I Get Emails: Don’t Let People Get Away With Comparing Illegals To Immigrants

24 Feb, 2010 by John Hawkins

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One of the things the open borders and amnesty crowd has tried to do again and again is blur the line between immigrants who filled out their paperwork, paid their dues, and patiently waited in line to come to this country — and illegals who just waltzed right in over the border.

That’s not just a dumb argument; it’s actually offensive to compare people who loved and respected this country enough to come here the right way to people whose first act upon American soil was breaking our law.

I noted this in my Townhall column yesterday and I just want to share a couple: of emails I received from immigrants agreeing with that sentiment:

Due to the mccarran act I had to wait ten years before getting my U.S. Visa;just before I went into the U.S. Army – where I ended up with the 82nd, in Bragg., I was one time having a lunch break in a square in San Francisco close to wells fargo bank, where I had worked. I got to chat up a pretty young lady – this was in july 1962, and I was 23 myself. I told that I was an immigrant from Malta, and that I had had to wait so long. She replied,”oh, I didn’t bother. I just came for a holiday and stayed. Been here two years now.”This young woman from England, who could have come here legally almost overnight, still saw fit to stay illegally, holding a highly paid job with shell oil that could have gone to an American girl. There are very many illegals holding great jobs, from many european countries – and especially from canada! The illegals from Mexico and other latin or asian countries never pay any taxes, yet their employers make the deduxctions – then pocket the money, since the employees are not reported on returns. They pay no fica or ss taxes, file no returns, yet they obtain all the services that they need – and they need a lot – and we pay for them. Most of the babies born in California are to illegals. It’s an invasion, no less. And the Mexican government encourages it, viewing it as an invasion by osmosis. One other thing: I had reported all this and given actual names of employers, being an accountant, and the irs wasn’t the least interested! — Pcrhein

Dear Mr. Hawkins,

I’m a Brazilian citizen who has been a permanent resident of the U.S. through marriage since 2006. Between 1998 and 2005, I left and re-entered this country numerous times to spend the holidays with my family, and at the end of each trip, I had to renew my visa, for which I had to pay greatly, wait in line for hours at the American Embassy in Brazil, and make my case to embassy officials (while speaking in English!!!) for why I should be allowed to return here. But none of this trouble has ever discouraged me from wanting to come back because, as you said yourself, “this is the greatest nation God has seen fit…” and what I had to go thru was a small price to pay in comparison. Today I have made the U.S. my home and am proud to say that in less than a year I will be able to apply for dual citizenship. The reason why I’m writing you is to tell you that my heart rate went up from reading your article! What a masterpiece! As someone who has spent countless hours filling out forms and thousands of dollars to pay for them, it’s infuriating to see that part of this government and many of their own citizens actually support giving amnesty to these people. Don’t take me wrong; being from a poor family myself, I can sympathize with anyone who thinks America can provide them with more opportunities to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones. However, wannabe-immigrants should consider gaining access to these opportunities the same as winning the lottery! It’s a gift, not a given! I and other legal aliens had to work hard to be able to carry our green cards in our wallets, so it’s a spit on the face that a free loader who has no respect for this great nation should just waltz in here, get a job with benefits, pay no taxes and as a bonus get free citizenship! Preposterous!!! Thanks for a great article, and God bless America! — Naiila

Don’t let the amnesty and open borders crowd get away with comparing illegal aliens to the immigrants who came here legally. Challenge them on it and make them explain why somebody who just waltzed over the border deserves American citizenship just as much as people who were willing to obey the rules for a decade to get that same privilege.