Start immigration reform with those who follow the law

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | April 12, 2006 | Katherine Kersten

[Caleb1411]

We need to know who is telling the whole truth In recent days, our TV screens have been filled with pictures of vast crowds, demanding more "rights" for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Religious groups have championed their cause. Adoring reporters have shoved microphones in front of them -- falling head over heels again for raucous '60s-style demonstrations. Jaco van Rooyen, a 22-year-old South African immigrant worker, hasn't been out there waving a sign. He's a legal immigrant playing by the rules. In short, he's a forgotten man.

Bob Webber, an Edina immigration attorney who works with immigrants like Van Rooyen, says, "My clients ask, 'Why isn't anyone talking about us?' They can't understand it."

Van Rooyen's story mirrors that of thousands of other legal immigrants, whom the media have largely ignored in their romance with "undocumented workers." He is a general farmworker and mechanic for Kristie and Marlyn Seidler on a 9,000-acre farm 55 miles north of Bismarck, N.D. "There's nothing he can't fix," says Kristie Seidler. "He's vital to us."

Seidler says it's impossible to find skilled Americans willing to work in rural North Dakota. In the last three years, not one American has answered the many advertisements she and her husband have run.

The Seidlers could hire illegal immigrants but don't want to break the law.

But following the law is costly and time-consuming. The Seidlers have had to jump through multiple hoops with government agencies to hire Van Rooyen, who honed his skills on his family's South African farm. In addition to proving that no qualified American will do the job, they have had to pay thousands in fees and legal and travel costs. Van Rooyen has worked for them for four agricultural seasons, but was compelled to return to

[stopem]

Most Americans it would apppear are ignoring the issue of illegal aliens invading this country. For how long?
What more will it take to wake them up?
There are marxist, communist, socialist groups supporting the illegals and threatening our country, wake up and smell the Starbucks!!

[Caleb1411]

. . .Van Rooyen has worked for them for four agricultural seasons, but was compelled to return to South Africa each autumn. Every year, they have had to repeat the whole expensive process to get him back legally.

Now, the Seidlers need Van Rooyen year-round. Nine months ago, they started paperwork to adjust his immigration status. But they've hit a wall: The American government caps visas for skilled workers such as him at 140,000 a year.

As a result, Van Rooyen will have to return to South Africa again when his visa expires on Nov. 30. This time, he will probably have to wait at least five years to return, because of the current visa backlog.

"I do what's asked of me; I obey the law," says Van Rooyen. "There are many obstacles, and it's frustrating that some people get to be here without doing those things."

Well, we can't let those 140,000 skilled, legal immigrants impede the rights of the 11 million illegals, can we?

[AmericanCowboy]

Teddy Roosevelt said it right:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Anything less contributes to the rise of individualism and multiculturalism, and with that contributes to
the diminishment of our national security and personal freedoms,
the degradation of our structures of education, science and technology, jurisprudence and legislation, and
the disintegration of the American culture and its values, which have created both
the most effective system of equal freedom and justice for all, and
the most productive and advanced civilization in the history of the world.

When we apply new ideas to anything that's already working well, we either improve it still further, or injure its ability to function. It's undeniable to even a casual observer who is not agenda-driven that our country and the pillars of our society have taken some serious hits over the last half century. In spite of some spectacular achievements in science and technology, our country is falling apart and we are falling behind other nations in various areas --especially that of education in general and in science and math in particular.

Now we are engaged in a war for the survival of our civilization and freedom, and we're giving ground to the enemy while we fight bureaucratic and political turf battles and worry about being politically correct. This is insanity.

I say it's time to debunk individualism, personal nonresponsibility, multicultural diversity and political correctness, and get back to what we know works. We need to teach our children what makes American democracy work, and to restore the values that support our families, our communities and our culture.

If all you do doesn't work and you're falling behind, get back to the basics! There will always be problems to be worked out, but you never succeed in fixing them by sacrificing the basics!

[tumblindice]

good post. Don't mean to steal your thunder but the brainy blonde's latest post goes hand-in-hand with it:
`Please, desperate, uneducated, unskilled & diseased Mexicans--please come live here. Move right next door if you want, with your unvaccinated dogs and children. We'll pay you! Fluff your pillow?? Yes, go ahead and relieve yourself in the middle of our living room. Daughter? Valuables? Second and third doors on the . . . .'
http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi

Our flag offends you? We don't like it either! Social security office? Two blocks down. Is that my silver . . .? Hey, no problem! Car keys?

[GarySpFc]

We need to know who is telling the whole truth In recent days, our TV screens have been filled with pictures of vast crowds, demanding more "rights" for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Religious groups have championed their cause. Adoring reporters have shoved microphones in front of them -- falling head over heels again for raucous '60s-style demonstrations. Jaco van Rooyen, a 22-year-old South African immigrant worker, hasn't been out there waving a sign. He's a legal immigrant playing by the rules. In short, he's a forgotten man.

The depravity of of our Congress is apparent when you consider how they are stabbing those trying to immigrate here legally in the eye, and want to give everything to the illegal alien.

[reformedliberal]

Skilled English speakers from South Africa are not likely to become Democrat voters, are they? And if they were, working year round on a farm in NoDak could likely change that.

These farmers, IMO, are the voice of American business. But the media wants to present Mort Zuckerman and Bill Marriott as *the business community*. They keep telling us to sympathize with the poor Mexicans, but no one wants to investigate why a skilled and experienced white South African from a (probably former) farm family would want to work in the Northern Tier of the USA.


The Seidlers are being forced to spend $1500+ a year for airfare, plus whatever other expenses the government is imposing on them for hiring a legal migrant, while the super rich are being subsidized in importing nearly free labor.

It stinks.

[Caleb1411]

And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:33-34

Eisegesis, not exegesis. The Leviticus text in no way implies that the stranger in Israel was openly flouting the laws of the land.

[manwiththehands]

Seidler says it's impossible to find skilled Americans willing to work in rural North Dakota. In the last three years, not one American has answered the many advertisements she and her husband have run.

And?

What kind of work? How much are you willing to pay?

I'm not being a smart-arse here but these are important questions. Why should an American be expected to work for $10 an hour when an illegal immigrant will do it for $5?

This is all about money, folks. If this were about Americans and Americans working none of these folks would be whining to the media.

[EnglishOnly]

"I'm not being a smart-arse here but these are important questions. Why should an American be expected to work for $10 an hour when an illegal immigrant will do it for $5?"

What kind of people are we?
I'm sure we can find someone to do your job for less money easily...........ask yourself "Is breaking the law above right and wrong?

This article depicts exactly the message we a sending to the rest of the world. What an Irony to the beliefs of what was once a great United States.

[K-oneTexas]

Good article. Good thoughts from Teddy Roosevelt. We need to address this on both sides - legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. We don't want to 'throw the baby out with the bath water' to use an old saying. Besides 'legal' and 'illegal' have very clear meanings to both sides of the issue, unlike the word 'is'.

I wonder if I can recall my reading from several years back ... why is it that the USA is the only country that does not treat illegal immigration as a felony. But we also apply the Bill of Rights and the Constitution to avowed enemies, terrorists in GTMO.

This is a 'blinders wearing liberal bend-over and get ready and say thank you' attitude.

[Robertsll]

Well, we can't let those 140,000 skilled, legal immigrants impede the rights of the 11 million illegals, can we?

Does anyone believe the lie McCain and others are spreading - "the illegals will get amnesty and at the same time be sent to the back of the line".

As I stated before: The back of the line is in MEXICO and other foreign countries. The back of the line is not living in America with a job and a foot in the door waiting to become a citizen. The latter is called jumping to the front of the line.

There are millions of people who want to come to the United States. All these illegal aliens in the United States need to get behind them, not cut in front of them.

[Marine Inspector]

Well isn't that a novel idea; reward the law followers and not the law breakers.

I don't see that happening under the Bush Admin!

[gueroloco]

The Lord helps those who help themselves- not those who help themselves to food/shelter/education/healthcare on MY dime. Go back and consort with your pedophile enablers.

[Marine Inspector]

A crook is a crook is a crook.

Illegals = crook

MI 1:1-2

[rhema]

And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:33-34
Eisegesis, not exegesis. The Leviticus text in no way implies that the stranger in Israel was openly flouting the laws of the land.

More than that, actually. Matthew Henry's Commentary notes: "It is supposed that this stranger was not an idolater, but a worshipper of the God of Israel, though not circumcised, a proselyte of the gate at least, though not a proselyte of righteousness. . ."

Interesting contrast, no? The sojourner in Old Testament Israel (whose presence wasn't expressly forbidden by any laws) was committed to becoming a full-fledged member of a theocratic society, no less. A significant percentage of American illegal sojourners are committed to setting up their own little Balkan states within this country.

[manwiththehands]

At the risk of sounding like I'm tooting my own horn ... few could do my job for less money than me. But that's an issue best left between me and my boss. :-)

[Shuttle Shucker]

Why Bush doesn't push harder for this kind of reform which could help Mexico AND turn back the tide of illegals for our own country's benefit is beyond me:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611677/posts

[devolve]

It is much cheaper to pay two illegal aliens $15 an hour net/cash - then to pay one honest legal American $12 an hour gross with all the payroll deductions required by law.

No bookeeping or Social Security, Unemployment, Worker's Comp, IRS paperwork either -

It's not just about operationg cheaper - it's about running a criminal enterprise that is no different then a Mafia family in New Jersey.

The WH, Congress, IRS, DOJ, FBI, ICE - have no interest in going after crooked employers of illegal aliens......

Proof you say?

In 2004 the Bush administration was so tough they sent out a grand total of three (3) letters to corporations concerning violation of federal statutes and regs about unlawfully employing illegal aliens!

Note on the Canadian border the FBI and Border Patrol arrested a gang of about eight (8) Russkies living in Canada - on dozens of fderal felony counts - prison terms will be 10-25 years -

The crime?:

"Human smuggling"!!!!!!

But on the Mexican border - over 10,000 illegals and coyotes - and drug mules - invade the USA - every day!

But they cannot be arrested for "human smuggling" can they?



Think about this FReepers.


Think hard and long.

In the last few days many crooked American employers and illegals themselves have registered and started posting their sensitive garbage on FR threads.

"We can't...."

"We can't...."

"We can't...."



Those hispanic attorneys signing up illegal aliens to register to vote need to be exposed - and dealt with as is required.

Tell your politicians you hold them personally reponsible for ignoring this massive DNC registration of hispanic illegals.

Tell your politicians you hold them personally reponsible for every murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, carjacking, ID theft, SS ID theft, assault by hispanic illegals.

Be (very) careful how you word your phone calls &/or emails &/or Faxes - your Congresscritter will certainly loose the dogs on you.

Refer to the names of those attorneys bragging of carrying 5000 voter reg. cards and signing up illegals.

Ask where ICE, FBI, Homeland Security is.

--

.....or just open another beer and let the WH and Congress sell your America out for $2000 a pop

You may not be much affected by this invasion by foreign thugs (over 10% of illegals entering the USA are violent criminals felons back in Mexico or wherever!) - and your grandchildren can surely clean up the mess we leave them.....






- Can't they?