Citizenship and Immigration

By Mark Alexander · Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Debate on the Fate of Illegal Migrants

"Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming ... to our established rules." --Thomas Jefferson, May 2, 1801

The current debate over the fate of migrants who have illegally entered the United States is a complicated one, not solvable by simply re-warming President Dwight Eisenhower's 1954 "Operation Wetback." Were we to round up the estimated 12 to 18 million Latinos and Hispanics currently here illegally and dump them across our southern border into Mexico, it would have a dramatic impact on some areas of the country, and the illegals would be right back in short order, given the present state of our border insecurity.

What is not complicated is the requirement and necessity of enforcing the law, which in this matter stipulates that every person within the political borders of the U.S. who is not a citizen should be documented and either authorized to be here by way of temporary permits, qualified for the strenuous legal process to seek citizenship, or deported. It is equally clear that in order to secure our nation from re-entry by deported illegal migrants, we must secure our borders.

Citizenship is much more than a birthright for indigenous Americans, or a legal change in nationality for immigrants. It is the embodiment of American Patriotism, a steadfast devotion to the First Principles of our nation's founding -- individual Liberty as "endowed by our Creator," and the obligation to extend that legacy to our posterity.

In the words of George Washington, "Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations."

Patriotic devotion to Liberty will always be in contest with its antithesis, allegiance to the state or its sovereigns. Never has that been more true than in the current political climate, where the Democrat Party establishes authority over people by dividing them according to race, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, ethnicity, wealth, ad infinitum, and indoctrinating these separate constituencies with the pretense that they must depend on Democratic Socialism for their protection, if not outright salvation.

In regard to immigration, the Democrats' "divide and conquer" strategy will, in the words of historian and noted liberal Arthur Schlesinger, "disunite America." Schlesinger's liberal colleagues ostracized him when he first published his 1992 book, "The Disuniting of America," and accused him of betraying his impeccable liberal credentials as a former senior advisor to Democrat icon John F. Kennedy. But the premise of his book was, and remains, absolutely correct.

Schlesinger argued two decades ago that the cult of ethnicity manifesting as subgroup ethnocentric identities, and supported by errant programs such as bilingual education, would divide the nation, thus putting at risk the patriotic devotion that has bonded previous generations of immigrants into one nationality.

Of course, Democrats today, who seek to foment division, are banking on that ethnic division as they attempt to supplant patriotic devotion to America with a collective allegiance to their statist regime.

To that end, Democrat National Committee chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has condemned conservatives who want to enforce the law as it pertains to illegal migrants. "I think the president was clearly articulating that his position -- the Democrats' position -- is that we need comprehensive immigration reform," said Wasserman Schultz. "We have 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country that are part of the backbone of our economy. And that is not only a reality but a necessity."

What Wasserman Schultz and the titular head of her party, Barack Hussein Obama, mean by "immigration reform" is a fast-track pass to citizenship, not for humane or economic imperatives, but to amass legions of additional dependents to vote for Democrats.

Obama insists, "immigration reform is a moral imperative," and he reiterated his call for reform down on the Mexican border recently, declaring that the melting pot of immigrants is "as old as America itself. E Pluribus, Unum. Out of many, one."

Memo to Barry: Our nation's original motto, E Pluribus Unum, proposed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1776, has nothing to do with uniting American citizens and illegal migrants. Instead, it refers to the uniting of 13 colonies into one nation. At that time, the vast majority of colonial Americans were of Anglo ancestry, not Kenyan, Indonesian or Hawaiian. Perhaps such historical details are not important to a "community organizer."

Obama's advocacy for blanket amnesty is unlawful, and it most assuredly will not lead to a "concentration of affections" or the "exaltation of the just pride of Patriotism" envisioned by our Founders and necessary to sustain Liberty.

In regard to the economic arguments for Obama's so-called "reforms," I have reviewed countless reports on the economic impact of illegal migrants in the U.S. from both conservative and liberal sources. From these, I draw the following conclusions.

First, on balance some two million Americans have lost their jobs to illegal migrants at great cost to the nation in terms of the unemployment and welfare benefits redistributed from taxpayers to the jobless. Those costs outweigh the economic benefit to select corporate sectors.

However, I also find that, despite much ranting to the contrary, there are between two and four million low-skill and low-paying jobs in the U.S. that would not be filled by domestic labor if illegal migrants were excluded from those jobs, because it is easier to live on government subsidies than on wages earned picking vegetables in the heat of summer.

Second, I conclude that the net cost of providing health care, housing, education and welfare, in addition to the cost of law enforcement and incarceration for all illegal migrants, far exceeds any value that they add to the U.S. economy, at least because their numbers far exceed the capacity of our economy to absorb them. Astonishingly, that cost is more than $1,000 per citizen-headed household in America.

But these economic arguments, pro or con, are straw-man diversions. While we can debate the economic benefits and detriments of illegal migrants, we must, first and foremost, uphold the law.

Of course, Democrats shape the law into whatever serves their agenda, regardless of the Rule of Law enshrined in our Constitution, and in perpetual violation of their "sacred oaths" to support and defend the same.

That is most evident in the Left's argument for birthright citizenship, which asserts that "anchor babies" born to illegal migrants in the U.S. give the parents automatic standing to remain in the U.S. No matter that the 14th Amendment is clear in its exclusion that illegal migrants are not "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" and therefore their children born here have no birthright to citizenship. Unfortunately, that amendment has been, in effect, rewritten by judicial diktat, thus overruling that exclusion even in clear violation of its original intent.

Many of the states most heavily affected by the cost burden of illegal migrants are crafting legislation to deny citizenship to anchor babies, and thus their families. Meanwhile, the number of liberal "sanctuary cities" refusing to prosecute illegal migrants grows.

Perhaps the greatest injustice served up by the Democrats' "wink and nod" approach to the illegal migrant issue is the insult to those who have become citizens the hard way: Those who earned it. This would include the tens of thousands who joined our military as a means to citizenship, and millions of others who have persevered through the considerable demands and costs of the legal immigration process. They have shown due respect for the law.

Among my colleagues is a man who emigrated from the former Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. He grew up in Bratislava, on the border with Austria. His family garden had a backdrop of high-voltage barbed wire guarded by sentinels in sniper towers every few hundred meters, and sentries with dogs walking the fence line. He tells stories of those who attempted to reach freedom on the outside, most of whom did not make it and many of whom were shot.

He had always dreamed of fleeing socialism and finding the "freedom land." After the "fall of the wall," he applied for a work visa in the U.S., and after those extensions expired, he received a tourist visa for an additional six months, determined to stay as long as legally allowable in the U.S.

Upon the expiration of his visa, he returned to Slovakia. Later, he met an American exchange student at his college, "a gal from the South." She was part of a college student exchange program. He and she courted and later married in Slovakia, and after an interview with the American embassy in Prague, they moved back to her hometown in the U.S. He left a teaching position in Slovakia to push a broom on construction sites here, but their marriage was priceless. After two years on a temporary green card, he was eligible to apply for a permanent green card, which involved legal fees, reams of applications, and endless commutes to INS offices. A couple of years later, he was eligible to apply for citizenship, which meant more fees, more applications and more commutes, as well as an immersion into the real meaning of American citizenship.

In preparation for his citizenship exam, he read up on the history of the U.S., studied civics, (both once rigorously taught in American public schools) and pored over citizenship materials the INS sent him. His final citizenship test included an interview, and it challenged his reading and writing skills when answering questions regarding American history, government and our Constitution. Notably, most upper-school American students fail to correctly answer enough of the citizenship questions to pass.

At his citizenship ceremony, there were 150 people from 50 nations, each of whom took the following oath: "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

My friend said he was surprised at his own reaction, saying it was a deeply moving and emotional event for all present, given that they were the latest generation of citizen immigrants seeking a new life with Liberty. Now, he is a devoted Patriot, a productive citizen, a great husband and father. Oh, and he just got his handgun carry permit!

After all his efforts, I suggested that perhaps he should have just walked across any of the 7,612 miles of our Mexican and Canadian land border, or entered anywhere along our 12,383 miles of shoreline. After all, millions of others have done so, and the taxes he pays now support those illegal migrants.

His reply was solemn. Deeply devoted to the legacy of Liberty granted him by his new country but deeply disturbed by the socialist rhetoric of its new leader, Barack Hussein Obama -- rhetoric he knew so well from the old country -- he said to me, "Sometimes I wonder why we came here and I struggled so hard to become a U.S. citizen, when the U.S. is moving toward the tyranny I worked so hard to escape."

Those who have lived in the belly of the socialist beast clearly recognize those entrails in Barack Obama's endeavor to transform our nation.

My colleague says, "The out-of-control government spending and regulations, more government programs and employees, just lead to more corruption and constriction of Liberty. This is a cancer that will kill free enterprise. In Czechoslovakia, the socialist's control and regulation led to political corruption, and no reason to work harder because if you earned more, the government took more to give to others. America is sick with this cancer and it should be removed."

In regard to immigration, he concludes, "America needs very strict controls, and those who do become citizens should be 'Americanized' or else America will be no more."

Indeed.

In the words of Alexander Hamilton, "The safety of a republic depends essentially on the energy of a common national sentiment; on a uniformity of principles and habits; on the exemption of the citizens from foreign bias and prejudice; and on that love of country which will almost invariably be found to be closely connected with birth, education, and family. ... Some reasonable term ought to be allowed to enable aliens to get rid of foreign and acquire American attachments; to learn the principles and imbibe the spirit of our government; and to admit of a probability at least, of their feeling a real interest in our affairs."

Comments

F.M. Ashmore

What you propose is similar to a "program" we instituted in South Vietnam during the latter stages of Vietnamization. We in C-130s would transport large contingents of the ARVN (Army of Vietnam) north to the DMZ area for combat operations, and about two weeks later, they would run back to Saigon. We called it the ARVN Aerobics Program. I see the same thing happening with your proposal. We'd haul them to Mexico, and they would run back to the U.S. ASAP. Believing that this administration will do anything to stop them is akin to believing in Grimm's fairy tales.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:36:54 AM

Bobbi Stix

I entered the University of Oregon in 1973. It was required that I take a sociology class and my now greying head distinctly remembers the professor explaining that the labels then becoming vogue (black-american, indian-american, asian-american, etc) would change the culture from a unified melting pot to a ethnic sub-states and we would loose our identity as a country.

He was a prophet before his time!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:37:32 AM

Hillard W. Welch

Alexander Hamilton turned out to be no friend of the Constitution in terms of its intent and meaning. He was for an all powerful central government ruled by an elite group with a President appointed for life! His thrust for taxes was merely a means to fund his empire aspirations for the US. He admired the British mercantilist system and helped to install a similar approach here.

While the quote you use is appropriate for the subject you were addressing, I would prefer to see someone other than Hamilton used under the circumstances.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:39:55 AM

Patrick Vaughn

Don't forget that at the time of the founding,although American may have had no residents from Kenya, it had a goodly number of residents from west Africa.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:40:11 AM

Jason

The simple and least expensive method to solve illegal immigration is bullets. Illegals deserve no Constitutional rights to life, and every one of them that can be found ought to face capital punishment for crossing the border illegally. Knowing that the ultimate punishment awaits any who enter the USA illegally would be a huge deterrent to others.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:42:21 AM

Rifleman

In 1908, at the age of 15, my Dad emigrated alone from a tiny Mediterranean island to the United States. He crossed the Atlantic in the belly of a leaky, fusty, tramp steamer. "Steerage," it was called then.

He was required to pass muster at Ellis Island and, against that day, he had learned one sentence in English: "If you will speak slowly, I will try to understand you."

He passed. He was admitted to America and he never forgot the thrill of that moment.

He managed to find all manner of menial jobs and didn't complain because he was able to support himself while he learned English and discovered what the Dollar could do. He knew hunger and before he washed the dishes in that restaurant, he'd eat the leavings off the plates.

He showed black-and-white, silent, movies at night in a local theater and studied his texts by flashlight while the movie ran. (I still have those texts.)

He finished the "Gymnasium," as they called it then. In 1924, he graduated from the University of Louisville's Dental College with his Doctorate in Dental Surgery and practiced for 55 years.

He saved, invested, bought property (his best investment was a parcel of land near a little Florida town named Kissimmee), sent money back to his little village, put my two sisters and me through college, became a Lion, Shriner and a 32nd Degree Mason.

He memorized the Constitution; could quote from Jefferson's letters; knew "The Federalist Papers" intimately; loved and honored The Creator who had protected him.

Years later, when he remembered his first glimpse of Lady Liberty in New York harbor, tears would come to his eyes, unbidden. He loved this country -- not for any guarantees but for the Promise, for the Possibilities, for the Opportunity.

Like the other two million immigrants who were required to negotiate Ellis Island that year, Dad was drawn by the Golden Door. He was Greek by birth but American by choice and he taught my sisters and me to love and to respect this Nation. He would not tolerate any criticism of his adopted home; didn't resent the hard times. We, too, were raised Greek but America always came first. The Greek flag always flew below the American Flag.

"No Nation is perfect." he would tell us, "but this one is more perfect than any other Nation has ever become." What this Nation allows is an opportunity and it is not to be squandered or taken lightly. It is not to be presumed. It is not to be squandered.

Dad also taught us that we have an obligation to help others who cannot help themselves but to encourage, to teach, to guide -- but not to do for -- those who are able to do for themselves. To become financially independent was at the heart of what America was to him -- and is to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But, first, before all this, Dad had to pass muster at Ellis Island.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:43:50 AM

Even an adoption of a baby from a foreign country and bureaucracy nonsense took for us 10 months, and more than a thousand dollars for INS alone... There was an additional $150 for correcting the original certificate of citizenship issued by the INS, because they misspelled the baby's name the first time (it's somehow our fault that they managed to misspell such a complicated name as John and left "h" out..:)

Also, historically OBM's regime should be reffered as to the Fascist one, not just socialist, because he is doing what Duce and Fuehrer did, mainly supported by the Unions, and using appointed non confirmed political Reichsleiters/Gauleiters to take over the government agencies. Remember, the name of Hitler's party was National Socialistic Workers Union Party, where National stands not for Nationalism, but for State, Government. Only later the German abbreviation Nazis became a symbol for extreme nationalism as the opposite of comrade Stalin's internationalism...

As a representative of the third generation American Gulags inmates, I absolutely agree with you Czech friend and colleague, and would have a few more things to add..:)

Respectfully,

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:43:56 AM

Rifleman

To Patrick Vaughn:

Those West African 'immigrants" were sold into slavery by other West African tribal leaders.

Doesn't excuse slavery but it does add an often-ignored fact.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:45:48 AM

Millerized

"Sometimes I wonder why we came here and I struggled so hard to become a U.S. citizen, when the U.S. is moving toward the tyranny I worked so hard to escape."

Yeah.... Kinda makes one sick, doesn't it?!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:48:54 AM

JimRed

"...there are between two and four million low-skill and low-paying jobs in the U.S. that would not be filled by domestic labor if illegal migrants were excluded from those jobs, because it is easier to live on government subsidies than on wages earned picking vegetables in the heat of summer."

That is our fault for not requiring work as a condition for receiving government "subsidies". I have no problem (even though it is outside the Constitution) with helping those truly unable to help themselves. But I draw the line at those damaged by their own behavior; junkies, pothead burnouts, alcoholics and layabouts.

I am acquainted with an illegal family from Mexico (I attended one of their daughters' First Communion celebrations a few weeks ago). When I first met the man, I did not know his immigration status. He has been here for more than ten years, has learned English as well as many of our own "youths", works and has not been on public assistance. His wife's English is not as good, but she is trying to learn. Their kids are as American as my own.

They are a church going, respectable nuclear family the likes of which I wish our "ghetto" culture and much of our fractured family middle class would embrace. They broke the law when they arrived here, but are a net positive in the scheme of things. I'd gladly trade them even up for the same number of dopers, bums or gangbangers and their babymamas to be shipped to Mexico!

We need the border WALL to be completed. Once we have control, we can sort out who is here. And if we send them all back, we must train and arm them to take Mexico back from the ruling oligarchy.

< /rant >

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:54:20 AM

Ester Holzendorf

If Americans are losing their jobs to illegal immigrants, why are businesses hiring people they know are in this country illegally? This is not just a political issue, this is an issue that needs to be dealt with through all law enforcement agencies, and through whatever country is involved. This of course is my opinion. Just plain old common sense. If you want the boat to atop sinking, and it has a hole in it, PLUG the hole. Common sense.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:05:42 PM

Susan B

A very well written and articulated article that I will be recommending to all of my friends to read.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:06:30 PM

Publius Maximus

Superb article. Too bad the illegal immigrant apologists, supporters and enablers don't read it. There is also the fact, never stated, that there is a quota (at least I thought there was) as to how many immigrants can come from a certain country. 12 to 18 million from one or two countries in a small geographic area (Mexico/Central America)is an absolute outrage.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:33:46 PM

Mike McGinn

"Sometimes I wonder why we came here and I struggled so hard to become a U.S. citizen, when the U.S. is moving toward the tyranny I worked so hard to escape."

When I read these words, I thought I was listening to my wife, who is a legal immigrant from Italy (another "model" Socialist nation) and now a citizen.

She pulls her hair out and throws her hands up in despiration trying to understand how it is that Americans cannot see this cancer that is slowly killing our nation. She wonders how much longer it will be before it makes no difference whether she stays in the United States or goes back to Italy.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:34:00 PM

jack86

Best, well-balanced column on immigration that I've seen. It clarified the fundamental difference between the two parties: Democrats think of and pass laws for groups; Republicans do the same for individuals. The choice belongs to all of us: Do we want to be individuals or part of a group?

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:38:39 PM

akaangrywhiteman

Jason,

The constitution does not grant the right to life, that right is granted by a Higher power, the constitution is supposed to guarantee those rights bestowed by that self same Higher power.

Regarding your solution? The depth and clarity of your thought process astounds me.............not.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:40:48 PM

Mike McGinn

One of my wife's 3 questions at her citizenship interview as #42 - Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die?

My wife couldn't remember "Speaker of the House of Representative", but she did know that this person was Nancy Pelosi, so that was her answer. Ironically, the interviewer had to look it up to be sure she was correct.

When I attended the Oath of Citizenship ceremony with her, I was appalled at the number of new "citizens" who had translators in tow to translate what the judge was saying. I thought one of the conditions of citizenship was proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English?

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:47:21 PM

Robert

Living in Arizona less than 50 miles from the border I can tell you the border is far from secure. The ineffective cat and mouse game the dhs plays is the problem. Militarize the border(it would reduce the # of agents), We do it in other countries so I know it can be done here. THen once that is done deport them.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:49:09 PM

Frank

What's with this "Illegal MIGRANTS" designation? The correct terminology is " illegal ALIENS". That is the wording used in the Federal law regarding this; this and only this terminology should be used. STRICT enforcement of ALL immigration law should be followed.

Looking the other way is a total slap in the face to all who immigrated here LEGALLY. Round up and deport ALL illegal ALIENS.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:50:38 PM

Lisa

I know how your colleagues feels. I feel the same way. It is not fair to those who come to this country legally and follow the law of the land. No one gave my grandfather hand outs when he came to this country from Holland legally, back then you needed a sponsor in order to even enter into this country and you had a physical to boot before they would even let you off the boat. He worked and earned every penny and paid his taxes.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:50:41 PM

James

Thank you, as always, for your insightful thoughts Mr Alexander

However, I do take issue with the following statement: "First, on balance some two million Americans have lost their jobs to illegal migrants...."

When I hear "facts" such as these, I think to myself two things:

1) How exactly is that number tracked? Illegal migrants work hard at staying off the grid and off the radar. Unemployment can be tracked, but how can "illegal migrant job stealing" be?

2) What kind of job do you have in which an illegal migrant who doesn't speak a word of English could steal? Obviously not skilled labor of any sort. Burger flipping and vegetable picking are not careers anyone should aspire to. If your job can be done by an illegal immigrant, than I would suggest that you better yourself and take care of your family by getting a better job.

--cheers

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:51:28 PM

Dennis M. Ellis

You and Glenn Beck are in denial. As much as I respect both of you, I wonder where is your backbone, patriotism and common sense. (The editors have removed the remaining 928 words of this comment three times because they constituted, at best, a mindless rant.)

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:51:57 PM

Mike McGinn

@ Patrick Vaugh

And don't forget that the Constitution was amended to give those "goodly number of residents from west Africa" citizenship in this country.

Unfortunately that amendment has been twisted and contorted by the liberal left to grant citizenship to anyone who simply is born on U.S. soil.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:52:12 PM

cl dickinson

Our problem is Congress does a fine job of passing laws. ENFORCING them is another matter. Yes, we could round up ILLEGAL trespassers, and yes, we could deport them. And yes, they could come back across the boarder because IT IS NOT SECURE.

Round-up, deport, secure. Is it really all that hard? (and if we have to bring back our military from all the damn "stan" countries to do it... better yet!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:52:33 PM

MAJ USA Ret

Liberals' intend to acquire power by any means possible, so they can enforce their vision of utopia. The easiest way to acquire power in this nation is to buy it. Take money from those who earned it and make others dependent on you for their very survival - health care, food stamps, housing, etc. Liberals salivate over the huge advantage of buying the allegiance of millions of illegal aliens.

The temptation to let the Uncle Sam take care of you is understandable. What is incomprehensible is the lack of shame. But the threat of increasing loss of individual freedoms is most frightening.

It's time to revolt, or cry "Uncle".

Posted June 2, 2011 at 12:59:55 PM

Mike McGinn

@ James

"Burger flipping and vegetable picking are not careers anyone should aspire to."

True statement! These are what we call entry level jobs. These are the first step towards "better[ing]yourself and tak[ing] care of your family by getting a better job".

I flipped burgers and picked vegetables before I got to my current rung on the corporate ladder. Would I be on this rung today if my first job was taken by an illegal immigrant? Might I have turned into an unemployed street corner delinquent?

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:00:41 PM

Bruce Phillips

Great essay.......and all the people said AMEN!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:11:18 PM

Dean All

I respectfully disagree with your essay. I believe that we not only can do a repeat of the 1954 Operation Wetback; we should do so. There is nothing impossible about the United States securing our border in an air tight manner. I used to help do it on the DMZ in Korea. There is nothing radical, racist, or impossible, about enforcing our immigration laws, as President Dwight D. Eisenhower proved in 1954. It is high time for Operation Wetback II. Visualize an America with 10 million new permanent job openings. Visualize an America with 3 to 5 million fewer people on welfare or in our prison system and all the associated tax savings. I want the criminal, alien, invaders, treated humanely, and fed well, while they are being deported; but, I do want them deported - all of them.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:13:24 PM

Tony Bulver

I find the article on immigration to be quite interesting. However, the Patriot Post might want to check a recent poll conducted of over 1,000 Hispanics who claimed to be of Mexican descent. The poll takers did NOT make a determination among the polled individuals whether they were in the U.S. legally or not. The poll question was, "Where does your loyalty lie; with the United States or Mexico".

The poll results indicated that 68% of the respondents answered, "Mexico". Only 19% responded indicating their loyalty would be to the U.S., and the remaining respondents were "unsure", which, to me would indicate their loyalty would more than likely be with Mexico. The point being is we don't need immigrants who are unwilling to renounce their loyalty to their home country if they become citizens of the United States. There are millions of people who are waiting patiently and jumping through all the hoops and hazards because of their noble notion and willingness to actually become "TRUE" American citizens.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:14:20 PM

Rusty

Being under the shadows of history, the path of ignoring established law under a Democartic Republic results in anarchy, followed by dictatorship.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:33:39 PM

Rodney Galles

The state legislators of Maryland took it upon themselves to exempt Maryland from the Federal Immigration laws in their last session. The people of Maryland were left with the possibility that illegal aliens (Not immigrants, who knock) could receive in-state tuition rates and Maryland scholarships in violation of federal immigration laws.

The Republican Party, assisted most ably by the TEA Parties of Maryland mobilized an effort to obtain 18,000 signature on a petition by the end of May. They were successful, to the extent of 62,469 signatures in thirty days. They will continue collecting in the month of June when a total of 55,000 signatures are required to put the issue on the November 2012 ballot and suspend implementation of the law until after that date. The Tea Party is continuing to collect signatures to obviate the Democrat machine's dirty tricks department who intended to challenge the signatures in May and defeat the challenge. Now they are demoralized and casting about for a new strategy. Good people did act this time and evil failed to flourish.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:41:23 PM

Dennis

Mark,

I typically agree 100% with your essays but you missed it on this one. By saying we cannot send illegal entrants back only perpetuates the lies being spread by business interest that are profiting from the situation. We, as a nation, should build a railroad that runs 24/7 and reunite the criminal entrants with their homeland. Then they can apply for legal entry. Yes, it will disrupt the fast food businesses, meat packing, farming, and other unskilled trades for a short while but those positions can be replaced with American citizens that are not working and on the government dole. America is not responsible to correct Mexico's and Central America's failings.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 1:58:14 PM

Airman in Afghanistan

Mark, you struck a chord with me today. The colleague you describe might as well be me. I too am an immigrant. I took the same oath of naturalization in 2003 and I knew I would honor every part of that oath. I fully understood the significance of the "bear arms" portion of the oath. So, a few months later, I enlisted in the Air National Guard as a reservist and took a very similar oath of enlistment. Last week, I just returned from my 4th tour of duty in Afghanistan. It's been seven years since I took the oath of naturalization and I feel just as strongly about this country, our Constitution, and the rule of law as I did back then. Thank you for your essay and what you do for this country. I am blessed to be a citizen.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 2:26:30 PM

Jay Coffman

Too many people get hung up in the idea of deporting millions of illegal aliens. We do not have to deport them. We just need to make sure it is not worth their while to be here. At that point they will deport themselves. If they cannot get a job, or assistance they will leave on their own.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 2:27:41 PM

Richard Bachert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqw7kXG0kxU

Posted June 2, 2011 at 2:28:03 PM

John Rhoads

Mark,

One area that is often neglected when mentioning a fast track to citizenship for all the illegal immigrants in the US is what do we do with those who do not comply with the requirements. I hear that in order to become citizens they will have to pay taxes, a fine, learn English, and obtain some form of picture ID. If they do not what then? And then what do we do about it? I envision only a small number of those in this country illegal will be willing to do what is necessary to become citizens and then we will be left with millions more who wil be subject to the current status quo, living off the taxes and generosity of law abiding, tax paying Americans.

John A. Rhoads

Salida, Colorado

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:04:30 PM

Jim Darlington

Jay Coffman, EXACTLY!

Slap a big hairy ugly fine on anyone hiring illegals.

Cut Federal Funds to any state giving taxpayers' funds to illegals or allowing Sanctuary cities.

Require work of anyone looking for gov't assistance.

Issue 5,000,000 work permits at the border.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:23:47 PM

Tim Schlueter

Mike McGinn stated "One of my wife's 3 questions at her citizenship interview as #42 - Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die?" The answer in the test is Pelosi but that is not correct. It is John Boehner.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:26:06 PM

RK Sprau

I'll be different. I concur with everyone, all points are equally valid but ask yourself this, given the state this nation is in, given the state the world is in, has this issue turned from a symptom to a disease and shouldn't we be more focused on more pressing issues? We will default and the great depression will look like the good 'ol days. If immigration is part of this, then lets fix it instead of passing morality laws

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:30:56 PM

Patriot

I am 95% with you on all items and that is no a bad average. Thank you so much for what you and your people do!

That being noted, your statement from the essay today (noted below) is about as defeatist as anything I've ever heard, and that is not a trait I am use to from you.

If Illegal immigrants (those who came here illegally and those who have overstayed their VISA dates for any reason) are actively sought out and deported they will not simply return. They will know, and word will get around that we simply are not tolerating the ignoring of our laws any longer. Add to that mandated jail time to anyone who hires them (knowing e-verify is readily available) and a removal of aid to anyone who can have a baby in our nation and the incentive to come will vanish.

I commend your comments on why some jobs would not go filled if the illegal immigrants were removed. Those comments however DO NOT make a case for allowing them to stay. Those comments make a case for removing the welfare system that makes it more advantageous to sit on one's backside than to work. Likewise, I know of no job that cannot be filled if the wages rise to a market driven level. Sure this will add pennies to the cost of a head of lettuce and may cause many a politician to have to pay more to get the estates groomed.

For goodness sakes, please do not side with the elites who have done all they can to force down wages by using these people because they have no choice but to make a lower wage than their U.S. citizen counterpart. Just like using workers in China, Korea, etc to build our widgets, millions of illegal aliens are desired here by the elites (in both parties) for profit by those who contribute the most money to campaigns while hopefully cultivating a new voter block with no care to how our economy or culture are upset via legalization. I for one am sick of this.

Again, bless your great work. And remember on of my 87-year-old Dad's favorite lines "If two people agree on everything then one of them is useless."

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:41:18 PM

Howard Last

Rifleman - the slave trade was conducted by Muslims, who got the slaves from Africans who captured another tribe. BHO is 1/2 white (his mother), 1/8 black and 3/8 Muslim (Arab). So if anything his ancestors were slave traders.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:43:10 PM

David P

As an immigration attorney, what frustrates me is that there is no way for the average laborer, who does NOT possess a college degree, who is NOT married to a US citizen, and who is NOT able to invest $500,000 in a US business, to legally enter the US when there is a job that he/she could fill. And both the labor unions and the major industries want to keep things that way. I believe in the rule of law, but we need just immigration laws which will adequately serve the needs of both our country and those around us.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 3:45:59 PM

Brad

wow thanks! This is the best definition of DIVERSITY:

". . .the current political climate, where the Democrat Party establishes authority over people by dividing them according to race, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, ethnicity, wealth, ad infinitum, and indoctrinating these separate constituencies with the pretense that they must depend on Democratic Socialism for their protection, if not outright salvation. . ."

Posted June 2, 2011 at 4:06:19 PM

enemaofthestatistquo

;.} I am astonished. I thought our nation, our people respected & honored displays of ingenuity and iniative. I mean We citizens are continually watched by camera, surveilled by microphone, monitored by computer, censored by political correctness while an entire sub-culture of free individuals has blossomed Right Here amongst us. We should be handing out awards and cash to reward those who are able to illustrate the flaws of our border security & elude our law enforcement agencies to remain hidden in plain sight within our borders. Oh! we are. Never mind;>)

Posted June 2, 2011 at 4:23:19 PM

Sean Valdrow

Mr. M. Alexander,

Your article on the state of immigration was good. The cost of these foreigners outweighs by a vast margin the benefits of their presence in our country. The simplest solution in my book is to end welfare entirely. I know that will not happen unless their is a total financial collapse, but it would force them to get work and contribute or get out of our country.

I am pessimistic about keeping the Southwestern US as part of the US. Without armed forces to secure our borders, this population migration/passive invasion force will de facto control those portions of our country and, as demonstrated by California, simply turn those states into portions of Northern Mayheeko.

I wonder if you might not look into the matter of the RINOs, and whether or not they are actualy infiltrators from the Democrats/Communists? It would be just the sort of game that party would play. And why does the Republican party not eject those who consistenly act as RINOs? Were I in the top seat among the Reps, I'd have tossed Murkowski, Snow, and others out on their expansive backsides for consistently voting with the Demorcat/Communist party.

Thank you for your excellent work on the Patriot Post. For so many years, I thought I was nearly alone in railing against the decay of our nation. I am glad to see men and women of good character voice much the same as I.

Sean Valdrow

Angry Peasant

Posted June 2, 2011 at 4:24:33 PM

Cheryl Tyson

I want to say that this is the best I have read on the subject of illegal immigration. I wonder if Pres. Obama would read it and consider the information. I hope and pray more people will look for and find more of this information and try to do their part to help change the liberals mind. Thanks for putting this all together. I will be sharing it with my friends. Thanks and God BLess you.

Cheryl Tyson

Posted June 2, 2011 at 4:48:10 PM

TheVonz

As I keep saying:

- there is only one law of the land = the constitution.

- this illegal government is failing their duty to protect we citizens, by picking and choosing which laws they will enforce.

- how many "illegals" are coming into our country daily who are foreign terrorists, making plans to kill citizens?... all allowed by the government.

- the costs to we citizens through taxes, and then the redistribution to illegals including SSN, welfare, healthcare, and much much more is criminal.

- this is an invasion, and all 3 arms of our government should be brought up on high-crimes charges.

2012 is too late !!!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 4:48:12 PM

USN,E8 Ret.

To obtain a Int'l Driver License (to operate a vehicle in Europe)it was a requirement to know the various sighs and words of the traffic system, and demonstrate an understanding of various "rules of the road." In the language of that Nation. Thus,operating a machine from Spain,through France, to Germany (or other States), required learning to read in those languages. To demonstrate that,too!

Made sense, hmm? So why does the US accommodate those from any foreign State? Road signs in seventeen languages,driver license exam in as many. The practice of merchants posting directions and description in two languages, Mexican and English, usually only those two, is specific indication of the pandering to criminal trespassers. English is the common language of the USA. Limit traffic signs,advertising ,telephone responses,the insult of insults---the Oath of Allegiance, in the language of Mexico! If the US will stop pandering, accommodating the criminal trespassers, disenfranchise such organizations as La Raza, The Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, and dozens of other entities, notably the Catholic Church of the US (which writes funds request letters to the Parish in Spanish!)illegal trespass population will diminish. California is releasing about 40 thousand from overcrowded prisons. Any question about the nationality of most of those released? Sanctuary City? How can that be? So long as the US public accommodates,employs, treats in hospitals, the inappropriate migration will continue. There is no justification or excuse.That well mannered, industrious family next door? Why have they not become citizens? Because there is no requirement to do so! Good deal, hmm? Schools for children, hospitals for the ill or injured, vehicles, driver license--sure they go to Church! Models? Yes! That is the intent of every one of the 'crossers'! No need to learn English, or pay taxes. Let us stop accommodating, pandering, excusing. The snake will wither and die of malnutrition. Those born in these borders have no inherent right to US citizenship. The parents are not residents. The 14 Amendment has a specific purpose. No longer required. It was not to legalize criminal activity. Jump the border of any other Nation. You will not be "accommodated." More likely incarcerated.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:01:48 PM

Harold (Wyatt)

I'm all for legal immigration, but set against any form of amnesty. I think any person should have the right to apply for citizenship, LEARN ENGLISH, and pass the exam for it. I just wonder how many years it would take our (mis-managed) government to do this with all the illegal aliens in the country now. If they don't learn English and take the test, ship them out of the country. If the people allow the government of Obama to grant amnesty to them, just think of the voter base that would be gained, so that we would continue to be governed by the same idiotic mind based people that are in Washington today. If you think things are bad now, just wait until we are ruled by these type of people forever.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:04:07 PM

Ray Michaud

I opened the link to the "citizenship questions" and found an error with the response to question #78. Our country is actually a Republic, not a Democracy. Keep up the great work. I look forward to the Patriot Post and read it as often as I can.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:22:49 PM

Nelson Whipple

Illegal immigrants! Solution: Make it so uncomfortable and unprofitable for them that they turn about and go home. Provide heavy fines for any person or business that hire them. They got here without our help and they can get home.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:23:51 PM

Clark C. Flato

I must take unequivical issuse with the point of the article that suggests that it is not possible to round up the illegal aliens and deport them to their countries of origin. We absolutely must do that, and furthermore must remove the anchor baby assumption that has saddled us with hugh illegal family populations. The very fabric of our nation is imperiled by a culture that does not embrace the values that made America what we are. Please reflect on the history of Mexico, Central and South America. Please also examine the failure to assimilate, and the criminal elements existing in the 20 to 30 million illegal presently in the U.S.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:29:17 PM

Richard Willerton

My wife and I are American by choice, rather than by accident of birth. Our green cards were issued in 1975, 5 years after our first application. We applied for citizenship in 1980, and were sworn-in in 1985, the INS having lost our papers twice. At our pre-swearing-in 'test,' in San Francisco, were many would-be new Americans with interpreters present - this, in spite of a stated requirement that new citizens be able to communicate in English. During that 10 year period were 2 'amnesties' for illegals - each a slap in the face for those those like us who had immigrated legally. It is clear that the existential threat to this nation is from within, from the home-grown socialism of evil and/or gullible people.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 5:36:52 PM

Just saying first

Mark, I totally agree with your colleague. I, too, came here 21 yrs ago from Romania. My husband was not a Party member, and as such, he suffered. He applied to come to this country and had to wait for 8 years and for the Revolution of 1989 to be allowed to leave. I had an 8 mos old son when we got here, it wasn't easy. We didn't get any special favors, my husband, with 2 undergraduate and one graduate degree had to take a manual job (and later, menial ones). We had often asked ourselves why we came. We left Socialism behind, only to see it follow us here. This is not the free country we thought we were coming to, and becoming even less free by the minute.

I could write a book...I am sure your Czech co-worker could too. It is very, very sad, and disheartening to see what is going on, and how people allow it to happen, because they are either evil or ignorant.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 6:19:03 PM

Tod

Another excellent commentary, Mark. However, I fear that these emails are "preaching to the choir" and that we need to get this out of this limited circulation. I, for one, forward your comments to all my friends -- conservative and liberal alike. Thanks for the passion and information...

Posted June 2, 2011 at 6:46:18 PM

W.T. Door

Ref. Jay Coffman’s and Nelson Whipple’s comments. Kill the welfare system and all it’s associated goodies, and the illegals will deport themselves. Sadly it hasn’t a snowball’s chance in the hot place because it requres effective action and enforcement by all three branches of the government. And look what happened when we tried to take action here in Arizona on only the tip of the iceberg.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 7:09:52 PM

Frank

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion..."

-- Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution

Posted June 2, 2011 at 9:08:14 PM

me8819

Mark,

I truly enjoy all of your essays and this one is no different. I just want to clarify one point that others may be a bit confused on. Your essay mentions the thousands of immigrants who have earned their citizenship by service in our military.

I am a 20-year Air Force veteran who spent seven years of my service as a recruiter. Each year the Air Force (and likely the other services as well) allowed a finite number of LEGAL immigrants to enlist, provided they met the following criteria:

- Have a valid green card

- Can read, write and speak English at such a level of fluency so as to read and comprehend standard military training materials, manuals, regulations and communications.

- Must have graduated from a U.S. high school OR have completed high school in their home country at the equivalent level of a U.S. high school graduate.

- Must have a U.S. Social Security Card

- Must have a valid, translated birth certificate.

- Must pass all entrance exams at the same level as regular U.S. citizens.

- Must pass a background check for him/herself and family, just as a U.S. citizen applicant has to.

- Must not have a criminal record. Some minor misdemeanor infractions are allowed, as with U.S. citizens.

- Must meet all other entrance requirements, just as a normal U.S. citizen would have to meet.

Once accepted, the non-US citizen enlistee will not be classified into a job that requires a security clearance.

Despite popular belief, enlisting in the armed forces DOES NOT GUARANTEE U.S. citizenship. However, if a young, non-US citizen troop wishes to remain on active duty, he/she must complete all requirements for U.S. citizenship prior to completion of his/her first term on enlistment.

These requirements are virtually the same for all branches of the armed forces. Bottom line: the U.S. armed forces DO NOT ACCEPT ILLEGAL ALIENS/IMMINGRANTS for enlistment.

Keep up the good work!

Posted June 2, 2011 at 9:54:53 PM

M Rick Timms, MD

Excellent analysis and comments as usual.

My wife came here from Scotland as a nurse on a visa with application for "green card". That card took eight years, thousands of dollars and a yearly visit to The INS in Atlanta for a 1 minute "stamp" after 4-6 hours of waiting in line outside, then with a "number" in a room with hundreds of brand new applicants with no papers, etc who each required hours of attention.

She followed the rules, and earned American citzenship after 11 years. She came here because of the real freedoms that America offers, but was shocked to learn why America has such a high standard of living. "Americans work all the time!" she said, that is why they are prosperous. It makes sense, when we consider tha most of Europe takes 6 wks paid vactaion, Siestas, afternoon tea, etc., not to mention the government dole if you just can't work enough.

America is becoming Europe. We have exported manufacturing. We produce very little. Union demands for high wages with less productivity have made American production uncompetitive. Governmnet policy has overtaxed the job producers. Illegals will work jobs that pampered Americans will no longer do - but they can do them if they came here legally as well!.

Close the border to effectively make an attemp at crossing a deadly risk. If caught, the penalty is permanemt exclusion from the visa process. Once the Border is controlled, we can begin to deal with those here illegally. I propos ethe "plea bargain" approach. Fines and detailed review of activities. If deemed desireable, they may be granted a visa to work and go to the back of the line for the established process of legal application for permanent alien status ie. "green card".

Our Country, our rules.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:31:41 PM

John C.

In response to those wondering if the U.S. currently has immigration quotas, simply put, no.

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act, INS, Act of 1965, Pub.L. 89-236) abolished the National Origins Formula that had been in place in the United States since the Immigration Act of 1924. It was proposed by United States Representative Emanuel Celler of New York, co-sponsored by United States Senator Philip Hart of Michigan and heavily supported by United States Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

The Hart-Celler Act abolished the national origins quota system that had structured American immigration policy since the 1920s, replacing it with a preference system that focused on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or residents of the U.S. Numerical restrictions on visas were set at 170,000 per year, not including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, nor "special immigrants" (including those born in "independent" nations in the Western hemisphere; former citizens; ministers; employees of the U.S. government abroad).

Immigration reform was an important issue for the Irish community, including President John F. Kennedy. When third brother Ted Kennedy was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962, his first assignment was to shepherd the bill through the Senate as Floor Leader for the bill. During debate on the Senate floor, Kennedy, speaking of the effects of the act, said: "First, our cities will not be flooded with a million immigrants annually. Under the proposed bill, the present level of immigration remains substantially the same.... Secondly, the ethnic mix of this country will not be upset.... Contrary to the charges in some quarters, [the bill] will not inundate America with immigrants from any one country or area, or the most populated and deprived nations of Africa and Asia.... In the final analysis, the ethnic pattern of immigration under the proposed measure is not expected to change as sharply as the critics seem to think.... It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs."

By equalizing immigration policies, the act resulted in new immigration from non-European nations which changed the ethnic make-up of the United States. Immigration doubled between 1965 and 1970, and doubled again between 1970 and 1990. The most dramatic effect was to shift immigration from Europe to Asia and Central and South America.

A Boston Globe article attributed Barack Obama’s win in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election to a marked reduction over the preceding decades in the percentage of whites in the American electorate, attributing this demographic change to the Act. The article quoted Simon Rosenberg, president and founder of the New Democrat Network, as having said that the Act is "the most important piece of legislation that no one’s ever heard of," and that it "set America on a very different demographic course than the previous 300 years."

This information is from Wikipedia. The entire article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Act_of_1965

For anyone who does not believe that third-world immigration, illegal or not, isn’t changing the U.S., you had better wake up before it’s too late. If the current direction is not changed soon, it will be too late and the U.S will slide into the same cesspool currently occupied by most of Central and South America, many parts of Asia and nearly all of Africa.

I personally feel that quotas should be re-established and that legal immigrants be compelled to “absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure” their prior allegiance. Currently they only pay lip-service to their oaths, which, unfortunately, is more than BO is doing. In my opinion, any naturalized citizen who hyphenates their ethnicity deserves to have their citizenship revoked. Regrettably, nothing can be done about those natural born citizens who hyphenate themselves. I believe you are either an American, or you’re not. It’s as simple as that.

I’m not against immigration and I wouldn’t be here if there weren’t any. My grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in 1911 (legally) and though he remembered his roots, he never once flew the flag of his country of origin nor celebrated its holidays. Though we were all taught the native language, it was seldom spoken and used mostly when we visited relatives in the old country.

Posted June 2, 2011 at 11:31:58 PM

RK Sprau

Re: SkySkiers. Heaven knows and anyone can tell you, I march to my own drum. I question everyone. Mark is tolerate of myself and others. If he would censor anyone do to a diverse view, it would be me.

Now I have to agree with Mark. While I find some of your comments informing, I find your combative argumentative attitude something you should consider. This is private sight and as a private sight he has the right to determine what is combative or not on topic. This is a freedom granted to him by the Supreme court when they interpreted the constitution for Freedom of speech.

Since you are a christian, follow the precepts of feeding the hungry, clothing the poor. Need I go on? I can quote you several chapters and verses for I've taught in Seminaries for 12 years.

My advice is to stay passionate but temper your passions. I often warned of name calling, or becoming transfixed by a polarized point of view to the total exclusion of everything else for this shows the wrong perception.

This country will go into default, we will go into depression, the Tea Party and GOP are falling apart and you are worried about an issue the courts have settled, repeatedly. You do not have to like there decision but we are a nation of laws and the courts have spoken. Deal with it and move on. Consider alternatives to problems not making a problem. Consider the perception you are making.

In closing: Mark has allowed a free interchange of comments between myself and others. I hold no ill for with every exchange I have grown to respect some of them such as Rifleman, Dr. Cherry, DR Timms, Va Vet, and a few others. Mark can tell you that at times we have a heated exchange but in the end, Circa 300BCE approx "When two Rabbis come together to discuss the law the only outcome is the truth."

My recommendation is tone down the rhetoric and learn from Mark and several of those who routinely comment. Name calling as you did in your 2nd and 3rd line only lends to perception.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 12:36:33 AM

T.Michael Donegan

Give 'em a backpack...some food, water and a few bucks and physically place them outside the continental United States.It addresses the issue plain and simple:Adios!

Theres a Clint Eastwood movie where Clint decides,he needs to clear out a hotel for his use.The occupants ask him, 'where do you want us to go'? Clint says,'out.'

And that's all there is to it. They got here somehow. We need only provide them a means to leave in the same manner as they came.And nothing beyond that.

Then, we build a 'Great American Wall' like China did.Any questions?

Posted June 3, 2011 at 6:39:09 AM

R C Hatch

I don't know who you are, but your ideas are the same ole Republican "hogwash." Everything, according to you AND the Republicans is Obama's fault. Did you ever stop to "THINK," that Obama is NOT a dictator and can only do what the Congress agrees to? Congress can't agree on whether the sun will rise, if it doesn't effect THEIR BEST INTERESTS.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 7:06:50 AM

Mark S. Fraser

I just can't believe the three subjects our educational system have chosen to remove from the curricula of our schools; U.S. History, Citizenship and Physical Education (or recess). What more can we do to ensure our children are mentally, physically and patriotically "deprived"?

Posted June 3, 2011 at 11:25:40 AM

Cory

Thanks for a great article regarding immigration. In response to the poor performance by American high schoolers on the citizenship exam, and as a teacher-in-training, I have to offer an observation. I reviewed the current list of questions available from the link in your article, and it is no wonder many people get them wrong. Several of the questions have the wrong answer! #78 is the most glaring example, but there are several others. Curious, but if the people who write the test questions can't even be bothered to get them correct, what happens when someone who really read the Declaration of Independence answers question #64 the correct way and says, "from God"? Seems like more than just our education system could benefit from a heavy does of civics and history.

Anyway, thanks for another great article.

Yours in liberty,

Cory

Posted June 3, 2011 at 11:27:04 AM

Citizenship

Alexander's essay on citizenship hit very close to home for me. My late wife was foreign born so I have first hand knowledge of the time and effort required to become a citizen - in those days. Hours and hours of study and classwork in English, the Constitution, American History and Government. How embabarrassing it was when she asked me to explain a simple government term or function and I had to look it up first. At the end of her studies, she knew and understood much more about the United States and how it functions than I did. And she willingly did all this because she wanted to be not just a legal citizen but a good one as well.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 11:30:35 AM

Bob, Hampton, Va.

@ Airman in Afganistan. Thank you for your service to OUR country. You demonstrate what a true Patriot is and appreciates. Thank you again.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 11:58:45 AM

Mike McGinn

@ Tim Schlueter

When my wife took her citizenship test, the Speaker of the House was San Fran Nan, not Johny B.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 12:29:29 PM

bruce

it is past time to get rid of traitor judges,politicians and gestopo cops before they get rid of us.

Posted June 3, 2011 at 1:17:40 PM

Dana Mathewson

I was reading the item about your friend from Slovakia, and it reminded me: I have a friend (a former boss, actually, though I never for one day felt like I worked FOR him, always WITH him) who was born in Czechoslovakia in the 1930's, managed to avoid being recruited for the Hitler Youth when his country was slurped up by the Nazis. Then when the Soviets took over and he became a teenager with, as the Bible says, "eyes to see," he somehow managed to "sneak under the wire," as he says, and worked his way west until he came to the U.S. I am on e-mail with him regularly, and needless to say he is not happy at seeing his adopted country go the way of the country of his childhood!

Posted June 3, 2011 at 5:42:22 PM

T.Michael Donegan

Give 'em a backpack...some food, water and a few bucks and physically place them outside the continental United States.It addresses the issue plain and simple:Adios!

Theres a Clint Eastwood movie where Clint decides,he needs to clear out a hotel for his use.The occupants ask him, 'where do you want us to go'? Clint says,'out.'

And that's all there is to it. They got here somehow. We need only provide them a means to leave in the same manner as they came.And nothing beyond that.

Then, we build a 'Great American Wall' like China did.Any questions?

Posted June 3, 2011 at 5:44:06 PM

Bill

Excellent, as always. Even though we cannot go back to the days of "Operation Wetback", we can enforce our other laws on immigration, specifically the hiring of undocumented workers. Put a couple of CEO's in prison for 5 years (even Club Fed) and watch the jobs for illegal aliens dry up. Without the jobs, there is no magnet to draw them here. Cut off the welfare benefits, free health care and free education and we will see a steady stream of Southward migration.

Come to America legally and we will embrace you as you become an American, otherwise stay home and try to change your own country.

Posted June 4, 2011 at 8:38:32 AM

Dana Mathewson

Posted June 4, 2011 at 10:58:50 AM

Alan

Do you lack the intellectual capacity to call the millions of "illegal migrants" what they actually are? They are "illegal aliens". Please, be accurate.

Posted June 4, 2011 at 11:54:00 AM

Jan Shea

Wise men saw through the democratic party strategy of "divide and conquer" as far back as our first African American US Senator, Hiram Revels,thought. As posted on wikipedia:

"On November 6, 1875, Revels, as a Republican, wrote a letter to Republican President Ulysses S. Grant that was widely reprinted. Revels denounced Ames and the Carpetbaggers for manipulating the Black vote for personal benefit, and for keeping alive wartime hatreds:

Since reconstruction, the masses of my people have been, as it were, enslaved in mind by unprincipled adventurers, who, caring nothing for country, were willing to stoop to anything no matter how infamous, to secure power to themselves, and perpetuate it..... My people have been told by these schemers, when men have been placed on the ticket who were notoriously corrupt and dishonest, that they must vote for them; that the salvation of the party depended upon it; that the man who scratched a ticket was not a Republican. This is only one of the many means these unprincipled demagogues have devised to perpetuate the intellectual bondage of my people.... The bitterness and hate created by the late civil strife has, in my opinion, been obliterated in this state, except perhaps in some localities, and would have long since been entirely obliterated, were it not for some unprincipled men who would keep alive the bitterness of the past, and inculcate a hatred between the races, in order that they may aggrandize themselves by office, and its emoluments, to control my people, the effect of which is to degrade them.[6]"

This link show more of the letter.

http://ncpedia.org/Biography/RevelsLetter

Posted June 5, 2011 at 2:07:02 PM

Peter

This article is NOT well thought out!

No one is talking about deportation. All what we want is to eliminate ALL the magnets which bring the illegal hordes in:

- Social Security

- free schooling

- free medical care

- free welfare

- free legal help

- Spanish in many stores and agencies

- various "services" for illegals, but paid by taxpayers.

Once we eliminate these magnets, illegals will leave on their own - no deportation needed for ~30M of them.

Posted June 6, 2011 at 1:34:53 AM

Robert Brown

"Citizenship is much more than a birthright for indigenous Americans, or a legal change in nationality for immigrants. It is the embodiment of American Patriotism, a steadfast devotion to the First Principles of our nation's founding -- individual Liberty as "endowed by our Creator," and the obligation to extend that legacy to our posterity."

According to this statement, there are several million "birthright" U.S. citizens, including BHO (if indeed he is a citizen) who are not truly citizens. Hmm, can we deport all of them???

Posted June 6, 2011 at 12:40:00 PM

Victor Peetoom

Mark, thank you for a clear, concise statement of why immigration reform is essential. Thanks to you and your staff for the work you are doing.

Posted June 16, 2011 at 5:15:30 PM

Aretta Adams

Mark,

Always enjoy your work! Would you please comment sometime on dual-citizenship that I hear so much about recently. I thought if you took an oath for America that you put all foreign associations behind you. Thanks! A. Adams

Posted July 10, 2011 at 2:58:25 PM

Micki

WOW!!

I have been reading my e-mail that has been sitting in my in-box far too long and just read this. An outstanding piece!

The following is just a small example of jobs made available to Americans by using E-Verify.

The company I work for said that E-Verify would going into effect for anyone working here, including the companies contracted to provide services such as cleaning. There was almost a 100% turnover of that crew. Most of those couldn't or wouldn't speak English which caused problems from time to time. As an example, one of the young women on the cleaning crew passed out and when she came to, there was no one around who could translate.

There were plenty of AMERICANS applying for those jobs created by the use of E-Verify. Not only that, there is less pilfering. You didn't dare leave any food in one of the break area refrigerators overnight and there are no longer members of the cleaning crew walking out of the buildings with bags of partially used rolls of toilet paper. What were they doing with it? Selling it a flea markets, garage sales? Handing it out to everyone in their neighborhood? Ah...maybe they needed it to go around behind the Dems...cleaning up after them...

All we need to do is give those jobs to Americans and the incentive to come here is gone. Let them work on changing their own country instead of trying to take away ours!!

Posted July 23, 2011 at 11:55:51 PM

Daz

Read about your Czech friend ... reminded me of me! Except I came from the UK right after my Ph.D. at a Russell Group university.

2001 entered SC on a J1 (exchange scholar with Ph.D.); 2004 transferred to an H1B on move to job in CA ; 2006 married my NC friend and moved to NC thank God (!!!) and applied for temporary green card; 2007 got temporary green card and moved to TN to work at ORNL (please somebody audit the place; overhead is very high, research output low, charge out rate outrageous, slow, wages more than should be, government mediocrity at its finest ... I suppose it is OPM so it must be ok lol.); 2009 got permanent green card; 2010 got academic position at UT-K. Next step will be citizenship and the only real difference is the vote ... which begs the question why would the government even think about giving fast-track citizenship when a green card confers permanent residence? OK, I see, it is the vote.

Not an easy road in terms of cost and paperwork - but then it was worth it as I live in the best place on earth - The South.

Posted August 12, 2011 at 11:26:14 PM

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