Re: Deacon Manuel Valencia’s July 15 Pulse page commentary, “A stranger knocks� and John Paton’s July 17 commentary, “Sanctuary allows time for process�:
If Valencia wants his church to be a refuge for the lawless, so be it, but I will work with other American citizens to have the church’s tax status revoked.
Here are the real facts.
Los Angeles County spent $50 million last year on services for illegal immigrants. Gangs came across the border illegally to commit more crimes here. The state of California spent another $100 million for the same reason. Without the illegal criminals here, we would have no overcrowded prisons or a need to build more. We have had to close hospitals and emergency rooms due to illegal immigrants using them and not paying.
Here is the kicker: A couple from Mexico, residing in Oxnard since 1990 illegally, were caught and now await deportation, but because they have a very ill child, they have been given a stay. They have been here since 1990 — 17 years. The baby, their only child, is 17 months old. The woman never had a child, now an anchor baby, until after notice of deportation. I am not surprised The Star missed this point.
In the 1950s, the United States had a population of 200 million. Now, it has a population of 300 million.
Ten or 12 years ago, we gave a free pass (amnesty) to 10 million illegal immigrants. Now, we have another 12 million demanding the same thing.
Paton wrote that sanctuary allows time for process. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the church in Simi Valley that is offering sanctuary. Why should he care what happens to our community? He lives in Granada Hills. Maybe he should turn his home into a sanctuary and then he can deal with the law.
— Jules Rabalais, Simi Valley
1. I think we should revoke the 'tax-exempt' status for all churches, temples, mosques, etc. Let them pay their own way.
2. in 33 years, when California is majority hispanic, santuaries won't matter. California will become a Santuary State.