Chertoff Takes On Immigration Enforcement Critics

Comment

Michael Chertoff - Americans Must Be Ready

May 2, 2008, By Michael Chertoff

When it comes to illegal immigration, the American people are tired of thirty years of lip service. They want our laws enforced. As secretary of homeland security, I have directed my department to pursue that mandate, using all the tools permitted by law.

This involves a three-fold approach.

First, we stem the flow at the border by increasing the likelihood that illegal entrants -- and smugglers of all types -- will be detected, apprehended, and removed.

Second, we drive businesses to comply with laws against employing illegal workers.

Third, when we encounter those who are here illegally, we remove them.

Granted, we need a long-term solution involving a temporary worker program, legal immigration reform and a fair policy to deal with illegal immigrants long-rooted here.

But the American people have demanded that we first demonstrate an effective commitment to enforce current laws. And even those who are sympathetic to the painful circumstances of illegal immigration question any change that might trigger new waves of entrants seeking to benefit from still-future waves of "reform."

Our policies respond to this demand and to Congress. They may be tough, yet they are fair, and they are succeeding.

That success has now bred a firestorm of opposition. Opponents are driven by factors ranging from an ideological commitment to open borders to reliance on illegal workforces. Apparently, their strategy is to challenge every enforcement action with exaggerated or misleading cries of outrage. These challenges add up to a position that would forbid any effective enforcement.

The New York Times editorial page is a case in point.

Regarding interior enforcement, a March 27, 2008 editorial ("A Foolish Immigration Purge") attacked our proposal that businesses receiving letters about workers whose names don't match Social Security numbers clear up the discrepancy within three months. Under this proposal, if a mismatch is caused by an innocent clerical mistake, the mistake is simply corrected. But if it's caused by an illegal worker carrying a forged identity, the employer must act. Ignoring this distinction, the Times falsely implied that businesses would have to fire workers even for innocent errors.

A December 18, 2006 editorial ("Swift Raids" ) protested earlier efforts at workplace enforcement. It was followed by an October 4, 2007 editorial ("Stop the Raids" ) which depicted our enforcement efforts on Long Island and elsewhere as trampling on localities. But an April 16, 2008 editorial ("New Jersey's Immigration Crackdown" ) castigated Garden State localities for their enforcement efforts.

Concerning border security, an April 3, 2008 editorial ("Michael Chertoff's Insult" ) condemned our exercise of legal authority to waive certain environmental regulations that would have stopped us from fulfilling the explicit mandate of Congress to put fencing , roads and lighting in place this year in order to stem drug and human smuggling.

The editorial failed to mention that we had previously conducted multiple environmental reviews or that the Interior Department has complained that some border areas are so endangered by smugglers that visitors and employees are turned away.

1 | 2 Next >

Comments

By george_g FL Coast Palm george_g on May 15, 2008

What the devil is this "fair policy to deal with illegal immigrants long-rooted here" nonsense. These folks are illegal root them out and deport them. Why would you choose to recognize the law for some illegals and not others. They are all illegal. Modify the existing imigration law to include language that...... if found to be in the US illegally you will be fingerprinted, photographed, and never eligible to become a US citizen or obtain a work/student visa at any time in the future. The 12 or so million illegals said to be here would evaporate across the border in no time, roots and all. That is as compasionate as should be tolerated for law breakers.

By Anonymous on May 7, 2008

Where do you get your information from? I haven't seen much on gangs formed by illegals and I certainly haven't seen ANYTHING police are afraid to intervene on. You may want to check your facts.

By Lady Green in Lady on May 6, 2008

I totally agree with Lady M's comments. This problem will be solved only when the benefactors of illegal immigration - the employeers are held responsible. In the meantime it is a waste of time, money and resources to erect endless fences. Furthermore, Chertoff underestimates the environmental impacts of a fence.

By Anonymous on May 6, 2008

Chertoff is right - people cannot complain about government NOT enforcing immigration laws then complain when they DO. At the same time, there are real issues that go beyond enforcement. Are there jobs that Americans just won't do? Are the Social Security databases so inaccurate that the SSN check is not practical? How will the situations of long-time illegals (especially those with American citizen dependant children) be addressed in a compassionate manner? There are no simple answers to the issues of illegal immigrants. Michael Chertoff is just trying to do his job. The rest of government and business need to start doing their part to address the situation. Opponents of these reforms should remember the old adage "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

By Anonymous on May 5, 2008

Great article. Also, illegals, once in the U.S., are forming gangs and doing a whole slew of illegal activities. The police are afraid of them and won't even act on the issues.

By LadyM LadyM on May 3, 2008

I will say "thank you" when he starts arresting the employers of illegals. It is because of them that the illegals are here in the first place. If there were no jobs, they would stop coming. And until we start punishing the employers, nothing will change. I'm not talking about a slap on the wrist either. I'm talking about heavy fines, long jail terms and loss of their businesses. We are wasting our time and money arresting and deporting illegals only to have them back in this country before the officers that took them to the border are back. If we don't go to the source of the problem this will never change. So Mr. Chertoff, do what American citizens want done. Go after the employers!

By Yoshi Takahashi Yoshi on May 3, 2008

City and county give legal license to illegal resident to open business. They do not even check background but paid fee and application. City and county have to run SSN, immigration (expired visa), police record.

By Anonymous on May 2, 2008

I praise Chertoff for trying to enforce the laws. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more raids! Deport the illegals!

By Anonymous on May 1, 2008

Thank you, Michael.

Respond to a comment.