Secure Our Southern Border!

The controversy of our porous Southern border continues. Governors, the President, the media and citizens weigh in endlessly. President Obama and Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer seemed to brew and stew over the border issues recently. (http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/2012/01/25/20120125brewer-obama-exchange-tense-words-immigration.html) No matter from what perspective you approach this issue, most of us end up at the same place: we need a secure Southern border. First, let me list the reasons we should agree to secure our border.


Brewing Up Tension
(Photo courtesy of Associated Press)



        1. We should not feel guilty about wanting to secure and protect the sovereignty of territory of the United States.

        2. Porous borders invite terrorists' attacks in the Homeland. We must and should defend ourselves.

        3. The rule of law must prevail in all circumstances; this border issue stands no different.

        4. The safety of our citizens and property must take first priority. We cannot ignore our need to provide for the national defense.

        5. The border security remains an issue of national defense. As one state suffers, so suffer we all. I can list more but that should be sufficient to support my claim that our border should be secured.

The difficult question: How can we secure the border? What can we do? To most the answer seems simple enough but others protest fearing the possible violation human rights, disrupting our international relations with Mexico or angering our US Hispanic population. Come let us reason together!

All Governors of states along the border should ask for a declaration of a national emergency. Certainly most would agree that our Sourthern border burns in the fire of a national emergency. The President could then issue such an act that could last for two years allowing for direct and immediate federal funds to be distributed to these states for the securing the border. Here's what we need to do:

•       The Govenors should call out the National Guard in each border state. We must station these troops on the border to assist the Border Patrol in stopping the flow of illegals into the country. Use the first 100 mile parameter as the emergency limit and transport transgressors immediately back into Mexico. In contrast, the Border Patrol can continue to monitor the legal flow of traffice between Mexico and the US to protect business and trade. (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21729.pdf) (http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/05/24/where-is-the-border-with-mexico-at-the-official-border-or-100-miles-inland/)

•        We must begin immediately constructing a fence/wall all along the Southern border. I'm not sure why so many scream foul when we suggest this. Some say, "It will cost too much." I say, "Unfettered border crossings cost us millions each year." (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2008/0401/p01s05-usgn.html) With federal and state funds, this can be accomplished within the two year time period. If we can dig a canal in Panama; if we can build thousands of war planes in a state of war; if we can construct interstate highways to stretch the length of our country, I have no doubt that American ingenuity can build a protective border between our country and Mexico. I have a door in my office. I close the door when I'm extremely busy and then I open the door when my work load slows. By controlling this gateway, I control the flow of visitors. The United States serves as our home. We have a right to open and close the door.

Have a Heart! Secure the Border!

•       Human rights activists should applaud this action of properly securing the border. The illegal travelers pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to secure a passage guide to show the way through dangerous paths across the border. Hundreds of women, children and the elderly succumb to the grip of the elements trying to reach the Promised Land (the US). We will save hundreds of lives every month by getting a handle on the rampant, illegal migration over the border. I think it odd that those who claim concern for the undocumented do not endorse a barrier to protect these innocent victims from scams, coyotes and cheats.   (http://borderwallinthenews.blogspot.com/2012/01/migrant-deaths-in-arizona-fell-in-2011.html)

•     We watched in horror as hundreds and thousands suffered (and continue to suffer) from the raging storm of Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. We seemed incapable of doing anything to stem the tide of that flood water that poured through the levies that burst. Since then, the Corps of Engineers have successfully repaired, replaced or rebuilt many of those levies. (http://www.usace.army.mil/) Now we watch another storm surge in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California as waves of humans pour across the borders into our country. Most of these folk want to work, improve their quality of life or live the American Dream. We always welcome the immigrant. We need the energy, power and strengths of the immigrant. Yet, we have the right and responsibility to open and close the door at the appropriate times. By-the-way, I know the Corps of Engineers could build the fence/wall within two years. They built the Pentagon in 16 months my friends. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/building-the-pentagon-pre_n_952080.html)



(Photo Courtesy  US Air Force)



•    The securing of the Southern border will create thousands of jobs. Suppliers of concrete, fencing and other construction materials will literally put thousands of people to work and keep them employed for years. We will need translators, engineers, contractors, truckers, heavy machine operators and a multitude of other employees. This will help improve our economy and improve our relationship with Mexico. At the same time we create jobs, we will cut down on the drug trade between the two countries which will save additional lives. Surely I don't need to remind you of the thousands dying because of the drug cartels operating on both sides of the border? We must stop the violence with the rule of law.  (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/us-guns-mexico-drug-cartels)

Let us stop making excuses and secure our Southern border. This hideous circumstance not only affects millions of US citizens in the four border states but also touches all of us in the nation. Our economy, culture and national soverignty remains in peril. If you have not read the first installment of this treatise (my blog entry promoting a national work card) then let me affirm that I have a heart for the marginalized, the victimized and the wounded of this world. (http://folknography.blogspot.com/2012/01/national-work-identification-card.html) What can you do? Call for the securing of the border...but not because you dislike Mexicans. Don't argue out of selfishness or anger. Let us be realistic and express our concern to our law makers and leaders. The time has come for us to repair the door to our home. We can do this. We cannot afford to leave the door open any longer. This is a case of national urgency.

National Work Identification Card

I've been thinking about this for several weeks now. We need a national work identification card. Imagine how much trouble, anguish and pain this would alleviate?  Seriously, we need to consider a two pronged approach to our illegal immigration problem. I will tackle this problem in two blog entries and, although unusual for me, I will present the last step first, I know this may seem strange but I feel very strongly about this entire concept.

I began  thinking about this since a previous blog entry about undocumented workers. The remedy seems so simple to me. In fact, the idea seemed so simple that I worried it could never work. Surely, I feared, the idea was full of flaws. Yet, the whole concept continued to gnaw at me. I believe this proposal has wings. Come, let us reason together.

The fact stands perfectly clear. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers live and work among us here in the United States. I know that many of them have broken laws to be here. But you cannot deny the fact that these people now live here, work here and mix among us. You cannot call this an amnesty program. I do not propose we grant citizenship to these workers. In fact, I'm convinced that the people spewing forth errors and misinformation clouds the national debate about this topic. They confuse the idea of citizenship, residency and permission to work. I am advocating permission to work for those living here now.

I propose we begin issuing a national working card (A National Work Permit). We can take photos, finger prints and create a clean looking card with a magnetic strip loaded with information.We will make sure these folk work for some entity here in the US. For example, we will not issue these at the border which would only attract more illegals (we will present our ideas on securing the border in the next blog entry). Those not working do not qualify.I know for a fact, however, that 9 out of the 10 undocumented workers in this country work. They made the perilous journey through the desert, in trucks or by boat in order to find a better life (work). We should continue the policy of deporting those who break the law or will not work. We can create a national data base so that the individuals can be tracked. Most of these people would gladly register, comply with the regulations and continue making their contributions to the social structure and cultural fabric of the United States. I don't claim this idea as an original one. Other countries issue these cards and have great success with the plan. The action would bring order to chaos and organization to the disarray.

Now let's consider something very important. Let's use the Postal Service to achieve this plan. I stewed over who would do this registration and implement the plan. The Postal Service needs a new assignment because snail mail continues to diminish in importance. Soon the Post Office will only have a few postal boxes and package delivery. Introduce a national worker's permit to the mix and the remaining post offices will once again become bee hives of activity. The physical buildings stand conveniently located throughout the country so we need not invest additional resources in offices or stations. We even create jobs in the process.

Now before Labor Unions send someone to introduce me to a freshly made Louisville Slugger, I want to make something perfectly clear: these undocumented workers do not take jobs from hard working Americans! These workers take the jobs hardworking Americans do not want to do. I translate for courts, law enforcement and numerous manufacturing entities in the region. Over the past ten years, time after time plant superintendents, human resource directors and many other employers have repeated a similar statement: "These people will show up, work and do the jobs the locals don't want to do anymore." I've translated in tobacco fields, food processing plants, restaurants, construction sites and lumber mills. These folk do not take American jobs. They do jobs Americans avoid.

Now you have my proposal. Legislators and writers can construct the national bill. The then documented workers can apply for citizenship in the regular way...we won't give it away. We can even issue partial drivers licenses if we wish...so they can drive to work. (Most of the workers walk, use bicycles or take public transportation to get to their jobs now though so the licenses may not be necessary). We issue part-time driving privileges to people caught driving while intoxicated. Seems like a rational move to me to let them take the tests and secure a license if they wish to follow the rules like anyone else.

In any case, let's talk about this. The workers live among us. Yes, I know that we must secure the borders (be watching for the next blog entry). No, don't issue amnesty. Let's register them. Let's find out who lives among us. Let them use their real names, birth dates, and places of birth. We will be happier, safer and all of us can continue to go down to the local Mexican restaurant for an authentic meal. Let's let'em work!