Thread: Ron Paul: The Immigration Question

The Immigration Question

by Ron Paul


The recent immigration protests in Los Angeles have brought the issue to the forefront, provoking strong reactions from millions of Americans. The protesters’ cause of open borders is not well served when they drape themselves in Mexican flags and chant slogans in Spanish. If anything, their protests underscore the Balkanization of America caused by widespread illegal immigration. How much longer can we maintain huge unassimilated subgroups within America, filled with millions of people who don’t speak English or participate fully in American life? Americans finally have decided the status quo is unacceptable, and immigration may be the issue that decides the 2008 presidential election.

We’re often reminded that America is a nation of immigrants, implying that we’re coldhearted to restrict immigration in any way. But the new Americans reaching our shores in the late 1800s and early 1900s were legal immigrants. In many cases they had no chance of returning home again. They maintained their various ethnic and cultural identities, but they also learned English and embraced their new nationality.

Today, the overwhelming majority of Americans – including immigrants – want immigration reduced, not expanded. The economic, cultural, and political situation was very different 100 years ago.

We’re often told that immigrants do the jobs Americans won’t do, and sometimes this is true. But in many instances illegal immigrants simply increase the supply of labor in a community, which lowers wages. And while cheap labor certainly benefits the economy as a whole, when calculating the true cost of illegal immigration we must include the cost of social services that many new immigrants consume – especially medical care.

We must reject amnesty for illegal immigrants in any form. We cannot continue to reward lawbreakers and expect things to get better. If we reward millions who came here illegally, surely millions more will follow suit. Ten years from now we will be in the same position, with a whole new generation of lawbreakers seeking amnesty.

Amnesty also insults legal immigrants, who face years of paperwork and long waits to earn precious American citizenship.

Birthright citizenship similarly rewards lawbreaking, and must be stopped. As long as illegal immigrants know 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.

We need to allocate far more resources, both in terms of money and manpower, to securing our borders and coastlines here at home. This is the most critical task before us, both in terms of immigration problems and the threat of foreign terrorists. Unless and until we secure our borders, illegal immigration and the problems associated with it will only increase.

April 4, 2006

Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas.

Ron Paul Archives
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul314.html

then he voted yes:
http://www.issues2000.org/TX/Ron_Paul_Immigration.htm

I love that guy !!!

This guy rocks! Tancredo/Paul or Paul/Tancredo for President 2008!

Ostrich

If I'm not mistaken looks like he is running number 1 in this msnbc poll.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=62342

Ron Paul:
Border Security and Immigration Reform

The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. This is my six point plan:



Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals.
Enforce visa rules. Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas.
No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That’s a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws.
No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules. But taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services.
End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong.
Pass true immigration reform. The current system is incoherent and unfair. But current reform proposals would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country, according to the Heritage Foundation. This is insanity. Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/html/issue-Border_fx.html

According to the MSNBC vote just after the debate last week, Ron Paul was voted the winner.

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee . I've already ordered my Paul T - Shirts. The trick will be educating people about him as the news media is doing their best to keep his name in the dark.

I did write to Lou Dobbs asking that he host a town hall debate. Those that refuse to come, well fine. Just have those that accept the invitation, which I am sure Ron Paul would.

only thing that bothers me is:

Paul scores 30% by the ARA on senior issues

Ron is very much against the current tax system and federal government. He is all about states rights and keeping the feds out of it.

Ron and I also differ on a couple of points.... but the way I look at it; if someone does not step up to stop this amnesty; the US is finished !!! The quality of life as we once knew it will drop substantially, and this already bankrupt USA will have no money for social security and many of those programs our elderly are entitled too and expect.

How do you say "Sorry, no more money" in Spanish?

Ron and I also differ on a couple of points.... but the way I look at it; if someone does not step up to stop this amnesty; the US is finished !!! The quality of life as we once knew it will drop substantially, and this already bankrupt USA will have no money for social security and many of those programs our elderly are entitled too and expect.

Of course, if our country goes bankrupt and descends into ethnic civil war (a worst case scenario), with the reconquistas seceding our Southwest into the newly formed Aztlan, then that would probably eliminate many of magnets attracting illegal aliens in the first place (if nothing else the H1B visa Indians and Chinese that have overstayed their visa would probably leave).

I wonder sometimes what kind of illegal immigrant population we would have if my worst fears came true? I can't help but believe that many of these non-patriotic freeloaders would leave as soon as the going got tough in this country.