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OPINION

Letters to the editor

January 2, 2020

Gov Brian Kemp. Image: The Resurgent

Kemp falling short on immigration promises

The “Our View” editorial published Dec. 20 praising Gov. Brian Kemp for his business-first approach to governing and further enhancing the climate for corporate profit neglected to note the tradeoffs he has made. Or the trusting conservative voters he has betrayed. Or the campaign promises he has ignored.

Illegal immigration seems to have dropped off of the governor’s radar since Election Day, 2018. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says Georgia is home to more “undocumented workers” than green card holders. DHS says we host more illegals than Arizona.

This, despite state laws passed nearly every year since 2006 to make Georgia inhospitable to illegal immigration. The regulations in place, including the state’s the E-Verify laws, would serve the intended purpose if they were actually enforced — or even noted by Gov. Kemp.

Georgians should realize that most illegal immigration is a direct result of illegal employment and must be recognized as the organized crime that it is. Kemp is silent on the entire issue. “Business friendly” is a term that is counter to “pro-enforcement” on immigration.

Conservative voters who can remember back to the summer of 2018 may recall “Brian Kemp’s Track and Deport Plan” which was an extremely detailed campaign promise aimed at illegal aliens who commit additional crimes. “As governor, conservative businessman Brian Kemp will create a comprehensive database to track criminal aliens in Georgia. He will also update Georgia law to streamline deportations from our jails and prisons” went the pledge. We challenge readers to find any mention of any of this from the governor — or the Georgia media — since he was elected.

All this is yet another brilliant example of “silence is consent” and will continue until GOP voters find the courage to challenge the governor and the business lobby that has taken over the Gold Dome.

D.A. King, Marietta

Here.