Non-specific charges carried no facts
This is in response to Laurel Bault's Nov. 25 article calling Doug Heaton and me racists and that we told lies about our stance on illegal aliens. Unfortunately, Baust did not say what specific lies she was charging us with. She, like many who defend illegal aliens, call people racists and never state facts.
There is nothing racist about our stance. We addressed this issue after hearing Mayor Ed Schock in a radio interview. He stated how beneficial immigration was to Elgin. He said it enhanced the quality of life and added to our diversity and had economic benefits. He never separated illegal immigrants from legal.
We asked is it diversity or a take over? Is it prosperity or a huge expense? Then we gave the following facts. From www.U-46.org and www.isbe.net all the school statistics can be documented. We stated that in the past nine years, U-46 Hispanic enrollment has doubled from 8,364 to 16,763. U-46 states that out of its total enrollment of 39,794, that 6,000 are limited English and 16,763 are from low-income families. Low-income families pay little or no taxes.
In Elgin, there are 48 percent more Hispanics in our schools than whites, blacks and Asians. Enrollment numbers in kindergarten to sixth grade are: Hispanic, 5,372; whites, 2,130; black 890; and Asian, 383. This shows how overwhelming and out of balance the numbers have become. This is not normal growth. We state that anchor babies, the children of illegal aliens, have contributed heavily to these figures.
Since 1870, it took the ensuing 137 years for Elgin to have a white population of around 66,000 and blacks and Asians, 10,000. Census figures show in 1990, there were 14,201 Hispanics living in Elgin. The Hispanic population now tops 45,000 -- that's around 42 percent of our population. This is not normal growth. It threatens our diversity and our culture.
Many of these Hispanics do not assimilate or adapt to our culture. In many public places, you maybe the only one speaking English. There is nothing racist about any of these facts. They tell how large and out of control this illegal problem is and the burden it places on Elgin taxpayers.
This information comes from the Newberry Library and the Chicago Historical Society. This information can be found on this Web site: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pag-es/420. html.
Bault referred to us spreading propaganda and misinterpretation. Not so. These are the facts no matter how much you dislike them.
The mayor and council have done next to nothing to solve Elgin's illegal alien problems. Bault talked about compassion and giving. Yes it is a wonderful thing, as long as it offered, not taken. It shouldn't hurt other people.
America has 37 million legal citizens living in poverty. Every dime taken by an illegal immigrant takes away from them. I would suggest the next time Bault accuses someone of lying, spreading hatred and being racist, she give her reasons.
We asked for comments from Elgin citizens and thousands replied. They want this invasion to stop and want our city leaders to work within the laws to discourage illegal immigrants from settling here. We suggest Bault visit www.legalamericans.net to read what some Elgin's citizens say about how they feel about illegal aliens living in Elgin.
David White
Co-director
Association For Legal Americans
Elgin