Letter to the editor: Why would USD want to be a sanctuary campus?

I recently read an article featured in The Volante. A senator of USD’s Student Government Association, Josh Arens, sponsored a bill that would make the University of South Dakota a “Sanctuary Campus.”

He is also quoted as saying, “No alternative facts, don’t listen to those that say it does call for illegal action.”

An “undocumented” immigrant is an illegal immigrant, and I’d encourage Josh to Google ‘8 USC section 1324.’ This will help him understand that it is illegal for anyone to “knowingly conceal, harbor, or shield undocumented aliens.”

Anyone who violates this code is subject to a fine, and no more than 10 years imprisonment, or both. I ask Josh, will the university be responsible for paying this fine, and who will serve the potential prison time?

I’d also like to point out the financial impact illegal immigrants have on the tax paying citizens of South Dakota.

In 2013, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal immigrants cost South Dakota taxpayers $33 million.

“Well, illegal immigrants pay taxes too!” Sure, they paid $1 million in taxes for 2013, a $32 million deficit for legal taxpayers.

South Dakota taxpayers provided illegal immigrants with $16 million for education, $3.5 million for healthcare, $4 million for law enforcement, $3.5 million for public assistance and $6 million in government services. It is not fair that taxpayers are on the hook for illegal immigrants, and the university should not promote this illegal activity.

The information above is fact, and it is far from alternative. Protecting undocumented immigrants is illegal, it puts a burden on South Dakota taxpayers and it undermines immigrants who have gone through the process the right way, and gained their citizenship legally.

Ryan Saeger, USD MBA student