President Obama’s immigration speech in El Paso today is a poor substitute for the real border security the country still desperately needs. And it was a transparent attempt to keep using illegal immigration as a campaign issue, as President Obama made no attempt to solve this problem during the two years his party held huge majorities in both houses of Congress. His own administration has not done its job to finish the border fence that is a critical part of keeping Americans safe and stopping illegal immigration.
Rather than holding immigration summits at the White House with special interests and making speeches, President Obama should direct the members of his administration tasked with homeland security and patrolling the border to enact measures that have already been made law by Congress.
Five years ago, legislation was passed to build a 700-mile double-layer border fence along the southwest border. This is a promise that has not been kept.
Today, according to staff at the Department of Homeland Security, just 5 percent of the double-layer fencing is complete, only 36.3 miles.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s investigative arm, reported in early 2009 that only 32 miles of double-layer fencing had been built. That means under President Obama, only 4.3 miles of double layer fencing has been built. This is woefully inadequate.
While the border-fence construction lags, Mexican cartels continue to smuggle drugs, weapons, and illegal aliens into our country, attracting violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Annual Statistical Report for Fiscal Year 2009 stated that “violence along the border of the United States and Mexico has increased dramatically in recent years.” Citing a National Drug Intelligence Center report, it continued, “Mexican drug trafficking organizations represent the greatest organized crime threat to the United States and the influence of Mexican drug trafficking organizations over domestic drug trafficking is unrivaled.”
Last month, officials in Brownsville, Texas, found a homemade, improvised explosive device on Highway 77 that resembled the bombs used against U.S. troops in the Middle East and by Mexican drug cartels.
The government has even warned Americans not to travel in certain areas of the southwest because of crime. In June 2010, the U.S. Department of Interior posted signs near the Sonoran Desert National Monument that read, “travel not recommended,” warning the public that it was considered an “active drug and human smuggling area.”
This is an embarrassment. Americans should be free to move about the country without fear of being confronted by human smugglers and drug dealers.
Yet, alarming statistics demonstrating how dangerous our borders have become continue to pour in.
Kumar C. Kibble, the deputy director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security, recently testified that more than half of the illegal aliens removed from the country last year, upwards of 195,000, were convicted criminals — the most ever removed from the country in a single year. But, even if ICE removes record numbers of illegal aliens from the country, it does little good if they are able to easily re-enter.
Despite the clear evidence of the serious dangers that remain at our unsecured borders, the president glossed over these problems today. In his campaign-style speech, the president wrongfully proclaimed he’s “answered those concerns” about border security and pushed for passage of amnesty proposals in Congress.
Our nation’s borders are fundamental to our national security and sovereignty. Americans shouldn’t be forced to live under the threat of kidnappings, drug violence, and gang activity because of political posturing in Washington. Security must be at the crux of any credible immigration policy.
A few weeks ago, celebrities like Eva Longoria of ABC’s Desperate Housewives were invited to the White House to offer their advice on immigration. At another White House event, Obama chatted with AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka about immigration. Trumka is a longtime amnesty advocate, and a close political ally that the president is counting on for help in his reelection. Labor unions are losing popularity nationwide and are hoping for an influx of millions of new dues-paying members if illegal immigrants are given amnesty.
Notably absent from those meetings was anyone advocating that the federal government keep its promise and follow the letter of the law by securing the borders and finishing the fence.
A border fence alone will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. We must also have interior enforcement of immigration law. But, Americans view the fence as a critical first step. That’s why every comprehensive immigration plan has failed so far and why Obama’s speech today will likely be ignored by Congress.
Only when the border is secure will Americans trust Washington to pass broader reforms to create an immigration system that works. They know speeches and summits won’t begin to secure the border: The fence will.
— Jim DeMint is a U.S. senator from South Carolina.
Once again, I am so glad that I dodged the Vietnam-era draft. Here's the deal: I don't defend the USA, because the USA won't defend me. The difference is that Vietnam wasn't in the USA and thus not related to national defense; whereas illegal immigration IS within the USA and thus IS related to national defense.
Come on, let's face it: The US military does only two things. One is to train enlisted men for civil service jobs when they get out, so that they can join public employees unions and cripple the economy. The other is to act as an officer training ground for future corporate attorneys who will also cripple the economy when they get out. No actual national defense required, unless you count shooting an unarmed man.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell said, Senator.
The only reform there can be is enforcement of the existing laws. The status quo for illegals is de facto carte blanche to do whatever on earth they want to do. Amnesty is just continuing on the same terrible path of turning America into a lawless Third World society, divided between fundamentally different groups (the legal and English-speaking; and the illegal and Spanish-speaking) with huge income gaps, education gaps, etc.
Why can't any of the elite media understand that amnesty for the 11-15 million illegals (or maybe 20 million, for all we know) rewards lawlessness, encourages more of them (see: 1986's amnesty to end all amnesties), and most importantly provides NOTHING good for American citizens.
Why is it that my friends here legally, with high educational attainment and good salaries, have the feds hounding them if they slip up at all when re-entering the country and face deportation if they lose their job, while illegals get the run of the house? Why doesn't the president start worrying about the difficulties faced by the legal and educated in getting to America and staying here, rather than lamenting that the unskilled and uneducated illegals who get to do whatever they want, don't have citizenship? Cry me a river.
Let's face it: Today, the greatest problem -- and the single greatest existential threat to America -- is immigration.
What was once, and should now be, a virtue, has become an Achilles' Heel.
Instead of bringing in the world's best and brightest, we kick them out once they've collected their PhD, and allow the country to fill up with underskilled Latin American illegal aliens, the vast majority of whom (according to the Center for Immigration Studies' latest report) are on US government welfare, and whose children and grandchildren, and so on, perform well below the median educational attainment, income, etc.
Countries like Canada, Australia and NZ have increased their global competitiveness through skills-and-merit-based immigration points systems. They have open, fair and objective standards that let people from *everywhere on earth* (not just relying on a country adjacent to them) in on their skills and merits.
As a result, these countries have large, diverse immigrant populations that are socially mobile, fully assimilated, not a drain on government resources, and more likely to be sitting at the table next to you in the restaurant than washing your dishes.
In large part because we have a high level of immigration based on individuals who are unlikely in their lifetime ever to rise to the education or income standards of native-born Americans or H1-B/professional immigrants to the US, we have growing income inequality, declining test scores, stagnating or declining incomes -- and atrophying economic competitiveness. If we allow in millions of uneducated laborers who aren't ready for the global economy, our country becomes that much less competitive in the global economy.
A fair, geography- and race-agnostic, meritocratic system like Canada's is what the United States must move toward. To continue being economically competitive, we need to start a "smart immigration" policy. We'll never be able to ensure innovation, an ability to produce high-value exports, or any other pillars of a strong player in the global economy if we continue to have an immigration policy aimed at negatively impacting the most important factor in economic competitiveness: human capital.
The American people won't stand for our living standards, education level and income going down forever. We'll start heading for the exits -- for Canada -- and leave this place behind if this keeps up.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think this is the best issue for the Republicans in 2012. Both parties are split on immigration at the top, but the rank and file of the GOP want a secure border and so do most independents and a lot of Democrats.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSenator, please tell me why no one seems to have the guts besides the Govenor of Texas to confront the POTUS on this issue head on? It should be on the list of things every decent presidential candidate running to question and demand a public debate. Why isn't Congress conducting a public investigative hearing on this issue? Why does it seem that our representatives are so lame to confront this administration of crackpots on most issues that are affecting our American way of life? We get more bluster from commentators than we do from the people we elected to be our voice. C'mon Jim get in his face!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSenator, I have a question for you and your colleagues:
Darn near every restaurant in most big cities today is stocked almost exclusively with illegal labor (usually many times more people than are actually needed -- just like in Ancient Rome, having a slave-labor economy kills productivity). Ditto for the other culprits we all know and love: landscaping, hotel cleaning, agriculture, some construction. (All jobs that Americans have always done, still do, and would do more of if they could, by the way.)
I've got some experience working in restaurants, and I know that they aren't just hiring people walking in the door. They have a sophisticated network of labor supply. They know how to get people immediately if they want them. There is a huge human-smuggling ring that tons of restaurants are connected to. And it's all run by the cartels.
When is Congress actually going to investigate this? The tentacles of the cartels are reaching not only into our big cities these days, but our town centers across the country. They are one of the biggest labor suppliers there is.
Maybe they use the same infrastructure to sell drugs, prostitution, etc., or maybe they don't. They're breaking the law, destroying our communities, and keeping American citizens unemployed as it is.
When will Congress investigate this, the largest organized crime operation in the country? Why have we heard ZILCH about it?
Seriously, it's time to restore the law, and restore normality to our country. The people want to see Congress finally recognize, and investigate, what every American already knows, and worries about, every day.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Senator is woefully wrong, and as usual, displays the ignorance of of his teabagger cronies. Doesn't he know that it is SPEECHES, particularly OBAMA SPEECHES, that can truly change the world. His speeches have slowed the rise of the ocean, fixed the economy, created or saved billions of jobs (mostly czars), fixed the BP oil spill, ended racism among cops, and increased our collective tire pressure. Heck, his campaign speeches are expected to generate one billion dollars. The way he pounds that podium while looking meaningfully into theTeleprompter of the United States just exudes leadership. I hear the Queen of England has copies of Obama Speeches on her iPod. I bet she doesn't even know who Jim Demint is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThanks ACFUNK - I forgot to give Obama credit for my 1/2 mile per gallon fuel increase on my gas guzzling SUV. I always insist now when I rotate my tires to make sure my tire pressure is perfect!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOnly when the border is secure will Americans trust Washington to pass broader reforms to create an immigration system that works. They know speeches and summits won’t begin to secure the border: The fence will.
Senator DeMint is badly wrong. A fence is a symbol, nothing more.
We must not reform immigration in exchange for the fence, our current immigration system serves our needs well, and things like H1Bs can be expanded if needed, and with unemployment as high as it is, it is NOT NEEDED.
Amnesty in exchange for a fence is a horrible deal.
Senator DeMint should get serious about requiring all illegals to comply with the laws and leave, and re-apply from their home countries in accordance with the law.
DeMint is often held up as a conservative stalwart, but if he is willing to trade immigration reform (read "amnesty, legal status, path to citizenship, and chain migration, all by the millions") then he is doing what the right so often does, and that is loading the bases for the left.
Wake up Jim, and stand up for the laws of our country.
No immigration reform is needed any time soon. Enforce the laws, or resign.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseVery good column Sen. DeMint and thank you for opposing amnesty.
I would just add that we want the border secured and laws enforced period (not just "first") with no subsequent "path to citizenship" amnesty schemes.
Once we enforce our current laws and cut off the jobs, most illegal aliens will return home over time which will negate the need for mass deportations or another amnesty scheme.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, Obamanites rejoice. All these destructive issues are alive and Obama is using them to kick America's butt. He's an alien invader (No, hold your horses, I'll stipulate that he was born in Hawaii). Fronting for his Chicago controllers, he's the Snidely Whiplash president, holding the country bound on the tracks like Polly Pureheart, with an oncoming train, the $80 Trillion Special, bounding down the tracks, smoke and sparks flying. He's saying with a snarl, "OK, you want your country back? You need to give me this and this..."
What are we gonna tell Snidely? Our Republican candidates aren't charismatic enough? We're already tired of being slimed by the leftist Fourth Estate, which we call Lamestream Media? They're ganging up on us, unfair unfair? We're in a fight, folks. We aren't likely to win with an empty suit rockstar; that's already been a disaster which will not bear repeating. But that's what America will vote for, unless something big changes. If we lose to Snidely without electoral realism and without a real fight, we'll deserve what we get. We need to find an electable candidate. Whether he bows to conservative icons or not, he needs to be in tune with the Tea Party and with Paul Ryan. And of course he can be a minority or a woman or both. Look out Snidely Whiplash, your days are numbered!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSenator DeMint, as a Texan, I am fully aware of the effects of illegal immigration on my state. Perhaps you are unaware of what happened in Houston in February. A prostitution ring was busted in North Houston. The woman who headed the prostitution ring was a 46 year old illegal who had been bringing illegal girls, some as young as 14, into my state for the purpose of prostitution. Nine young girls, all illegals, had been forced to sell themselves to make money for this illegal woman.
Why is it that all we ever hear is how the illegals only want to come to the U.S. to work and help support their families? Why is it that none of the facts are reported, like a recent government report that illegals who have been deported by this current administration had an average of 7 previous arrests before we deported them?
We, in the border states, have had it. Perhaps instead of meeting with celebrities who are Hispanic, President Obama should come talk to some of our Tejanos who have been victims of the crimes of illegals. Is our immigration policy broken? You bet. As the President makes teleprompter speeches promising illegals they will get a pass, my friend, a man who was a university professor in Kenya, had to wait six years to be allowed to come to the United States. A Christian man, with two beautiful children and a lovely wife, is also visited by Immigration services at home, at his job, to the point of what I would consider it over the top, and yet, we can't ask people who are arrested if they are illegals? What is wrong with that picture?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSenator, perhaps you can persuade the President to take his family on a little vacation to a national park in southern Arizona. After all, it's all safe, right?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAlong with the presidents out and out lying about the border being fenced and it being more secure I am furious that he repeatedly referred to us, the citizens of this country who want our border secured as "They"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThey wanted a fence..They wanted troops....( They..the enemy) when he should have said the citizens..not They.
How dare he speak of the citizens of this country that way...well this citizen and her family are all Independents who will now be the They who will never vote for him!!!
"Americans shouldn’t be forced to live under the threat of kidnappings, drug violence, and gang activity because of political posturing in Washington."
So Mr. President Obama, quit POSTURING!
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