Illegal immigrants don't want American values, Originally published May 27, 2006

It is appalling the way our government is so casually throwing away American citizenship. There is no country in Europe that would allow any individual to enter and establish a legal life in direct violation of their laws. Mexico would not allow Americans to illegally enter Mexico and stay.

For over two centuries, the Stars and Stripes hung with pride over a nation of solid citizens. Yet today, we fight over the details of a law to throw our citizenship to illegal immigrants who slithered across our borders and laughed at our laws.

It is shameful that any American could have such a low self-esteem that they would consider a criminal worthy of the highest honor we can bestow on someone born in another nation — the right to call themselves an American.

For over two centuries, tens of thousands of immigrants have slaved for years to prove to us that they shared our values by first entering America legally, then studying our history and laws so they could stand proudly as they took the oath of allegiance. The new breed of immigrants refuse to study our language, yet they demand citizenship! Why? If they do not want to earn citizenship, what is it they want? Just a free ride!

One illegal proudly boasted on national TV that he owned over a dozen eateries and only hired illegals. That's national pride — for Mexico, not America.

Also, illegals cannot have a Social Security card and therefore cannot pay taxes. Remember that 35 percent the government took from your last paycheck? Illegals cannot pay that. They keep every cent of their pay! An employer can pay an illegal 40 percent less than a legal and keep them in the same economic class. Oh, how many true Americans would love to work in a restaurant, but can't find a job because illegals have them?

No sane person would say that a law-breaker is not a criminal. What the illegal immigrant community has proven is their total disdain for our values, laws and safety. Remember that over the decades, we have seen news coverage of the murders committed by the gangs crossing our borders ... The bodies found in the Texas, Arizona and New Mexico deserts, the dead Border Patrol members who are turning in their graves for the lives they wasted uselessly, defending our homeland from the invading throng.

David Darcy

Poplar Road