"Democrats say GOP cuts jeopardize border security Arguments flip issue for parties"

Hi Gang:
I have provided you with an article that appeared in the Washington Times yesterday, February 22nd that reported on how Chuck Schumer, the Senior Senator from the State of New York and the Chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee is now claiming that the Republicans are endangering national security by trimming funding from the federal budget that would pay for fencing and the hiring of Border Patrol agents.
The devil is truly in the details and I have yet to see an item by item analysis of how the spending cuts would be made and how these cuts might ultimately impact the number of Border Patrol agents who are employed by CBP (Customs and Border Protection).  
If, indeed, the cuts proposed by the Republicans would reduce staffing levels of Border Patrol agents then I would have to oppose such measures as being wrong-headed.  Our Southern border is not secure and our northern border essentially only exists on maps.  
However- I have to admit that I find it incredible that Chuck Schumer would be complaining about failures to have an adequate number of Border Patrol agents securing our nation’s borders when you realize that for years he has claimed that the border is secure- even before the staffing levels reached the current levels.
I believe that for Schumer to decry any reduction in resources for border security while having clearly established himself as an advocate for sweeping amnesty programs for millions of illegal aliens creates a new example of “chutzpah” that eclipses the traditional example of chutzpah demonstrated by the apocryphal tale of the young man who is convicted of killing both of his parents and pleads for mercy at his sentencing because he is an orphan!
Every time politicians such as Chuck Schumer declare their support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform or for a bogus “DREAM Act which would have opened the door for an amnesty program that might well have accorded millions of illegal aliens lawful status and a pathway to United States citizenship- desperate people around the world hear in those words, encouragement to run our nation’s borders.  Millions of desperate people around the world and especially in Mexico and Latin America respond to those statements routinely made by Mr. Schumer and his amnesty promoting colleagues as though a starter’s pistol was fired and race for our nation’s borders!
In all fairness, the immigration crisis that confronts our nation today is attributable to politicians from both parties. 
During the “Gold Rush” of the 19th century the cry was, “There’s gold in them there hills!”
During the administration of President Jimmy Carter, the cry was, “There are votes to be had in those massive numbers of illegal aliens running our borders!”  I would remind you that it was the Carter Administration that ordered employees of the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) to stop using the term “Illegal Alien” to describe aliens who were illegally present in the United States.  During the Carter Administration INS employees were told that they would be facing potential discipline if they used the term illegal alien.  We were told to use the term “Undocumented Worker” a term that is still in use today.  I was so angered and frustrated by this Orwellian order that I decided to refer to illegal aliens as being “Pre-Citizens!”
During the Carter Administration special agents of the INS were ordered to not arrest illegal aliens unless we had clearance from headquarters- the concern was that if illegal aliens were arrested they would hide from the Census bureau employees whose mission was to count how many people lived in the United States.  The Census is required every ten years to determine the apportionment of the seats in the House of Representatives and it was surmised by those of us at the INS, back then, that the Carter Administration wanted to make certain that the illegal aliens were counted to help increase the number of seats in the House of Representatives in the cities where the illegal aliens tended to live because those cities tended to vote for Democrats.  We speculated that this was a new way to engage in the age-old practice of gerrymandering!
President Jimmy Carter was replaced by President Ronald Reagan who gave us our first amnesty- the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 which was supposed to provide lawful status for one million to one and a half million illegal aliens.  When the bureaucratic dust settled, roughly four million illegal aliens had been legalized.  Then Congressman Chuck Schumer was an architect of the SAW (Special Agricultural Worker) provisions of that amnesty program even though his district in New York City had no farms!
The Clinton Administration concocted a program that they referred to as CUSA (Citizenship USA) which caused the INS to ram more than one million applications for United States citizenship through the process.  This program was a bit reminiscent of the episode of I Love Lucy when Lucy and her sidekick, Ethel got jobs at a candy factory where they were supposed to wrap morsels of candy as they were delivered to them on a conveyor belt.
Initially all went smoothly when the belt began to pick up speed and soon the bonbons were hurtling at them at warp speed!  This made for one of the most hilarious episodes in the annals of television comedy- Lucy and Ethel frantically try to keep up with the candy and in order to keep up they try eating the candy and stuffing the morsels down their clothing but to no avail!
For those who are too young to have seen this episode, or if you want to relive that classic bit of television history, here is a link to the You Tube video:

Where applications of immigration benefits are concerned, however, the hapless adjudications officers at the INS could not eat the applications nor could they stuff them down their clothing!  They quickly found out that the easiest and quickest way of disposing of applications for citizenship was to simply approve the applications.  It was subsequently determined that thousands of aliens had been accorded the highest honor a country can bestow on a foreign national- United States citizenship, even though they were ineligible and, in some cases, should have probably been deported from the United States altogether!
Here is a link to the investigation that the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted into the nonfeasance, misfeasance and malfeasance where this disastrous program was concerned:
What is even more egregious about CUSA is that it was implemented several years after the two terrorist attacks that were carried out in our country in January 1993 and February 1993 in which CIA employees were gunned down by a citizen of Pakistan, Kansi, who had been granted political asylum even though he lied on his application for asylum and the very next month, a bomb that was planted in the basement of the World Trade Center complex killed six innocent victims and injured hundreds of others and nearly toppled one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center- inflicted an estimated one half billion dollars in damages.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 President George W. Bush left our nation’s borders open while sending Border Patrol officers to Iraq to secure the Iraqi borders against the entry of terrorists and insurgents!  Furthermore, it was under the Bush Administration that Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean were arrested and prosecuted in what became, in my judgement and the judgement of others, a charade.
The Obama Administration has expanded the Visa Waiver Program and focuses on penalizing employers who are accused of intentionally hiring illegal aliens while all but ignoring the illegal aliens these employers hire.  President Obama often speaks about the need to place illegal aliens on the “Pathway to United States citizenship” all but declaring that unlawful entry into our country should be a prerequisite for United States citizenship!
Estimates vary widely but it has been estimated that at least 5 million aliens who were admitted into the United States via the inspections process have subsequently violated the terms of their admission- the way that the terrorists who attacked our nation on September 11, 2001 entered our country, and yet there have been reports that there are all of 272 special agents of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) who are assigned to tracking down and arresting those millions of illegal aliens!
Last year, Casey Wian of CNN reported on this deplorable situation.  The segment was entitled, “Tracking Down Visa Violators.”  I was interviewed briefly for the report- here is a link to the video:
The point is that both political parties bear responsibility for the immigration crisis that now confronts our nation and impacts virtually every serious challenge that confronts our nation today.
However- Chuck Schumer and his fellow advocates for amnesty for what could be tens of millions of illegal aliens has never been serious about securing our nation’s borders or creating an immigration system that has any integrity whatsoever!
What is interesting, however, is that it was Congressman Lamar Smith, the current Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who, on May 20,1997, as then chairman of the House Immigration Subcommittee, conducted a hearing into visa fraud and immigration application benefit fraud to identify these critical issues and the way that they played a role in the attacks of 1993.  I was, in fact called to appear at that hearing, which would be the first time I was called to appear before a Congressional hearing.
Here is a link to that hearing:

The bottom line is that our nation’s borders must be secured and our nation’s immigration system must be made to have real integrity to protect our nation and our citizens and to also honor those countless millions of lawful immigrants who, since the founding of this nation, lawfully immigrated to our nation to grasp their thin slice of what has come to be referred to as the “American Dream” and, in so doing, built this nation and provided unparalleled opportunities for themselves, their children and their fellow citizens and for those who came after them.

The time for politicizing immigration and border security has long since passed!

There is no room for hypocrisy!
The purpose of our nation’s immigration laws is to make certain that our country keep out those aliens whose presence would be harmful to our nation and our citizens.  I like to make the point that architects appear to understand the principles that should be governing our immigration policies better than do far too many of our politicians.  Architects generally have front doors installed in the houses and apartments they design that have sturdy locks and hinges, peepholes and doorbells or other such signaling devices.  The point being to provide the home owner or the apartment dweller with the opportunity to make a willful decision as to whether or not to admit a stranger in to their abode.
Simply stated, this is what the purpose of our immigration laws- to enable our officials to make willful decisions as to whom should be allowed to enter our country and who should not.  Our immigration laws are oblivious to race, religions or ethnicity.  Our immigration laws only differentiate aliens from citizens- period.
While there is much discussion about the borders of the United States the fact is that the entire immigration system must have integrity.  Mr. Schumer can jump and down all he wants ant talk about how important securing our nation’s borders is to the safety and security of our nation and our citizens- but in calling for massive amnesty programs that would enable millions of illegal aliens whose true identities, backgrounds, intentions and potential affiliation with criminal or terrorist organizations is unknown and unknowable- he would create ever so many opportunities for transnational criminals and terrorists to acquire official identify documents in false names that they could use to conceal their true identities and intentions and embed themselves throughout our country.
Here is a simple question I would pose to Mr. Schumer and any other politician who now espouses concerns about border security- Do you still favor providing a “Pathway to United States citizenship for millions of illegal aliens?”
There is nothing ambiguous about this question- just a “Yes” or “No” response is required.
It could not be any simpler than that!
Nothing less than the survival of our nation and our citizens hang in the balance!
A country without secure borders can no more stand than can a house without walls!

I

our country is to survive and if our children and their children are to get their share of the “American Dream” the citizens of this nation must take their citizenship seriously!

We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm’s way in defense of this nation and our citizens.  
My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings before more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.
The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.
If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same.  We need to create a “Bucket Brigade of Truth!”

The practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.

The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!


The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians.  I implore you to resolve this year to get involved!
I believe our nation’s is greatly benefited by the rich diversity of our people which is why I could never imagine living anywhere except New York City, arguably the most diverse city in our nation if not, in fact, the world.  However, my idea of diversity most certainly does not include members of MS-13, the Mexican drug cartels or members of other transnational gangs or members of al-Qaeda!

If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation! 

All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!

We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.

This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!

You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!

Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

-michael cutler- 


Please check out my website:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/22/democrats-willing-cut-beyond-2010-spending/

Democrats say GOP cuts jeopardize border security

Arguments flip issue for parties

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, to respond to a statement made by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
of Nev. arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington,
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, to respond to a statement made by House Speaker
John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

4:39 p.m.,
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

After watching Republicans use immigration to attack their priorities
for the past two years, Democrats are turning the table, saying
congressional Republicans’ spending-cuts bill would slice money from
border fencing and could scuttle much of President
Obama‘s Border Patrol surge.

Led by Sen. Charles E. Schumer,
New York Democrat, they charged this week that the Republicans’ 2011
spending bill that the House passed early Saturday will cut the Border
Patrol force by more than 800 agents and take $272 million of fencing
and other infrastructure at a time when border violence is on the rise.

“Simply put, cuts of this magnitude will be devastating to our security and our economy,” Mr. Schumer
and two colleagues wrote in a letter to House leaders. “They will
render us unable to secure our borders and, even worse, will reverse the
progress
Congress has made in reducing the flow of illegal immigration, guns, and drugs along our border.”

Republicans said Mr. Schumer
was misreading the numbers and that they include enough spending to pay
for the full 21,370 agents while setting an absolute low of 20,500
agents.

“The assertion that our bill is weak on border security is simply wrong,” said Rep. Robert B. Aderholt,
Alabama Republican and chairman of the spending subcommittee that
oversees border funding. “If anyone looks at the funding priorities,
they will see that we put money into securing the border.”

The fight is the latest round in the broader sparring over 2011 spending, which has dominated Washington for weeks.

House
Republicans pushed through a bill over the weekend that would cut this
year’s spending by $61 billion compared with 2010 levels. After
initially balking, Senate Democrats say they are now willing to
entertain some cuts, but that there’s not enough time to settle on a
bill before March 4, when the current funding runs out.

They have
rejected Republicans’ demand that even a short-term spending bill
include cuts, instead arguing for continued 2010 spending for at least
another month.

“We’re proposing a short-term solution that will give us time to negotiate,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat. “The American people are not interested in theatrics, ultimatums or threats. They want us to work together.”

Democrats
have argued that the House Republicans’ bill shortchanges government
duties in areas extending from transportation to education to security –
which is where the fight over border security comes in.

While they work toward a broader bill to legalize illegal immigrants, Democrats have tried to boost border security spending.

Last
year, faced with escalating reports of violence and while fighting
states such as Arizona that were enacting their own immigration
crackdowns,
Mr. Obama announced a plan to boost the U.S. Border Patrol and, in the meantime, to deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to the border to help with surveillance and infrastructure.

A bill to fund the enhancements passed with strong bipartisan support last summer.
.
Fast-forward to the House Republicans’ spending bill, which did cut from homeland security funding.

Mr. Schumer,
joined by Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Jon Tester
of Montana, said the cuts will affect the Border Patrol and fencing.

The
Border Patrol didn’t return a phone message seeking comment on staffing
levels or the Republicans’ bill, but Republicans said there won’t be
any cuts to the level of agents and that the infrastructure cuts
eliminate a program the
Obama administration has said it is canceling.

The
Republicans also said they are trying to encourage Washington to shift
away from a simple dollar calculation, arguing that money is not always a
good way to measure effectiveness.

“Throwing money at problems
is not a solution,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith
of Texas, whose panel has jurisdiction over immigration matters. “Even
with all the money in the world, the
administration would not succeed in securing the border because they are not serious about it.

Still, the turnabout on immigration is stark.

During
the past few years, Republicans repeatedly charged Democrats with being
soft on immigration, including accusing them of not taking adequate
steps to prevent illegal immigrants from gaining access to health care
funding under the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

On
Tuesday, Republicans questioned whether anything had changed in what
they called a weak Democratic commitment to border security.

“The administration has decreased proven worksite enforcement activities and also has denied the border states’ full request for National Guard troops,” Mr. Smith said. “With less than half the border under operational control, it is past time for the administration to get serious about securing the border and protecting the American people.”

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