12/17/2008 9:46:00 AM Letter: BP protects us from illegals
Editor, Leader:
I just read the opinion forum letter titled "Border Patrol: follow law" in the Dec. 3 Leader. I also attended the Border Patrol's forum meeting at Chimacum School about a month ago when everyone complained about our Border Patrol.
We need to wake up and face some hard facts, and they are: Twelve Americans are murdered every day by illegal aliens, according to statistics released by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. If those numbers are correct, it translates to 4,380 Americans murdered annually by illegal aliens.
Total U.S. troop deaths in Iraq are reported as 4,136 as of December 2008. That tells us that more Americans are murdered each month by illegal aliens than U.S. military forces killed by terrorists in the whole war against terrorism.
You should know the carnage perpetrated by illegal alien murderers represents only a fraction of the blood spilled against American citizens as a result of an open border and unenforced immigration laws.
While Rep. King reports 12 Americans are murdered daily by illegal aliens, he says 13 are killed by drunk illegal alien drivers - for another annual death toll of 4,745.
King also reports that eight American children are victims of sexual abuse by illegal aliens every day - a total of 2,920 annually.
Based on a one-year in-depth study, Deborah Schurman-Kauflin of the Violent Crimes Institute of Atlanta estimates there are about 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States who have had an average of four victims each. That's a total of 960,000 sexual victims. She analyzed 1,500 cases from January 1999 through April 2006 that included serial rapes, serial murders, sexual homicides and child molestation committed by illegal immigrants.
As the number of illegal aliens in the United States increases, so does the number of American victims.
I, for one, support the Border Patrol and its checkpoints. One or more of the illegal aliens they have removed might have saved a Jefferson County family the death of a loved one. The last sentence written by Mr. Hepler says it all. "Leave us alone to go about our daily business; we'll call you when we need you."
If you need to call the Border Patrol, then isn't it already too late?
GARY H. PRICE
Port Ludlow
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, December 18, 2008
Article comment by:
Alex Hepler
A quick look at the case referenced shows that it involved a search warrant. This is quite different than stopping all members of the public for questioning at an internal suspicionless checkpoint/roadblock which may take place as much as 100 miles from an international border. The checkpoint method assumes all are guilty until proven innocent. Last time I returned from outside the US I showed my papers and answered appropriate questions at the border (just like Ahmed Ressam). I should not be stopped and questioned again (if I am driving a safe car in a safe manner) as I go about my business within Jefferson County, WA.- far from an international border.
Some question my description of the checkpoint (near the Hood Canal Bridge) being “far from the nearest international border” - If we got out of our car at the checkpoint- near the Hood Canal bridge- and walked back to the border- how far would we travel? What route would we take? How many counties would we pass through? Would we need a map to plan our route?
Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Article comment by:
Paula James
You ask their immigration status when stopped for a legal violation. The don't ask, don't tell policy is killing Americans every day.
In a March 22, 2005 ruling, in Muehler v Mena, in unanimous decision from a Court known for its 5-4 splits, the United States Supreme Court essentially said that asking about immigration status during a lawful police contact (or, by implication, any lawful contact) was as fundamental a question as asking for name, address and date of birth. Indeed, the Court made clear that no predicate "independent reasonable cause' need exist to inquire into immigration status. It is the Law of the Land.
Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Article comment by:
Alex Hepler
This is not about bashing the Border Patrol or being anti-law enforcement. Washington is one of 11 states that do not allow DUI Roadblocks.
Our various local law enforcement agencies do not conduct roadblocks- this is what we expect here- we are not complaining or whining when we state our case.
I trust the professional judgment of local law enforcement agencies- they will request services from the federal government as needed.
Here at home, US citizens are not required to carry proof of citizenship. The standard driver’s license does not prove citizenship- so how does a verbal citizenship check (Honor System) stop a terrorist or any sort of criminal at a roadblock?
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