Committee hears new immigration law proposal

skippy appointed the committee?
another waste of time and money. nothing will be done. just another appeasement to the people of fremont. the sad part is that the people of fremont will go along with whatever happens, which will be nothing. i cant believe that the people of fremont will never learn. your so sad.

This is an example of the lack of leadership in the state and federal government, waiting for us to set the example. That in itself is almost scary, although we all like a good challenge.

This is the time for this cities leadership to show the guts and decision making ability a leader needs to have. Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed Ahead type thinking. Make the decisions and then live with those decisions.

The rest of the country is just waiting for somebody to lead them around by the nose, the fear instilled by political correctness has us all paralyized. Now lets set that example, Lead or get out of the way.

To Mr Gitt & Mr. Hartwig:

You need to realize that the main proponents of this issue don't give a tinker's toot about the rest of the state. As long as the Mexicans are purged & cleansed from their little hillbilly paradise, they couldn't care less what happens elsewhere.

Great job People!

It is good to see a city council stand up for the people they represent. It is rare in these troubled times.

And people wonder why we're in the fix we're in.

The timing of this Boards Decision is suspect at best. I believe it was last week that this paper ran a story pointing to the likely success of the group attempting to gather enough signatures to force a special election on this very topic. It seems the only time our Esteem City Council with support of the “Enlightened Ones” fake interest in the very real danger to our town posed by Illegal Immigration we get another carrot. Frankly, I don’t care how many people are watching or by the pandering paralysis of governments, this is still our town. The thought that any none corrective measures recommended/enacted will be enforced within 3 years is an insult, 18 months is nearly as unacceptable. When the special election forces our elected official to seriously address the concerns of those they are elected to serve I expect action not Hope for Change, that one isn’t selling well at the moment.

Illegal Immigration is more than a political back burner as real crime happens weekly in our town only to be buried as if it never happened. It’s time for those willing to lead to step forward and those solely interested in the outcome of the next elections to follow until they can be replaced. Beware Fremont; this next reading on February 10th will be orchestrated to quiet all the hard work of those pushing to force our elected official to do the job they were hired to do. This is no substitute for a special election on the subject of Illegal Immigration and those that enable Illegal behavior voted on by Fremont Citizens.

Skippy’s Special Task Force on Immigration, right! Was I the only one to notice the Tribune conveniently remembered to include the word “Illegal” to the task force for this column? Let’s get it straight, are we looking at Immigration which is legal or Illegal Immigration that, well, ISN’T! Perhaps the task force should first demonstrate they know what the subject matter is before we are asked to get really excited about their recommendations.

This issue IS about AMERICANS! Not ‘Mexicans’ as you stated. It’s about people being here ILLEGALLY!!! Mexicans as well as other Non-Americans. So you can stop the race-baiting now. It’s about AMERICANS and the laws that AMERICANS have created. I see it this way, once a person has gone through the grueling process, no matter how hard, to become a citizen of the United States of America, then and only then…. are you an American, otherwise you are here as a guest. As a guest, you must come here LEGALLY and respect the laws of the land & the people who created those laws. I don’t think that is too much to ask.
These laws were not created willy-nilly. Immigration laws, just as every law on the books, were created to protect the citizens and LEGAL guests of the nation. That includes you and your family, if you are here LEGALLY.
What from you may ask? Disease, for one. There is a reason that you have to have updated vaccinations in order to get a pass-port, this is to protect people from contagious diseases such as T.B. If a person comes to the U.S.A. by airplane, most likely, they have a pass-port, which means in turn, they have update vaccinations and are deemed healthy. But, on the other hand, if a person swims through a dirty river, runs across a desert and climbs a fence to get to the U.S.A., from a country with worse healthcare than the U.S.A., what would you say the likelihood is that they are up to date on their vaccinations?
Another offense these laws were created to protect you and your family from, you may ask. Criminal offenders. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if a person has an excessive or a felonious criminal record, such as murder or child molestation, they are not able to enter into the U.S.A. without special documented permission from a court. So that again brings the traveling by airplane verses the swimming, running & climbing situation to light.
So, no this issue is not about, ‘Mexicans’, Race, Religion or Sexual Orientation. It is, however, about the Laws of Our Great Nation, and the people who sacrificed their lives to insure us citizens of this nation that we would always be protected by those laws!
I came up with two. Although, I think these are reason enough for the Immigration laws to be enforced, an anyone think of anymore?

Here's a thought.
How about instead of trying to enforce federal law at the local level, (Which will never work because both Democrats and Republicans have a vested interest in illegal immigration), we come up with a plan to encourage people that have jumped through all the hoops in order to immigrate legally?

It's a win-win-win. Employers will be grateful for a legal workforce. Those who have immigrated legally will not have to fear the percieved prejudice that these local efforts seem to perpetuate. The people of Fremont will have fewer neighbors that are criminals.

I personally would like to see the task force heading that direction because it does several things:

1) It shows that Fremont is not the bigoted bunch of hillbillies some have accused us of being.

2) It shows that Fremont is serious about the rule of law.

3) It shows that we have some compassion and empathy for people that are willing to leave their homes to seek a better life that we take for granted.

why cant we, as voters, i mean the voters with brains and not just followers, just impeach all the city leaders? it didnt take illinois long to get rid of that crook, a dumb crook at that. then again i guess i forget that the wealthy want these morons in office so there they will stay.

That's funny. A certain other regular poster whose wife is an immigrant claims it's not a "grueling" process to immigrate. Just cough up a couple grand, take a test, and you're in. Easy, not grueling. And if it's not about "Mexicans", please enlighten me about the dirty river and desert that borders our neighbors to the north.

But you made my point. The "ordinance" will do absolutely nothing about any of the things you mentioned. If it even ever passes. It's all about the "white-ness" of Fremont.

In Nebraska we have a recall process and anyone, that is those who actually want to do something other than complain about corrupt city leaders, can file the necessary paperwork and circulate a petition seeking to recall any elected city official. Of course that person will have to state a reason for wanting to remove someone from office. So, here's a challenge to all who say it's time get rid of our city officials: Begin the recall process. If you really want change, it begins with you. (Oh, did I mention that you actually have to use your real name when filing the paperwork?)

I applaud the City officials of Fremont in adopting a collaborative approach to the issue of undocumented workers in its community. I am constantly impressed by the leadership exhibited by citizens and city officials who are carefully and deliberately addressing a difficult and emotional issue. The Legislature will most certainly be dealing with this issue this Legislative session. Fremont is setting an example of deliberative democracy that hopefully we can follow in Lincoln.
Brad Ashford

The thing the task force never answered was how many are actually illegal (since you can't tell just by the color of their skin).
Wouldn't it make these great white patriots mad if all these new laws were put into place and there were still a lot of Hispanic people here in town? I think that would be really funny!!

Before we start this, has anyone come up with a number. How many illegal immigrants are we guessing live in Fremont? Any idea? Approximate numbers would be good. Just give me an idea, before we spend a lot of our time and MONEY!

I think it is time to step up to the plate, and live up to my anointed name.

Fremont is in the unique position to find middle ground that no other party seems to be able to find.

I propose a system that helps get people in line for citizenship. We have the pull now with ICE to make that happen. I also propose a few requirements to get on the list, health checks, employement, health insurance, criminal background check, all paid for by the applicant. While a person is on the list if they or a family member violate a law they should be removed from the list and escorted home.

There are to many details to put here, and it is just an idea. This framework does not give blanket amnesty, and as we know it is impossible to deport every single person; so it should make both sides equally upset, a very good sign that it is balanced.

Complaining won't get us anywhere, and positions at the extreme ends of the issue probably won't be realistic either.

to Dear Fremonter:
i see that you as well as others who complain that posters dont use their real names dont use your real names either. hipocritical maybe? keep those kind of stupid comments to yourself ok? file a petition for recall? what a joke. the petition will drag its way thru the corrupt system and get lost i'm sure. people like you still believe in the "democratic way". there is no such thing and hasnt been for many years. we need a different system. if our elected officials dont do their jobs, fire them. we dont need an impeachment system. too long and drawn out, especially in a corrupted town like fremont.

What's the actual problem this ordinance is supposed to solve? That people are working here without legal standing in the community (though most residents are descended from settlers who were not required to go through any process besides coming)? That someone else is getting done out of a job? (Who? What would help them become employable?) That "illegal" means more crime or welfare? (Is that true? Does it have anything to do with undocumented status? How else could that be addressed?) Before trying to bar any group of people from Fremont or Nebraska, might it not be wise to decide exactly what one was doing?

How many 'illegal' immigrants do we have in Fremont?

Let me put it this way....during the previous governor's election, I worked
for a candidate (the only candidate)that actually had literature printed up in Spanish.

I also talked to a couple of people well know in the Hispanic community, and when I even mentioned the subject of getting all Hispanics who are U.S. citizens to register to vote....aaaah, when they both stopped laughing at my suggestion...I got a real education, and I am not saying these are 100% accurate...at best perhaps merely a
"indication."

I was told about 4,000 Hispanics live in Fremont, and at best 4-5% are U.S. Citizens. Thus of the remaining 95-96% as least half have "fake I.D./S.S."
so....take it from there!

Please, remember not all Hispanics (legal of illegally here)that work for Fremont employers don't live within the city limits....bottomline...although not totally provable we probably have
at least 3,000 'illegals' in Fremont or working for Fremont employers.....and of course you'd have to include Hormels because they make a HUGE percentage of all Hispanics (illegal or legal).

Hard to prove? They move around a lot and often are living with friends or family,etc.

I realize this is not a 'precise' figure but it is probably the best anyone can give you.

Thanks for listening!!!

Good for you Fremont , Nebraska! Its time the people of this entire country recognize if we dont take as stand for the legal immigrant who will.We are a nation of laws and lawlessness has been rewarded far to long . The peolples who came before were expected to follow law or be deported and no special favors were awarded to those who break our laws . It is against the law to enter the USA without visa and to over stay them as well , many who have broken those laws continue on to break more laws . Soon we will be outcast for obeying law and exspecting laws enforced. I have the arguement " what if we are sued." " it is racist to have such an ordenace" I ask you would it be racist to ask white immigrants to obey the law? What kind of people sue when asked to obey the laws that already they have broken they stay anyway knowing that they are? Many of them say they are here for a better life yet, make the US citizens miserable with loss of jobs, loved ones taken forever by the lawless, taxes soaring do to use of social services and other gov. programs paid for by the US tax payers. Where are the bleeding hearts for the American?

TO fran,
White settlers DID have to go through a screening process to immigrate to the US as well. Ever here of Ellis island? Maybe many settelrs who came here were decendents of Ellis Island immigrants who lived further east or on the East Coast, but Yes European & Asian immigrants in the 1800s & the 1900's had to be processed like we are asking today's immigrants to be here legally as well. BTW when World war I came around the Federal Government DEMANDED that all immigrants speak English no matter where they were from. Have a good day.

I believe the forefathers were inspected for heath problems when they ENTERD through ELLIS ISLAND.

And while you are at it, lets ban Gypsys also. Jews and Mormans are next to go. Maybe get them to wear a special badge on their coat.

Has history taught you nothing? I grew up in Fremnont, now I am ashamed to be from a city that thinks this way.

If you are an employer and have some illegal immigrants, who are otherwise law abiding, hard working, and interested in gaining American Citizenship, then you might want to give some serious thought to helping them in that process, and meanwhile to cease and desist in the process of encouraging others to follow illegally in their footsteps.

If you are a proponent of immigration scofflaws, you, not to mention those who must evaluate your position and actions, have a few things weighing in the balance against the scofflaw position:
1) That the USA had essentially open immigration laws in the beginning when it encompassed mostly wilderness with an average of maybe one inhabitant per tillable square mile, is irrelevant now that it has passed 300 million accelerating. As a lifeboat, or any other life support system begins to approach capacity, egalitarian civility begins to break down, and if the process of adding passengers continues unrestricted, at some point it sinks into open barbarism. For instructive comparison with others who have been down this road before us, consider the lot of the working man and agrarian peasant in 19th century Germany, continuing to degenerate on through the advent of the 1930’s Great Depression. Anybody here in America want a ticket on that ride?
2) Many responsible Americans in every city across this land have spent decades, and a lot of effort building a sense of inclusive, self sufficient community within some of the more ‘bombed out’ core city neighborhoods of this nation. I think most people involved in these efforts would agree that if well meaning do-gooders, rapacious exploitative employers, or lily white suburban fringe dwellers, are allowed to dump economic basket cases, concentration camp style, into core city neighborhoods faster than we can build programs to help them help themselves, then we might as well be spitting in the wind. In that case we can go back to the Middle Ages European Model with the Church, among other landlords, having vast numbers of impoverished serfs barely subsisting as they hung from its skirts.
3) All other things being equal, we could probably muddle through, at the rates we are seeing now, for several decades without descending into social Armageddon. But such intellectually convenient ‘linear’ approximations only work in the short run, generally speaking nature isn’t linear, and in fact we are facing some well known sharp break points in the world’s climactic and economic generators of ‘economic immigrants’. For starters consider that a large fraction of the world’s accelerating population lives in coastal areas that will be put under salt water by the currently accelerating breakup of Arctic, Greenland, and Antarctic ice sheets. The computer models still used to project the melting of these ice sheets, don’t include such non-linear phenomena as ice sheet breakup caused by sea level rise, or hydrated carbon dioxide release from warming oceans and tundra.
Mature nations, unlike the USA, have well thought out and well enforced immigration laws for a good reason. Like them, we need to get our immigration act together before this already rising tide of immigration becomes a perfectly predictable tsunami.

Think I said carbon dioxide hydrates above but meant methane hydrates.

To Stephen Johnson,
Wanting ALL immigrants to have proper background & medical checks and to fulfill a process to LEGALLY immigrate to the US and become a citizen does NOT compare in anyway to Hitler rounding up and slaughtering jews & gypsys who were legal citizens in their respective countries before the Nazis over came governments in place beforehand. Use some common sense. No one wanting laws in place engforced ever said to slaughter anyone in gas chambers. I hope for your sake a crimminal does not break into your home and try to hurt you or your family. In your mind the law enforcement showing up would be Hitler's Gestapo.

Stephen:
My question is did the Jews and Mormons you speak of come here legally? Come on Stephen, use your brain. Now you are equating Illegal immigration to the Holocaust? Liberalism at its newest low...And your right, I am ashamed of Fremont as well. I thought of returning, but now knowing that it is allowing itself to be over run by criminals and the faint of heart, I think I'll just stay down in Sooner country.

You don't have to be a US Citizen to work legally in the USA. You can have a Work Visa or a Green Card. So you would not be an illegal immmigrant. You would be a guest worker and therefore not eligible to vote in our elections.

the process of how my wife came here
1 we were married
2 she had a 3 month visa
3 made an applacation for green card
4 filled out forms and submitted that with the fee and with the papers of a medical exam by an approved doctor of INS
5 recieved a 1 year extension
6 had interview with INS and had to prove we have known each other for some time
7 interview had to be in English
8 after the investagation she recieved a 3 year green card
9 when it expired made applacation for a 10 year green card. She was investagated to see if she was crime free and living by OUR laws
10 recieved 10 year green card. and now working for her citizenship
And BoBo there is no test to take
HOW HARD IS THAT

Up until 1890 immigration issues were left up to the individual states.You might want to give up some soap opera time this afternoon and Google Ellis Island.

look for all of you that say that fremont,ne is not rasist is a "liar".exsample went to Radio Shack waiting in line like every other american, the heavy set "guy" didnt assist me and my mother just because we were hispanics "AMERICANS" an older white man walks in the door and right away the heavy set guy asked him if he needed any help.I was very angry and upset, so i went to the lady who was working hard and told her about the issue,she apologize for him now if that isnt rasist then you guys need to get a reality check. you "white people" dont go through what i go through in this town and im not saying all whites are.i just thought Americans acted better then this and im ashamed to say that i am an American! i pay taxes just like all of you and pay my bills like you! treat me like a human being not like an animal!!!!!!!!

Also to Joseph,

God forbid the city has a such a diverse ethnic background that it had to print literature in more than one language. Maybe fremont should just ban everbody from the town that doesn't use English as their first language. And once that is done, the city can check into all the resident's backgrounds and if any of their ancestors didn't speak English when they came to Fremont then those residents would have to leave the city as well. No wonder people outside the city thinks were a bunch of rednecks.

The US, or at least each state, should adopt such policies! When are the citizens of this country going to wake up and say "Enough"?

Those that think illegal immigrants are just here for a job better do some research . Maybe check out who some of these illegal peoples are and a look back at the impact this influx of illegal immigrants have had on Nebraska and this Nation. Many Nebraskans have died at the hands of illegal immigrants b, murders and drunk driving homicides , thousands of serious crimes commited by illegal peoples just looking for a job . Just check with your local law enforcement on how the stats have climbed in the last 15 yrs and how many millions of dollars illegal immigration has cost Nebraskans. This is about law not race . I try not to make it a point that Im not white but , this issue seems to bring out the race card saying it is white people not wanting brown and so on , at least for me its about common sense and the rule of law. If you dont have legal status to be in the USA you need to comply with the law or leave.Ilegal Labor is Slave Labor so how christian is slave labor?

Andy:
My point was that another poster implied that the process is "grueling", to use his words, but for your wife it was relatively simple, at least by what you've indicated on these boards. And I know people who've done exactly what your wife did.

But the process is much more difficult for an immigrant not married to a US citizen, would you not agree?

I'm also curious if your experience was like many US citizens that marry foreign nationals; specifically Mexicans. Did you marry in her country or here? Was she here legally when you met/married, and then afterward started the process? Not that it's any of my or anyone else's business, but I think to blanketly imply that the path to legality/citizenship is easy is somewhat misleading. If it were so simple, what possible motive would one have to come here to live and work illegally?

An excerpt from "The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and the Paradox of Assimilation: Incarceration Rates among Native and Foreign-Born Men" released in the spring of 2007 by Ruben G. Rumbaut, PhD and Walter A. Ewing, PhD

"...data from the census and other sources show that for every ethnic group without exception, incarceration rates among young men are lowest for immigrants, even those who are the least educated. This holds true especially for the Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who make up the bulk of the undocumented population. The problem of crime in the United States is not 'caused' or even aggravated by immigrants, regardless of their legal status. But the misperception that the opposite is true persists among policymakers, the media, and the general public, thereby undermining the development of reasoned public responses to both crime and immigration."

Terry,
And the people hiring illegals and using them as slave labor are the ones who should be fined and prosecuted. When being abused by their employers, what chance do they have to defend themselves. Either take it and the wages offered ,or be put out on the steets with no job and a family to feed.

E-verify is the best tool available for the local level. Any new ordinance should have a E-verify for any employers in the Fremont city jurisdiction with a $1000 fine for every violiation. After this laws proven success Sen. Ashford will have a working model to take to the Leg.

Andy,
Why was it that the interview had to be in English? The USA doesn't have an official language.

to BoBo
I met my wife when I was living in South Africa. So you see I went through the system there.We were together two years. Because of a armed high jacking I went to the UK with her and her family. It was so expensive I left to come back to the states.I was here 4 months when she came here on a visitors visa.We got married here in Fremont and then applyed for her green card. Her visa was extended to one year for her app was being prossesed. You know the rest of the story.
The trick is to come here legaly, not to over stay your 3 month visa and apply. Also to abide to OUR laws with all intention of staying. Also we both work and put back in to the country. It was also that easy to become a permenant resident in South Africa where I had a busness.

Fremont's Leaders can show this entire country how to handle this issue. Existing laws are ignored, it is time for Fremont to our own new rules.

The two major concerns seem to be crime and health screening. Fremont should become the next Ellis Island, Fremont should be the place where immigrants come to get both of these things accomplished and upon completion Fremont can "document" these immigrants.

Deport the sick and criminals, help the others with documentation, allow them to pay every cent plus of the cost for this documentation. Require them to have a job, health insurance, and no criminal activity while paperwork is processed.

We cannot return to the thinking of World War One and "LET GEORGE DO IT" that thinking is how we got where we are.

English is ,however, the official language of this state. Google is your friend.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree (I think) with Idiot.

If we are truly Americans then why are we so inclined to find illegals and send them back. If most of you say that if they arrive in this country legally you would not have a problem of them being here. So, rather than spend the money to send them back why not use that money to help them become legal and only if they are criminals or do carry a disease send them back.

Was the following not what this country was founded on?: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

to Agree with Idiot
first of all they don't want to stay. All they do is take our jobs, send money back home,and get out.
If you or I brake a law what happens to us?? They are no different but they broke a law when they entered OUR country illegaly. That is the main reason we are against them. I don't care what color or religion you are come here legally and you will be welcome

Scoop"And the people hiring illegals and using them as slave labor are the ones who should be fined and prosecuted. When being abused by their employers, what chance do they have to defend themselves. Either take it and the wages offered ,or be put out on the steets with no job and a family to feed."
I agree with the fact that it is the employers who should have a hefty weight in responisbiliy , after all they are commiting felonies and getting away with it so far , yet I heard no out cry as Americans and legal immigrants were one by one squeesed out of a job or simply not even given a chance of employment , no one seemed to care one bit ! The employer that employs this illegal slave labor need to look beyond their personal gain and see the far reaching impact that this has and we Americans as well as the illegal immigrant will be realing from this for generations to come . There are immigration laws for a reason and this is one them. WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS now are we not ? Or does law only apply to a few ? Should it not apply regaurdless of your race, creed , color and economic status ? As for the person with the stats maybe you should call your local sheriff and ask them a few questions and Ill bet their stats differ from yours.Maybe take a look at Hall County and why they had to build a new and bigger jail and who occupies this jail , Lexington , NE violent crime is through the celing and take a guess who the culprits are ...Im also wondering in what circles do you run? Ill take a quess you are not in line for a job at Hormel or someplace like it , at least not on the floor , its a diry job and plenty of Americans have , will and would do the jobs if only given a chance and a living wage. Slavery was abolished in 1865 but, is alive and well in Nebraska and the corporate overseer is glad to keep the slave right where they want them , illegal , expendable and cheap , at least cheap to the employer they are quite expensive to the American! Shame on the employer and any who profit from illegal slave labor!