By William Haupt III | The Center Square contributor
Migrants
walk on a dirt road after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Tuesday, March 23,
2021, in Mission, Texas. A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the
Biden administration on the defensive. The head of Homeland Security
acknowledged the severity of the problem but insisted it's under control and
said he won't revive a Trump-era practice of immediately expelling teens and
children. - Julio Cortez / AP Photo
"It's not rocket science. It's not super high
technology to construct border barriers."
– Kris Kobach
The 9/11 attacks happened two decades ago, but many are
still suffering from the aftermath. On that fateful day, 2,997 people died as a
result of the pillaging of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and
fatalities from the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Thousands were injured,
and many more have become ill and eventually died from their heroic recovery
efforts at Ground Zero.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 taught us that every nation
has a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. It
exemplified the necessity for strong, secure, immigration entry policies. Once
we identified what had led to the tragedy that bloodied our soil and broke the
hearts of many Americans, we set out to avenge this attack – and reassured
Americans it would not happen again.
The 9/11 attacks dramatized the strategy of Islamic
Jihadism that employs violent media events to promote its agenda. The economic
and psychological effect this has had on America is profound. Strict border
security procedures went into effect immediately. National Guard units were
assigned to protect airports. Fears of chemical warfare caused authorities to
ground crop-dusting planes. The powers of law-enforcement agencies were
expanded by the U.S. Patriot Act in October 2001.
In November 2002, Congress set up an independent
commission to investigate why 9/11 suicide bombings happened and how to prevent
future attacks. They established a new security officer, and recommended
overhauling our intelligence system and a review of all border security
policies.
“Our border policies must strengthen our security and
prevent future attacks.”
– George W. Bush
George Bush’s new security measures prevented a terrorist
plot involving the use of airplanes to kill a large number of Americans in
2006. They were backed by Al Qaeda. They were caught trying to smuggle liquid
explosives aboard airplanes bound from Heathrow Airport in London to the U.S.
Strict border and immigration policies after 9/11
prevented any further terrorist attacks on America.
Barack Obama continued to successfully enforce the
immigration and border policies established by George Bush. During Obama’s
reign, Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan.
“The solemn responsibility for a President is keeping the
American people safe.”
– Barack Obama
President Donald Trump was elected on a promise to
increase border security and control illegal immigration. He canceled the
failed “detain and release” Obama policy and deported everyone caught entering
the U.S. illegally. Trump’s biggest hurdle in protecting our border was the
TVPRA, a special agreement with Central America to protect children who were
victims of sex trafficking.
These victims would be allowed to remain here and their
parents could follow them.
By 2018, numbers at the border exploded beyond our
capacity to control them. Trump asked DHS to examine how illegal immigrants had
exploited the TVPRA and to insure it was being enforced legally and doing what
it was meant to do. And by January 2020, he reduced illegal immigration by 75%.
In a report filed by an independent Commission on
Immigration Reform, it was predicted if we did not reform our immigration laws
legally, even with Trump’s strict adherence to the TVPRA laws, our immigration
system would shortly implode. They recommended faster processing to increase
illegal deportation and reform of TVPRA laws to insure only “true victims of
sex trafficking were admitted.”
Yet the 2020 elections proved that, indeed, “elections
have consequences.” As we were fighting a global pandemic that had ravaged our
health care system, wrecked our economy and closed our schools, we decided to
open our borders. Biden is allowing thousands of illegal immigrants to cross
the U.S. border, granting them amnesty with no regard for national security,
which is paid for by taxpayers.
Biden proposed a bill that grants amnesty to nearly 11
million illegal immigrants. While we welcome those who come here legally and
bring value to America, this rewards those who break the law. Keeping America
safe should be his highest priority. By removing border safeguards against
illegal entry and visa overstays, he is betraying his oath of office to protect
us.
“When people come here and work and send money back to
their country, what does that do for America?”
– Gabriel Montalvo
Joe Biden has promised to tear down existing miles of
barriers that we know work. They make us safer. Trump’s wall not only
significantly curved illegal drug smuggling, it also reduced the need for
additional manpower as apprehensions decreased by nearly 70%. Additionally,
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol experienced a significant reduction in human
smuggling where the wall was erected.
President Biden’s actions not only show us how far left
his liberal wish list is, but how unfocused he is on our nation’s security. He
is risking the lives of border agents and has created the worst border crisis
in our history. He has slapped the American people in the face in favor of
progressive politics.
“I will provide better and safer entry opportunities for
all who want to come to America.”
– Joe Biden
U.S. Border Protection officials claim that Biden’s
policies are forcing us to house children without parents from Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico in crowded border facilities. The San Diego
Convention Center has hired bi-lingual tutors and provides them three free
meals each day.
After 9/11, anyone boarding a commercial air flight was
forced to show a valid picture ID to protect national security. But recently a
group of American pilots revealed that they have been forced to board many of
these migrant kids for relocation without ID or security checks; no questions
asked?
They complain that many are unruly teenagers that speak
no English and fear transporting them.
In an interview this month with ABC, Biden said it was
nonsense that more migrants were coming because of his policies. Yet border
officials claim this increase is a direct result of Biden’s politics.
Under Title 42, Trump’s protection order, they were
refused entry to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Lawmakers have asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to help stop “a
dangerous new foreign pipeline for COVID-19” crossing our border. There is no
COVID testing of immigrant children, yet Mexico has the highest per capita
COVID fatality rate in Latin America. Over a third of those that are tested
have COVID-19.
Seneca wrote, “It is unwise to keep bad promises.” Joe
Biden promised open borders and in a few months he has eradicated everything we
did to protect our borders after 9/11. His far leftist politics has not only
destroyed America’s free market and economic greatness; he has turned America
into a venerable weak global sister to empower our enemies.
“I don't want to impugn the motives of my colleagues but
my attitude is, you either believe in border security or you don't.”
– John Kennedy
