Portland, Tennessee Blog

I'm late to this....way late since I didn't know this was available.

I'm really sorry I didn't get on here before the departure of the beloved Daniel Suddeath. His professed liberalism really shows itself on this subject. To compare our illegal immigration problem with our invasion of Iraq is nothing short of idiocy. I wish he was still here to defend the indefensible.

round 'em up and detain the criminals until we have a significant amount of the ILLEGALS and then deport their criminal butts.
they are illegal, they are criminals.
and by the way they can take their kids with them, they dont have to leave them here!
all you bleeding hearts out there, just wait until
10 or 15 of the criminals move in next to you and drive down your property value. you'll be singing a different tune then.

Daniel, you say this guy in AZ can't find anybody to work at his metal company for $20 an hour plus benefits, so he may move to Canada? WAH WAH WAH!! I say "Horse....!"

That's stupid. I have a solution to his dilemma. Bring them jobs here to Portland. All these guys slaving away in our hot metal and steel factories in town would be more than happy to leave their current sweatshop to work for him at $20 an hour.

I don't buy that crap that they can't find the workers. I think that is a steaming hot, smelly load of crap. You pay them well, and you will find workers. Even if they don't like their job, they would not quit if they were getting paid $20 an hour in a town like Portland. These places here are full of good folk working for poverty level wages in hot and miserable conditions. They do it because, one factory here in town isn't much better than the other...they do it for their families, and they do it also to work close to home.

So, send these businessmen in AZ an email, they are more than welcome to bring their $20 an hour jobs here to good ole Portland. There would not be a shortage of applicants.

To add to my comments below.....

Many of today's politicians.....I won't say which ones or which party....I believe you can figure that out for yourself.....

They want you to be dependent upon the Gov't for everything...thats what that want from you...is your dependence upon them....that way they can control you.....do you get it?

When America ceases to exist and become a socialist nation that's Government controls everything we do from our health care to our jobs to where we live, to how much we make......that's when they'll be satisfied.

When they are able to take what you earn away from you and give it to someone, who has the same life choices I have had, and they give my money away to them, just because they made the wrong choices.....then they'll be happy.

When what money you have left is Taxed at 75%, then they'll be happy.

When the United States becomes a third world country.....then they'll be happy......

need I say more?

Daniel, I really can't believe that you don't believe in any fines or kicking anyone out of our country ! Doesen't "illegal" mean anything???

If an illegal were to be found to be a terrorist or bringing in drugs ... still no fine, or kicking out ???

How much tolerance do you think a foreign country would give to you if you were in their country and broke any of their laws ? Could you waltz into their DMV and get a driver's license just because you are there ??

Do you remember the young American man who got caned in Singapore, for example ?

Do you remember the Navy man, who was beaten on an American plane and killed, simply because he was an American ?

Our country has never done one thing about that.
I really don't think our country cares one thing about it's own citizens. We are more concerned with appearing politically correct...and not offending anyone, no matter what they do to us.

We allow everyone to stay here, that's how we managed to train the terrorists in our own flight schools how to fly the planes into the Twin Towers...for example.

Our borders are in no way secure and we are being invaded everyday by who knows what .... drugs are coming across our borders, our very culture is being destroyed before our very eyes and our own govt. won't do anything about it.

I just have to wonder who's really in control of America anymore.

Americans are fined for something everytime they turn around --- yet illegal people seem to have the run of things. Something's wrong ....very wrong.

Daniel

Why not fines and/or deportation?

When you speed and get caught don't you pay a fine?

If you rob a bank don't you go to jail?

We have laws on the books for a reason. Do we get to choose which ones we will abide by and which we won't?

We have a legal way to immigrate into this country. Shouldn't those be punished somehow for doing it the illegal way?

I read an interesting article yesterday where several business owners in Arizona said they were now considering moving their businesses out of the country because they can no longer find good help due to the tighter laws on immigration and the fines that employers face if they hire one. One guy ran some sort of metal company that employed about 85 people at 20 bucs an hour plus benefits but cannot find enough employees now so he's probably taking his company to Canada.
The contributions foreign and immigrant workers have made for this country cannot be overlooked. I agree with JW that we need to know who is in our country, but fines and kicking people out I will never agree with.

Immigration is not the problem...ILLEGAL immigration is the problem.

Yes our country is a country of immigrants, this is true, even though this country was stolen from the natives of this land....but we won't go there no one ever wants to talk about that.

and though our country is a country of immigrants, I would suggest that the immigrants that this country is built upon were LEGAL immigrants who went through the proper channels to get here.

It is my opinion that anyone who comes here illegally is not coming here because they love America....if they loved America they would abide by our laws and follow the proper channels to come here legally. They are coming here because they CAN!!!!

Do we kick the one's out that are here now? This may be a bit unrealistic, but I think over time, the bad apples so to speak will reveal themselves and those are the ones that should be sent back. As for the ones who remain here, by thier own choice to remain here, they are agreeing to meet whatever criteria is set forth for them to remain here. One of which is to learn English. The next is to become documented and legal citizens, just like the millions before them who were immigrants to this country and followed the proper procedures to do so.

The third is to pay a large fine for sucking our country dry of its medical care, welfare etc.

The fourth would be performing some sort of public service for breaking our laws.

The fifth would be passing a class with regards to our constitution just like the rest of us had to do in school, if you can not pass the class...you go back to whatever country you came from.

The sixth, would be some sort of probation, where the individual would be required to report to a certin person ever month. If you don't report, you are deported. This would certianly be an indication of how serious you really are to be a productive member of our society.

There are, I am sure, many more viable options, but these are just a few.

They must be treated as law breakers, because that is what they have done. If you broke the law, would there not be a consequence for it?

BUT before any of this, our boarders should be secured immediately. This should have been done on September 12, 2001. Before anything else was done.

A recent news story comes to mind from the past few weeks in which a migrant worker was working on a home construction in Hendersonville. They took him to the hospital by ambulance. They then interviewd the contractor of the site, he said they believe that he should be alright, but was sent to the hospital to be checked out.

I think a good question would be,sir, since you are his employer, I am assuming his hospital visit is taken care of right?

Employers want them here because they say they can't afford to pay Americans living wages. The truth is, an American worker can't live on $6.00 an hour. We have to pay insurance (CAR and HEALTH), we have to pay taxes, you name it.Employers that hire illegals are beating the system in many ways. They pay poverty level wages, they AVOID paying in taxes to the government, and they don't have to pay benefits.

I think that if an employer is harboring an illegal worker, and that worker commits a crime, say for instance, he is driving a car that the employer bought him, and hits someone and kills them, only to take off running through a field, that when he is caught, the employer should be liable.

Well, on the site, they are careful to say..."allegedly"......but I bet it's pretty accurate. It's an interesting site to look at.

I am not against immigration. But, all this illegal stuff is simply wrong and should not be tolerated. I have relatives, aunts and uncles, who came to this country some 50 years ago..and they were eager to become American citizens and studied and worked hard to become Americans and they were so proud the day they could call themselves Americans. My uncle even became the head maitre'd at the Mayflower Hotel when he worked there. He was so proud of America.
They would turn over in their graves if they saw what is happening here now with all this illegal stuff going on.

Daniel, there is a website that has names of employers who hire illegal aliens. On the left is a menu for "illegal employers".....it will then ask you what state or city or category of business you want to check out......I went there, and just put TN, the state, and it came up with a long list of employers. If you want to check by category, for example, I put "construction", I got a very long list. If you want to check it out...it's www.wehirealiens.com

I thought it was an interesting site.

I am in total agreement with the last poster. Immigration is a great thing and has made our country great over the last 200 years. But Illegal immigration has to stop. We need to secure both borders. Mexico and Canada should be treated the same. We don't know who is coming into our country.

I believe the city of Portland should do something about the illegal immigration problem in Portland. I believe the sheriffs department should also get involved and round these people up.

I'm not against immigration..Just illegal immigration. My wife is Hispanic. My Father-inlaw was born in Mexico(and has a green card). Both agree those that illegal immigrates should go home. For those that have children(legal resid.) I'm sorry do they ask if you have kids before sending you to jail? You break the law you pay the price. I know this sounds heartless.
The Latin people are a hard working, family first people. I don't belive they are taking away jobs. Just doing those that nobody else would do for the pay.

I think it's more of a problem here in Texas than any other state.

How does anyone here know if the workers at our two Mexican restaraunts are illegal? My guess is no one knows for sure. I believe everyone should be documented but to say we don't go into the other countries and enforce our will is just wrong...just look at Iraq for example, or any of the other countless countries we have invaded. Look at our companies go across the border to pay a small percentage of the wages they currently do.
My problem is that we've started this immigration reform way too late. We want to talk about the land of the free and all that stuff but then we don't want to give citizenship? Our country was built on people coming here who had no where else to turn, how can we go back on that now, after all these years? I think illegals should be forced into documentation and have to follow strict rules, but should be allowed to stay. If not, we should all jump on a boat and head back to where our ancestors came unless you're 100 percent native American.
If you think illegals are costing this country now, wait and see the bills that will rack up if we have to pay law enforcement to spend 95 percent of their time tracking down illegals, which is what it would take, even in a town like Portland.

Michelle * Very well said.

I believe stricter enforcement at the borders is definately needed, and once the illegals are found by legal means they should not get a free ticket to ride. Too many jobs are being taken by those that are here illegally and then they send most of that income back across the borders and it needs to stop. The employers that are *knowingly* hiring them need some serious penalties, not a slap on the wrist.

I am for STRICT enforcement of penalties against illegal immigrants and those who employ them, but I am not going to make any assumptions and start boycotting anyone. Average Jane and Joe have no way of determining whether or not someone is here legally. And frankly, it is blatant discrimination to punish or otherwise penalize someone based on ehnicity alone, which is what you would be doing if you don't have proof of any wrongdoing.

All I am trying to say is that, at this time, no one has offered proof, and that people should tread lightly when making public accusations about SPECIFIC people or businesses without something solid to back those accusations up. Just because they don't speak English doesn't automatically make them illegal. They could be here on temporary work visas, or be married to an American, or be a resident alien . . . all of which are legal. Only "citizenship" requires speaking English.

I'm all for boycotting the Mexican restaurants and anyone else who hires them.....Illegal is illegal. How far do you think we Americans would get in any other country if we were in their country ??? Would we get all the same benefits as they are getting ? I think not. No one should have an illegal working for them. Doesen't the very word "illegal" mean anything ???

To the person who feels sorry for them --- why not just open up the flood gates and tell anyone from any country to come here and they will be taken care of ???

These are the same people criticizing a guy for putting his email address in a post to promote his business?? LOL.

dontmakemelaugh,

You are kidding right? "If we send them back what will they do?" They will go to the country they are legally a part of and work to earn a living. If they can not find a job create a job.

Yes the strawberry pickers and the straw bailers are all illegal and you farmers that hire them should face the judge....

If you want to clean up some start with the 2 mexican resturants...

There are illegals cooking and serving you, your food!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to clean up some start with the 2 mexican resturants...

There are illegals cooking and serving you, your food!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to clean up some start with the 2 mexican resturants...

There are illegals cooking and serving you, your food!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with many of the post's here on this issue.

I don't think there is a need for any new laws....lets just enforce the ones we already have.

As for how to get the illegals out of here.....let's impose a fine and really hit hard these employers that are giving these illegals work...if they can't get work, they will go home.

Secure the boarders first, then lets deal with the rest.

Here is some info that I learned the other day.

Last year alone, 14,000 american citizens were either killed or murdered by illegal aliens right here at home.

In nearly 5 years there were 3500 american soldiers killed in iraq.

Does any one else see where the problem really is here?

I'm willing to bet that there is not ONE legal Mexican in Portland.

I'm torn on this situation. If we send them all back what will they do? What do they have to go back to? A life of misery, hunger? Under certain circumstances, yes send them back.
If they commit a crime, send them back. NO second chances.

Now the government wants to deport parents that have had a child here but not deport the child. Is the government going to start an orphanage to take care of these children. They are Americans citizens after all.

The first thing that needs done is tighten our borders. I mean locked down tight. Don't let any more in.
Have all the aliens register and give them an ID card. They must know or learn english within a year. Let the government review them one by one. If they know english, can contribute to our society and can get a job give them a green card good for 5 years. If they get to stay they must pay restitution to the state in which they live. At the end of 5 years review them again.

Now I'm not blind to the fact that probably 50% come over here to take advantage of our freedom by using and abusing our health care system, or schools, etc etc. But the other half come over here to make a better life for their families. I can't blame them for that. I would probably do the same thing if I had to live like alot of them do in Mexico and elsewhere.

The #1 thing that MUST be done is start jailing the employers that hire the illegals. They are as much to blame as the illegals.

Oh one more thing........were the Mexicans legal I saw picking strawberries in Portland out on Hwy 52W??

I am with you on this one. I think we need to spend our time and money and get all these illegal's out of the USA. Atleast make them learn our language and not us learn there's! You see all these other shows on T.V. showing where the "other" countries make outsiders learn there language, culture etc. It should be 100% that way here!!

I think we should stop by all of the construction sites in Portland and round'em up....

I am so tired of this...

Illegal immigrants are responsible for 75 or more deaths a week in the US. Why are putting up with this?

Why does our government allow this process... they seem to be looking the other way.

Does this have something to do with the North American Union that Bush supports? I think so!

I think we should stop by all of the construction sites in Portland and round'em up....

I am so tired of this...

Illegal immigrants are responsible for 75 or more deaths a week in the US. Why are putting up with this?

Why does our government allow this process... they seem to be looking the other way.

Does this have something to do with the North American Union that Bush supports? I think so!