Immigration Reform part II

 “I absolutely believe that the next attack we have will come from somebody who has come across the border illegally. Anybody who believes we’re safer [since 9-11], they’re living in Neverland.” – Eugene Danes, retired deputy director of the Border Patrol sector in Blaine, WA.

 

Five years after 9-11 our nation is still facing virtually open borders and non-enforcement of existing immigration laws.

One problem is the severe shortage of Border Patrol agents. Although about 1,300 agents have been added since 2001, there still aren’t nearly enough—currently about 11,000—to protect the 6,900 miles of border the United States shares with Canada and Mexico. And terrorists know this.

In recent years, al-Qaeda operatives have begun spending time in Mexico and other Latin-American countries to absorb the language and culture and prepare to cross the US border—sometimes with the help of smugglers.

In addition, over 40,000 “OTMs”—a Border Patrol acronym for “other than Mexicans”—were allowed into the United States in 2004. OTMs include those from “special interest” nations—countries known for sponsoring or supporting terrorism, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. When caught by the Border Patrol, OTMs, like so many other illegal border crossers, are typically arrested and released with a “promiso,” a promissory document stating that they will show up for their immigration hearings. Most don’t show.

In 2005, FBI Director Robert Mueller told the House Appropriations Committee that he was aware that individuals from countries with known al-Qaeda ties had entered the United States under false identities.

Environment:

“California cities and counties continue to dominate the list of places with the highest number of days with high air pollution.” – The American Lung Association of California

California is famous for its smog. In a 2006 nationwide American Lung Association air quality study, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside area continued to top two of the lists of most polluted regions in the nation, while Bakersfield moved into the spot of the most ozone-polluted. Kern County was also one of the most polluted counties for ozone, while Riverside topped particle pollution lists. Eight other California metro areas also ranked among the worst cities in America for short-term particle pollution: Bakersfield at 2nd; Fresno-Madera at 3rd; Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Truckee, CA-NV at 8th; Visalia-Porterville at 11th; Hanford-Corcoran at 13th; San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos at 14th; Modesto at 18th; San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland tied for 20th; and Merced came in at 23rd.

And air pollution is just one of the environmental problems facing our state. Because of rampant population growth, we’re also experiencing degradation of our ground water; pollution of our lakes, rivers and streams; destruction of forests, national parks, and natural habitats; wildfires and forest fires—often caused by migrating illegal immigrants; over-consumption of precious natural resources; deadly sewage on our beaches; continually expanding urban sprawl; and more.

Experts agree that the most dangerous problem facing our environment now and in the future—whether local, national, or global—is human overpopulation.

California is one of the most environmentally sensitive and biologically diverse regions in the world, and to many of its residents, the most beautiful. But now, as our state population explodes, that’s all changing. How long can such a sensitive and diverse system last in the face of pollution, overdevelopment, and so many other types of human encroachment?

“One of the greatest scams the federal government has ever imposed upon taxpayers across the country is unfunded federal mandates, and education costs and health care costs [for immigrants] imposed by the federal government on local taxpayers without reimbursement is not only unfair, it is a scandal.” – Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

Taxpayers are being stuck with the bill for illegal immigration across the nation, but Californians are hit especially hard. In 2004 alone, the education, health care, and incarceration of illegal aliens cost California taxpayers a total of $10.5 billion. Two years later, the costs have undoubtedly gone up with the number of aliens living in our state and taking advantage of taxpayer-funded services.

Often referred to as “cheap labor,” illegal immigrants come at a high price to taxpayers—in our state and across the nation. Ironically, “open borders” advocates often use the argument that illegal aliens have a net positive effect on local, state, and national economies. But according to a growing body of research, illegal immigrants consume far more than they contribute to the nation, and what they do contribute is grossly disproportionate.