GUEST COLUMN: Frustrated with federal government

Since a proposal for an ordinance on illegal immigration was passed by a 5-3 vote by the Fremont City Council, I have been bombarded with calls and letters from local residents and outside people. I have heard from 12 different states all showing support for the ordinance. I received one call accusing me of being a racist and a pig.

I have been interviewed by radio talk shows in Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans and ABC of Phoenix. It is now time for me to explain and be interviewed by the people who live in Fremont.

This is not rocket science folks. People throughout this nation are frustrated by our federal government not enforcing their own law, "Improper Entry by Alien," Title 8, Section 1325.

They want their own laws on immigration and they want these laws enforced. To work, a system has to have discipline. The government sets a figure for people entering the United States each year legally plus there are 20 times more people waiting in line to enter legally. Is it fair to them to wait when others cross our borders illegally?

Illegal immigration is draining our revenues. How much does it cost to educate them? Ask an educator. How about free health care. To register for health care in a hospital, the first two questions asked are "Do you have insurance?" and "Who is responsible for this bill?"

An illegal can register, receive the health care and the bill is paid by the government or Medicaid. They receive free drugs, food, qualify for subsidized rent and the list goes on and on.

It’s also about money - the profit from cheap labor. Low wages lower the standard of living for lower and middle class families.

Our public employees expect an increase in wages for the cost of living and rightly so. Lower and middle class workers should be given the same fairness.

This ordinance before the city council is not about racism - it’s about breaking a federal law that is not being enforced. It’s about the word "illegal" which means "prohibited by law."

Our elected officials in Washington either have no idea what’s going on in the country with illegals or they just don’t care. They are too busy on the campaign trail wooing voters and not caring what they promise to get the votes.

Immigration laws need to be enforced and it needs to start at the local level - now.

Robert Warner represents Ward 4 on the Fremont City Council.