When my beloved Baba Anna (Grandmother in Ukrainian) died I distinctly remember finding boxes of personal documents in the closet of her home. My Grandparents came to America in 1965 after fleeing the horrors of living under the Iron Fist of a Communist regime.
There were the old school black and white notebooks where both wrote remedial sentences in English very similar to the structure of the “Dick and Jane” kids’ books. I can’t imagine how fearful yet proud they were to be in America, learning a new language, and starting a new life where they could speak, worship, and work freely.
I also found the extensive documentation they provided in order to come to America permanently. In addition to being vetted and documented, my Ukrainian Grandparents also provided information on who would sponsor them in the United States and who they would live with.
Those necessary requirements paled in comparison to the work put in beforehand just to save enough money to live in the United States permanently.
Those steps are a far cry from the illegal immigrants who, up until President Trump took office, crossed the border at will and came into America, no questions asked. Adding insult to injury for migrants who played by the rules and came to America the right way, many of those illegal immigrants received debit cards full of cash credits, housing, and health care.
Very recently New York Governor Kathy Hochul also allocated at least $50 million for illegal immigrants to pay for lawyers if needed.
By cementing New York State as a Sanctuary State with her very first Executive Order as Governor, we might as well have posted signs at every point along the five other states that border ours with massive lettering: “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WELCOME HERE.”
My Dido (Grandfather) Iwan and Grandmother Anna did not mooch one dime off American taxpayers. How did they survive? Through God’s grace, a supportive family, and hard work. Lots of hard work. Both were hired at a hospital where my grandfather was the handyman and my grandmother was a janitor. They lived the arc of the American Dream. Their seeds of grit and determination have flourished generations later, where our three kids at home live lives that my grandparents would marvel at.
Their journey to America is the polar opposite of many illegal immigrants here in New York State. Many live better than homeless veterans who honorably served our great nation. Others come here and beat, rape, and kill law abiding citizens.
Look no further than the two illegal immigrants with lengthy arrest records who are accused of shooting an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agent in New York City. The alleged perpetrators are now behind bars after shooting the CBP officer in the face. He’s expected to live, thank God.
One of the accused illegal immigrant gunmen had been arrested four times. His alleged accomplice came to our country illegally in 2022 was ordered to leave America one year later.
Because of the failed border policies of Joe Biden and Kathy Hochul, both suspects were allowed to roam the streets of New York, where they now stand accused of shooting a member of law enforcement in the face.
My deceased Grandparents are rolling in their graves at America’s wide-open border policies that have changed since they came over on a boat sixty years ago.
Thank heavens, at the federal level, President Trump is doing his part to secure the border to keep Americans safe.
Now all we need is a Governor who respects the rule of law, will end New York’s absurd Sanctuary Status, and who will work with ICE to deport all illegal immigrants.
Until then, brace yourselves, fellow New Yorkers. You or your loved ones might be the next one getting shot in the face.