The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office has recently received approval to have officers stationed as immigration agents at our jail, according to this morning's Asbury Park Press.
The purpose of these officers would be to turn over illegal immigrants who commit crimes to the feds, and deportation would follow if appropriate.
Sheriff Kim Guadagno says the $50,000 training program would be paid for by reimbursements from the federal government, which is really only a cherry on top.
It is bad enough that taxpayers are expected to pay for people who reside here illegally to use our schools and hospitals as they avoid paying taxes while taking much-needed jobs. And don't give me the "they do jobs we don't want to" spiel. That might have been true years ago, but there are plenty of unemployed people who would work for landscaping companies or clean buildings to pay their mortgages these days.
Why should we pay for defense attorneys and translators, and eventually jail time for some, if they break our laws and endanger the responsible members of our society? In addition to the fact that too many don't even have to serve their punishment due to plea deals or because they flee the state. (Side note: Kudos to the courts for allowing the increasing of bail for illegal immigrants in order to keep offenders here for prosecution.)
I understand the sympathy for people who left their country to come here for a better life -- that is how many of our ancestors came here. However, my grandparents registered and paid their taxes, which should be the goal of anyone who comes here.
But, to live off our dime and then commit crimes against us is a double slap in the face. I see no need to protect anyone who free loads off of our society and then breaks its rules.
The defense from immigration rights groups? That these officers could be used to protect us from offenders. That is a pretty weak argument. If we send these offenders home, there would be less policing of them needed.
Further, this could serve as a deterrent. Perhaps less crime from illegal immigrants would occur in our county if they knew they could be kicked out of the country for it.
I have respect for the many sects of our society, and I believe everyone should have a chance to make a better life for themselves. But, not if it is by endangering or swindling the rest of us here.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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7 comments:
Good story.
BTW, nothing on Councilman Joseph "Buddy" Mullaney and his hiring an attorney to prevent Matawan from passing an Ordinance Prohibiting Elected Officials from Performing Work in the Borough? Reference an interview on Purcell's former blog, The Clamdigger March 2008, wherein Mullaney is quoted as saying he was going to introduce a similar Ordinance for good clean government.
Can we conclude you no longer report for the Courier or just not covering Matawan? Didn't always agree with you, but miss your viewpoints. Either way, good luck to you in your future endeavors.
Matawan Advocate,
I have not worked for The Courier since December. I have not really followed Bayshore politics since then, since I am no longer working in the area.
I do, however, follow county politics, since I do still live here. I basically use this blog as a platform for opinion now.
Thank you for your sentiment and I hope Matawan is getting along better.
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The person breaking the tax laws is not the employee but the employer. That may not fit the way you want to frame the story, but it's the truth.
I agree, Mim, that the employer is also to blame for hiring such people. They are being selfish. However, that does not make it ok for the employees.
Just as, if someone sells you a bag of crack, that does not mean they take all of the blame for you being in possession of an illegal substance.
The employer is not *also* to blame; they are completely to blame. Only the employer can withhold or otherwise collect employment taxes. The employee is not allowed to do it, forward it, report it, or anything.
When I see the anti-immigrant folks start getting serious about enforcing laws against employers, then I'll believe they really care about the laws being broken. Until then, it's racism pure and simple. We had illegal immigrants in this area from Ireland, Italy, and Poland for years. No one ever said a thing.
Mim,
Maybe you forgot that the people who are here illegally don't have to be. They can apply to become a legal citizen or get a visa. They are breaking the law.
I don't disagree that employers who take advantage of this situation should be held accountable. But the fact that the government isn't combing through the books of every lawn service or restaurant is not racist. There is a major lack of resources to do such work, and what would it really accomplish? Putting the resources toward getting rid of dangerous illegal immigrants just makes more sense.
Our country has plenty of other things going on and this is obviously not the top priority. But I do support the local effort to keep citizens safe.
Wanting the law upheld is not racist or even anti-immigration. I welcome anyone who wants to come here, but do it right.
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