Put a Fork in Me.... I'm Done!

I'm done waiting for the Federal Government to come to our aid on the illegal immigration issue...

Idaho citizens spend millions of dollars and a ton of resource "bandwidth" every year on services needed by those people that come to our state illegally. Dollars that could have been spent on education, transportation (both highway and roads as well as public), health and welfare and many other services needed by our legal citizens. Every year we spend more and more taking care of those that put little back into the "bucket of money" that supports the infrastructure for their needs. Yes, illegals do pay sales tax on some of the goods they purchase but do not pay income tax, federal income tax, social security tax and the list goes on. Idaho receives millions of dollars from the Federal government to help offset some of these infrastructure costs and those that are using the infrastructure are not throwing in.

The bottom line is illegals do not pay their fair share and it's time to send a strong message to them, the companies that hire them and the Federal government... it's time to stop this free ride for all of them.

I believe Sheriff Joe Arpaio in AZ has it right. He created a low cost "tent city" in AZ where low risk inmates are housed in pink underwear and stripes. Inmates are fed low cost meals, no TV or weight rooms and his jail has become one of those that have fewer returning inmates. Idaho could create it's own "tent city" on state lands to temporarily house the illegals that are found here in Idaho prior to deportation.

It's time to send a clear message to our Federal government that we are done waiting for them to resolve this issue. As they continue to flounder, it has to cost them money (our money by the way!). The Federal pocketbook needs to start feeling the pain as we are here in Idaho.

It's time to send a clear message to those that want to come to Idaho illegally to work, that we will not tolerate the presence of those not following our laws.

It's time that we send a clear message to those that hire illegals to work for them, that they must change the way they do business.

It's time for a change in the way Idaho reacts to issues impacting our state. It's time to stop waiting for the Federal government to "help us", let's be proactive and take care of our own issues.

ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) now pays $54 per day to the Ada county Jail to use any empty beds to temporarily house illegals prior to deportation. Why not use this same method to financially support our own Tent City as a temporary holding cell prior to deportation of those that are sucking the sap out of our tax supported services? Ada County Jail has 966 beds and as of the last report had less than 100 available for illegals limiting the numbers that ICE can pickup for deportation. A low cost "Tent City" should not only pay for itself, but maybe even help offset some of the costs of other Idaho law enforcement needs as well if it was run like the one in AZ.

I'm done waiting for the Feds to come up with a solution, are you? I have discussed this issue and idea with Gov. Otter's office. They had funding in their budget last year for some temporary shelters to provide for more inmate housing. It was not funded in the JFAC Legislative Committee.

If you are done waiting like I am, contact your district's Representative and Senator and ask them to fund a program like this in the next session.

We can either lead or follow on this issue, let's show the country that Idaho is a Leader and we aren't going to wait for someone else to come resolve our issues.