‘We only tip citizens’

ed immig

“We only tip citizens.”

That nasty comment was written on a food receipt at Jess’ Lunch, a popular downtown eatery in Harrisonburg, and left for Sadie Elledge, granddaughter of local attorney John Elledge. Sadie is an American of Mexican and Honduran descent. (See WHSV TV-3 video and article.)

We are a nation of immigrants and descendants of immigrants but some seem to have forgotten that their ancestors were once in those ranks of newly arrived immigrants.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses.

Jeb Bush has a plan to secure the border and enforce our immigration laws

Jeb and son George P. Bush (Photo from Politico)

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has a plan for securing the border and enforcing our immigration laws. Listen to what he says, not to the false information that is being pushed on social media. Here are the facts right in this piece by Jeb that is based on a book he wrote two years ago with attorney Clint Bolick, vice president of litigation at the Goldwater Institute (see Jeb Bush’s conservative immigration agenda).

Securing the Border and Enforcing Our Immigration Laws
By Jeb Bush

When Clint Bolick and I published Immigration Wars in 2013, we presented a number of proposals to strengthen America’s immigration policy. Border security and the interior enforcement of immigration laws, including a greater role for states, formed key parts of this package of reforms. We emphasized that finding a practical solution to the status of the people who are here illegally today is a nonstarter if our borders are not secure against future illegal immigration.

I believe that for those already in the country, we need to put in place a rigorous path that requires individuals to pass a thorough criminal background check, pay fines, pay taxes, learn English, obtain a provisional work permit and work, not receive federal government assistance, and over an extended period of time earn legal status. But any plan to address the status of illegal immigrants must be accompanied by a robust strategy to improve border security.

Securing the border is possible, but it will require Washington to move beyond divisive rhetoric. The following six proposals offer concrete steps that the federal government should take to help secure the border and enforce our immigration laws. We must transform immigration from a broken system into one that benefits every American.

Examining sanctuary city and immigrant crime issues

By Daniel P. Cortez

Four unarmed Marines and one sailor were brutally murdered recently in Tennessee. That hits home to this retired leatherneck and thousands of other Stafford citizens serving at Quantico or other nearby military bases.  Parents with children in service cringed hearing the tragic news that it was committed by a cowardly, demented American Muslim who spent seven months in Jordan and may have been radicalized.

And the Hispanic community remain outraged at the horrific crime committed by the undocumented Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez who admitted taking the life of Katherine Steinle in San Francisco.  Sanchez had been deported five times with seven felony convictions.

New citizen applauds RPV Republican primary decision

Naturalization ceremony held at Mt. Vernon on July 4, 2015.

By Daniel P. Cortez

Jessica Hatchley of Fredricksburg proudly became a citizen last week during 4th of July ceremonies at Mt. Vernon. And as one the nation’s newest voters she can’t wait to vote for the next president during the Virginia primary scheduled for next March.

That was the contentious issue recently in Staunton, where the tea party wing of Virginia’s Republican Party attempted to force a convention and discriminate against their family.  That’s what it would have been.

Originally from Kaiserslautern, Germany, she met her Marine husband Robert, now stationed at Quantico, online.  They married and have a 13-month-old son, Robert Hatchley III.  They consider themselves independent voters.

As nonparty members they would have been excluded from voting for their candidate for president at a republican convention.  Not because he is in the military, but because only party members would be allowed to vote.  As a fellow independent voter who may lean conservative, I call that intense discrimination promoting exclusion.

Fortunately, a primary was recently chosen by 42-39 vote in Staunton by republican members of the state central committee.  Eric Herr, chairman of the First Congressional District Committee, and Steve Albertson, chairman of Stafford’s Republican Committee, both spoke in support of a convention.

Military pulled into immigration battle

By Daniel Cortez

As volatile and at the same time delicate remains the subject of immigration, Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot with the huge independent Hispanic voting community by blocking legislation to allow immigrants who can pass the rigid military qualifications service in our military. Our national history, if revisited, depicts thousands if not millions of illegal and undocumented families that were part of combat operations since World War II. And again history notes scores of illegals have been decorated with the nation’s highest medal for bravery, the Medal of Honor, and other heroic medals for their service. I personally fought with many of them in Vietnam and saw numerous give their life for this country.

Two-faced Stewart

By Tito A. Munoz
Guest Post

The most predictable trait of Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart is his ability to do or say anything to win an election. He says one thing to some people, and says or does another thing among others. Stewart has primary opposition now and both of his faces are making grand appearances.

Stewart with one face miraculously admitted he was mistaken to oppose the changes on a Racial Profiling Law the county implemented in 2007. “I was wrong,” he said at a recent candidates’ debate. One week later the second face of Corey Stewart appeared when Stewart sent a flier to voters promoting his 2007 campaign against illegal immigrants as an accomplishment rather than a mistake. I received mine last Friday.

Corey Stewart … “I was wrong back then”

By Tito A. Munoz
Guest Post

“I was wrong back then with regard to the modification of the policy,” Stewart said acknowledging his opposition to the modification of his Illegal Immigration policy was a mistake. These were the words of Chairman Corey Stewart during the April 11^th Republican Prince William County Chairman Candidate’s Debate (see video above).

‘I look like them’ (but I’m better)

By Tito A. Munoz
Guest Post

Stressing outreach as a measure for candidate qualification has become a new preoccupation for some. Why?

The real question is: who is the best qualified candidate for the job of Sully District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors? A question which has nothing to do with ethnicity and everything to do with knowledge, tenacity and ability. But for the sake of argument, because the subject’s been raised, let’s look at what benefit skin tone actually has in helping attract new participation in the Republican Party. The fact is it takes more than “looking like them,” a term one candidate is fond of using. Growing participation and membership takes relating on a basic level and not seeing them as “them.”

The candidate who uses these words says he relates to Hispanics, yet sees himself as different, or better than them.

Tony Pham announces candidacy for Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney race

Tony Pham

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Attorney Tony Pham announced in a Monday press release that he will run for Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney:

“Henrico County is where we began our journey as Americans,” said Tony Pham. “This is where I started my own family. I am excited to represent the County I love and restore leadership, trust, and transparency to an office that has immense authority over our lives.”

The Pham family immigrated to the United States in April 1975, as the Vietnam War came to a close. They left behind everything they had and everyone they knew, in search of freedom and hope.

Opportunities exist for McAuliffe’s struggling Hispanic Board

By Daniel P. Cortez

As the congressional clock ticks with continued inaction, Virginia and the nation seek resolutions regarding immigration reform.  Fleeing illegal Hispanic children housed in Augusta County and Prince William County, Virginia, demand compassionate but firm action as more may arrive.

This was a key topic of discussion for the Governor’s Virginia Latino Advisory Board meeting last week in Northern Virginia. The subject was as unresolvable as the group’s desire to find relevancy.

WHSV TV-3 interview with David Karaffa on Verona’s immigrant children

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Augusta County Supervisor David Karaffa was interviewed Monday afternoon on WHSV TV-3 about the immigrant children held in Verona (see  “1 on 1: David Karaffa Discuses Border Crisis”).

Karaffa, whose Beverley Manor District houses 29 children who have been detained after crossing the border from Central America into the United States, wrote an article last week expressing compassion for the latest wave of children attempting to escape violence, poverty, and drugs in their native countries (see Unaccompanied Child Immigrants in Verona, Virginia).

More information about the Shenandoah Juvenile Center

By David Karaffa
Supervisor, Beverley Manor District, Augusta County

I have received an overwhelming response from citizens both inside and outside the Beverley Manor District supporting these children and it has reinforced my faith in the people of the Valley. Thank you.

Today on TV-3: Supervisor Karaffa interview at 5:45 on immigrant children

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Supervisor David Karaffa will be interviewed one-on-one Monday afternoon on WHSV TV-3 in a five-minute segment to air at 5:45.

Karaffa, whose Beverley Manor district houses 29 children who have been detained after crossing the border from Central America into the United States, wrote an article last week expressing compassion for the latest wave of children attempting to escape violence, poverty, and drugs in their native countries (see Unaccompanied Child Immigrants in Verona, Virginia).

Local outrage by some members of the community led to a protest on the Rt. 612 bridge over I-81 (see Immigrant children issue comes to Augusta County). That led to a public hearing by Augusta County supervisors with 130 members of the public showing up, evenly divided between pro and con (see Live blogging immigrant children issue at Augusta County supervisors meeting).

Supervisor Karaffa expressed compassion again at the public hearing. He received over 100 emails and dozens of phone calls about the issue. They were all pro except two were against.

Watch today’s broadcast or catch the interview online after it airs.

Update: Link to David’s interview:  “1 on 1: David Karaffa Discuses Border Crisis.”

Augusta Supervisor Tracy Pyles and immigrant children: America is Reagan’s Shining City on a Hill

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Supervisor Tracy Pyles joined other Augusta County supervisors Wednesday night at a public hearing about the immigrant children who are being housed at the Shenandoah Juvenile Center in Verona , sharing his comments in support of the children (see his comments at Live blogging immigrant children issue at Augusta County supervisors meeting).

Supervisor Pyles spoke about how America’s optimism, going fearlessly into the future, serves us better than living in fear and anger. Then he used Ronald Reagan’s shining city on a hill as an example of that optimism and quoted a portion of President Reagan’s farewell address from January 11, 1989: