The True Cost of Illegal Immigration

On the evening of November 18, 2001, Tanee Natividad, a 16 year old high school student living in the Tuscon suburb of Three Points, had a late night craving for some fast food. Hopping in a car with a friend, they headed out to grab a snack. While they awaited their order in the drive-through, an argument in the parking lot ensued, and shots rang out between rival gangs. Tanee was shot in the head, her young, promising life snuffed out before her potential could be realized. Her killer, Max Lamadrid confused the car she was riding in for a rival gang member's car, and fired deliberately at the girls. He is still at large.

Tricia Taylor, 18 of Clarkston, Michigan and her companion Noah Menard were returning to their car after attending a concert in Pontiac. They were both struck by a vehicle driven by Jose Carcamo, who hopped the curb and struck Taylor and Menard, who were on a sidewalk, pinning Menard between a wall and his car. She lost both legs above the knees. Menard was seriously injured, but recovered after a lengthy convalescence. Camcaro was speeding and drag racing, traveling between 50 and 75 MPH in a 25 MPH zone with a blood alcohol level of .08.

Sister Helen Chaska (not pictured), 53 and an unnamed 52 year old, both nuns with Immaculate Heart of Mary in Klamath Falls, OR, were sexually assaulted and beaten on the evening of September 1, 2002. Sister Helen was strangled to death with her rosary beads, which were found deeply embedded in her neck. The murderer and rapist, Maximiliano Cilerio Esparza, was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, sodomy, sexual abuse, and possession and delivery of a controlled substance. He was convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Gary Selby, Officer Tony Zeppella, Christopher Shackleford, Angie Leon, Walter Valenzuela 10, Kimberley Hope, Ana Cerna, 5, Ariel Sellouk, Felix Leon, 5, Dustin Inman, Kris Eggle, David Nadel, David March, Joey Cornell, Marjorie Monnett, Bruce Monette, Randy Burris, Officer Kenneth Collings, Officer Hugh Arango, Dustin Inman, Annie Cumpston 6, Robert Bryant, Sierra Klug, Trooper Bret Clodfelter, Officer Sheila Herring, Ruben Morfin, 13, Sean 24 and his daughter Sage 5 Marti, Officer Marc Atkinson, Christina Long...

Ask any member of this group of people what they have in common with Tanee Natividad, Tricia Taylor, and Sister Helen Chaska and they would tell you they are all victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens. Except they can't tell you. They're all dead, killed by people who had no right to be in this country to begin with, many of the perpetrators having been deported several times or convicted of previous violent crimes.

Recent estimates place the number of illegal aliens in the United States anywhere from 7 to 20 million. In addition to cultural differences which clash here in this country, such as drinking and driving, there is the concern that we have no idea who these people are. We have no idea if we're allowing serial killers, child molesters, rapists, gang members, or thieves amongst us. They cross the border anonymously, bringing their criminal ways, but leaving behind something important: their true identities. These are the people we allow amongst our most vulnerable citizens, while our lawmakers do nothing to protect us.

Immigration reform must be addressed immediately. It cannot include amnesty for anyone here illegally. It must mean building barriers, deportation, imprisonment for repeat offenders, and heavy fines and immediate loss of a permanent business license for any company caught hiring illegals, regardless of whether they claim innocence or ignorance. Let them prove it in court, and until then, their license is subject to limitations administered by the state where they do business.

Tricia Taylor will never walk again, and faces a lifetime of hardship. Her killer Jose Carcamo, and he is a killer for her old life is dead, was sentenced to 3 to 5 years. His letter of apology was so sincere, he couldn't even manage to spell the names of his victims correctly.

Sister Helen Chaska's murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison. It's just a shame he wasn't kept in prison when he was convicted in 1988 of kidnapping and robbery in Los Angeles, or if INS had deported him after his release in 1992.

The family of Tanee Natividad will mourn her for the rest of their lives. Her mother Barbara can't even bear to change anything in the young athlete's room. She has not even had the benefit of seeing her daughter's murderer brought to justice. Max Lamadrid fled to Mexico, where he may have had breast augmentation surgery to pass as a woman, while he crosses our border consistently, to visit his family in Tuscon. Lamadrid has been heard to question why he should be punished for having murdered a 16 year old girl. After all, he didn't know her. Nor is he concerned about whether he is captured, saying, "If they catch me, they catch me." If this murderer is able to cross the border countless times, how many more do the same?

The one thing I can say to illegal immigrants is, you're lucky I don't make the laws, because this is what I would do.

*Build a massive wall on our borders, with manned guard towers at short intervals.

*Immediate deportation of all illegal aliens *An electrified fence *Land mines deep in the ground. You want to tunnel through to run drugs? You get blown to bits

*Every military base that has been shut down on U.S. soil, reopened and placed on the borders, with orders to shoot to kill. Illegals crossing that border will no longer simply be breaking immigration laws, but trespassing on a military installation.

If you want to come here, you do it legally, and are subject to stringent background checks.

Protecting our citizens from unknown danger present in allowing people without a past should be top priority to our lawmakers. It isn't, because these same lawmakers are looking for votes. These people in this story were sacrificed for a vote. Remember that when you cast a ballot for any candidate. Remember what your lives are worth to these politicians. If you aren't around to vote for them, they will take two from illegals. No identification is needed in many states to vote. Who is going to stop them? Certainly not the politician who is lining the ballot box with illegal votes. For these people, the true cost of illegal immigration was more apparent. It wasn't measured in dollars and cents. For these people, the cost was their lives. Is this the same price you're willing to pay?