Seattle rhetoric on illegal immigrants is absurd, misleading

Over the weekend, hundreds of volunteers, including lawyers and interpreters, attended a City of Seattle workshop aimed at helping illegal immigrants fight deportation or become American citizens.

We know who to blame

“We found that in 2017 immigration arrests in our borders increased 40 percent, and it’s causing fear,” Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Director Cuc Vu explained to KING 5. “There are about nine million permanent residents who are eligible for naturalization. More than half are considered low income, so the population we are serving today are folks who cannot afford help.”

That statistic of 40 percent is supposed to concern you. Vu wants you to think that, under President Donald Trump, ICE is breaking up families and arresting illegal immigrants who are just going about their day, trying to contribute to their community, and help support their families. Luckily, that’s not really happening.

Of the near-40 percent of arrests (it’s actually 37.6 percent), nearly 75 percent are against dangerous criminals accused of a whole host of horrific acts, from sexual assault and child molestation to homicide and serious drug dealings.

Jose Mercedes Meza-Ignacio, a Mexican citizen illegally living in DeKalb County, Georgia, wasn’t arrested while buying a gallon of milk for his family; he was wanted on criminal charges for child molestation. Jose Victor Bonilla-Melendez, a Honduran living illegally in Denver, Colorado, wasn’t picked up by ICE for a parking ticket once they realized he’s here illegally. He was one of ICE’s “Most Wanted Fugitives” whose criminal history includes felonious sexual assault.

I’m glad ICE arrested these monsters, yet, Vu, who wants to manipulate the data to serve her Progressive cause, is lumping them in with people who were brought into this country through no fault of their own, or who made the journey across the border to provide for a better life for their families. Vu may make no distinction between criminal elements and our neighbors who happen to be here illegally, but I will.

But let’s talk about this fear in the communities of illegal immigrants. If this fear means they’re finally starting the process of becoming a citizen, I find myself sympathetic but grateful that they’re finally doing what they should have years ago.

KING 5 spoke with Yara Rodriguez, who told them that she had been putting off her citizenship for 8 years.

“This is the time you have to do it,” she told them.

Well, yeah, though you should have done it eight years ago. She put off doing the right thing for eight years, breaking the law in the process, and the City of Seattle pretends she’s the victim. Yet, try withholding tax dollars associated with the soda tax or ST3 and the city and county will come after you like a criminal.

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