by Barbara MoNey, Hamilton
I was appalled to see ICE protestors on Highway 93 in Hamilton. People in Hamilton do not have the Illegal Immigration Problem … yet … and don’t have first-hand knowledge of what they are opposing. They do not know how this problem has devastated the Southwestern states, not to mention many other parts of the country. I lived in Arizona where a coworker, who had a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, a stay at home wife and two toddler children, was killed by an illegal immigrant who had been deported twice for drunk driving… and came back a third time, stole a car, drove drunk again and killed my coworker. I had illegal immigrants camped out in the lawn in front of my apartment and I had to walk past them to get into my unit.. and was fearful enough that I moved out. I also went to the hospital emergency room only to be told that two gang members had shot each other up and were being operated on, so the doctors couldn’t see me for a while. It turns out they were Illegal Immigrants who had formed the gang and their welfare was preferred over mine. The crime and economic costs of taking care of these illegal entrants is enormous. It is devastating the nation that we live in. There are avenues to legal citizenship to those who are not here to destroy us.
Karen “Tana” Walsh says
There are NOT legal avenues to citizenship for non-violent immigrants. Not anymore. That’s the point. The president has undone all of that. If he wanted to keep “good” immigrants, he’d be hiring immigration judges, not firing them.
I feel for you and for the loss of your friend. That is a horrible tragedy.
Yet that doesn’t negate the fact that legal, peaceful, hardworking immigrant friends of mine can’t leave their homes because they’ll be deported for being from a s**thole country. My friend from Ghana, who received his green card in 2021, returned to his home country for fear of being deported to a third-country prison. He had been all-in on becoming an American, specifically because of the freedoms our country offers.
The fact that self-deporting seemed like his only option is its own kind of tragedy. If ICE were properly trained and going after actual criminals, the way they did in 2012 to great effect WITHOUT killing people and upending the lives of good immigrants, I would absolutely support them.
Bridget H Dolan says
I don’t watch CNN. I did just see a Fox piece that said 59% of Americans think ICE has gone too far.
Bill Cavanaugh says
Nice spin Bridget. 59% think ICE is “Too Aggressive”
54% Approve of what ICE is doing.
Bridget H Dolan says
Someone doesn’t know how percentages work.
Gomez says
The top 5 issues for voters from a Gallup poll right before the 2024 election. In order of most important to least important. This poll includes ALL voters, left, right, center and independant..
1. The economy
2. Democracy in the U.S.
3. Terrorism and national security
4. Types of Supreme Court justices candidates would pick
5. Immigration
Bill Cavanaugh says
Given “Democracy in the U.S.” Included border security and Immigration, AND Immigration had it’s own category on top of that, I’d say it was a top issue.
Larry Campbell says
I was there on the streets exercising my rights. I was not paid. I recognized most of the people there and do not for one minute believe they got paid. This is still America, at least for a while.
Does anybody weighing in with comments have poll numbers on the percentage of Americans who support murder on the streets by masked government thugs?
When I first moved to the Bitterroot 47 years ago I would read and learn from newspapers published by Birchers that were available all over town. It was said that the liberals would engineer an insurrection to justify martial law. Now what I see is a huge shift in roles. Look who is actually delivering an engineered excuse for martial law.
I will continue to volunteer to show up and speak up with fellow patriots who love America and don’t want to see it lost to a bigly lie.
Bill Jones, Stevensville says
Two points from where I’m sitting, Mr. Campbell: The meatheads who are sure that there’s payment for demonstrating against SS-style activities by U.S. agencies do need to prove up or shut up. Secondly, the bad news: Birchers haven’t changed much, they are still not a threatened species as they should be, and if ultra-conservative Barry Goldwater were still alive he would still hate them.
Bill LaCroix says
To paraphrase an Old West saying: “Some people tell you everything they know and then keep on talking.” Didn’t see anyone you knew? Poor you. I’ve only been in the Bitterroot a mere 4 decades, I’ve been at all those rallies, and half the folks there have been people I’ve known in the Bitterroot….for decades! You people just have a problem with wanting to be the boss of who’s “legitimate” and “legal’ and who’s “illegitimate” and therefore “evil”. Facts need not apply. You’re just opinionated, probably by nature, and bigots, probably by the same. Shame on ya.
Tracy says
Likely paid participants with a few crap wagon jumpers that were actually from around here. I did NOT see a face I knew and I know a lot of people.
Gomez says
What evidence do you have that even a single person was paid to be there?
I’ll wait.
While you’re looking, here’s an email that was sent out at the beginning of Trump’s political “career..” Don’t believe me though, copy & paste it and look it up for yourself.
“Actors wanted. This is an event in support of Donald Trump and an upcoming exciting announcement he will be making at this event. This event is called “People for a Stronger America.” The entire group is a pro-small business group that is dedicated to encouraging Donald Trump and his latest ventures. This event will be televised. We are looking to cast people for the event to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him in support of his announcement. This event is happening LIVE and will be from 8:45AM-11:30AM. LESS THAN 3 HOURS This will take place inside / interior. The rate for this is: $50 CASH at the end of the event. We would love to book you if you are interested and still available. Please let us know and we will get back to you with confirmation.”
Bill Cavanaugh says
Your naivety is nauseating. The majority of the country voted for and still supports deportation. What the ICE protesters are doing is a threat to Democracy. The people voted and they are hindering due democratic process.
Bridget H Dolan says
Actually, 63% of Americans are opposed to the actions of ICE. Montana is large geographically but has a tiny population. Just because your neighbors Vern and Karen support ICE, it doesn’t mean y’all are in the majority nationally.
Frank says
First of all, your number is crap information. You’re not paying very good attention to your own beloved news channel because: “ A CNN poll shows that over 55% of Americans favor deportations, while a separate survey by Echelon reports that 56% support mass deportations, with 37% opposing. That being said. If 37% of my neighbors are against the deportation of criminals, then they have a problem (and based on the losers I saw the other day trying to have a protest – that would be accurate). This entire “movement” smacks of mental illness. They do not belong in a decent society – we need more institutions to put them in.
Bill Cavanaugh says
What Frank Said…. and the MAJORITY voted in the 2024 election Bridget, and the number one issue was illegal migration. stop spewing bogus information
Bill Jones, Stevi says
Mc Ney’s ridiculous “basis” for her fears and hatred of immigrants appears to be in complete and utter ignorance of decades of statistics documenting crime. In the context of the immigrant offenders and the offenders who are descendants of immigrants one needs to recognize use of false equivalency.
Anyone”s personal knowledge of somebody’s being harmed by an immigrant should not be represented as proof that native born citizens are disproportionately under attack, unless crime statistics support your assertion or perceived “fact”. McNey could have explored crime statistics until the cows came home and perhaps realized her opinion piece was on shaky ground.
I think we should all be amused, at least for a few seconds after someone with an Irish, Italian, or whatever name falls into the cult of immigrant haters presuming immigration is pretty bad. For over a decade the training of people to become anti-Latino has been quite a successful program. A program almost entirely owing success to a media platform owned by an Australian family now in New York, another family whose name not long ago was Trumph and the list goes on.
7 in 100 of these ICE detainees have some sort of law enforcement record, and a very few of that number are both here undocumented and having been involved in felony level crime. Has there been even one mention of that on, say Fox And Friends? Do you have the slightest idea how many of your neighbors are exactly like this? Look before you jump would be my advice.
Can we just finally get busy and develop an actually sensible and effective system of immigration?
.
Tracy says
You have as much proof as I dont. I also said “likely”
Gomez says
You are the one making the assertive claim, so the burden of proof 100% lies with you.
What evidence do you have that the protestors we’re “likely” paid to be there? Please present it, or retract your statement. Thanks in advance.
John Weston says
Barbara Money, it must have been terrible to have people camped in front of your apartment. Not your fault.