Loyal readers of this daily report know that I have been intensely focused on the immigration issue for many years. The failures of our immigration system to prevent the 9/11 attacks (some of the radical Islamist hijackers were here on expired visas) should have focused every politician on the enormous and obvious problems. Sadly, that didn’t happen.

Speaking in Iowa Monday, Donald Trump zeroed in on what is wrong with our immigration policies, and it’s not just Joe Biden’s open border — as bad as that is.

We’re not trying to determine if the millions of people coming into our country share our basic values. If they don’t, we don’t want them in America! Every politician should be saying that! And Monday night, Trump did.

He told his Iowa audience that as president, he will immediately reinstate and expand his travel entry ban on immigrants from “terror-plagued countries.” He also vowed to require all immigrants seeking entry into America to first undergo “strong ideological screening.” Trump said:

“No longer will we allow dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots, and maniacs to get residency in our country. If you empathize with Radical Islamic terrorists and extremists, you’re disqualified.

"If you want to abolish the state of Israel, you’re disqualified. If you support Hamas or the ideology behind Hamas, you’re disqualified. And if you’re a Communist, Marxist, or Fascist, you are disqualified.”

Again, every politician should be saying this! The fact that some are unwilling to say it is deeply disturbing.

Immigration to America is not a right. It is a privilege extended by our government and the American people. There is nothing compassionate about bringing in hordes of people who despise our values and who want to undermine our country. We are not obligated to import hate.

If someone who wants to come to America is not committed to free speech, we don’t want them here.

If someone who wants to come to America is not committed to religious freedom, we don’t want them here.

If someone who wants to come to America is full of anti-Christian, anti-Jewish hate, we don’t want them here.

Our immigration policies should put America first. That’s not bigotry. It’s common sense.

The Problem Is Huge

Over the past week, we’ve seen thousands of people in the streets of our major cities and on our university campuses demonstrating, not just against Israel, but in support of bloodthirsty terrorists. The biggest part of these crowds are foreign students or the children of parents who came here from the Islamic world. That is a sad, but true fact.

I am pleased to report that Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are demanding that these radical terrorist sympathizers be deported. They are a “fifth column” infected by the anti-Semitism that permeates so much of Islam.

According to research by the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic attitudes dominate the Middle East, and we saw that hatred on full display as innocent Israelis were savagely murdered and babies were decapitated.

Our State Department maintains a list of countries that are the worst violators of religious liberty and human rights. They are almost always radical Islamic or godless communist countries. Of the 12 countries on that list, five are Islamic nations and four are communist nations.

That’s the same coalition that dominates our university campuses — Islamists and Marxists. And this Jordanian-born professor at Columbia University, who praised Hamas’s atrocities, is just one example.

By the way, I never look to France for inspiration, but kudos to French President Emmauel Macron. He has ordered French security officials to begin a “ruthless” investigation so that foreign-born radical Islamists can be deported.

Can you imagine any Democrat having the courage to say that today?

Haley Doesn’t Get It

I think virtually everyone reading this message wants to see serious change in our government. But if we win with someone who doesn’t understand what’s going on, in some ways it’s even worse.

Disappointed and disillusioned, many Americans become cynical about politics when those we elect don’t keep their promises and don’t do what must be done to stop the left from “fundamentally transforming America.”

I was reminded about this over the weekend after listening to remarks from former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

There’s no doubt that she is pro-Israel and wants America to be strong. But during an interview with CNN, she seemed open to bringing in refugees from Gaza, an idea being pushed by members of the socialist Squad.

Haley said, “America’s always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists. And that’s what we have to do.”

Well, we haven’t always been able to do that.

If Haley is fortunate enough to win the presidency, this statement suggests she could lapse back into the same mushy thinking that exists in much of the GOP, the same mindset that is totally ineffective and unwilling to do what is necessary to stop the destruction of America.

Haley wants to be seen as nice. Look around the world today. We don’t need nice!

I bring this up because we must weigh these signals when we get them. This is the reason we are often disappointed when Republicans win but nothing happens.

I would remind you that during the 2016 GOP primary contest, the candidates were asked if they would restrict Muslim immigration to America. Donald Trump was the only one with the courage to say, “Yes.”

Biden & Bibi

Joe Biden is going to Israel today at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I have no idea what Bibi was thinking, but I know what Biden is thinking.

He’s going to Israel hoping to look like a tough guy, and hoping you’ll forget about his weakness and failures.

He’s going because he needs the American people to forget our open borders.

He needs us to forget his botched retreat from Afghanistan.

He needs us to forget the communist Chinese spy balloon he allowed to fly over America.

He needs us to forget that there is an Iranian spy operation in our government led by people he hired.

What is harder for me to understand is what was Bibi thinking?

If he thinks that by being nice to Biden now, our barely cognizant president will stick by Israel when this war gets ugly, well, Bibi’s not been paying attention.

And I say that as someone who knows Netanyahu fairly well, and as someone who is a great admirer of his previous ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer.

But I haven’t forgotten that the Obama/Biden White House tried to destroy Netanyahu’s political career.

Not long ago, there was great value in the world seeing the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel standing together, shoulder to shoulder. But the world doesn’t have much respect for this president.

Jordan Falls Short

We’re watching the drama unfold in the House of Representatives as members vote for a new speaker. In the first round, 20 Republicans (named here with their office phone numbers) refused to support Jim Jordan.

Much is being made of the fact that some of the Republicans voting against Jordan represent districts that Biden allegedly won in 2020. The assumption being that they are afraid they could lose reelection if they support a conservative like Jordan for speaker.

The GOP doesn’t need gutless candidates like that. And if any of them cut a deal that empowers the Democrats, I guarantee they will lose their House seats.