COMMENTARY | Illegal immigration protests and deportation hearings that typically happen in border states have spread to Ohio. A Cleveland area man's fate will be determined by a federal immigration court in December. Dream Act and Julio Tellez supporters will protest in front of Ohio congressional offices on Wednesday. Although it was his parents who broke the law bringing him into the country when he was 8 years old, he is still in this country illegally. The hearing should be short and simple, but it will not. Hopefully, hundreds of protestors will not derail following the letter of the law in the case.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton's recommendation for exercising discretion in low-priority removals is a big part of the federal agency's problem. No wonder governors in border states are so fed up with the lack of action on illegal immigration issues. Morton does not consider illegal immigrants who have not committed any serious crimes to be a threat to national security. The terrorists who flew planes into the twin towers had clean records in the U.S. Tellez is not likely a terrorist, but he breaking federal law everyday he is in Ohio.
Tellez got a free public education at Hamilton High School and took courses in engineering at Miami University, presumably through federal financial assistance programs. He was working on a construction crew when arrested by ICE agents.
According to the New York Times, ICE is in the process of reviewing 300,000 deportation cases. The agency's goal to focus solely on illegal immigrants with serious criminal records to reduce a backlog of cases does not support the role of justice. A law-abiding illegal immigrant still receives a free public education and benefits from services provided by taxpayer supported levies. If the law was enforced properly then more immigrants would follow the legal pathway to immigration. The increasing burden on the American social services and educational system will cause a collapse if the open door policy continues.
The Dream Act promotes naturalization through military service and academic achievement. Who will pay for the education or military paycheck of those who came to this country illegally? Unsustainable spending habits must end if America is to ever again reach long-term prosperity. While it is sad that Tellez and thousands like him were forced into this situation by their parents, that does not mean judges should not due their jobs properly.




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