Local officials should not be asked to commit a felony

The illegal occupation of Freehold Borough by foreign nationals continues. So emboldened by the lack of enforcement, illegal immigrant groups now use U.S. federal courts to effectuate legislative change that is inconsistent with federal criminal and civil law.

The silent invasion has turned downright noisy, and still the borough is forsaken by county, state and federal officials.

Now one group, Casa Free-hold, is seeking to have the borough enter into a criminal conspiracy in violation of federal law to help it to knowingly assist illegal immigrants. This, of course, the borough cannot do.

Under 8 U.S.C. 1324(a), it is a federal felony to induce an alien to either enter or stay in the United States.

By asking the borough to provide or permit the group to place on public property amenities that encourage illegal aliens to come or stay in the United States, this group is asking borough officials to commit a felony.

The federal policy of benign neglect of federal immigration laws has caused enough damage to towns like the borough, surely we need not openly commit to felonious activity.

It is alleged that some members of Casa Freehold are themselves illegal aliens. I don’t profess to know their immigration status.

I do know that whether they are here lawfully or not, if they are knowingly assisting illegal aliens to enter or stay in the United States, they are committing a felony under our laws.

The same equal protection argument to which illegal aliens attempt to bootstrap quasi-legal status as “residents” in the United States is the very amendment that subjects those illegal aliens to prosecution for the violation of our laws.

Perhaps it is time for the courts to exert jurisdiction over those illegal immigrants and others engaged in these unlawful activities.

If the facts are as described — where individuals are knowingly assisting illegal aliens and inducing them to come and stay in the United States — each such case should be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Hope-fully, that branch of the our government will exercise its obligations to protect the lawful citizens of Freehold.

Richard Kelsey

Arlington, Va.