Meredith.

I sincerely hope you had nothing to do with this piece of editing of the federal laws I cite in my letter to the editor.   It appears to be an effort to obfuscate the law which makes anyone hiring/harboring,/transporting any illegal alien a felon who should be punished by 10 yrs in jail + $2,000 fine per illegal alien.  Sec. 1324a is presented as 1324c, and 1324 a is never quoted.

The first duty of media is to inform the public of facts, not to act as propagandists or covers for special interests. 

I am notifying you of this incident first in hopes that there is some reasonable explanation, and I don’t mean a retraction in fine print.

The taxpaying citizens of this state and country have every right to know the immigration laws and who is breaking them and why.  We, after all are the ones burdened with illegals’ education, welfare, education, penal, etc. costs…not the crooks who hire and exploit them.

You should be outraged.

I look forward to hearing from you very soon before taking whatever step needs to be taken to right this egregious wrong.

Kindest regards,

~Barb McCutchen

Letter submitted 6/11/07

I believe citizens have the right and duty to know immigration laws and demand enforcement, such as 8 USC Sec 1325 -Any alien who enters U.S. other than at port of entry shall be subject to civil and criminal penalties, fines and imprisonment.

Section 1324a Any person who knowingly hires/harbors/ transports any illegal alien is guilty of a felony punishable by 10 years jail + $2,000 fine per illegal alien.

 Section 1324c ALL officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws shall have authority to make arrests for violation of any provision of this section (no special training required).

Section 1644 No local ordinance, rule, or measure shall stop law enforcement officers from enforcement of this section

Title 19, USC § 1459  Reporting requirements for individuals  
   (f) Civil penalty. Any individual who violates any provision of subsection (e) (illegal entry) of this section is liable for a civil penalty of $5,000 for the first violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.  
 (g) Criminal penalty. In addition to being liable for a civil penalty under subsection (f) of this section, any individual who intentionally violates any provision of subsection (e) of this section is, upon conviction, liable for a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. 

In my opinion these laws clearly state the illegality of and penalties for illegally entering our country and for aiding, abetting, hiring, sheltering, or transporting illegals. Our problem is blatant non-enforcement, nothing else.

Barbara McCutchen

Fort Smith

479-646-8261

Letter printed 6/22/07

 
Enforce the existing law
    I believe citizens have the right and duty to know immigration laws and demand enforcement, such as Section 1325 of Title 8, which states that any alien who enters the United States other than at a port of entry shall be subject to civil and criminal penalties, fines and imprisonment.
    Section 1324a says that all officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws shall have authority to make arrests for violation of any provision of the section; no special training is required. Section 1644 says that no local ordinance, rule or measure shall stop law enforcement officers from enforcement of this section.
    Title 19 USC 1459 states that any individual who is guilty of illegal entry is liable for a civil penalty of $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. In addition to being liable for a civil penalty, any individual who intentionally violates the law any is, upon conviction, liable for a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year or both.
    In my opinion, these laws clearly state the penalties for illegally entering our country and for aiding, abetting, hiring, sheltering or transporting illegals. Our problem is blatant non-enforcement, nothing else.
    BARBARA McCUTCHEN
    Fort Smith