Catalytic Converter Thieves Arrested in Santa Barbara

When are we going to pull our heads out of the dark side and GET SERIOUS AND TOUGH about illegal immigration!!??

Until then, well.................here you have it!!

livingsb: Other than you, nobody said anything about illegals . . .

I guess if they have a Mexican last name they are all illegals, right?

Seems to me, the police got tough on these scumbags for the crime they seemed to be committing - not because of their last name!!

Maybe I'm blind, but I don't see anything in this article mentioning that these guys are illegal immigrants. So by your assumptions, everyone with a hispanic name is an illegal immigrant?

What I did actually read was that one was from Las Vegas, and the other two are from Los Angeles. Last time I checked those are both cities in the United States of America.

It's funny how when people see these articles on crime in Santa Barbara, they think it's a green light to jump on their soapbox to denounce illegal immigration.

Thank goodness they caught these guys cause my neighbor was one of their victims.

I had mine stolen and I would like to know what I can do to get compensated.

Of course nobody said anything about illegals, osotoh, mesamike.. That's the biggest part of the problem. It is not "PC" to inquire or to say whether or not they are illegals or even to ask. So since the media, police and politicians wish to shield this information, and until that information censorship code is broken, I think it is is fair to assume that they are.
The burden of proof that they are not (if that is the case) is on them, if they wish us not to know the facts. It is important information for the citizens to make rational decisions. Since we are not allowed access to the info then as far as I am concerned, if they have a hispanic last name and are caught in a crime they are illegal since the chance is probably more than 50 percent. How's that? Fair enough everyone? I think so. Stop harboring criminals with political correctness! We are signing our own death warrant with this tired liberal BS.

The article did not say they are NOT illegal immigrants either.
How about diggin for some facts about immigration status of the Hispanics that are caught in crimes Catherine Meagher? Afraid you might offend the criminals from another country? The citizens need to know. Your job is to report the facts, not gloss over the truth. Until then we are going to just assume they are all illegal immigrants.

"So from Mesa Mike's comment he is for illegal immigration?
He is for services for illegal immigrants that cost California tax payers billions of dollars." - whatphotosb

Hey you're pretty good at putting words in other peoples' mouth. I never said I supported anything.

You guys are high if you think that all the crime in this town is caused by illegal immigrants.

Ahh the wonders of media censorship ... what did you say whatphoto?

Nobody said all the crime is from illegal immigrants, but it's a pretty good bet if not, that most of it is from the second or third generation of illegal immigrants. That's because we have been ignoring and encouraging illegal immigration for generations. Is the solution to keep ignoring it? Where do you think those hispanic last names came from? Ireland? Why are crimes rarely committed by people of other origins? Hmm do you think there could be a correlation somewhere? Pull your tiny truth denying ostrich heads out of the ground you illegal immigrant lovers, unless you think crime is a "good" thing of course. I bet a nice stabbing would change your mind pretty quick, maybe not.

A Shaw-

So if I use your brilliant "tiny headed" use of logic, all we need to do is deport all illegal immigrants, including the second and third generations of illegal immigrants (who are US citizens), and crime would magically cease to exist?

So countries that don't have "illegal immigrants" don't have crime?

You sir, are a genius. I think you should run for mayor on that platform. At least whatphotsb would vote for you.

I would bet money that if you were born in Mexico, you'd jump the border too. I, for one, don't put blame on people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Unless you are Chumash Indian, your ancestors did the same thing.

My educated guess is that by looking at the pictures, these guys are American-raised.

That having been said, our government is in bed with Mexico's government and these two countries have a tacit unspoken yet obvious agreement to have as many of Mexico's poorest and uneducated people come into the U.S. in unlimited--read--UNLIMITED numbers.

What happens is that the people who actually come in here end up working long hours in marginal, if not illegal conditions because their employers know they won't say anything. Meanwhile, their kids grow up in America without parents at home to supervise them, and of course with all the P.C. indoctrination in our culture they grow up to be aggressive spoiled criminals.

From what I've heard, if you go to Mexico, you don't get the "Cholo" attitude in anywhere near the amount you get here. My own experience with Mexican racists is that most if not all the ones I've met where raised in the U.S. Let me make it clear that most Americans of Mexican ancestry that I've met are not racists. The bad attitude is an American thing.

What we are living in is a country where big business wants endless supplies of cheap labor. No longer are immigrants expected to learn English, assimilate, and improve themselves. The "Melting Pot" ideal has been undercut by idealistic Left-wingers who feel it offensive to expect immigrants (At least those from Mexico and Central America) to learn the language of the land even though it would equip them to combat the racism/exploitation these people face. The result of all this is that their kids grow up with little sense of belonging to the culture in which they live and also with little parental supervision since the parents work such long hours.

Any wonder we have a gang problem?

So yes, illegal immgration IS tied to this issue, but often times the destructive result of it doesn't hit us until the children of these immigrants become old enough to start hurting people.

For what it's worth I remember a story in the News-Press about two years ago where a drunk driver ran into someone and killed them. The paper said that the person was either "From" or "of" Santa Barbara. I did a little investigating and found out that in fact the person was here illegally.

This is of course one incident, and I have no more to prove, but the fact of the matter is that because of this I know that there IS a history of covering up the status of ones residency.

Either way, there are forces out there to divide people and these forces are on both the Left and Right. These forces are succeeding at what they are doing.

Is it just too much to ask Mexico to fix its endlessly dysfunctional system, and is it too much to ask the U.S. to quit lowering its expectations for immigrants coming in here?

Connect the dots, it all ties in.

My gosh, mesamike talk about tiny headed! Don't exagerate what I said to make it sound radical and extreme! A typical liberal tactic. No, deporting all illegal immigrants would not stop ALL crime, I did not say that. But maybe it would reduce it 50%! I will accept a ten percent reduction who cares what the number is?? Why should we tolerate ANY crime from people who should not be here?? I will take ANY reduction in crime ANY day! Why won't you? Is crime from citizens of other countries acceptable to you?

And if they are second or third generation US citizens, then they are not illegal are they? I did not suggest that either, what is wrong with you?

And absolutely, if I was born in Mexico I would try to jump the border. I don't blame them one bit! That isn't the issue. Are you saying just because they WANT to be here it is "ok" to come in illegally? Why not let the whole fricken world in then? And then stand back and watch the lifeboat sink so that NOBODY wants to be here, and there is no strong country to help those in need. It is already sinking friend.

And no, my ancestors did NOT do the same thing, they came here LEGALLLY and were screened at Ellis Island and those who were criminals or diseased or mentally ill were sent back! Read your history. Nobody swam across the Atlantic to get here illegally like they do across the Rio Grande. Do you know the difference between legal and illegal immigration yet?
You're an absolute pinheaded moron!

"Nobody said all the crime is from illegal immigrants, but it's a pretty good bet if not, that most of it is from the second or third generation of illegal immigrants." — A Shaw.

My point is that I think you should be "blaming" or at least thinking about the political and economic policies that put people in the position to want to come here illegally, instead of blaming the individuals who do so. If there wasn't a need for cheap foreign labor, they wouldn't be streaming across the border like they are. Have you ever mentioned once the U.S. businesses that hire them?

"Here's some fun reading for all you naive morons" — A Shaw

If you'd like to have an honest debate without the petty belittling, maybe you should refrain from statements like the above. If you want to resort to childish name calling, go for it. Have fun "debating" with yourself.

Sorry mike I just call em like I see 'em. And will continue to do so. If a moron stops acting like a moron I will stop calling him or her such. If they are a naive moron why should I sugarcoat what they are? I always offer substance along with my belittling and reasoning for the belittling. If someone can't defend their moronicity, because of the mental laziness that kept them from thinking things through in the first place, they don't have to. Fair enough? If you can't take it, or get your feelings hurt from being called names, don't hang with me, don't challenge me.

To debate your latest contribution, if there indeed is such a need for cheap foreign labor (I don't know how we ever existed before illegals arrived on the scene) , then what is wrong with a guest visa program and a legal way of allowing temporary workers, who are actually here to work, can prove it (have a job), and aren't just streaming across the border to take advantage of welfare programs, plant a baby, take advantage of health services, lead a life of crime or what ever else?

They also would not be streaming across the border if we didn't tolerate it! Don't blame employers who naturally are going to take advantage of it. This doesn't do the workers any good either, it is in fact modern day slavery and exploitation. If they weren't here, how could the businesses hire them?? Your logic is moronic.

So go cry and take your ball and go home lol

mesamike says:
"A Shaw-

So if I use your brilliant "tiny headed" use of logic, all we need to do is deport all illegal immigrants, including the second and third generations of illegal immigrants (who are US citizens), and crime would magically cease to exist?

So countries that don't have "illegal immigrants" don't have crime?

You sir, are a genius. I think you should run for mayor on that platform. At least whatphotsb would vote for you."

This was not belittling? Not to mention putting words in my mouth as you accused others of doing to you.
Not only are you a moron, you are a hypocrite.

You started it, I ended it, since you left me to debate with myself - I guess that means you give up and I win :) XOXOX

Interesting how mikey took the term "naive moron" to heart even when it wasn't directed to him personally... if the shoe fits wear it I say, otherwise, I'm not talking about you, I was talking to the naive morons..and responding to comments directed to me (by mikey). Is there a new unwritten PC law that everyone has to be "nice" to everybody? Soon it will be legislated, I am quite sure. If you want an honest debate like you call for, then if I honestly think someone is a moron I will honestly say so, if I didn't I would be dishonest.