I am FOR legal immigration and I am AGAINST illegal aliens in our state and our country.  I have been all over the world and I have met wonderful people who want to come here legally and pursue the American Dream; however, the USA sets our legal immigration quotas with the population of illegal aliens already within the USA in mind.  That is grossly unfair to those trying to come here legally, and to the American public.  Legal immigrants are a benefit to communities they settle in and should be welcome with open arms as responsible tax paying members of our state.   

Illegal aliens, on the other hand, are criminals and a liability to our communities.  They have violated federal laws by illegally entering the USA and they commit other criminal acts such as identity theft in order to extend their illegal stays in our communities.  The Drug Enforcement Administration cites illegal aliens as one of the main sources of illegal drugs in South Dakota:  "Hispanic immigrants are relocating to cities within the region, seeking employment in meat and poultry packing facilities in rural communities in South Dakota. Mexican traffickers avoid heightened law enforcement scrutiny by blending in with these growing Hispanic communities. Mexican traffickers often use these meatpacking towns as transshipment hubs and secondary markets for drug distribution."(DEA website fact sheet for South Dakota, February 14, 2010)

I am for tamper proof Social Security Identification cards bearing a photograph and fingerprint of the taxpayer.  Until that happens nationally, I am for requiring all persons employed in South Dakota to have a valid South Dakota drivers license or ID.  I am for legislation that will punish those who hire illegal aliens or those who aid them in identity theft.  Similar legislation in other states has helped fight this problem with great success, and have been upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals.