Reader Comments on Simon and Illegal Immigration
The opinions expressed in letters/e-mail from readers posted on this site do not necessarily reflect the opinions of American Patrol / VCT. Such items are posted for informational purposes only.
4/21/02 -- As a concerned voter interested in seeing the present governor unseated, I am deeply interested in your views on immigration to this country - both legal and illegal.. We constantly hear that "we are a nation of laws; that we survive as a nation because of our adherence to the rule of law," yet with millions of illegal aliens in this country, and more coming every day ... with a government (in spite of the hyperbole) that does nothing about it, the problem continues to grow and fester in the minds of the public - and to make a mockery of our laws.
I would also like to know if you would be willing to resurrect Proposition 187 by allowing it to proceed on appeal through the judicial process. Five million California citizens cast their votes in a stunning victory for Prop 187 and thus far, through political chicanery, have been deprived of their appeal rights.
I want to support your candidacy but that will depend on whether you will make immigration an issue in your upcoming campaign and if you will support the resurrection of Proposition 187. I would appreciate knowing your position on these two questions.
Sincerely,
William S. King, Jr. (Former Chief Border Patrol Agent)
Big Bear City, CA
4/21/02 -- Mr. Simon,I have read about you.
I am a conservative republican, working for the U.S. Navy here in the Bahamas. Although I cannot vote for you, I can offer some advice.
Go against the grain and make illegal immigration a campaign issue. California is the biggest offender! This is not a racial issue. It is an issue of sovereignty. Less illegal immigration. More of everything for AMERICANS OF ALL RACES.
Thanks for listening.
Bobby V. -- Andros Island, Bahamas
4/21/02 -- To Bill Simon: All recent polls of California's voters indicate that if proposition 187 were to be voted on again, it would pass again by a landslide. I am a Republican. If Prop 187 is unconstitutional, let the supreme court tell us that. If you do not want to deal with 187 thinking you will get the Latino vote, you will lose mine. --- HAL NETKIN
4/20/02 --- Dear Mr. Simon: I wrote a column in support of you before the primary, because I believed that you will be good for California citizens. I still believe that, and I believe that you can beat Davis in the general election, if you play it right.Incidentally, Costa Mesa City Councilman Chris Steel, a well known advocate of enforcing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, credits me with his election two years ago after nine previous failed runs. I wrote much of his literature and helped get it distributed throughout Costa Mesa. I also advised him on handling issues during the candidate debates. Steel actually won with more votes than any other candidate, even though the local liberal newspaper constantly smeared him.
I hope to help two more conservative Republicans get elected in Costa Mesa in the general election. My suggestion to them regarding the illegal alien issue, is to handle it slightly obliquely, i.e. talk about "quality of life" and "enforcing our laws," but not to be too strident against illegal immigration.
Those of us who are not running can be strident, and our voices in support of a candidate can convince others that even though the candidate doesn't sound as strong on the issue as many of us would like, he will do the right thing once elected.
I look forward to voting for you in the general election.
Respectfully,
H. Millard
4/20/02 --Dear Mr. Simon,First let me say congratulations on your primary win over Richard Riordan, and I'm sure I don't need to say that the real fight is still to come.
As a life long Southern Californian, ONE of my concerns continues to be the ILLEGAL ALIEN problem in this country, and especially in California.
At 53 years old, I grew up in the East Los Angeles area, and many of my friends were "Americans" of Mexican decent. In fact, my first wife was Mexican! SO, let me say... I am not a prejudice man! BUT, that does not mean I want people coming to this country ILLEGALLY... and that is the operative word, ILLEGAL! If anyone, whether they be Mexican, Chinese, Canadian, or anyone else, comes across the border of the United States WITHOUT legal documents, THEY ARE ILLEGAL, and are breaking the laws of this fine Country. THIS has to be stopped!!
Here are just a few of my reasons for why I am against ILLEGALS coming across our borders:
1) ILLEGAL to be here! It breaks the laws of this country! No other country in the world would allow people to cross their borders like the United States. This is WRONG and must be controlled. It took my grandparents many months to the approval to come to America from ITALY! And then they were placed on ELLIS ISLAND in QUARANTINE for 2 months to make sure they didn't bring disease into America. Did you know that Tuberculosis is on the rise in our country?
2) Education - The school system in our state has gone in the toilet. Not only does it take more resources to educate an illegal, but it takes those resources from children who are LEGALLY in this country. Also, the curriculum is being "DUMBED DOWN" so these ILLEGALS can pass, and the schools systems can KEEP THEM in school and COLLECT OUR TAX DOLLARS for student attendance!
3) Medical Services - my insurance cost ROSE 30% this year! WHY?? because medical costs, especially in California continue to RISE. And WHY is that? Because we continue to provide FREE medical, either through the Medi-Cal system or through other means, to those that have NO insurance or have NO money to pay.
4) WELFARE! Why should my hard earned tax dollars go to pay for someone that's not even a CITIZEN of the country?? I understand, people need help. I am a Christian... and know that we are to help those in need. And I have no problem helping someone in REAL need. BUT, that doesn't mean help those that are ILLEGALLY breaking the law by entering this country. The ILLEGALS come to this country, have their children (which are paid for by MY TAX DOLLARS), and then jump on the State Welfare program! This has to STOP!
Those are just a FEW of the reasons, the ILLEGAL ALIEN problem has to stop.
Mr. Simon, we have lost control of one of the most important Foundational Cornerstones of this country, and that is our SOVEREIGNTY! I hope you will have the backbone to stand up and address these issues and help to rebuild our fine state.
Thank you for your time,
Name withheld by American Patrol
4/21/02 -- Dear Mr. Simon,Without a doubt, the most pressing issue is that of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION !
Fix this problem, and you fix 90% of all of California's problems:
Overcrowded schools, street gangs, high crime rates, too much lo-income housing, food stamp FRAUD, Medi-Cal FRAUD, high traffic, non-insured vehicles,
Promise to fix this, and you will receive OVERWHELMING SUPPORT from those of us in Southern California ..... and THANK YOU!
Jim Rowe
Indian Hills Homeowners Assn.
Chatsworth, CA
4/21/02 -- Dear Mr. Simon,As you are running for governor of the State of California this coming election, I would like to know where you stand before I vote for you on the critical issue of illegal immigration. As you know, there are thousands if not over a million people living in California who did not come here legally, who do not pay their income taxes, and who insist on receiving our tax-supported benefits as if they were entitled to receive them.
I would like to know what your stand is on Prop. 187, illegal immigration and immigration reform, and what you will do to bring about true fairness in this state. At this point, we have the University of California regents bending over backwards to give away high quality college education to people who have taken advantage of us for a generation or more, yet an honest, hardworking young white male is discriminated against because he was well "historically represented".
I for one am completely willing to welcome immigrants who fill out the proper forms, pay the proper fees, and pay their Franchise Tax Board taxes and Federal Income Tax. Illegal immigrants need to be deported so they can go back and come in the right way.
How do you feel about that?
Sincerely,
Alex L.
Camarillo, California
Born Here, and Proud of It! Don't squander away our Republic!
4/21/02 -- Mr.Simon,I have been in California since 1960, I'm retired with modest income from GE and SSA. own my house, and thank God and prop 13 I can live without government control. (was Gov. Reagan, for or against that prop. I do not recall?)
I have contributed to the NRCC, (the Bush,Delay thing) received E-mail thanks from Kathleen Harris and also to Rep. Tancredo, Co via. ANCIR (Tancredo an American Hero)
Sir, lets face it the "rule of law" was flushed away by Clinton and the feel good liberals, and California was the T.P. All of the above was hard money, I live in one of the most corrupt counties in Ca. that is San Bernardino, we have a full time FBI staff. When Tancredo flushed (245i) down the MWD toilet I was pleased.
Time for all Republicans to unite and go back to the Constitution.
T.J.M.
4/21/02 -- Dear Mr. Simon. I welcome your stand on illegals. I think they should not be called "immigrants" and given that much legitimacy. They should just be called "ILLEGALS"Please take prop 187 back to the court of appeals and have it enforced. If you stand for that, I will vote for you. We need to preserve our country and take in "immigrants who want to become Americans and support "borders, language and culture." Illegals have no right to the social welfare, school systems, or any privileges of this country whatsoever. That includes drivers licenses or any other legitimatizing in any form. They should be deported from here like they would be in any other country. Please do not cater to Latino votes by not taking a strong stance on Prop 187.
Latinos who are true Americans will support you. Latinos who are citizens need to support the laws of this country, not that of Vicente Fox or liberals who sell out their country in order to be elected by their constituents on the "public dole." Please stand for the education of Americans to be loyal to THIS country. True American Latinos will support you. Please appeal to "Americans" to support you on prop 187. The time of liberal tyranny is over.
It is time the country votes for people like you who are for Americanism, not internationalism, globalism, socialism and other schemes created to sap our strength and destroy us from within and without. We need to be on a war footing with the Moslem threat. We cannot afford to have fifth column sympathizers to control our public policies. Please, please run on a populist platform that has immigration crackdown as its base. The Atzlaners, reconquistas, Vicente Fox fifth columnists, and their liberal stooges and "useful idiots" have no place in our elected offices. Please stand for cracking down on our borders, and deporting ALL ILLEGALS.
I am not a racist and have no opposition to Americans of Latino origins. We just need to have our laws respected and enforced and our LEGAL IMMIGRANTS be trained to become Americans. Those who want to work here need to do so with work permits, and not bring their families here. The permits need to be strictly controlled, and kept track of. "Guest workers" need to leave when their allotted time is up. Also, eventually the law that allowed the foreigners' children born here to automatically become citizens needs to be changed. That was OK in more tame times. Now, we cannot afford to have ILLEGAL pregnant women create a foothold in this country with their children; not the first one, or the fifteenth one.
America is for Americans, not for ILLEGALS out to exploit us for everything and scheming to displace us with their numbers. I will vote for you if you put prop 187 back into the courts. Our country is controlled by the idolatry of "misplaced compassion." First we need to have compassion on our children and the values and legacies God gave to us through our founding fathers. Otherwise we will not be the bastion of human rights and true liberty based on conservative laws. Please champion the enforcement of Prop. 187 and I will vote for you. May God strengthen and guide you.
Steve M.
4/21/02 -- Mr. Simon,Please reply with where to send a donation to your campaign. I have decided to donate based on your comments against illegal immigration. I trust that you will not back down against the liberal media and continue to fight for the citizens of your State and Country. Illegal immigration and massive legal immigration are the most serious problems that our Country faces . It is a problem that not only affects the South West, but affects the entire Country. I live in NJ, and I am seeing a significant influx of illegal Mexicans into my Area to take jobs away from Americans working in the construction trade. It is quickly changing the face of my community for the worse.
I would like to include along with my check a copy of the letter that I sent to the RNC this week telling them that I will no longer contribute money as long as President Bush continues to push for the 245(i) amnesty program.
I wish you the very best in your pursuit to become Governor.
God Bless,
Bob C. -- New Jersey
To: Info@SimonForGovernor
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 3:53 PM
Subject: Governor's raceDear Sir:
I understand that you want to be the next governor of California. I hope that you understand that in that position you would serve at the will of the people.
This state has been my home since I was born. I still live in the same house in Los Angeles. But the city is not the one I remember from my childhood.
This state, and especially this city, has been so over run by people who are here against the law, that it is a standing joke now. But it is not very funny.
I have seen the results of this invasion. Property values drop, homes robbed, people killed. Higher crime than ever before. Tens of thousands of babies born to women who have no clue as to whom the father is, at our expense.
Enough is enough!! If you want my vote, you will do what I want done. That is the price of my vote. What I want done is a total stop to this lunacy, meaning the National Guard at the borders, NO licenses to illegals, the absolute stop of any and all government services to illegals including schooling of their children.
We are not baby sitters to the world! We cannot afford this stupidity any longer. We are losing out country, and you and all the other candidates need to understand that these people multiply like rats. We do not. In a few more years, unless we do something now. this country, and certainly this state, will be totally lost.
I demand 187 be reinstated!!! I demand action from the office of the governor against illegals, and I mean real action!
If you send me your written promise to do those things, I will promise you my vote.
Sincerely,
Hans S.
Mr Simon,HELL YES!!! I read you comment on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!!
YOU CAN WIN ON THIS ISSUE...here is how!!
BE A POPULIST!!
JOBS-- LESS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION=MORE JOBS FOR *****AMERICANS OF ALL RACES!!!
WAGES-- less ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION= higher wages for the *****common Americans..(of ALL RACES!!)
ENVIRONMENT-- LESS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION= A CLEANER ************ENVIRONMENT (FOR AMERICANS OF ALL RACES!!!)
EDUCATION-- LESS IMMIGRATION = Smaller class room ***********sizes..MORE QUALITY one on one with TEACHERS!!!!
SOCIAL SERVICES-- LESS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION= MORE *****************SOCIAL SERVICES FOR AMERICANS OF ALL RACES
TAXES-- LESS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION= LOWER COSTS= LESS **********TAXES FOR AMERICANS OF ALL RACES!!!
*******YOU CAN WIN****AS A POPULIST**************
IF YOU FOLLOW THESE IDEAS....YOU WILL STRIP AWAY THE DEMOCRATIC BASE!!!!
THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS....THE COMMON TAX PAYERS.....THE COMMON WORKERS....WILL ALL UNDERSTAND THIS!!!!!
*****THEY WILL THEN LEAVE THE DEMOCRATS BEHIND...AND VOTE FOR YOU......MR. SIMON!!!!
Great Job...Sir,
Brian K.