ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION COSTING STATE $32 MILLION
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BILL SET FOR HEARING
ABERDEEN, S.D. (Feb. 16, 2017) – “Illegal immigration according to estimates is costing South Dakota taxpayers over $32 million dollars annually, and people in affected areas are burdened by the dramatically increasing violent crime” said South Dakota Senator and Attorney General candidate Lance Russell.
At a press conference today in Aberdeen, Russell announced his Immigration Enforcement Bill, Senate Bill 193, which has been set for hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this coming Thursday, Feb. 22.
Aberdeen has seen an influx of immigration and a significant increase in their crime rate over the past few years, which today outpaces the state in property and violent crimes, with a crime rate that is 12% higher than the state’s average. In 2009, South Dakota saw one of its largest increases in its’ immigrant and refugee population, totaling 1,811 people settling in the state, with a number being relocated to Aberdeen. During the same time period, from 2009 to 2010, Aberdeen saw a spike in crime, with a 39% increase in the crimes investigated year-over-year.
“We welcome all who legally come to this country to find a better life. This is the American Dream,” said Senator Russell. “We should not be inviting law-breakers into our state, with over 5,000 estimated illegal immigrants here today who are statistically proven more likely to commit serious crimes.”
This is an issue Senator Russell says he dealt with in his years as the Fall River and Shannon County State’s Attorney, where he says he prosecuted a number of illegal aliens for serious crimes, but found it difficult to do so at times without the tools to enforce the laws in place, something he plans to address as Attorney General.
“It’s right at our door-step,” said Senator Russell, noting that the announcement of the Immigration Enforcement Bill’s hearing comes at the one-year anniversary of the passage of a sanctuary campus resolution by the University of South Dakota’s Student Government Association. Passed on Feb. 14, 2017, it was an open invitation to those who would enter illegally, and who have a track record of further lawless behavior. Senator Russell’s Immigration Enforcement Bill would curb such actions by any authorities of South Dakota’s institutions of higher education or local governments.
Senator Russell is one of four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the position of Attorney General. Candidates will be nominated during the Republican Party’s State Convention this year in June.
Lance did a great job in a packed room up here today!
It does not look like a big crowd in the picture.
Lance is the real deal. He has my vote.
Does anyone know where he gets these numbers from? I’m curious.
Probably the same source Tapio uses.
” according to estimates”— That is his source, but enough for conservatives..
He is so much more eloquent and educated on these topics than Tapio.
“according to estimates”—
D’oh! He’s gone full racist. That’s so last censure-y.
My question is why is non-enforcement of immigration status of such a level but not drug laws, domestic abuse, etc. where citizens can file complaints with the AG?
Is this really the worst crime in our state such it is the only one where private citizens can have extra-ordinary powers with regard to questioning law enforcement?
And, what happens when law enforcement looks the other way for information on a bigger crime? Don’t we want them to get information on rapists and murderers?
The flu virus must be mutating and affecting our neighbors and candidates causing isolated cases of hysteria. Given the campaign fear mongering you would think our cities are burning, fire fights, bombings and lootings are going on and Aberdeen is a war zone under siege.
Russell says the right things but I can’t vote for him if he’s going to put Stace Nelson in charge of DCI.
Ravnsborg supporters are spreading that rumor every time they open their mouths.
It’s hard to knock Russell. He does everything right. He owns Aberdeen delegates. That’s what I’ve heard anyway.
You can say that, but I heard that up at session this week, not from Jason or his supporters. And you’re not denying that it would happen.
Lance needs to refute, and promise not to do if not true.
It’s hard to knock Russell….you are kidding right?
It’s hard NOT to knock him…he has more baggage than Samsonite.
This bill is DOA…look at sponsors…..only Lance and Stace in the senate!
Sponsors:
Senators Russell and Nelson and Representatives Jensen (Kevin), Campbell, Goodwin, Livermont, and May
I don’t know if requiring local authorities to cooperate with federal authorities is going to do any good if the federal authorities aren’t going to do anything.
It would be nice if the state could just deport them directly. No reason we have to send them back to wherever they came from. We can drop them off in Canada. Didn’t Trudeau say he wants them?
He does not own aderdeen delegates
“Aberdeen has seen an influx of immigration and a significant increase in their crime rate over the past few years, which today outpaces the state in property and violent crimes, with a crime rate that is 12% higher than the state’s average. In 2009, South Dakota saw one of its largest increases in its’ immigrant and refugee population, totaling 1,811 people settling in the state, with a number being relocated to Aberdeen. During the same time period, from 2009 to 2010, Aberdeen saw a spike in crime, with a 39% increase in the crimes investigated year-over-year.”
–Anything to link the rise in crime to immigrants?
–“with a number” what would that number be?
–from 2009-2010; so data from 8-9 years ago?
I have a stat for you 1 out of 4 AG candidates has no chance of winning with such shoddy stats and numbers as these.
I had the same thoughts. This story is full of random and unconnected points and unsubstantiated claims. If Russell’s bill deals with illegal immigrants, why is he talking at all about legal immigrants – like the refugee population in South Dakota? He talks about crime increasing but doesn’t provide any link at all to how much, if any, of the increase is due to either legal or illegal immigrants.
“[RUSSELL] says he prosecuted a number of illegal aliens for serious crimes, but found it difficult to do so at times without the tools to enforce the laws in place, something he plans to address as Attorney General.”
When prosecuting anybody at the state level it doesn’t make one whit of difference what their immigration status is. The tools used by the state’s attorney are the laws of SD, which apply to anyone and everyone. For Russell to claim a states attorney doesn’t have the tools to prosecute illegal aliens is total BS.
This whole article seems to be an attempt to conflate legal with illegal immigrants and to create a false impression about who is committing crime in SD. If there are any facts to support this anti-immigrant demagoguery – let’s see them.
Story? Article? It’s nothing more than a press release. From Russell.
Here’s something that’s good to remind ourselves now and then. All of us have ancestors who were immigrants – some illegal. One of mine was a sailor on a foreign merchant vessel who jumped ship in New York. Sounds pretty illegal to me. He got his citizenship only after serving with the US Army in WWI.
The content of one’s character is not dictated by the place of one’s birth. Most people who come to the US don’t come here because they hate the US, but because they want to be part of the US and make a better life for themselves and their families. Yes, we need immigration laws, and yes they need to be stringently enforced. But every now and then, as Ronald Reagan did, we should grant amnesty to those who came here illegally but have lived and worked here for a substantial period of time as otherwise law abiding members of society. Strengthen border security, deport the criminals, but keep those who contribute positively to our economy and society.
This is SDWC. This is the type of reporting I once came here several times a day for: information our local/state MSM often ignores, facts and a writing style that keeps me hooked. Not an anti-Christian, anti-conservative, virtue signalling report that’s littered with how I or my neighbor is suppose to be a victim and doesn’t tell me I must feel oh-so-sad for lawbreakers. Thank you. I also appreciate that this post is begging me to do more research.
Russell has our attention. Residents of Aberdeen need to demand legislators’ attention. Many SDakotans’ roots run deep and across the prairie; our voices need to be heard. Will Ravnsborg respond? I hope so. Not many thoughts about this issue on his .com page, great resume though.
Km, what .com page are you speaking of? Thank you
http://jasonforsouthdakota.com/. I think he has a link on here too, I have ad blocker so not everything loads.
What are his views on refugees and immigration?
“Residents of Aberdeen need to demand legislators’ attention” Increase wages for Aspire? What can be done to help the regional economic development? Northern State University? Workforce Development? The Drug epidemic and related crimes?
Given the conspiracy theory coming out of the Nelson-Crow moonwalk, the next time Russell gives a press conference I hope somebody asks him if he plans to prosecute Iowa Democrat Dan Lederman for voter fraud.
Dennert is getting all the independents to rally behind Russell. Good strategy?
No. Independents can’t vote at the convention. It’s a really stupid strategy. Might as well go rally all the Iowa Democrats
Independents can change their registration to Republican. Grassroots rising up.
That’s what I’ve already done. I will vote against Tapio, Russell, Ravnswhateverhisnameis and Noem.
Dennert just does what he’s told.
That is so cute! Does Dennert have a primary challenger?
Dennert isn’t very credible anyway
Keep it to the topic, please.
And the rest of the facts: http://www.presentationsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Know-Your-Immigration-Facts.pdf
Let the Catholic and Lutheran Churches and meat packing plants take care of all the social costs of these refugees. It’s not the responsibility of the taxpayers to carry the load.
Tapio is opposed to the legal immigrants, which includes refugees.
Russel is opposed to illegal immigrants, which includes DACA and does not include refugees.
This will be confusing for some voters.
That does not seem to be true…read the press release..he seems to be right in line with Tapio
He talks about immigrants and refugees and rise in crime all in the same paragraph
Aberdeen has seen an influx of immigration and a significant increase in their crime rate over the past few years, which today outpaces the state in property and violent crimes, with a crime rate that is 12% higher than the state’s average. In 2009, South Dakota saw one of its largest increases in its’ immigrant and refugee population, totaling 1,811 people settling in the state, with a number being relocated to Aberdeen. During the same time period, from 2009 to 2010, Aberdeen saw a spike in crime, with a 39% increase in the crimes investigated year-over-year.
Mayor Mike Levson debunked all the fear mongering statistics. Oh that’s right! The Aberdeen Mayor, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, Presentation Sisters and a number of wells established Aberdeen Businesses are allied with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Huron has Aberdeen beat by a long ways.
Is Huron under Martial Law and Sharia Law?
No, but it has drastically changed over the last 20 years. Very low wage town now with high crime and lots of drugs. Over 200 kids now go to school in Wolsey or Iroquois.
The vast majority of those convicted of the crimes are……………White?
I believe they are illegals.
Mitchell is pretty bad too in regards to crime and drugs. It’s all over South Dakota. There are many factors that are contributing to this and is a major problem not only holding these people back but our communities and state yet there sure is a lot of scapegoating going on.
Yes, there are a lot of drugs in Mitchell, but they didn’t trade their college for a Turkey plant.
Tara. Atleast you’re up front about your religious bigotry and are clear that you don’t like Christians.
Now you are sounding like a snow flake Lee. Reverting to name calling when you don’t agree with someone else’s opinion. You can do better than that. How about racist or Islamophob?
Tara knowing the numbers helps hopefully-
Christianity (2.1 billion)
Islam (1.3 billion)
Nonreligious (Secular/Agnostic/Atheist) (1.1 billion)
Hinduism (900 million)
Chinese traditional religion (394 million)
Buddhism 376 million
Primal-indigenous (300 million)
African traditional and Diasporic (100 million)
Sikhism (23 million)
Juche (19 million)
Spiritism (15 million)
Judaism (14 million)
Bahai (7 million)
Jainism (4.2 million)
Shinto (4 million)
Cao Dai (4 million)
Zoroastrianism (2.6 million)
Tenrikyo (2 million)
Neo-Paganism (1 million)
Unitarian-Universalism (800,000)
More unprotected sex by Christians should solve all problems Aye?
So what does that have to do with immigration? Your point Charlie?
Charlie and Lee won’t answer me. Can’t answer my questions, boys?
Come on Pat, post my comment. Quit trying to protect Schoenbeck. Seriously.
Sorry Lee, I agree with Tara about the Lutherans. LSS is more about human trafficking than religion. Refugee resettlement is a all about the money. LSS takes the money from the federal government and dumps the refugees.
Thank you Anne.
Where does he get the $32 million figure and what makes up that amount? Is this really the biggest problem South Dakota has. The oldguy thinks not.
I would say $32 million is on the low side.
So does the Tapio wing of the Party have plans, and the means, to run an entire slate of candidates? If so, that will be entertaining….
There is a Tapio wing?
Anne,
Being a Christian is more than going to church. It is being a Christian and supporting entities you believe achieve Christian objectives. LSS is one such organization for a lot of Christians. If the ministry of LSS is not for you, there are a lot of others. But for those who are called to a ministry at serving the persecuted in the world, LSS is a good choice.
The LSS did a great job years ago with resettling refugees from the Vietnam War and South Dakotans from various faiths helped welcome these new South Dakotans into our communities financially, volunteering and forming new friendships.
My experience with LSS was almost 20 years ago. I called them once to get their assistance for one of the immigrants they had sponsored. The man I talked to, I think his name was Sam, was rude and unhelpful. He made it clear that the resettlement assistance they provide ends after 30 days. After that they don’t care what is going on. He didn’t care that the woman had been abandoned by her husband, (also one of their clients) couldn’t feed her children and was having complications of pregnancy and couldn’t work. “That’s not my problem,” was what he actually said.
Other entities had contacted them just looking for somebody, anybody, who could help translate. They wouldn’t do that either. Maybe LSS has cleaned up their act since then. I would hope so.
Aren’t they getting paid by the Feds and corporations. Their intentions might be pure, but these kind of policies hurt SD. Take care of SD first. We have 3rd world countries right here in SD.
LSS did a wonderful job getting the Burmese (maybe 200 people) refugees (persecuted Christians by both Buddhists and Muslims) to Sioux Falls. And, you are right they don’t do much with regard to individuals. Their continuing responsibility revolves around arranging group services (e.g. English classes) which they also do very good. The rest falls on other groups, which with regards to the Burmese has fallen one particular parish is Sioux Falls and one very good volunteer to be their first contact.
If we don’t give extraordinary effort for people like this, Americans are not who they think they are.