Biden's Meandering March Toward Socialism

Biden’s Meandering March Toward Socialism
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
October 20, 2021

I don’t care where they came from. I don’t care why they came here. If they are here illegally, they have broken the laws of the United States of America and are entitled to absolutely nothing, except a one way return ticket to their country of origin. Before they are appropriately deported, they must be fingerprinted and photographed - a national database must be established.

As for the unmitigated hypocrisy of Joe Biden and his cronies, if what they think is following the science, the science must be schizophrenic. Here’s the proof - as admitted by Biden press shill, Jen Psaki - that workers (American citizens) employed at a company of 100 or more employees must be vaccinated or risk losing their jobs and their ability to support their families. Yet, illegals, committing a crime by their mere presence in this country, are neither subjected to a Covid test or a mandatory vaccine. Psaki’s response: “Yes, that’s right.”

Why are the nation’s employers running scared of the Biden administration? Whether schools, hospitals, police and fire departments, corporations, manufacturers, and/or airlines - if they ALL simply refuse to mandate their employees to put a drug they may not want or need into their bodies. What do these employers think will happen? They will get fined $700,000? How does the government expect to collect this money - a punishment for not adhering to Biden’s hypocritical and inconsistent edicts? The vaccine-tax police? Employers of the nation UNITE.

If individuals want the vaccine - good - G-d bless. If they don’t, that’s good too, and G-d bless. The federal government cannot legally force drugs into our bodies. Are the vaccine police going to invade our homes, strap us down, and jab us with a needle full of a drug we may not need or want? This totalitarian behavior by the federal government will only become more severe and impactful on our lives. This is the slippery slope - first a drug - and people follow blindly - oh, right, it’s a public health crisis - but what next? Will the government ban certain foods because the Department of Health and Human Services determines are unhealthy for the general public? Or banning religious rites and practices because the government does not support or understand them?

The hypocrisy continues where public gatherings are concerned. BLM rallies and Antifa riots, arson, and vandalism are unpunished, acceptable activities, but a peaceful motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD is demonized as are outdoor Independence Day gatherings.

Congress has exempted itself from the Covid vaccine. What do they know that the rest of us don’t? Why have many thousands of doctors and nurses put their employment at risk because they have opted out of the vaccine? Again, what do they know that the rest of us don’t? Why is the federal government willing to have all these people, and possibly hundreds of thousands more, lose jobs heretofore deemed vital and essential for the past year and a half? Why is the federal government willing to put the American people in harm's way by weakening our military, numerous police and fire departments, as well as hospitals by having those essential workers fired for standing up for their principles, and their right to not put a drug in their bodies they may not want or need? Does this make America safer or stronger? 

For that matter, why should anyone spend their hard earned money in stores where rampant shoplifting goes unchallenged or unprosecuted? But that’s an issue involving well placed, far left, progressive district attorneys hand picked by the evil George Soros for the purpose of continuing to destroy the United States. But that’s not the only reason store shelves are increasingly bare.

The supply chain crisis is further impacted by the missing employees and increasingly exacerbated by the federal government continuing to encourage people to stay home instead of returning to their jobs.

“The shelves in our grocery stores are starting to resemble Third World countries,” said US Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), also a veteran having spent time the world over on active duty.

And taxes will rise to pay those not working as well as the ever steadily increasing numbers of illegals continuing to invade our borders - here illegally, yet being given free healthcare, education, food stamps, housing, and even obtaining driver’s licenses. Seven to eight billion people cannot be refugees and thus take refuge in the United States. The American taxpayer cannot continue to foot these bills, nor should they be required to do so. Eventually the American taxpayer will get tired of doing so, stop working, and like any socialist society, the government will run out of other people’s money.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Dems Build Wall Out of Hypocrisy

Dems Build Wall Out of Hypocrisy
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
January 8, 2019

From upon high, the Democrats continue to look down on the American people from their ivory towers and behind their gated communities, as they push the envelope of protestation against the border wall as far left as the Progressives will sustain them.

The likes of current and former senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Barack Obama (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), voted, on September 29, 2006 in favor of the Secure Fence Act, which passed overwhelmingly 80-19. More than a dozen years later, all currently argue against a wall, fence, physical barrier - call it what you will - semantics be damned, but with hypocrisy looming large.

Biden, Clinton, Obama, and especially Schumer are most vociferously haranguing against this structure and are willing to further the current partial government shutdown all the while blaming President Donald Trump. This is purely vengeful by the aforementioned Democrats adding to the mix newly installed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), calling such a wall “immoral.” Are the gates around your mansion immoral, madam speaker? 

Is it immoral to protect the citizens of the United States from the slaughter that has befallen Kate Steinle, Mollie Tibbetts, and most recently police Corporal Ronil Singh - himself a legal immigrant from Fiji, at the violent hands of illegal aliens? There are thousands of names that could be added to this list of those who will never see or be seen by their families and friends. These Democrats are putting their animus toward Trump ahead of the safety of the American people, as well as the financial well being of the nearly one million government workers who are currently working under paycheck furlough conditions.

Whether concrete, steel, or electric barbed wire, some physical structure is vital for the protection of the American people on the southern border of the United States. But, more than, preferably an American made wall, increased technology and manpower is needed as called for by President Trump in his address to the nation this evening.

Trump rightfully continued his clarion call for the wall, as he has since he began his campaign for the White House in 2015, reminding the American people of the continuing invasion by illegals; also why he called for more immigration judges. With the multi-fold increase in asylum seekers, most of whom do not have legitimate claims, more judges are required to adjudicate these cases at a speedier rate.

With the chaos at the border, legitimate complaints by Mexican nationals about the crime and trash on their side of the border, the heinous amounts of drugs pouring across the border, the murders, rapes, human smuggling and trafficking, for Schumer to look the American people in the eyes and accuse of Trump of “manufacturing a crisis” is simply obtuse. And again, hypocritical, as Schumer voted to fund border security and a wall on more than one occasion. As for Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), who Tweeted her ignorance calling this Trump’s “self-made crisis,” she is testing the waters for a possible 2020 presidential campaign, along with about three dozen other Democrats.

To be fair, this crisis did not manifest itself out of thin air. Trump, the Republicans, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico are complicit with the Democrats. Trump’s complicity is based upon a strong economy that he has led, which strengthens people’s resolve to emigrate to the United States. 

The violence and abject poverty in Mexico and the aforementioned Central American nations is pushing people north without regard for American law. Quite frankly, if I lived on one of those countries, I would want out, but there is a right way and a wrong way in which to accomplish the goal of immigrating to the United States. I stood witness to my mother-in-law’s swearing in as an American citizen, having come from Peru, where she was presented with an American flag that flew over the US Capitol. 

That flag is a source of pride for my mother-in-law, which is more than can be said for newly inducted Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who, on the night of her election, wrapped herself in a Palestinian flag. (Tlaib is a strong supporter of the anti-Israel BDS movement and has written Palestine on a map in her office to replace Israel. Tlaib recently bellowed for Trump’s impeachment, calling him a mother-f-er, in front of her young son. My mother-in-law, by the way, couldn’t wait to vote for Trump for president.)

As for the GOP, their fault lies in not having enough intestinal fortitude to do the right thing while they had the majority in the House of Representatives. They had the opportunity to turn the wall from the campaign promise garnering Trump myriad votes into his signature piece of legislation that if ever brought to fruition, will save countless lives. But this is the same Republican Party that, with the Democrats, has turned a blind eye to illegal immigration for decades, save for some lip service for the base of the party. The Democrats want the illegals to be granted amnesty and citizenship with the hopes of creating millions of new, loyal party voters. The Republicans, with support from big business, are helping create cheap labor. Both parties are wrong, and those Americans on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder are suffering most.

The shutdown needs to end, sooner rather than later; not for political purposes, but for economic purposes as nearly a million government employees are the political football in a game for which they did not sign up. The Democrats need to fund some form of structure as part of comprehensive border security that includes technology, manpower, and an increase in judges to more quickly hear the cases of asylum seekers. Grant the legitimate ones asylum, send the rest back to their country of origin.

Border security legislation needs to include a change in laws that disincentivize illegals from either coming to America, or staying here, by denying them jobs, drivers licenses,  welfare, education, medical and health care, all at the expense to American taxpayers. Punish, financially, employers who hire illegals. Cut federal funding to colleges and universities who admit and allow to matriculate, illegals. Put those funds toward border security. While we’re at it, let’s solve the DACA problem by granting them permanent resident status - the Democrats will be happy for legalizing the so-called “dreamers,” and the Republicans will be happy by not giving the “dreamers” voting rights. Additionally, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution must be amended to end birthright citizenship of children born to illegals once and for all.

Let the open borders failure witnessed in France, Germany, Holland, and the United Kingdom be a lesson to the United States. Walls work - just ask Israel. In fact, Nehemiah was ordered by G-d to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack. If a wall is good enough for G-d, it is most certainly good enough for us, mere mortals on His planet.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Sovereignty is Not Racism

Sovereignty is Not Racism
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
October 21, 2018

A sovereign nation, being just that, has the right, nay, the responsibility to protect its citizenry, its borders, its language, its culture, its history, and most assuredly, its future.

President Donald Trump understands this. “As you know, I am willing to send our military to defend our southern border; all because of the illegal immigration onslaught brought on by the Democrats because they refuse to change the laws,” said Trump in these words and similar statements for days since the caravan-army of people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras has begun its march to the United States.

Now, before all the liberal progressives get all weepy-eyed over the prospect of mothers and children separated from one another, consider the following. No one is forcing these people to take such a life-threatening trek through Central America. They, for the most part, are admitting taking this trek for economic opportunities and not the religious persecution that beset the Jews of Europe during World War II, who were summarily refused entry during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. (They were sent back to Europe to be slaughtered in the concentration camps by the Nazis.) Also, look carefully - the  majority of these invaders - and that’s what they are - people attempting to gain access to the United States without permission - are able bodied males ages 18-30. These are the people who should be at home attempting to make their native land a better place for their own people.

Are there problems in the aforementioned Central American countries? Yes, there are, and it is the responsibility of their people to fix those problems, just as Americans attempt to fix the problems faced at home in the United States. It’s one thing to be empathetic and even have compassion for these folks, but the United States simply cannot house seven-plus billion people from around the globe.

Should the United States admit the millions of suffering Venezuelans? (By the way, all you supporters of socialism, live in that country before declaring your support for such a way of life.) How about the North Koreans? Angolans? Cubans? Chinese? Sudanese? Iranians? Saudis? How about we fix the plight of the AMERICAN Indians first. I’m an American patriot, but face facts, this country sure did a number on the First Americans.

If life is so horrible for the people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, why are so many of this invading caravan carrying flags of their native countries? If they have Guatemalan pride, great - stay there and make Guatemala a nation of which to be proud. People so desperate to sneak into the United States at the cost of being sent back, contained in a holding cell, denied companionship with their children, must really want to become Americans. But do they? Consider the wide range of demands these criminal invaders make upon slithering across the border - free medical coverage, free education, food stamps, demands of Americans to speak their language - mostly Spanish, even driver’s licences. Also consider that among the invaders no doubt include members of the vicious gang of animals, MS-13. Yet another reason ICE must remain the vital agency it is.

This invasion is nothing new - there are more than 20 million illegal aliens in the United States - don’t believe the government that is willing to admit there are around 12 million. The amnesty granted during the Reagan administration was a colossal failure - three million during the 1980s, and that did not stem the tide as the carrot was granted but the stick never came. It seems the United States has still, three decades and millions of illegals later, not learned its lesson.

The illegals today are so brazen as to announce they are here illegally, knowing there is little punishment that will befall them. They take seats in American public schools, beds in American hospitals, jobs in American restaurants, food stamps meant for struggling American citizens, with little desire to learn English, or follow the rule of law. Where is the demand for proof of legal residency or citizenship when applying for benefits or jobs? President Trump is mostly correct when blaming the Democrats. The Democrats want instant citizenship and voting rights bestowed upon these illegals as if that is some right they have. No, they have no rights - they are criminals simply by stepping on to American soil. The Republicans are complicit as well as they see illegals as a source of cheap labor benefiting businesses in the United States.

As for complicity, that large independent sovereign nation sandwiched between the United States and Central America is most definitely complicit - yes, Mexico. Just dealing with this current caravan of invaders, why Mexico isn’t forcing them back south of their own border is disconcerting. Perhaps the weaker the United States becomes, will make it even easier for Mexico to complete their own invasion of this country, and this is not hyperbole. Does anyone think that the illegals swarming the southern border are the best and brightest Mexico has to offer? 

Consider the Mariel Boatlift invasion of Cubans in 1980 - many incarcerated until Fidel Castro opened prison gates - thousands of whom willing to risk their lives traversing the 90-some miles from Cuba to Florida. In less than half a year roughly 125,000 Cubans managed to reach shore. If they could reach land, they could seek asylum, if not, they could be sent back. Once again, were these the best and brightest Castro willingly released?

A merit-based system must be employed, just as is done in Canada. That’s right - Canada - that nation the Hollywood progressives vow to move to after every election, but never actually do. Perhaps they attempted to do so, but Canada is smart enough to realize those Holly-weird-os don’t merit the approval.

As a sovereign nation, the United States has the right to determine who gains access to American soil and the American way of life. Those who have something to contribute to American culture and society and make America better today than it was yesterday. This migrant caravan has no right to gain entry into the United States - they are literally attempting to invade the United States. If they wish to become American so badly, there is a right and legal manner in which to do so. My maternal great-grandparents did so from Austria-Hungary. My paternal grandparents did so from Austria and Russia. My mother-in-law did so from Peru - and I was witness to her swearing-in ceremony at the courthouse in Indianapolis when she was given a special American flag - a flag she displays with pride. She couldn’t wait to vote - she was for Trump before I was for Trump. (By the way, Hillary, this man did not tell his wife and mother-in-law how to vote!)

Yes, the military most assuredly must be deployed to the border post haste. Closer investigations must be made as to the children crossing the border - human trafficking and sex trafficking is increasing as many people are crossing claiming the children to be theirs when, sadly, they are pawns to gain access to the United States then trafficked for a price. This criminal enterprise must be stopped, and denying access into the United States is one way to accomplish this. Disincentivizing these people is a start - ensure they are allowed nothing for being in the United States illegally. It may sound callous and heartless, but as a sovereign nation, it is the right of the United States to determine who is and who is not allowed entrance. 

Deny financial aid to the countries complicit in this and future invasions. Congress must be called into emergency session to amend laws that require allowing so-called refugees into the country and granted a hearing in the courts. The courts are so backlogged with these cases it will be years before they are adjudicated. In the meanwhile, what is the policy? The failed catch and release. More than 90 percent of those with court dates fail to show up for their hearings. If that doesn’t indicate a failed system, then clearly math is not their strong subject, but that’s an issue for another column.

The immigration laws in the United States are so antiquated, their failings date back to the ratification of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1868. Section 1 avers “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

The purpose of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment was to confirm citizenship on freed blacks having suffered and endured the degradation of slavery. Today, that section of that amendment has been bastardized to suggest that lawbreakers have rights. The children of illegals are being granted citizenship by the very nature of having been born on American soil. Like fruit of the poisonous tree, when ill-gotten evidence is denied entry into a court trial, so too should the acts of illegals be denied when considering the citizenship of their children. The 14th Amendment must itself be amended.

Additionally, the military - all branches, should be deployed to the southern border to repel those seeking illegal entry into the United States. For those who believe such people have a legal right to invade our borders, how many would you like to house, employ, and financially support on your own - and not on the backs of the taxpayers?

An interesting irony comes to mind - The Ugly American - a novel published in 1958 by William Lederer (1912-2009), a US Naval Academy graduate. Spoiler alert: the book details failed American diplomacy in Southeast Asia. (Still worth the read.) In The Ugly American the Asians wanted to be left alone and not told how to live by the so-called all-knowing Americans who thought they knew what was best for these folks they deemed inferior because they lacked the desire to live as Americans. The irony is that in 2018, for the most part, the people fleeing from their downtrodden nations, to use a word Trump could have used instead of his chosen verbiage, want the American way of life and if they adopted it at home, their nations could improve. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats.

However, the despotic nature of these Central American and quite a few South American nations, precludes improvement save for violent overthrow of these so-called governments. While the United States cannot provide for the world, nor should it, if asked by people seeking to improve their lots in life in their own countries, there are enough people in the United States willing to see progress made overseas and lift those boats. 

The Peace Corps, established in 1961 under the John F. Kennedy administration had three goals: “to help the peoples of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.” Perhaps the Peace Corps with some extended muscle could help provide the wanting nations of the world their American dream at home - their El Salvadorian dream, Guatemalan dream, their Honduran dream, their Mexican dream - instead of invading the United States giving everyone a graven nightmare.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Keep Families Together

Keep Families Together

Commentary  by Sanford D. Horn

July 13, 2018

The visual remains unpleasant, even disturbing - hundreds, if not thousands of foreigners - the “wretched refuse,” if you will, teeming toward the southern border, clammoring, nay, demanding to be granted entry into the United States of America, knowing they are violating the laws of the very country within which they seek refuge.

The visual instills pangs of sadness, empathy, and even a desperate desire to help, but these are the emotions that should be rerserved for homeless American veterans, mentally adled American citizens wandering the streets of this country aimlessly  because they either can’t get, ot don’t know how to get the help they need.

This is not to dismiss the plight of these foreigners, some may have legitimate reasons for fleeing their home countries, but the United States is a nation of law and order; without which, chaos and anarchy erupts, and from recent appearances, there are those Americans seeking just that - they are the enemy from within.

Admittedly, the United States has a broken immigration system. It takes far too long for otherwise worthy future Americans to be granted legal admission to this country. Yet similtaneously, the United States has much worsening problems - a broken border, a nation too generous for its own good, and a legal system beyond the immagination of the writers of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

None of the potential illegal aliens should have been detained because none of them should have been allowed to cross the border. Thus the wall and strict border security. A nation is not truly a nation without borders and rules for those wishing to cross over those borders. This is not a matter of cruelty, nor is it a matter of nativism or nationalism. This is a matter of common sense. What other country has such porous borders and such a liberal acceptance policy to grant people in this country illegally things that legeal residents and citizens are hard pressed to acquire? What other countries grant free medical care, education, welfare, even drivers licences to people who broke the law to get here and then brazenly make demands of the country to which they pledge no loyalty as they parade around the flags of their countries of orign?

For the same reason we lock our cars or the doors to our homes, our borders - at all directions, not just south, must be secured - secured by personnel and painstaking efforts to vet vigorously all who wish to enter - for any purpose - business, education, vacation or permanant status.

Instead of detention, all those potential illegal aliens should have been denied entry and turned back. By denying them entry one thing is assured - families will remain together. This is what everyone wants - for children to remain with their parents - and what most people want - for them to do so on their side of the border.

If and when those folks decide to apply for legal entry, they must be strictly vetted to ensure first, that they are who they say they are, and that they actually are the parents of the children with whom they travel. The sad fact is, that there are myriad adults masquerading as parents to gain access to the American way of life when in fact they are dangerous criminals, be they drug dealers/smugglers or pimps/human traffickers.

In addition to physical border security, anyone who desires entry into the United States must be fingerprinted and photographed for a national data base. Every guest in this country should be able to be tracked. After all, do we really know the motives of everyone who crosses our borders? Enforce the deadlines on all student visas, business, and vacation travel plans. It is especially important that foreign students return to their homelands, take their new knowledge and help grow their countries educationally and economically; after all, a rising tide lifts all boats and the more international growth, the less people will see the need to sneak into the United States. Create real jobs in those countries and help reduce the drug trade. Strengthen the drug laws in this country, and get people the help they need to become clean and sober.

We are a generous nation - to a fault - and it is our fault that we have allowed millions of illegals to take advantage of our generosity to the tune of billions and billions of dollars for decades. Free medical care, free public school education, granting in-state tuition for illegals, food stamps - which deserves a separate column of its own, welfare, drivers licenses which becomes costly as many illegals fail to procure auto insurance. The United States must turn off the spigot and force illegals to self-deport - which many will do, if they have the above reason to return home.

The current crisis is yielding some interesting, yet damning, statistics. Under the Obama administration families released after the maximum 20 day holding period were issued a court date to return for their asylum hearing. The Department of Homeland Security indicated that 97 percent of those people - all in the United States illegally - failed to return for their mandatory hearings. Catch and releasae must be abolished.

On the other hand, the visual of housing many of these illegals on military bases until their hearings, is being identified as akin to the internment camps during World War II when more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans were held under the Franklin Roosevelt administration. The huge difference was that FDR was wrong to incarcerate Americans. Under President Donald Trump these people, are here in the United States illegally. Let’s not sugarcoat it with euphemisms. They chose to come to the United States and illegally enter this country without permission; they have broken the law. Emotion versus fact.

The outcry regarding the separation of children from their mothers is disingenuous. If an American mother robs a bank, is captured, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to prison, naturally this American mother will be separated form her children. There is no outpouring of sympathy here to keep children with their mothers; but for the illegals, a demand for speacial treatment. Emotion versus the rule of law.

We are a nation of law and order; we abide by the rule of law or there are consequences - certainly for the Americans, but why not for the illegals? They must pay the price for their truculent, criminal behavior. Entering the United States was their choice. No one coerced them to commit breaking and entering against the American people.

While the United States is a nation of laws, and admittedly some tinkering of the law to streamline the process of admission would be beneficial to those who are applying legally, one drastic change need be made to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. We need to end the birthright mishegas - and immediately. When righting the serious wrong following the War Between the States of granting citizenship to freed slaves, the authors unlikely considered illegal aliens as a group who should benefit from the amendment, yet, via the “anchor baby” system of birthright, illegals are gaming the system like no other. Why is the United States rewarding illegal aliens for giving birth on US soil after sneaking into this country? But that is exactly what is happening; and that reward is American citizenship and permanant status in the US for the illegal. Shame on us.

I have long said, like the concept of fruit from the poisonous tree in a courtroom when a judge denies the use of evidence obtained from a bad search, the child born to an illegal alien should not be considered an American citizen. Amend the 14th Amendment. Amend it now.

Our elected officials are too busy running for reelection and trying to be all things to all constituents, which is not possible, especially when they should be doing their jobs. The members very quickly forget they work for us, not the other way around, and what the people want and need are secure borders and immigration reform that actually favors the United States for a refreshing change. Make it happen Congress, or the next change will be you.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

DACA is a Dilemma

DACA is a Dilemma

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 12, 2018

DACA is a dilemma - a moral dilemma, a legal dilemma, and a sociological dilemma. And this assessment is coming from someone fervently in favor of deporting illegal aliens.

Illegal aliens are a drain on the American economy, particularly, what they are stealing from taxpaying Americans and legal residents; and by living in this country illegally, stealing is exactly what they are doing, a crime to be added to that of breaking and entering.

As there is no such animal as government money, those miscreants in the United States illegally are stealing from us - we the people - those of us who fund the government with our tax dollars. Illegals steal from us in the form of education by having children attend the public schools, older children being granted in-state tuition rates on the college and university level, free medical care and hospitalization, food stamps, welfare, as well as forcing legally licensed and insured drivers to pay increased rates for what is called uninsured motorist.

That is the tale of many of the at least 12 million people who reside in these United States illegally - people who made the willful decision to enter this country without permission or who overstayed their one-time legal welcome via a student visa, for example.

There is also the joint issue of jobs and employment. Illegals are taking jobs real Americans should be performing, thus keeping unemployment artificially inflated. The problem here is that both major political parties are complicit in this, and for different reasons. Democrats want illegals to be granted immunity, legalized, and ultimately given citizenship that will help bolster Democrat voter rolls. Naturally, the Democrats support illegals holding jobs in this country to strengthen their case. As for the Republicans, they turn a blind eye to illegals holding employment in this country because it improves their position with large companies hoping to keep costs down. Either way, this is a deleterious circumstance for lower income Americans forced to compete with illegals for limited employment positions.

This is part of the repercussion of the failed amnesty of 1986 granted by President Ronald Reagan, forced upon him by the overwhelmingly Democrat Congress. Roughly three million, three decades ago, ultimately swelled to more than four times that amount, although, to be sure, an accurate accounting of those in the US illegally may never be fully known or appreciated.The carrots were plentiful, while the sticks were in absentia. Those who willingly broke the law by entering the United States illegally, should be deported at a cost to their countries of origin.

However, with regard to the DACA, things are not so cut and dried. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) concerns the children of illegals who were unwittingly spirited out of their countries of origins at ages too young to either object or know any better. These are now young adults roughly in their mid-20s who more often than not, did not choose to sneak into the United States illegally, yet here they are, sans legal status or citizenship and they live and work among us.

For the overwhelming majority of the roughly 800,000 “DACA recipients,” a.k.a. DREAMers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors), the United States is the only country they know; English is their primary, if not only language; they have attended school in the United States, and in many cases only learned they are in this country illegally when attempting to apply to college or for employment and are required to demonstrate proof of citizenship.

Herein lies the dilemma. While it is easy to endorse the deportation of miscreant illegals for their willful lawbreaking, or deny them services or seats in classrooms, the DACA people fall into a different category. More than a fair number of conservatives believe the right thing to do is allow DACA people the right to remain in the United States and even become citizens. While I draw the line at citizenship, and ultimately voting rights, granting them permanent legal status is the moral path to be traversed. It would be morally wrong to deport these people to places that have not been their homes in possibly two decades to a world of the cultural and linguistic abyss.

From a legal standpoint, it is vital to remember that DACA is an illegal program established by Barack Obama via an executive order in 2012. Remember that anyone in this country illegally has broken the law whether civil or criminal, it matters not. It is up to the Congress to grant legal status upon the DACA people, or not. With Congressionally conferred legal status, they can then work legally, have legal status identification, and would no longer reside in legal limbo.

But as noted before, the failings of the 1986 amnesty must not be replicated, only in 2018 they would be four times worse. Carrots need be met with concomitant sticks, and those sticks must take the form of the wall across the southern border, as well as the end of chain migration and the visa lottery. Legal immigration based upon meritocracy must be adopted - just as is done in Australia and Canada. While I have long been a proponent of singular issue bills standing on their own merit, sans riders and pork, this is one time where the granting of legal status must be linked in the same legislation with the funding for the wall as well as the end on chain migration and the visa lottery. The art of compromise means there is something to aggravate everybody.

Historically, the Democrats have been weak on border security and strong on advocating for a path to citizenship for illegals. “There is not a Democrat that is not for a secure border,” said US Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), adding that “no Democrats want to make sure our military isn’t funded,” but that they are also concerned with domestic issues. In spite of his assertions, Hoyer still called for separate bills where DACA is adjudicated first, then border security. Seems Hoyer is being both disingenuous and recalcitrant about genuine immigration reform.

Additionally, Senator Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-IL) expressed his chief concern regarding the possibility of DACA recipients being deported, noting that 2,500 alone are school teachers in his state of Illinois. That statement is beyond daunting. How are these people actually teaching legally in the state of Illinois without proof of United States citizenship? Substitute teachers in practically every state, and certainly in each state where I have taught, are required to demonstrate American citizenship, let alone full time teachers. It’s not xenophobia to expect people to follow the rule of law.

It also isn’t racist to expect accuracy in reporting. Far too many defenders of DACA people aver that they are eager to serve in the United States military. Yet, according to CBS News, the Pentagon reports fewer than 900 DACA recipients are serving in the armed forces.

This is part of the dilemma referenced earlier - on the one hand, inaccurate information being bandied about, but simultaneously, hardworking people, albeit illegally, but dedicated to doing so. Most are attempting to live their “American” dream, and being brought to the United States typically beyond their control, should be able to live as legal residents - my form of compromise - neither deport nor grant citizenship - but legal residents out of the shadows.

No one has the right to become an American citizen. No one has the right to live in the United States. These are privileges determined and conferred by birth and observance of the rule of law. We welcome legal immigrants to the United States; legal immigrants who will contribute to the betterment of this country, and not attempt to recreate their country of origin, which, if that is their goal, we should ask ourselves why they left in the first place. Immigrants who join the United States as part of the melting pot it has become over the past three centuries, and not attempt to balkanize this nation into a conglomeration of ethnic enclaves determined to segregate themselves from the rest of society and then complain that the majority does not adhere to their cultural lifestyles.

If anything, many of the DACA people have become part of the fabric of America, the embodiment of what an American should strive to become, and in turn make America great again. Borrowing from one of my favorite American Indian adages, DACA immigrants should also endeavor to leave America better than they found it, as we all should - paying it forward to future generations of Americans.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Keeping His Enemies Closer

Keeping His Enemies Closer

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

September 17, 2017

Frustrated by Congressional Republicans inability to coalesce and actually accomplish the goals they set forth during the 2016 campaign, President Donald Trump has been dining with Democrats in the White House. He has become the Don Corleone of the presidency - keeping his friends close and his enemies closer - especially pertaining to the issue of DACA.

Make no mistake, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) are enemies of President Trump as they speak of him with nothing less than venomous verbiage. Regarding Trump’s decision to end DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Schumer said, “was heartless and brainless.” Pelosi chimed in calling Trump’s decision “a despicable act of political cowardice.”

Even I am conflicted - somewhat - concerning DACA. Long a supporter of deporting all illegal aliens, knowing how improbable a task that would be to undertake, I stand on the principles of law and order - that those in the United States illegally have broken the law, and lawbreakers should not be rewarded for their illegal acts. Yet, for generations now, illegal aliens continue to garner access to healthcare, welfare, food stamps, public education, free and reduced meals in public schools, in-state tuition at many state colleges and universities - all at the expense to the American taxpayer.

Here’s the conflicting aspect of DACA - the overwhelming majority of the roughly 800,000 “dreamers” in this unconstitutional program were brought to the United States at ages too young to understand, and beyond their control. Many of them are living positive lives having procured education and employment making them otherwise trouble-free and contributing members of society. Yet, they are still living in this country illegally, due to the illegal actions of their parents, relatives, or whomever transported them across international lines into the United States.

Many of the DACA residents know only life in the United States, speak only English, have broken no laws (save for being here illegally), and are simply seeking to remain in the only country they know. Make no mistake, I have not softened my stance on illegal immigration - those here illegally should have absolutely no access to the aforementioned rights bestowed upon citizens and legal residents. By stripping those so-called entitlements away from those here illegally, many may self-deport, while others simply will go deeper underground finding their lives even more difficult and complicated in these United States. If that sounds harsh, so be it - these people were neither invited to the United States, nor do they have a right to be here, illegally. This is still about the rule of law - American law.

Parents of DACA participants should have applied for entrance legally, waited in line as millions before them, such as my own mother-in-law, who took such pride in becoming an American citizen and casting her first vote for president - I know, I witnessed her swearing in ceremony as well as took her to the polling station on Election Day. There is a right way and a wrong way to conduct business, and those who choose the wrong path should not be rewarded. This also includes denying amnesty to those within DACA.

In spite of standing fervently with my principles, reality dictates there is a more than fair chance the dreamers will be legalized by Congress. President Trump took the proper course of action putting DACA in the laps of Congress. Trump understands what clearly Barack Obama did not - the executive branch does not make law, that is the job of Congress - the legislative branch. Even Obama’s own lawyer advised him that DACA, unilaterally enacted with no legal authority to shield these lawbreakers from deportation, would fail if argued in court. Simple concept - Constitution 101 - Article I, Section 8 - “The Congress shall have Power... To establish an [sic] uniform Rule of Naturalization.”

Unfortunately, in the hands of Congress, the right thing cannot be counted upon to be accomplished. The Democrats want the dreamers granted citizenship and voting rights in the blink of an eye - that is wholly unacceptable. The Republicans lack the intestinal fortitude to demand the following - if legalization is a fait accomplis, it should never include citizenship or the right to vote - the price to pay for illegal immigration. Any violation of the laws of the land are subject to deportation. No chain migration whatsoever - the DACA residents are young adults now and should be able to provide for themselves. Their parents or whoever brought them to the United States must be deported, move to the back of the line to qualify for legal immigration with concomitant penalties and fines.

The GOP must demand that any move toward legalization of the dreamers need first include funding for the wall on the southern border of the United States, and increased national security. Secure the funding first - no carrot and stick shtick that sunk the amnesty of 1986 because there were a plethora of carrots, but nary a stick. Additionally, and this need be new legislation pertaining to anyone entering the United States for any purpose - student visas, vacationers, business people, new immigrants - legal residents and new citizens - all must be photographed and fingerprinted. This information should be stored on a national database accessible in all 50 states.

As much of a small government American that I am, it should still be able to keep track of anyone in this country who are neither citizens nor permanent residents. While the overwhelming majority of the so-called mainstream media will react apoplectically, Congress must not kow-tow to this group of unelected, partisan hacks who, more often than not, are attempting to inject themselves into their own stories instead of reporting the news in an unbiased fashion. Do your job Congress - do what is best for American citizens.

Every effort must be made to keep DACA participants from acquiring citizenship and voting rights, thus encouraging more and more illegal behavior from people who have no right to be in the United States. This country cannot house the entire populace of Earth, and people who are granted admittance, must follow the laws if they wish to become part of American society.

Signs carried by protesters demanding equal rights for immigrants are disingenuous. Legal immigrants already have equal rights. Illegal immigrants have no right to anything other than a one way ticket back to their countries of origin. Illegals burning American flags clearly have no allegiance to the country they supposedly wish to join so badly they snuck in. Be American. Take pride in your new country - carry the American flag, not the flag of another nation. Help make America great again.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Illegals Continue Reign of Terror

Illegals Continue Reign of Terror

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

August 10, 2017

As far as legal residents and citizens are concerned, sanctuary cities are absolutely no safe haven. Protection for illegal aliens - and that is what those people who enter the United States without permission are - continues to take precedence over the safety and security of those taxpayers for whom law enforcement is expected to protect and defend.

Shocking proof of the egregious and callous manner in which legal residents and citizens are being treated by those whom were elected to serve those taxpayers is on full display in, but not limited to, Chicago, San Francisco, Multnomah County, OR, and Burien, WA.

In the Windy City, appropriately nicknamed for the blustery bloviations spewing out of the gaping hole in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s mouth, while black on black gun homicides continue to escalate to epic proportions rendering an entire city unsafe, Emanuel promises safety for the illegals amongst them.

Calling for the local police force to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to federal laws, thus ensuring a safe haven for illegals in Chicago, Emanuel is risking the forfeiture of federal grant funding. President Donald Trump has made it part of his administration’s goals, in attempting to curb illegal immigration, to remind localities that federal law supersedes that of state and local law. Failure to abide by such should cost those towns and cities their federal dollars.

If this is the battle Emanuel wants to ride up the mountain to fight, the voters should, and must, hold him responsible, which will never happen in such a Democratic stronghold. He knows his job is reasonably secure, and is putting principle above protecting those who deserve if first and foremost - the legal residents and citizens of Second City. But Emanuel stubbornly avers that his city won’t be blackmailed.

“We will never relinquish our status as a welcoming city,” Emanuel said, clearly meaning sanctuary city.

In fact, Emanuel won’t even require Chicago law enforcement to notify ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) 48 hours prior to releasing an illegal alien from custody, telling them it is not their job to do the bidding of that federal agency.

Perhaps Emanuel might change his tune if instead of the federal grant money Chicago would normally receive, federal uniformed and armed agents march through Chicago doing their job, sans Chicago cooperation - rounding up illegal aliens and those suspected as illegal aliens. In the meantime, Chicago law enforcement can continue to do an oh, so excellent job of curtailing the epidemic homicide rates.

While Emanuel continues his Don Quixote impersonation, the City of San Francisco is in the process of stealing taxpayer dollars to give to an undeserving miscreant for violating its own policy toward illegal aliens. Hoisted by its own petard, San Francisco fell prey to a lawsuit from Pedro Figueroa-Zarceno, 33, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was turned over to ICE agents by San Francisco police in violation of city policy. In an unconscionable decision, a settlement agreement reached by the City Attorney’s Office, forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval with a blessing and dollar amount from the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, agreed to dole out $190,000 to Figueroa-Zarceno.

Taxpayers ought to be outraged. This after all, is the same city where Kate Steinle was murdered in 2015 by a repeat offender illegal alien at Pier 14, and the city continues its heinous policy of protecting illegal aliens at the risk of the safety of legal residents and citizens. “This is a shameful waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Jason Clark, Chairman of the San Francisco GOP.

Further up the coast in Multnomah County, OR, Sergio Jose Martinez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been harbored in Portland. The habitual recidivist, who belongs in a Mexican prison, has been deported and has returned 20 times, most recently last November, only to return again to continue his reign of terror. In addition to his crimes of illegally entering the United States 20 times, his lengthy criminal record includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault at knifepoint, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and sodomy. Martinez also admitted to drug use - specifically heroin and meth.

Local authorities released Martinez from their custody sans ICE notification offering up the following weak explanation. “Oregon law prohibits public agencies from spending money, using equipment, or enlisting personnel to enforce federal immigration law,” thus making Oregon a de facto sanctuary state.

Contradicting that statement, Lt. Chad Gaidos of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “MCSO is committed to ensuring we comply with all federal and state laws that govern local public safety agencies with regard to enforcement of immigration policies.” Seems the county can’t get their act together, much to the detriment of the citizens of Multnomah County and probably beyond.

Martinez appeared in court again, on July 26, where he pleaded not guilty to assaulting two more women. These women would not have been prey for Martinez had local law enforcement cooperated with federal agents. But Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese said, we are “not responsible for enforcing federal immigration. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office does not hold persons in jail based upon their immigration status.”

This brand of impudence should cost Portland and Multnomah County federal grant money for their lack of cooperation with the federal agencies attempting to keep illegal aliens from their continued invasion of the United States.

Perhaps there might be a ray of sunshine in Burien, WA, a suburban community in King County south of Seattle. However, this ray of sunshine has come too late for the victim of Salvador Diaz-Garcia, a 23-year-old illegal alien, in the United States since 2013 as a “dreamer,” under DACA (Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals). An 18-year-old should not be considered a “child” under DACA. On the other hand, DACA should not even exist in the first place. This so-called “dreamer” has caused nothing but nightmares for his victims, their families, and their communities.

Surveillance tape and witnesses caught Diaz-Garcia spying on his future victim, on June 25, through a window in the workout facility of her residential community. Shortly thereafter he followed the 19-year-old home, attacking her, leaving her with a bloody head, missing teeth, a torn and dangling ear, numerous cuts to the head, a cut upper lip, broken orbital bone, broken jaw, broken nose, and rendering her unable to speak. A rape kit discovered male DNA.

Although a sanctuary city law passed muster via the city council in January, a growing citizens group has garnered enough signatures for a ballot referendum in November against the sanctuary city status. Such a referendum would be the first of its kind in the United States. Sadly it took a brutal, life-altering rape and attack to open the eyes of people who thought it acceptable to continue harboring illegal aliens. And to those who would defend illegals as a group by suggesting not all illegals are criminals, think again. The very act of entering the United States without proper authority is in itself a crime. Impeding all illegal aliens from entering this country, or at the very least, remanding those who do cross the border to their country of origin would prevent their crimes from having been committed from the outset.

Yet, in spite of the heinousness of the attack this victim endured, at least three members of the seven member Burien City Council desire the ordinance to remain in effect. One such councilor, Austin Bell, demonstrated how obtuse he is by suggesting illegal aliens are akin to citizens. It is “important for every citizen to be able to come forward and feel safe here; that is in all of our interests and is the morally right thing to do,” said Bell.

By saying “every citizen,” while defending rights illegal aliens do not, nor should not, have, Bell is equating illegal aliens with legal residents and citizens. And while not all illegal aliens are Hispanic, and not all Hispanics are illegal aliens, the Hispanic population of Burien is 24 percent and growing rapidly. Burien’s population surpassed 50,000 following an annexation occurring after the 2010 census. (http://www.burienwa.gov)

An increasing number of Burien citizens say the sanctuary city policy sends the wrong message making people actually feel less safe, including Debi Wagner, a member of the Burien City Council. “We want everyone here to be happy and safe. How can we guarantee that if we don’t know anything about people living in our midst,” said Wagner.

And in fact, there is more to know about Diaz-Garcia. In January of this year, his dreamer status was renewed. It has since been revoked as he is being held with bail set at $350,000. Additionally, Diaz-Garcia faces child molestation charges for the assault on a 14-year-old girl the same day of his supposed brutal attack on the 19-year-old.

Let these real life stories be the cautionary tales that are necessary to wake people up to the dangers of the illegal alien epidemic that goes largely ignored until it is too late. Enforcing the laws currently in existence, and stronger border security - both north and south, should be a minimum starting point. Denying any benefits to illegal aliens such as medical care, hospitalization, drivers licences, food stamps, jobs - including punishing the employers who hire them, placement in schools - from elementary through college, and welfare should make life more difficult for those who have no legal right to be in the United States and should lead to some measure of self-deportation.

America is for Americans and those seeking to make America a better place. It is a beacon of freedom, strength, refuge, and salvation for those willing to play by the rules, become part of the fabric of what America has meant and stood for lo these past two and a half centuries and hopefully for millennia to come.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

De-Fund My Alma Mater

De-Fund My Alma Mater

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

March 19, 2017

I have stood by and with my alma mater, the University of Maryland, through numerous trials and tribulations – the tragic 1986 drug-induced death of All-American basketball player Len Bias the summer between my sophomore and junior years, sex scandals in recent years involving members of the coaching staffs of more than one team sport, and decades-long drug and alcohol scandals within the Greek system, to name just a few of the more notorious.

(http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/08/14/umd-womens-basketball-coach-suspended-over-sex-abuse-allegations/ and http://concussioninc.net/?p=7603)

But the recent announcement that the University of Maryland created a position of “Undocumented Student Coordinator,” villainously flaunting lawlessness, has convinced me to forgo any future financial support of the university and the various programs which I have embraced over the years and decades. A line must be drawn, and while I will continue to root for the Terrapins in their athletic contests, I can no longer, in good conscience, endorse an organization embracing this embarrassingly disastrous decision.

“As part of the university’s ongoing commitment to undocumented students… we are assigning a UMD staff person to serve as a coordinator to address the immediate needs of the undocumented student population,” said Katie Lawson, a University of Maryland spokeswoman in a statement given to The Diamondback.

This position was part of a list of 64 demands made in late November 2016 by ProtectUMD – a coalition of 25 student organizations at Maryland. Ten of the 64 demands pertain to protecting illegal aliens and violating the law. The overwhelming majority of the 64 demands are absurd, poorly written; open ended, lacking definition, patently anti-Israel, and anathema to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Judge for yourselves: http://www.dbknews.com/protect-umd-demands/

Maryland is not alone in the creation of such an office, as Georgetown University and the University of Illinois are among other campuses overtly protecting illegal aliens.

There is also a webpage as part of the University of Maryland website entitled “Undocumented Student Resources,” which states “The University of Maryland recognizes that undocumented students are a vital part of our campus community. In an effort to better support our UndocuTerps, campus partners have launched this online resource.” The page further indicates it is “funded in part by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.” From where is the rest of the funding coming? Such a blatant thumb in the eye of the rule of law. http://undocumented.umd.edu/

“UndocuTerps.” The university has even given them a special name or label to be proudly adorned akin to a red badge of courage. This is beyond insanity.

“The undocumented student office is part of the university’s ongoing commitment to undocumented students and we continue ways to offer support,” was part of a poorly worded university statement.

If the University of Maryland is so committed to the illegals on campus, it can do without the financial support of legal residents, American citizens, and alumni, who, along with government funding, keep the university operating. All alumni objecting to the creation of such an office and the brazen law-breaking should contact the university, its president, Wallace Loh, and any organization which receives personal contributions and explain why they will no longer be the beneficiary of your financial largesse. We will no longer aid, abet, and be complicit with such law-breaking.

Another one of the 64 demands by ProtectUMD and the Student Government Association is to brand the College Park campus a “sanctuary campus.” University President Wallace Loh responded in January that such a designation was “unnecessary, as this university already follows sanctuary campus policies despite not holding a designation,” according to The Diamondback. As with a sanctuary city, a similarly labeled campus will not volunteer information or cooperate with the federal government.

As one who has virulently supported the defunding of sanctuary cities for years, the same loss of funding should befall not just the University of Maryland, but any institution behaving in this manner. All federal funding should be withheld – including grants and scholarships to students. Unconcealed harboring of illegals must not be rewarded. President Loh should be asked to resign or be dismissed for his endorsement and support of people with no legal right to be in the United States.

As a specific message to current Terps, understand that the illegals you support and protect today as classmates and friends, upon graduation will be your competition for jobs and the launching of careers.

How many jobs will be offered to illegals? How much scholarship money goes to illegals instead of deserving Americans and legal residents? How many seats in American institutions of higher education are being filled by illegals instead of deserving Americans and legal residents? The supporters of these illegal aliens are anarchists, socialists, and open border zealots who have little to no allegiance to their own country.

This is not about race, religion, or ethnicity, but instead, the rule of law. What are we teaching our children and future generations with policies such as these that not only exist, but continue to grow and expand? For those who cite compassion to their fellow man, there can be plenty of compassion to those who follow the rules, stand in line as the rest of the legal immigrants like my mother-in-law did and become a part of the American fabric.

Ultimately, creation of Undocumented Student Coordinator positions and adopting policies protecting law-breaking illegals will marginalize American children and students until the point of being called an American citizen loses all meaning in their own country.

This is not what the Founding Fathers envisioned when they fought a war for independence and birthed the greatest nation on G-d’s earth. It is up to we the people to cease acquiescence to those who seek to destroy America from within.

In his Lyceum Address of January 1838, Abraham Lincoln, then a member of the Illinois House of Representatives said, “If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.” Lincoln knew.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN. He is a University of Maryland alumnus, and as of Monday, March 20, 2017 a former member of the Alumni Association.