“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the columnist to enlighten readers on a subject as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.
Border Wall
President Trump has addressed the Nation on the crisis on our southern border. The Democrats refuse to vote for a wall or barriers, or any meaningful control. Trump has stated that it is an emergency, a national security, citizens safety, economic, and now a humanitarian emergency; and the only timely and practical way to even start a solution is by invoking Emergency Powers to deal with the problem.
Administration figures show that 161,000 family units crossed the border in fiscal 2018, a remarkable 50 percent increase from the year before. Homeland Security officials have also said 60,000 unaccompanied children crossed the border last year, a 25 percent increase. 17,000 adults in 2018 with existing criminal records were arrested at the border, 3,755 known or suspected terrorists were prevented from traveling to or entering the U.S., and 6,000 gang members, including from MS-13, were apprehended at the border. And these are only the ones caught. The worst criminals have gangs on this side to smuggle them, and terrorists have money to hire them. Many of the young girls and women are smuggled in by cartels are forced into prostitution. Sources claim over half of these women and girls are raped by cartel “coyotes”. Govt sources claim 1/3 of all the Illegal immigrant women are raped. Also the President stated, “In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records – including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes and 4,000 violent killings,” Do we really want the Dem-Socs to shut down ICE and let people like that run free?
Over 80% of the drugs smuggled into the US allegedly come over the Border, with estimates of the opioids even higher, 90%. There has been a dramatic spike in illegal drugs on the border, including a 38 percent increase in methamphetamine from fiscal 2017 to 2018, a 22 percent increase in heroin and a 73 percent increase in fentanyl. And 2017 was a record 70,237 overdose deaths, 68 percent of those deaths involved opioids. For comparison, in 2014, there were 47,055 total overdose deaths. 149% increase in 3 years. In the entire Vietnam War, there were 58,220 US servicemen killed.
In a Politico poll, 42% say the border is a crisis, 37% say it is a problem, only 12% say not either. Independents are split 37% crisis & 37% problem, with only 10% neither. Even 52% of Democrats admit it is a problem with only 21% of Dims saying not.
Democrats have been promising us good border security since 1986, in trade for the Reagan Amnesty. But they refuse to vote for it now, when there is a determination to actually DO something effective. They refuse because Trump promised it to America, and their stated goal is to Resist and Obstruct Trump. The Far Left branch of the Dem-Soc party also see “Open Borders” as an opportunity to change the Demographics of our nation; to change us into a highly Centralized Socialist State run by the leftist “Democrat” Party. There are Big Donor “Robber Barons” of both parties that want the illegal cheap labor and wage suppression of the middle-class, and cheap visas for foreign “high-tech” workers. We have 4 million Americans graduating from high schools and colleges every year that need jobs.
The Dem leadership accuse President Trump of lying and even “malice” against these Criminal Invaders, but he is only trying to do his Constitutional DUTY as President and Commander-in-Chief, and protect American Citizens. In February of last year Pelosi filibustered for 8 hours for the DACAs, but now refuses to negotiate for any deal that includes a wall or fences. Or even to listen to testimony by the experts on the scene and working to control this invasion. In problem places where walls have been erected they have been estimated at 90-95% effective, and greatly facilitate catching the ones that do make it. The Dems voted for $500 Million last year for 287 miles of wall for Jordan. Walls are not “Immoral”, and Dems supported immigration control, mainly to protect Hispanic farm workers, until the Obama Administration. A Short Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx1Kb51kOBQ explains why.
By using Emergency Powers, President Trump can get the wall and barriers up faster, and cheaper, using the military and much of the $25 Billion can be used to hire more BP & ICE officers, equipment, and for other aids, as well as pay to deport many Illegals. The Cost is a pittance compared to the $163 Billion estimated cost of Illegal Immigrants for 2018, up from $134 Billion in 2017, and the over $275 Billion cost for all immigrants. “The Wall” is very ‘Cost Effective’. The whole immigration system must be fixed where it benefits America and our Citizens, not Radical Leftists and Robber Barons.
