March 30, 2006
Security & Immigration
With 11 million undocumented people in this country how many are anti-American? Would it be possible that perhaps as few as say, 19 are the really dangerous trouble makers?
... and it fully 3% of people on American soil are here without the consent of the nation, how long before a group hostile to our interests gets a few of their compatriots in?
The immigrants who come to work in this country for the opportunities, I really don't worry too much about. They understand and appreciate America for what it is. The land of boundless opportunity for those with sufficent motivation.
It's the ones that come for the opportunity to do damage that you can lose sleep over.
Immigration Posted by AlexC at March 30, 2006 11:39 AM
I worry about our nation's security as well, AlexC. But worrying about 19 people out of 300 million, I don't see why your concern is the Mexican border.
The Canadian border is more porous and has already been used by terrorists, the student visa program is out of hand. The Mexican border has not been a crossing for terrorists yet protectionists and xenophobes are ready to use national security as an excuse to shut it down.
If the concern is security, it seems we are in a lot more danger from Wahabist chaplains in US prisons and terror sympathizers already here.
Yet the call is clear: we must shut down the border -- for national security. Sorry, I don't buy it.
Posted by: jk at March 30, 2006 12:02 PMJK, I never said Mexican border.
And I was thinking of the millenium bombers that were caught coming through the Canadian border in Washington State.
I'm talking borders in general, not individuals or countries.
The actual crossings. The lines cut through the woods, student visas, regular over-extended visa stays, etc.
... and how do you know the Mexican border hasn't been used for a terrorist or sympathizer crossing? Maybe they're already here, waiting.
It's disappointing that I'm immediately labelled a xenophobe. That's a cheap way to change the debate. It's not xenophobia.
Like I said, the ones that care about this country, I don't mind. It's the ones that don't, that I do mind.
Posted by: AlexC at March 30, 2006 12:20 PMOne step back. I had no intention of calling you a xenophobe. And, perhaps, my comments were not well directed at this post. Yet I see an alliance of a protectionist left with a xenophobic right that scares me greatly.
To come back to your post. I would not use the word immigrant to describe a terrorist. Immigrants come here to participate in the economy (and yes, might do it some harm) but the ones who come to destroy our way of life are called "terrorists" and are not a part of the immigration debate.
Posted by: jk at March 30, 2006 1:06 PMHow can you say they're not part of the debate?
Our defacto "open border" policy does not discriminate by ambition!
Posted by: AlexC at March 31, 2006 12:31 PMWe're software guys, let me try patterns:
1) I favor decriminalization of most drugs, and -- not to become Amsterdam or anything -- legalized prostitution.
2) I support the right of honest citizens to own firearms.
Both of these have severe consequences for abuse. Yet I would like to see my local police have the resources to find and prosecute those who drive drunk/high and commit crimes with firearms. Triple those penalties. Get tough.
Likewise, if we allowed the OVERWHELMING majority of those who just want to participate in our economy to come legally and orderly and traceably, we could devote far more resources to stopping, finding and removing terrorists.
Posted by: jk at March 31, 2006 6:03 PM | What do you think? [5]