Sometimes good news comes from the unlikeliest of places.  This time, the good news comes from Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.

Last week I wrote about a letter the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, wrote to Chertoff regarding the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to round up illegal aliens in his city.  In the letter, Villaraigosa complained that work-site raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have ’severe and long-lasting effects’ on the local economy.

Well, it seems Mr. Chertoff has replied to the Mayor’s letter (and to a slew of other complaints coming from business, as well).  From the Associated Press:

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he feels the pain of employers pinched by intensified efforts to control illegal immigration, but adds that until Congress enacts broad immigration reforms they shouldn’t expect any changes in enforcement.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chertoff said this week that the rising complaints from businesses offer some evidence the Bush administration’s approach is working.

‘This is harsh but accurate proof positive that, for the first time in decades, we’ve succeeded in changing the dynamic and (are) actually beginning to reduce illegal immigration,’ Chertoff said. ‘Unfortunately, unless you counterbalance that with a robust system to allow people to come in temporarily and legally, you’re going to wind up with an economic problem.’

Chertoff defended the actions of his agency, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

‘We’re enforcing the law as it is, but Congress has not yet given us the authority to really expand the temporary worker program,’ he said in the Tuesday interview. ‘If we could do that, then most of these businesses could find legal solutions.’

Chertoff sharply criticized businesses that complain the crackdowns on their hiring of illegal immigrants will cost them money. In a federal court case last year, groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued that the department had failed to account for the economic impact of new regulations on businesses.

The argument ‘basically suggests we can’t enforce the law because it will prevent people from making money illegally,’ Chertoff said. ‘The business community loves it (hiring illegal immigrants) because you have illegals, you pay them less, they have no place to go to complain.’

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wrote Chertoff a letter last month asking federal officials to rethink their policy on workplace immigration crackdowns, saying they could have ‘severe and lasting effects on our local economy.’  [Emphasis gleefully added by me.]

So Chertoff finally grew a pair; he finally told the open borders crowd and the business community what they can do with their whining.  And at last the Federal government has placed the broader rights and interests of regular American citizens (not to mention the integrity of our American borders) above the selfish interests of illegal aliens and business accountants.  What a breath of fresh air.

As for Villaraigosa’s complaint, the AP article continues:

‘I would be delighted to see Congress give us a way to bring workers in legally,’ Chertoff said. ‘Those workers would then be able to address the economic needs of the city and they would do it in a legal way. But as long as the law is as it is, I will enforce the law as it is.’

Villaraigosa spokesman Matt Szabo said the mayor hopes to discuss the matter with Chertoff in person soon when he visits Washington.

Szabo emphasized that Villaraigosa ‘is not suggesting the secretary should not enforce the law; he’s saying that the laws that we have are broken.’

‘In the meantime, we need to enforce the laws on the books in a much smarter way that targets those who are the greatest threat to the residents of this country,’ Szabo said.

So Villaraigosa, having been properly chastised, seems to be toning down his rhetoric a bit.  The point about enforcing “the laws on the books in a much smarter way that targets those who are the greatest threat to the residents of this country” is well taken.

Besides having a problem with illegal workers in LA, Villaraigosa has a problem with violence by illegals, too.  As in illegal alien gang violence.

Case in point: The murder of 17-year-old high school football star Jamiel Shaw by illegal alien gang member Pedro Espinoza in March of this year.

Mr. Villaraigosa:  Jamiel Shaw’s life was TOO HIGH a price to pay to give you the right to indulge in your precious sanctuary city experiment.  Way too high.

Just look at the scumbags in that photo, Villaraigosa.  Those are gang bangers who live in YOUR city!  I wonder how many of those creeps are illegal?

And you say you want people like that living in your city?  Really?

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