COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • JULY 3, 2018 •
3A
Betty Kaiser’s Chatter Box: Immigration needs wisdom of Solomon
Betty Kaiser
“On the 4th of July, my
patriotic heart beats red,
white and blue.”
T
his quote (source un-
known) pretty much
sums up how I feel
every year on the anniversa-
ry of the signing of the Dec-
laration of Independence.
As a proud American cit-
izen, I am also saddened by
the current asylum/immigra-
tion situation in our beloved
country. It’s a mess. We were
not prepared to deal with the
thousands of people wanting
to cross our borders illegally
for work and family safety.
We have never seen any-
thing of this magnitude. Th is
children situation is worthy
of the wisdom of Solomon.
Th e Declaration of Inde-
pendence (for the most part)
does not address immigra-
tion. Th e document is pro-
foundly basic: Life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
if you don’t do anything il-
legal or violate the rights of
others.
When this was written
in 1776, it is estimated there
were about 2.5 million peo-
ple living in the 13 colonies.
Th ey probably never envi-
sioned a nation of 327 mil-
lion residents.
Undocumented
immi-
grants have always tested
our entry rules but now we
have a lot of unhappy U.S.
citizens doing the same. Th e
uproar is over the separation
of undocumented immigrant
families. As I sat mulling
over recent headlines, I won-
dered how our founding fa-
thers would respond to this
dilemma. I also realized how
little I know about immigra-
tion laws in the U.S. or other
countries.
My husband and I were
50-year residents and busi-
ness owners in California We
employed Mexican workers
who were holders of green
cards issued by the U.S. To
be a resident and work in this
country (legally) one needs
a green card proving their
identity and status.
As employers, we knew
that we would get in trouble
if we hired undocumented
employees. Th ey complied
and so did we.
Suddenly, immigration
is a hot news topic all over
the world. I haven’t thought
much about green card hold-
ers and illegal immigration
since moving to Oregon.
Now, thousands of people
from war-torn, gang rid-
den or famine situations are
leaving their homelands and
seeking refuge for safe living
in other countries every-
where.
So, I Googled a few ques-
tions to gain a current per-
spective on immigration
here and around the world.
Th e top 10 countries ac-
cepting the most immigrants
in 2015:
• Th e United States,
1,051,000
• Germany, 686,000
Th e United Kingdom,
378,800
• Canada, 271,800
• France, 256,500
• Australia, 226,22
• Spain, 194,900
• Italy, 160,900
•
Th e
Netherlands,
146,800
• Switzerland, 131,000.
According to the U.S.
News, our 1,051,000 fi gure
does not include migration
to the U.S. by other means.
We are the top country for
immigration in the world.
We are also the top refugee
resettlement country with
most refugees coming from
Myanmar, Iraq, Somalia,
the Democratic Republic of
Congo and Bhutan.
Our foreign-born popula-
tion is 13.3 percent.
Immigration deals with
the transit of people across
borders but especially those
that intend to work and stay
in that country. Rules are dif-
ferent everywhere but always
confusing.
Th e U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Act (INA)
provides for the U.S., an
annual worldwide limit of
675,000 permanent immi-
grants, with some exceptions
for close family members.
Legal immigrants to the
U.S. number about 1,000,000
per year of whom about
600,000 are already in the
U.S. Th e total legal immi-
grants living here are now at
their highest level ever — just
over 37 million.
Th ere are also about 11
million undocumented im-
migrants living in the U.S.
Th e American Immigration
Council says that — both
documented and undocu-
mented — contribute billions
of dollars in taxes every year.
If you are from a foreign
country you must have a Per-
manent Resident or Green
Card to live and work in the
U.S. A green card is a photo
ID permit that allows you to
stay here as long as you want.
You may also apply for a So-
cial Security Number.
Th ere is a diff erence be-
tween a green card and a
visa. With a visa, your per-
manent residence is outside
the U.S. It is a temporary pass
for a specifi c period of time.
In both visa and green cards,
you remain the citizen of an-
other country.
Th erefore, you do not
have the rights of a U.S. cit-
izen. i.e. to vote in elections,
apply for a U.S. passport, etc.
Th ere are also serious conse-
quences for criminal behav-
ior.
Th ere is so much more
to say about this subject
but these are the answers
that helped me understand
the basics of immigration.
I could fi nd no mandates to
separate families. I hope this
has been helpful to you as we
go down this path of uncer-
tainty.
Despite our problems, we
are blessed to live in Amer-
ica. Together, like genera-
tions before us, we can work
through the uncertainties of
this era with grit and deter-
mination; respect for the law
and diff erent opinions while
helping others and our coun-
try.
We can also pray for the
wisdom of Solomon.
God bless America!
Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at 942-1317 or
email bchatty@bettykaiser.
com.
Cottage Grove Foundation awards nearly $100,000 in local scholarships
Th e graduating classes of
Cottage Grove High School
and Al Kennedy High School
were recognized for their
achievements, congratulated
by family and community
members and awarded near-
ly $100,000 worth of schol-
arships as part of their fi nal
senior year activities.
CGHS students received
awards a part of a Scholar-
ship Night prior to gradua-
tion and Kennedy students
received their awards as part
of their graduation ceremo-
ny.
Th e Cottage Grove Com-
munity Foundation has
provided 861 scholarships
valued at a total of $867,680
since they formed 17 years
ago in 2002. Th e foundation
hopes to eventually be able
to provide at least one schol-
arship for every graduating
student in the South Lane
School District who plans to
continue their education be-
yond high school.
Meet
RAY
MORELOCK
Ray joined the service team
at Brad’s in 2010 and is the
Detail Manager. Ray is lifelong
resident of Cottage Grove and
in his free time he enjoys yard
work, fi shing and camping. Stop
in and say Hi.
Th is year the foundation
awarded 81 scholarships
with a total value of $96,550.
Most of the scholarships
awarded each year are fund-
ed through endowment
funds created by various
donors through the Cottage
Grove Community Founda-
tion.
Recipients and donors
are listed on the Community
Foundation’s website at www.
cgcfoundation.org
Th e recipients of this
year's scholarships are from
Cottage Grove High School
and Kennedy High School.
Th e Cottage Grove Com-
munity Foundation would
like to congratulate:
Chelsea
Armstrong,
Chandler Bascue, Sydney
Boxberger, Katie Calkins,
Serena Colbert, Tanner Coo-
per, Faryn Dahlen, Hayley
Evans, Spencer Falk, Keiara
Faville, Brenna Feigles, Soleil
Gordon, Jordan Hagewood,
Trey Husko, Kate Johns,
Markus Julien, Raymond
(Cooper) Ladd, Cassidy Lus-
son, Wyatt Lyda, Daniel Ma-
geo, Hayle Maitia, Ashlynn
Maudlin, Katherine Moreno,
Michala Morris, Larah Muel-
ler, Justin Munsell, Dana
Nelson, Jackson Perkins, Jo-
sef Pifer, Amber Sherman,
Sophie Somerville, Melissa
Spicer, Benjamin Vaughn
and Miranda Wright.
Several renewable schol-
arships were also awarded to
prior recipients who are still
enrolled in post high school
education programs.
Th is year’s renewable
scholarship recipients are all
former CGHS School stu-
dents: Scott Anderson, Jus-
tin Bennett, Luke Bennett,
Carrie Calkins, Carol Crum,
Erin Foreman, Kale’a Gal-
breath, Ronan Hall, Abigail
Ladd, and Clover Rudicel.
Anyone seeking informa-
tion on how to support lo-
cal scholarships or create an
endowment can visit www.
cgcfoundation.org or contact
the Cottage Grove Commu-
nity Foundation at 541-942-
0014.
Another dental visit?
Turns out, you have better things
to do with your time.
CLIP & SAVE • CLIP & SAVE • CLIP & SAVE
OIL CHANGE
SPECIAL
$19.95
up to 6 qts of oil
Gas Engines Only.
Excludes Diesel Engines,Dexos & Synthetic Oils
With this coupon offer good through 7/31/18
Not Valid with any other offer.
We know your time is valuable. That's why we've invested in CEREC
Service Now Open Saturdays 8am-5pm
541-942-4415
2775 Row River Rd. • Cottage Grove
www.bradschevy.com
technology that allows for a faster experience when you need crowns,
fillings or veneers. With CEREC, there's usually no need for a temporary
and return visit. Everything is done in one visit, in about an hour -
leaving more time for whatever is important to you.
Implants •Teeth Whitening • Extractions • Lumineers (no prep veneers as seen on TV)
Cottage Grove Dental
Dr. Brent Bitner, DDS
350 Washington, Cottage Grove
(behind Better Bodies)
942-7934
CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems.