Letters: The two faces of Arnold - a Mexican's viewpoint

Letters in response to the translation:

The two faces of Arnold - a Mexican's viewpoint, Reforma (translation posted 10/03/04)

This is in response to the editorial by Jorge Ramos Avalos about Arnold Schwarzenegger terminating driver’s licenses for illegal aliens.

The problem is, he thinks illegal aliens and legal immigrants are the same. They are not.

Vietnamese immigrants (all who entered in compliance with US immigration laws asked Arnold to veto this bill. Thus Arnold did what IMMIGRANTS wanted, he did not turn their back on them.

We felt Senator Cedillo's bill was racist, as 90% of the beneficiaries were Hispanic. There were no Vietnamese illegal aliens who would benefit. Instead what this bill would do is give Hispanic illegal aliens almost the same status as Vietnamese legal immigrants, even though they did not have to wait up to 14 years, pay thousands of dollars, and meet many requirements in order to enter the US.

Of course, I don't expect Mr. Avalos to understand this, since in Mexican culture laws are made to be broken, and privilege is determined by your skin color.

Tim Binh
Vietnamese for Fair Immigration

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Why on earth would Californian's support illegal immigrants in getting benefits that our own citizens pay for? Are you people just stupid or plain ignorant? This issue is not a racist issue, get your head out of the gutter and realize that the issue is cost! The illegal immigrants cost this state over 5 BILLION dollars a YEAR! You wonder why our emergency rooms are closing? Why car insurance is through the roof? Why my kids can't get a chair in class? Why crime is increasing? Why traffic is clogged? Why proper health care and health insurance is not available for tax paying citizens? I've got over 2 million reasons... ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! Don't think for one minute that it is considered politically correct to help illegals any further. No, that was gone with the former Gov. Davis and his disgraceful tenure. Furthermore, The citizens of this state are standing up for what is right from this point on, and we will not stop until every Illegal immigrant is out of this country. Gill Cedillo and other democrats are in jeopardy of losing their political position. Plans are underway to ensure this state returns to what is right for the citizens. I challenge you to post this email on your website and let your readers see what the majority of LEGAL citizens want for this state. Let them tell me why I am wrong, and the hundreds of thousands of other Californian's that share this same point of view. Thank you for your attention in advance, to this matter.

Roger Copp

Concerned Californian

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I read the article "The two faces of Arnold — a Mexican’s viewpoint."

First of all, Schwarzenegger was a LEGAL immigrant. The United States is a nation of laws. Schwarzenegger entered the U.S. following U.S. law.

Illegals burst into our country, doing as they please, as they wish, not following the U.S. immigration law. Schwarzenegger did not break the law upon entry into the U.S.

The United States is a republic. It represents the will of the people. Schwarzenegger is representing the will of the California people by denying illegals driver's licenses.

It's not a human right to drive. It's a privilege. And Californians are going to only grant driver's licenses to legal residents and citizens.

But if an illegal wants a driver's license, they can move to the state of Utah. Utah welcomes those in our country illegally.

An illegal alien can move and work in Utah and get a driver's license. They can move to a state that offers them a driver's license.

Or they could return to their homeland, where they are a legal citizen, and obtain a driver's license. And live a legal life style.

Illegals have options open to them if they want a driver's license. They should stop demanding them in California as they are not going to get them.

It is beyond asinine to call Governor Schwarzenegger anti-immigrant when he himself is an immigrant. Latino activists will call black white and white black, up is down, down is up, in this alternate reality.

Your article prompted me to send a thank you email to Governor Schwarzenegger as well as a thank you letter for his greatness in reflecting the will of the California people on driver's licenses.

We the California citizens are extremely grateful to our governor.

Robin Olson
Alta Loma, CA