2007-07-26 LETTERS

Amnesty for aliens not worth the price

August 01, 2007 There is an old axiom for writers that is too often ignored: Write about what you know. This reader thinks that Mr. Appen's ill-informed column regarding State Senator Chip Rogers' and his Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB 529) and the huge majority of Americans who opposed the recent attempt at amnesty for illegal aliens and illegal employers is a good example of ignoring that advice. It could be true that Americans will pay a little more for living in the United States if we are ever successful in finding a president and a Congress that will secure our borders as is required by the constitution. It would seem a no-brainer to most, considering the war on terror. Let's try it! Some of us – who are paying attention – know that the price of labor in our agriculture industry represents less than 10 percent of the final retail price in the supermarket. We could double the wages of farm workers and not drastically increase our food costs. We hope Mr. Appen writes about that someday soon. Maybe if we actually find a government that will equally apply the rule of law upon which our great nation was founded, we will see the price of homes rise somewhat. Paying Americans a living wage to work in our construction industry doesn't seem so very extreme to this long-time American. advertisement To preserve the rule of law, return to a common language and enjoy defended and defined borders, most Americans without a vested and direct interest in employing black market labor apparently are willing to forgo amnesty. According to a December 2005 AJC/Zogby poll, more than 82 percent of Georgians wanted something done about illegal immigration on a state level. Mr. Appen seems to ignore the fact that there is no such thing as cheap labor. It is actually taxpayer subsidized labor and that we all pay considerably to provide the services to illegals that they cannot afford on the artificially low wages paid to them by the criminal employers. "Get out your wallets" indeed. It is a federal crime to assist, transport, harbor, employ or to encourage an illegal alien to remain these United States. The penalty is increased for doing so for commercial profit. Because of Chip Rogers' legislation, employers in Georgia no longer have a better chance of being struck by lightning than suffering consequences for drawing illegals into our state. Rogers should be considered a hero for suffering the name-calling and personal attacks that always come with speaking out for the American people who have little voice in their own nation when the big money is allowed to decide which laws are to be enforced. What we don't know is if Appen understands that we tried amnesty in 1986. We were told then that if we granted amnesty to about 1 million illegals, our government would then secure our borders and begin to sanction the employers who violated the laws. The "one time" amnesty of '86 turned out to be applied to nearly 3 million victims of geography. Look around, it didn't stop illegal immigration. Amnesty is not enforcement. We are now told, more than 21 years later, that there are 12 million illegals here. Most of us who study the issue understand that figure to off by at least half. English is now an optional language in Georgia. We also know that Appen is not a news hound, as he writes about new state laws that make it much more difficult for the illegals to get driver's licenses. Wrong. Illegal aliens are not legally permitted to get a Georgia driver's license and never have been. Maybe he is thinking of the fact that Rogers' also sponsored a law to require a valid license to register an automobile? Likely an un-American move, but it will serve to cut down on illegal drivers who are killing Americans on our roads. Most of us regard that as a good thing and understand that enforcement works. Most of us recognize that doing so is not somehow ""anti-immigration" - and that real immigrants join the American family according to the same rule of law that allows Appen to attack the Americans who want a level playing field. Appen takes a shot a guessing that "75 percent" of the construction workforce in this nation is illegal. Those of us who study the issue know that the Pew Hispanic Center reports that the number is actually 14 percent – meaning that 86 percent is legal labor. Last year we watched as millions of illegals marched in a demand for American citizenship while waving the flag of Mexico – with corporate support. Appen, like most who mindlessly oppose actually enforcing the law, describes the Americans who stopped amnesty as "extremists" Who exactly are the "extremists" here? D.A. KING

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