The American Legion has always supported muscular immigration enforcement, but the veterans’ group hasn’t usually been active in lobbying on the issue. That’s changed as the Legion has grown increasingly alarmed at Washington’s manifest unwillingness to defend America’s sovereignty. The Legion came out last week against any legislation that would legalize illegal aliens, and instead called for a policy of attrition through enforcement. The press release is here, and the longer white paper is here, detailing not only the enforcement strategy but also calling for reductions in legal immigration and more energetic efforts at assimilation. The white paper finishes by quoting Teddy Roosevelt’s 1907 speech: “We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Could the president or any of the candidates utter these words today?