Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach spoke on the economic and security effects of illegal immigration during the KU School of Business' annual J.A. Vickers Sr. and Robert F. Vickers Memorial Lecture Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at the Lied Center.
Members of the group Lawrence Action Network for Diversity and other community members hold a peaceful protest outside the Lied Center, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach spoke about illegal immigration during the KU School of Business' annual J.A. Vickers Sr. and Robert F. Vickers Memorial Lecture at the Lied Center.
Kris Kobach: Questions and answers
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach spoke to an audience at the Lied Center Tuesday evening as part of the Vickers Memorial Lecture Series. Kobach answered some submitted questions following his lecture.
Hundreds of Kris Kobach critics waited outside the Lied Center on Kansas University’s West Campus on Tuesday evening to let him know what they thought of his work with anti-immigration legislation.
Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, lectured as part of the J.A. Vickers Sr. and Robert F. Vickers Sr. Memorial Lecture Series.
Kobach is known nationally for his work in helping to draft the Arizona anti-immigration policy, which has been called the most broad and strict policy at the state level. Since taking office in January, he has focused on introducing similar legislation in Kansas focused on immigration policy and voter fraud. His lecture Tuesday was titled, “State and Local Laws Discouraging Illegal Immigration: Their Economic and Security Impact.”
Bill Dymacek was among the members of the outdoor crowd, many of whom held signs in protest of the Kansas Secretary of State.
“This immigration thing is just the smoke screen in my opinion,” Dymacek said. “I’d have more respect for him if he’d be honest about it and just say this is a chance to get fewer minorities to vote because they tend to vote more Democratic and it’s more votes for Republicans.”
While the crowd engaged in chants such as “No hate in my state,” “Educate don’t discriminate” and “No one is illegal,” the participants remained peaceful. Members of the Lawrence Action Network for Diversity were trying to educate those attending the lecture on the bigger picture.
“We’re well overdue for a big policy change,” group member Tanya Golash-Boza said. “What’s happened is states have taken it up, which is not a good idea. We certainly don’t want to waste money on something the federal government needs to take a stand on and figure out a way to legalize.”
Inside the Lied Center, there was much more support for Kobach’s ideas and proposed legislation. Kobach talked about the actions he believes states should be taking on immigration issues. He also touched on what makes states successful in implementing those actions as well as the legal ramifications of such legislation. Kobach, who is Ivy League educated, also cited numerous state statistics on illegal immigration in Kansas, highlighting what he believes to be the serious issues.
Among those numbers, Kobach said an estimated 70,000 illegal aliens currently reside in the Sunflower State. He called Kansas a “destination state” and a “passage state” for illegal immigration. Kobach also addressed issues of financial ramifications endured both by allowing illegal immigrants to stay and returning them to their home countries.
“We’re at a dangerous point in this country,” Kobach said. “But the struggle is a long way from finished.”
The attendees inside the Lied Center, a mix of Kobach supporters and critics, listened intently to his message and his answers to questions submitted by those in attendance.
Jim Hermesh, along with his wife, Laurie, and son C.J., sported shirts supporting the elected state official.
“We support Kris because he speaks the simple truth,” Hermesh said. “There are a lot of people that feel very passionately. If your mind is closed because of ideologies or whatever reason, there’s no hope for you.”
Tuesday night’s lecture was the 42nd in the Vickers Memorial Lecture Series. The event was hosted by the KU School of Business.
Comments
carrwatt 2 years, 11 months ago
How much money is it costing the people of Kansas? What happens to Kansas when illegals flee surrounding states that are trying to enforce immigration laws? Too many Kansans are already competing for jobs from illegals, what has happened to this great nation when they support illegal aliens over Americans?
All for Immigrants, do it legally!
Kasha 3 years ago
Kobach needs a reality check. I am sure there are already businesses set up to provide phony IDs for voters just as there are for providing illegals Social Security Cards, birth certificates, Driver's Licenses, etc.. When are our "representatives" going to understand what is going on in the USA and when are they going to learn that raising our taxes won't solve problems THEY are creating!
AthenaGrace 3 years ago
Foppa, I too always listen for the sources or try to dig them up afterwards when a speaker makes claims I haven't personally witnessed or previously studied. In this case, Kobach took the less wordy way out and said check it out for yourself, you can find it on Google. The problem is the original story is becoming dated and Google is not as good as it used to be; personally I'm finding it harder and harder to get good results when I used to be very good at finding credible information using Google and in this case it took a bit more digging than it did the last time I checked the story out, but the sources proving Kobach's story to be factual are out there and were findable in less than 10 minutes once I had enough key words in my search.
Here's an original of the story from 2008: http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/01/16/74193-sonoran-officials-slam-sanctions-law-in-tucson-visit/
Here's the AP story from 2008: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0116az-delegations16-on.html
Here's what Snopes had to say (Snopes says it's true and gives sources): http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/mexicoangry.asp
foppa 3 years ago
I sat through what his speech and I never ONCE heard an "according to (insert governmental or independent research institution)" He DID say a lot of facts that he never backed up with a source. Yet, people think that he is telling the truth? It is disappointing that people don't bother asking where he gets his facts. In the talk, for example, he was telling a story about government officials from the state of Sonora, Mexico coming to Arizonan officials and telling them to stop the law because too many people were going back to Mexico and they couldn't handle that. He told the people "its true, google it." I googled it and found NO SUCH STORY from a credible source. I found a few nationalist web sites that mentioned it but I looked in English and Spanish newspapers and found nothing. THAT STORY IS NOT TRUE. Yet, people there stood up and clapped for lies. I am sure they think they are hearing the facts, which is the saddest thing of all. He also mentioned that Mexico is poor because of its corruption and that is true. No doubt that the Mexican government, from the president to the mayor in the smallest towns, are all corrupt. But there are numbers that link NAFTA to the poverty of Mexican farmers. Farmers that then come to America to work. The message of his talk, I thought, was pretty clear: The United States government has the duty to protect and act in the behalf of US Citizens... unless they happen to be born to illegal immigrants. In which case, they can just go back to Mexico (or whatever other country) and go to school there and then come back when they are 18 and have the same opportunities as everyone else (he literally said this).
ochocinco 3 years ago
Congratualtions to the LJW. Instead of beginning the article with the subject Mr. Kobach, you decide the protesters are more important. If the story would have been about an pro-illegal immigration march, would you have begun the story with 7 paragraphs about the Minutemen?
As someone who attended, I can tell you Kobach gave a rational, factual, powerful speech arguing why illegal immigration must be stopped. I have yet to hear one good argument why non-citizen illegals should have any claim to American citizenship, protections, jobs, welfare services, etc.
tange 3 years ago
"Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach defends stance on illegal immigration at Lied Center"
Geez. Brevity. "Kobach Lied"
Brittanicus 3 years ago
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) has introduced a bill (H.R.1274) titled "Keeping the Pledge on Immigration Act of 2011" that would increase border security and strengthen interior enforcement. Among the bill’s provisions this legislation would: 1. Will provide up to 4,000 additional national guard troops patrolling the southern border; 2. Will reaffirm language mandating “operational control” of the border as defined in the 2006 Secure Fence Act; 3. Will provide double and even triple layer fencing by September 30, 2014; 4. Will provide additional visa security screening for high risk visas including in-person interviews and data sharing. America is importing poverty at an accelerating rate and billions of dollars are being bled from every American State.
In the report, Ed Rubenstein, president of ESR Research and a former director of research at the Hudson Institute, reveals that the IRS knowingly allows illegal aliens to defraud taxpayers by getting cash through EITC payments of up to $5,750 for a family of five. The IRS also refuses to implement recommendations from its own Inspector General’s office that could stop massive EITC fraud that costs taxpayers as much as $13 billion a year. Read the complete report at
http://www.thesocialcontract.com/
This is another reason all--AMERICANS, NATURALIZED CITIZENS AND LEGAL RESIDENTS SHOULD LOCATE AND JOIN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS IN THIS GATHERING STORM AGAINST LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES, OPEN BORDER LOBBYISTS. GAIN MORE FACTS AT NumbersUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH FIGHTING FOR LESSER GOVERNMENT; SECURE BORDERS, REMOVAL OF CORRUPT POLITICIANS TO SAVE OUR NATION.
DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT! HE ISN"T GOING TO ROB US BLIND LIKE OTHER POLITICIANS! UNLIKE OBAMA AND GOP THIS POTENTIAL LEADER WILL RENEGOTIATE ALL SO-CALLED FREE TRADE TREATIES, SPECIFICALLY WITH CHINA AND MEXICO.
Brittanicus 3 years ago
COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU..?
Every State that doesn't invest in the constraint of illegal immigration enforcement, is going to be invaded across their state borders. In the frontier state of Arizona that is battling the Dept of InJustice, the Liberal Court system, the open border crackpots as they try save the State from economic collapse, because foreign nationals stealing jobs, stealing entitlement and literary paying nothing into the State coffers. Even Kansas is not exempt from illegal immigration occupation in- volume, as countless numbers will arrive there as Secretary of State Kris Kobach admits. It been proven beyond the shadow of doubt, that other than the TEA PARTY caucus, politicians feel they have no responsibility to slam shut our borders. This is an accurate assessment when president Obama's Leftist backing allows drug and people smuggling allow Mexican trucks go into operation throughout our nation. All free Trade markets agreements are completely unfair to the American people. Our president promised to straighten these unfair treaties, so we have a level playing field; this still hasn't happened.
California's notoriety is being labeled THE Sanctuary State, that just as Nevada, Arizona have been drowned in debt so is California with a $26 billion dollar deficit. It has been brought on partially by uncontrolled illegal immigration and the drying up of public welfare entitlements, meant for legitimate Americans and residents.
WAKE UP AMERICA! DON'T LET THE ARROGANT POLITICIANS RAISE THE $14 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT CEILING. DON'T LET THE US TREASURY PRINT MORE MONEY? WE NEED A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT; OTHERWISE RADICAL LIBERALS WILL HAVE US BORROWING EVEN MORE FROM FOREIGN NATIONS AND INVESTORS.
Like most promises of politicians, they are full of hot air. Even before Obama came to power with his Leftist progressive Czars, previous administrations have ignored the invasions from foreign countries. If they had been serious about stopping illegal aliens flooding this country, they would have made it a felony to enter? They would have constructed the--REAL--double fencing at the border and deploying the Nation Guard. The TEA PARTY will enact a bill to build the double border fence and push hard to enforce a permanent E-Verify, for every American worker; all long time employees or new hire. Nobody in the jurisdiction of United States will be exempt, with the full force of the law coming down on dirty business. In addition "Secure Communities" should be the law of the land, to detect immediately the hundreds of thousands of illegal alien criminals amongst us. Everybody--no matter who is being processed for an infraction or Felony, should be fingerprinted and if illegal, loaded into a ICE van.
Floyd Craig 3 years ago
if he gets them to cut down on so many of them from being here then most who live in kansas will have a job plus welfare wont have so many to support
Flap Doodle 3 years ago
Shiny side out, lounger.
lounger 3 years ago
Kobach is a scary dude. He is a racist! I tried to talk to him in south park years ago while he was walking to his car and he would even look at me! We were the only ones there!! I asked him about his buddy, buddy relationship with Dick Chaney and he was an a*s for sure. Looks like nothing has changed....
Clara Westphal 3 years ago
Who do you suppose is paying for the benefits illegals receive? You and I that's who.
number1jayhawker 3 years ago
This is the bottom line. If there are laws put in place, then they have to be upheld.
You can not pick choose which laws you obide by and which ones you don't.
melott 3 years ago
Actually, I think a lot of people are in favor of illegal immigration. Churches that will get more business from the dominant group. Employers who can get cheap illegal labor. Some politicians who will get the votes of the dominant group.
I am classified as a liberal on most things. I voted for Kobach because of his stand on this issue, even though I disagree with him on nearly everything else. Having excess population dumped in this country will rapidly ruin it. Forget about trying to conserve resources if you have runaway population increase.
deathpenaltyliberal 3 years ago
"jhawkinsf (anonymous) says… Is it O.K. if I cheat on my taxes? Can a driver with a good record decide to drive without insurance? Blah, blah, blah, lame "straw man" argument", Is it O.K. if I argue like a grade schooler?"
If you can't stick to the issue, don't bother posting. Nobody is in favor of illegal immigration. The problem is Kobach's feel-good legislation to appease the simple-minded like you, while not having any real impact on the problem.
Hong_Kong_Phooey 3 years ago
So the federal government needs to "take a stand and figure out a way to legalize it"? Um, I'm pretty sure that immigration IS legal -- you just have to enter the country through the proper channels, not a river channel. Additionally, the United States is incapable of supporting everyone that wants to escape their craphole country for ours. That is just the fact of the matter.
jackbinkelman 3 years ago
k.k.; Pure politician, and I am being kind.
deathpenaltyliberal 3 years ago
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Bingoj1 3 years ago
I have no problem with an immigrant who comes here the legal way. If we are not going to enforce our immigration laws, then why have them? Why should someone be rewarded for breaking the law? And they are rewarded because they can get driver's licenses, send their kids to school, etc. If you want to be respected and enjoy the rights and freedoms of the United States, then don't start things off by coming over here illegally. It's not about hate, it's about upholding a law that prohibits people from coming here illegally.
Brian Hall 3 years ago
Listened to the entire interview. Kobach spoke too fast and he once again never gave actual examples of what he is fighting against just what-if and probable scenarios.
nugget 3 years ago
Klown.
There is no illegal immigration voting problem. All a bunch of silly smoke and mirrors poorly educated Western Kansans gobble up and a line of baloney that makes educated Republicans chuckle at the stupidity of the electorate that put him in office.
Where are his efforts really directed? At high paying out-of-state "consulting" jobs. Talk about your government waste. Kobach is the definition of it.
ststoff 3 years ago
We just can not afford open borders.
Census: Most illegal alien families on government dole April 6th, 2011 3:15 pm ET
Jim Kouri Law Enforcement Examiner The latest Census Bureau data reveals that most U.S. families headed by illegal immigrants use taxpayer-funded welfare programs on behalf of their American-born anchor babies, according to a public-interest group that investigates government corruption and fraud. Even before the recession, immigrant households with children used welfare programs at consistently higher rates than natives, according to the extensive census data collected and analyzed by the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonpartisan Washington D.C.
Among the CIS findings: The study focused on eight major welfare programs that cost the government $517 billion the year they were examined. They include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the disabled, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), a nutritional program known as Women, Infants and Children (WIC), food stamps, free/reduced school lunch, public housing and health insurance for the poor (Medicaid).
In 2009 (based on data collected in 2010), 57 percent of households headed by an immigrant (legal and illegal) with children (under 18) used at least one welfare program, compared to 39 percent for native households with children
We estimate that 52 percent of households with children headed by legal immigrants used at least one welfare program in 2009, compared to 71 percent for illegal immigrant households with children. Illegal immigrants generally receive benefits on behalf of their U.S.-born children.
yourworstnightmare 3 years ago
Kobach has made tidy sum of money with him anti-immigration consulting.
plainspeaking 3 years ago
Not to change the subject, but is Kobach serving as Kansas' Secretary of State or Attorney General? He may be confused about his job description.
MyName 3 years ago
This is not about illegal voting. It is about Kobach's quest for higher office and personal gain. It's not even Rove tactics. This is straight out of Nixon's playbook only instead of Civil Rights law ("the blacks are taking over and gonna ruin our country if you don't vote for me"), you've got Immigration law ("the latinos are gonna take over and ruin our country if you don't vote for me").
New Flash: this country is bigger than any one group, and it's certainly bigger than Kobach. It's going to be just find so we don't need to waste time passing laws that protect us against problems that don't exist just so we can feel better about whatever it is Kobach is trying to scare us with.
douglas6280 3 years ago
At least Kobach stands up and faces his critics and doesn't hide like, well Dennis Moore or the Dems in Wisconsin...
ferrislives 3 years ago
All I have to says is, try entering Mexico illegally. They wouldn't accept you kindly; you'd be deported, as others found out the hard way!
Paul R Getto 3 years ago
"e_michelle_02 (anonymous) says… Why don't we hold the businesses that employ illegal immigrants accountable instead of the illegal immigrants themselves?" === http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigrat... Here's the answer; this law is not being enforced, at least the part that holds employers accountable.
Elaine Elliott 3 years ago
Why don't we hold the businesses that employ illegal immigrants accountable instead of the illegal immigrants themselves? They wouldn't be coming here if there wasn't work available. Companies are making money off of them b/c they don't have to offer them health insurance and all the other perks that go along with having a work visa. The problem starts with the businesses that employ undocumented people.
andreainkansas 3 years ago
Kobach, as usual, was a bad joke of misinformation and outright lies. The Obama administration has decided to not prioritize enforcement, he said? There have been more deportations under the Obama administration than in any other administration in history. That, Mr. Kobach, is a fact. I know you try to avoid them at all cost, because they cost you votes.
LJ Whirled 3 years ago
Illegal Immigrants = a subclass of humans living in the shadows, neither expected to obey the law nor afforded equal protection of law --- in effect, economic slaves and social non-entities.
But, hey! We might be making money off 'em, so what the heck, eh?
Paul R Getto 3 years ago
Like most complex issues, simple, ideological answers do not cut it. For example: "Professor of Law Francine Lipman writes that the belief that illegal migrants are exploiting the US economy and that they cost more in services than they contribute to the economy is "undeniably false". Lipman asserts that "undocumented immigrants actually contribute more to public coffers in taxes than they cost in social services" and "contribute to the U.S. economy through their investments and consumption of goods and services; filling of millions of essential worker positions resulting in subsidiary job creation, increased productivity and lower costs of goods and services; and unrequited contributions to Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance programs." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic... ======== Clearly, undocumented workers cost us, but there are benefits too, mainly cheap labor and some goods delivered at far below the cost required for "Real Americans" to do the work, assuming the companies would hire them and pay above slave-rate wages and benefits. If your average high school dropout would move to TX or CA and pick fruit for a 'livng wage' and stick with it, things might work out. Food would cost perhaps 2-3 times what it does, but if that's what people want, go for it.
bchap 3 years ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
BABBOY 3 years ago
Did not read the story. (same story different verse)
Did not read the post (do not have to, same crap depending on the poster)
All I did is look at the picture
Kobach is losing it. He looks stressed out.
If he cannot handle the stress of lame job like SOS, I wonder what makes this guy think he is qualifed for AG or Gov....
He looks like his eyes are going to explode.....
jjt 3 years ago
My concern is for the children of illegals. Those of us who have kids (teens) know that they are not up to filing all the paperwork to try and get themsleves to be allowed to stay. At the same time if they do they are effectivley outing their parent/s. It does not seem fair to just dump them aged 10 /15 or what ever in a foreign country with a different language with no support. I do not support the concept of folk just coming here illegally but there needs to be a workable system (that means, that works) to help those who are in trouble because of someone else's actions. Surely we got that lesson already.
How about bring the troops home and use them to patrol the borders top and bottom.
Kontum1972 3 years ago
the name Kobach doesnt sound american.... and there are alot of americans who dont want to work....they just use the system.
Kontum1972 3 years ago
Kobach is a german name....hmmmm....so who is next on the profiling list? You know if J. Edgar Hoover was around "Kobach" wouldnt be where he is right now politically. LoL!
LJ Whirled 3 years ago
Illegal Immigrants = Latter Day Slaves
Matt Needham 3 years ago
If you hire them they will come. It seems to me that concentrating on getting American citizens back to work would solve several problems.
Bob_Keeshan 3 years ago
Kansas is a "destination state" for illegal immigrants.
And...
Kansas is a "passage state" for illegal immigrants.
What a joke. It is surprising this guy always appears to slim, as he clearly is committed to having his cake and eating it too.
jhawkinsf 3 years ago
Is it O.K. if I cheat on my taxes? Can a driver with a good record decide to drive without insurance? Can someone blow past a stop sign at 3:00 am, what are the chances someone will be in that intersection at that time? What's the harm in someone smoking a little pot? They can certainly decide it's O.K. to sell some to my teen, right? Is it O.K. for someone to enter a country without the permission of that country? Is it O.K. for an employer to knowingly hire an illegal immigrant? The point is that we have laws. There are, and should be consequences if you break the law. We cannot go around deciding which laws we have to obey and which laws we can break. If you do not like the laws, work to change them. If you believe the laws are so onerous that you cannot live with them, go to a place where the laws are less onerous.
Mike Ford 3 years ago
bd, maybe you can be like michelle "crazy" bachmann and claim that lexington and concord happened in new hampshire. dumb tper's.....
bd 3 years ago
tea anyone??
stupid liberals!
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years ago
“We support Kris because he speaks the simple truth,” Hermesh said. “There are a lot of people that feel very passionately. If your mind is closed because of ideologies or whatever reason, there’s no hope for you.”
Don't be so pessimistic, Jim. There is hope that you'll recover from your xenophobia, and the willful ignorance which it feeds. But you'll have to push yourself away from Fox News.
distant_voice 3 years ago
I absolutely believe we should throw open the gates to our country and allow anyone in. I also believe we should make the people who support this idea responsible for 100% of the costs associated with supporting illegal immigrants. I also believe that we hold this same group of people responsible for 100% of the crime illegal immigrants commit, including fines, prison time, and restitution. The basis of any successful society is responsibility. if the people who support this concept accept the FULL responsibility, then by all means, let 'em in.
Flap Doodle 3 years ago
You guys botched the first paragraph. "Hundreds of Kris Kobach critics waited outside the Lied Center on Kansas University’s West Campus on Tuesday evening to let him know what they thought of his work with anti-illegal-alien legislation. " There, I fixed it for you.
Paul R Getto 3 years ago
Did the Unicorns protest as well?
DeaconBlue 3 years ago
Lawbreakers are lawbreakers. Cherry picking the ones Democrats like and don't like is too expensive.
Fine the people who hire them. This is another Big Mac moment of Vertigo's. Is it the Big Mac's fault or those that make the Big Mac. I know the millions of Democrats that don't work and live of others tax dollars can eat Big Macs. But will they make them?
TJ_in_Lawrence 3 years ago
It's funny that the protestors held signs that said "no hate in my state" and yet the majority of the protestors and the posters on this site obviously hate Kobach.
TJ_in_Lawrence 3 years ago
Hmmmmm maybe you can't remember because it didn't happen? Facts please not wishes And dreams.
somebodynew 3 years ago
And I just read yesterday (can't remember where) that an Appeals Court has upheld the stay of enforcement on the majority of his Arizona law, stating that there is a good chance the Feds will be able to prove it unconstitutional - just like most of the ones he has written.
And he makes big $$$ off of this- - what a scam he has going, and he gets paid for being an elected official, wow.
And appleaday has it correct. The easiest way to handle this would be to fine the people who hire them. Somehow I don't think that is going to happen, and I mean under either party, but especially the Rs.
autie 3 years ago
KKobach = Major Loser. He confuses his job duties with other elected officials who apparently are smart enough to not waste their time chasing windmills.
ivalueamerica 3 years ago
how much money are governments in fiscal crisis spending defending his unconstitutional laws?
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