Alabama Eagle Forum Questionnare

My friends at the Alabama Eagle Forum (http://www.alabamaeagle.org/) have asked me to answer a series of questions about where I stand on certain issues. I thought my reader(s) might be interested in my response.

What follows is the first of Five Sections on Immigration, State Government, Sanctity of Life, Education Issues, and Property rights.

Alabama Eagle Forum Questionnaire 2010

Section ;

Illegal Immigration:

Illegal aliens are a major problem costing millions of dollars in education, health care and corrections. States across the country have enacted laws to address these problems.

Do you agree that:

#1 .. Q. Driver's licensees should NOT be issued to Illegal aliens.

A. YES.

All state agencies should comply with Homeland Security and State laws regarding identification requirements. Currently in Alabama this includes a US birth Certificate or a US certified certificate of birth abroad. So it would seem that Driver's licenses are not under present law issued to Illegal Aliens in Alabama. I see no reason to change the current law.

#2 Q. State Officials should enforce the Alabama Constitutional Amendment that Driver's license be given in English only.

A. NO.

Although State employees are required to enforce State laws. Sometimes, when the State Constitution is in conflict with the US constitution, the US constitution must be given preference. Enforcing this amendment would violate article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the US Constitution. Informally known as the commerce clause, which regulates commerce with foreign nations, and among several States, and with the Indian Tribes. It would also interfere with drivers license reciprocity with other states and nations.

There are also parts of the Alabama Constitution which violate Title IV of the Civil Rights Act. Public officials enforcing the parts of the Alabama Constitution that violate the US Constitution could find themselves in a “situation”.

#3 Q. The State must verify that adults seeking state administered benefits are citizens or in the U.S. Legally before providing any benefits.

A. NO.

I think drivers license identification would be adequate identification for state benefits. The question arises “Do my rights to present myself as an American Citizen without “papers” override the job of the immigration officials?

#4 Q. Employers must verify the legal status of any prospective employee before hiring.

A. YES Absolutely!

I would strongly push for State Constitutional Amendment and put this to a vote of the people. I believe it would largely solve our immigration problems if illegal aliens didn't have anything to do when they got here.

#5. Police Must Check the Immigration Status of any Foreign National they arrest. If he is a criminal under deportation order, police must turn him over to INS personnel for deportation.

A. Sadly NO.

Our police are overworked and underpaid as it is. To require them to do the job of the INS in addition to keeping us safe and secure would be an undue hardship. It might also require legal citizens to keep “papers” on their person at all times to prove that they are not Foreign Nationals.

People who commit crimes should be arrested and tried independently of their immigration status. Outstanding warrants and deportation orders will come to light at that time. We need to be very careful that taking care of one issue does not create yet another infringement on our rights as citizens.

The issue of illegal immigration is a Federal issue and should be taken care of at the border.

Monday: State Government