The uncalculated, hidden costs of one undocumented immigrant.
The Republic asked, “Is America safe again because of one woman?” The answer is not yet.
Most floods start as a drop of rain. One person stolen from this country. She took a job from legal residents for a decade. She caused the government expense in untangling her false use of a Social Security benefit number.
She obtained a home mortgage and house that a working, legal resident could have purchased. Her children consumed educational benefits at taxpayer expense. At the stated wage level, it is possible there were many more social and medical benefits consumed.
The court system and the probation officer costs were paid for by taxpayers. Her legal defense costs were likely paid for at our expense or donated pro bono. She caused this legal work and likely the attorney would have spent time helping other legal residents.
She disrupted our society by causing protests and a media circus. While she is one drop in the collective illegal immigrant flood, she consumed scarce resources that could have been used to keep Arizona and the U.S. safe.
In the business world, this is called opportunity cost. If The Arizona Republic did journalistic work on the expense related to just this one person, it would make a stunning read.
I suspect it would change the sympathetic media’s myopic look at the impact of this one woman on the country’s security. — John McLurg, Buckeye
Dakota Access Pipeline fight isn’t over — so where is the coverage?
Why isn't the fight against the oil pipeline in North Dakota being covered in depth by The Arizona Republic?
This is an age-old fight between Native Americans and the government going back on treaties for land ownership. Please explain this to me. Thank you!
— Joy Fernandez, Phoenix
A border wall will only keep people out, not close them in
Enough of the letters suggesting a border wall is somehow akin to the “Arizona State Prison, East Berlin and every concentration camp ever,” as was stated in Friday’s Republic. Those walls were built for the specific purpose of keeping people in, not keeping people out. Think about it. — Darrell Housden, Phoenix
Everyone deserves the right to protest, even if they don’t use it
I was very discouraged and concerned to read about the recent Arizona legislation to suppress freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and the right of political dissent. This country was founded on that spirit and those rights that the Legislature now wants to crush.
This is a dangerous and disturbing step, and all true patriots should be questioning the motives and veracity of their state Legislators. Once lost, or freely given away, these rights are not easily regained.
Whether you seek to exercise them at this time or not is irrelevant. And whether or not you approve of demonstrations, this is an erosion of your rights and our shared democracy.
Are you willing to give up so much for so little based on a moment in time when this country is struggling to find its balance? Do not allow your rights, freedoms and democracy to be undermined by fear and a misguided attempt to "control" the political dissent that built this nation. — RF De Lorme, East Burke, Vermont
Someone get Trump a pacifier to stifle his endless whining
I have four adult children and one three-year-old grandchild. None of the five ever whined like our President Donald Trump. Maybe the First Lady should stick a pacifier in his pocket (please).
— Larry Burgo, Scottsdale