The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, legal immigrants have brought energy, ideas, strength, and diversity to our country, our economy, and our culture. This must continue. But in the post-9/11 world, immigration is more of a national security issue. A government that cannot secure its borders and determine who may enter and who may not, abrogates a fundamental responsibility. I am committed to: Securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws. Amnesty is not an option and the toleration of “sanctuary cities” must end. Reviewing our immigration laws and policies to ensure they advance our national interests. Uniting Americans by welcoming legal immigrants willing to learn English, assimilate into our communities, and become productive citizens. Fred08
1. Terrorists taking advantage of loose borders to invade unknown to the U.S.
2. Illegal workers from south of the border who have swarmed into this nation like a beehive.
They are two very separate things that require two very different approaches. The first one is caused by radical Islamic forces, and is a cry for much more secure scrutiny of immigrants.
The second one is caused by economics -- specifically, LIBERAL Big Government economic policies of A) creating and imposing artificially high minimum wages as a base pay for businesses and B) creating social government largesse programs that invite illegal "minorities" to come to the U.S. and become dependent on taxpayers for basic services. Folks, the biggest fence in the world is an empty and VERY expensive cannon in this battle. Likewise, the idea of deporting 6 to 12 million illegals would result in armed warfare in most of the West, with neighbors, friends, and businesses fighting each other. It would be the stupidest thing on planet earth.
Hence the solutions are, essentially, pursuing LESS GOVERNMENT solutions. Mountains of regulation including minimum wage and health insurance force businesses to pay wages for unskilled labor that seem poor here, but are lavish to folks South of the Border, who find themselves in the position of getting very highly paid work for low skills. All they have to do is show up and they're making enough to support many families in Mexico; their competition is mostly sullen American youth with a bad work ethic and sense of entitlement. What would YOU do?
*sigh* I wish Fred would help people better understand the illegal immigrant problem.
There is no contradiction between federalism and the Constitutional mandate for the federal government to provide for the common defense. You said it, the problem on our southern border is indeed an invasion, and the federal government’s clearly defined Constitutional duty is to repel it.
From Article 1, Section 8: “The Congress shall have the Power...To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.”
Only those powers not specifically granted to the federal government are retained by the states or the people. The responsibility to repel invasions is not one of them.