I sent the following e-mail to Glendale, Arizona City Councilman David Goulet regarding illegal aliens in our city:

I was very disappointed when the Arizona Legislature failed to pass a criminal trespass bill this session.  That was a great setback for law-abiding Arizonans, especially in view of the federal government's recent refusal to take custody of illegal aliens apprehended during Sheriff Arpaio's most recent crime suppression sweep.  I feel that the Sheriff will need another law to empower him to continue the fine work he has been doing in the area of immigration law enforcement.

Where the federal and state governments have failed, county and municipal governments must fill the gap.  I hope the Glendale City Council will pass an ordinance that would make it a class one misdemeanor for anyone to be in Glendale who is not in the country legally.  Some cities in Texas and Pennsylvania have already enacted such ordinances.  They have proven very effective in deterring illegal aliens from residing in those locations.

It is a bad idea for law-abiding people to stand passively by while their communities are overrun by criminals.  We have waited 23 years since passage of the Simpson-Mazolli bill for effective immigration enforcement to begin.  The time for excuses and feigned helplessness is over.  Illegal aliens are criminals.  They should be sought, arrested, prosecuted, jailed, and then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.  There should always be a welcome mat out for Sheriff Arpaio in our city.

Sincerely,

John Lyon