What fear tactics??The facts that taxpayers don't want to pay for another tax that is geared right to illegals who do not belong here.Why not have them file for citizenship and then be entitled to what everyone else has worked for.Why is Ms Alex throwing the race card out.People are tired watching their hard earn money thrown away.Let us keep what we work for.Nice to see both parties working together on this.Let us do what is right for citizens and taxpayers

Shut up, Ms. Alex. Go sit with Joe Hairston if you want to pull out the race card. It is an issue of taxpayers funding illegals, PERIOD. We are sick to death of supporting those who are not contributing to the tax base. Ask any taxpayer.

Didn't you even read the law? Their parents have to be contributing to the taxbase in order to qualify.

Like most supporters of the petition. "Ready, Fire Aim"

"Alex said the number of signatures collected in the county and the expected letter from the council is representative of county's "long and difficult relationship with race issues."

If I remember correctly, Baltimore County was one of the first public school systems in the country to integrate and I think it was done without a court order. I know it was done with no demonstrations and violence. There was no disruption of the schools. Maybe Baltimore County just has a long and difficult relationship with people who think the laws should not apply to them.

Robert, you are mistaken. The law does not require them to pay taxes. It requires them to FILE 3 returns. Particularly for lower income individuals, they may not even pay any taxes. CASA is even encouraging them on their website to file back taxes, meaning if they've never filed a return before, they can file 3 years worth and qualify for tax funded tuition.

As a registered Dem I'm disturbed about the bill. Alex, I don't see any fear tactics. It actually seems like your creating the divide by misrepresenting the truth. One is either a legal citizen or not. Period. That's the rule. Your trying to bend it. Once it's bent, it will be bent more. And you know it.

Why does Ms. Alex refer only to latinos? Immigration, whether legal or illegal, comes from many different countries and ethnic groups. Since this bill is about illegal immigrants, is she suggesting that the illegal ones are all latino?!?

Who is going to pay for MY kids college if I am paying for theirs?...and my ever increased taxes, and tolls and energy and..the list goes on and I'm getting poorer by the minute. I will NOT be supporting it. Just another in a list of State spending mishaps...another money grab.

Elizabeth Alex is the one who's spreading misinformation. This issue has nothing to do with fear or with racial issues. All illegal aliens (regardless of race) are in this country illegally. As counties in Maryland provide more benefits to illegal aliens, more illegal aliens will come to Maryland. American citizens are tired of this and are letting their opinions on this matter be heard loud and clear.

Giving illegal immigrants in state tuition is just another slap from our State colleges. UMD already excludes qualified in State students as freshman so they can receive more tuition from out of state students. So many of my sons class were rejected by UMD even though they had high grate point averages and a high SAT. They were told by their advisors that Maryland accepts out of state students first (for more money ) and when they flunk out or get home sick it will open up positions for in state students. Now we need to compete with illegal’s too!!!

Here is an example of what you get if you create an environment where illegal aliens feel welcome.
LAUSD (Los Angeles Public Schools) 2008/2009
Hispanics- 501,143
Black- 74,447
White- 68,119
Other- 45,672
The drop out rate is 50-65% depending on the school, so don't count on most of these "persons" to be taxpayers. If you allow in-state tuition, just wait a few years and your public schools will start to look like this. Victor Ramirez and Casa drool with envy at numbers like these.

THE ILLEGALS ARE GETTING TO MUCH NOW,,, THATS WHY WE ARE FLOODED BY THEM,,,ITS JUST GONNA GET WORSE,, WHATCH!!!!!!

Only 20 at CCBC would be affected by this law? Probably 20 current students, but I bet the doors will be busted down with "new applicants" once the bill is signed into law and the reduction in tuition is published. I think the president of CCBC is not being forthcoming about the future potential of this...

I think it's laughable that the opponents of this measure would believe that any thinking person would end up being taxpayers. It's against Federal law to hire any illegal alien, so how would they be able to pay or demonstrate 2 years of tax history? And as for the cost, if this law were to stand, we would become (not we aren't already) one of the largest sanctuary states in the nation. Rest assured, the people will speak, and the law will be overturned.

Do the people of Maryland realize that every elected/appointed official who participates in this is guilty of aiding and abetting? They are violating federal law. Time to start recalling corrupt, bought and paid for politicians.

My understanding via Google is:
Latino generally refers to countries (or cultures) that were once under Roman rule. This includes Italy, France, Spain, etc. Brazilians are considered to be Latino, but are not considered to be Hispanic.

Hispanic describes cultures or countries that were once under Spanish rule (Mexico, Central America, and most South America where Spanish is the primary language)

We are talking "legal" vs "illegal" -- not race---- and the consequences of our State, Country and any country who might even think about having "open borders."

And so - folks like CASA who use unfortunate race tactics to produce elements of fear and hate to push their agenda should be called "on the carpet" if you will to explain this agenda. These tactics are insulting to our citizens - of every culture, race, creed and denomination. They remind me of darlings who yell "fire" in a movie to specifically cause chaos. Perhaps CASA and planned "chaos" have something in common. Just a thought. It is unsettling when our political folks choose to ignore these very insults to our citizens. Perhaps "change" is on the horizon.

That's ridiculous. We have the 19th highest population of undocumented immigrants. We can hardly be called "one of the largest sanctuary states..."

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/peo_est_num_of_ill_imm-people-estimated-number-illegal-immigrants

You have it backasswards CASA doesn't promote fear. The Nativist Groups such as Help Save Maryland are the fear mongers.

After reading through these comments I decided to Google 'CASA De Maryland' It is one of the most offensive websites I have ever viewed.
CASA was founded in 1985 by a group of Central American refugees. How can a group like this even be allowed to exist? It enraged me to the point of writing my elected officials for an answer. Who is funding these racist idiots? How do we get rid of them?

What the H happened to this country? Were we all asleep for the last 20 years?

And of course Robert, you are completely entitled to your "take" on the issue at hand. As for what CASA promotes - well, I perceive it depends on which side of the "fence" you are on.

Bryan: I understand sections of your article are specific to the thoughts of resources interviewed. However, my thoughts are that the media make it known that citizens in our State are very, very tired of the use of "racist" garbaage being purposely brought to the forefront for an issue that has nothing to do with race. "Racist" is a catchy little term used by a number of folks to hopefully intimidate and it is my hope that the media will take issue with it and respond accordingly. Having said that, please know that I am one of your biggest fans!!!

You are right it's not about racism. It's about bigotry.

ILLEGAL = NOT LAWFUL =CRIMINAL.
Ron Whitehead, Riverview

Oh Robert - there you go again!!!

As the chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, I have helped to collect signatures for the petition drive to put the Dream Act to the voters in 2012. If this law is to be enforced on all of the people, then all of the people should have a voice.

The petition drive is well on its way to achieve its goal of putting this terrible law passed on the last day of the legislative session before the people of Maryland. However, we cannot rest on our success. The deadline for the remaining 24,720 is only 3 weeks away. The goal of acquiring 100,000 signatures across this great state will send a message to Annapolis that the people of Maryland are paying attention to what they are doing and will stand up and fight for the rule of law.

To people who would race or bigotry as an excuse to uphold this bad law: this change in policy is not about civil rights or equal opportunity under the Law. Those ideals only are applicable for people who are actual citizens of this country.

Thank you to all of the great volunteers who have gathered signatures for the Petition effort. Thank you to our two Republican County Councilmen Todd Huff and David Marks, County Council Chairman John A. Olszewski Sr., County Council members Cathy Bevins and Vicki Almond for announcing their support. Republicans, Independents and Democrats have signed the petition forms in record numbers across the state of Maryland.

Get involved - sign the petition, go to www.mdpetitions.com

I don't believe the repeal effort has anything to do with race. For me, it is a totally different reason. Maryland stopped a scholarship program that provided Maryland high school students with $5,000 to assist with paying the growing in-state tuition costs. They will honor the commitment for students who received the scholarship in prior years but it will not continue the program. Now they turn around and want to give state money (the lower in-state tuition rate) for people who are not even citizens of the state or country. My sister has basically had to close out her retirement accounts in order to pay for her twin boys' college tuition. She's been a tax payer in Baltimore County, Maryland since she was 13 years old (34 year and counting). What brake does she get? None! But let's give away more so that next year they can raise tuition rates to cover the increasing costs because more people are paying less. The US and every state needs to start looking out for legal citizens before worrying about other people.

Is the private operator of the petition website going to be allowed to sell the names of the people signing the petition after the fact?

Robert, as far as I know, anyone can sell lists. Your bank does it all the time.

Boy, what a difference a day makes. Now the ACLU is saying today that the on-line voter repel version is illegal. Gee, the ACLU supported this measure to begin with (they are inside the wallet of the Democratic Party) and now all of a sudden after almost 1.5 months - its illegally online, something is wrong with it!! Sounds like a conspiracy to me. Why did they wait so long? I will tell you why. They want to hold up the Maryland Voter First Amendment process in the name of legality. What a crock!! The ACLU sees money is this whole venue - that is what they care about. They do not care about the average citizen. Let's keep the pressure on and get those signatures, that's the way to put them in their place. It would be nice if the whole Baltimore County Council came out against it, but we all know that isn't going to happen.

The ACLU are just making sure the process is handled properly. I thought the Gomers said this was a "Bipartisan effort"?.

Robert Armstrong wrote:
The ACLU are just making sure the process is handled properly. I thought the Gomers said this was a "Bipartisan effort"?

Why doesn't the ACLU ever want to make sure all persons who vote in Maryland elections are legal residents?
Why doesn't the ACLU sue the government on behalf of Maryland citizens who have had their Social Security number used by an illegal alien?
Why doesn't the ACLU represent Black citizens who have been targeted by racist latino gang members. This gang activity happened in California, but it is starting to happen in Md.
"A Latino gang accused of attempting a racial cleansing of African Americans in Azusa, Calif., has been indicted for a federal rights conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
"Azusa 13 waged a campaign of hate against African Americans—a two-decade crime spree in which African-Americans were harassed and attacked," said Andre Birotte Jr., the U.S. Attoreny for the Central District of California."

The ACLU is a political organization comprised of mostly snobbish white liberals who throw a legal tantrum if they don't get their progressive agenda passed.

Robert Armstrong you should move to Hollywood, trust me, you will feel right at home.
Signed,
Gomer

It is really offensive that the legislation that will allow this travesty of in-state tuition for illegals is called the "Dream Act." Nightmare Act would be more appropriate. Go home, you bunch of criminals, and stay there! And please take your children, and work to make a better place in the country of your birth.

You are only a criminal if you commit a crime.

Entering a country without a passport/visa is ILLEGAL, Robert. That means it is against the law which makes it a crime which makes one a criminal - and you know it

Well over 50% of the undocumented aliens in our country are visa overstayers. They didn't enter the US illegally and overstaying their visa is not a crime.

.......and now there are 30 or so countries which their citizens don't even need a visa to come to the US.

Well Robert, I would question where the "well over 50%" information comes from and exactly how the researchers arrived at this lofty figure. And then, I would insist that those darlings that so cleverly "overstay" their visa must be totally responsible for coming forward. Entering our country and accepting our magnificent hospitality does not include using that visa to disappear into the population, if you will. When one uses that method to take advantage of our country and citizens - well I perceive that to be a crime. I need to look it up in our ever changing laws and only hope that our government has slipped on that issue. Any one out there who believes that open borders for Mexico, U.S. and Canada should be the wave of the future - well this issue will be right up their alley.

I wish these anti immigrant people would spend the same amount of time and effort fighting against the second and third generations of welfare recipients. At least the immigrants work their butts off.

Not to be testy, but please be more specific when you refer to immigrants-- in other words, illegal vs legal. What does working their butts off (of course you have conveniently side stepped everything else that comes with illegal immgration) have to do with legal vs illegal. Folks coming to our country legal have a great history of working their "butts" off. That history is what has made us who we are. We are not non-humanitarian, but open borders is a sure way to scuttle any structured future our country needs to survive. Ahh - it is so wearing and tearing have to remind some folks there is a difference between legal actions and illegal actions, honestly!!! If we all went around feeling that "rules" don't apply to us or anybody else, wow... that would be an interesting bucket of fish!!

There was no "legal" or "illegal" until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

Holey Moley !!

It is unbelievable to me that these "discussions" are even happening. Millions of dollars are being spent on illegals... Lets not get into race shall we??
The question is about legality.... most of us are descended from immigrants. My ancestors came from Germany and Ireland. They became LEGAL citizens.. they worked hard to comform to the population, they learned to SPEAK ENGLISH.. and guess what? They did it all on their own... the Government didn't give much help in those days.
So.. whats the problem ??? Who decided to change the rules folks ???

Not millions. Thats a myth

The rules haven't changed thats a myth too.

Ok - already, now I think I am on to something Robert. You live in Mythville!! Right?

And thank you Mac for sharing your knowledge regarding - "...The McCarran-Walter bill of 1952, Public Law No. 82-414, collected and codified many existing provisions and reorganized the structure of immigration law. " I have learned something for which I had not a clue. Thank you!

The people who signed the Petition. What a bunch of Maroons!! Wait until Jeff sells your information.

What an insulting little angel you are - angry, nasty, never ever positive. Must be tough on you, poor thing.

Robert Armstrong, my invitation for you to move out here still stands. I also have some really great news for you. The L.A. Times has an article about the coming redistricting in California. It seems the ever growing latino population - legal and illegal - is going to create several new districts and change several others. The end result will be more latino political power in California. If you want to see out of control spending, stick around, you ain't seen nothin yet. There is one thing that latino politicians seem to have in common out here, they all love to spend......other peoples money. Come on out here and see the kind of culture your pro illegal alien mentality produces. Como se dice snob ?

I really have mixed feelings about the influx of illegals into Maryland. As long as the governor makes it easy for illegals to come here, as evidenced by a visit to any MVA, we will continue to have the illegal population swell in Maryland.

On the other hand, I frequent a restaurant convenient to my home where in the past the staff apparently was mainly illegals. I had no idea they were until this news hit the wires!

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1010/101028baltimore.htm

Since the forced removal of the illegals from that restaurant who were waiting on people, busing the tables and generally taking care of paying patrons at By The Docks. The service at that fine eatery has plummeted since the replacement legal staff is now overweight, lazy white kids who feel they are above doing the kind of work they expect to be paid for.

Undoubtedly a result of no air conditioning at school, like I'm sure those illegals had at their home land.

Slavery is what modern day illegal immagration is analogous to. Illegals are easily exploited to work for substandard wages, with no official oversight to enforce safety and standards. Those trying to be "helpful" by providing benefits to illegals are only perpetuating this modern day form of slavery.

Let me follow you here...........

Slaves are the same as illegals.............

Slaves were TAKEN from their homeland and sold here to perform work...........

Illegals are RUNNING from their homeland seeking work.......

Oh, I get it

??????????????

They used to come to the US as migrant workers work for the season and then go back home, Ronald Reagan and his union busting tactics screwed that all up.

If bigots post their hatred, and no one responds, do they make a sound?

If you want to find out how illegal aliens "pay taxes", check out this web address and be sure to watch the video clip of a local news report. Why doesn't the ACLU protect legal American taxpayers from being victimized by illegal alien identity thieves. Listen to their cries of racial profiling. I'll give you one guess which group comprises the 80 to 85 percent that the excerpt below refers to.

He said that last year about 60,000 Arizona residents filed taxes using a tax ID number, resulting in about $6 million in refunds. The state sampled a "pretty good portion" of those returns, he said, and found that in 80 to 85 percent of them, the ID number did not match information provided on an associated W-2.

This year, he said, the new program will allow them to go through all the returns.

Forschino said the crackdown is not designed to target illegal immigrants.

"We have a responsibility to try and stop fraudulent returns," he said. "There are people that, and we have found this in the past, who tried to create a W-2 that doesn't even exist or stole somebody's W-2 and tried to get a refund."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/04/09/20110409arizona-tax-fraud-crackdown.html

Washington Post editorial July 14 2011:

. . .

"The concerns about Maryland’s Dream Act are understandable; they’re also misplaced. They fail to recognize that the law is overwhelmingly in the state’s interest. Implement it, and thousands of ambitious, promising youngsters who have grown up in Maryland will have a chance to realize their potential as productive, taxpaying members of society. Repeal it, and those same youngsters will swell the ranks of the underclass, paying less in taxes, consuming more in services and living lives soured by the frustration of unrealized potential.

"The demographic targeted by the Dream Act consists largely of teenagers who were brought by their parents to the United States, often as young children. Many have relatives who are citizens. They have grown up speaking English and are loyal to their adoptive country, attending and graduating from high school and regarding themselves as American in most or every way."

. . .

BALTIMORE SUN AUG 5 2011 - LETTER FROM ALEX MOLINA:

I am a Latino immigrant to the U.S. My father brought us here with a sixth grade education. I am my family's first college graduate, and both of my daughters have master's degrees. I am appalled at the move to abolish theMaryland Dream Act.

Despite being restrictive, it gives deserving innocent children of undocumented workers a chance to get a college education. Why are they being punished?

This immigrant issue has reached new lows as the move by some of our legislators is nothing but racism. That is not the way to resolve this thorny issue.

I have experienced a change in attitude toward me — even from people I have known for a long time — when I stand up for Latino human rights. Because I am white, I often hear racists remarks about Latinos. I am hopeful that the people of Maryland will vote their conscience in November, 2012, if it gets that far.

Alex Molina

If they were loyal to their adoptive country, they'd go through the legal channels to become a citizen, rather than living years by your description as violators. These are adult immigration offenders age 18 and up, following in their parents footsteps. They will not become productive taxpayers until they are legally able to be hired by employers, which cannot happen until they become legal. Why is that so off the table for the liberals in this sanctuary state?

In many cases thats not feasible. Do you have any idea how much the average immigration lawyer charges?
Racism cannot exist without fear. Thank God the Tea Party (the party of scared old white people) has imploded in the past week. Maybe the rest of the state will come to their senses and the bigots can go back under their rocks.

Robert, get off the racism train.

Since Hispanic/Latino are cultures - not races, it always amazes me how when concentrating on illegal immigration certain groups try their best to make it a racial issue. How convenient - but simply not applicable. There are black folks, white folks, oriental folks, indian folks, etc. living in Latin American, Spain, Italy - born and raised or immigrants. Please lets just stick to legal vs illegal and focus on the future of this great country. Should folks all over the world be encouraged come here illegally? Are you prepared to reach in your pocket very deeply to help pay the bills, or do you think it won't make a difference? I submit that you and many others who find this Dream Act issue so appalling are conveniently using our great country as a scapegoat. You should actually spend more time encouraging legal immigration and more self sustaining behavior for other countries involved to take better care of their people and children, rather than encourage their relocation so they do not have to be responsible for health, wealth, education, and criminal behavior as well and thereby have a free ride at our expense.

The watershed event for US immigration law was WW II - after which, by treaty and UN Resolution, the USA approached refugee and immigration policy issues as international human rights matters. Prior to WW II, immigrants and refugees were not accorded protection and US immigration laws were explicitly racist - as in the 19th Century, when Chinese men were brought into the US to build the western railroads but were (1) denied the opportunity of citizenship (2) forbidden to bring their wives and (3) subjected to irrational quotas. Result: the RRs were built but so were "China Towns" all over the West.

Another example was the horrible treatment of Jewish refugees from Europe, fleeing Hitler. Our State Dept. would not save lives by extending visas, nor were asylum seekers welcome - since US law, still in thrall to Jim Crow, did not recognize this category of immigrant.

Efforts to deny educational benefits to immigrant kids is a throwback to the bad old days. We dare not take this backward step.

"If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck......." The same thing with racism and bigotry. It's not even thinly veiled racism anymore..................

Throughout history when America heads into tough economic times the Nativists and the Xenophobes come out in Full Force.

http://www.cjd.org/paper/truth.html

Those without a valid argument jump on the old racism standby. It's too overused, Robert, nobody believes that anymore. Especially since you are the one calling Tea Partiers "old white people". You make the charge against those who value the rule of law based on nothing more than your false biases. That makes you the bigot.

Why is it that supporters of SB167 only think of immigrants as being hispanic? They are of all countries of origin. Or is it that you are only supporting those immigrants who CASA de Maryland (Central American Solidarity Association) supports? Pure catering to a tax-funded special interest group with deep pockets and close ties with the Democrat monopoly ruling (not representing) this state. Shameful pandering Robert.

Beautifully expressed, Ann. Thank you.

From 'STAKING THEIR LIVES' - POSTED AUG 5 2011
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER

"The church is the strongest link in the tenuous safety net stretching from Central America to the United States. Bishops on both sides of the U.S. border are organizing to address migration, viewing it as a shared problem driven by poverty in the migrants’ home countries and by a thirst for cheap labor in the United States.

“The church in Latin America and the United States is playing a very important role in the migration issue,” said Jesuit Fr. Rafael Moreno, who heads the Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Service in Latin America.

“The church in the United States is perhaps one of the U.S. institutions that is being most transformed now with migration,” he said. As the number of Hispanic Catholics grows, “the Catholic church will change significantly. U.S. Catholics must accept that the American Catholic church will become more Hispanic and embrace what that means.”

The words of Matthew’s Gospel -- “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” -- are a call to U.S. Catholics, Moreno said. “It means a ministry of welcoming and integration of migrants.”