Immigration politics

If Casa de Maryland gave awards for top public servants, Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold would not head its list.

[irishpat]

This is one of the reasons we support John here in Anne Arundel County. We elected him to represent the taxpaying citizens and not criminals who thumb their noses at out immigratin laws.This should send a message to all illegal immigrants to follow the procedures to enter the country legally or face a similar crackdown. It has to start somewhere, why not start here.

[Henry Bowman]

Leopold may not be able to solve the problem on a national scale, but he can mitigate the federal government's failures by making things tough for illegal immigrants within Anne Arundel County.

If things are unfriendly to them here, they will not live here and will not want to work here, which is just fine with us.

Viva Leopold!

[brstevens]

"Mr. Leopold's comments play well in this conservative county, but they do a disservice to residents who may be unfairly targeted because of their ethnicity."

This is where the editorial loses all credibility by seeing what it wants to see and not what's there.

Those "residents" weren't targeted because of their ethnicity. They were targeted because of their immigration status, which was not a legal one. Period.

Stop making this (and everything) about race and ethnicity. If people want to come in to the country illegally, fine, but they need to accept the consequences if and when they're caught. Period.

[From the cheap seats]

As a newspaper that has been around a long time you would think the Sun would understand the word illegal. I applaud Mr. Leopold and only wish our politicians in Baltimore County would show the same guts.

[zeezil]

Arrest, incarceration and DEPORTATION...si se puede!!!

[Jeff - an Independent]

Thanks Baltimore Sun for condoning slavery in 2008.

[Joe Momma]

This fishwrap publishes opinion pieces like this and still has the bewildered approach to explaining dwindling readership?

Any business that does not properly serve its customers doesn't succeed. Or is that lesson pounding away at deaf ears in newspaper boardrooms?

Or will they tell us that inner-city readership (and subscriptions) are simply mushrooming at present?

If that is truly the case, don't lament the shrinking circulation figures.

Just try to better figure out what businesses are willing to sacrifice large portions of advertising budgets to reach and persuade such a readership segment!

Social engineering would be best serve by a "do as I do" approach. Not the "do as I say, not as I do" tack this paper is pursuing.

Exactly WHERE do the editorial board members of this publication reside? Enlighten us, please. Show us the way by example the virtues you espouse.

I will not hold my breath waiting to see you act in this manner.

[Tommy]

It is no wonder that the Sun is experiencing a slow but steady death. This editorial is so out of touch and biased that it is fit only to line the birdcage. Come to think of it, the bird deserves better.

[mkslaughter]

"This is a national problem that demands a comprehensive federal solution."

Immigration--legal and illegal--is actually an *international* issue that demands a comprehensive international solution.

But the United States has never been very good at cooperative approaches.

Those who believe illegal immigration is primarily a matter of local or even federal law enforcement are living in Fantasy Land. The issue is far more complex than that, and so is the solution.

And, friendly reminder: immigrants are people. I'd ask some of you to stop spouting ideology just long enough to consider the circumstances under which *you* would risk your lives or leave everything you know and love behind in order to try to survive in another country. It's not a decision most human beings make lightly.

[irishpat]

mkslaughter wrote:

"This is a national problem that demands a comprehensive federal solution."
Immigration--legal and illegal--is actually an *international* issue that demands a comprehensive international solution.
But the United States has never been very good at cooperative approaches.
Those who believe illegal immigration is primarily a matter of local or even federal law enforcement are living in Fantasy Land. The issue is far more complex than that, and so is the solution.
And, friendly reminder: immigrants are people. I'd ask some of you to stop spouting ideology just long enough to consider the circumstances under which *you* would risk your lives or leave everything you know and love behind in order to try to survive in another country. It's not a decision most human beings make lightly.

We the citizens of this county , this state and this nation are also people . We are damned tired of bleeding hearts like you preaching to us while these criminals thumb their noses at our laws.The problem falls to us at the local level , so go spout your retoric to someone who really gives a damn what you think.I applaud any local politician who has the stones to face up to a problem that the Cardin,s and Mikulski,s continue to ignore in order for these people to continue flooding in.Ask the people in California and Texas what happens when they follow the advice of fools like you.

[Herndon Resident]

Rewarding criminal behavior is never the proper thing to do and Maryland continues to provide incentives to illegal aliens. Speaking out against organizations who aid and abiet illegal aliens such as Casa De Maryland and LULAC undermine the very fabric of our laws. Picking and choosing what laws you think is worth obeying is a dangerous first step to chaos.

[Susan]

Tell us that they are only people when one gets hold of your identity.

I don't care why they came here. They know they are breaking the law, abusing our welfare and health systems, crowding our schools and costing us a bundle. And what gratitude do we get? A mexican flag flown in our face and a possible requirement to have to learn Spanish to stay employed.

[batman]

There not being targeted because of ethnicity. They're being targeted because they have invaded our country and our sucking our services dry without contributing.

There is not an anti immigration sentiment, there's an anti-ILLEGAL immigration sentiment.

[Maria]

Obama's national health plan offers "free" health care to illegal immigrants. See his website for specifics. This means that you will be paying for this. Nothing is free. This will encourage more illegals to come here. Also, since Obama's semi-socialized medicine scheme is government controlled, there will be rationing, and waiting lists just like in the Canadian system. This means that if your 83 year old father needs a bypass surgery for his heart, he may be in line behind an illegal immigrant who is paying no taxes and you are paying for the illegal's health care. This is not change I can believe in. I live near the Mexican border in California and we are over run with illegals. Do not encourage more of this. WAKE UP!

[Jay]

True.
We need a national solution on immigration.
But you cannot dam someone for enforcing the law!

[Delaware Bob]

If the States would get together and pass an Illegal Immigration Law like Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi and others, we could put an end to the illegal immigration and get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS and their ANCHOR BABIES. The law is working fine in the States that have them.

I'm upset Delaware might have had a little chance to pass a law and something happened to their spines. UNBELIEVABLE!

We all know the problems with these ILLEGAL ALIENS, paying for their ANCHOR BABIES, then the overcrowded schools teaching them at taxpayers expense, the overcrowded hospitals and FREE medical care they get with forged documents or stolen identities. The cost of deporting them, jailing them and the list goes on!

These problems WILL NOT go away until each and every ILLEGAL ALIEN is out of this Country and back in their own country where they belong! They don't belong here.

[Ann]

All politics are local. Kudos to Leopold. I just wish Jim Smith had the same courage. What is so wrong with coming to America legally?

Suggestion for the Sun Editorial staff - Why don't you try to get into Mexico illegally? See what happens to you. Read the Mexican immigration laws and see if you want to take the chance.

El Sol - Viva Los Estados Unidos and LEGAL immigration.

[Estoban]

Mr. Leopold would have a bright future out here in Arizona politics.
Go after the greedy illegal employers and provide jail time for them. Send the illegals all back after they serve their time for jailable offenses, like identity theft.

[Steven Lessner]

In these times when kids are looking for work they have to compete with illegal garbage stealing jobs and resources.Now is the time to pass a law where illegals can be shot if they come here. This is a war when people who do not belong here are taking our gas,food,health and school services and not paying a dime.

[Proud Obama Supporter]

Delaware Bob wrote:

If the States would get together and pass an Illegal Immigration Law like Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi and others, we could put an end to the illegal immigration and get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS and their ANCHOR BABIES. The law is working fine in the States that have them.
I'm upset Delaware might have had a little chance to pass a law and something happened to their spines. UNBELIEVABLE!
We all know the problems with these ILLEGAL ALIENS, paying for their ANCHOR BABIES, then the overcrowded schools teaching them at taxpayers expense, the overcrowded hospitals and FREE medical care they get with forged documents or stolen identities. The cost of deporting them, jailing them and the list goes on!
These problems WILL NOT go away until each and every ILLEGAL ALIEN is out of this Country and back in their own country where they belong! They don't belong here.

No person is illegal. You need to pay for these "undocumented's" schooling and health care. What is wrong with you? When Barack is President, you will have no other choice. You will pay your fair share for these people.