboring Arizona signed SB 1070 into law. The figures  include both illegal immigrants and legal residents from outside the U.S.

��New Mexico issued about 417 licenses a week to immigrants from the day  after Arizona enacted SB 1070 through July 1. That is a big jump from the 323  per week it was issuing from Jan. 1 to the day before the law was signed.”

Read more:  http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/14/20100814illegal-immigrant-getting-drivers-licenses.html#ixzz1ojuDB6KH

The total population of New Mexico is just over 2 million. 2,059, 179  people with 10,257 people getting new licenses in 2010?  In one of the nation’s poorest states?  In the midst of a recession? Let me assure you that our job market here isn’t having a secret boom.

I have actually heard it argued that giving licenses to illegals doesn’t violate this section above because we’re only giving licenses to people who are already here. As in, “We’re not helping them come here illegally, we’re just helping the ones who are already here.”

Now, lest you think the law above only talks about aiding and assisting folks who want to come here illegally, there are other provisions in place. For example, this one here:

 

“INA: ACT 274 – BRINGING IN AND HARBORING CERTAIN ALIENS

Sec. 274. [8 U.S.C. 1324]

(a) Criminal Penalties.-

 

(1) (A) Any person who-

(i) knowing that a person is an alien, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever such person at a place other than a designated port of entry or place other than as designated by the Commissioner, regardless of whether such alien has received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States and regardless of any future official action which may be taken with respect to such alien;

 

(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;

 

(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;”

 

This has more than just what is here; please go read for yourself here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.f6da51a2342135be7e9d7a10e0dc91a0/?vgnextoid=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&CH=act

 

What’s also interesting is that there are actual penalties for people who don’t turn the illegals over to immigration:

 

“(2) Any person who, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever, such alien, regardless of any official action which may later be taken with respect to such alien shall, for each alien in respect to whom a violation of this paragraph occurs 6/ -

 

(A) be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; or”

 

Again, read it to see the particulars.

 

I’m not a lawyer, nor do I plan one on tv, but this seems to me to say that it’s illegal for someone to help keep an illegal alien here and give them sanctuary, which is, of course, ILLEGAL. In my mind, there actually is a clear case to charge all those legislators and lock them up. Seems to me, they have also done something illegal by giving them driver’s licenses, and they ought to have penalties for their actions.

 

At the very least, they should automatically be removed from office. And if the determination was that they needed to do some jail time, I’d go along with that just fine.

 

So what does all this stuff about illegals getting driver’s licenses have to do with illegals getting tax refunds?

 

Still not sure?  Let me spell it out………….

The key word here, folks, is ILLEGAL……………

Why do we assume that when a person is actively breaking the law that they are not (or haven’t already) going to break any others?

“Oh, I killed her alright, but I didn’t rape her first. Don’t I get points for that?”

“Yeah, I drove drunk, but I didn’t kill anyone. It’s not as bad as it could have been. Even though he’s in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, at least he’s still alive.”

There can quickly become a pattern of abuse when someone does something illegal and gets away with it.

When people are not held accountable for their actions, one more step is taken, and then another and another. When you remove natural or other consequences, by default, the behavior is not just condoned; it’s encouraged.

Think about behavior in terms of your children….. children learn by trial and error. When they do something wrong, if they don’t have a consequence, they have learned it’s not really wrong, it’s ok. You are actively teaching, even if you don’t give them a reward.

Now take that and apply it to adults, because it’s exactly the same thing.

Another way of looking at this is to say that when you don’t “make a decision,” you actually ARE making a choice via your inaction. You are making the decision to keep things the way they are, and THAT is a decision of its own.

Even if a behavior doesn’t get absolute positive reinforcement, the lack of negative consequence works just as well, and encourages some people to “push their luck.”

As it applies to taxes: NM Officials Warn of Tax Fraud

“Padilla said the bogus returns filed so far total almost $2 million in claims.”

2 million dollars. For those of you who don’t already know this, NM is a poor state. We’re also a minority-majority state.

“New Mexico is now majority – minority state

Figures released yesterday by the Census Bureau show during the past decade, New Mexico joined California as a majority-minority state: The percentage of whites in the New Mexico population declined from 52 percent in 2000 to 45 percent in 2010, while the percentage of Latinos rose from 24.6 percent to 46.3 percent. Minorities: 58.8% of which Hispanic or Latino 46.3% (24.6% change from 2000 -2010), black 2.1%, American Indian 9.4%, and Asian 1%.”

http://hispanic.cc/2010_census_new_mexico_hispanics_outnumber_white_population.htmhttp://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn125.html

 

Historically, NM has always been one of the poorest states. 2 million dollars is a big deal. (and really- that amount of money should be a big deal anywhere, imo!)If you think fraudulent tax returns by legal citizens and workers doesn’t apply to anyone outside of New Mexico, think again. Illegals are getting tax breaks from the federal government, too, to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars a year.

Undocumented workers got billions from IRS in tax credits, audit finds

The problem of what to do with illegals is a raging debate that I’m pretty sure isn’t going to end any time soon. Part of the issue, as I see it, is that families living together often have split citizenship.

Because children born in the US are automatically US citizens, this means that there are often children who are US citizens living with parents who are in the US illegally. To deport the parents because of their illegal status could mean breaking up the families, because, after all, they came here so their children could have better lives, right?

I don’t fault people for wanting the best for their children. I DO fault them for giving their children US citizenship by doing something illegal.

I want my kids to not to have to worry about money. You don’t see me robbing banks, though, to make that happen.

I want my kids to get good grades so they’ll have good college opportunities. You don’t see me doing their homework to make sure they’ll get those good grades.

By coming to this country illegally to “benefit a child,” the parent is teaching the child that it’s ok to cheat, steal, lie, and do illegal acts to get ahead in life, and to get what they want. I have heard that excuse over and over. While I can agree that everyone wants the best for their children and these folks are no exception, doing it illegally is not ok (there may be actual exceptions to this rule when it’s a matter of life and death- but for those folks, we do give amnesty and asylum).

Some of those parents want to bemoan having to leave the US and take their children out of the US, which would “deprive” them of the opportunities here.  While I sympathize to a degree, it’s my opinion that the parents here illegally should have thought about that before having children on US soil.

Can we revoke citizenship of children born here whose parents are here illegally? I have no idea what the legalities of doing so would entail, but I’m pretty sure that those children are citizens of the country of their parents’ origin.

Imo, if neither of your parents are US citizens, you shouldn’t get citizenship just because you were born here. In actuality, that could be a deterrent, too. If people crossing the border illegally knew that their children wouldn’t get the free ride of citizenship because they were born here, would they be less inclined to sneak across the border to birth here?  I think so.

Clearly, this issue is complicated and there aren’t any “easy,” quick- fix answers. There’s a lot more to it, particularly in my state.  In the future, I’ll talk more about what this has done to our voter registration…………

Let me just add this: I am NOT against immigration or against immigrants. I’m not anti-immigration or anti-Hispanic, etc.

 I think different cultures really DO make the world go ’round.

But come here LEGALLY.

Come here legally and learn to speak (and to read) ENGLISH, which is the national language of the United States of America.

But don’t come here illegally and think you have the same rights or the right to make the rest of us cater to you. If this is your mentality, please stay where you are and work towards changing your own country more to your liking.

Stay where you are and work towards getting the legal right to come and take up residence in the USA. When that happens, you’ll see me welcoming you with open arms.