John McCain on Border Security
February 24th, 2008 at 09:42am Mark Noonan
It is one of the largest minefields between John McCain and an energised GOP base. When McCain and President Bush were pushing the comprehensive immigration reform back in 2007, I think that I was nearly alone in my support for the bill - and even little, old me caught it hot and heavy from fellow conservatives who insisted that securing the border take top priority over reform of immigraiton and the implementation of any sort of guest-worker program. As was once said, a generally held opinion - whether well- or ill-founded, cannot be lightly set aside. Regardless of how I view the merits of the “secure first” position, the plain fact of the matter is that the position will not be overcome - certainly not by a GOPer who hopes to gain/retain office. John McCain, I believe, has also learned this valuable lesson:
As president, I will secure the border. I will restore the trust Americans should have in the basic competency of their government. A secure border is an essential element of our national security. Tight border security includes not just the entry and exit of people, but also the effective screening of cargo at our ports and other points of entry.
Badly burned in 2007 - to the point where it nearly destroyed his Presidential campaign before it even got off the ground - I believe we can take this McCain promise to the bank: a President McCain will secure the border prior to any attempt at other parts of immigration reform. But McCain - wisely, in my view - doesn’t just leave it there:
Recognize the importance of assimilation of our immigrant population, which includes learning English, American history and civics, and respecting the values of a democratic society.
In my view, what really disturbs the majority of Americans about immigration is not the immigrants, themselves, but the growing perception that we are importing a body of alien people who either will not or cannot assimilate into the broader American society. When those pro-immigration demonstrators were seen on national TV carrying Mexican flags rather than American flags, I think that is what really did it - the expection is that if you come here, you’ll do your best to become an American; that you’ll speak English, know about our country and respect our flag. Nothing wrong with the Mexican flag - fly it with pride, if you have Mexican blood…but make certain Old Glory holds the place of honor next to it. Senator McCain seems to understand this sentiment in the broad majority of the American population, and we can - I believe - count on him to advance programs which will turn immigrants into Americans.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Immigration, Patriotism, Republicans
13 Comments
1. Rana Quijotesca | February 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am
There are only two things that I really care about when it comes to assimilation: that immigrants learn English and that they follow our laws when they get here.
I could care less about whether or not they are patriotically American, and I don’t care if they live in cultural enclaves. When people move into this country, they have a certain expectation of personal freedom; they have the expectation that they will be able to live their lives as they see fit. I don’t think that we should prove them wrong.
2. Ken | February 24th, 2008 at 10:37 am
To be honest, I’m really not too bothered with immigrants that don’t learn a lot of English. As long as they come here legally and follow our laws I’m happy.
3. President Bush » Jo&hellip | February 24th, 2008 at 10:52 am
[…] Mark Noonan wrote an interesting post today on John McCain on Border SecurityHere’s a quick excerptWhen McCain and President Bush were pushing the comprehensive immigration reform back in 2007, I think that I was nearly alone in my support for the bill - and even little, old me caught it hot and heavy from fellow conservatives who … […]
4. Almiranta | February 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Mark, when you say, of the flying of the Mexican flag, you hope Mexicans “..make certain Old Glory holds the place of honor next to it…” by “place of honor” I hope you mean flying ABOVE it, as is required in this country. (Yes, trolls, I do understand that there are other configurations in which the flags are next to each other, but still, the American flag stands higher.)
I have been saying for years that true “comprehensive” immigration reform would include a type of extended work visa, either year-round or seasonal depending on the person, which includes some study of English and our culture and history. I have also said that those who have truly established homes here should be allowed to petition for permanent residency, which would have many of the same requirements that citizenship has now—-kind of Citizenship Lite.
But under no circumstances should we devalue our citizenship, nor insult those who have followed the rules and made sacrifices to gain it, by merely handing it out to those who have, so far, shown so little respect for the country in the first place.
5. eric | February 24th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
The real issue is enforcement of our existing immigration laws. Right now, there are many, many undocumented immigrants in this country. It is way too easy to come into this country on a travel visa and simply stay illegally.
My wife is a legal immigrant from Brazil. She had a student visa and then, a work visa. After we married, she applied for and received a green card, which gave her permanent resident status. Once someone has a green card, they can choose to remain a permanent resident. Alternatively, that person can apply for citizenship after a certain number of years of living in the U.S. My wife applied to become a citizen and last year, she was finally sworn in as a U.S. citizen (BTW, the civics test and English test given to applicants is a complete joke).
She, like many immigrants, loves this country. She speaks English fluently. She has her own business (fitness clothes). And, she even moderates her own online fitness board in English.
The system we have could work if enforcement becomes a priority. That enforcement needs to involve securing our borders to allow our government to know who is in this country. Right now, it is easy to disappear into the population and there are numerous sanctuary cities. Until just now, I did not realize how many sanctuary cities exist in our country (http://www.ojjpac.org/sanctuary.asp).
These sanctuary cities under the guise of protecting immigrant rights do nothing to advance the cause of legal immigration. They only serve to exacerbate the problem.
Again, enforce the existing laws, secure the border, and then, raise the possibility of amnesty (green cards or guest worker visas) for those immigrants who are here working and want to stay.
6. Mark Noonan | February 24th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
liberalT,
You didn’t understand even one word of what I wrote. Please go back and re-read it carefully, and set aside your hatred…
Geesh!
7. Almiranta | February 24th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
eric, congratulations to your wife for her determination to become a citizen of this wonderful country. She typifies the type of immigrant which has made this country great.
I wonder how she feels about the prospect of having citizenship handed out to those who couldn’t be bothered to put in the effort she did.
I suggest that, along with enforcing the laws that are already in place, we modify those laws to make them more stringent. For example, now it is not really against the law to be here illegally. I know that doesn’t sound like it makes sense, but there is no real penalty for being here illegally, other than being sent home—if it is enforced at all. And a law without a penalty is pretty much no law at all.
I think we should start by making it a felony to attempt to cross illegally and a felony to be here as the result of entering, or remaining, without proper documentation, after the date of the law being passed. The Constitution addresses ex post facto lawmaking, and says it can’t be done, so there is no way it would be either fair or legal to try to make it a crime retroactively, but we can and should stiffen our laws to make future violations very serious.
This, combined with stringent efforts at the border, are a good start.
8. congressive | February 24th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Man, this is funny stuff! Comedy Central for liberals!
McCain SLAMS the Bush administration not just on it’s “basic competency” but on it’s bungling of “national security” all in just one paragraph.
And the Republicans all nod in total agreement!
Comedy gold!
PS. the two word spam stopper read “no enlist” below this post. You got liberals running this website? ;-)
9. Tractatus | February 25th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Nothing wrong with the Mexican flag - fly it with pride, if you have Mexican blood
You mean the Mexican flag isn’t a dishrag anymore? I’m sure Mexicans are thrilled to know you’ve had such a change of heart.
10. eric | February 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Almiranta,
Thank you for your kind words. My wife, like I, is not too pleased at the thought of a blanket amnesty. We spent much time and money for her to achieve her lifelong goal of becoming a U.S. citizen. Most people that have not been through the immigration process do not realize how expensive and time consuming it is. Legal fees alone cost us around $4k (we hired a really good law firm in San Diego to handle our case). I think that the effort and expense are two of many reasons that many people choose to come here illegally and remain illegal.
11. congressive | February 25th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
“I will restore the trust Americans should have in the basic competency of their government.”
These words spoken by a guy of “the government” for decades now. The incompetent guy in the incompetent government will restore our trust.
Man, this is funny stuff!
12. Almiranta | February 25th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
eric, I would like your opinion on something. There has been a lot of talk about offering amnesty, which of course includes citizenship, to illegals, as a way of trying to get the Latino vote.
I have sponsored four South Americans for work permits, and two of them are in the green card process now, planning to apply for citizenship. One of these has family which have just become citizens after years and years of going through our lengthy and expensive system. And all of these have said that they would never vote for anyone who put illegals ahead of them, or even rewarded them.
It has always seemed to me that the only Latino vote amnesty promoters would get woudl be the illegal alien vote, as to those who did follow the rules such amnesty would be a slap in the face.
And since you have to be a citizen to vote (for now, anyway) then it has never made sense to me to try to court the “Latino vote” by telling conscientous Latinos (as well as naturalized citizens from other countries) that their efforts are not respected.
Do you and your wife feel that granting amnesty to illegals would bolster a claim to the “Latino vote”?
I’ve really tried to figure this one out, and my conclusion has always been that it would be a smart political move to announce that respect for the sacrifices of naturalized citizens prohibits the granting of citizenship to those who tried to bypass the system.
Opinon????
13. eric | February 26th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I think that it depends on the math. If more Hispanics come to this country illegally than legally, then I could see it as a legitimate (although dubious) political ploy to court the illegal’s votes by offering amnesty. My gut, says yes, more Hispanics are here illegally and if offered amnesty and properly organized, those Hispanics could be an effective voting block.
I think your proposition, i.e., announcing that the respect for naturalized citizens prohibits a grant of amnesty, is a very bold political move that would mobilize legal immigrants and U.S. citizens that oppose amnesty and have a respect for the struggles of legal immigrants. And, again depending on the math, these votes could offset (or override) the newly “bought” amnesty vote. Obviously, the Hispanic vote would be split.
I, my wife, and many others like us (like your immigrant friends) would be in support of such a proposal. However, it could (or will) backfire when the opposition announces that said Politican hates Mexican people (ala, Kanye West).