**** From the American Legion news letter.
President Must Secure Our Borders
Story submitted on March 24, 2009 - 8:57 am 1 salute
By National Commander David K. Rehbein
Three of the convicted terrorists who plotted to kill innocent soldiers at Fort Dix, N.J. were illegal aliens. Some of the 9/11 hijackers were undeniably illegal, though one could argue that all were here illegally since none told visa officials their true purpose for entering the country - to fly planes into buildings. A congressional report revealed that in 2005 border patrol agents apprehended 650 illegal aliens from "special interest countries" (nations designated by the intelligence community as "countries that could export individuals that could bring harm to our country in the way of terrorism.").
Simply put, illegal immigration is a threat to America's national security. As such, President Obama must make border security a top priority in his administration.
In the October 2008 issue of The American Legion Magazine, then-Sen. Obama said "I think that we've got to have surveillance, virtual patrols. We've got to crack down on the employers that are really the magnets for illegal immigration. That can reduce the flows along the borders. Obviously, we got a national security and homeland security concern as well, but if border patrols are being pressured by huge volumes of illegal immigrants searching for work, that makes us more vulnerable in terms of looking after our potential security concerns." All are good ideas and The American Legion, an organization of 2.6 million wartime veterans, offers its complete support to the administration in enacting these initiatives.
We call on Congress to accept its responsibility as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. That is, "to provide for the common defense," and, most importantly, to provide for the safety of the citizens of this country.
America is struggling with a global economic crisis. But it also has a crisis in the form of illegal immigration, a problem that clearly has economic consequences as well. It's one that government at the federal level has failed to resolve and government at the local level is nearly powerless to address. Many at the highest levels of government seem fearful of making the hard choices necessary to assure the safety and wellbeing of both the American citizen and the foreign immigrant, legal or illegal.
The U.S. Code is clear and to the point: Illegal immigration is a violation of the law. And those groups or individuals who assist aliens in illegally entering or residing in the United States are also in violation. So, what's the problem? In a word: enforcement. The laws are on the books, but they are often ignored.
The American Legion advocates a broad-based policy. That policy starts with the simple premise that America is best served by enforcing the current laws that regulate legal immigration into this country. We recognize that it would be impractical to deport millions of people, but we have to at least start with a consensus that they need to follow an organized, legal path to citizenship. In the meanwhile, our borders need to be controlled. We cannot have porous borders, nor can those who are here illegally have full access to the benefits that our society offers those who are legal residents.
The American Legion's basic rationale in its opposition to illegal immigration is sound, non-discriminatory and equitable. That means no amnesty, in any form or by any name. To pardon those who enter our country illegally or those who remain, illegally, beyond their legal status is unfair to the law abiding immigrant and contrary to the best interests of a law-abiding society. America is a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. And if we fail to protect our borders, we may not remain a nation at all.
David K. Rehbein of Ames, Iowa, is national commander of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, the nation's largest wartime veterans organization.
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Comments: 19
Plus with his party working on another amnesty vote, he is already signaling that border security/illegal immigration is not at all important to him.
I have relatives and friends in the Phoenix area whose safety worries me. I am also concerned about the intelligence of the illegal aliens. Haven't they heard that there are no jobs in the US? Unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosures are rampant. They should go sneak into China. People are working there.
Y'all are going to get all mad that Obama is not doing anything, but you know darn well this was part of the plan of the Capitalists you love so much Col, the plan to reduce the cost of employees.
As for doing something,
Don't count on it.
The rich are not being harmed by this recession and they need their maids, gardners, nannys. Their businesses need the janitors and the cheap labor for which no Social Security taxes need to be paid.
All Caitalists love illegal immigrants, they are cheap docile employees.
Maybe you had better do some study and find out what a Capitalist is before you spout off like that Today's. As I said you are one if you are trying to get ahead in your life and job. Capatalism is not just rich people.
but, illegal immigrants number between 18 and 24 million
only 40% are from Mexico.
I am not sure where you live, but Florida, New York, Texas,California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado all have very large populations of legal elgible to vote hispanic residents. (in addition to all our illegal immigrants)
I never met a poo Capitalists. I have met some small businessmen and of course know a few farmers.
Their main goal is not paying taxes, it works like this.
They use illegal immigrant labor,
I pay the taxes for their health care and education.
So what you are saying is ordinary employees must support the Capitalists.
As for getting rich in america, wages over the last 28 years have dropped to such a level that it is very difficult to begin a new business.
For a short time during the borrowing/housing bubble, people were mortgaging their homes and maxing out credit cards to begin new businesses. I don't think many survived or will survive.
2 years ago, and I am sorry I don't have the details, a very large study showed that it is now much harder to start from nothing in the U. S. and get wealthy than in Europe.
And gee Europe is so regulated and so highly taxed?
If they were that dumb they deserve to fail. Illusion.
I completely agree that those who hire the illegals need to be aprehended and punished severly but that is only one of the many methods to deal with the problem. Enforcing our laws and closing the borders to illegals is the true solution. That includes aprehending the illegals and punishing those who hire them knowing they are illegal. That is what the Commander of the American Legion is saying and I endorce his statements.
"I don't know what your 2.6 million number is for. "
Obviously Illusion you never read the article I posted or you would know.
Seriously, the Repubs attempted to make this a national issue and the Dems tarred them with the racist title. I don't know if they will take up the fight again, God knows the Dems won't.
Charles Temm Jr.
If illegal immigrants vote, it is not the fault of the Democrat Party.
Each county of each state has an official who's duty/responsibility it is to verify the status of each voter.
Charles,
When The Rupublicans held both houses of Congress and the Presidency, for 6 straight years, the very years the illegal immigrant numbers increased at a mind boggling pace.
NOTHING Was done.
And when a bill was put together with the democrats, IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS
Who went ballistic against it.
So it is really and truly amazing to see you blame this problem on the Democrats.
As retired military I agree, we need to get back to the Constitution and quit trying to run the world. We have enough problems right here at home.