Trump is being hammered for doing what others promised to do!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

IGNORING BORDERS & BOUNDARIES

by Steve Fair

     On Sunday, U.S. Border patrol agents fired tear gas into a crowd of 500 Central American migrants at the southern border near San Diego.  The migrants had thrown rocks and bottles at agents.  As a result, the border was closed for several hours both ways.  After the incident, Mexico announced they will deport 100 of those who stormed the border back to their home country.

     On Monday morning, President Trump tweeted: "Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!"

     Washington Post opinion writer, Greg Sargent wrote on Monday: “Let’s be clear on the real meaning of the latest mayhem: It doesn’t give Trump “ammunition” at all. Instead, it shows that Trump’s immigration agenda is a total and abject failure and that he is covering up this glaring reality with lies.” Is the POTUS’ immigration policy a failure or is America about to be invaded?

     First, these migrants are not really seeking asylum in America.  They are demanding it.  Storming the border with rocks and bottles isn’t the way to get it. According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are two ways to apply for asylum in the U.S.: The affirmative process and the defensive process, both requiring the person to appear before an immigration court and prove they meet the definition of a refugee. They must also demonstrate either past persecution or prove they face future persecution in their home country. These migrants are simply a tool of the liberal ‘no borders’ movement and are not interested in following prodigal for seeking asylum. 

     Second, the immigration issue is not new.  Illegal immigration has been around as long as the republic, but in the past 40 years, there has been a huge increase of those who are illegally entering the U.S.  Instead of taking a hardline stand, the last four presidents paid lip service to the issue and coined the phrase ‘undocumented’ immigrants instead of calling them what they are- illegal. They kicked the can down the road and Trump is getting hammered for handling an issue they should have.

      According to Ronald Reagan, “a nation without borders isn’t a nation at all.”  America is a nation of immigrants, but there is no record of those 19^th and 20^th century immigrants storming the border, under the guise of asylum. 

      Third, the POTUS(no matter their Party affiliation) has an obligation to protect the United States from invaders.  America is a nation of laws and those who ignore them are criminals, even if the claim to be seeking asylum.  The last four presidents have all claimed they were going to secure the southern border and deal with illegal immigration, but they failed to do it.  Trump is being unfairly attacked for doing what he promised.

      Those who do not respect America’s physical border and ignore its’ boundaries (laws) don’t deserve asylum in this great country.