At the current rate, only 1 million – or about 5% of those eligible – will be deported in four years
By Tom Patterson
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — There has likely never been a more tendentious power transfer in presidential history than the Biden-Harris team’s final acts. Out of spite:
- They sold still-to-be used Border Wall parts at giveaway prices.
- They salted the ground by allocating billions of unspent COVID funds to George Soros and other radical left-wing groups.
They tied down policies a numerous Federal Agencies to prevent domestic and offshore oil drilling.- They granted Social Security benefits to previously ineligible government employees, defied the Supreme Court to forgive student loans, and were even uncooperative in relinquishing the VP residence.
Many Americans were astonished to see our nation's leadership not only ignore American immigration law, but also actively work for its violation.
Now we know for certain that their claims of needing more funding and more legislation were made-up excuses. Their successors, starting with President Donald Trump, have reduced daily crossings to near zero – without the benefit of either more funding or more legislation.
Their attempted deceptions fooled some, but not all. As public outcry grew, they doggedly persisted, willing to take the heat to transform America’s future electorate.
Worse, they may have succeeded.
No reliable statistics are available for the getaways, unlawful crossings, or total new “guests” – but most estimates are in the range of 20 million illegally within our borders.
Worse, they may have succeeded.
No reliable statistics are available for the getaways, unlawful crossings, or total new “guests” – but most estimates are in the range of 20 million illegally within our borders.
Many sanctimonious Americans claim these lawbreakers should be allowed to stay for humanitarian reasons – since they’re just “seeking a better life,” or “fleeing persecution” in the case of the mostly bogus asylum seekers. But when a busload of “victims” was delivered to the left-wing enclave of Martha’s Vineyard, within a day, they were speedily transported elsewhere.
That’s understandable, hypocrisy aside.
But these are not your grandfather’s immigrants – who wanted to be contributing Americans and often endured generations of hardship to assimilate, learn the language, and become self-supporting.
Today’s illegal immigrants are rewarded for wading the Rio Grande by becoming entitled wards of the state.
They are fed, sheltered, and transported around the country. They are housed, sometimes in luxury hotels, and introduced by helpful NGOs to benefits like health care, education, and permanent food programs.
Today’s illegal immigrants are rewarded for wading the Rio Grande by becoming entitled wards of the state. They are fed, sheltered, and transported around the country. They are housed, sometimes in luxury hotels, and introduced by helpful NGOs to benefits like health care, education, and permanent food programs.
Considerable attention was given to the prospect that immigrants or their proxies would bear financial responsibility for all these goods and services. Thus, jurisdictions like New York City are now feeling the pinch of what amounts to a sudden, dramatic expansion in their welfare roles, forcing out existing programs.
Trump resolved this threat, a significant feature of his election campaign, by vowing to close our borders and deport millions of illegal immigrants. To his credit, he has made a sincere effort, reducing breaches of the border from 130,000 monthly last April, to a mere trickle today.
However, reversing the flow has proved more problematic.
Relying almost solely on Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove illegals has already resulted in a total of 65,000 deportations. Those with criminal records have commendably been prioritized, but at the rate so far achieved, we would deport only 1 million –
Trump often prefers confrontation to resolve conflicts, but there’s a better way, using incentives and voluntary self-removal.
Immigrants are attracted to America primarily by work and welfare. If those magnets could be eliminated, immigrants would eventually self-deport.
The welfare piece is relatively simple logistically. There is no coherent reason to grant benefits to those who intentionally defy our laws and take advantage of our generosity.
Government welfare benefits to illegals should be phased out immediately. Moreover, their home countries would benefit from having their working-age citizens return.
The welfare piece is relatively simple logistically. There is no coherent reason to grant benefits to those who intentionally defy our laws and take advantage of our generosity.
Government welfare benefits to illegals should be phased out immediately. Moreover, their home countries would benefit from having their working-age citizens return.
Jobs are more complicated. E-Verify is the federal system for ensuring that illegal immigrants don’t take American jobs. Still, it has not worked well, partly due to a lack of cooperation from employers who frankly prefer compliant foreign nationals who work for less.
To prevent a future glut of unskilled, unneeded workers, President Trump must work with Congress to make E-Verify an enforceable law.
Like the border itself, it is simply a matter of having the will to make it happen.
Lettuce may cost a bit more, but the vegetables will still get picked.
Thomas C. Patterson is the former Majority Leader of the Arizona State Senate, is a retired emergency physician, and was chairman of the Goldwater Institute from 2000-2013.
