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It's Not Just About Immigration Anymore
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More On Immigration and Arizona
- ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW IS SPOT ON
Nobody wants to feel like an outsider in their own country. Yet, days when I drive through the streets of certain parts of South Milwaukee, and certainly through West Milwaukee where the Miller Park Brewer's... - Arizona Immigration Law S.B. 1070
The Arizona Immigration Law S.B. 1070support our law enforcement and safe neighborhoods act has been amended and additional line text has been added. Recently The Arizona republic... - Arizona Immigration And Health Care Are Key Factors ...
Values are priceless I am not a rich man, and by that it certainly would seem a bit silly to be willing to throw any amount of money at politicians, or even at a political party for that matter. Yet, I...
The situation on our borders with Mexico is yet another glaring example of the absolute idiocy, and incompetence of the Obama administration. The president has now been given every reason to clamp down on illegal immigration, and especially to send a clear message to the Mexican drug cartels, that if they carry out their illegal activities on United States soil, we will act accordingly. Things are beginning to get downright dangerous. People are being killed. Areas of our own country are places where we put up signs discouraging Americans from visiting for fear they may be caught up in the activities of illegals and drug cartels. We need to say to these people, "No way. This is our country! You do not have free reign here. You will not infringe on my rights as a natural born citizen of my own country."
Instead the Obama administration virtually agreed with President Calderon on the comments the Mexican president made during his visit here regarding Arizona. Our president certainly made no effort to defend America. God forbid he do that. And there's no stopping Holder from pursuing his ridiculous lawsuit against Arizona over their immigration law. President Obama thinks this is the right thing to do for America to sue a state trying to protect its citizens?
Let us just chalk this up as one more wrong answer by this president as to what is the right thing to do for America. Eerily, it almost sounds like one more page out of the "Goddamn America" speech made by a man he "barely knew" after 20 years of sermons.
But I digress.
The reality, that the Obama administration simply does not get, is that the Mexican drug cartels, and coyotes who are delivering illegals into our country are making a mockery of us. They have the upper hand. They are doing their business right under our very noses. They view themselves as untouchables.
Sure. We have border patrol. We have other policing. There will be the token troops sent by the president. But who's really trying to stop them? Who's making an effort to get the situation under control? It sure in hell is not the federal government who is supposed to be there to protect Americans. Furthermore, it is clear that what we have now, to get the situation under control, is not nearly enough.
We need more law enforcement, more border patrol, and we need to send more troops. I think that much is clear.
Granted, President Bush didn't do much to secure our borders either, and so this is not an opportunity to find fault with a president whom I happen to disagree with on myriad policy issues. This is simply a matter of looking at things for what they are. We are fast entering some very dangerous territory here, and it would seem to me, as it should seem to anyone with even an ounce of intelligence, that the Obama administration is asleep at the wheel while America is literally under siege.
In the same circumstances I am inclined to believe that President Bush may have changed his tone, much as Senator McCain has, regarding securing the borders. Because it's not just about illegal immigration anymore, and Bush would have understood that.
Illegals entering the country seeking work is one thing. It's not a good thing. It's also not the greatest of our problems.
Drugs are an entirely different matter. Drug cartels are an entirely different matter. Drug cartels who threaten to murder law enforcement officers (whether on or off duty to me doesn't matter) who try and stop them from conducting their drug activity in the United States, such as was the case recently in Nogales, Arizona which borders Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, is an engagement. It is an act of war, whether or not it is being waged by a sovereign nation or a narcoterrorist group. The way I see it, as soon as a federal law enforcement officer, or one of our 1,200 national guard troops lay dead on American soil by the bullet of a foreign national firing a weapon at them—that is an act of war. The threat that anyone will be killed is certainly a threat of war.
It is, in my view, no different than Iran telling us they are going to engage us if we don't leave them alone. It should put our government on alert. It should put America in a stance to ready its troops.
The president obviously doesn't see it this way. Eric Holder doesn't see it this way. In their convoluted view the only threat is Arizona's law.
What President Calderon and President Obama both need to do is to act together. Both presidents need to understand the very severe nature of what these drug cartels are up to, and what damage they can ultimately do on both sides of the border if something is not done, and done swiftly and decisively. Mexico and the United States should be forceful allies against the drug cartels specifically. Law abding Mexican citizens are in as much danger as American citizens are. Governments are supposed to act to protect citizens.
I know I will probably be called out as just another war-hungry conservative. Still, we have a serious situation brewing, and I think the threat of troops from both Mexico and the United States might curtail some of their activity. It might cause them to consider that fighting with law enforcement is one thing. Dealing with militaries is another.
Let one bullet fly. Let one man die. If the president is still sitting on his hands, if Mexico is still complacent and unresponsive, Americans are going to have to rise up and tell the president in a very clear way that he must act. We have to protect and defend America. Not one single American should be against protecting her from harm. Not one single American should be okay with one single dead American.
More By Springboard At Blogspot
- The Springboard: There Are No Rights For Illegal Immigrants
One person writes; "I say all humansand the operative word is humansshould be able to have access to education. Only through education can we help fix problems in our society. Out of state students are paying higher out of state tuition because..." - The Springboard: Peggy West Says Arizona Doesn't Border Mexico
It's bad enough that Milwaukee County has been onboard with plans to boycott Arizona over this whole immigration law debate, something that definitely irks me in and of itself. But when Peggy West, a democrat who serves as a county supervisor...
Other Stuff
- Arizona Immigration And Health Care Are Key Factors In My Vote
Values are priceless I am not a rich man, and by that it certainly would seem a bit silly to be willing to throw any amount of money at politicians, or even at a political party for that matter. Yet, I... - The Tony Hayward Fail
Before Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP, appeared before Congress on Thursday over the whole issue of the oil spill, I was willing to give BP the benefit of the doubt. First of all, I can't even begin to imagine... - Arizona Immigration Law S.B. 1070
The Arizona Immigration Law S.B. 1070support our law enforcement and safe neighborhoods act has been amended and additional line text has been added. Recently The Arizona republic... - Illegal Aliens, Muslims, and the P.C. Police Who Love Them
When will we learn? It seems rather fitting to me that we're all astir talking about political correctness again with the passing of the Arizona immigration law which everyone thinks will lead to racial...
CommentsLoading...
Bravo! The time to act is now because the violence is way out of control. Exactly how many people have to die or be kidnapped before Washington wakes up and enforces a law that is already on the books? Arizona is drowning and Washington has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to their problems. This is a travesty on the part of the Administration. Perhaps Obama sees the steady flow of traffic across the border as simply "votes" and nothing more. I rated this up.
I hear the "rule of law" mentioned often, yet it is ignored. Frankly it baffles me. Maybe I'm just an old guy that can't keep up. I sometimes think so. Nevertheless a sociey without law is one doomed to extinction.
It is well written but I can't comment live in England.
Some reasons to police the border:
- illegal immigrants
- drug-runners
- walk-in terrorists (or soldiers)
- trafficking in persons
Which ones do we support? by word? by deeds?
Jim,
Great analysis and I agree with your conclusion. Any killing of an American on our soil by hostile forces is an act of war. We must defend American soil at all costs and with everything we've got. If it takes A-10 Warthogs flying sortee's along the border so be it!!!!!!!!!!
I have to agree with a lot of this. This is a serious problem that isn't getting better.
Springboard, Fantastic article. Nothing is going to change as long as the administration keeps sitting on their hands. I agree that we much defend our country.
Magnificent work here. You used too many facts though, the libs HATE those pesty facts!! Anyway, I do agree that GWBush dropped the ball on the border security as well. Poll after poll shows that the majority of citizens support stopping this illegal flood across our borders. I just do not understand what Obama hopes to gain from going against the American citizens on nearly every issue there is. If amnesty is given, it would take a while, and the hispanic votes he is trying to purchase won't yet be there in 2012.
Msorensson, thank you and thanks for stopping by.
POP, you may be right. Votes may be exactly what he's after. What a world we live in where a president bows to everyone else but his own people. Shameful.
Dahoglund, let's just hope that the Obama administration's cow towing to everyone but Americans since day one is a very huge wake-up call. I'm almost saddened by the fact that the last time I saw real patriotism in this country was on 9/12/2001, and it seemed be gone in a few months.
Hello, sometimes it is interesting and insightful to hear the view of a third party. I criticize other countries all the time. ;)
Springboard~ Another Great Hub! This immigration issue is not going to go away anytime soon. The law in Arizona has caused this uproar and it has not even gone into affect yet...The time to secure out borders is now! Americans want this to happen..scary thing is that it is more than just Mexicans crossing our borders illegally. I heard on a top rated Fox News show today that there are hundreds of thousands of other immigrants from other countries other than Mexico that are crossing into America illegally and nothing is being done, the border control does not have the resources to stop what is happening...Something sure needs to be done and done immediately.
Fitnezz, sad but true. And scary if you think about it. How anyone could be opposed to securing the borders is beyond me.
Tom, indeed. I'd hate for it to get to that. But what is, is, and we didn't start this.
Sandy, and will only get worse I fear unless we act swiftly and decisively. Why ANY government would fail to act on direct threats is something I just don't get. Why a government would be reluctant to protect its citizens is another thing I just don't get. Why any American would be against securing and protecting our borders and enforcing our laws is something I REALLY don't get. Yet here we are.
Pamela, I think this is the part of the founding father's idea about the right to bear arms. We may have to do what the feds will not. Protect ourselves and our own borders with citizen militias. That's a bit extreme, I realize, and scary if you really think about it. But we've come to a point where the government is just not in the right frame of reason on this issue.
Sheri, he confuses me in what he hopes to acheive going against the concensus of the American people. He's a very odd administration. I don't think we've ever seen anything quite like it. Have we?
Tina, great to hear from you. Hopefully someone will come their senses before the bodies start to pile up. One can only hope we don't get that far.
You're right, they're not immigrants, they're illegal aliens.
You are quite correct in making distinctions.
My opinion, America is being forever changed every day that we continue to have effective open borders, and that's the Intent. It is about voting power, it is about change, and not change that actual Americans want to see happen.
Calderon suing Arizona is like a bad SNL joke, and our country looks more and more like the jestering fool every day.
I can't wait till 2012 to cast my vote for a new president! I just hope there is someone out there who has the same view you have. Why don't YOU run and I will vote for you. :-) Great hub!
KFlippin, so true. We HAVE to seal the borders. I don't think its even a question anymore by most people...yet here we are still having the debate. What a sad state of affairs if you ask me.
Special, lol. Considering the job market. Ahem. :)
Right on brother, this was awesome. I think you hit the nail on the head. I am very proud of the people in Arizona for trying to protect their people and our borders. It's just the craziest thing I think I have ever heard of for people to be offended by the American people trying to enforce the law and uphold the law. You're right about things not being about immigration. It's about illegal immigration protecting the American people and doing what's right. God bless you brother happy Fourth of July.
I keep thinking to myself, when you start picking and choosing which laws you want to enforce and which ones you don't, where does that lead us? And as I've said in other hubs, what laws am I, as a CITIZEN allowed to overlook? You've got me up against the wall if I break a law, but an illegal? Entering the country? We look the other way?
Something VERY wrong with that if you ask me, and how anyone could defend NOT enforcing the law seems to me incredulous at best.
hubbers
For what it's worth.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S statement that deportation don’t work is a half truth if one would review the immigration laws. The truth is that the government’s policy of catch and release or deportation does not work. The need to punish violators with incarceration should receive high priority if a resolve is to be accomplish.
It was apparent from Obama’s remarks regarding the Arizona 1070 bill was not factual. President Obama referring ‘’that our nation is a nation of the rule of law’’ is making a mockery of enforcing the law as well as degrading the respect of the office of the presidency. Again blaming the Republicans without mentioning some Democrats who will not support immigration reform until the border is closed was a half true statement.
The president mentioned the 11 million illegals that are here ( due to the government not enforcing the law ) cannot just be relocated or deported.
Mr. president, you are wrong. During the campaign you said ‘’ yes we can ,‘’ ‘’hope is on the way’’ and ‘’let me be clear.’’. The refusal to enforce the law is to be in violation of the law. Congress has a responsibility to defend the constitution and the enforcement of the laws. The silence of the Democrat Congress is deafening .
THE OATH OF OFFICE:
"I do solemnly swear (BARACK OBAMA) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The government can start by incarcerating unauthorized aliens instead of using deportation. The government must deny all government entitlements to non citizens. The borders must be sealed before any new immigration laws are considered. These are simple for starters SOLUTIONS in resolving some of the violations in immigration law.
. The National policy Institute, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average
cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.'
Verify at: http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deporta
The total cost of illegal immigration is a whopping $ 338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND IF
YOU'RE LIKE ME HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY; IT
IS $338,300,000,000.00 WHICH WOU LD BE ENOUGH TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY.
Are we THAT stupid? YES, FOR LETTING THOSE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH LETTING THIS HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR!!!!!
Immigration Law
ARTICLE IV, Section 4 of the U.S. CONSTITUTION
The United States shall guarantee to EVERY STATE in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall PROTECT EACH of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:
assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks
employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.
Wake up America and speak out. Washington needs to know that the people want the President and Congress to work for the people first, not for unauthorized aliens who are taking advantage of the American way of life..
yeah what about all those big rich and powerful people that are employing those illeagal aliens?stop them from employing illeagals and most of the illeagals won't come.but no one wants to talk about that simple fact do they?
I still think we need to start a campaign to lower drug usage. We could stop the cartel, but we would have to stop using the drugs. Until we stop using the drugs, cartels are going to be there. I hear nothing about this approach on any news media. What do they thing it is okay to use illegal drugs?
Keep on hubbing!
Jon, the unfortunate truth is that "Yes we can" was referring to blowing as much hot air as possible. I just hope ALL of America gets it by 2012.
Bill, the Arizona law addresses that. That said, I agree that companies who hire illegals should suffer deep fines and consequences. I am for free markets in which businesses operate lawfully and with concern for its workers, the evironments in which they operate, as well as respect the laws.
Eovery, the demand side is certainly one giant part of the problem—so long as there is a willing buyer of these drugs there will be a willing seller. The reality is, though, that solving the drug problem would be far more difficult than securing the borders. I think it should be the first priority.
bill yon
''yeah what about all those big rich and powerful people that are employing those illegal aliens? Stop them from employing illegal ''
Let's not exclude the politicians from Washington who failed to enforce the laws. The government’s actions failed to correct the problem in 1986 .
When the 1986 law was passed by both houses, it passed by a voice vote. Not one member requested a registered vote as should have happened. Many of those that were in the house, today are in the senate.
Without a registered vote anyone of those voting can deny they voted for the bill.
That's how Washington works when an issue is hot and fraudulent
The immigration laws state that the president and attorney general are responsible to enforce the laws of the US.
The people are calling upon President Obama to enforce the law. Apparently President Obama knows better. Congress’s silence is deafening, surely congress believes in the law.
We have elected a radical and incompetent group of politicians who are blind, political mind dead and unconcerning to what the people want in their government
Wake up America, sound out before America goes the way of Greece.
Well written hub. Unfortunately, no one wants to have to deal with drug lords. They're just too scary and everyone just wants to protect themselves and their families.
Jon, that's a very scary thought.
Beatsme, the problem with that argument is that the the less you deal with the drug cartels, the less protected your family will be. They use terror to do their work, and so long as they are free to do business, your family is in grave danger.
You are right the battle with the drug cartels will get more and more bloody - it seems to worsen by the day in mexico. The deeper it gets entrenched the more bloody it will become. The brutality is entrenched and no doubt they would have no issues with killing further inside America.
Oh, I don't think killing Americans would bother them one bit. Guys like this don't have a conscience. They only have an agenda.
I absolutely agree with your message in this hub. Time is of the essence and I never see one thing (other than the State of Arizona) that leads me to see the possibility of progress on this issue. If this war is not fought, and, fought soon, we will one day come to the realization that we have lost our country. One would think that if we are truly engaged in a war against terrorism and that we want to keep them out of America, securing our borders would be one common sense approach.
Okay that's it Springboard for President. Man you've got the ideas, insights and common sense no BS approach for the job, do say your going to run... :)
I have many enemies with my illegal immigrant hubs but I am sure none have came close to proving a point as yours has. I wish I could believe you or I could make a difference, there will be no change, Bush had eight years and we know Obama isn't going to do anything, no one is, I have lost hope for America, there is a plan none of us know about and it will certainly be too late by the time we do. But I will keep fighting with words, it is all I can do and what baffles me more than anything are the ones who don't see a problem! I have to say though Obama did get that health plan going though...for illegal immigrants, 100% coverage. What about the special 40 they claim has been misunderstood?
Abney, exactly. If ever we wanted to create a terrorist loophole, our border with Mexico would certainly be one of them. Imagine our own opportunities if we wanted to attack a country, and knew a place which bordered it that we could freely and openly get past. It would be a no-brainer.
Katie, lol. Somehow doesn't common sense mysteriously disappear as soon as one winds up in Washington? I've heard there's like a common sense vacuum or something there. Sucks it right outtaya. :)
Pollyanna, according to some people, everything in America should be free to people who come here illegally. Just happened to have written about that in a recent blog, "There Are No Rights For Illegal Immigrants." Link is above if you care to read it. As to your fight. I will join with you. The whole entire country cannot be daft. At least I hope not. I still have some hope left, though not of the Obama kind. ;)
I think Obama should really make a comprehensive law about this immigration plan as there is always conflict between the federal and the state laws, and yes theres problem of killings and drugs etc not only on the border but on the parts where the drugs are moving. Maita
I think first and foremost, Obama's prime concern should be for securing the borders right now, listening to the concerns and the issues that are being faced by Arizona law enforcement officials as it relates to illegal immigrants and the dangerous and escalating drug situation by the Mexican drug cartels, and listen to the challenges being encountered by the Border Patrol. He's doing none of that at present, and I think this terribly misses the point as to why Arizona wrote SB 1070 in the first place. They are basically being held to the wall by illegal immigrant activity and the federal government is doing nothing to help them solve their problems. As a sitting governor of a state that I would contend is literally under siege, you simply cannot accept that the federal government is not going to assist you. Citizens have a right to be protected, and governors have an obligation to protect their citizens. It's very simple. The FEDERAL government has this obligation as well, and they aren't doing it.
Securing the borders is a complex thing, don't get me wrong. But in order to do it, and do it effectively, you have to be concerned about the issue (the president is not) and you have to be willing to listen to people (again, the president is not).
Before we do anything, we have to get our borders secured. THEN and ONLY THEN can we truly get to the bottom of any sort of immigration reform.
It's a good thing we have this discussion on HubPages. I live in the Philippines, but I have relatives in the US that feed me information on the Mexican-US border problems (drug cartel, illegal entry, etc.)
As a transiting seafarer, we often land at different US shores carrying our cargoes (crude oil, etc.). I have high regards with the procedures implemented by US coast guards, inspecting the ship for any illegal shipment (drugs, stowaways, bombs, etc.) and letting us go ashore after all the documents reviewed and approved.
I think the economic factor drove people from Mexico to try their luck in the US through illegal entry. Stories about this situation are being depicted in many commercial films; and yet, the laws lack its essence to counter these problems.
It's also happening here in the Philippines. Because of our hospitality, we almost welcome all the good and bad deeds these foreign syndicates are doing (drug cartel, greedy businessmen, you name it, we have it here). There are bad news than good news. Even journalists are being killed by just covering sensitive issues here.
The hands of terrorism and too much politicking in the government are not only apparent in the US but also here or anywhere else in the world.
I tell you, buddy, seafarers are the 'silent' witnesses of what is really happening in any parts of the world. They can tell you so much about anything, although most of them kept their mouths shut about sensitive issues.
I'm trying to establish parallelism here because your border problem is our problem, too. There are things in immigration laws that ordinary people should be educated or oriented to; in order for us to be aware of.
At least, people will know how to protect themselves from illegal entrants, drug cartel and the like; not only the border police or authorities, taking care of the peace and order that are so elusive to maintain in progressive country, like the US.
One thing that irks me about the economic argument, which is a real one I should add—you are absolutely correct in your assessment that many border crossers are doing so for reasons of personal economic betterment—is that we forget about a little thing we started called NAFTA. It was supposed to, in part (it also applies to Canada), enrich the Mexican people and open up trade lines between our two countries. They could produce goods for us a little cheaper and we could sell goods to them as they were better able to afford them through better wages and benefits.
Seems like what it did more of was to basically take good paying jobs from Americans and those Mexican workers still aren't much better off than they were before.
The Mexican government, of course, has quite a role in this as well. Economic prosperity is their own baby. They need to encourage it and nurture it. They're not doing that, at least not to the extent they can or should. If they were no one would be rushing to the fences looking for a ladder. Canada doesn't seem to have difficulty in that. So, why Mexico? It has to be something inherent in either their culture or their government that is holding them back.
As for the drug problem, I think it is the crux. It is something we have to address more fiercely as it is a severe and terrible threat to the American people.
Your article perfectly lays out the FACTS regards our government's attitude towards border security-it's unacceptable.
A few commenting here have touched upon 'possibility' of terrorists using the Mexican border as a portal to America; Springboard, they're already doing this. There's ample proof of terrorists being brought in by the cartels who now control all the smuggling routes via the Mexican border.
The problem with illegals is right in front of our eyes, particularly the eyes of those on the border states. The problem of terrorism is ignored for the most part by Americans because no one has conducted a successful attack on us since 9/11.
Truth is Springboard that it's coming. There will be a BOOM or a number of BOOMS. Exactly where the BOOMS will be I don't know, but we will have them.
Americans need to stop focusing on illegal immigration and DEMAND that our borders be sealed because we are at war with international groups of lawless thugs that intend to bring destruction here.
Hxprof, one can only hope and pray that you are wrong. The fear is of course that you are spot on. Americans need to stop looking at the world with tunnel vision. People just don't get it, and as far as 9/11 goes...sadly, I think many Americans have already forgotten that it ever happened, and don't have a clue it can and likely will happen again.
HUBBERS
Up to date on AZ SB 1070
Judge Bolton on 7/28/10 ruled in favor of the Government and the ACLU on Arizona Sb 1070. There was celebration in the streets of Phoenix today. Governor Jan Brewer announced that the state will file an appeal to the Federal 9th district court in San Francisco on Thurs.
More to follow in the coming days, the battle is just starting according to local officials.
Thanks for the update Jon. Terrible state of affairs, this thing. When states cannot defend themselves, I wonder where that gets us in the end?
Springboard, great article and well written. Obama is deaf to the American voice.
Alison, that is true on a grand scale. Thanks for stopping by.
every citizen has the responsibility to protect his country and to defend his nation's borders.
Francis, this is true. However, that is EXACTLY the role of the federal government, and they aren't doing that.
and if they aren't doing their jobs,who'd do it for them?
Good question.
msorensson Level 3 Commenter 23 months ago
I am afraid I have to agree with much of what you wrote...Well written!!