Dakota Beacon

We’ve all seen the effects of corruption at the city-wide scale if we’ve been to any of our large cities in America.  Much crime just gets a pass.  It has ruined most of our major cities.  When I was young, I spent a lot of time in Memphis - we spent our summers there, in fact, with my mother’s family.  

I recall Memphis of my childhood days as a wonderful place.  Downtown was a busy commercial area, interspersed with lovely shaded parks like Court Square.  I used to go there on a summer’s day, watch people feeding the pigeons and squirrels from little bags of popcorn purchased from the dime store across the street, listening to the splashing of the water in the fountain of Hebe,  At night the same fountain would delight me as a child with the changing colored lights on the water.  Every summer, on one special day my aunts and I would go to the fashion show at Goldsmith’s Department Store, have lunch - it’s where I discovered cornbread for the first time - and listen to the delicate clink of ice in pitchers of water.  Then we’d shop.  On Sundays children, especially black children, would be dressed beautifully in pretty dresses and elegant suits and ties, on their way to church.  We did not feel afraid in Memphis.  It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it still worked.  Shoplifting, car theft, murder, were all still regarded as crimes.

All that changed.  The city government, elected more for diversity than for competence, oversaw the deterioration of the rule of law.  At first it was more “who you knew”, but eventually even that no longer mattered, as we read of members of the “elite” Memphis families abducted and murdered, as we saw random acts of violence in grocery store parking lots and at traffic stops, where carjacking occurred.  There really isn’t a safe area of Memphis anymore.  My own family has seen this violence - drive-by shootings in nice residential neighborhoods, muggings in elevators or parking lots.  The innocent don’t stand a chance there.  Memphis is now one of our most - if not our most - dangerous city, but it is by no means alone in its steep decline.  All throughout America we see this decay - cultural decay which is paralleled by physical decay.  Every time a statue or historical monument is destroyed, along with it goes a part of the culture of civilization.  There is not much left in some of these cities.

We seem to have had enough, which is at least part of the message of the 2024 election.  Now a large part of the threat to law and order and peace in our communities - not just cities, but even small towns and suburbs - is coming from illegal (and, perhaps, even government-sanctioned)  immigrants.  First we became aware of the MS-13 gangs, related to the drug cartels of Mexico.  Now we are seeing domestic terrorism by the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.  These are truly vicious thugs and murderers who would import with them the kind of terror that reigns in their home countries.  Why not?  After all, they have picked the carcasses of their homelands bare and there is still some meat on the bones in America. 

If we want a peek at what happens when we allow this to continue, let’s take a good look at Mexico.  Mexico should be one of the most prosperous of nations.  It has the benefit of a wealth of natural resources, an endless growing season, two navigable coastlines, it is pleasantly situated proximate to the wealthy nations of the U.S. and Canada and appeals to citizens of those nations as a vacation wonderland, with beautiful vistas, beaches, entertainment.  Mexico has a common (if not sole) major language, a diverse population of indigenous peoples, a rich culture, wonderful, talented and hard-working people, a great musical tradition and long history.  Its mineral wealth is perhaps even unknown at this point.  The climate is perfect for tourists.  What’s not to love?

The crime and the corruption are not to love.  These factors have contributed to the downfall of Mexico.  It became convenient for the lower level government officials to make their peace with the drug lords.  Then it became easier for the higher-ranking officials to cash in.  Now the entire Mexican government is involved in the drug trafficking (and human trafficking as we will see).   Hector Berrellez, a former D.E.A. agent with 30 years’ experience with drug enforcement and counter terrorism, has given an interview, in part of which he explains the connections between the government, the hospitality industry and the drug cartels.  If you take a few minutes to listen to his information - directly from the first person - you will have some serious second thoughts about Mexico.  This should serve as a most urgent warning to happy-go-lucky college students planning their spring break trips as well as retired snowbirds who just want to catch some rays instead of shovel snow.  Please heed the warning.  And don’t be reassured because someone you know went to Mexico and had a wonderful time there.  Of course they did.  But some did not.  It’s Russian roulette.

So that is the “warning” part of this, and you should take it very seriously.  But the next part is far more serious for us in America.  All summer we have been hearing about the “soft” threat of immigration in places like Springfield, Ohio, where the enormous influx of Haitian immigrants has undermined the local economy, say nothing of the peace of mind of cats and dogs and their owners.  We have also been watching videos of the latest terror campaign within our borders - Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan-based network of gangs which has metastasized throughout the United States, affecting the lives of half of Americans, from D.C. and Virginia, to California, Wisconsin, Montana and at least 12 other states so far.  We saw them taking over apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado.  We also saw Martha Raddatz reassuring us and admonishing  J.D. Vance, that, after all, it was only a “handful of apartment complexes” (obviously not the gated community she feels safe and secure in).  Imagine being afraid to open the door of your apartment and try to go to work or to shop, or coming home and hoping that your own apartment is not now occupied by gang members.    

It’s no secret - we have a terrible problem here in America and it is our own government’s fault.  Illegal immigration is the root of much of this, although that root is taking in our own soil by now.  Under the Biden regime we saw exponential increases in this flood of unvetted immigrants.  It is clear that our people have had enough.  Witness the success of independent films such as “The Sound of Freedom”, which explored child trafficking in Mexico and South and Central America.  It was profoundly reflected in the results of the 2024 election, which saw Donald Trump and J.D. Vance swept into office, campaigning on these issues - crime and our border.  For many this was the deciding issue.  

Trump has been moving full-speed ahead with appointments which show a reformed interest in the people he selects to carry out his policies.  His first term was hampered by poor choices.  This one will at least show his awareness of the intent of his subordinates.  He has put some strong candidates in charge of key points - Tulsi Gabbard in the National Intelligence Agency, Tom Homan as ICE director, Kash Patel in the FBI.  Their intentions are clear, they have made a point of telling exactly where they stand and what they intend to do once in office - indeed, they are not waiting for the swearing in, but making their agenda right now.  

Meanwhile, we have corrupt governors and mayors throughout the U.S. who preside over “sanctuary” cities and states.  These are jurisdictions which have made laws to protect illegal immigrants from deportation and restrict local law enforcement’s ability to assist federal agencies in deporting or apprehending these illegal immigrants.  These so-called “sanctuary” entities feel very virtuous, even while criminals are filling their neighborhoods and disrupting their economies.  Among the states are Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York and others.  Sanctuary cities include, among others, San Francisco, Chicago, San Jose, New York City, Washington, D.C.  There are some 600 “sanctuary” jurisdictions in the United States.  We obviously have a problem.  

While some governors and mayors are playing “tough guy” to Trump’s policies and administrators, vowing to defy efforts to deport criminal migrants, we are teetering on the edge of becoming Mexico.  We currently have no border between us, effectively.  What’s there to stop it?  How long will it be before the decent citizens and honest public servants will be cowed?  It doesn’t take that long, unfortunately.  Trump’s election was a crystal clear signal that the people’s will is to stop this now.  We’ve seen the devastation of one summer of violence and lawlessness.  Many communities have not recovered from 2020, and that was merely BLM, rank amateurs by comparison.  

If we don’t send a similar message to our local and statewide officials, if we don’t back ICE in restoring our borders and our lawful order, deporting the criminals, we will have made the other choice - we will become a great big Mexico.  Only without the sun-kissed beaches and sparkling resorts.  No one will be safe.  We have one shot at this - it is incredibly difficult to walk back the situation that has developed in Mexico.  Who would do it?  How would they do it?  There are millions of good Mexican people who would give anything to be free of the terror they are living with.  They are, sadly, helpless.  We are following in their path.  

It is incumbent upon every one of us to demand that our local and state officials cooperate in deporting those who are here illegally and have committed and are committing crimes.  It isn’t enough that we know this - we must make our awareness known to these local politicians.  New York Mayor Eric Adams sees the problem.  The reign of terror on the streets of New York in broad daylight and in its transit systems (Daniel Penny is a case in point) are stark evidence that we are on the brink of total chaos.  We are not helping anyone by destroying our own country.  It is not a crime or a sin to be successful.  We should wish these other feeder nations could enjoy the benefits and reality of a lawful country but taking our own down the path of destruction will not help them.  To those who are trying to persuade us through the use of innocent family members, we need to say, “No.”  These people came here by breaking our laws.  If their children suffer for it that is not the fault of the laws, but of the people who broke them.   Like any other criminal, the family will suffer.  That is very sad.  But this needs to be clarified to those who plan to follow the lead of the illegal immigrant - it won’t work any longer, so just don’t come.  Don’t send your unaccompanied child either.  We can’t tolerate it.  If we stop allowing this "for the children", perhaps we can help to stop the abuse of children.  Right now we are operating as a clearning house for trafficked children.  By closing the door to this perhaps these kids will grow up in their own homes with their own parents.  Our recent policy has been incentivising the virtual abandoning and giving up of innocent children.  

Years ago I read a book by Mark Krikorian, ,The Case Against Illegal (and Legal) Immigration.  I have since recommended it to anyone who is interested in pursuing politics or law, or even just voting.  Krikorian sets out an excellent case for strictly limiting all immigration.  We do not need immigrants.  We should welcome immigrants on a case-by-case basis, carefully vetting them, as we now do for most legal immigrants.  Spouses of citizens, people who have secured employment that we do not have Americans to do (like high-tech fields, for example).  We should outlaw NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and prohibit mass recruitment of workers.  We should make absolutely sure that those coming into our country are not criminals, mentally ill or otherwise likely to become a burden.  We can always do what we can to help genuine asylum seekers.  An asylum seeker or refugee is someone who is subject to political persecution or under threat of death for political reasons or natural disasters.  It is always best in the case of natural disasters, to help these people where they are so they can regenerate their homelands, but in the case of a patriot who is hunted by someone like Fidel Castro, we can find ways to work this out.  But an asylum seeker is not the same thing as someone who wants to get in on the “good life” on the backs of or at other expense of American taxpayers.  It is not legitimate to claim “asylum” because you want more stuff.  

When we look at Springfield, Ohio, for example, we hear that the local people “don’t want to work”.  Unemployment was hgh.  But local factories contracted with these NGOs to go to other nations - in this case, Haiti - and recruit people to come to Ohio to work for them.  Local people never knew about these job openings so they did not apply.  If they had they would have had stiff competition because the foreign workers would likely have undercut their wages.  Meanwhile, local authorities relaxed the city’s code with regard to rentals, allowing many more people per unit.  This meant that local people were given notice to move and their leases were not renewed, so as to max out the space with government-subsidized rents from the Haitian renters.  It is no wonder there is a housing problem in many communities.  In the case of Springfield, a town of about 60,000, some 20,000 Haitian immigrants were brought in.  Note that these are not “illiegals”.  These were people recruited to work in factories by NGOs.  We need to terminate NGOs.  It is a good thing that the “eating the cats” story came up or we would have no idea of how this has been working.  It’s not just cats and dogs who are suffering.

We should also bring an end to massive foreign enrollment and staffing of our colleges and universities.  China is famous for infiltrating our college faculties and working on behalf of China’s CCP the whole time.  When we bring in Chinese immigrants, we need to be aware that there is a whole underground network of surveillance and policing throughout our country that serves the CCP.  When we hear of an inexplicable suicide by a Chinese national in the U.S. we should be asking about this.  When someone blows the whistle his family back in China pays the price, or he is eliminated over here.  It’s like a more unified and organized cartel of its own.  The so-called “Confucius” exchange programs have been nothing other than CCP infiltration of our schools.  This is not to say the people of China, or even those who have come here, are not good people.  It is to say that in many, if not most, cases, they are controlled by the CCP and infidelity to the CCP would put them in great peril.  

We need to stop repeating the mindless mantra that we are “a nation of immigrants”.  Many Americans are immigrants, but so far, most were born here of legal citizens.  Our ancestors might have been immigrants.  But to say we are a nation of immigrants is simply false.  Our ancestors came here from all over the world, but with the ideal that they wanted to live in freedom, to own their own land, to raise their children as they thought right, to worship as they believed, to speak and breathe freely.  They were united by the adherence to a Constitution, not to a personality or a bloodline.  They were brought together by a shared idea of freedom.  They went through a lot of hoops and over a lot of hurdles to get here.  It was not easy and there were no handouts or NGOs to pad their way.  They were vetted and vetted and vetted.  If they were ill, criminals or without means of support or family they were turned away.  My own immigrant ancestor from Ireland was turned away and landed in Quebec instead and made his way to America the hardest way.  But legally.  We are not “a nation of immigrants” and should instead see ourselves as one people under our Constitution.  There is and should be no guilt in this.  We have a right to our country.  What we might disagree about amongst ourselves notwithstanding, we are a country of our own.  No other nation is expected to throw open its gates.  

And by the way, that sonnet on the Statue of Liberty - the one that ends with “. . . I lift my lamp beside the golden door”?  That’s not our Constitution.  That is a poem by Emma Lazarus called “The New Colossus”, inspired by the magnificent statue.  I doubt seriously that even Lazarus would condone the riff raff we are watching pour over our border today.  After all, she was still talking about having a "door".  Without a door we won't be a "colosus" for much longer.