Note: The following is a guest editorial submitted by Weston Martinez. Occasionally, I will publish editorials submitted by readers to my blog. To be considered for an upcoming issue, please send me your comments in an article fashion on topical topics that I am covering on my blog. Today’s editorial was submitted by Weston Martienz. It originally appeared in the Texas Tribune on September 8, 2016. As I have written many times before, we learn from the perspectives of others. Although I may not agree with someone’s perspective their opinion matters and should be considered in order to have a proper debate. Editorials may not necessarily represent the views of Martin Paredes and are published in their entirety as submitted by the author.
Author: Weston Martinez
“You don’t have a heart.” “You are a racist.” Those are common phrases hurled not just at Donald Trump but also at conservative, Hispanic Republicans like myself who believe a country with no borders is no country at all.
I am not anti-immigrant, but I am against illegal immigration. Both sides of my family entered the country lawfully through the Mexican border and Ellis Island, which as the process goes was much easier than if they had tried to legally dwell in most other countries. It would probably shock many U.S. citizens to know Mexican immigration laws are significantly stricter than those of the United States.
It would also shock many U.S. citizens to know that according to a 2011 Treasury report, “Individuals Who Are Not Authorized to Work in the United States Were Paid $4.2 Billion in Refundable Credits” — up from just $924 million in 2005. Think tanks like The Heritage Foundation have demonstrated an alarming net fiscal deficit from the average undocumented household — which receives just over $14,000 net tax dollars annually in the form of benefits and services rendered after calculating the differing taxes they also pay.
Couple that with data from the Center for Immigration Studies, which estimates that people in the country illegally receive over $100 billion annually from U.S. taxpayers. When you realize the dollar values at issue, it is staggering. When you consider the homeless veterans, our national debt, and the rate at which Social Security is going broke, it’s angering that so many resources are being diverted to people living here without permission.
The past few weeks have been an epic rollercoaster ride in politics. First, during the taping of a town hall with Sean Hannity in Austin a few weeks ago, Trump made his much-quoted remarks about a “softening” of his immigration policy. I had a great seat at the event, and immediately after I reached out to the campaign to advise them that if this new path was adopted it would ensure a loss in November.
Soon after the town hall, moderate, pro-amnesty Republicans began to gloat that Trump was about to listen to the Republican National Committee and make the same mistakes that previous presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain did.
Then, the next week, Trump gave his immigration speech. As details of his plan emerged, I knew that his presidency would not be for sale and wouldn’t be hijacked or held for ransom by outside forces. Trump’s commitment to law and order came through loud and clear, a strong message that will impact the actions of people no matter what side of the border they’re on — whether they’re in Texas, Mexico or Syria.
The United States must have a president that will stand toe to toe with leaders on the world stage and not simply grovel in their presence.
Trump isn’t perfect, and accountability will be necessary to ensure he stays true to his word, but with his immigration speech showing that he won’t be “softening” his position, it could be the launching point for the biggest political comeback speech of modern times.
Trump must now find a way to surround himself with those committed to his immigration policies to ensure proper implementation. To those who have left Trump or called him out for not embracing amnesty, I say you can’t be pro-property rights and pro-amnesty.
If he stays tough on immigration and doesn’t take the path of least resistance, Trump is deserving of my vote — and that of every other red, white and blue constitutional conservative from sea to shining sea.
About Weston Martinez: Weston Martinez is a fourth generation Texas conservative grassroots leader with a history of service to the Republican Party and proven results. Martinez has served as an elected member of the State Republican Executive Committee and is a current Texas Real Estate Commissioner, appointed by Governor Perry and now serving under Governor Abbott. He has advised numerous Republican candidates and elected officials at the state, local and national levels.
He is a leading conservative voice for Hispanics in the United States and has led the fight against voter fraud to ensure ballot integrity in South Texas. He also delivered a rebuttal to Julian Castro’s DNC national convention speech in 2008.
Martinez has been blessed with a diverse professional career including as an oil and gas business development and government affairs strategist. With almost twenty years in the regulated telecommunications industry and now the oil and gas industry, Martinez has a unique pro-business, free market approach and has been successful identifying solutions where others see only problems. Martinez was an NCAA bull rider at Texas A&M Kingsville, and later Wayland Baptist University where he earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Martinez can be contacted via Twitter at @WestonMartinez.
I’m happy this blog was posted. Not all Hispanics, such as him, or myself are liberals or like to deviate from set laws and/or the Constitution/Federalist Papers. Our country, the USA, was founded as a Republic; not a Democracy. Thanks for posting this–mainstream media paints an incorrect picture only showing those Hispanics whom are against Trump, hardly ever those who are FOR Trump.
I think a lot of things about Government are just about streets and sewers and safety. Clinton has the experience of 30 years in those not so sexy things about Government. Trump has 0. While our 20T debt is crushing, we just like Japan [and just like the King of Debt] manage it fairly well.
The world is a smaller interconnected village. What the Central Banks are doing worldwide printing money is a global issue, that will effect us weather we are in the front or tail end of the domino.
There is only so much any President can do with a Congress. At least Clinton has been there and knows HOW to listen to advisers.
Trump is his own worst enemy, the election IS HIS to lose.
Carl, Americans love the political theatre that demagogues provide but they rarely elect them. So you can rest assured there will be another Clinton presidency which will probably mark the end of the America we both grew up in.
Carl, don’t always agree but enjoy another perspective.
Hillary has experience but so do a lot of people and there are a lot unsuccessful people. Experience is great when one can point to accomplishments.
At this point many are so tired of the same old bs and willing to try something new just like we did with the President. She and the President already stated she would be a part two of his policies. Not impressed with his policies but we gave him an opportunity to lead.
The interesting part is Hillary and the President spent months and making the point that each other were not not qualified, incompetent, etc. Now we hear the exact opposite. So were they lying then or lying now ?
Give him enough rope and he will hang himself.
This is a ltter/opinion of mine printed in the home edition of the EPT I think it was in the 9/16 issue but it might have been a day or two earlier or later that it ran:
The commentary by Weston Martinez (a self described Hispanic Republican supporter of Trump) reflects the Trump pattern of asserting something is factual when – in fact – it is either false or minimally true. He wrote that individuals who are not authorized to work in the US/illegals, received 4.2 billion in refundable credits. These were Child Tax Credits (CTC)
True. But common sense and statistics reveal the vast majority of these children are US citizens who are thus helped by this allowable refund. Also, reliable studies show that these same workers pay around 12 billion in state and local taxes (1-1.5 billion in Texas) and billions more are paid in federal taxes including into Social Security and Medicare and Workman’s Comp accounts for which these payers will never see a cent in benefits. Texas, as well as the rest of the country tolerated and looked the other way, encouraged workers from Mexico to come here and do jobs few Americans would do. For decades we enticed them. And for cheap politics they are now demonized as the source of all of our problems. Mr Martinez (like Trump) hits below the belt with mis facts that are either totally false or are greatly misleading and that inflame the right wing angry base who will never fact check (nor want to) their accuracy.
As a side, he tosses in some senseless comments about having a president who does not “grovel” in the presence of other world leaders. Typical red meat baseless hyperbole suggesting a draft dodging Trump is somehow a tough guy now. These type of repeat the mistruths supporters are what Trump relishes
thank, you, ronald hennes. well said. the misguided “hispanics” who romanticized about trump and helped put him in office must truly be delighted by the acumen of his cabinet, which has made america a laughing stock, and his spokes people who refuse to answer media questions but insist on defending a vulgarian, sexist contemptible bully and a boor who is a draft dodger to boot.