Truth or Hysteria?

As of Saturday, July 30, 2011

When I read the July 24 letter stating that “evil illegals” have “absolutely no right to be here” because they want to “harm us in any way they can,” I was stunned. Where do these ideas come from? Is there a shred of evidence that any or all of these accusations are true? Or is this just fear-mongering hysteria?

USA Today provides at least a partial answer in its July 15 “Special Report: Crime Along the Border.” USA Today collected crime data over a decade from 1,600 law enforcement agencies, federal crime statistics and border interviews.

Their analysis found that crime rates started declining even before the United States expanded the fence along the border states. In fact, crime rates in border cities are lower than the national average. This data concurs with other sources.

In Arizona, the state’s overall crime rate dropped 12 percent in 2009, and between 2004 and 2008, it decreased by 23 percent (Tim Pagett, “The ‘Dangerous’ Border: Actually One of America’s Safest Places,” Time, July 30, 2010.)

Research from the American Immigration Law Foundation shows that the incarceration rate for native-born men ages 18-39 has been five times higher than the rate for immigrant men. Even with increased immigration, the violent crime rate in the United States has declined 34.2 percent, and the property crime rate has fallen 26.4 percent.

The USA Today report included statements from elected officials: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s warning of human skulls rolling through the desert; Texas Rep. John Culberson (saying) the U.S. side of the border is “out of control”; and Michigan Rep. Candice Miller suggesting a military brigade be sent to protect Americans. These statements clearly are misrepresentations of the truth.

So what are the facts? You decide. And to Emily Kent’s question, “Where is this country going?” You decide.

Patricia Griffin

West End

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JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

Yours is a rare voice of reason in a nation of hysterics. Thanks for the moment of sanity, however brief.

ProudYankee 1 year, 9 months ago

Oh Patricia, there you go again, trying to confuse the Tea-pot crowd with actual facts.

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

You guys are pretty darn funny! When someone comes here illegally a law is broken. I don’t care if it’s a crime against property, person, or states sovereignty. So was that calculated into the above crime rate? I don’t see you guy’s showing up and defending those who rob stores or sell drugs to put food on the table, but yet you turn a blind eye to people whom come here illegally. Do you think we can pick and choose what laws we want to follow? Lastly, spare me the “better life” story, if life is so bad there they need to stand up and change it.

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

The law needs revising to encourage more immigration. They already add over $1 trillion a year to our economy. I like that.

teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago

Crime, national security, free medical, free food, incarceration, etc, etc, etc...

teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago

How many illegals are paying income taxes?

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

According to the IRS, most of them. Tax compliance of iilegals is the same as legal residents and citizens. What's your point?

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Really..... Ask any employer and they will tell you its under the table........

JER 1 year, 9 months ago

The only way the employer would know the pay was under the table is if they were doing the under the table payments. So who is the bad guy here? The illegal trying to make money or the employer trying to make extra money by paying lower wages under the table with no benefits? In the view of the folks on the conservative side, one is a criminal and the other is an entrepreneur. In my book, they are both criminals.

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 9 months ago

How many "Americans" that have been in this country their whole lives collect SS, Medicaid, Medicare, are dealing drugs, committing assaults, getting incarcerated, getting free food and housing, etc, etc? I think we should be more concerned about that.

freedomisdaonlyway 1 year, 9 months ago

It sure is easy to tell people to stand up and change their lives when you're sitting at your computer desk in relatively safe, free America.

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Yep and I spent 20 years and 4 month in the United States Military! I have never asked anyone to do anything I have NOT done myself. And YOU?

Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago

Well said! And, thank you for your service to this country. Coming from a family that has many "who have served," I understand what it means.

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

Yeah, and my wife spent 25 years in the military. Doesn't make us better than others.

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

You missed the whole point.......

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 9 months ago

I spent 20 years in the military, my husband has been in almost 30 years now. That has absolutely no bearing on the argument about illegals. I am sorry. However, I will point out that my great grandmother LEGALLY immigrated through Ellis Island while pregnant with my grandfather. So that makes me only a third generation American. I do think we need to start making our borders a whole lot less open and start getting tough with Mexico. We invaded Iraq because Saddam invaded Kuwait. Why wouldn't we invade Mexico, they are invading the whole U.S.!

JER 1 year, 9 months ago

Would that point be that you told us you were in the military and that fact is somehow relevant to this discussion?

teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago

Nothing wrong with doing things the right way like that fellow over at Dugan's. Would you live at the border with your family?

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

I hear that the crime rate is going down there. Sounds good to me.

teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago

You hear? Is that the best you can do?

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

Okay, I hear from the Justice Department that crime is dropping in cities along the US-Mexico border. Is that good enough?

honesty2 1 year, 9 months ago

Is that the same DOJ associated with Fast and Furious?

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

You may be confusing ATF with FBI.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

Yes, it's going down from 3 in 10 murders per capita a day to 2 in 10. It's safe to go now.

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

Wow, 20% of people living along the border are killed every day? Where are they getting the replacements, or is the border becoming a string of ghost towns?

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Check out the brain on brad..... I mean Jim....... Excellent Math Skills.......

Amazed 1 year, 9 months ago

Kinda difficult to get accurate numbers on crime rates when people of Mexican decent are listed as white on most crime statistics. Look in our own jail and you can see. https://webapps.moorecountync.gov/dcn/inmateGrid.aspx

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

Even the governor of South Carolina lists herself as white. What's your point?

Amazed 1 year, 9 months ago

I'm just pointing out that the statistics calculations on whom is committing crimes are going to be inaccurate.

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

White is a race not a citizenship.

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Let me help you out with those stats..... 100% of Illegal Immigrants are criminals. THATS A FACT! Notice how this piece used immigrant and not illegal immigrant, an immigrant is that fine fellow over at Dugan's..... GET IT STRAIGHT!

JER 1 year, 9 months ago

Caution!!! Aberdeeniac sounds like he's ready to blow. Better back off and start agreeing with him. No telling what might happen if we don't.

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Al Gore said I'm not allowed to have a blow-out on his information super-highway.... LOL

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

A crime, huh? What's the penalty?

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

illegally entering the US at a place or manner other than as designated by immigration officials is a federal petty misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in prison.......

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

I wonder what the penalty is for deporting an American citizen ...

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

What if said illegal did not enter the US at a place or manner other than as designated by immigration officials?

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

TreadLightly 1 year, 9 months ago

How about the signs 80 miles from the Mexican border and 30 miles from the capital city of Arizona that warn Americans that the area is not safe to travel? (You can find them on-line.)

Good Mexicans are congenial people, but many hardened criminals from MANY countries are coming across the border. A sheriff from Arizona will be at Cannon Park Saturday, August 13, Noon to 3 PM. You might ask him.

freedomisdaonlyway 1 year, 9 months ago

I don't see why we don't just let the Good Mexicans in and keep out the bad ones. The world is black and white.

CNMT 1 year, 9 months ago

Which Sheriff is coming? Is it Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County?

Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago

Arizona is raising funds for a border fence and hoping to get over 50 million $. That should give you an idea of whether that state thinks things are safe.

JER 1 year, 9 months ago

Is that why the sheriff from Arizona will be here? When will the representatives from Calif., New Mexico and Texas be here for their fund raiser?

JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

So how are they doing with that fundraising?

Aberdeeniac 1 year, 9 months ago

Funny I don't see you posting under Two were caught stealing copper or selling drugs stories. I'm sure they did to put food on the table for their families. And the money generated contributes a trillion a year to our economy...... They take that money and buy goods, services, and in some cases brand new vehicles. Wow that's a win win situation...... Jim, when you're allowed back on internet please reply......

Truth or Hysteria?

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