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It's really strange to me that you can't comprehend a few facts.

I have sat in on committees where we discused ways to combat our losses to indigent patients. Do you know what an indigent patient is?

Oh Department of Justice my ass... btw, are you incapable of addressing this issue without calling me a racist in each post?

Let's cut to the chase. Here's where the rubber meets the road Ben.

If the laws of our nation had been enforced, how many murders would have been committed by illegal-immigrants this last year?

Answer that same question for rapes, molestations, assaults, roberies, home invasions and a myriad of other crimes perped by illegal immigrants. I know you don't want to but do it anyway.

The fact is, the numbers for these crimes committed by illegal immigrants would have been zero across the board if our laws had been enforced.

Now, are you capable of understanding this or are you going to quote some meaningless stats that completely ignore this reality?

This isn't a matter of color. It's a matter of hard cold facts. Illegal immigrants are ravaging your fellow citizens. Do you care?

Statement Of Tobin Armstrong, Rancher, Kingsville, TX

Mr. ARMSTRONG. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Tobin Armstrong. My residence is at Armstrong, Texas, in the center of Kenedy County. There are 460 people in Kenedy County, three people per square mile. It is 60 miles north of Mexico on the gulf of Mexico and has no cultivated land. It is all native pasture and has a thick cover of thorn trees and live oak trees. I have lived in Kenedy County all my life, have served as a county official since 1948 and presently county commissioner for my precinct. I am the managing partner of the Armstrong ranch, which is a family partnership involving 49,300 acres and 2,500 cattle units.

Since 1993, my home county has experienced an escalation in traffic of illegal aliens resulting in increasing destruction of property, burglary, auto and equipment theft, death by starvation, exposure, disease, auto and train accidents and murder, illegal alien smuggling, narcotics trafficking, forage contamination, massive littering of our pastures, and most distressing of all, the introduction of diseases uncommon to the United States.

Health authorities say there is no way to prevent illegal immigrants from bringing in these diseases. In October 1998, two women, a mother and daughter from El Salvador, were discovered in our pasture by the border patrol. Both had malaria and were at death's door. They were treated in the Kleberg Spohn Memorial Hospital for 10 days and released at a cost to the hospital of $39,000. The mosquito that carries malaria is found as far north as Corpus Christi, Texas, 150 miles north of the Mexican border.

Mary Lee Grant, well-regarded reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and her coworker contracted tuberculosis while doing investigative reporting on the conditions in the colonias in Nueces County, which is the County of Corpus Christi.

She conservatively estimates that, based on numerous interviews through the colonias, at least 70 percent of the people in the colonias were illegal aliens, which leads us strongly to suspect that the sharp increase in TB in south Texas is due to the influx of these illegal transients.

Other diseases being brought in to the U.S. by illegal immigrants include encephalitis, cholera, rheumatic fever, salmonella, intestinal parasites, smallpox, measles, HIV, and venereal diseases. The threat of introduction of foot and mouth and other devastating livestock diseases is staggering. The toll on the illegals themselves is appalling.

We have found five bodies, and I got a call from the sheriff in our county this morning announcing that he had picked up another body in the county, a 44-year-old Mexican woman from Michoacan, who died last night of dehydration. We found these six bodies in the county since January the 1st and have been averaging 20 per year for the past 4 or 5 years. Who knows how many bodies will never be found in these remote pastures?

Last year, six illegals were run over and killed while sleeping on the railroad adjacent to our pasture. In March, 12 illegal aliens were severely injured, and one of them permanently paralyzed when the Suburban they were being smuggled in turned over and crashed through our ranch fence. Local hospitals and taxpayers must pay the bills for these people.

In April 1999, 123 illegals were found locked in a semi trailer-truck at the Sarita immigration checkpoint six miles north of my home. The driver of the truck was carrying $25,000 in cash. Thirty illegals were found in a truck the week before. This has become a common occurrence along our frontiers. About 2,000 illegals per month are apprehended at the Sarita checkpoint. 1,555,776 were apprehended in the district in the fiscal year ending October the 31st 1998.

It is common opinion that this is but a fraction of the numbers that are getting through. Smuggling organizations are increasingly large, well financed and well connected, with sharp scouts, decoys, guides, and high-tech communications. Smuggling has become big business. Some bus drivers are able to pick up illegals, pocket the fares, and issue no tickets.

Make no mistake about it. The word is out that if you can get to the U.S. interior, you are home free. That is why illegals will continue to come in increasing numbers. The situation is getting worse, not better. Interdiction hasn't significantly deterred illegal entry. It just redirects it.

Mr. Chairman, that is my statement.

Mr. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Armstrong.

http://tinyurl.com/qmrw9

Prepared Statement Of Larry Vance, Rancher, Douglas, AZ, Chairman, Cochise County Concerned Citizens

Mr. Chairman and members, thank you for allowing me to speak to you today. My name is Larry Vance. I am the second son of a legally naturalized American of Mexican origin. I live approximately 3 miles west of Douglas, Arizona, and about 1 mile north of the Mexican border. A brother and his family, and my parents are my neighbors on a 20-acre family plot. My wife and I have lived there for 25 years. In that time, we have had some problems with illegal aliens. I've been burglarized, had a truck stolen, and property vandalized.

My brother and parents have had similar problems. We have adapted to this by installing high fences, expensive burglar alarms, mean aggressive dogs, and other measures. However for the past seven years, in particular the last year, we have seen a dramatic increase in illegal border crossing. The occasional illegal alien has grown to literally thousands crossing every night. Men, women and children. I've seen groups where the majority will likely become public charges. With the accompanying noises of dogs barking, people yelling and screaming, babies crying, horns honking, and occasionally gun shots, I haven't had a complete night sleep in more than 10 months. Six months ago, I witnessed some sort of shoot out a mile from my house.

We live in constant fear of being robbed, assaulted, or worse. We must remain armed at all times because border bandits prey upon the helpless within close proximity of our homes, and armed drug smugglers transport drugs past in the night. We are like prisoners in our own homes. My parents or someone must remain on the property at all times to guard against foreign invaders. An 81-year-old neighbor has been burglarized approximately 50 times. Another has had his homeowners insurance canceled.

The area along the Mexican border has become a ''no man's land'' where lawlessness prevails. Criminals strike and flee to freedom in a country where they are coddled, even admired. They rape, rob and beat their own countrymen and others with impunity.

I have been asked, ''Why don't you move?'' The answer is, I can't. Nobody wants to move to an area like I have described. My property values have declined to the point that I owe more than for what it can be sold.

I cannot begin to convey to you the feelings of helplessness, frustration and fear that has overcome border residents. Livelihoods are being threatened and destroyed. Tracts of pristine desert-ecological treasures have been permanently disfigured or lost. Pastures of prime grassland have become the equivalent of landfills littered with clothing, diapers, feces, plastic and other debris. U.S. citizens and legal residents are being deprived of their rights, property and piece of mind by individuals who have sneaked into this country in violation of U.S. laws while the U.S. Government allows it to go on and the Mexican Government encourages its citizens to migrate illegally.

Some illegal aliens rights groups shout ''Racism'' when the issue of establishing control of our border is brought forth. I ask you, What is it about race that entitles a person to sneak across our border, violate our laws, destroy my property and take advantage of the benefits we have set aside for our citizens and legal residents?

It is true that this is a nation established by immigrants. It is also true that our ancestors were LEGAL immigrants. That distinction is lost by those who advocate open borders and that all in the world have a right to come to America.

Through press releases, media interviews and personal observations, I have learned that Doris Meissner regards all immigrants, legal and illegal, as her 'clients. U.S. immigration laws were enacted to protect the American public from criminals, the insane, subversives and those who are likely to become public charges. The Commissioner of INS is mandated by law to act accordingly. I submit to you that the true ''clients'' of Doris Meissner consist of the American public who is entitled to protection. Her obligation is first to the American people and secondly to those who can prove to be bonafide immigrants. Her job is NOT to protect all who come here regardless of their method of entry.

Mr. Chairman, I ask you and the other members here today. Why are the borders of other nations so important that our military can be used to enforce them, but not our own? I beg you to put the priorities of the government back to protecting the public and border area residents as well.

Thank You. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Mr. SMITH. Let me say to our enthusiastic audience here that it might be better for you to hold your applause until the end of the hearing or perhaps hold it until you have a chance to indicate your support of these individuals on a one-to-one basis, so that we can maintain the decorum of the hearing.

Ms. Morfin, we look forward to your testimony.

http://tinyurl.com/qmrw9

"My name is Angie Morfin, I am a Latino-American woman from Salinas, California. I have come here today to tell you of a personal cost that I have paid for illegal immigration."

"in 1990 I found out how just how bad it could be when an illegal alien gang member from Mexico killed my thirteen year old son, Ruben"

Prepared Statement Of Angie Morfin, Salinas, CA, Mothers Taking Action Against Gang Violence

Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Angie Morfin, I am a Latino-American woman from Salinas, California. I have come here today to tell you of a personal cost that I have paid for illegal immigration.

But first I want to describe my community. Salinas is a community of 100,000 in Central California, it is not the big city. That part of California is a big agricultural area and so we have always had migrant farm workers. Years ago they would come and do the harvest and then leave once the work was completed. Now, they don't leave, and each year the number grows.

We have a large community of illegal aliens, mostly Latino, and those numbers are growing, also. I can tell the members of this committee that the Latino-American citizens of our community want the illegals removed. We resent their presence in our community.

At a congressional town hall meeting in Salinas last year, Congressman Sam Farr heard from many people from our community that they wanted more Border Patrol to catch and deport illegal aliens. Two sheriffs from neighboring counties told Congressman Farr that they wanted the Border Patrol to resume the practice of visiting their jails twice a week to remove and deport the illegals.

Illegal immigrant crime is a real problem in my community. Gangs, illegal immigrant gangs, especially. We definitely have a need for increased enforcement. But even though we need it, and citizens have asked for it, the Salinas Border Patrol station has only one agent for a three county area. Just one. That is not the kind of commitment to immigration enforcement that is going to solve the problem in my community.

The price I have paid for non enforcement of our immigration laws, and the presence of illegal aliens in my community was a big one. It is a price that I truly hope that none of you ever has to pay.

I told you that illegal alien gang activity is a problem in my community. Well in 1990 I found out how just how bad it could be when an illegal alien gang member from Mexico killed my thirteen year old son, Ruben. Ruben was not a gang member. He was just a beautiful little boy walking with some friends to his grandmother's house. As he and the others tried to run from the gang members who approached them Ruben was shot in the head and killed. His killer fled the country, running back home to . . . Mexico. He was an illegal alien.

I was paralyzed with grief. I just wanted to die, I couldn't bear to live without my little boy. I cried and prayed to God for the strength to go on with my life. I prayed for justice for Ruben.

In the years that have passed since Ruben was killed I have met other mothers who have lost sons to gang violence, perpetrated by illegal aliens. I have sadly learned that this can happen to anybody. And while it is too late to protect my Ruben, it is not too late to take the measures necessary to make our communities safer and hopeful save someone else's child. Interior enforcement of our immigration laws will make our communities safer.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the committee. It is not enough to talk about fixing the system. We must act, you must act now. And not just Congress, but all Americans need to get involved to solve the illegal immigration problem. I personally believe that more American Latinos should get involved. Together we can make a difference. The time has come for us as American born Latino, and all American citizens to stand up for our rights as citizens.

Now I identified myself as a Latino-American woman at the beginning of this testimony. Actually, I don't like, or approve of hyphenated-Americans. We're Americans. And whether we are Latino-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans or European-Americans, the common denominator is that we are Americans. And it is our citizenship that we have in common. And as citizens we need to encourage you lawmakers to ensure that the laws you make are enforced, and that includes immigration laws.

I thank God that I was born in this country and lived during a time when people are proud to be Americans. I am proud to say I'm an American. We should not be afraid to say how proud we are, or that we want to enforce our immigration laws and stop illegal immigration.

Because, ladies and gentlemen, if we don't act like we care about this country we're not going to have a country.

And, a nation that cannot control its borders won't be a nation for very long.

I care about America and want to protect my country from illegal immigration.

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak to you today.

Mr. SMITH. Ms. Joyal

http://tinyurl.com/qmrw9

Whatever you do, don't go to Baxter County, Arkansas because 100% of the crime is committed by white people.

Where the F--- is Baxter County Arkansas? Better yet, who cares? If you want stats, all you have to do is use a search engine. Here's a 3 for 1 special I found on NRO.com:

In Los Angeles, 95 percent of the outstanding murder warrants are for illegal aliens, as are perhaps two-thirds of the 17,000 outstanding felony warrants.

Southern California's largest Hispanic street gang, 18th Street, has some 20,000 members, roughly 60 percent of whom are illegal aliens. (The LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, by comparison, have a combined strength of about 17,000 officers.)

In 2000, nearly 30 percent of federal prisoners were foreign-born.

It proves what I have been saying: Illegal aliens are committing the crimes Americans are quite capable of committing on their own, thank you very much!!!