The Golden Pork Barrel Waste Award goes to:
The Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs (OCHLA)!
Q.) What Ohio Commission is using your tax dollars to support illegal aliens?
A.) The Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs (OCHLA).
It's time to de-fund and sunset this rogue ethnocentric commission that uses your tax $$$ to advocate for illegal aliens and work against Ohio's citizens!
In Ohio, the waste of tax dollars on pork barrel politics is not limited to state projects. Wasteful state commissions are also created for political reasons--one of the best examples is the Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs (OCHLA).
How does OCHLA spend your tax dollars? OCHLA advocates for illegal aliens and oppose common sense law enforcement that would help protect your family's physical and economic security as well as the financial stability of local and state governments.
Example #1: Encouraging public officials to defy federal immigration law.
In 2009, OCHLA commissioners sent its attorney/liaison to Oberlin Ohio, to encourage the Oberlin city council to pass a sanctuary resolution which would help shield illegal aliens from arrest by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. OCHLA supported the sanctuary resolution even though it knew or should have known that it violated the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act ( IIRIRA ) of 1996. This federal law requires local governments to cooperate with Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). OCHLA was encouraging Oberlin's public officials not to cooperate. In addition, much of the testimony by the OCHLA liaison was based on half-truths if not purposeful misinformation. The testimony was video recorded and cannot be disputed.
OCHLA's Testimony in support of a Sanctuary Resolution in Oberlin, Ohio.
Example #2: Supporting amnesty for millions of illegal aliens knowing that it will only induce more illegal migration into the U.S. with the expectation of future amnesties.
During the 1980's a similar "comprehensive immigration reform amnesty passed Congress. Proponents promised that if congress approved the amnesty legislation, the federal government would aggressively enforce U.S. immigration laws--and the illegal immigration problem would be solved.
However, the 1986 amnesty had the opposite effect--it created the expectation in the minds of other illegal migrants that the U.S. would eventually pass additional amnesties--so millions more crossed illegally into the U.S. each year. Furthermore, the promised crackdown on illegal immigration never happened and the illegal alien population in the U.S. rose from an estimated 3 million in 1986 to 11-20 million today. Many of the illegal aliens that got amnesty in the 1980's encouraged more family and friends to migrate illegally, compounding the illegal immigration problem. Although this history is well known in the Hispanic/Latino community, OCHLA continues to support this failed policy which undermines the rule of law and U.S. sovereignty.
Example #3: Opposing common sense immigration law enforcement.
OCHLA has passed resolutions opposing every immigration enforcement related bill introduced in the Ohio House or Senate, including testifying against legislation in House and Senate committee hearings. Below are links to resolutions that OCHLA passed that oppose Ohio law enforcement from protecting Ohio citizens from illegal alien criminals. As a result, Ohioans continue to be injured, killed, or displaced from their jobs by the tens of thousands of illegal alien criminals illegally living in Ohio.
OCHLA's Resolution 2010-02 opposing enforcement of immigration laws by Ohio law enforcement
OCHLA's 2006 Resolution opposing H.B. No. 654 Illegal Alien Enforcement Act
Example #4: Opposed SB 238 which prohibited illegal aliens from receiving money from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.
See OCHLA testimony in opposition to SB 238. (When time permits we'll point out the problems with this clever testimony.)
Example #5: In 2008, OCHLA passed a Resolution and testified in opposition to HB 477, which required the use of the English language by state and local government entities in official actions and proceedings (subject to certain exceptions).
OCHLA Resolution in opposition to the use of the English Language requirement
Note: OCHLA removed text of its testimony from its website. A link to the testimony used to be here but was removed since the hyperlink became "dead."
Example #6: In 2010, OCHLA involves itself in the debate over Arizona's crackdown on illegal aliens. How does that benefit Ohio taxpayers?
Example #7: In 2010, OCHLA produced what it called a "Latino Community Report on Ohio's Global Diversity" in order to positively influence the Ohio's Legislature and public about Ohio illegal alien population.
In the report, OCHLA's ethnocentric loyalties appear to lead to distorting the truth in much of the report. One example is OCHLA's claim that illegally entering the United States is not a violation of federal law. However, this is what the federal law says:
"...for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both."
You can read the full text here: U.S.C. § 1325 : US Code - Section 1325: Improper entry by alien
Clearly, if you enter the U.S. illegally, aliens are subject to both civil and criminal penalties--something OCHLA fails to disclose.
Example #8: On May 7, 2013, OCHLA passed Resolution No. 2013-01, to benefit Illegal Aliens who benefited from Pres. Obama's executive order, better known as the Deferred Arrivals for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) directive. OJJPAC believes that DACA was payback for primarily Hispanic/Latino groups who got the Hispanic vote out for President Obama. The DACA directive's constitutionality has been challenged in federal court by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. The federal judge is expected to rule DACA unconstitutional. However, that hasn't stopped OCHLA from continuing its long history of advocating for illegal aliens at Ohio taxpayers' expense.
Quid pro quo? Hispanic votes for President Obama = Demand for Amnesty
OCHLA... Myths vs. Facts
Myth: OCHLA is needed to advise the governor and legislature regarding Hispanic/Latino concerns because otherwise public officials won't learn of their concerns. False!
Truth: A plethora of non-profit organizations and associations already represent so-called "Hispanic/Latino" interests in Ohio. These groups already have officers and members that meet and lobby local, county, and state officials regarding issues of particular concern to them. Here is an example of when two non-profits, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDF) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), lobbied against an Ohio legislator's immigration enforcement bill. There are even multiple Hispanic chambers of commerce organizations in Ohio, such as the Northeast Ohio Chamber of Commerce. In addition, all citizens of any ethnicity can voice their concerns by calling or writing the governor or legislative representatives.
OCHLA... Advancing racism; Inhibiting Assimilation?
OCHLA advances cross-cultural racism; inhibits assimilation into American society
It is important to note that there is considerable confusion and world-wide controversy regarding the government's classification of people as "Hispanic" and "Latino." Some people believe such practices continue and promote cross-cultural racism and inhibits healthy assimilation into and acceptance of American society.
OCHLA's activities also represent the worst in ethnocentric based identity politics. By adopting political programs, issue positions, and code words to advance the interests of a specific ethnic group, it reinforces the already "us against them mentality" of identity politics and distorts honest public discourse. OCHLA representatives like to fan the flames of resentment and solidify their base support groups by inciting feelings of fear and anger. For example, OCHLA representatives use phrases such as "anti-immigrant" or "xenophobe" to describe people who believes U.S. immigration laws should be enforced and amnesty opposed, even if that person is supportive of legal emigration.
Conclusion
OCHLA's commissioners' work to advance narrow ethnocentric interests that are incompatible with the general interests of the citizens of Ohio. In the examples above, OCHLA is clearly working against the safety and security of Ohio citizens in order to protect illegal aliens in Ohio.
It is time to de-fund OCHLA and sunset the Commission. With Ohio's severe economic problems, what better time for the governor and Ohio Legislature to de-fund and abolish the Commission, saving Ohio taxpayers scarce tax resources and preventing the continued displacement of thousands of jobs of Ohio's working poor.
Not convinced that illegal migration is relevant to Ohioans?
Examples of illegal alien crime in Ohio
Here are over two hundred article links that prove otherwise.
Ask Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to de-fund OCHLA now!
Call: 614-644-4357
Governor Mike DeWine's mailing address:
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Oh 43215-6117Contact your Ohio state representative and state senator too!
Ohio House of Representatives:
1-800-282-0253
Ohio Senate
133rd Ohio State Senate Directory
A staunch opponent to Immigration Law Enforcement...
OCHLA Commissioner Rev. Max Rodas
(Former Illegal Alien?)
According to a 2007 La Prensa article titled Law of God and Law of Land, written by La Prensa correspondent Arooj Ashraf, OCHLA Commissioner Max Rodas at one time was "undocumented."
From the 2007 La Prensa article:
"Max Rodas, Executive Director, Nueva Luz, said the immigration debate is one of proximity, “People don’t feel it is their issue, we must force ourselves to empathize with the immigrant,” he said. Rodas was undocumented for several years. “It was an interesting experience,” he said." [Emphasis added by OJJPAC]
Evidently Rodas, a native of Guatemala, had lived in the U.S. illegally prior to his appointment by former Ohio governor Ted Strickland (D) to the Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs as documented in the Ohio Senate Journal:
"Max Rodas, Independent, from North Olmstead, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as a Member of the Commission on Hispanic-Latino Affairs for a term beginning August 11, 2010 and ending at the close of business October 7, 2011, replacing Chris Rodriguez, whose term expired."
After Rodas' term expired, this staunch opponent to immigration law enforcement was re-appointed by Ohio Governor John Kasich (R), as reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Max Rodas of North Olmsted and Andres E. Gonzalez of Cleveland were reappointed to the Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs for a term from March 5 through Oct. 7, 2014. The appointments were announced by Gov. John Kasich.
Should we be surprised why OCHLA works against the interests of Ohio's citizens and attempts to undermine immigration law enforcement in Ohio and the U.S.?
OCHLA's shady characters and history:
Henry Guzman Illegal Alien Registration Scandal
OCHLA has been a questionable political creation from its inception. Perhaps that's because OCHLA's first director was none other than Henry Guzman, who also lobbied to create the commission.
Guzman's name may sound familiar because as Ohio's Public Safety Director under Ohio's former Governor Ted Strickland, Guzman got caught protecting the drivers' licenses of thousands of illegal aliens. You can read about the Guzman scandal in this Columbus Dispatch news article.
From the Ohio Inspector General's Report:
"... former DPS Director Henry Guzman unnecessarily delayed implementation of new POA procedures. This was in spite of repeated warnings from the Registrar, BMV investigators and law-enforcement officials about how the delays were undermining the integrity of vehicle registrations, facilitating illegal activity and raising identity theft and homeland security concerns."
You can no longer read the entire Ohio Inspector General's report here because the OIG's office deleted it from its' website.
Guzman eventually lost his job but how much damage to U.S. national security was already done?
Hispanic ethnocentric Henry Guzman put his loyalty of ethnicity above loyalty to not only the State of Ohio but the United States. His actions placed the public safety of citizens of the U.S. at risk in order to protect Hispanic/Latino illegal aliens and Hispanic/Latino businesses that made money off illegal migrants in Ohio.
Who is Joseph L. Mas, Esq.?
A better question is what was the politically connected Columbus lawyer Joseph L. Mas doing when he attended a meeting of primarily Hispanics at the Ohio Department of Public Safety on July 31, 2008?
The Ohio Inspector General's (OIG) office was certainly curious in its scathing report of misconduct by former Ohio Public Safety Director Henry Guzman. According to the OIG's report, Guzman was dragging his feet for over a year in approving and implementing important drivers' registration security procedures after fraudulent Ohio registrations were popping up in the hands of illegal aliens and criminal investigations in Ohio and elsewhere.
The curious thing is that after a July meeting with Mas and other prominent Hispanics concerned about how the security crackdown would affect Hispanic businesses and the "undocumented," Guzman put the security changes on hold indefinitely (although at the time it was to be for two weeks according to the OIG report).
In 2009, Mas was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Franklin County Board of Elections by former Democrat and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
OJJPAC got its last glimpse of Brunner around the same time, when she spoke to a group of illegal alien supporters at a May Day Rally in downtown Cleveland that year.
A May 8, 2009 Columbus Dispatch article stated that Mas has run for judge (Franklin County?) in 2002 and 2007. He is also credited as being a past chair of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition. The Mas story is developing...so stay tuned.
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