By D.A. King
Guest Columnist
"How can they pass a law like this? Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems." - Mexican Rep. Leticia Amparano Gamez, quoted in the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen newspaper on the thousands of Mexicans who are returning home as a result of Arizona legislation directed at illegal employment and illegal immigration.
In an amusing bit of irony, officials in the Mexican state of Sonora are publicly complaining about being overwhelmed with demands for housing, services and schools to accommodate repatriated "migrants" who were formally residing in the U.S. illegally.
The neighboring Mexican state is dealing with the fact that Arizona is demonstrating what is recognized all over the U.S. where state and local governments have acted on the crime of illegal immigration: Enforcement works.
To that end, along with some insightful resolutions, the recently ended Georgia legislative session has produced several bills that - combined with Senator Chip Rogers' (R- Woodstock) 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act - could add to the woes of the Mexican officials.
From someone who spent more than half of the 40 legislative session days under the Gold Dome working to encourage legislators to disregard the endless objections and mindless howls from the usual suspects in the open-borders lobby, a short outline of some of what the well-funded leftists fought so hard to stop.
From state Sen. John Wiles (R-north Cobb), Senate Bill 350 would punish any Georgia resident - including illegal aliens - caught driving in Georgia without ever having obtained a Georgia driver's license. Presently, unlicensed driving usually results in a small fine that is regarded as little more than a speed bump by untrained and unlicensed illegal drivers. SB 350 allows for fingerprinting violators, fines of up to $1,000 and jail time for the first offense, with a felony charge if convicted more than three times in five years.
Besides being a deterrent to illegal immigration, SB 350 would save lives on Georgia roads. Maybe it would have saved Cobb Sheriff's Deputy Loren Lilly, who was killed when he was run off the road by an unlicensed illegal alien in December 2006.
This is the second year Wiles has fought for passage of his legislation. Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed a nearly identical bill last year. Sen. Wiles deserves our thanks for his dedication to public safety and his courage in standing up to the crazies in the illegal alien lobby.
Ditto for Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville), whose House Bill 978 allows law enforcement officers to impound the vehicles of drivers found to be driving without being licensed - the huge majority of whom are illegals. The fact that federal law allows for the seizure of any vehicle or craft found to be transporting illegal aliens does not silence the absurd argument that this is somehow "unconstitutional" or "anti-immigrant."
SB 421, sponsored by Sen. Chip Pearson (R- Dawsonville), makes it a felony for the second violation of the crime of knowingly manufacturing, selling, distributing or possessing false identification documents. Even for illegal aliens who have stolen American citizens' identities in order to steal the "American Dream."
These bills have all the right enemies - including Jerry Gonzalez of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials and the sinister MALDEF - who are working for a veto from the governor.
This legislation deserves enthusiastic and vocal support from Georgia citizens.
Two Senate resolutions are also noteworthy, final and cannot be vetoed. SR 827 written by Sen. Nancy Schaefer (R-Turnerville), expresses the will of the Georgia Senate to urge Congress to withdraw our country from the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America and from any activity that seeks the economic merger of the United States with other nations - like has happened with the European Union.
SR 1011 from Sen. Bill Jackson (R-Appling) offers gratitude and appreciation to U.S. Border Patrol and urges the president to review the ludicrous incarceration of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. Both were prosecuted for improperly wounding an illegal alien smuggling drugs.
It was not a good session for those who promote and defend illegal immigration - if the governor lets enforcement work. I am going to call his office right now at (404) 656-1776 and ask him to sign these important bills into Georgia law.
D.A. King is president of the Cobb-based Dustin Inman Society, which is opposed to illegal immigration. On the Web: www.TheDustinInmanSociety.org
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Posted Comments
HOORAY! GREAT to see D.A. King back in the MDJ - we want more of his writing. I am calling the Governor right now. If he vetos ANYTHING that Jerry Gonzalez and MALDEF/ACLU oppose, he should quit his job and go home!
I dare Sonny to veto these bills! Thank you D.A for telling us...but where is the news department?
Governor Perdue, PLEASE don't sign this racist legislation.
Thank you to D.A. King for trying his darned best to keep all of us informed about what's going on around us. If we want to preserve our America as we know it, we should ALL call the Governor's office right now!
Immigration is a federal issue not a state one. Yes I will contact the Governor. I sent a letter today urging for his veto against these bills and put end to this continual immigration bashing by D.A. King and followers. I wish he would use his energies for things that really matter in our community rather than promote the politics of destruction and division.
Thanks for the commentary, it made me write a letter to the Governor asking him to VETO these bills. I tire of D.A. King's rhetoric pushing the state to develop policy on a federal immigration issues. We have far too little state resources or political capital to waste on anti immigration rants. I hope that Mr. King would spend his energies on matters that are important to our community rather than promote the politics of division and personal destruction.
Thank you D.A....Is a shame that we need to remind our elected officals to ENFORCE our laws. ILLEGALS are ruining the life of our cities. We need to take back our country. Enforce does work!
If the federal government would enforce existing laws concerning immigration, then the state of Georgia would not have to pass legislation to export illegals, and to get them off of our roads. But, as it is, since the federals won't do it, then there is no choice left to the state Governments.
Until enough Americans stand up & say "enough already", I believe we will continue to see the elected officials give the "wink,wink, nod,nod", & do as little as possible about illegal immigration . Until they're forced . That is where we are w/ elected officials these days- they will only listen to special interests & high paid lobbiests! America has lost it's voice! I believe an "ICE" round-up is needed in the Buckhead community-(Sonnys neighborhood)I wonder how many elected officials houses would be on the list. You can't drive a half a block there, w/out seeing hoardes of illegal workers, working on the mansions. The rich don't give a rats behind, that American workers are suffering & desperate for enforcement of our federal immigration laws! I would think the 1st law Georgia really needs to pass is that hiring illegal aliens is against the law! We need to have this practice halted immediately! All employers, & ALL developers & ANYONE knowingly hiring illegal labor should be prosecuted & fined!!! How 'bout a law that says "OBEY THE LAWS of this LAND"--what session will we see that introduced, or is it too radical? America is imploding due to GREED!
Thanks to D.A. King for the information and phone number to call the governor's office to ask him to sign the bills into law.
Something needs to be done to halt illegal immigrants from coming here and those that are all ready here illegally should be made to go home. If they want to return they should stand in line like millions of others have done since America became a great nation. I'm not against people from other countries coming here but they should do so in a legal manner. And they should follow our laws, pay taxes and all the other things that an American Citizen has to do. They are dropping wages and taking jobs away from American Citizens. Many of my friends have lost their job because illegals work for a lot less money. So much less that my friends couldn't support their families with the amount now being offered because of illegals. One friend went for a job interview just last week and he was told to go home "because the company was hiring only illegals because they didn't have to pay them more then a sandwich and a beer for a day's labor". Illegal immigration is more of a danger to America's future then all the terrorists in the world. Illegals will break the bank because they are taking every social service that we give and are not replacing a dime back into the system. Plus crime has skyrocketed in every state because of illegals. All most 1/3 of all prisoners in jails across across America are illegals. Why should we have to stand for the killing everyday of an American by illegals. Mexico doesn't allow illegals in their country, but they think that we are racists because we won't let any of their citizens to come here. David Barlow Mableton, Ga. 30126 meandc@gmail.com
To Cobb County Resident: DA King does not bash immigrants. You forgot the "illegal" part of his tireless efforts. If you don't agree with with enforcing our laws, then you support criminals and betrayal of our country. Thanks DA. Please, Governor Perdue, sign these bills and protect GA citizens and taxpayers.
Sonny needs to step to the plate like MS. did. They just passed a law that any company caught with an "illegal" on their payroll would be fined $5,000 per employee. I am Project Manager on a large storm sewer project here. Monday the contractor called me and said he was not going to work this week. When questioned he admitted he had not laborers available, they all were let go. Hey great, hire some local citizens!!!!!!
I am a fairly liberal person, but enough is enough! The goofiness from what even I now call the mindless open borders lobby never stops and never changes. The only thing they want is amnesty and more illegals to use in five years. I know 8 people who called the governor today and we are all happy to at least get some news on what can be done. In case nobody noticed: The feds, our senators included will only try for amnesty...it is up to our state to protect us from those who laugh at us and our laws. Closing our borders is always only a promise for next year. No one is fooled anymore.
D A King is a voice that speaks for the people. To the Cobb County Resident that says illegal immigration is a Federal issue, give me a break! Out of all the departments that the Federal government is responsible for, do any of them operate responsibly? We have a Sheriff, thank God, in this county that is taking a stand and making a difference. Politics of destruction and division? I'm sorry, but there are those of us in this county that do not want to pay out the nose for the person who is mowing your lawn!
Accoring to the Dustin Inman website, the organization seeks equal protection under the law. The Constitution bestows due process for all individuals in the country regardless of national origin. The legislation being proposed removes due process from citizens. This is in contradiction with Mr. King's organization. Gov. Purdue recognizes individual rights, and correctly vetoed the similar legilstation last year. These restriction in rights affects all people, regardless of immigration status. When it comes to judging who is really sinsiter, Mr. King, look into the mirror. We are watching you. Judge lest you be judged.
DA King is a racist. He should not be allowed to write such dribble and waste precious space of my daily MDJ paper.
Who isnt opposed to illegal immigration?
Just look at these comments. The string here is that illegals are committing all the crimes. Funny how an estimated 20 million people that are considered undocumented can cause a nation of over 300 Million to fall to its knees. Get Real! The only reason anglos keep attacking the latinos is that anglos do not want to work for less than union wages. Mr. King, would you work in a hot Georgia Poultry house for $4.00 an hour? Probably not. You are a racist. I agree, with above, we are watching you. The truth will come out about Mr. DA King.
GOOD STORY GOOD TOPIC. NEED TO CONFISCATE NOT IMPOUND DRIVERS VEHICLES THAT ARE WITHOUT A LICENSE;THAT INCLUDES SUSPENDED OR REVOKED
I saw on Pleasant Hill road a small white car(in poor condition)rearend a new Saturn with a average man and wife in it.All four of the young men (latino) jump from the car and ran to the four winds.I would bet $100.00 they were illegal with no Lic.- insurance-or paper work of any kind.Why do people of the state of GA. have to put up with this? As a son of the south I hold state's rights higher than anything Washington D.C. has to say or do.
Govener Purdue, Please sign these bills. It is against the law to come here in the first place illegally. This would be another reward, for breaking the law. We couldnt get by with this in another country. The ones who say its racist when you are asking that the laws of your land be obeyed, they need to take a look at themselves. Blacks ,whites, Latino,Asian whatever your race, if you truley care about this country you will want the laws respected. If someone is here illegally they deserve no benifits, none. Its not fair to the Americian tax payer, because they are the ones who foot the bill. We need to cut off the magnets that draw them here.
Governor Please sign the bill. It would just be another reward for breaking the law. It is against the law to come here illegally in the first place. Why should those that have broke the law have that privilege? Those of us that abide by the law, just want this country respected, and that means no illegally entry or extra privileges. We couldnt get by with it in another country..
Why is it racist to want to uphold the laws of your country? Why is it racist to want to limit endless hoards of people coming into your country illegally, which includes not only those seeking jobs but also criminals, drug smugglers and even possible terrorists? The USA has always welcomed those who want to come here legally. People from many countries have come and have assimilated to become good Americans. There were no special privileges for my ancestors who came over. The USA didn't change the English language to include my ancestors language. Since the federal government continues to be unreliable in carrying out the laws of this country on illegal immigration, states like Georgia must defend and create laws on there own. I am pro-"legal" immigration and would welcome anyone wanting to become an American. I am encouaging Gov. Perdue to support these bills.
I am a legal American and I had to have my finger prints done when I received my driver's license and I have always been an American citizen, also driving most of my life. Why is this being brought up? Illegal immigrants should never be allowed to drive and MOST CERTAINLY NEVER ALLOWED TO CROSS OUR BORDERS. Disgusting to see our country run over with illegal immigrants.
Can't we just love each other?
Governor, Please vote yes and in favor of House Bill 89 (concerning guns - allow the carry of) - Please akso vote for Senate Bill 350, House bill 978, Senate Bill 827, and SR 1011. Thank you. W. R. Schoenfeld Wolfgang37@bellsouth.net
There is nothing hateful about asking anyone that comes into your home or your country to acknowledge they are here and why. For anyone to force an entry into this country illegally is the same as a home invasion. They were not invited, we do not know who they are, or what they have done. We need to be sure they are not criminals and that they will abide by rules and laws that are in place. Why should we tolerate or support this type of behavior? We wouldn’t want this to happen to our home, so why would we tolerate it when someone invades our country?
What part of "illegal" do you not understand?!?! As American citizens, we have certain rights. With those rights, go responsibilities. I have the right to drive a car. It is my responsibility to be sure I am physically able to drive this car. That means can I pass a road test? Can I read the street signs? Can I pass the written test? Do I have a record of DUIs? Do I have a series of speeding tickets? etc. These are all considerations. It is probably the same in other countries. If I don't meet the requirements, then I should not be able to get a driver's license and because of that, I should not be driving a car. If there is paperwork involved due to citizenship requirements, then this should be taken care of also. Yes, this is expensive and takes a lot of time, sometimes years. Until that time, other means of transportation become necessary - ride with someone, take a taxi, take a bus, ride a bicycle, walk, etc. You should not be allowed to operate heavy machinery until you are licensed to do so, for your safety and the safety of others. If you violate this, then you're putting others at risk and need to be penalized for your lack of respect for the laws of our city/state. [According to this bill, you can take care of your first offense by presenting your license to the court. This bill makes it a felony after FOUR offenses in FIVE YEARS. FOUR times of driving without a license. That's pretty lenient to me.] Thank you to D.A. King. Thank you to Senator Wiles for pursuing this bill. Thank you to Governor Perdue for signing the bill.