Category: Politics

Immigration reform

A federalist approach to immigration reform

OK – I like this idea. Each state that wants immigrant workers can accept them  –  and the burden that comes with that acceptance. No Federal funds will be spent on their support. The immigrant workers accepted by a state are limited to that state; attempts to migrate within the country (except with reciprocating states) will result in deportation.

This is a great solution –  a democratic, competitive solution. States that prosper as a result of these immigrants will serve as examples of how this system can work; those that don’t will serve as examples of how this system can fail. In any event, it leaves me (and others) free to select the state of our choice based (in part) on their immigration policy.

Democracy at its best…

Really??

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has vowed to protect criminal illegal aliens. From a recent article on Fox News:

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also vowed to protect illegal immigrants, including ones suspected or convicted of crimes, from the feds.

“I want to be clear: We’re going to stay a sanctuary city,” Emanuel said. “There is no stranger among us… you are welcome in Chicago as you pursue the American dream.”

Really, Rahm? Chicago is having it’s deadliest year in decades, and you want to protect criminal illegal aliens? Maybe you should run that by their victims, or by the legal immigrants who respect our country and its laws. They might have a different take on the topic.

Once again, NYC gets it wrong

According to a recent Fox News story, NYC authorities are hard at work assuring locals that  turnstile jumpers will not be deported – as if it is the turnstile jumping that presents the potential for deportation. According to Larry Byrne, the deputy commissioner for legal affairs for NYC:

“Even if you’re a recidivist and jumped a turnstile for the fourth or tenth time, and we arrest you for the misdemeanor crime, that’s a misdemeanor — it’s not a qualifying” he told reporters, according to Politico. “Nobody is getting deported for a minor offense.”

Frankly, I think most New Yorkers would like to see these recidivist turnstile jumpers deported. However, the fact is that the potential for deportation is the result of being in the U.S. illegally, ignoring our laws and disrespecting legal immigrants who follow our immigration process and rules; the turnstile jumping only brings an individual into the view of authorities. So, in a sense Mr. Byrne is right – they are not getting deported for turnstile jumping; they are getting deported for being illegal immigrants.

All of this is in response to President Trump’s executive order regarding illegal immigrants and their detainment/deportation in accordance with U.S. immigration law. To garner support for their actions in defiance of President Trump’s order, NYC officials go further still and utilize a frequent political technique to justify their actions and promote citizen support by equating Trump’s order as an attack on immigrants (rather than illegal immigrants). Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio is quoted in the same article saying:

The order also contradicts “the character and values” of a city and nation long known for welcoming immigrants.

The article also cites other NYC officials as noting that President Trump’s order would make:

“…immigrants reluctant to talk to the New York Police Department as witnesses or even victims of crime.”

However, Trump’s order has no impact on legal immigrants; productive, legal immigrants are the backbone of our nation and are welcome as always. They are also still free to report crimes and assist law enforcement without fear of deportation. In fact I would expect that they would be more willing under Trump’s order to assist law enforcement, knowing that those responsible for crimes who were here illegally would be deported and not returned to the streets to harass witnesses and victims. In this manner President Trump’s executive order to remove illegal aliens could be considered to be in support of legal immigrants by removing these “bad apples” who are here illegally.

Don’t be sheeple, people – think for yourselves. Legal immigrants are actually supported by the removal of criminal illegal aliens as proposed by President Trump’s executive order. Don’t let NYC’s leftist politicians convince you otherwise.

Stupidity is not a defense…

…and in this case was just a ruse.

According to this Fox News article, Rosa Maria Ortega was charged with illegal voting after having voted twice in Texas. For her defense Ortega claimed that she only possessed a 6th grade education and simply didn’t understand the differences between the designations of “citizen” vs. “resident” when she registered to vote. The jury didn’t buy it, sentencing her to eight years in prison.

However, that’s not the whole story. According to this New York Times article, Ms. Ortega clearly did understand the difference after a subsequent attempt to register to vote was denied because she was not a citizen (and was personally advised as such by the election officials). Her solution: try registering again, this time claiming she was a citizen. It also shows why we need to verify citizenship of voters via voter ID or other means; after all, if all one has to do is make the claim that they are a citizen to register to vote then this could be more common than anyone might think.

According to her lawyer, Clark Birdsall, she’ll likely be deported after she serves her sentence:

“She’ll do eight years in a Texas prison,” he told the Times. “And then she’ll be deported, and wake up blinking and scratching in a country she doesn’t know.”

Yeah – I’m OK with that.

Voter fraud in California

It’s really easy to claim there is no voter fraud if you never look.

A recent article by investigative reporter Malia Zimmerman makes the claim that the California voter registration system is susceptible to fraud, citing identification and voter verification issues as likely causes.

In the article a representative of the California Secretary of State’s office is quoted as stating “…There is no driver’s license required to register to vote…”. Charles Bell, Jr., a partner with California-based Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP (a law firm that specializes in election law) notes that there is also no confirmation of voter eligibility for voter registration applicants; they only need to check a box affirming they are citizens, but this is not checked against any federal government database or immigration records.

To further support her claim that the system is susceptible Zimmerman interviews Claude Arnold, who served as former Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in different seven states. He notes that over his career he has arrested “…hundreds of illegal criminal aliens who had voter registration cards…”.

A quick browse of the California Secretary of State (CSOS) web site seems to confirm Zimmerman’s assertion. To register to vote one has to only fill out an online form; no identification is required. From the CSOS web site:

How will I identify myself when registering to vote?

The voter registration application asks for your driver license or California identification card number, or you can use the last four numbers on your Social Security card. If you do not have a driver license, California identification card or Social Security card, you may leave that space blank. Your county elections official will assign a number to you that will be used to identify you as a voter.

California does not require an identification to vote, either; if proof of identity is needed (in the case you did not provide your California drivers license, identification card, or social security number during registration) then you can use a utility bill or even the sample ballot mailed to you as a result of your online registration. Again, from the CSOS web site:

A copy of a recent utility bill, the sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office or another document sent to you by a government agency are examples of acceptable forms of identification.

If you don’t look for potential voter fraud then how will you know whether or not it exists? And given California’s apparently lax registration and voter requirements, how can Californians be so sure? Given the importance of  integrity in our election process, maybe it’s time we open our eyes – at least for a little while. After all, it’s justice that is supposed to be blind – not voter registrars.

Another soapbox politician…

…twisting the facts to suit their needs. In a recent news article regarding California’s attempt to provide Obamacare to illegal immigrants, California state senator Ricardo Lara had this to say:

“I take Trump at his words that anyone is subject to deportation at any time, and California will not be part of a wasteful and inhumane campaign against immigrants who are working hard and playing by the rules,” Lara’s statement said.

I don’t recall President Trump saying he was going to deport anyone other than illegal immigrants, and he’s specifically concentrating on criminal illegal immigrants. That’s a far cry from “anyone”. In addition, Lara’s claim that these immigrants subject to deportation are “…playing by the rules…” is a bit hard to swallow. After all, they have violated our laws to be here, work illegally without authorization (and as a result pay no taxes), and will have been convicted of a crime (the definition of “criminal illegal immigrant”) to qualify for deportation under President Trump’s plan. Is this what Lara considers “playing by the rules”?

From the self-proclaimed bastion of free speech…

… a riot at the University of California, Berkeley (an alma mater of mine) to protest someone there in the name of free speech.

Free speech requires that all opinions be considered – even the ones with which you don’t agree. Silencing your foes using violence and force only makes you the oppressor.