[Recently
by Donald A. Collins:
Katrina Exposed Poverty, Problems—And Folly Of Importing
Millions More Aliens]
The fact that the
European Commission recently asked European nations
to adopt common rules across the Continent governing the
return of illegal immigrants and failed
asylum seekers to their home countries represents a
giant recognition by European leadership that
immigration into Europe is–as in the
United States–out of control.
Stories about problems with illegal
aliens
all over Europe abound. The recent
London bombings doubtless are at the root of the
action. The International Herald Tribune recently
reported that
"European Union`s justice and home affairs commissioner,
Franco Frattini, said the common rules would help
the union return more of the 650,000 illegal immigrants
who were ordered to leave last year. About two-thirds of
them avoided expulsion and stayed in the union. Such
rules would also bring to an end the sharp divergence of
standards between countries, which encourages immigrants
to move around Europe seeking the safest haven."[EU-wide
rule sought on illegal immigrants, By Graham Bowley
International Herald Tribune, September 2, 2005,
also
NYT]
However, this same article suggests
that the concern for human rights upon returning aliens
will possibly trump concern over terrorist entries.
"Mr.
Frattini indicated that he was open to such bilateral
agreements to guarantee good treatment of those
immigrants who are returned home.`It is a good step
forward, but I believe Europe should be the main actor
in reaffirming the policy of human rights.`"
Further the Commissioner argued
that "the measures were not drawn up to counter
terrorism in Europe, though he believed they could
help countries in their renewed antiterrorism drive
following the London bombings."
But British Prime Minister Tony
Blair "has said that he is prepared to withdraw
Britain from the European human rights legislation if
this blocks his plans to
export Islamist extremists."
Now back to the US, where events
following
Katrina on the Gulf Coast point out vividly and
urgently the plight of
many urban poor, unable to deal even with the basic
needs of life.
New Orleans pictures on TV seem
like Third World images. Our national media now
discloses the extent to which our own citizens are left
outside the mainstream while we allow a continuing
flood of illegals across our borders.
Even some politicians who have been
avid open border advocates, such as New Mexico Governor,
Bill Richardson, are realizing that their
constituents of
every ethnic origin are besieged, at risk, and
getting angered into action. The
successes of the
Minutemen vigils surely aren`t overlooked.
Richardson is the same guy, who
since taking office in 2003, signed legislation to allow
illegal immigrants to get a
driver`s license in New Mexico and for children of
illegal immigrants to qualify for
in-state college tuition.
But now, at least according to NPR
on September 3, he is willing to use the term
"illegal aliens" and recognize following a visit to
a town meeting in Deming that he might have been wrong.
At that meeting, ranchers talked
about
immigrants and drug smugglers crossing their property,
causing
fence damage and
cattle deaths by frightening livestock away from
water tanks.
The police chief in the tiny border
town of Columbus had even been shot at,
according to the Governor: “It was
spontaneous based on what I saw at the time—a very
violent criminal situation at my border affecting the
lives of my constituents."
Hey, that`s a big step, knowing who
he works for!
Richardson is running for
reelection in 2006, so maybe this is a conversion of
convenience. But his
Democratic party must be realizing that the huge
head of steam of Republican support for sterner
immigration policies suggests reform is the right side
to be on.
Even safe district leaders like
Open Borderist, House Minority Leader,
Nancy Pelosi, will hear more and more from
angry Californians who have seen their state`s
public services ravaged by the illegal invasion.
Both in Europe and in the United
States, there are going to be no excuses for politicians
who have for too long hidden behind their desks in
fear of being called racists.
Now, with the combined force of
diminished public services and the threat of more
terrorism coming home, immigration reform is coming. But
probably not fast enough to foreclose numerous
additional problems and
other terrorist attacks.
We have often spoken of the power
of the
ballot box if only enough citizens perceived the
crisis. Finally that day may be at hand.
Border control is the urgent first
step in reform progress, followed by
proper ID, and
employer sanctions that sting.
Fix it, Pols, or you are OUT.
Donald A. Collins [email
him], is a freelance writer living in Washington DC and a former long time member of the board of FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform. His views are his own.
