Imagine Kamala
2023-09-07 09:13:15 UTC
By Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks) of the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives, 128th District.
As the grandson of immigrants from Ireland, Hungary and Italy, I readily
acknowledge the benefits of legal entry into this country. But when I see
thousands illegally entering our country every day, I am angered when one
of those individuals goes on a murderous crime spree and disrupts the
lives of those in our community.
Late last week, Danelo Cavalcante, a former street gang member from
Brazil, escaped the Chester County Prison. Cavalcante originally came to
our country illegally after fleeing Brazil to Puerto Rico following the
2017 killing of a man who owed him money. (Associated Press, 9/1/23).
While here, Cavalcante met Deborah Brandao, who would eventually file a
restraining order against him for being violent toward her and her
children. When Brandao allegedly told Cavalcante she would tell police
about the Brazilian arrest warrant, he stabbed her 37 times in the
stomach, abdomen and chest, killing her in front of her children. (Reading
Eagle, 9/2/23).
Cavalcante was found guilty for Brandaos murder and was sentenced to life
in prison without parole for her 2021 stabbing death. He was serving time
at the Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to a state-run
facility when he escaped a few short days ago.
Now, our local, state and federal law enforcement officials are in the
throes of a manhunt. Residents are being asked to shelter in place,
businesses are closed, as are school districts within the search radius.
The disruption that Cavalcante has caused was preventable.
The simple truth is this he never should have been here. The horrific
failure on the part of the federal government in Washington, D.C., to
secure our borders, ports and other points of entry ended in the murder of
Deborah Brandao and the ensuing terror inflicted on all of us.
The federal government has a responsibility to enforce the rule of law and
work to guarantee our public safety. Period. Our current failed
immigration policy is not only dramatically placing the public at risk,
but it is substantially draining resources that could be deployed to help
those with legitimate needs.
As a long-time member of the PA State House Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee, and now a committee chairman, we are involved in a
plethora of oversights in the public safety arena, including fire, EMS and
our 911 system. Governments number one job is to protect its citizens and
make sure our citizens are secure in their persons and effects. Citizens
of the Commonwealth are being violated by the very federal government that
is obligated to protect their safety. The failure of Washington on the
immigration issue is now a front page story in the small towns of
Pennsylvania.
Since our current border policy shows a wanton disregard for public
safety, it has left the public wondering who will be the next victim of an
individual who has unlawfully gained passage into our country and has
demonstrated pure evil and a willingness to kill.
I dont think it is a stretch to say Deborah Brandao would still be alive
today if Cavalcante never entered this country illegally. She would be
here, and her children would have their mother.
Literally millions of Pennsylvanians have had their lives thrown into
chaos out of fear that they could be the next victim of this murderers
rampage.
I am grateful to all our local, state and federal law enforcement officers
who have always and will continually display a willingness to pay the
ultimate price, if need be, to protect the public they are sworn to serve.
The rule of law is not being enforced when it comes to immigration, and
these are the tragic results of that failure. It is time for a dramatic
policy change at the federal level.
https://www.wfmz.com/features/think-tank/chester-county-manhunt-is-the-
latest-example-of-failed-immigration-policies/article_4055825a-4cf6-11ee-
bb13-8b2dd6167f73.html
Representatives, 128th District.
As the grandson of immigrants from Ireland, Hungary and Italy, I readily
acknowledge the benefits of legal entry into this country. But when I see
thousands illegally entering our country every day, I am angered when one
of those individuals goes on a murderous crime spree and disrupts the
lives of those in our community.
Late last week, Danelo Cavalcante, a former street gang member from
Brazil, escaped the Chester County Prison. Cavalcante originally came to
our country illegally after fleeing Brazil to Puerto Rico following the
2017 killing of a man who owed him money. (Associated Press, 9/1/23).
While here, Cavalcante met Deborah Brandao, who would eventually file a
restraining order against him for being violent toward her and her
children. When Brandao allegedly told Cavalcante she would tell police
about the Brazilian arrest warrant, he stabbed her 37 times in the
stomach, abdomen and chest, killing her in front of her children. (Reading
Eagle, 9/2/23).
Cavalcante was found guilty for Brandaos murder and was sentenced to life
in prison without parole for her 2021 stabbing death. He was serving time
at the Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to a state-run
facility when he escaped a few short days ago.
Now, our local, state and federal law enforcement officials are in the
throes of a manhunt. Residents are being asked to shelter in place,
businesses are closed, as are school districts within the search radius.
The disruption that Cavalcante has caused was preventable.
The simple truth is this he never should have been here. The horrific
failure on the part of the federal government in Washington, D.C., to
secure our borders, ports and other points of entry ended in the murder of
Deborah Brandao and the ensuing terror inflicted on all of us.
The federal government has a responsibility to enforce the rule of law and
work to guarantee our public safety. Period. Our current failed
immigration policy is not only dramatically placing the public at risk,
but it is substantially draining resources that could be deployed to help
those with legitimate needs.
As a long-time member of the PA State House Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee, and now a committee chairman, we are involved in a
plethora of oversights in the public safety arena, including fire, EMS and
our 911 system. Governments number one job is to protect its citizens and
make sure our citizens are secure in their persons and effects. Citizens
of the Commonwealth are being violated by the very federal government that
is obligated to protect their safety. The failure of Washington on the
immigration issue is now a front page story in the small towns of
Pennsylvania.
Since our current border policy shows a wanton disregard for public
safety, it has left the public wondering who will be the next victim of an
individual who has unlawfully gained passage into our country and has
demonstrated pure evil and a willingness to kill.
I dont think it is a stretch to say Deborah Brandao would still be alive
today if Cavalcante never entered this country illegally. She would be
here, and her children would have their mother.
Literally millions of Pennsylvanians have had their lives thrown into
chaos out of fear that they could be the next victim of this murderers
rampage.
I am grateful to all our local, state and federal law enforcement officers
who have always and will continually display a willingness to pay the
ultimate price, if need be, to protect the public they are sworn to serve.
The rule of law is not being enforced when it comes to immigration, and
these are the tragic results of that failure. It is time for a dramatic
policy change at the federal level.
https://www.wfmz.com/features/think-tank/chester-county-manhunt-is-the-
latest-example-of-failed-immigration-policies/article_4055825a-4cf6-11ee-
bb13-8b2dd6167f73.html