After working for more than four years on Georgia’s immigration laws, ( the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 ((GSICA)) – and because it was virtually ignored by local governments in Georgia, the 2009 follow up – HB 2) we are finally seeing some movement toward compliance in some places. Including Athens/Clarke County.

We at the Dustin Inman Society are firm in our position that rewarding illegal aliens – from anywhere – who escape capture at our borders with a business license is unproductive. Not to mention illegal. I have written about the lack of compliance in several places including the ABH… HERE.

The Athens Banner Herald ran a news story (HERE) about the questions local business owners have on the fact that they must swear they are citizens or legally present aliens ( a requirement that has existed since our law went into effect in 2007). I wrote a letter to the editor at the ABH in response HERE . A reader who doesn’t seem to like my postion (or me) too much replied and then Inger Eberhart sent her observation on that letter.

Her observation was a little long and was edited. Below is the published version, below that, I post the entire response that Inger sent to the ABH editor. We thank Mr. Jim Thompson, ABH opinion editor for the space and the effort to set the record straight.

We encourage readers here to see the online comments below each letter – particularly comments on Inger’s letter today. Feel free to put in your 2 cents.

Inger Eberhart’s letter to the editor published in the Athens Banner Herald today. Thanks Inger!

Athens Banner Herald

Inger Eberhart: Letter misrepresented activist

Athens Banner-Herald

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A recent letter to the editor advances a myth manufactured by people who defend and encourage the crime of illegal immigration, and attempt to silence anyone who speaks up for immigration law enforcement.

The Tuesday letter headlined “Immigrants deserve compassion” contends that Georgia anti-illegal immigration activist D.A. King told a gathering of Newton County Republicans three years ago that illegal immigrants are “not here to mow your lawn – they’re here to blow up your buildings and kill your children, and you, and me.”

King did say exactly that, but he was talking about potential terrorists who cross our borders illegally.

In that 2007 talk, King referenced a federal report revealing that “aliens were smuggled from the Middle East to staging areas in Central and South America, before being smuggled illegally into the United States from Mexico.” He informed the group that the report also stated “members of Hezbollah have already entered the United States across the Southwest border … .”

Aliens enter the U.S. illegally from all over the world. The Tuesday writer’s determination to show “compassion and good will” to anyone who comes to our republic “whether they come legally or not” can be dangerous, and, happily, does not represent the majority opinion of mainstream America.

As an African American and a proud member of the board of the King-founded Dustin Inman Society, I believe illegal immigration, like illegal employment, is a crime. Both take jobs and wages from the poorest Americans and hit native-born Hispanics and black Americans first. Illegal immigration represents a clear and present danger to our country.

Inger Eberhart

Acworth

• Inger Eberhart is a member of the board of advisers for the Dustin Inman Society.

Letter and comments HERE

——–
Inger’s original response to letter writer Kent Nessel sent to the editor ABH –

A recent letter to the editor published in the ABH from a Kent Nessel advances a myth manufactured by the people who have made it their very profitable business to defend and encourage the crime of illegal immigration. And to attempt to silence anyone who speaks up for immigration law enforcement.

Mr. Nessel writes: “According to a talk given at a county-level Republican Party gathering in this area in 2007, King said they’re “not here to mow your lawn – they’re here to blow up your buildings and kill your children, and you, and me.”

Mr. King did say exactly that – about potential terrorists who cross our borders illegally. This intentional twisting of the facts is often used as a weapon against the message of equal application of immigration laws. It is perpetuated because many people insist on intentionally blurring the line between real, legal immigrants who join the American family lawfully and aliens who escape capture at our borders while crossing in violation of American laws. The ultimate immigrant bashing.

What King said at a Newton County GOP meeting (and what was reported in the Newton County Citizen newspaper) during a presentation on the Mexican issued matricula consular ID – needed only by people in the US illegally – was that the fact that having obtained two matricula consulars himself, Mr. King proved that anyone could get the easily obtained and forged photo ID , including potential terrorists. These Mexican IDs can be used to board American airliners.

King also informed the audience of a 2006 U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security report “A Line in the Sand, Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border” which clearly states that “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations have revealed that aliens were smuggled from the Middle East to staging areas in Central and South America, before being smuggled illegally into the United States from Mexico.” I accurately informed the group of the fact that the report went on to say that “members of Hezbollah have already entered the United States across the Southwest border and that U.S. military and intelligence officials believe that Venezuela is emerging as a potential hub of terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

Aliens enter the U.S. illegally from all over the world. Mr. Nessel’s determination to show “compassion and good will” to anyone who comes to our republic ” whether they come legally or not” can be dangerous and happily does not represent the majority opinion of mainstream America.

Nessel also invents the accusation that “groups such as D.A. King’s Dustin Inman Society try to place blame on the undocumented Hispanics only because they feel their white, suburban way of life is threatened.” King wrote about laws regulating illegal immigration. Only Mr. Nessel brings up ethnicity and skin color.

As an African American and a proud member of the board of the Dustin Inman Society, I am not sure how Mr. Nessel will explain my own active opposition to the illegal immigration. Let me: Illegal immigration, as is illegal employment, is a crime. Both take jobs and wages from the poorest Americans and hit native born Hispanics and black Americans first. Illegal immigration represents a clear and present danger to our country.

The alternative to enforcing our immigration laws is open borders. We already take in more real immigrants than any nation in the world. In the 21st century, we have nothing to apologize for on immigration. We are the most diverse nation on the planet.

I hope that Mr. Nessel will contemplate the words of the late Barbara Jordan, “It is both a right and a responsibility of a democratic society to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest.”

Mr. King ended his letter, which simply explained two separate Georgia bills passed aimed at requiring compliance with federal immigration law, with the observation that “… the anti-enforcement crowd surely will regard as “intolerant extremism” any effort to deter illegal aliens from residing in Georgia and taking American jobs, taxpayer benefits and services, while we watch unemployment hover at 10 percent and a legislature that again must cut the state budget.

Speaking for all Dustin Inman Society supporters and board members, I thank Mr. Nessel for so vividly proving King’s point.

Inger Eberhart

Member, Board of Advisors

The Dustin Inman Society