No Amnesty. Enforce the Borders. End Birthright Citizenship. Learn English. by Jake Morphonios
(libertarian)
Friday, August 6, 2010
Congressman Ron Paul of Texas doesn't mince words. On the subject of illegal immigration he said emphatically, "One important solution is better enforcement of the laws we've got - which plainly call for illegal immigrants to be arrested and deported."
He makes clear his position that the responsibility of immigration enforcement is the job of the President, not the Congress. In 2005, Paul wrote:
"The ultimate responsibility for our immigration mess, therefore, lies squarely with successive presidents, not Congress. For decades our chief executives simply have lacked the political will, the manpower, or the desire to police our borders and deport lawbreakers. It's been nearly impossible politically for presidents or candidates to suggest the obvious, namely that illegal immigration mocks the rule of law and creates huge social and economic problems. But the tide is turning, and a majority of Americans will demand real action on immigration by the next administration."
These words seem prophetic in light of the current national debate over Arizona's controversial immigration law. Ron Paul has repeatedly taken firm stands on the subject of illegal immigration. For example, at the GOP Presidential Forum at Morgan State University, Paul said that he will not support any bill that provides amnesty to illegal aliens. "We have to stick to our guns on obeying the law, and anybody who comes in here illegally shouldn't be rewarded."
While the illegal immigration issue is complex, Representative Paul has outlined his solution in three steps.
First, existing immigration laws must be enforced by the President and our borders must be secured once and for all. Paul said,
"We must recognize that true national defense means defending our own borders and coastlines. This is the primary constitutional responsibility of the federal government. This means it's time to stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars on overseas military adventures and countless alphabet soup domestic agencies. Borders should be the number one national priority, plain and simple. Does the federal government have something better to do?"
Second, birthright citizenship must be ended by amending the US Constitution. In 1868, the United States adopted the 14th Amendment to the Constitution which states, in part:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
The original intent of this amendment was to overrule the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision which denied blacks the privileges of citizenship. However, from the beginning the scope and meaning of the amendment generated much debate. Many members of Congress, including the author of the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause, Senator Jacob Howard, described the amendment as approvingly excluding certain groups such as American Indians who maintained their tribal ties.
In 1988, while running as the Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party, Ron Paul said, "there shouldn't be any immigration policy at all. We should welcome everyone who wants to come here and work." He was asked about this quote on Meet the Press during his second presidential run.
Paul explained:
"During that campaign I got into trouble with Libertarians because I said there may well be a time when immigration is like an invasion and we have to treat it differently. My approach to immigration is somewhat different than the others. Mine is you deal with it economically. We're in worse shape now because we subsidize immigration. We give food stamps, Social Security, free medical care, free education and amnesty. So you subsidize it, and you have a mess. Conditions have changed. And I think this means that we should look at immigration differently. It's an economic issue more than anything. If our economy was in good health, I don't think there'd be an immigration problem. We'd be looking for workers and we would be very generous."
Today, when an illegal immigrant sneaks across the border and has a child, that child is automatically granted all the rights and privileges of any other US citizen, including access to social welfare programs such as food stamps, housing benefits, free education and medical care. Ron Paul opposes birthright citizenship to illegal immigrants as is permitted under the 14th Amendment.
Paul introduced House Joint Resolution 46 in an attempt to begin the process of changing the 14th Amendment, with the following explanation:
"As long as illegal immigrants know that their children born here will be citizens, the perverse incentive to sneak into this country remains strong. Citizenship involves more than the mere location of one's birth. True citizenship requires cultural connections and an allegiance to the United States. Americans are happy to welcome those who wish to come here and build a better life for themselves, but we rightfully expect immigrants to show loyalty and attempt to assimilate themselves culturally. Birthright citizenship sometimes confers the benefits of being American on people who do not truly embrace America."
Paul's final recommendation for dealing with the immigration problem is to end welfare state subsidies for illegal immigrants. He said,
"Some illegal immigrants-- certainly not all-- receive housing subsidies, food stamps, free medical care, and other forms of welfare. This alienates taxpayers and breeds suspicion of immigrants, even though the majority of them work very hard. Without a welfare state, we would know that everyone coming to America wanted to work hard and support himself."
Other immigration positions taken by Congressman Ron Paul:
He voted in support of the 700 mile fence along the Mexican border (HR 6061).
He co-sponsored HR 997 to declare English the official language of the United States. A portion of the bill read, "All citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the laws of the US."
He opposes changing the Constitution to allow foreign born citizens like Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for President.
He voted to support Amendment 968 of House Resolution 5441. The amendment prohibited the US from telling the Mexican government the whereabouts of the Minuteman Project volunteers who provide border surveillance. Paul voted against HR 5441 as a whole.
He voted Yes for HR 3722 which required hospitals to report information on illegal aliens that obtained treatment before the hospitals could be reimbursed with taxpayer money for providing services. The bill also specified that hospitals would not be required to provide care to undocumented aliens if they could be transported to their home country without a significant chance of their condition worsening.
He voted Yes for HR 3736, increasing the number of temporary visas granted to highly skilled workers.
The views expressed
in this article are those of Jake Morphonios only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
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Posted By: Brittanicus
Date: August 6, 2010 09:42:16 PM
The Department of Justice has become a doppelgänger of the communist ACLU, an Un-American, un-patriotic and opponent of stopping illegal immigration. It is Time to UN-contaminate Washington in November and any mid-term elections forthcoming? The illegal immigration cease and desist ultimatum began when Scott Brown crushed Democrat, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. This is warning to Liberal-Communist Democratic-Republican thinkers, who believe we should let the rest of the world into America, without punishment. Arizona State has been under great hardship as being the initial step by illegal aliens and criminals, before they branch out into every corner of the United States. California cities as many--Sanctuary Cities--throughout America are equally to blame for subsidizing illegal alien families. Arizona's lawmakers under the direction of State Sen. Russell Pierce finally had no choice, but to try and impose immigration policies, because the federal government has been held back by powerful influences given campaign dollars; favors from corporate entities.
Then outside the business community, is the dark side of large radical groups, led by the La Raza entity, a radical ethnocentrism organization. The ACLU has background of being pro-Communist since the 1920’s and will sue any small poor community in a backlash of any laws that severs local government in preventing illegal foreigners from renting apartments. No state has remained untouched in supporting monetarily illegal aliens and families as welfare is easily accessible through citizen-children born here under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. According to FAIR, (Federation for American Immigration Reform) Illegal Immigration expenditures have reached $113 Billion annually as a Drain on U.S. Taxpayers, with a very large plus additional of $60 billion dollars earned by illegal aliens in the U.S. each year. This being Mexico's largest revenue streams (after exports and oil sales) consists of money sent home by legal immigrants and illegal aliens working in America.
With Americas rising jobless rate and Americas13 trillion dollar deficit, it is our duty to look after our poor citizens-residents first. We should not be welcoming another million a year into the workforce, unless they have credentials of the highest caliber. The Agrarian business owners must be held accountable, for every guest worker in his pay. He must be put on notice that he is responsible for health care and other services—NOT TAXPAYERS! We need rigid labor permits that allows foreign national to be employed with instructions, that there is no path to citizenship or--AMNESTY. If they desert their position picking crops, they must be deported. AMERICAN TAXPAYERS HAVE BECOME THE PAYEE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS.
The Tea party, moderate conservatives, independents and even more empathetic Democrats have seen their rights given to them by their forefathers being eroded by the portentous shadow of Liberal progressives. The governing majority with Sen. Reid (D-NV) at the helm, demanding Amnesty for the 20 to 30 million aliens in our country must join a long list of other corrupt legislators to be removed. The tide has finally turned and the border must be sealed, against overpopulation. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) will be ejected first, as he abused his power to weaken E-Verify, federal local detainment law 287(g). On a state level many Democratic Senators and representatives will be joining Reid in the American workers jobless line. City governors such as mayors should join that party as well.
Those who believe we can keep on accepting millions of people annually should read this repeated excerpt about a family of illegal immigrants described in the Spring 2005 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons: Below is the consequences of the instant citizenship that has become a national plague in the last twenty years.
“Cristobal Silverio came illegally from Oxtotilan, Mexico, in 1997 and brought his wife Felipa, plus three children aged 19, 12 and 8. Felipa … gave birth to a new daughter, her anchor baby, named Flor. Flor was premature, spent three months in the neonatal incubator, and cost San Joaquin Hospital more than $300,000. Meanwhile, (Felipa’s 19-year-old daughter) Lourdes plus her illegal alien husband produced their own anchor baby, Esmeralda. Grandma Felipa created a second anchor baby, Cristian. … The two Silverio anchor babies generate $1,000 per month in public welfare funding. Flor gets $600 per month for asthma. Healthy Cristian gets $400. Cristobal and Felipa last year earned $18,000 picking fruit. Flor and Cristian were paid $12,000 for being anchor babies.” This is of course Mexico, but other countries citizens are aware of this gaping hole, especially poor undeveloped countries. But for the price of an airline ticket, they can gain access to American hospitals and receive free natal treatment, as well as the baby born there where payment reverts to the taxpayer.
CALL THE CAPITOL AT 202-224-3121 AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
Closely scrutinize any new lawmaker relating to their platform on illegal immigration. The power of our vote can deny them access to Washington or State government. Demand they follow the "Rule of Law" People who comment should stand up to the plate and bombard their federal lawmakers at 202-224-3121 NumbersUSA has an immigration grading system showing who should not be reelected in Mid-Term elections. For .Facts, figures and other statistics at Immigration Counters.
Copy, Paste & Distribute freely without copyright.
Posted By: Thane Eichenauer
Date: August 8, 2010 01:29:00 AM
I am a passionate supporter of Ron Paul but this is one area where I don't agree with his reasoning. If the problem is government welfare, phase it out or abolish it. Blaming illegal immigrants for problems caused by the government is blaming the wrong party for problems they didn't cause.
Posted By: Maria Folsom
Date: August 8, 2010 02:21:04 PM
Thane is absolutely right. The problem is NOT the immigrants, legal or illegal. Another problem with ending the birthrite citizenship is that is creates a double standard. Would a baby born of a LEGAL immigrant or a U.S. citizen still be a citizen by birthrite? Sound laws must be uniformly enforced.
Posted By: chronsweet
Date: August 10, 2010 12:27:19 PM
I absolutely agree with Ron Paul on this issue 100%. Why should the child of an illegal immigrant be granted citizenship in the United States. All that does is promote illegal immigration, if someone can get on our soil quick enough illegally and pop out a child, then they automatically have citizenship. ABSURD! What other country in the world grants citizenship to non-citizens??? Why should we be a welfare state giving away our hard earned tax money to illegals. And yes, our government has played a big BIG role in illegal immigrants receiving welfare programs because they allow it to happen. If we denied anyone who was not a citizen the welfare programs they come here to collect then guess what, maybe they would stop trying to come over here so much. In my apartment complex there are about 20 illegal families living in 3 apartments. Seriously, they have like 2 or 3 families living in the same apartment. They go buy their food on the first of the month, they have children running around who speak not a lick of English. Why should these people be living off the government teat? Why do I go to work every single morning and pay my taxes and support my family when these people stay home ALL DAY long and yet get money from me paying into their social programs. I can't even get medical insurance even though I consider myself poor making 36k a year and supporting 3 people in my family. My boyfriend can't get a job because of the economy. He can't get medical insurance. We don't get government handouts, yet for my area, we are at 50% of the average median income, which means we are POOR. Sad, sad state of affairs when people can't see what the illegal population is doing to our system. Yes, it isn't the ONLY problem, but it is certainly PART OF THE PROBLEM.
Libertarians stand for free working residency through e.g. a treaty process and decriminalizing these problems, see the work at http://www.Libertarian-International.org
IMO Paul misses the Constitution, for years it was interpreted to encourage 'open border' and in addition the US has treaties for free travel with countries like Mexico it's not following. He certainly misses Libertarianism.
Posted By: Natalie Schultz
Date: May 3, 2011 01:02:20 AM
First of all, Ron Paul is neither a Liberal nor a Libertarian. He is a libertarian-leaning Constitutional Conservative Republican.
Secondly, the 14th Amendment does NOT give Citizenship to ILLEGAL immigrants! When a Canadian gives birth in an American hospital that baby is NOT an American Citizen! In fact, only recently did Canada agree to confer those children Canadian Citizenship - prior to Canada changing its law those children were "Stateless." However, if a LEGAL immigrant gives birth they ARE American Citizens under the 14th Amendment - because the parents were already here LEGALLY (same applies for people on work Visas). But tourists are also NOT supposed to receive American Citizenship for their babies either, since they are just "visitors" from another country. If I am on an airplane over Germany and give birth my baby WOULD be an American. If a German is on an airplane over the USA and gives birth their baby is a German.
Having NO BORDERS goes totally against the one legitimate function of the Federal Government - DEFENSE! Border Security (and port security, customs) is the only way to DEFEND American Citizens from criminals, diseases and terrorists.
I will never understand how Libertarians can defend Property Rights in one breath and then want to get rid of borders in another. When the Federal Government does not defend the borders along Mexico and Canada MY RIGHTS up in NY are violated. When illegals commit crimes here the victims are never compensated (an illegal hit my mother's car), the taxpayers foot the bill to imprison them, property values fall when there are 20 illegals in one house, people are afraid to let their children out on the street in neighborhoods were illegals congregate. Nevermind the TAXES! My school district now spends over $25,000 PER PUPIL in a VAIN attempt to raise the English scores. Property taxes have SKYROCKETED - now averaging well over $10,000 per year, and it has all risen at the same rate as the population of Latinos (more than doubled over the past ten years according to the latest census).
So yes, the borders of the country MUST be secured and defended in order to ensure the RIGHTS of American Citizens (and LEGAL immigrants, for that matter) are protected. Saying "Get rid of the Welfare system" is a JOKE and you know it! That will not pay for my mother's car, or the family whose relative is killed by an illegal. And healthcare - I do NOT have insurance and I DO NOT want it! Why should I be FORCED to buy something I do NOT need just to cover the costs of a bunch of lazy bums who refuse to pay their own way? Paying my doctor cash is much cheaper (and safer, and confidential). The only reason I cannot afford a hospital visit is because lazy bums refuse to pay their bills - so the hospital p***es those costs onto ME - that is NOT FAIR! I would have zero qualms paying a fair rate, but that does not exist in our welfare / free-loader society. As long as this system is in place, the borders MUST BE SHUT!!!
And STOP equating immigration and Border Security with Free Trade. Even if you pretend that a truly Free Market exists in our world (it does NOT), all countries will still NEED border and port security and customs for defensive purposes. If I want to do business in Mexico I SHOULD be allowed to do so, but when my goods cross the border I fully expect them to be searched for bombs, chemical weapons, biological weapons and invasive diseases and insects.
Our Immigration system is BROKEN! We need to fix it - we need work visas - for both high-skilled and low-skilled workers. BUT, certain conditions MUST be met: 1) Free of Disease. 2) No Criminal Record. 3) Fully able to support oneself finacially once here. 4) MUST pay for health insurance and car insurance UPFRONT for at least one year. 5) Children must pay tuition and healthcare costs while here. 6) No terrorist ties.
These are REASONABLE requirements for workers / immigrants. This protects ALL Americans. And if the cost of meeting these obligations is too high for the sponsoring employers or workers to meet, well then TOO BAD - WE, the TAXPAYING AMERICANS are ALREADY PAYING THESE COSTS and WE DON"T HAVE A CHOICE, so WHY SHOULD YOU?
Posted By: Natalie Schultz
Date: May 3, 2011 01:19:04 AM
OK,OK, just incase you don't get it: I NEVER wrote the word "pisses." The word I intended (and actually wrote) was the word used when you take a cl*** and receive a grade that allows you to continue to the next level. You have p***ed!
Posted By: rwilymz
Date: June 21, 2011 10:51:52 AM
I will never understand how Libertarians can defend Property Rights in one breath and then want to get rid of borders in another
That's one of my gripes about Capital-L Libertarians. The rest are, to combine them into one word: They're pacifo-anarcho-isolationists.
They are one of the reasons I call myself a lower-case-l libertarian ... in other words, the true libertarian.
Liberty is only that which is defined to the government tasked with defending it from, among other things, itself. And borderless "nations" isn't one of the definitions of "liberty" in this country.
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