I think everyone knows my position on illegal immigration. In case you don’t, let me enlighten you. Illegal immigrants should be removed immediately from the US, but before they're deported, immigration officials should do an oral DNA swipe. Illegals should be notified in Spanish, both verbally and in writing, that their DNA will be stored in the government’s national database. If they’re caught a second time, they will go to jail, and then deported. Employers will be heavily fined the first time; fined and jailed the second time. No exceptions. Illegal aliens should not be entitled to any taxpayer based service, even if they’re “paying” into the system using a false or stolen SSN. If they want come here, that’s great; just do it on a green card. On a related topic, we speak English here. Learn it. Use it. Or leave.
Mexico’s former President, Vincente Fox, has repeatedly said the United States had “no right” to secure its border. America was acting “medieval” and “inhumanely” by proposing a fence along the border, while at the same time encouraging Mexicans to sneak into the country. Some Hispanic groups have openly proposed a program of “reconquista” or reconquest to create a so called “Republic of North” comprising of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas, and Colorado through various political groups like “La Raza” and the Aztlan Movement. With over 80% of Americans demanding a secured southern border, the federal government continues to do nothing. Why? Under NAFTA, Mexican drivers will be allowed unimpeded access to US highways in vehicles of questionable safety. Why? Is this why some politicians want to issue illegals a driver’s license? Sure would make access to and from Mexico easy. Very little federal effort or money has in fact been put into place to secure our border with Mexico. The burden has fallen largely on poorly equipped, staffed, and funded local police officers along key border areas. Even our US border patrol and few military personnel stationed along key crossing sites aren’t allowed to engage illegals. They can only “observe, withdraw, and report”. Again, why?
A friend of mine recently sent me the article below, which was written by Dr. J. Michael Waller, a professor at the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC. Dr. Waller directs graduate students in political warfare and political diplomacy. He is also Vice President of Information Operations at the Center of Security Policy, a US policy advisor, and an author. Dr. Waller wrote this article in May of 2006. In it, he describes how Mexico deals with its illegal immigration issue. I hope you find the article as enlightening as I did. So let's see how President Fox’s liberal suggestions play out when they apply it toward their illegal immigrant problem.
Mexico's Immigration Law: Let's Try It Here at Home Monday, May 08, 2006
By J. Michael Waller
Mexico has a radical idea for a rational immigration policy that most Americans would love. However, Mexican officials haven’t been sharing that idea with us as they press for our Congress to adopt the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill.
That's too bad, because Mexico, which annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States does, has much to teach us about how it handles the immigration issue. Under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico.
At a time when the Supreme Court and many politicians seek to bring American law in line with foreign legal norms, it’s noteworthy that nobody has argued that the U.S. look at how Mexico deals with immigration and what it might teach us about how best to solve
our illegal immigration problem. Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are:
• in the country legally;
• have the means to sustain themselves economically;
• not destined to be burdens on society;
• of economic and social benefit to society;
• of good character and have no criminal records; and
• contributors to the general well-being of the nation.
The law also ensures that:
• immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
• foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
• foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics;
• foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
• foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
• those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.
Who could disagree with such a law? It makes perfect sense. The Mexican constitution strictly defines the rights of citizens -- and the denial of many fundamental rights to non-citizens, illegal and illegal. Under the constitution, the Ley General de Población, or
General Law on Population, spells out specifically the country's immigration policy.
It is an interesting law -- and one that should cause us all to ask, Why is our great southern neighbor pushing us to water down our own immigration laws and policies, when its own immigration restrictions are the toughest on the continent? If a felony is a
crime punishable by more than one year in prison, then Mexican law makes it a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico.
If the United States adopted such statutes, Mexico no doubt would denounce it as a manifestation of American racism and bigotry.
We looked at the immigration provisions of the Mexican constitution. [1] Now let's look at Mexico's main immigration law.
Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society:
• Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress." (Article 32)
• Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents. (Article 34)
• Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets "the equilibrium of the national demographics," when foreigners are deemed detrimental to "economic or national interests," when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when "they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy." (Article 37)
• The Secretary of Governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest." (Article 38)
Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:
• Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)
• A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country," and verifies each individual's identity. (Articles 85 and 86)
• A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).
Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:
• Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)
• Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses" are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)
Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:
• Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)
• Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)
• Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico -- such as working with out a permit -- can also be imprisoned.
Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says,
• "A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally." (Article 123)
• Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)
• Foreigners who "attempt against national sovereignty or security" will be deported. (Article 126)
Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law:
• A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)
• Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132)
All of the above runs contrary to what Mexican leaders are demanding of the United States. The stark contrast between Mexico's immigration practices versus its American
immigration preachings is telling. It gives a clear picture of the Mexican government's agenda: to have a one-way immigration relationship with the United States.
Let's call Mexico's bluff on its unwarranted interference in U.S. immigration policy. Let's propose, just to make a point, that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) member nations standardize their immigration laws by using Mexico's own law as a model.
J. Michael Waller, Ph.D., is the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of International Communication at the Institute of World Politics, and is Vice President for Information Operations at the Center for Security Policy. He wrote this paper for the Center for Security Policy.
An authoritative English translation of the Constitution of Mexico, published by the Organization of American States, appears on http://www.citizensforaconstitutionalrepublic.com/1917_Constitution_of_Mexico.html. Quotations in this document are from the OAS translation.
A Metro Louisville Department of Energy
It seems that oil and gas prices are always on our minds these days, especially with winter approaching, and Moderate Man is no exception. Take a look at what he has to say:
Why doesn’t Louisville Metro Government have a Department of Energy? It also needs a Green Building Ordinance. Lots of cities in America have these things. We don’t. Weather they call it Sustainable Design in Boston Massachusetts or a Green Building Ordinance in Frisco, TX., they all accomplish the same goals, to save energy. Our leaders need to be proactive. This is why our town is always behind the times. Government should be leading by example and showing the way to people. Yes, there are local scattered efforts to conserve energy from hybrid TARC buses, state building regulations, introduction of green roofs, etc. But new houses over 3500 square foot, should be energy self sustaining, like in Marin County, California. Louisville has been long known for its moderate housing costs. This has attracted residents and employers which help the local economy. Large houses need to be creatively built, by using the latest technology such as solar panels, passive solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, etc. By conserving energy costs they will not only save money themselves, but aide the local economy and keep energy costs down. Louisville Metro Government needs to replace their ageing police fleet with hybrid fuel vehicles and other departments with electric vehicles. They could phase them in over a period of years till there is total replacement. Methane gas from Louisville’s landfill could be reclaimed for winter heating gas and sold, instead of burned off. A few years ago Mayor Abramson made a failed push to convert the Meriwether Waste Reduction Station into garbage to steam power plant. Why did the mayor drop the ball and has not revisited his idea? The biggest asset Louisville has is the Ohio River. It needs to be exploited for energy needs. Louisville Metro officials could promote tax credits to have a firm build a small scale hydroelectric plant or an underwater turbine. Who knows, Metro Louisville could take a financial position like they do with local hotels or the arena, and maybe even compete with LG&E for energy costs. The Louisville Government could lead the way to have more biofuel service stations around the greater Louisville region. TARC buses should all be electric in the future. Perhaps one day a nuclear power plant like the many the French government has, will be built near here after their end use radioactive byproduct is recycled. This will eliminate the polluting coal power plants our state has and is known for.
Moderate Man
Seat Belts on School Buses
Some of you may remember a blog I wrote back on March 17, 2007 entitled “School Bus Safety” where I suggested adding seat belts on school buses. Evidently some folks were paying attention. US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters is exploring the idea. You can read more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21883749/
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