Letter to the Editor: Poliquin on immigration

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I’m a proud Franco-American.

Like many Mainers, my ancestors came from Canada to farm the land, log the forests, and toil in Maine’s textile mills.

I have always believed that legal immigration is a fundamental part of our American heritage. I’m very proud of the contributions that my ancestors and immigrants of all different backgrounds have made to make this country so successful.

These are the sorts of immigrants America needs for the future.

Our Nation’s immigration laws exist to protect hard-working Mainers and immigrants who came to our Country legally, through the proper channels.

I have always said that legal immigration is good for America; however, illegal immigration is not.

I believe that before fixing the broken immigration system, our federal government should do its job and, finally, secure our borders. Our borders and ports must be secured to prevent further illegal entry.

That’s why I’m concerned with the creation of “Sanctuary Cities,” or municipalities, in our Country that purposely refuse to enforce our Nation’s immigration laws. Those who come to our Country, illegally, and repeatedly break our laws should not be allowed asylum. Our federal immigration laws are in place to help protect our local towns and communities – they must be fully enforced.

That is why I voted in support of the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act so as to ensure our Nation’s immigration laws are enforced.

I also cosponsored a bill that will require illegal immigrants, who have been convicted of sexual assault, to register on the Sex Offender Registration list.

Additionally, I believe unlawful entry into America is a jobs issue.

Hard-working Mainers continue to struggle through the worst recession in seventy years. It’s not fair to force them to compete for jobs with millions of other potential workers who are here illegally. Maine families deserve a federal government that works FOR them, not AGAINST them.

Congressman Bruce Poliquin

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17 Comments

  1. I find it quite funny that your last paragraph has to do with these illegal immigrants taking jobs away from Maine people. Can you prove to me what effect these illegal immigrants have had on the Maine economy? Stop using this as a political game and pulling at the emotions of people. Maybe you could focus on more serious issues that affect Maine’s lagging economy.

  2. Poliquin: “I believe unlawful entry into America is a jobs issue.” Right!
    Who else is going to pick the fruits and vegetables, work in slaughterhouses,
    and do all the hot, dirty work that most “Americans” wouldn’t do, for wages that hardly put food on their tables or a roof over their heads?

  3. well, my grandfather came here illegally, jumped a train in Rogersville New Brunswick,jumped off at Smalls Falls, became a citizen and was hard working and productive as are his descendents. There are no jobs in Franklin County Mr. Poliquin because you and your friends sent them overseas years ago. We need to worry about jobs for EVERYONE!!!!

  4. “MYTH: Americans won’t do the work that illegals do.
    TRUTH: Prior to 1965 when the disastrous Immigration Bill was passed, there was very little immigration. In fact, between 1925 and 1965, there was even a period of net emigration out of the United States. During this time, our grass was getting cut, our meat was being packed, our children were being watched and our houses were being cleaned. The idea that somehow we suddenly can’t run a country without an unlimited supply of foreigners is absurd.
    Those in favor of foreign labor are corporations who are addicted to cheap labor. They are the ones who are benefiting. But their benefit comes at the American tax payer’s expense when you consider that the American tax payer is virtually subsidizing the labor costs of the greedy corporations by supplying the illegal foreign workers and their families with welfare, free education, free medical, WICs, housing assistance, etc. — something the corporations won’t do.

    Americans won’t allow themselves to be exploited like illegals do, but they WILL do the work that illegals do for fair compensation and benefits. If Americans did the work that illegals do at higher pay, would that benefit the consumer? You bet it would in the long run. But many Americans who do not care about America’s future are consumers who favor the idea of exploiting illegal workers because it keeps commodity and service prices down in the short term.”

  5. I have witnessed this incredible phenomenon, but I couldn’t say it any better than the liberal paper I read it in.

  6. JL There were some other happenings back around 1965 that just may have had some bearing on who was available to do menial labor. Think about it. And that net emigration thing- you don’t suppose the depression and prohibition might have influenced that?

    At any rate, there are not “millions of other potential workers who are here illegally”, in Maine.
    There are not “Millions of people in Maine.” Perhaps Mr. Poliquin doesn’t know what the population of the state even is.

    We do not have hoards of immigrants, legal or illegal or asylum seekers trampling our state borders. Why would they? Were near the bottom of the countries economy.

    And- the horrible recession has pretty much receded- for most of the rest of the country anyway. In fact, the unemployment rate is today the lowest it’s been in decades. Lower, in fact than during the tenure of any Republican’s terms in office since Eisenhower.

    I ask Mr. Poliquin- what one solid, positive thing have you done that specifically benefits your constituents back here since you took office?

  7. Once again our Republican friend spouts “slogans” and evokes “jobs” to play on emotions. Yet monies allocated from job stimulation are blocked by his party. Just once I would like to hear a Republican stop spouting what he/she is against and say what he is for AND how he intends to do it. And his comment about the recession is totally political. Unemployment is the lowest in many years. The stock market is at an all time high. Auto sales are up. Housing prices are recovering. What has he done to contribute to this?

  8. Peter, the unemployment rate is low because they no longer count as unemployed the people who have stopped looking. The labor participation rate (working + looking) is the lowest since the mid 1970s. What have Democrats done about this? They’ve made it worse, but they demand to be judged on intentions, not results.

    Stock market, car sales, house prices. What have Democrats done about these? They control the executive branch in DC while these items change. When the change is good, they take the credit; when it’s bad, they blame the Republican Congress. There’s plenty of spouting and sloganeering on the left, too.

  9. Yes yes yes what we need is a female who had never had a real job to lead us into the future..
    A career politician funded by th liberal university system.
    Can’t wait for that.

  10. Frost Proof,
    Subscribe to the Wall Street Journal and read up. No liberal rag that. I read it every day. I use it as a tool to decide where to invest. It’s been a great asset.

    Car sales are way up. Unemployment is way down. There are fewer people looking for work, because fewer people are out of work, not because they have given up.
    The stock market is up. The federal deficit is lower. More people have healthcare.
    Oil prices are low- How come none of you conservatives remark on that? The only time the price of oil was this low in the last dozen years, was when the economy nearly collapsed under George W. Bush’s admin.
    In fact, I bet- that the lower cost of heating fuel fully offset the rise in property tax for all of you who fought the school budget.

    Yes, the economy in Franklin County Maine sucks. That is not reflective of the country as a whole.

  11. What? didn’t Bernie sanders say essentially the same thing? Where is all the hatred towards him?

    Oh he is a democrat, I mean socialist, or socialist running as a democrat, or is it a democratic socialist?

    Well anyway since the head of the DNC couldn’t find a difference in the two how can i?

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