A common refrain about immigration is that the U.S. “is a
nation of immigrants.” People coming to the colonies built what would become
the United States of America, and since then millions have immigrated here.
“Most immigrant groups that had
formerly come to America by choice seemed distinct, but in fact had many
similarities,” as ushistory.org explains. “Most had come from Northern and
Western Europe. Most had some experience with representative democracy. With
the exception of the Irish, most were Protestant. Many
were literate, and some possessed a fair degree of wealth.”
Most, but not all immigrants intended to become American
citizens. Some, however, returned to their native land after earning money to
send home. Not all were good people; some were criminals, mentally
ill, anarchists, and alcoholics.
Furthermore, many Americans were not
thrilled about immigration, and ushistory.org tells us, “In 1917, Congress
required the passing of a literacy test to gain admission. Finally, in 1924,
the door was shut to millions by placing an absolute cap on new immigrants
based on ethnicity. That cap was based on the United States population of 1890
and was therefore designed to favor the previous immigrant groups.”
Throughout the decades and the problems and controversy that
accompanied immigration, diversity came to the US, which had become a nation of
primarily peaceful, self-reliant, hard-working people, qualities they generally
passed on to the next generation.
However, the concept that America is a nation of immigrants
is less and less valid. Today, the USA is a nation not so much of immigrants,
but principally a nation of the descendants of people who were immigrants
generations ago; a nation of Americans.
Our government has the duty to admit immigrants who want to
become good American citizens, as demonstrated in the previously discussed
examples of acts affecting immigration. No sensible person would allow people
they cannot be virtually certain are good and honorable people into their
homes; our government must be every bit as cautious.
But instead we find that the current immigration system is
wholly dysfunctional, and the responsibility goes squarely on the shoulders of
President Barack Obama and his administration. The idea held by many on the
Left – that we are morally obligated to admit any and all who seek entry,
legally or otherwise – is not just dumb, it is dangerous. And that concept has
no basis in history or in the Constitution.
Nevertheless, that foolish idea has strong support, and it
set the stage for what happened in a hearing of the House Oversight &
Government Reform Committee this past April, when Chairman Jason Chaffetz,
R-Utah, addressed comments to those testifying, including Immigration and
Customs Enforcement director Sarah Soldana.
Chaffetz listed some startling facts:
** In a three-year period Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) has released more than 86,000 criminal aliens into the
American public. These are people who were here illegally, got caught
committing a crime, were convicted of that crime, and instead of deporting
them, they were released back out into the United States of America. All told
they had more than 231,000 crimes of which they were convicted.
** In 2015, 196 of these people were convicted of homicide,
and ICE released them back into the public, rather than deporting them.
** One hundred and twenty-four of those who were released
between 2010 and 2015 went on to commit homicide.
** In 2013 ICE released 36,007 criminal aliens who were
unlawfully in the United States. As of September 2014, 5,700 of those
individuals went on to commit additional crimes.
** In March of 2015, the director of ICE testified before
this committee that during fiscal year 2014 ICE released another 30,558
individuals with a combined 79,059 criminal convictions, instead of deporting
them. Of those 30,558 criminal aliens 1,895 were charged with another crime
following their release, including sex offenses, assault, burglary, robbery, and
driving under the influence.
“And ICE told us that in 2015 the agency released 19,723 criminal
aliens with a combined 64,197 convictions,” Chaffetz said, “including: 934 sex
offenses, 804 robberies, 216 kidnappings, and 196 homicide-related convictions.
And that’s on your watch.” They were here illegally, committed crimes, were
caught, tried and convicted, and then turned loose to prey on the American
people again.
He then displayed an aerial photo of Notre Dame football
stadium filled with game watchers, and said, “You released more people that were
convicted of crimes and should have been deported than you can fit into that
stadium. You’d still have people waiting outside in line. Those are the
criminals that you released instead of deporting.”
Government’s job is to seal the borders from illegal entry,
to thoroughly vet people before letting the acceptable ones in, and to
prosecute and punish criminals. Put them in jail, or at the very least deport
them and keep them out.
Do these colossal government failures rise to the level of
criminal offenses? Should they? Or, is such dangerous and irresponsible
behavior “merely” gross malfeasance? Is there no penalty for such wrongdoing,
whether criminal or not?
Not in the administration of Barack Obama, where apparently
the treacherous operation of this immigration system is a matter of celebration
by his supporters.
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