Posted on 04/18/2006 1:21:36 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious
Now that the United States Senate's plan to grant amnesty to over 12 million illegal immigrants has reached a deadlock, it would be interesting to look back at how such proposed law-making would have affected other characters in American history.
Al Capone legally immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's, eventually creating one of the most notorious crime syndicates our nation has ever known. Capone, who came to America from Italy, amassed a great fortune through his participation in bootlegging, prostitution and gambling during the Roaring 20's. Capone thrived in Chicago where a corrupt city government and police department looked the other way, enabling the gangster to earn as much as $10 million a year, by some estimates, in crime-related revenue.
Federal officials were in a quandary in their attempts to derail Capone's murderous reign as Chicago's crime lord. Only after the 1927 St. Valentine's Day Massacre did public opinion turn against Capone, leading to a legitimate effort to throw the kingpin of crime behind bars. The federal government assigned Treasury Agent Elliot Ness the task of compiling evidence of criminal wrongdoing against Capone and his gang. But, for the most part, Ness and his agents, who were later to be called "The Untouchables," were unsuccessful. Violence between warring gangs continued until a brilliant strategy was devised which eventually put the head of the underworld in a federal penitentiary for most of his remaining, natural life. Capone was charged with tax evasion and was given a seven-year sentence, some of which was served in Alcatraz. He was released early--after officials determined the syphilis which ravaged his mind rendered Capone harmless and he died shortly after at his vacation home in Florida.
If we used today's standards, Capone's only mistake would have been entering the U.S. legally. As an illegal immigrant, Capone would not have been subject to taxes and "The Untouchables" might still be chasing his great-great grandchildren in their attempt to bring Chicago's most powerful crime syndicate to justice. Today, Chicago is a sanctuary city, meaning illegal immigrants are now truly the "untouchables." Law enforcement officials are not allowed to ask anyone for visas or green cards. Illegal immigrants cannot be detained and there is no mechanism for their deportation.
Eliot Ness' strategy, which was successful in putting one of the most ruthless criminals in American history behind bars, would not be possible in this day and age--as our laws are currently written concerning illegal immigrants.
But using former gangsters in an analogy to the present is not so far fetched. Street gangs have made some parts of American cities literal battle zones. A high percentage of illegal aliens make up many of these gangs. One of the most violent criminal entities to enter the United States in recent years is a gang called MS-13. This group originated in El Salvador, but now exists in 33 states across the nation. Hindering law enforcement's pursuit of MS-13 are some city's policies concerning the detention of illegal immigrants, including sanctuary laws.
America's open border with Mexico has helped this gang thrive through the exportation of illegal narcotics. Caravans of illegal aliens smuggling drugs across the border are escorted by guards armed with automatic weapons. U.S. residents, whose ranches border Mexico, live in fear for their lives and deadly encounters with drug smugglers are growing ever more frequent. In fact, the border patrol is, in many cases, out-gunned by these criminals who have found America's back door open to their invasion.
Thankfully, the Senate's proposed legislation--which would have granted amnesty to illegal immigrants without addressing border security--did not pass. A bill which would have gone much further towards sealing our open borders with Mexico was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Unfortunately, this legislation has little chance of being considered by the Senate.
There is one hope, however. When legislators return home to face their constituents during Easter break, they might hear something uncluttered by the political noise in Washington, D.C. That's if they would talk to their constituents and not listen to agenda-driven polls advanced by a partisan media. They shouldn't be influenced by self-serving demonstrations which do not represent the sentiments of average Americans. Americans are serious about the problem of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants take jobs away from the poorest Americans and tax the nation's educational and social welfare systems.
However, today we live in a world turned upside down. Americans who believe laws should be obeyed are seen as the bad guys and those who flaunt the law are looked upon as righteous. Illegal aliens are the new "untouchables" in American society, no matter what the cost to the rest of the nation.
Those politicians who don't get it are violating their oath of office. They swore to protect the United States and its borders. Any elected official who does not have the courage to do so, should find a new profession.
Now I wonder where the buck stops, President Bush.
Thank you for posting.
Al Capone was born in NYC on January 17, 1899.
He was not an immigrant of any kind.
Now I wonder where the buck stops, President Bush.
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Oh fear not. The buck will be passed as it always has been, to the U.S. citizen taxpayers. Anything relating to illegal immigration goes AROUND the present White House.
Uh-oh...
Absolutely. Otherwise he would have been deported like Charlie Lucky, who was an immigrant [although he's buried here].
Ness didn't nail Big Cheech. The accountants did, and they weren't even assigned to Ness' unit. Ness just took the credit - and wrote the book.
What a load of crap.
Is there anything which cannot be dragged into your Illegal Hysteria?
Capone's mistake was 'Al Brown's Dry Cleaning', his legit business, where he claimed the income he reported came from. Charlie Lucky was smarter. He listed his occupation as 'gambler' on his tax returns [and arrest sheets]. Made proving the money was illegal [and the amount] much more difficult.
Please don't confuse the Hysterics with facts.
You would think the IRS would do something, but it seems they don't care.
The hysteria comes from promoting this issue as if it is the #1 problem facing the nation. It is not. It is not even in the top half dozen yet the hysterical are willing to ignore the REAL major issues and attack the President over the lesser one.
The Party of Treason finally has a winner. Promote, organize and carry out mass demonstrations and have the Gullible and Foolish attack the GOP because of them. Anyone with a scintilla of intelligence knows that any increase in RAT power will REDUCE any ability or willingness to deal with Illegals.
The 11-12 million extras don't even come close to replacing the millions destroyed by abortion. We are going to need about 30 million more it appears.
Capone should have taken Steve Martin's advice.
You can be a millionaire, and never pay taxes. How?
Ok, first go out and get a million dollars. Then when the taxman show up at your door and says, "You didn't pay your taxes." Two simple words in the English language. "I forgot."
There are a number of books which state Al Capone was an immigrant. But there historians who do say Capone was born in the U.S. No matter what the case, the idea of my column was to illustrate laws pertaining to legal American citizens--whether immigrants or not--do not apply to those who came to the United States illegally.
Daniel T. Zanoza
I have to disagree with justshutupandtakeit. If amnesty were given to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States at the present time, the real number of new immigrants that could lay claim to American citizenship would be something like 30 to 40 million. We have to remember the extended families of the illegals in the U.S. would legally be given the fast track to citizenship, if amnesty to illegals were granted. If I'm not mistaken, there are between 300 and 350 million people legally living in the United States. Amnesty would change the make-up of American society to drastic proportions, since 30 million new immigrants is nearly one-tenth of our current population. Hysteria might be an understatement concerning what the proposed amnesty will mean to our country. Remember, if the danger is real, it is NOT paranoia.
There certainly are. And those books are all incorrect.
No matter what the case, the idea of my column was to illustrate laws pertaining to legal American citizens--whether immigrants or not--do not apply to those who came to the United States illegally.
You picked a poor thesis to write your article around: not only was Al Capone not an immigrant, he also completely flouted the law egregiously for decades and the only way that was found to stop him and similar criminals was to pass new tax laws and subsequently convict criminals under them.
Al Capone, a native-born citizen of the United States, violated the law thousands of times with complete and total impunity until he was finally brought to justice using the tax code instead of the criminal code.
By citing him as your primary example you completely undermine your own case.
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