9/11 Families Demand Immigration Enforcement

"Tomorrow's terrorist is today's cab driver!"

Those harsh words were uttered Tuesday by Peter Gadiel, president and co-founder of the 9-11 Families for a Secure America, at a rally in Brewster to remember a young woman and her eight-year-old daughter run down and killed on the village's main thoroughfare June 8 by a drunken motorist illegally in the U.S.

On September 11, 2001 Gadiel lost his 23-year-old son, who worked on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center, after hijacked airplanes crashed into the building.

Gadiel has dedicated his life in the cause of securing U.S. borders against the entry of illegal aliens, as well as terrorists and violent felons who, he charged, "hide among them."

Gadiel told the rally, "Terrorism by foreign terrorists as well as street crimes perpetuated by illegal aliens are one in the same problem. They are both caused by the failure to enforce immigration law. Most of the 9-11 terrorists were in the U.S. 'legally' [but] they all carried visas that were issued in violation of U.S. law, since personal interviews and secondary inspection were never conducted. Problems of illegal immigration and lax enforcement of immigration laws is a single concern. When a crime is committed on the streets in Brewster it is as much a problem as open borders which led to the 9-11 event."

Michael Cutler, a retired special agent with the INS, blamed the crisis of illegal immigration facing Brewster and other communities around the region to "today's politician on the federal, state and local level" since "strategies to combat illegal immigration have been ignored."

Ed Kowalski, a member of the 911 Families for a Secure America, also spoke out against those who refuse to "close our borders to illegal men and women. Just as my niece, Elizabeth Butler, would be alive today if her killer had not been invited into the USA, Lori and Kayla Donohue would also be alive, since the man accused of running them down would be living in his native Guatemala and not in Brewster."

Elizabeth, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend weeks before her scheduled graduation from North Salem High School three years ago, was remembered at the rally by her mother, Patricia Butler: "How many times do we have to add to this growing list of victims killed at the hands of illegals? Our governmental leaders are the criminals for turning their backs on the issue. Military personnel are stationed at seven borders around the world—not our own borders. No one wakes up until it happens to their loved one. It's a long journey of grief and a living hell. The pain always remains."

Kowalski said illegal alien crime is unique because, "it would not have happened if our government enforced the law. Unequal enforcement makes things more difficult for the victim's families."

A dozen residents attended the rally. Kelly Kaelin and Debby Bailey, both of Brewster, were on hand to support a group of women who walk the streets of Brewster twice each day to draw attention to the issue of illegal immigrants congregating on Brewster's main street seeking employment from contractors. Kaelin called herself a "prisoner in my own home." A year ago two men later identified as illegal aliens entered her home thinking the residence was the Brewster Railroad Station. While Kaelin and her children were not harmed by the intruders, the housewife and her youngsters were terribly frightened.

Kaelin refuses to venture into the village by herself. "I send my husband to pick up a pizza or to drop off a book at the library. It's a shame that I live in a community that I can't enjoy."

Victor Padilla, the former liaison to the Spanish-speaking people of Brewster, called the rally a witchhunt. "I agree that illegals shouldn't be here but people have no right to crucify all Hispanics because of their country of origin. The deaths of the mother and child were a terrible tragedy, but let the law punish the person if he is found guilty."

Another Central American who is employed by a local tree surgeon and who resides in Carmel with his wife and two small children, told the Courier that he has felt the brunt of the community outrage being fostered by what he sees as an anti-Hispanic movement.

"I pay my taxes. I am proud to be living in America, but since the Brewster tragedy, I have been cussed at on two separate occasions by total strangers. One woman screamed at me and told me to 'go back where you belong!' That's not right," he said.