Co-founder of Minuteman Project discuss immigration

www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/09/06/News/
Saturday, Sep 6, 2008
By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - A co-founder of the anti-illegal immigration Minuteman Project on Friday accused some American businesses of fostering a "21st century slave trade" by hiring undocumented workers to toil long hours for low wages and few benefits. But Jim Gilchrist also said the nation is under no obligation to help the world's downtrodden masses. In a speech at the Clinton School of Public Service, Gilchrist decried what he said was exploitation of workers to entered the country illegally and questioned their overall benefit to the U.S. economy. "A low-wage pay illegal alien provided no benefits, provided no health care ... not the benefits that most American workers get, this makes them very attractive to those who engage in what I refer to as the 21st century slave trade," he said. On the other hand, Gilchrist asked, "except for life-saving treatment, under what authority are we required to house, shelter, feed, educate and medicate the world's impoverished population?"

"If that's what you want, that's fine, but that's not what I want," he said, adding that money the federal government spends to help illegal immigrants could be better used to improve education for citizens and to help the elderly. Gilchrist, a 59-year-old former newspaper reporter and retired CPA, co-founded the group that has sent hundreds of members to stand along the U.S. southern border in an effort to curb the flow of undocumented workers from Mexico into the country. During his 30-minute speech Friday at the Clinton School, Gilchrist, who has been booed or shouted down at many of his appearance across the country, praised a crowd of about 100 people for allowing him to speak without interruption.

"This far exceeds the rights afforded speakers at Columbia University," he said, referring to a 2006 incident at the New York City school where students stormed the stage and knocked over chairs and tables while he spoke. Before Gilchrist was introduced Friday, Clinton School dean Skip Rutherford asked the audience to be respectful. "People can agree to disagree," Rutherford said. But his appearance did grow testy at times. During a question and answer period, a member of the audience said Arkansas' Hispanic population, including illegal immigrants, had contributed greatly to the state's economy. "You make these people sound like they've come here to be taken care of," the man said.

John DiPippa, interim dean of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock law school, asked Gilchrist that if illegal immigrants were being used as slaves as he suggest, why did he oppose the 2007 a comprehensive immigration reform bill in Congress that would have given temporary amnesty to illegal immigrants in the U.S. The measure was approved in the House but defeated in the Senate. Gilchrist said he couldn't answer the question.

I can answer the question! An amnesty (aka comprehensive immigration reform) would have taken billions of dollars in order to help the "new citizens". Furthermore, the now legal workers would have been laid off and replaced with new illegals. Corrupt regimes like the Mexican Government would continue to neglect their citizens knowing that the American taxpayer will take care of the problem. Worst of all, many criminals and terrorist would be put on the path to citizenship due to an already overburdened immigration system (i.e. 2 of the Fort Dix six who were legal immigrants). How do I know this would happen? Because it is excacly what happened during the 1986 amnesty!