Helvig's Helvitorials

Illegal immigration is a serious problem

Published in the Holland Sentinel on August 18, 2008 - This is Alan's last editorial as a featured columnist for the Holland Sentinel.

Sometimes when I write, I allow my emotions to guide my language and my choice of words can cast a cloud over the topic, as I did with last month’s column (Zero tolerance for illegal immigration). I had no idea that the words “infestation” and “plague” would detract so much attention from the truth about illegal immigration. For that, I apologize.

Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, illegal immigration is a serious problem for America which needs to be solved as soon as possible. Regardless of which side you are on, there are two truths which apply to this issue: “Two wrongs don’t make a right” and “The ends do not justify the means.”

Being an illegal alien has nothing to do with one’s race or ethnicity. There are illegal aliens in America from all corners of the world. They are black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and so on. Some of them came to America legally and overstayed their visa. Some were packed into a cargo van as part of a human smuggling ring. Others crossed our border from a foreign land looking for work.

Regardless of how or why they came to be illegals in America, they are still here illegally. So, how do we solve our immigration woes in a way that is fair and just? How does America make her immigration policy as good as it could be?

Our immigration laws should be better suited to meet the needs of American business owners. If our business owners cannot fill their worker requirements with people from the local population, they should be able to request a number of workers from outside of America. These workers would come here legally, with a U.S. government-issued work visa, to work for a specific business in a specific location for a specific period of time. When the job is done or the time on the visa is up, they would go back to their home country.

Next, we need to do a better job of enforcing our existing immigration laws and simplifying the process for those who come to America legally and go through the arduous process of naturalization. One of Holland’s greatest days was a few years ago, when more than 300 foreign-born people took their oath as American citizens in a naturalization ceremony at the Civic Center.

These citizens don’t have the luxury of being born with an American spoon in their mouths. They have to work hard, go through a ton of red tape and pay a lot of money to become an American. They deserve our respect and should be considered true patriots. If you haven’t done so already, I challenge you to take the naturalization test to see how you do.

Next, we need to do a much better job of enforcing our existing immigration laws. Money has been set aside for a fence which has yet to be built. We have sanctuary cities and rebellious law enforcement bodies that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities. The list goes on…

Last summer, politicians in Washington D.C. tried to resolve this problem with what they called a comprehensive immigration reform act. Their proposal included a path to citizenship for every illegal alien in the country who would not seek such an honor legally. The proposal died before it ever hit the Senate floor because America stood up and said “No.” You don’t reward a thief by giving him that which he was caught stealing and you don’t give citizenship to someone who has no regard for our immigration laws.

If we have a common-sense immigration policy, we can fairly and justly enforce our immigration laws. Then, maybe all Americans can share a soda on the same side of the illegal immigration debate.

In closing, I pose these thoughts to those who take such a strong stance for illegal immigration. When raising your children, do they or did they have the right to choose which of your rules they would obey and which they would not? Did they deserve every punishment you ever gave them? What kind of children would you have if you let them get away with violating anything they deemed unfair or excessive? How can you justify maintaining order and discipline with your children, while justifying the actions of illegal immigrants and those who enable them?

Zero tolerance on illegal immigration

This is the highly controversial article by Alan Helvig, as published in the Holland Sentinel on July 29, 2008.

Prior to this year, it had been over 25 years since I last filled out a job application and all the accompanying paperwork. I was quite impressed with my current employer’s requirement for me to provide proof of citizenship prior to being hired in. If only all area employers were so diligent, one of Holland’s favorite sons might still be alive today.

For years, I have warned against the consequences of illegal immigrants taking up residency in our community. For years, area employers have violated federal law by hiring illegal aliens. For years, illegal immigrants have stolen wages away from would-be employees who have legal right to hold a job in Michigan. For years, I have been labeled as hateful and a racist because I believe in living within the confines of the law of this great land and I’m not afraid to say so.

Illegal immigration is a plague which is tearing away at the moral and financial fiber of America. Our schools are filled with students who were brought here illegally by their parents. Our businesses are infested with frauds and identity thieves. Our hospitals are treating thousands each year who don’t have insurance or the money to pay their medical bills.

Our car insurance rates are climbing in concert with the number of crashes involving illegal aliens. Crime rates are on the rise in areas with growing concentrations of illegal immigrants. Some of our prisons are filling up with illegals faster than they are filling up with citizens. Cities, counties and even states are corrupting themselves by turning a blind eye to these lawbreakers.

How many American citizens have to become the victim of illegal immigrant crime before America says, “Enough is enough”? How many legal residents have to die at the hands of illegal aliens before America decides to end illegal immigration for good? How many tax dollars have to be wasted on these criminals before we wake up to the seriousness of this issue? How deep does Michigan’s recession have to get before Michiganders take a stand for what is right?

It is time for all Americans to acknowledge illegal immigration as a crime and to recognize illegal immigrants as criminals. It is time for Michigan to get serious about illegal immigration and to show the rest of the country how to be tough on these crimes. It is time to implement a “zero tolerance” policy on illegal immigration.

We need to crack down on any and all employers who are knowingly and deliberately hiring illegals. We need to crack down on banks and other businesses which are knowingly providing accounts and/or loans to illegals. We need to crack down on landlords who are knowingly renting property to illegals. We need to crack down on citizens who are harboring these criminals and/or aiding and abetting them in any way.

Cracking down on those at the root of the infestation will bring about the end of the infestation. We don’t have to round up and deport the illegals in order to solve this problem. All we have to do is dry up the well and they will leave on their own.

Why would illegal aliens come to Michigan if they knew they would not be able to find a job here? Why would they stay in Michigan if they knew they couldn’t find a place to live here? Why would they even consider migrating to a state where they knew there is a “zero tolerance” illegal immigration policy in place?

The border state of Arizona finally figured out that it would need to take matters into its own hands and it has. Arizona is cracking down on illegal immigration and its problem is subsiding. Michigan and the other 48 states need to stand with Arizona. We need to show the world that we are the “United” States of America and that we will no longer tolerate the violation of our immigration laws.

No Citizenship for Illegals

Published in the Holland Sentinel on June 18, 2007 - By Alan Helvig

The preamble of our Constitution says, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Upon assuming his office, our president raised his right hand and made the following promise to the citizens of America: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Likewise, every one of our U.S. senators took a similar oath upon assuming office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Legislating a path to citizenship for illegal aliens represents a violation of these oaths. Giving them citizenship will negatively impact the future of government in America. If these one-time fugitives become citizens, they will have not only the right to vote, but the power to run for and hold political office.

They will be eligible to serve in law enforcement, serve as judges and even work with classified material. They will be allowed to work with children in schools and day-care facilities. In spite of their criminal background, they will have the same rights as every other naturalized citizen in this country.

Well, Mr. President, exactly which clause of the Constitution are you preserving, protecting and defending by offering citizenship to illegal aliens? And how about you senators? Do you expect us to believe that providing citizenship to millions of international trespassers is in keeping with true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, which you swore to support and defend? Where is justice in your "comprehensive immigration reform act"? Do you honestly believe you are promoting the general welfare by circumventing our immigration laws and offering citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants? We think not.

In order to establish justice, we must enforce all existing immigration laws. To insure domestic tranquility, we must stop illegal immigration and control the flow of all immigrants. To provide for the common defense, we must secure our borders and strengthen our border patrol. To promote the general welfare, we must require proof of legal residency for all public services, including emergency health care and especially public education.

Now is not the time for new immigration legislation. In fact, there should never be a time for offering citizenship to illegal aliens. Granting citizenship to illegals is a slap in the face of every law-abiding American, especially those who have gone through the arduous process of naturalization.

Now is the time for "we the people" to hold our elected officials to their word. Now is the time for us to remind our president and our legislators that they are in our government and they work for us. Now is the time for us to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, even if those enemies are in Washington.

Now is the time for "we the people" to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves by standing firm in our sovereignty, as one nation, under God.

Former illegal aliens now serving in Congress

Unpublished - Former illegal aliens now serving in Congress

"Former illegal aliens now serving in U.S. Congress" will be the headline in just a few short years if America grants citizenship to these international trespassers. Offering a path to citizenship for illegal aliens will have significant consequences for the future of leadership and government in America. If citizenship is granted to these one-time fugitives, they will have not only the right to vote, but the power to run for political office. They will also be eligible to serve in law enforcement, serve as judges and even work with classified material. They will have the same rights as every other naturalized citizen in this country, in spite of their criminal background.

While the best answer is simply securing the border and enforcing existing laws, the current proposal does include a number of positive steps toward solving America's immigration problems. However, the portion granting a path to citizenship for the 12+ million illegal aliens already living in the United States is unacceptable. Rewarding criminal behavior with citizenship cannot be an option for a number of good reasons.

Giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship would mean giving them the key to changing the political balance in America. Those who failed to respect our sovereignty and our laws will become a strong lobby on the political scene. Look at what they have managed to accomplish without having a legal voice. Our felons lose their right to vote, but these criminals will be given a free pass to the polls. There is no way that anyone who came to America illegally should ever be granted the right to vote, nor should ever be allowed to run for and/or hold public office.

Giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship would also mean giving them preferential treatment over legal immigrants. Illegal aliens should never be given any consideration or receive any entitlement which is not given to legal immigrants. They should not be allowed to do anything that legal immigrants are not allowed to do. Showing such favoritism is not fair to those who abide by the law and will not be good for the social climate of this country.

While many Americans believe that all illegal aliens need to be deported, the practicality of such an operation may be less than realistic. In order to achieve true reform, there may have to be some compromises. If we are stuck with these 12+ million people, the least we can do is treat them according to the status they have placed themselves in. The worst case scenario should include a long and arduous path to legal residency, with no chance of ever obtaining citizenship.

There are huge differences between being a legal resident and being a naturalized citizen. Residents do not have the right to vote like citizens. Residents cannot run for public office like citizens. Residents do not have the right to apply for all of the same government funded programs as citizens. Legal residents are treated with the respect due a welcomed guest, but they are not allowed to work or serve in any position which could compromise our national security.

If we have to allow any of these people to stay in America, let's have them apply for these new visas. Let's run finger print analysis and DNA analysis as part of their background checks. Let's prosecute those who are suspected of crimes and let's deport those who have returned to America after being previously deported. Let's require the tamper-proof identification cards for employment, schooling and other services and let's prosecute any employer or organization who bypasses these identification requirements.

Once those who are eligible to stay have received their new visa, we should treat them the same as we would any other legal resident. Let's hold them accountable to the same laws as our guests from Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. The only difference between these visa holders and other legal immigrants would be that the former illegals will never be eligible to apply for naturalization.

Illegal Sanctuaries

Published as 'Chruches step over the line' in the Holland Sentinel on May 21, 2007

   The illegal alien situation in America just keeps getting worse by the day.

   On May 1st of 2007, the Los Angeles sect of the nationwide march of illegals against America got ugly and the police had to step in to restore order. Once again, the authorities have been labeled as the bad guys and the criminals have been elevated to the status of victims. Since they received such sympathetic media coverage, these instigators are now planning another nationwide protest against America. If they want to protest, they should go home and march on their own soil.

   Next, we learned that a terrorist cell, including three illegal aliens, was plotting to attack the U.S. Army base at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Their reconnaissance was complete and their plans were ready to be executed. All that remained was procuring the automatic weapons needed to carry out their murderous assault. Fortunately for the men, women and children on the base, the FBI prevented this jihad from taking place on American soil. So much for “The Bush administration is trying to scare Americans with false threats.”

   Then we saw reports of foreign children, many of which are illegals, crossing the border into El Paso to attend American schools. Did you know that in Texas alone, the cost of educating illegal students is over $1 billion per year? When we add the cost of things like health care and law enforcement, we discover that illegal aliens are costing the American taxpayers over $3.7 billion per year just in Texas. It sounds like its time for a revolutionary-style tea party in the Rio Grande.

   If all of this were not enough, Churches across America are now impeding federal authorities by offering sanctuary to illegal aliens. The United States has no protection clause granting churches the right to shield illegal aliens from the law. Thus, these church leaders are deliberately breaking the law in an attempt to force the government’s hand to change the national policy regarding illegal immigration.

   These activist churches have clearly crossed the line that separates church from state. They have willingly stepped out of their religious-protected status and into the realm of the political lobby. They have chosen the path of anarchy and must be dealt with swiftly and accordingly.

   The first thing the federal government must do is revoke the tax exempt status of these sanctuary churches. Next, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) needs to raid each of these church properties and apprehend every illegal alien present. Once background checks are completed on each of these international trespassers, they need to either be deported or jailed awaiting trial, if suspected of committing a serious crime. Finally, the feds need to arrest every member of the church involved with harboring these fugitives and charge them with obstruction of justice and any other associated crimes.

   When did America give up its right to national sovereignty? Why do we allow illegal aliens to protest our government on our soil? When are we going to require proof of legal residency for all students? How long are we going to allow these sanctuary churches to thumb their noses at the U.S. Constitution and violate federal law?

   Once again, I implore you to take a stand. Contact your elected officials and demand the full enforcement of our immigration laws. Send your e-mails and make your phone calls. Let the bureaucrats know that if they don’t do their job and solve this problem immediately, you will replace them with citizens who will truly be a government of the people, by the people and for the people of America.

McCain plus Kennedy equals McCainedy

Unpublished - McCain plus Kennedy equals McCainedy

    When the going gets tough, McCain and Kennedy offer amnesty?

    Apparently, the McCainedy philosophy is, “If you can’t deport them, you might as well appease them”. Since there are so many illegal aliens here and it would be impossible to round ‘em all up and ship ‘em all home, we might as well offer them amnesty. After all, what’s the harm in giving 12 million criminals an easy path to citizenship?

    For starters, let’s apply the McCainedy philosophy to other aspects of American law enforcement. Since there are so many traffic violators we should just let everyone drive the way they want. Since there are so many people smuggling and using illegal substances, we should just legalize all drugs. Since there is so much gang violence in our cities we should just quit policing our communities. After all, what’s the harm in any of this?

    Wouldn’t this be a better country if we had no immigration laws and no consequences for breaking those laws? Wouldn’t this be a more peaceful country if we just let everyone do whatever they want? Wouldn’t this be a more powerful nation if we offered an easy path to citizenship for people who enter America illegally, then march against our government, demanding equal rights?  Well, NO!

    Turning the McCainedy philosophy into law would set a terrible precedent and could have a devastating affect on our entire judicial system. It could also cause significant damage to the political process in America.

    What in the world was John McCain thinking when he climbed into bed with Ted Kennedy on this one? He obviously can’t perform simple arithmetic. 1: Conservatives have been adamantly against offering amnesty to illegals. 2: Liberals have been fervently for offering amnesty to illegals. 3: With citizenship comes the right to vote. Add it all up and you realize that these new citizens will support the liberals and possess the power to end conservative leadership in American government.

    If John McCain wants to resolve America’s problems with appeasement instead of enforcement, he needs to resign from the Senate. If he wants to hand our government over to the liberals, he should get out of the GOP and join his brothers on the left. If he wants to exercise his McCainedy philosophy, he should do so by taking it with him to the other side. After all, I don’t see any harm in that!

The US of IA

Unpublished - The US of IA - by Alan Helvig

Our elected officials in Washington are not listening to the voice of the American people. We have been begging them for years to do something about the illegal immigration problem in this country. We have called for secure borders and improved conditions for our border guards. We have requested tougher laws and stiffer penalties for American business owners who hire illegal aliens. Most of all, we have demanded over and over again that there is to be absolutely "NO AMNESTY" for these international trespassers.

A few hours ago, a team of U.S. Senators gave a bi-partisan press release to tell the citizens and every other legal resident of this country that they have heard our voice and they could care less about what we have been saying. These Senators and our illustrious President have reached an agreement to propose legislation which will, first and foremost, grant amnesty to approximately 12 million people who have attacked the sovereignty of the United States of America. This is absolutely unacceptable and it is time for us to turn up the volume on our voice.

This proposed legislation is a slap in the face of every immigrant who has ever stood in line on Ellis Island. It is a kick in the shin of every American who has had the courage to undergo the naturalization process and has raised their hand with honor as they took the oath of allegiance to become a citizen of this great nation. It is a punch in the gut of every red blooded American who has ever exercised their right to free speech to tell this government that illegal immigration is a huge problem that needs to be resolved without offering amnesty!

If we allow our government to pass this proposal into law, we will no longer be the United States of America. From that day forward we will become known as the United States of Illegal Aliens. What is the purpose of being a nation of laws if we are going to let the lawbreakers dictate national policy? What country in the world is going to respect us if they know that we will always cave to the pressure of those who protest the loudest? Who is going to pay to reimburse all of the naturalized citizens for all of the hard work and money they dedicated to legally becoming citizens?

We the people of the United States of America have the power to uphold the sovereignty of this great nation. We the people of the United States of America have the power to demand the protection of our lands against foreign invasion. We the people of the United States of America have the power to replace every elected official who votes to give amnesty to illegal aliens. It is time for We the People to exercise our power.

Illegal immigration hits home

Published June 19, 2006 - Illegal immigration hits home, aka:  Jobs and the Economy

If you ask any of the political candidates who are running for a state seat in this year's election, "What will be your top priority if elected?" they will tell you, "Jobs and the economy."

While the song remains the same, the dance differs from candidate to candidate. Each candidate has his or her own opinion as to what is wrong with the economy and what is needed fix it. However, I have yet to hear even one of these Lansing hopefuls say, "Illegal immigration is a serious part of our jobs problem here in Southwest Michigan."

Some people in this country would have you believe that the illegal aliens are good for our national economy. Some would have you believe that illegal aliens are all just "good people" who are not hurting anyone. Some would have you believe that illegal aliens only work in the fields or take only trivial jobs. Anyone who believes the far left when they say "illegal immigrants are only taking the jobs that American citizens won't take" is living in the land of dementia. The situation is significantly more complicated than they want you to believe.

The fact of the matter is that there are a great number of illegal aliens working right here in Southwest Michigan, preventing American citizens from supporting their families. Not only do we have illegal immigrants picking our crops and trimming our lawns, we also have them working in our stores, in our restaurants and yes, in our factories and plants. Every local job being performed by an illegal alien is one more job your out-of-work neighbor cannot have.

Why would a highly successful, local company hire such a person? The standard reasons vary from greed to ignorance. There are the disgruntled employers, who disagree with the policies of our government and deliberately hire illegals as their personal act of rebellion. There are the deviants who hire illegal aliens and pay them substandard wages, typically under the table. And of course, there are always the "don't ask, don't tell" business owners, who prefer to look the other way.

There is another reason that our highly respected, local companies hire illegal aliens. The majority of the illegal aliens in our workforce have either purchased/forged their papers or have overstayed their work visa, misleading employers into believing they are legal residents. These men and women are con artists and frauds, who have lied and cheated their way into our job market. These "good people" are literally stealing the food off of your out-of-work friend's plate.

While your neighbor is applying for unemployment and food stamps, these illegal aliens are working next to you at the local plant. While your good friend is selling his house and searching for a job in another state, these thieves are standing in line next to you at the local market. While millions of illegal aliens are being imported to the United States every year, millions of dollars are being exported from the United States every year. That's right, while Michigan sits at the bottom of the jobs scale for the entire country, these criminals are making good money and sending it back to support the economy of their native country.

Legislators in Lansing need to focus on every aspect of our jobs crisis and do a better job of protecting our law-abiding citizens from fraud in the workplace. Stiffer laws need to be written and enforced to punish employers who are deliberately or ignorantly hiring illegal aliens. Additionally, better systems should be made available for Michigan employers to conduct more thorough background searches on potential and existing employees, so as to flush out these stealthy criminals who are fraudulently stealing our jobs.

American citizens and legal residents should not have to compete with illegal aliens for any job here in Michigan. Next time you talk to a candidate for the state Legislature, ask them about their position on illegal aliens in the workplace. Next time you contact your current representative or senator, tell them how you feel about the negative impact of illegal aliens on Michigan's job market. This is not a time for procrastination. It is a time for action!

Return to Sender

Unpublished - Return to Sender, by Alan Helvig

Congratulations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) on the success of Operation Return to Sender.  In less than three weeks, they have managed to track down and arrest approximately 2100 illegal aliens with criminal records.  Many of these illegals were violent criminals who had been previously deported.  There were also a number of convicted sex offenders and gang bangers, including members of the dreaded gang, MS-13.  Combined with the numbers from a similar operation in April, DHS and ICE have now captured some 3200 illegal alien criminals, many of which have been deported.

While it is great that ICE is getting these criminals off the streets of America, it is also sad that we are debating the rights of illegals to stay here, so they can continue their criminal activities on our soil.  Many of the Americans who are mourning the loudest for victims of violent crimes are the same people who believe that illegals should have the right stay here and even earn their citizenship.  They cannot have it both ways!  You can either be an advocate for the victims or you can be an advocate for the criminals.  Which are more important, the rights of the illegals or the rights of the victims?  Allowing these thugs to stay here will only result in more American victims.

Contempt for the law can only breed more contempt for the law.  Illegal aliens do not respect the laws of this country.  They do not respect the authorities of this country.  They live a life of contempt for our laws and disrespect for our authorities.  There can be no respect for the law without first having an appreciation for justice, which illegal aliens obviously do not have. 

So, keep up the good work DHS and ICE.  Don't stop until the entire criminal infestation has been eradicated.

In defense of Alan Helvig

Published June 28, 2005 - A letter to the editor by Alicia Helvig

To the Editor: More than once I have seen the question in The Sentinel asking who is Alan Helvig? The intent of this question is to discredit Alan's opinions. I believe I can answer the question better than the people who ask it. Alan is a former Marine Corps chief warrant officer. He is a highly decorated veteran who served in the Far East, Middle East and Europe. His primary occupation in the Corps was administration, but he was also trained in logistics, operations and intelligence. He also served two years as a drill instructor. Alan was picked by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in war-torn Yugoslavia in 1993. While in Serbia, his team provided humanitarian relief to over 2 million refugees. While in Bosnia, he personally participated in the evacuation of civilians from the besieged Muslim enclave of Srebrenica and negotiated with military leaders on the front lines. He also provided briefings to a number of foreign and U.S. dignitaries. Alan may not be a pastor, but he is a Christian leader. He teaches the Bible to children during the school year. Next year will be his fifth year as a children's Bible study leader. He also volunteers as a Kids Hope tutor. Alan is a delegate for the Republican Party in Allegan County. He has served on the government affairs committee for a local trade association for six years, two years as chairman. He maintains regular communications with legislators in Lansing and other elected officials. Alan is a beloved husband, father of five and grandfather of 21. His youngest son is a Marine sergeant who has served two combat tours in Iraq. Alan is a man of integrity who has been my best friend for over 20 years. His published opinions are based on research and experience. I can't think of anyone I would rather turn to for insight, understanding or advice. 'Alicia Helvig'