Tag Archives: immigration

Maybe Next Time

This is disappointing, if you are hoping the United States will not slip into fascism:

Three years ago, Congress gave Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff an unusual power to “waive all legal requirements” that could stand in the way of building the fence. These requirements included the nation’s environmental protection laws. The same congressional action took away the authority of judges to review Chertoff’s decisions.

Last year, after Chertoff waived at least 20 laws and regulations to complete a section of the fence in Arizona, two environmental groups sued. They said it was unconstitutional to give a Cabinet secretary such sweeping power.

But a federal judge rejected that claim. And on Monday the Supreme Court without comment declined to hear a petition submitted by Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club.

(Yes, I mentioned this once before.) When the Supreme Court denies certiorari, it doesn’t usually say why. At least a denial carries no precedential power, so if a more attractive version of the issue came before the Court, they might be interested in addressing it and telling Americans whether Congress has the power to give people like Michael Chertoff the power to break any laws he feels like.

Who would have thought that Americans would use the specter of “terrorism” to keep Mexicans out?

This is What is Wrong with America

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We have immigration policies that, when enacted into law and enforced by the government, come to results that are not just absurd, but which ought to shock the conscience:

[Arthur] Mkoyan, who has a grade-point average above 4.0â€”extra credit for Advanced Placement classes makes that possibleâ€”is set to graduate next week from Bullard High School in Fresno, California.

Ten days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to deport him and his family to the Armenian capital city of Yerevan, the same city his family fled in fear 16 years ago.

Follow the link above to read the rest of the story. In short, it demonstrates the utter heartlessness of our laws regarding immigration.

What about the Rest of the First Amendment?

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Last night, people in Fresno decided to “flex political muscle” by walking through the streets in a throng:

They were marching through the heart of Downtown Fresno to demand immigration reform.

. . . The message; today we march, tomorrow we vote.

Many marchers also came to protest recent raids in Valley communities, like Mendota, where federal agents rounded up illegal immigrants and separating families.

Wait, I have an idea. How about instead of just walking around in the streets, yelling, waving signs, blocking traffic, and such, you make reasoned arguments? How about that? Maybe you could do some of these activities:

Continue reading →

Immigration Debate

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I’ve been doing a little thinking about the current immigration debate. The two main lines of argument that seem to be dominating discussions are as follows (in broad strokes).

Illegal immigrants are hard workers who just want a piece of the American pie and are willing to do jobs that Americans aren’t willing to do. Leave them alone.
Illegal immigrants don’t pay taxes and heavily burden America’s educational and medical services. They’re also a security risk. Kick them out.

I think both are right and both are wrong.