OPINION | Barry Richard: Dems, DACA Hide Behind MS-13 Comment

The do nothing Democrats are using comments made by President Trump during the State of the Union Address to make their case for amnesty for the so-called Dreamers.

During the address, Trump stressed the need to continue to root out members of the vicious street gang known as MS-13:

'Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied alien minors.'

Whoa! In Liberalville that translates into "All Dreamers are members of MS-13."

We can say with some certainty that many if not most of the MS-13 gang members in the U.S. came here illegally. Whether any of them arrived as a result of the DACA program I can't say for certain, but we certainly cannot rule it out. To equate the Dreamers with MS-13 is foolish and not what the Trump Administration is attempting to do. It does, however, make a great cover for the Democrats who are arguing for full amnesty for Dreamers.

MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha; also known as simply MS or Mara) is not new to the United States. The gang first surfaced in Los Angeles in the 1980's and spread quickly from coast to coast and into Canada, Mexico, and Central America as well. The gang's origins are traced to Central America, primarily El Salvador. MS-13 is knee deep in the drug cartel wars that have rocked Mexico for years. Recruitment rituals often include gruesome acts of murder and rape.

President Trump has challenged Congress to finally do its job and close loopholes that have allowed MS-13 members and other criminal illegal aliens to enter and remain in the U.S. By drawing a connection between the Dreamers and MS-13, the Democrats are attempting to gin up sympathy for those who have entered this country illegally, including violent gang members.

This type of demagoguery is foolish and dangerous and should cease immediately. The Administration has offered a proposal for fairly dealing with Dreamers while dealing with criminal illegal aliens like MS-13. Democrats need to put aside their partisan behavior and get to the table to resolve this issue quickly for the betterment of all Americans.

Editor's Note: Barry Richard is the afternoon host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from Noon-3 p.m. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.