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.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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)
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| (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.
