House Passes Essential Border Protection Legislation

email from: Numbers USA Education and Research Foundation ^ | June 5, 2003 | roy beck

[CIBvet]

The US House has taken a very important first step toward using the mightiest military in world history to protect our borders from illegal crossings. HR. 1588 passed by a tally of 361-68. The Goode amendment to that bill provided that "the Secretary of Defense can assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps . . . to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protections functions."

Visit our website at NumbersUSA.com to learn more about legislation related to immigration policy.

At NumbersUSA we are mounting a massive ongoing grassroots movement to bring Immigration Policy reform to the forefront of national policy. Our goal and purpose is to protect national SECURITY, JOBS and RESOURCES.

For more than a month, members of the NumbersUSA Action Network bombarded our Representatives with nearly 10,000 faxes asking for action to use the military to provide specialized backup support to the U.S. Border Patrol to protect our borders from illegal crossings. Our military has the technology, resources, experience, training and force strength to help the Border Patrol identify and intercept practically every foreigner who tries to cross our border illegally. Our military should be allowed the opportunity to help the Department of Homeland Security achieve its goal of security for American citizens. Currently, around one million illegal aliens a year settle in the U.S.

We are pleased to be working for this goal that a recent poll found is supported by two-thirds of Americans.

We also have nearly 6,500 signatures on our Urgent Petition for Immigration Policy Reform that we will soon send to President Bush and the members of the United States Congress.

To see how you can help make a difference visit our website at NumbersUSA.com

More work must be done. But these are important steps, and your support of NumbersUSA helped to make it happen.

Roy Beck
Executive Director
NumbersUSA
1601 N. Kent St. #1100
Arlington, VA 22209

[CIBvet]

Happy to announce that progress is apparently being made. Congratulations to all FReepers who took some time to lend a hand, make a call, send a fax etc. We ARE making a difference. Keep up the good work ... we still have a long way to go toward preserving OUR Borders, OUR language, and OUR American Culture.
Thanks again.

[Fiddlstix]

[Sir Gawain]

Poor undocumented workers!

[Carbonsteel]

Ping

[CIBvet]

Good news ping !!

[CIBvet]

Woo Hoo ping !!

[henderson field]

By protecting our security, jobs, and resources, Numbers USA is also protecting our national culture. Thank you.

[CIBvet]

Good news today !!

[CIBvet]

Maybe the ILLEGALS will start runnin the other way someday !!

[hattend]

BTTT

[Beck_isright]

Sorry to shout....BUT....

ABOUT FREAKIN TIME!!!!!

[SandRat]

The US House has taken a very important first step toward using the mightiest military in world history to protect our borders from illegal crossings. HR. 1588 passed by a tally of 361-68. The Goode amendment to that bill provided that "the Secretary of Defense can assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps . . . to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protections functions."

MEGABUMP!

[litehaus]

BTTT Best news since the market closed.............

[CIBvet]

Might even be a nice idea to send them a little token of appreciation.

[Lady Eileen]

bump

[CIBvet]

Hey, maybe I won't have to learn Espanol afterall, just to function in MY town.

[NorseWood]

Killing and breaking invaders is fine with me

[Ohioan]

"Can assign" is not the same thing as "shall assign."

I will keep my fingers crossed that this actually leads to something positive. But I am not very optimistic. Still, I must commend you for fighting for what is right.

Our immigration policy--even the legal part of it--is a disaster. See An American Immigration Policy.

William Flax

[CIBvet]

Maybe ... just MAYBE ... we could use our National Guard units to guard our Nation ??!!

... instead of spreading them all around the d*#$ world running interferance for our Trans-National Corporations.

[texastoo]

Can you imagine Bush signing this??????

[OpusatFR]

Nope just Farsi.
I swear this place looks like Tehran. I think the borders are closing too late.....

[Graewoulf]

Does this new legislation have stiffer penalties for those who employ the illegal immigrants?

As long as the employers of illegals are not severely penalized, the economic gradient will favor more illegals to pull down the U. S. Economy.

[HiJinx]

The purpose of the ARMY is to kill people and break things

Fine, we'll just put the NAVY on the border, then!

But seriously, you don't think America's armed forces have the intelligence and ability to perform as border guards?

Thank you very much for your vote of confidence.

OBTW, your argument is what Rush used to persuade us that soldiers shouldn't be used as wait staff for White House parties...it doesn't work the way you used it.

[HiJinx]

I know what you're saying, but I think a $10,000 per person fine for employees who don't have green cards is stiff enough. I just wish the Department of Labor would start levying those fines.

[FreePaul]

..."the Secretary of Defense can assign ...

I don't like the can in this. Also doesn't the Senate have to act on this and the President sign before it really means anything. Two major obstacles.

[ImpotentRage]

No! I cannot imagine Bush signing this. But doesn't it have to go to the Senate first? For some strange reason I seem to be doubtful....

[NorseWood]

If, if the Senate passed this, I cannot imagine that Bush would NOT sign it.

[Lady Eileen]

I moved from California ten years ago to escape this problem...now illegal immigrants have migrated to where I live. I think this is getting attention because they are now invading middle America in visible numbers.

[CIBvet]

You're absolutely correct. We must continue to apply pressure on a grassroots level, on our own local employers who are using ILLEGALS, with or w/o phoney documents.

I call their mgrs on the phone and let them know I know what they are up to, and will be happy to direct the appropriate authorities to their door when the time comes.

I believe the fine on the books ='s $10,000 per Illegal. Someone please correct me if I'm off.

[Graewoulf]

The illegals follow the money. Stop the money and the illegals will stop coming to the USA.

[HiJinx]

My wife was working HR at a major retailer 3 years ago and that was the fine, then. And yes, it applies to each violation.

If you have 2 dishwashers, 3 bus boys, and 4 waitresses in your restaurant who are not legal, you've bought yourself a $90,000 severance package for the lot of them.

[johnb838]

This particular whine has gone sour. I understand that fire and maneuver infantry units have trouble standing in defensive positions. However, if the Army takes a position, it has to be able to hold it. And if the Army takes a COUNTRY, it has to be able to occupy it. I'm speaking of Iraq now. We aren't talking UN Peacekeepers here.

What we need the Army to do is detect, interdict, and detain illegal border crossers who are violating the sovereignty of the United States of America. If they don't have the skill set, then by God we need to find somebody that does, not use it as an excuse to keep wringing our hands and letting it continue.

Personally, I think we need a HUGE military police training center. The way modern war is going, with asymmetry etc., I think MPs and lots of them are crucial to our security in the new century.

[Gritty]

Guarding the border is not in their job description.

From the Constitution:

Article 1, Section 8.
(Congress is to)... make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

It appears Congress is living up to it's responsibilites, finally. Of course, the Senate has yet to weigh in, so don't hold your breath.

Besides that, the military has decades of experience in securing borders and detecting interlopers. The Iron Curtain and Korea are two major border areas that come to mind. Before that, the Army guarded the Mexican border against the incursions of Pancho Villa and others.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

PiNgS

[Reaganwuzthebest]

I'd love to see this happen, it's long overdue but it has to pass the Senate, and didn't Lieberman just say putting the military on the borders would be anti-American?

That body, or at least some in it takes a different view when it comes to protecting the United States sadly. We got to really keep the pressure on them. Too bad the national media won't cover it.

[Poohbah]

What we need the Army to do is detect, interdict, and detain illegal border crossers who are violating the sovereignty of the United States of America.

In other words, you propose turning the Army into an police force that is overarmed and undertrained for the mission.

If they don't have the skill set, then by God we need to find somebody that does, not use it as an excuse to keep wringing our hands and letting it continue.

We do have an organization with the skill set: the Border Patrol. We need to increase the size of that organization.

[Imagine]

ACTION PLAN: Border Violators

1) Close all US borders to illegal entry by forthwith with all means possible, including military presence.

2) Maintain legitimate immigration levels at modest annual level with requirements that immigrants be employable or sufficiently wealthy for self-support if they do not intend to work, proficient in basic English and willing to be assimilated into American culture and language. All applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples.

3) Legal immigration shall be awarded to individuals on a lottery basis, wherein all countries are given equal status in the immigration lottery, without regards to color or economic plight of originating nation.

4) Those from Muslim countries, or individuals of Islamic faith from any country, shall be denied immigration privileges to the US.

5) Detain all border violators, taking photos, prints and DNA samples of said violator while at the same time, checking for out standing warrants. If no warrants are outstanding, return border violators to home country within 20 days via commercial airline and submit cost of such action, including processing and housing costs for said violator, to country of origin. If costs are not paid within 30 days, reduce any and all aid to said country by a like amount.

6) Should any country from which a border violator originates not currently receive any aid from the US, the Justice Department shall be authorized to seize or secure liens on assets owned, managed or registered to that country to the full extent of the obligation.

7) Establish new Guest Worker Visa (GWV) category, renewable every 6 months, for unskilled labor positions wherein all applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples. Work permitted of such applicants shall be limited to one of several categories, including childcare, lawn/gardening, restaurant staff, cleaning and the like. Families of GWV workers are not permitted to enter US, nor will the birth of a child to one of GWV status confer citizenship to either parent or child.

8) Any violation of civil or criminal laws shall result in the forfeiture of the GWV and immediate return to originating country.

9) GWV holders shall be prohibited from claiming unemployment benefits, welfare support or free medical service.

10) The originating country of all GWV holders shall be responsible for any uninsured loss caused by the GWV, including emergency medical claims and/or claims resulting from illegal actions committed while in the US.

11) Companies who hire GWV holders shall submit to the immigration dept the name and GWV number of that individual so employed, along with a description of employment tasks. Companies who fail to report employment of GWV workers, or hire illegal workers shall be subject to penalty. GWV workers shall be paid with check, having income tax withheld. GWV workers shall not be subject to unemployment tax because they are not eligible for unemployment claims.

12) Border violators, or any non-citizen not possessing a valid visa, detained by local police for any reason shall be turned over to immigration officials for immediate deportation action, except if they face criminal charges in other jurisdictions.

13) GWV workers shall be prohibited for voting in local, state and federal elections.

[Beck_isright]

"The purpose of the ARMY is to kill people and break things. Guarding the border is not in their job description."

So Mr. "ARMY" expert, why did we keep over 100,000 troops deployed to protect the West German border for 40 years? For that matter, why do we have half a division protecting the Syrian-Iraqi border? Or the Iran-Iraq border? Or the Bosnia-Serbia border? Or the North Korea-South Korea border? Or the Afghanistan-Iran border? Or the Afghanistan-Pakistan border? Or the Albanian-Serbian border? Or the Macedonian-Albanian border? Get the point yet?

[Imagine]

I love the points you make.

[Tancredo Fan]

Guarding the border is not in their job description.

What? That's absurd. One of the primary jobs of the government is to stop invasion.... and that's precisely what's going on here, in case you haven't noticed. If they can do it in Bosnia, they can do it here. And they'd better.

[CIBvet]

You ought to email that list to Presidente Jorge and his sidekick Carlos Rove.

Lots of good ideas there. Thanks

[Beck_isright]

Thank you. Having been in the military, our purpose was to kill people, break things, and secure territory. If we don't want to secure our home territory, then why the hell bother to have a military?

[microgood]

As long as the employers of illegals are not severely penalized, the economic gradient will favor more illegals to pull down the U. S. Economy.

I agree. The schools should find out who the parents work for and bill them directly for the cost of sending that child to school and hospitals should do the same. That would be a start.

[Beck_isright]

I've proposed this in other posts and the weenies said I would crush our economy and it was too cruel. I proposed a $50,000 per illegal fine to any employer. If it was not paid within 10 days of the levy, the business can be seized and auctioned off. This includes farm labor. That would end the illegal invasion overnight.

[Dubya]

The Enlisted Oath

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Eagle, Globe, Anchor

The Marine emblem - Eagle, Globe and Anchor - symbolizes distant service under the American eagle by air, land and sea, representing our nation's interests "in every clime and place." The symbol was adopted in 1868 and is perhaps the most recognized insignia in the world.

[MeekOneGOP]

So is Bush for this? I don't think he is ??

[dalebert]

What took so long?