Editorials

Wednesday, April 17, 1996

Don't deny education to illegal immigrants

ONE method of raising youth gang membership in Hawaii would be implemented under a misdirected idea before Congress. The proposal would deny public education to children of illegal immigrants, thereby abandoning these kids and causing crime rates to soar. President Clinton should veto the bill if that provision remains.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that public schools were obligated to educate all children, even those living in the country illegally. Although that is the law of the land, voters in California - home to an estimated 2 million illegal aliens - passed Proposition 187 two years ago. Now on appeal, it calls for the expulsion of all children of illegal immigrants from public schools. Gov. Pete Wilson was an advocate of the proposition, saying it would save California $1.7 billion in expenditures on educating 350,000 illegal alien children.

What would happen if such youth were pushed onto the streets? The immediate result: They would be denied education. In the long run, most undocumented aliens remain in the United States, ultimately becoming citizens. If allowed to be enforced, Proposition 187 would create an entire generation of residents lacking the basic schooling to contribute to society, a welfare class that would not go away.

The illegal immigration problem exists along the U.S.-Mexican border, and that is where efforts to reduce it should be directed. Even Hawaii would benefit, according to Don Radcliffe, district director of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Radcliffe points out that many of the estimated 10,000 illegal immigrants in Hawaii are believed to have flown into the islands after entering the United States on the mainland.

The illegal immigration bill before Congress would increase the number of Border Patrol officers by 90 percent, speed the processing for departing illegal aliens, build a triple-tier, 14-mile-long fence along the border near San Diego, and test a system that would allow employers to verify the legal status of job applicants.

Congress should pursue these more worthwhile endeavors instead of taking out its frustration and vengeance on school-age children.


Other editorials, in brief:

Impatient justice

CRIMINAL defendants standing trial are presumed to be capable of understanding the proceedings, communicating with their attorneys and testifying coherently if called as witnesses. Defendants sometimes try to avoid trial by feigning mental incompetence, but convincing a judge to postpone a case on that basis is difficult. In four states, it was far too difficult until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the issue yesterday.


Aloha from tax hell

AN article in Monday's Star-Bulletin confirmed what most local residents have long suspected - Hawaii is a bonafide tax hell. According to recent studies conducted by the Tax Foundation and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Aloha State boasts some dubious distinctions:





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Rupert E. Phillips,CEO

John M. Flanagan,Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro,Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang,Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner,Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser,Contributing Editor



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