TEXIFORNIA OR MEXAS

NRO's The Corner ^ | 1/9/04 | John Derbyshire

[William McKinley]

I am getting some very interesting sub-harmonics in my reader e-mail about the immigration thing. People are angry all over; but I am getting a fair amount of e-mail from people who are NOT angry, don't see what all the fuss is about, and are fine with massive illegal immigration from Mexico. A disproportionate number of these what's-the-fuss people write from Texas. Is Texas "special" in this regard? As compared to, say, California? One reader suggests that Texans have a much better-rooted sense of who they are than Californians do (heck, Texas was briefly a nation, wasn't it?), and so are comparatively insouciant about sharing their land with their neighbors. Is this right? If so, it throws an interesting light on GWB's attitudes.

[MJY1288]

"Want your state to be less of a magnet for illegals? Cut welfare benefits"

BINGO, the only way we will ever secure our borders and control the flow of illegal immigration is to remove the attraction. If we would punish the employers, who hire known illegals, so harshly that it would not be worth the risk to hire illegals in the first place.

As far as the ones already here, I don't see how it's possible to deport them, the cost of such an operation would be staggering, not to mention how the media would cover this massive deportation. Elien Gonzalez -x- 8 Million. If the illegals who are already here working are forced to face some sort of justice before entering whatever worker program they might come up with, as well as not getting on the path to citizenship, than I don't see how it could be called amnesty. Almost all minor infractions of the law in this country result in a fine or community service. From what I have read, this proposal calls for the illegals to pay a $1,500.00 fine before being accepted in the worker program. I would call that the typical way justice is served in this country.

[socal_parrot]

Next November, there will be a "Son of 187" proposition on the ballot in California. It will propose to deny most services to non-citizens. It is supposedly written to pass Constitutional scrutiny. Californians have passed several measures aimed at making it less attractive for illegals, only to be sold out by the State and Federal governments.


BTW... California was in independent nation for a short while also.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I'm not sure why Texans would be less pissed than Californians about this. Although we do see California as being somewhat more affected by our lack of border control than Texas is, we don't see the difference as that profound.

[Desron13]

"The illegals arriving in Texas are a better class than those in California."

Perhaps up until now. With this new policy a have this feeling of dread that things are about to take a horrible turn for the worst. If the border is not sealed before this goes into affect, I believe the American south west is through as a viable part of the United States. In the next five years we will see upwards of fifty million immigrants, either leagal or illeagal. It will then be impossible to know who is who and virtually all will be signed up to vote. I'll leave you with this...

Item 2: If Illegal aliens are allowed to vote, even in local elections, it will be another unmistakable signal that American citizenship, and therefore America itself, is finished. If the millions of illegal aliens in America are granted amnesty and get the vote, it will mean open immigration and a giant step toward Civil War II.

Thomas W. Chittum, from the Civil War II Checklist.

[mathluv]

Be careful where in E TX. There was 1 county that went blue. (Morris - Daingerfield)

[Desron13]

"With this new policy a have this feeling of dread..."

Sorry about that. I meant to say...

With this new policy I have this feeling of dread...

[dawn53]

I find that I'm less concerned about it than most people. I'm not a Texan, but:

1. We have lived under a similar system of "work permits" while we were in the Cayman Islands, and I saw that the system worked.

2. We have been through the nightmare that is the INS, when my husband, who was Canadian, successfully was granted naturalization. (I have lots of empathy for poor or illiterate folks trying to navigate the maze that the INS constructs.)

Besides that with the lottery system in place now, the words "they should do it legally" mean absolutely nothing. If you're not familiar with the process of getting a green card, take a look at this link and take the eligibility quiz (try plugging in Mexico as your nation of origin).
http://www.insexperts.com/cm/getting-green-card.htm

I think these two experiences make me more inclined to try to find a better system. What Bush has proposed has flaws, but it is a start to try and reign in the problem.

I think Bush has some idea of what he's doing and how this plan will play out, don't misunderestimate the man, not just yet.

[hobson]

Texas citizens both white and non-white fought side-by-side to gain independence from Mexico. The roots are deep.
There's probably never more than 2 degrees of separation between a citizen of Texas and a citizen of Mexico. If you don't have family living in Mexico you know someone who does.

[heleny]

Is Texas "special" in this regard? As compared to, say, California?

Californians probably feel more helpless and frustrated about the government being already out-of-control.

SB60 was a recent example of the state Democrats pandering to the illegal aliens when the Californians clearly were strongly opposed.

Ten years ago, Prop 187 was another example where a judge in the federal district court struck down the popularly-passed initiative. Davis failed to pursue the appeal.

Because of the continuing frustration with increasing state handouts attracting more and more illegal aliens who strain the budgets and clog freeways, a group of Californians wants to save our state by circulating a more moderate initiative to limit state benefits to illegal aliens. Not really mentioned is that this could indirectly alleviate some of the budget deficit.

Mail back by April 15th:
http://save187.com/

[Doug Loss]

We're Texans first, and choose to associate with the 49 lesser states

Increasingly, my desire to associate with the Lesser 49 is dwindling.

As I understand it, the treaty that made the Republic of Texas into a state has a provision under which Texas can become up to five states if it so chooses. I'm thinking that eight more senators from what is now Texas might not be such a bad idea...

Of course, if Congress refuses to allow Texas to become five states, the treaty is broken and Texas reverts to a Republic. Not such a bad deal!

[LibKill]

Want your state to be less of a magnet for illegals? Cut welfare benefits.

Very true. In Texas the able-bodied have the opportunity to make what they can of themselves. They also have the right to starve to death if they are too lazy to work.

We do provide for the disabled and children and for some folks who probably don't really need help. But the able-bodied need not apply for welfare.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Here's a fellow Texan that I thinks disagrees with you. Care to see more?

__________________________________________________________ I've had it.

Posted on 05/20/2003 8:43:51 AM PDT by BeerSwillr

I've had it with illegal aliens, illegal immigration, and the complicit attitude of US immigration policy!

My 16 year old has been looking for a summer job for the last 3 months, what he's found has been surprising. Not only are there no summer jobs available, there are no jobs available, period, for someone with no experience.

So you say he's not looking hard enough? That the jobs are there, you just have to find them. HA!

All the entry level, low skill jobs that would normally be taken by teenagers and young adults during the summer are being taken by illegal immigrants, at least here in Texas. The few places that don't hire illegals have to contend with 10 or more applicants for each open position.

So who is this hurting you ask? Just a few teenagers who will be back in school in a couple of months? Just a few teenagers that will contribute little to the overall economic picture? WRONG!

You know the answer. It's hurting everyone. Teenagers would spend almost every penny they earned, contributing immensely to the overall economic health of the US. They would be in the malls, movie theaters, and restaurants spending their hard earned pay, leaving their parents free to spend their money on something else.

The illegal aliens? They used to maintain a low profile. Now, they don't bother. They can be seen everywhere; mowing lawns, planting trees, roofing & framing houses, working at the lube shack, pouring concrete, gathering at several official and unofficial day worker hang-outs in the mornings (when it would be extremely easy for immigration to swoop in and arrest them.)

Where you don't and won't see them is out spending their money (except for at Wal-Mart.) You don't see them at Bennigans, Chilis, Tony Romas, Cinemark, the mall, car dealerships, etc.

Know why?

They don't have any money to spend on the US economy because they're sending everything except a small subsistence back to Mexico.

The illegals are not here to help us or the US economy. Anyone that says they are here to take jobs that US citizens don't want is being disingenuous.

They're siphoning off millions of dollars a year from the economy. Not only by taking jobs, but a host of other ways; education benefits, medical assistance, government assistance, thievery, robbery, drug dealing, you name it, they're involved in it.

And what is the Department of Homeland Security™ doing about this? They're putting on a dog and pony show.

They're outlining major new methods of monitoring ports of entry, airports, etc. with biometrics, fingerprinting, radar, facial recognition technology, and who knows what else, while at the same time doing nothing to monitor thousands of miles of open space where, apparently, it is relatively easy to cross into the US.

It seems to me that simple reconnaissance flights over that vast unmonitored territory would be able to identify these border violations and put a stop to, or at least slow, this illegal invasion of our country.

The Department of Homeland Security™ is largely ignoring the issue. Illegal entry into the US continues unabated across our borders.

It makes me sick.

What can we do about it? Other than mew weakly and post articles like this on the large wasteland that is the internet?

Contact your elected officials and let them know what you're thinking. Let them know you will hold them accountable. It's all in our hands.

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ I know I'm probably preaching to the Choir but I had to rant somewhere. I guess I could have just screamed at the TV like I usally do.

1 posted on 05/20/2003 8:43:51 AM PDT by BeerSwillr [ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[Joe Hadenuf]

Illegal Mexicans in Texas are just part of the problem there.

Behold

__________________________________________________________ Middle Easterners Streaming Into Texas: Study Say Most Live In Houston

The HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August 2002 | Edward Hegstrom

Aug. 14, 2002, 9:49PM

By EDWARD HEGSTROM

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Texas has one of the nation's fastest-growing Middle Eastern populations, and most of the state's immigrants live in Houston, according to a study based on census data.

Researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies say Texas' Middle Eastern population more than doubled in the last decade, to just over 100,000, including more than 52,000 in Greater Houston.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I've got a lot more articles from upset Texans, if you care to see them.

Regards.

[Eris]

Of course, if Congress refuses to allow Texas to become five states, the treaty is broken and Texas reverts to a Republic.

I'll refrain from describing what that thought does for me because I don't want to sound like a pervert. :)

[FITZ]

Very true. In Texas the able-bodied have the opportunity to make what they can of themselves. They also have the right to starve to death if they are too lazy to work.

Have you been to a welfare office in one of the more southern Texas counties lately? Welfare is high in Texas, but Texas has a different division of where people are living. If you live in Plano --- you might have no idea what Starr or Hidalgo county look like. There are welfare rates over 50% in some Texas counties.

[William McKinley]

Nope. Individual letters can be passionate and instructive and individual people's experience, but they don't do much for telling the big picture when you zoom out and try to see what huge populations think in aggregate. Thanks for the offer though!

[madison10]

That would be Mejas and Tejifornia. ;)

[William McKinley]

And I might add, you are confusing me with the author, who happens to agree with you. So if you are disagreeing with the author on the issue of immigration, you are disagreeing with yourself. He's just mentioning what his emails are showing him as someone who gets a lot of emails (letters to the editor type stuff).

As for me, I have no idea what the sense of Texans are, nor of Californians.

[William McKinley]

I was thinking it should be Texico and Mejifornia.