What is it with some American politicians and their fawning over terrorists? Has 9/11 become blasé? Jimmy Carter goes on a highly publicized Terror Tourism trip to sit at the feet of Hamas. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley pronounces Weather Underground bomber Bill Ayers a “distinguished” and “valued” member of the Chicago community.
Headlines around the world have reported on the growing crisis over food shortages and the spiraling costs of everyday staples that are putting hunger on the plates of people who have never experienced it. Rice shortages in the Philippines and this past weekend’s food riots in Haiti are just two stories in what is quickly becoming a very dangerous situation – in the short term and most certainly the long term.
As we look toward November, this will be the first Presidential election in recent times where one of the key issues debated will be immigration reform and the most effective way to secure the border – in particular the southern border. Right now some Members of Congress and allied interest groups are busy framing border security in the political terms most advantageous to their own partisan interests. Specifically, activists who oppose NAFTA and immigration reform have a vested interest in undercutting DHS’s policies and programs that will reduce chaos, enhance security and support increased legal trade.
Getting local law enforcement involved in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws is a controversial but unquestionably effective step in in terms of controlling our borders. Section 287g of the Immigration and Nationality Act was created to authorize state and local law enforcement officers to receive training to enforce immigration laws. The cross designation provision is […]
Across the country there is significant anxiety building up in anticipation of the latest release of a prized commodity. No, I am not talking about the latest version of the Apple I-Phone or the latest edition of the X-Box. It is bigger than that. And you will not see the throngs of people lining up around the block like you saw for tickets to the March Madness Tournament or the Hannah Montana concert. Rather, on April 1, 2008 you will see a mass rush of U.S. employers to the nearest U.S. Post Office or Federal Express store as they flail away to get their H-1B applications to DHS.
It seems somehow fitting that the state that launched the Civil War is once again leading the charge to defy the federal government — though in this case the stakes are far less deadly. Rather than bullets flying, you can expect a lot of curses. And even then only at airport terminals.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security and the Bush Administration announced a series of proposed improvements to the regulations governing the hiring of temporary and seasonal agricultural workers. The end goal of these modification is primarily to improve the process’ inefficiency – yet it is unclear whether the modifications will really make the process easier for farmers.
The FY 2009 proposal budget focuses and supports a full range of law enforcement operations to combat illegal immigrants, drugs and weapons along the border with Mexico. This drastic increase in funding is a sigh of relief for those who are against a comprehensive immigration bill that supports amnesty. In other words, a “do nothing” bill, with a track record of a flawed and unworkable policy that maintains the status quo. Serious immigration reform is on its way, as already seen in FY 2009 proposal budget, with complete focus on increasing law enforcement and operations. The only thing sensible is opting for a new strategy instead of reviving a failed one.
Members of Congress call for tougher border security in one breath and then demand that tougher policies be dismantled in the next. Next up: Demands for more short people who are tall.
Last week in an interview with the Associated Press, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said: “It’s time to grow up and recognize that if we’re serious about this threat, we’ve got to take reasonable, measured but nevertheless determined steps to getting better security.”
Needless to say, the response from several Members of Congress, particularly those who represent states along the northern border with Canada, has been one of fury and outrage.
Changes at the border need to occur. They have been talked about for a long time and should come as no surprise, especially to Members of Congress and residents of these border communities.
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