Statement on Immigration
This site is not an immigrant bashing site.
Most Americans like myself, like immigrants -- even illegal immigrants. Twelve years ago, I married an illegal immigrant from Mexico (now a proud American citizen) whom at that time cared for my late mother suffering from Alzheimer's disease. And I am close with three of my brothers-in-law who are in the U.S. illegally. Obviously, I am not against illegal immigrants -- but I am against unsustainable illegal immigration encouraged by our local bureaucrats and politicians like Dennis Zine.
Since naturalized citizens may petition for their siblings, my wife had started the petitioning process for my brothers-in-law before they made the decision to illegally come to Los Angeles. You see, my brothers-in-law found out through the virtual hotline, that it is legal to be illegal in Los Angeles, thanks to leaders like Dennis Zine.
My brothers-in-law certainly fit the profile of being honest, hard working immigrants, seeking a better life for their families and themselves -- they are good people and should not be the subject of an LAPD witch hunt. But the LAPD has a "don't ask, don't tell" free pass for illegal alien gang members. Dennis Zine doesn't want to turn them over to the INS. Instead, he wants to protect them with Special Order 40 so they can hang out in your neighborhoods.
Zine's support for Special Order 40 and Matricula Consular ID Cards (and now drivers licenses) is a virtual mandate which sends the message that you can change our laws by breaking our laws.
Without question, the vast majority of illegal immigrants are not a public safety threat to our city, but the 38,000 illegal alien inmates in Sheriff Baca's jail are. They should have been deported before they committed their crimes -- not after -- and the majority of the illegal alien inmates are gang members. Click here to view Baca's own data.
This is not an immigration issue -- it is a public safety issue.
Hal Netkin
