Pertaining to the letter of Mr.A.N.M.Gelden [7-21-10]

Dear Editor:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation’s border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security. Audits of employment records in 2009 of businesses by the ICE uncovered discrepancies in the documentation of about 25 percent of the company’s workers. This technique of auditing employment records originated during the George W. Bush presidency and has been continued under President Obama without any change in the policy. It may result in deportations, should definite evidence of illegality be uncovered, but the audit resulted only in the termination of employees who could not resolve discrepancies. Most fired workers, some of whom had worked a decade at the plant, reported that they would seek other employment within the United States. This technique of enforcement is much less disruptive than mass raids at workplaces, but is not popular with some employers who feel targeted and threatened. Illegal hiring has not been prosecuted aggressively in the last decade. Between 1999 and 2003, according to The Washington Post, “work-site enforcement operations were scaled back 95 percent by the INS due to the efforts of the lobbyists in the congress. Major employers of illegal immigrants have included Wal Mart, Swift and co. and Tyson Foods. However overall deportations from the United States increased by more than 60 percent from 2003 onwards to date, with Mexicans accounting for nearly two-thirds of those deported. Contrary to what Mr. Gelden, is claiming, Obama administration has made no changes in the process. If Barak Obama is not reading the first three letters of the constitution, neither did George W.Bush in his two terms in office. It is the lobbyists and our congressmen who are manipulated by them are to be blamed.

Raman Shanker, MD.

Kingwood

Legally speaking

Dear Editor:

I stated in a recent letter that our Gov’t should start correcting the illegal alien problem by deporting those illegal aliens that have committed crimes in the USA. We read almost daily about a convicted criminal had previously been deported for an earlier crime or at least is a repeat offender, but somehow still loose in the country. Another situation that often comes up is when an illegal commits a crime and fears being caught by our law enforcement, they streak across the border pronto!

Our Gov’t. could greatly reduce the illegal aliens entering our country by simply enforcing the existing laws already on the books:

1. Stiff fines for companies that hire undocumented workers

2. Deport anyone that violates our laws that is not documented. Minor violators right away, major violations after they serve their sentence.

3. Bring our military home that is guarding foreign borders and put them on ours. This would be good use of our equipment and personnel, keep them trained and ready while reducing our military cost in foreign countries. The Constitution requires our military to repel invasion.

4. If we secure our borders using our military then the Border Patrol could effectively monitor the entry ports and start tracking down the known illegals inside the USA.

5. Once the borders are secured, the drug traffic will be greatly reduced, the cash flow out of the USA will be lessened, related cost will be reduced and the savings could be put back into our stressed economy.

Doc Shanker must be another one that hasn’t read the Arizona law before he criticized it. The Arizona law clearly states that those found to be undocumented during a legal police action will be held and turned over to the Federal Gov’t. (ICE) for them to take necessary action. The Doc is also mistaken about past presidents deporting illegals:

1. President Hoover ordered all aliens deported

2. President Truman deported over 2 million illegals to create jobs for returning veterans

3. President Eisenhower deported more than 13 million illegals during “Operation Wetback” plus an estimated 5-700,000 left voluntarily from Texas alone!

The illegals came here on their own and if the jobs and the criminal opportunities are eliminated, many will go back as they came. Once the borders are secured and those here illegally are deported, immigration reform can be revised if needed. We are a country of immigrants and we need good people to make our Nation strong, however everyone from the politicians in Washington to the immigrant wishing to become an US citizen, our laws must be respected.

Sid B. Nice

Humble

Gone

Dear Editor:

I was not sure who I should send this request to, but I thought I would ask you to give it to the correct person and that you would give us some advertisement space concerning this matter whiles it is still very fresh topic.

The Oaks Elementary Aluminum Recycle Trailer was stolen on Thursday night, or early Friday morning, from the Oaks Elementary School on Upper Lake Drive. This is a one axle trailer that shows some wear and tear since it has been in the Oaks family for many years, but has served the school and community, very well. The trailer is also completely covered with heavy duty mesh wire, top and all, and have three openings made from wood for can deposits.

The tag number is 991 308 and it is attached to the drop down gate at the rear of the trailer.

This trailer has assisted the community to participate in the recycle program and has provided much needed funds to the school, especially during this economic crisis.

Please try to find some space for this very worthwhile cause and hopefully the guilty party, or parties, will be caught and brought to justice.

Thanks,

Herb Gordon

Kingwood

More Random Thoughts From a Cluttered Mind

Dear Editor:

The View From the Lake. Still Africa hot. I return back home with clothes totally saturated in perspiration. Still, the view is worth it.

1. God Bless Sgt. Brandon C. Bury again, for his ultimate sacrifice for your freedom and mine. God bless other military as well.

2. Who Changed American History? Governor Rick Perry, that’s who. Not at all surprised.

3. “The Coast is clear”….according to Tourism ads. HA! Sign of these oily times. I support the tourist industry but let’s get real people.

4. Oil, Oil, Everywhere. Let’s not stopping the massive leak take the cleanup effort out of the news. Restoration of the pre-spill environment must be completed soonest.

5. Modern Math. Seen in an e-mail. “Complete this equation by drawing one line: 5+5+5+=550.” A1. Make the first + sign a four with one stroke. Thus 545+5=550. A2. Put a slash thru the = sign making it mean, “Not equal.” Is that the Right Brain at work?

6. Remember The Movie... “Murder By Death,” which featured a bevy of worldwide famous detectives. Charlie Chan arrives at the house of Truman Capote’s character: address was 22 Twain Street. Whooo, whooo!

7. Damned if you don’t, damned if you do. Back in the days of the Valdez accident, the Exxon CEO was nowhere to be seen. He was criticized and it was embarrassing and bad publicity. BP’s CEO is plastered all over the news trying to explain regrets for BP’s disaster. What fodder for the nightly news. He is criticized and it is embarrassing and bad publicity.

8. JFK Remembered? (Via Vaughn Meader.) Translation from last week’s letter by request. “Ask not, what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you.” It was an actor playing communist Fidel Castro who said this. Note the word Communist.

9.“Sleepless in Seattle?” No, breathless in Houston. My three dogs with their warm fuzzy coats get overheated easily in these parts. Humidity makes it worse. After all two of them, mixed breeds, contain cold climate genes. Tibetan Spaniel and Pekingese. Not so with Schwartz. He is just black… but sometimes gets the “cold shoulder.”

L.M.D.B. (Big Lou) Georgiades

Kingwood