TRANSCRIPT OF TESTIMONY BY THE

OHIO COMMISSION ON HISPANIC-LATINO AFFAIRS

IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED SANCTUARY RESOLUTION

BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, OBERLIN, OHIO

TESTIMONY

MY NAME IS FLORINTINA STAGERS AND I AM THE POLICY LIAISON FOR THE OHIO LATINO-AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

WE ARE A STATE AGENCY. AND A SMALL STATE AGENCY THAT IS A COMMISSION. OUR STATUTORY MANDATES ARE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES ON ISSUES FACING HISPANIC OHIOANS.   (OJJPAC Note:  This Commission has outlived its purpose if it ever had one.  Hispanics are already represented by some of the most powerful advocacy organizations in the U.S..  These groups already lobby on behalf of Hispanics and Latinos at the local, state and federal levels of government.   This Commission at best is redundant and a waste of Ohioans tax dollars.  In addition, I would argue that the Stat of Ohio has no business creating segregated ethnocentric Commissions that benefit only Hispanics and Latinos that leads to discrimination against other groups of people.)

WE ALSO CONNECT THE DIFFERENT LATINO COMMUNITIES ACROSS OHIO BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, FOSTERING COLLABORATION, AND ENSURING ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT BODIES. WE ALSO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PRIVATE SECTOR AND NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCIES TO BETTER ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HISPANIC OHIOANS.  (OJJPAC Note:  When this Commission was created, it was not the intention of the Ohio Legislature to create a taxpayer funded advocacy organization to support illegal aliens in Ohio.)

DIRECTED BY THESE MANDATES AND ACTING IN MY CAPACITY AS A POLICY LIAISON OFFICER I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE REASONS THAT WE BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OBERLIN COMMUNITY.

FIRST OF ALL, THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION WOULD HELP MAKE  THE OBERLIN COMMUNITY SAFER.  (OJJPAC Note:  It may be safer for illegal aliens but not Ohioans.)

WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CREATE TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE CRIME. IN CONTRAST, WHEN IMMIGRANTS FEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT, CRIME INCREASES IN IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AS THEY BECOME PRAY FOR CRIMINALS WHO KNOW THEY WILL NOT REPORT THE CRIME.  (OJJPAC Note: If illegal aliens were not in Ohio, they could not become victims of crime here, would they?)

ADDITIONALLY, HAVING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, HAS A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE REPORTING OF RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION.   (OJJPAC Note: Again, If illegal aliens were not in Ohio, they could not become victims of crime here, would they?  Also, a call to the ABA resulted in a statement that the ABA never made such a claim as stated in OCHLA's testimony.)

HOWEVER BY PASSING THE RESOLUTION OBERLIN CAN BE TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND AVOID THESE DIRE CONSEQUENCES BY ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS WITHOUT EXCLUSION.  (OJJPAC Note: By passing a sanctuary resolution a community is placed at greater risk.  Sanctuary cities act as a magnet for criminal aliens since police will not turn them over to the Department of Homeland Security.)

FURTHERMORE, THE CREATION OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS LOCAL BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.  (OJJPAC Note: This statement is a half-truth--the businesses that cater to illegal aliens (Which are primarily Hispanic) may thrive but illegal aliens also displace non-Hispanic owned businesses and workforce.  Neighborhoods also generally decline. )

IN CONTRAST, TAKE PRINCE WILLIAM’S COUNTY VIRGINIA AS AN EXAMPLE. THE COUNTY PASSED A RESOLUTION ALLOWING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL PROGRAM WHEREBY THEY COULD ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW. AS A RESULT THEY EXPERIENCED AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AS BUSINESSES CLOSED AND RESIDENTS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.   (OJJPAC Note: This statement is basically a lie mixed with a half-truth.   It was the businesses that catered to illegal aliens which closed.   It was the illegal aliens who moved out of the area.  Long term residents and businesses are quite happy with the results of Prince William County's crackdown on illegal aliens--and business is now thriving.

SECONDLY, THE RESOLUTION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION OF THE MAJOR CITIES CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION ISSUED A REPORT THAT EMPHASIZED THAT POLICE AGENCIES MUST CONSIDER LIMITED RESOURCES, THE COMPLEXITY OF IMMIGRATION LAWS, LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE, THE RISK OF CIVIL LIABILITY FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND THE CLEAR NEED TO FOSTER TRUST AND COOPERATION FROM THE PUBLIC INCLUDING MEMBERS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.  (OJJPAC Note: The unfortunate truth is that most major cities are run by politicians that support amnesty for illegal aliens.  Therefore, they appoint police chiefs that have the same beliefs--which is why they tend to want to ignore the immigration status of their residents.  As stated earlier, if illegal aliens were not in the U.S./it would be impossible for them to be a crime victim in the US.)

ADDITIONALLY THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS PASSED A RESOLUTION CONSISTENT WITH LIMITED INVOLVEMENT IN IMMIGRATION MATTERS.  (OJJPAC Note: The unfortunate truth is that most major cities are run by politicians that support amnesty for illegal aliens.)

THIRDLY, IN A TIME WHEN IN OHIO, AND IT APPEARS TO THE PRECEDING RESOLUTIONS, THAT OBERLIN IS NOT IMMUNE, IS STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY, IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OBERLIN TO PRESERVE ITS FUNDING FOR THE PREVENTION OF SERIOUS CRIME INSTEAD OF TYING UP LIMITED RESOURCES IN ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS WHICH IS THE JOB OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.  (OJJPAC Note:  It is true that the federal government is supposed to enforce immigration laws--but it hasn't which is why state and local governments are demanding action since illegal aliens cost states and local governments billions of dollars each year.  Local and state governments cannot afford to let the problem grow even worse.  )

FOR ALL THE ABOVE REASONS IT IS THE CONCLUSION OF OHIO LATINO AFFAIRS, THAT THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OBERLIN COMMUNITY.   (OJJPAC Note:   By supporting the sanctuary resolution, OLCHA is encouraging public officials to violate federal law that prohibits local governments from not cooperating with federal immigration authorities.)

I ALSO JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT ALTHOUGH MY POINTS ARE NOT UNIQUE AS FAR AS MY RESEARCH THE REASON I AM HERE IS UNIQUE. IN THAT AS A STATE AGENCY WE ARE ABLE TO UM, MONITOR SORT OF THE… DEBATE IN OHIO, THANK YOU. AND SO FAR THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEBATE HAS BEEN DICTATED BY SOUTHWEST OHIO, LARGELY, AH, BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF JONES.  (OJJPAC Note:   Opposition to illegal immigration is statewide.  Butler County Sheriff Jones has been one of the most vocal and visible critics in law enforcement.  Too many public officials are silent and afraid to speak out.)

BUT A RECENT POLL HAS SUGGESTED…SHOWN THAT A MAJORITY OF OHIOANS ACTUALLY FAVOR A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.  RESOLUTIONS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT IN COLUMBUS, DAYTON AND WELL AS LUCAS COUNTY. AND TODAY YOUR DECISION HAS STATEWIDE IMPLICATIONS. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SHIFTING THE DIALOG OF THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION SENTIMENT THAT HAS BEEN LED BY SOUTHWEST OHIO.  (OJJPAC Note:  False.  The majority of Ohioans and Americans do not support making millions of illegal aliens' U.S. citizens.  The vast majority of Americans want immigration laws enforced and illegal aliens deported.)

AND I THINK THE RESOLUTION WOULD BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE OBERLIN COMMUNITY BUT ALL OHIO. THANK YOU.

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