To the Editor:
Between 2009 and 2016, then President Obama according to our own Bureau of Immigration deported 3.2 million illegal undocumented immigrants. When he did so he did not target the worst of the worst as the Trump Administration has. He went after all undocumented immigrants.
Combined with voluntary returns he oversaw a total of 5.2 million removals from the United States. According to the ACLU, the majority were non-judicial expedited removals. DHS’s Annual Report showed the majority of Obama of removals were expedited. According to DHS “expedited removal refers to the removal of a noncitizen who is inadmissible for fraud or misrepresentation of material fact. Under this process, individuals may be removed without a hearing before an immigration court.” This applies also to individuals previously deported who either attempted to reenter the US illegally or were later found in the country. According to DHS in 2010 deportations by the Obama Administration were 63%, 2011 64%, 2012 82%, 2013 83%. 2024 83% and 2015 84%. During this time, the Obama Administration did use wire cages at detention centers to house mothers and children. Where was the outrage then!
What will it take for taxpayers in Connecticut to understand the actions of Gov. Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong represent the wrong side of illegal immigration.
They have joined the likes of Senator Hakeen Jefferies, Senator Bernie Sanders, Representatives Kweisi Mfume, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Becca Balent, Eric Swalwell, Jerry Nader, and Dan Goldman all liberal Democrats with their rhetoric jeopardizing the safety of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Governor Lamont and Attorney General Tong have gone on record telling illegal undocumented immigrants they have their backs, and the state will not cooperate with the Federal Government and ICE. The state in defiance refuses to enforce the existing laws passed by Congress. At the same time when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration our state government has disregarded the majority of taxpayers in the state for a minority group of illegal undocumented immigrants at a huge cost to every resident who lives in Connecticut.
Of course, Connecticut, being a true Sanctuary State, in defiance passed the Trust Act which puts limits on the information state and local law enforcement can share with ICE Agents. The goal is to protect illegal undocumented immigrants which unfortunately includes the worst of the worst. Because of Democratic leadership in the State, we have spent millions to protect illegal undocumented immigrants. In addition, future costs for education, healthcare, housing, and social services will continue to escalate as more and more illegal undocumented immigrants enter the state.
The question taxpayers must ask is ‘are liberal Democrats the only voters in Connecticut?” Open Borders under the Democrats party over the last four years has done more damage to our sovereignty as a country than any time in history. Connecticut is a good example of what is wrong with the Democratic Party. The only way to change this Is for the majority of conservative taxpayers to vote in all elections.
William R. Bellotti
Middlebury, CT
Bellotti served as Deputy Labor Commissioner under Gov. John Rowland