Stop Amnesty press conference in New York

By Bruce DeCell
9/11 Families for a Secure America
August 30, 2004

The press conference held by Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-COLO), was well attended by the media where the Congressman was able to effectively communicate the need to change the Republican Party convention platform. By addressing problems with immigration issues Tancredo hoped to align the Republican party closer with the American people. Presently the National Republican Party endorses an Agricultural Jobs Amnesty. Although the rich and powerful special interest groups support this amnesty program, the citizens of America oppose it by almost 80%.

Former INS Senior Special Agent, Mr. Culter, spoke at the press conference. His statements reflected his vast experience in law enforcement and were able to provide strong support for Congressman Tancredo's position. Many anecdotes shared by Mr. Culter about his experience brought an awareness that our elected officials let us down long before 9-11-01 and continue to do so today.

Mathew Reindl, a very hard working entreprenuer and courageous citizen was also present at the press conference. Mr. Reindl is one of those people President Bush often talks about in his stump speeches; someone who has worked hard and taken the risk of becoming a small businessman.

As the President rightly points out, small businessmen are the foundation of our economy and vital to our future. Mr. Reindl is a third generation American. Mr. Reindl inherited his business from his father and grandfather, who legally entered the country from Europe. They worked hard, saved money, and ultimately opened a Woodworking factory. Matthew Reindl is now having difficulty remaining competitive because he refuses to hire illegal aliens and insists on paying his own workmen salaries and benefits while ensuring his company pays all the taxes and insurance required by law. This is something his competitors who hire illegal immigrants do not do,and thus are able to undercut prices due to their lower overhead. Our President and other elected officials are not enforcing existing immigration laws that would prevent these unfair and illegal practices. They are not protecting honest citizens and good businessmen like Mr. Reindl, thus putting our nation's small businessmen at economical peril.

When I spoke I described the sorrow and pain that my family and Mark Petrocelli's family have been subjected to due to the many failures of our government to protect us. These failures enabled the horrific attack on 9-11-01 and continue to keep all of us at risk. I also spoke about the lack of support 9/11 families received in our search for the truth about the events of the days both before and after the attack on our country.I let the media know they were not doing their jobs before and after the 9-11 attacks. From my own experiences over the last three years, I told them I knew that most of what we were speaking about during the press conference would never get covered by the media.

I have spoken at events like this press conference before and most, if not all, of what I said was neglected by the media. I often wonder who these people are, that have the power to decide what the public will hear and see. They are in some ways more powerful than the government because elected officials would change their tunes if they knew their antics would be aired on the nightly news because popular support would turn against them. Unfortunately for all Americans, our elected officials know they can act with impunity, without regard for our safety, because the media agrees with their failed immigration agenda which keeps our borders wide open. Who these powerful people are is one of many questions I would like to have answered while I am still in control of my faculties.

I would like very much to thank Colorado Alliance News for hosting this press conference and inviting me to join them, and Joyce Mucci for her work at the press conference. I would also like to thank Joyce's husband for the very nice lunch that followed the press conference.

Bruce DeCell