This page was last updated on June 3, 2010.
Systemic failure; Editorial; Beaver County Times; June 2, 2010.
The editorial asserts securing our borders “won’t stop illegal immigration. That can only come about through comprehensive immigration reform, which isn’t going to happen in today’s political environment.” Hogwash! We already have “comprehensive immigration” laws and have had them for many decades. The problem is we don’t enforce those “comprehensive immigration” laws. Make no mistake about it, when people like the Times refer to “comprehensive immigration reform,” they are really referring to open borders and/or amnesty for illegal aliens. For the history challenged, check out the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (aka Simpson-Mazzoli Act) signed into law by President Reagan. It had all the provisions wanted by current supporters of “comprehensive immigration reform” but it did not fix the illegal alien problem. Why? Because we didn’t secure the Mexico border, didn’t go after businesses employing illegal aliens, and implemented local policies (See below.) that encouraged illegal immigration.
The editorial fails to note many local governments encourage illegal aliens by declaring their municipalities to be “sanctuary cities.” Other municipalities have rules preventing their police officers from reporting suspected illegal aliens to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. When California voters in 1994 tried to do something about illegal immigration, they were thwarted first by a federal judge and then by their own governor. Along this line, let’s remember all the crap being rained on Arizona for simply enacting a law allowing state and local police officers to enforce existing immigration laws.
As for military on the border, most of us really don’t want that. The editorial fails to note the calls for military help are the result of not having anywhere near enough civilian border agents or fencing.
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