Illegal Immigration: The Snowball Effect

Source: Denver Post

Eight people were arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of using forged citizenship and financial documents to purchase FHA-insured homes.

*SNIP*

Between July and September 2005, a Jefferson County grand jury indicted 10 people who were part of a mortgage fraud ring operating in Jefferson County.

The mortgage ring operated out of the ReMax 100 office in Lakewood. In three separate indictments, the alleged illegal activity was the same: Realtors, loan officers and sales agents worked together to sell single-family homes to 256 people who because of their citizenship or financial situations weren't qualified for home loans.

According to the indictments, the mortgage ring participants obtained loans for unqualified buyers by creating false documents about the homebuyer's identity, employment and credit history.

The documents were then submitted to legitimate mortgage lenders, the indictments said.

All of the 191 houses involved were purchased with HUD-guaranteed loans.

"The illegal activities involved in the sale and the purchase of these homes constitutes identity theft as well as mortgage fraud," said Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey.

Here is my question: Who goes to the trouble, expense, danger of coming here illegally, then just stops breaking laws once they make it to this side of the border?

A person's got to eat, so they get a job (illegal), either being paid under the table (illegal) or using fake documents (illegal). But what if you can't get a job? You still need to eat, right? So you apply for government services (illegal) with fake documents (illegal). You've got to get to work (or the benefits office to pick up your check), so you get a car, which you drive without a license (illegal), or with a fake license (illegal).

The argument that entering the country illegally isn't so bad, and we should just overlook it as long as the illegal alien is otherwise law-abiding is bogus. It's virtually impossible to stay in this country without continuing to break more laws. And more laws. And more laws.

It's a snowball of illegal activity, and the American people are on the receiving end. I can only speak for myself, but I just don't want to play anymore.

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Illegal Immigration * Document Fraud * America * Snowball