Comments on Fred Thompson's Plan for Border Security and Immigration reform.

The following is the text of Fred Thompson's plan. My comments are in red, and italicized. In the interest of full disclosure I am a Fred Thompson supporter and donor to his presidential campaign.


Border Security and Immigration Reform Plan

In the post-9/11 world, immigration is much more of a national security issue. A government that cannot secure its borders and determine who may enter and who may not, fails in a fundamental responsibility. As we take steps to secure our borders and enforce our laws, we must also ensure that our immigration laws and policies advance our national interests in a variety of areas, and that the immigration process itself is as fair, efficient, and effective as possible.

Securing the Border and Enforcing the Law

A fundamental responsibility of the federal government is to secure the nation's borders and enforce the law. The following policies and initiatives will put the nation on a path to success:

1. No Amnesty. Do not provide legal status to illegal aliens. Amnesty undermines U.S. law and policy, rewards bad behavior, and is unfair to the millions of immigrants who follow the law and are awaiting legal entry into the United States. In some cases, those law-abiding and aspiring immigrants have been waiting for several years.

JC: I could not agree more. These "undocumented citizens" as the Democrats call them are criminals, let's not mince words about it. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines 'criminal' as "relating to, involving, or being a crime". People who come here illegally have committed a crime, hence they are criminals. They know they are committing a crime otherwise they wouldn't be sneaking in mostly under cover of darkness. Once they are caught they should be deported and have any future applications go to the bottom of the stack. There are too many law abiding applicants who are more deserving of entry than those who have already shown a gross disrespect for our laws and national sovereignty.

2. Attrition through Enforcement. Reduce the number of illegal aliens through increased enforcement against unauthorized alien workers and their employers. Without illegal employment opportunities available, fewer illegal aliens will attempt to enter the country, and many of those illegally in the country now likely will return home. Self-deportation can also be maximized by stepping up the enforcement levels of other existing immigration laws. This course of action offers a reasonable alternative to the false choices currently proposed to deal with the 12 million or more aliens already in the U.S. illegally: either arrest and deport them all, or give them all amnesty. Attrition through enforcement is a more reasonable and achievable solution, but this approach requires additional resources for enforcement and border security:

JC: The most practical solution I have heard. It reminds me of the advice of a security consultant I knew some years ago. When considering different methods of protecting my home I asked him what was the best way to keep burglars out, he said, “Make it so it’s not worth their time to break in.” If we enforce the laws already on the books the risk of being here will begin to outweigh the potential gains made by sneaking in or trying to remain here under the radar.A. Doubling ICE agents handling interior enforcement, increasing the Border Patrol to at least 25,000 agents, and increasing detention space to incarcerate illegal aliens we arrest rather than letting them go with a promise to show up later for legal proceedings against them.

B. Adding resources for the Department of Justice to prosecute alien smugglers, people involved in trafficking in false identification documents, and previously deported felons. JC: Amen.

C. Maximizing efforts to prosecute and convict members of criminal alien gangs, such as MS-13 and affiliated gangs. These gangs have brought unusual levels of violence to more than 30 U.S. states and have also become very active in drug-smuggling, gun-smuggling, and alien-smuggling. JC: Amen.

D. Implementing fully and making greater use of the expedited removal process already allowed under federal law. JC: Amen.

E. Enabling the Social Security Administration to share relevant information with immigration and law enforcement personnel in a manner that will support effective interior enforcement efforts.

JC: This is very important folks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have met with great resistance at the hands of the AFL-CIO and the ACLU in regards to sending out “no match” letters to employers. The “no match” letters inform an employer that the data of a new hire does not match SSA records. More often than not this means the Social Security Number (SSN) does not match the employee’s other data. In 2005 the SSA mailed out 10.5 million of the “no match” letters and estimates indicate than over 90 percent of the persons identified by these letters were here illegally and were providing false identification. Aside from enforcement of illegal immigration this could be a tool for the DHS to identify persons in this country for other nefarious reasons.

3. Enforce Existing Federal Laws. Enforce the laws Congress has already enacted to prevent illegal aliens from unlawfully benefiting from their presence in the country:

A. End Sanctuary Cities by cutting off discretionary federal grant funds as appropriate to any community that, by law, ordinance, executive order, or other formal policy directs its public officials not to comply with the provisions of 8 USC 1373 and 8 USC 1644, which prohibit any state or local government from restricting in any way communications with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of an alien in the United States.

JC: I couldn’t agree more. I’m not a huge fan of Big Government, I think what we have already is considerably larger than I would like it to be and I also have a healthy respect of State’s rights and civil ordinances, but when it’s time to enforce a federal law that is in the best interest of the nation then by God let’s have that law enforced and not allow rebelious politicians to run amok and thumb their noses at the national interest.

B. Deny discretionary Federal education grants as appropriate to public universities that violate federal law by offering in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens without also offering identical benefits to United States citizens, regardless of whether or not they live in the state, as required by 8 USC 1623.

JC: The very concept of having a tuition rate for illegals at all just plain floors me. How is it that someone who is not legally allowed to even be in the country can enroll at an educational institution? This has me incensed. I hope Fred expands on this to cut Federal funds to any educational institution that accepts tuition money from criminals, no matter how much or little we're talking about. I realize this may sound harsh to many people, but the child of an illegal is still an illegal. I see no logical reason to have more than one standard in operation.

C. Deny discretionary Federal grants as appropriate to states and local governments that violate federal law by offering public benefits to illegal aliens, as prohibited by 8 USC 1621(a). JC: Amen.

4. Reduce the Jobs Incentive. Ensure employee verification by requiring that all U.S. employers use the Department of Homeland Security's electronic database (the E-Verify system) to confirm that a prospective employee is authorized to work in the U.S. Now that the technology is proven, provide sufficient resources to make the system as thorough, fast, accurate, and easy-to-use as possible. JC: Amen.

5. Bolster Border Security. Finish building the 854-mile wall along the border by 2010 as required by 8 USC 1103. Extend the wall beyond that as appropriate and deploy new technologies and additional resources to enhance detection and rapid apprehension along our borders by 2012.

JC: This is essential folks, and not just to protect against illegal immigration. The less people attempting to gain illegal entry into our nation at any given time, the easier it will be to spot the most dangerous elements coming in. The sheer number flooding in now can and perhaps already has masked entry by groups intent on terrorist attacks on our nation. Cutting that number down to a trickle will allow our security services to focus on the critical threat elements instead of being relegated to crowd control.

6. Increased Prosecution. Deploy the additional assets outlined above to prosecute alien smugglers ("coyotes"), alien gang members, previously deported felons, and aliens who have repeatedly violated our immigration laws much more vigorously. JC: Amen.

7. Rigorous Entry/Exit Tracking. Complete the implementation of a system to track visa entrants and exits, as has been required by federal law for more than ten years, and connect it to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in order to curb visa overstays and permit more effective enforcement.

JC: I am surprised this is not being enforced rigorously. I had assumed it was being. I'm glad Fred is on the ball in noticing that is hasn't been.

Improving the Legal Immigration Process
The United States is a nation of immigrants. We must continue to welcome immigrants and foreign workers who come to our country legally, giving priority to those who can advance the nation's interests and common good. Immigrants and foreign workers who play by the rules need to be rewarded with faster and less burdensome service, not delays that last years. Advancing the following initiatives will require close cooperation between all levels of government, the business community, and concerned citizens:

JC: I can relate to this personally, being a legal immigrant myself. I came over from Britain on a visa, then a permanent resident “green card”, and am now proud, very proud, to call myself a fully natrualized American citizen. At every single step along the way I was in full compliance with the law. I was rewarded for my patience by being a member of the greatest nation the world has ever seen. Now try to tell me that’s not worth a little paperwork and a little patience. Anyone who thinks the reward is not worth the effort neither understands nor appreciates that reward and in my opinion doesn’t deserve it. Those who do, or can, add to the United States as productive members of society I think all clearly see this fact themselves.

1. Maximize Program Efficiency. Reduce the backlogs and streamline the process for immigrants and employers who seek to follow the law. Also, simplify and expedite the application processes for temporary visas. This can be accomplished by hiring more personnel at Citizenship and Immigration Services and the FBI. Caps for any category of temporary work visa would be increased as appropriate, if it could be demonstrated that there are no Americans capable and willing to do the jobs. JC: Amen.

2. Enhanced Reporting. Improve reporting to the government by businesses that rely on temporary workers so that the government can track whether the visa holder remains employed. JC: Amen.

3. Modernize Immigration Law/Policy. Change the nature of our legal immigration system to welcome immigrants who can be economic contributors to our country, are willing to learn the English language, and want to assimilate. JC: Amen. Note - Being born in England, I was even willing to learn the American language (chuckle).

A. Reduce the scope of chain migration by giving family preference in the allocation of lawful permanent resident status only to spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens, and no one else (no siblings, no parents, no adult children, etc.).

JC: Not the easiest pill to swallow in all circumstances, but I have to agree with Fred that this is in the best interest of the nation, and therefore should be the policy.

B. Eliminate the diversity visa lottery.

JC: Immediately! Apart from turning permanent residency in the United States for 50,000 people annually into the equivalent of a television game show, which is not very dignified, it also (in the interest of cultural diversity) eliminates the nations most culturally aligned with the United States (namely the nations with the largest rates of immigration already). This means that to be part of the 50,000 let in this year, a middle eastern Muslim would qualify for the lottery, but and Englishman or a Canadian would not. I would have thought we had already learned the pitfalls of affirmative action programs already, apparently not. Fred, once again, is on the ball though.

4. English As Official Language. Make English the official language of the United States to promote assimilation and legal immigrants' success, and require English proficiency in order for any foreign person to be granted lawful permanent resident status.

JC: You would think this was a no-brainer, but we still have not officially adopted a national language. Fred is right on the reasons he stated, I might also add the savings to the federal coffers by not having multiple copies of forms in various foreign languages available. If I chose to move to Germany I would expect that the Germans would damned well make sure I spoke German before they let me live there. Why is it so ridiculous to expect the reverse?

5. Freedom from Political Oppression. Preserve U.S. laws and policies to ensure that the United States remains a beacon and a haven for persons fleeing political oppression, while assuring appropriate admission standards are maintained. JC: Amen, as long as appropriate qualifications and standards are met.

6. Service to Country. Place those foreign persons who are lawfully present in the country and who serve honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States on a faster, surer track to U.S. citizenship.

JC: I do not think there could be any greater display of qualification for citizenship than someone who wears the uniform of our armed forces and places themselves in harms way to defend this nation. Fast track, heck, make it a rocket sled. Very good point, Fred.


Closing comments:
Altogether a very good proposal that addresses everything that was ever an issue for me, and brings to light solutions for issues I was not even aware existed. Once again Fred Thompson is displaying those presidential qualities than were responsible for the grass roots effort to ask him to run for the office. For me, it’s Fred 08!