About That 'We're A Nation Of Immigrants' Baloney: No, we're not. "We're a nation of citizens. This country was built on legal immigration, and the ones who made it through learned the language and assimilated."
The We Are All Immigrants meme must really piss off the Indians. Of course, they're immigrants too, having apparently crossed the Bering Strait land mass. And then, perhaps, taken light rail to a nearby casino.
When my four grandparents emigrated from western Ireland to America - between 1893 and 1906 - they had to arrive with money in their pockets - at least $10 each (about $300 in today's dollars). They had to have a sponsor and a place to stay. They received no welfare of any kind from the government.
There were no government-funded 'safety nets' in those days, so my grandparents had to start working immediately. Religious organizations and relatives helped them connect with prospective employers. Even though there was church involvement, everything was done legally and above-board; there was no "sanctuary" offered. Just networking.
My grandparents worked hard, learned American ways (without forgetting their Irish culture), worked their way up the economic ladder and, in time, became part of the American Dream.
Today's illegal immigrant is carefully coached on the ways of working the 'safety net' to maximize the government benefits obtained. Some of this coaching is funded by your tax and/or charitable dollars.
"Today's scenario is 15 million illegals ridiculing those who played by the rules. Legal immigrants wait 15 years to get green cards and many bring a ton of jobs with them."
Here's a tidbit from the Ellis Island website: "If immigrants had any of the diseases proscribed by the immigration laws, or were too ill or feeble-minded to earn a living, they would be deported. Sick children age 12 or older were sent back to Europe alone and were released in the port from which they had come. Children younger than 12 had to be accompanied by a parent. There were many tearful scenes as families with a sick child decided who would go and who would stay."
Note that the U.S. did not accept unaccompanied children under 12. They were quickly sent back to the port from which they had come.
"The Statue of Liberty doesn't say “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and all their relatives." Learn the difference between legal and illegal. Oh, and don't give me that old "They're doing jobs Americans won't do" line. They're doing jobs Americans won't do - for that price.
In Canada, there are no Mexicans and the landscaping still gets done. They use teenagers." (posted 8/29/17, permalink)
Disturbing Migration Patterns: Regarding, the recent invasion of Europe by swarms of Middle East 'refugees', Pamela Geller wrote, "If these were real refugees, where are the women? Where are the elderly people? Where are the weak and the sick? It is increasingly clear that what I have said is true: this is not a refugee crisis. This is a hijrah, a migration to Islamize a new land."
One of Powerline's readers observed, "These migrants have a certain arrogance in insisting on, not rescue merely, but comfortable resettlement in the wealthiest societies in the world with access to an exceedingly generous welfare state to boot. Not for them a decent interval being cared for in Italy or Greece; only Germany or Sweden will do, if not the UK, Canada or (shudder) the USA. It's as though I pity a street bum and offer to buy him vouchers for Burger King or Domino's Pizza and he is aghast, insisting on steak and lobster at The Palm – along with the proper attire for admission!"
Patrick Buchanan added, "Africa has a billion people, a number that will double by 2050, and double again to 4 billion by 2100. Are those billions of Africans going to endure lives of poverty under ruthless, incompetent, corrupt and tyrannical regimes, if Europe's door remains wide open?
What is coming is not difficult to predict. Europe is going to run out of altruism long before it runs out of refugees."
Then there's this: "A Syrian operative claimed more than 4,000 covert ISIS gunmen had been smuggled into western nations – hidden amongst innocent refugees. The ISIS smuggler, who is in his thirties and is described as having a trimmed jet-black beard, revealed the ongoing clandestine operation is a complete success. "Just wait," he smiled."
Liberalism is the ideology of Western suicide. This is a big, steaming bowl of not good for Western Civilization. (posted 9/10/15, permalink)
Our 'Duty' To Illegals: Pretty much nothing. The late Richard John Neuhaus, a prominent Catholic priest, philosopher and author wrote, "Our God-given duties begin with those to whom we are most proximate and have the greatest influence: our family, friends, neighbors, church and the wider community that is our nation. American Christians in 2014 are specially called to serve our nation, to seek its material and spiritual health, to help it fulfill its global duties, and to strive to align it with God's purposes of holiness, justice and peace whenever possible."
In other words, charity begins at home.
And furthermore, from the Ellis Island website: "If immigrants had any of the diseases proscribed by the immigration laws, or were too ill or feeble-minded to earn a living, they would be deported. Sick children age 12 or older were sent back to Europe alone and were released in the port from which they had come. Children younger than 12 had to be accompanied by a parent. There were many tearful scenes as families with a sick child decided who would go and who would stay."
Note that the U.S. did not accept unaccompanied children under 12. They were quickly sent back to the port from which they had come. (posted 7/16/14, permalink)
Do The Math: Amnesty will cost taxpayers $6.3 trillion, according to the Heritage Foundation.
"The study shows that, in 2010, the average illegal-immigrant household received $24,721 in government benefits and services while paying $10,334 in taxes, creating a fiscal deficit (benefits received minus taxes paid) of $14,387 that must be borne by other taxpayers. That figure "would soar," the study says, if those illegal immigrants were given legal status, and therefore made eligible for federal welfare programs, which even immigrant households here legally are more likely to receive than U.S.-born households. Under the Gang of Eight's proposal, the average illegal-immigrant household would produce a net fiscal deficit of nearly $600,000 over the course of a lifetime, the study found."
It should be noted that 57.4% of Mexican immigrants are on some kind of welfare.
The only fair-to-taxpayers way to have amnesty is to put a price on it. Therefore, if you are in the U.S. illegally, you must pay $600,000 to get an Amnesty Card. If you can't pay, get out. And, while you're making up your mind, all benefits - welfare, free medical care, a driver's license etc. - disappear.
Decide quickly. By the way, Mexico is that-a-way, Señor. Vamos. (posted 5/9/13, permalink)
Bring Us Your Ambitious, Your Skilled, Your English Proficient: America needs immigrants who will assimilate quickly and become productive citizens.
The Center for Immigration Studies has published a very thorough report with alarming findings:
• Immigrants without health insurance include 21.4% of Hispanics, 20.1% of blacks, 17.2% of Asians and 11.5% of whites.
• 57.4% of Mexican immigrants are on some kind of welfare. Percentages are alarmingly high for all Hispanics from Central American countries. Welfare among English and German immigrants are 6.2% and 10.3% respectively.
We need to seal our southern border now and only let in those who meet our needs and offer the promise of success. Our country has enough dole-sucking losers already, thank you. (posted 12/10/2012, permalink)
They Thirst For Death: Despite knowing that most Hispanics vote Democratic, some Republicans are considering still another "Immigration Reform" plan that would let more illegal Hispanics become citizens and vote.
On the subject of Hispanic culture and politics, Mark Steyn has written, "The short history of the Western Hemisphere is as follows: North America was colonized by Anglo-Celts, Central and South America by "Hispanics." Up north, two centuries of constitutional evolution and economic growth; down south, coups, corruption, generalissimos and presidents-for-life."
Hmmmm. Connect the dots.
Steyn noted that, "demographics is destiny and, absent assimilationist incentives this country no longer imposes, a Latin-American population will wind up living in a Latin-American society. Don't take it from a right-wing bigot like me, take it from The New York Times.
In 2009, Jason DeParle filed a story about suburban Maryland, in which he helpfully explained the municipality of Langley Park to Times readers: 'Now nearly two-thirds Latino and foreign-born, it has the aesthetics of suburban sprawl and the aura of Central America. Laundromats double as money-transfer stores. Jobless men drink and sleep in the sun. There is no city government, few community leaders and little community.'"
And all those jobless are on the dole. And vote Democratic. Nuff said. (posted 11/19/2012, permalink)
No Amnesty: John James Zupan, founder of Portland's Zupan's Markets, was struck by a car last week in Portland and later died. Mr. Zupan was well-liked within the business community and the grocery community and was described as an innovator. Zupan, 66, of Vancouver was riding his motorcycle on Northeast Marine Drive at 7:52 p.m. when an eastbound 1998 Honda Civic crossed the center line and struck the 2009 BMW cycle head on.
Edy Reynoso-Ramirez was taken into custody after police said he fled the scene.
Investigators said Reynoso-Ramirez, 32, was driving erratically and speeding eastbound when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on into Zupan's motorcycle near the 138th Avenue intersection. Everyone who has ever been on Marine Drive knows that it is a dangerous road and passing is both reckless and stupid.
Especially if you're drunk, which Reynoso-Ramirez apparently was. And it's not his first time at that dance. He was arrested for DUI in Oregon in 2003. He is also apparently in this country illegally.
Last month, in Milford, MA, 34 year-old Nicolas Guaman, an illegal immigrant, hit and killed 23-year-old motorcyclist Matthew Denice, with a pickup truck and dragged his body a quarter-mile. Denice was alive when Guaman dragged him with his truck, said Worcester County District Attorney spokesman Paul Jarvey.
Guaman has been charged with negligent vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of liquor, leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury and death, possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, failure to stop for police, unlicensed driving, failure to yield at a stop sign, resisting arrest and wanton or reckless conduct creating risk to a child.
This guy had been arrested three times since 2007 for driving without a license. Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin said Guaman told police he was in the country illegally. He said the incident underscores the importance of the Secure Communities Act, which would allow fingerprints to be sent directly to Homeland Security officials. In this case, Milford Police had to call federal officials to send them the fingerprints.
In related news, Obama's Uncle Onyango (or Obama's Uncle Obama or Uncle Oingo Boingo, whatever), the long-time illegal alien was recently apprehended for drunk driving in Massachusetts, when he nearly plowed into the vehicle of a local police officer. He is now being held at the Plymouth County House of Correction on the deportation order that was entered in his case 20 years ago.
Illegal immigration, violence and crime seem to be inexorably linked.
Want to create jobs for Americans and reduce the crime rate at the same time? Get rid of all illegals. Right now.
And fire all ICE personnel who have conspired to allow Reynoso-Ramirez to stay in this country after his 2003 DUI, who have ignored Guaman and his many traffic violations and who have permitted Uncle Oingo Boingo to loiter here for 20 years.
Start rounding 'em up and shipping 'em out. (posted 9/6/2011, permalink)
A Growing 'Industry': An estimated 230,000 illegal immigrants were living in Washington state in 2010 - 35% more than three years ago.
Washington now has the seventh-highest rate of illegal immigrants in the country. Three years ago, it didn't even make the top ten.
State Senator Val Stevens says that "the illegal-immigrant cost to the state is $272 million a biennium for such functions as social services, health and corrections." (posted 2/7/2011, permalink)
Doing Things Americans Won't Do: An Iranian illegal immigrant tow truck driver who struck a mother and her two toddlers on an Oxnard, CA street and drove away with the children dragging under the vehicle has been charged with driving under the influence and causing injury, hit-and-run and mayhem.
Fernando Guerrero Lara, one of two men arrested in a shooting at a packed Lawrence, MA nightclub told police there was an "arrest of alien" warrant out for him when the two allegedly gunned down four people, killing one of them.
A drunken Guatemalan illegal immigrant, who had been threatening passersby with a vicious-looking knife in a city park in Los Angeles - a Sanctuary City by the way, was shot dead by police after he "lunged at them with the knife over his head." Officers had repeatedly asked him in Spanish and English to drop the knife. Area residents - described as "Mexicans and Central Americans" - responded by rioting and clashing with LA police.
Carlos A. Martinelly Montano, an illegal immigrant from Bolivia - accused of killing a Benedictine nun in a drunken driving crash in Virginia, has been indicted for murder.
Illegals are everywhere - even Nebraska - and they're causing major problems. "I'm against illegal immigration," Fremont, NB immigration law supporter Cheryl Sweet said, "We have foreign nationals crowding across our borders. They're undercutting job pay. They're committing crimes. They're having anchor babies, which allows them to stay. They're receiving food stamps, welfare.
We do need to help others. We're a very generous people, but you can't expect the citizens to obey the laws and foot the bill and just turn a blind eye to the illegal aliens. It's just wrong." (posted 9/9/2010, permalink)
Speaking Out of Turn: The U.S. Congress has a long tradition of permitting foreign dignitaries to address it.
In 1874, King Kalakaua of Hawaii was the first foreign dignitary to address a joint meeting of Congress. He wore a loud Hawaiian shirt, which prompted the Office of the Clerk to institute a dress code for visitors. Winston Churchill, who always dressed like a proper gentleman - even when drunk, made more addresses to Congress than any other individual. He appeared before joint meetings in 1941, 1943, and 1952. As we all know, Congress loves well-dressed drunks, especially if there's a 'Kennedy' somewhere in their names.
Last week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon seized the opportunity to blast Arizona's "controversial" immigration law. Why it's controversial, I'm not sure; it simply is a state enforcement of federal illegal immigration laws already on the books. This happened as President Obama welcomed Felipe to the White House and then sent him over to Congress. Calderon bashed Arizona's new immigration law, calling it discriminatory to Mexicans. Of course, ol' Felipe is quite an expert on illegal immigrant discrimination and abuse. His country has one of the worst migrant human-rights records in the world.
Nevertheless, many Democrats in Congress actually applauded Felipe's insulting rhetoric; President Obama stood silently with that little Neville Chamberlain smile. Oh well, at least he didn't bow.
It is worth noting that, in Mexico, foreigners who are deported and try to return can be jailed for up to ten years. Foreigners can be banned if they upset "the equilibrium of the national demographics," are judged harmful to "economic or national interests," or if "they are not physically or mentally healthy." So much for Undocumented Diversity, an Obama administration trademark.
What's odd is that 'Calderon' doesn't even sound Mexican; it's positively Ivy League waspy. I can picture a headline in the West Haven Register: 'Local man, D. Emerson Calderon IV, wins Connecticut Regatta'.
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory regarding Mexico that noted drug gang conflicts resembling "small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades" and warns against robbery, kidnapping and other relatively common crimes. Gang-related beheadings are nonexistent in "controversial" Arizona, which is more than Señor Calderon can claim for his own country.
I think Felipe el Presidente Whatever-his-real-name-is, that alleged Great Friend of President Obama and leader of an increasingly violent nation controlled by drug cartels, should be worrying about fixing his own failed, lawless, polluted and corrupt country. And stay the hell outta ours.
And furthermore ... Frank J. has written, "The proper response to the Mexican president coming to America to attack one of our states would be for someone - preferably someone in a cowboy hat - to silently march up to Calderon and lift him up by the back of his collar and belt and carry him all the way to the border to Mexico then toss him in the river there, saying, "And don't come back until you learn some manners."" (posted 5/24/2010, permalink)
Well Said. Vasko Kohlmayer, an immigrant living in the U.S, addressed his fellow immigrants: "Almost every day someone from our midst comes up with new demands and then grumbles when these are not met. In addition to requesting benefits of various kinds, many repudiate their host culture and insist that natives conform to their ways. There are even those who refuse to learn the English language and then chide their hosts for not accommodating their linguistic peculiarities. When they meet with resistance or difficulties they protest and complain, tossing about the charges of cultural insensitivity, discrimination or worse."
