Monica Crowley

Illegal to be Illegal

I recommend a Reuters story today called "States Turning Up Heat on Illegal Immigration" LINK

Look at the photo at the top of the piece.  There sits an illegal immigrant under arrest, his back to the camera, wearing a T-shirt that says, "Kiss My..."  There's an arrow pointing to his nether regions.

Not a surprise, as all illegal immigrants display that disrespect for the United States when they enter the country in violation of our laws.

The piece itself details the steps many states are now taking to punish, deter, and stop illegal immigration.  The failure of the federal government---including the Bush administration---to deal with it has led many states to take the bull by the horns.

Missouri has begun aggressive new efforts to hunt down illegals.  Oklahoma just passed a new law that makes it a felony to transport or harbor illegals, requires local and state law enforcement to enforce federal laws, and cuts public benefits for illegals.

According to the piece, 43 states have enacted 182 immigration-related laws this year. And more than two dozen cities and counties have adopted measures to try to bring this invasion to a halt.

The states are enforcing the federal laws the feds won't enforce.  Here's why:  state and local governments are a lot closer to the people than is the federal government.  State and local politicians see and hear from the people more directly and more often, and the people are fed up.  Those lower levels of government are a lot more responsive to what the people want.  Which is---incredibly!---the rule of law.

This is a bottom-up revolution.  It has yet to reach Washington.  But thank goodness for all of the foot soldiers of common sense, national security, and law and order, standing on the front lines in our towns, cities, and states.  You are the ones fighting to preserve and protect this country.  We owe you our support and gratitude.

Immigration Abomination

Once again, the politicians to whom we entrust our national security and on whom we rely to protect and defend us and enforce our laws, have sold us out. Key Senators of both parties and the White House reached a "deal" yesterday that essentially extends amnesty to some 12 million (who knows how many?) illegal aliens already here, provided they do certain things, like pay a fine and go back to their home countries before returning to the U.S. This is not a "deal." It is amnesty. It is capitulation. It is putting political expediency ("let's look like we're doing something!") over the rule of law.

The bill's sponsors---Ted Kennedy and John McCain--say the devil is in the details. I say the devil is in the lack of enforcement. What incentive do illegal immigrants have to come forward and go through the process----when they KNOW we have a long and pathetic history of NEVER enforcing our immigration laws? Why should they think this new law will be any different? If they know we aren't likely to enforce it, why would they step forward, pay fines, schlep home, then schelp back again? All they have to do is stay put until this latest legislative storm passes.

There is some indication that the House will reject this piece of nonsense. I hope it does. But it's already come this far, with the blessing of the President and many members of the "world's greatest deliberative body." They don't seem to care about the signal it sends to law-abiding citizens, and those in the pipeline who want to become citizens the legal way. The United States is supposed to be the great example to the world of the constitutional rule of law, "the shining city on the hill." Well, this land of opportunity has been exploited by those who have poured in here illegally---and will continue to do so because we keep rewarding them. This is not the behavior of a great power.

The nation that cannot control who enters controls nothing.

Monica on MSNBC

Monica debated the immigration bill with Air America's Sam Seder on MSNBC on Wednesday.  Monica explained how many of you are fired up about this issue, while Seder tried to argue this is just a debate invented by Republicans to change the subject.   WATCH MONICA here, or download the debate on the Monicamemo Video Podcast.

Podcast: Immigration Debate

Now on the Monicamemo Podcast, Monica talks to New York Congressman Peter King about the fight over illegal immigration.  Immigration legislation is currently working its way through the U.S. Senate READ MORE.  Monica also spoke to Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.  Visit RICKSANTORUM.COM for more information on the senator's campaign for reelection.

This Weekend: Border Battle

President Bush is seeking to drum up support for his immigration reform plan unveiled this week, which has been met with skepticism by conservatives in Congress.  The proposal includes placing up to 6,000  National Guard troops along the US-Mexico border to assist border patrol officers.  The president hopes to show disaffected members of his conservative base that he will be tough on border security.  I'll be talking with two Republican lawmakers on the front lines of this debate-- Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and New York Congressman Peter King.