A Tale of Two Presidents by Joe Murray - (AgapePress) August 25, 2006 Category: Political

ADLY, SADLY, THE sun rose," wrote Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens continued -- "[i]t rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away." When examining the issue of immigration reform in America, Dickens' words seem to fit most Washington lawmakers like a glove. At a time when the federal government has commissioned U.S. troops to go abroad in search of dragons to destroy and occupy lands where no vital American interest was threatened, our own federal government has turned a blind eye to the Reconquista that is taking place in the American Southwest. And for this our country and our culture are in peril. Like a piñata that has been hit so many times it is ready to burst, America is on the verge of her own breaking point. Twenty-nine percent of those sitting in the federal penitentiary are illegal aliens. Ten percent of Mexico's 107 million people have relocated to the United States. By 2050, there will be more than 100 million Hispanics concentrated in the American Southwest and those of European decent will be a enjoying a taste of minority status. Adding to the demographic distress is the fact that illegal aliens are less likely to learn English and assimilate into the culture of our country. These immigrants do not come to America because they want to; they come because they need to. Thus, this new brand of immigrant is drawn to America out of love of commerce, not country. Their hearts belong to Santa Anna while their wallets are filled by Uncle Sam. The immigration crisis stemming from Mexico is unlike any other in history. Unlike the Irish, German and Chinese that preceded them, Hispanics enjoy a close proximity with America and a land border that resembles Swiss cheese. Hence, Hispanics can easily earn a paycheck in the States while clinging to their Mexican identity. This, on top of the millions of illegals flowing into this country on a yearly basis, has prevented proper assimilation of immigrations and accelerated the Mexification of the Southwest. It is not a stretch to say, therefore, that illegals in the United States are as much American as Leona Helmsley is sincere. For all purposes, these immigrants are still Mexican -- and the Mexican government understands this fact. Just look at how Mexico City treats those Hispanics north of the Rio Grande. First, she has created her very own "Border Crossings for Dummies." (See related article) This 32-page publication -- Guia Del Migrante Mexicano (The Guide for the Mexican Migrant) -- shows illegals how and when to break into the United States, and it also instructs illegals on how to evade U.S. authorities. Finally, it offers tips on how to be inconspicuous, such as not to beat your wife in public. Is there any wonder why good fences make good neighbors? But the story does not stop here. Second, Mexican politicians regularly travel to the States and address Hispanics as Mexicans north of the border. Mexicans in the U.S. can vote in Mexican elections and regularly protest under Mexican flags. And Vicente Fox has referred to illegals as heroes. Translation -- America has become a boarding house for Mexicans seeking to send dinero south of the border. Make no mistake, America is in battle with Mexico over the allegiance of those Hispanics in the United States, and Mexico is winning. Left with a federal government unwilling to take the steps necessary to secure the border, local communities have been forced to take matters into their own hands. The community of Riverside, New Jersey, recently passed an ordinance that would make it illegal for citizens to hire or rent to illegal aliens. Just over the Delaware in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia suburb of Hazelton passed a similar measure. Ohio towns are right on their heels. As expected, the measures passed by these towns are being challenged in court. The grounds? Only the feds can legislate on issues of immigration. If this argument sticks, a Catch 22 will be established, for courts will strip towns of their authority to handle immigration matters and hand it over to a federal government that has been loath to pass measures tackling the issue. In other words, local communities will be forced to the sidelines of history to watch as their country is dismantled brick by brick while the officials charged with preserving our country spend billions of dollars building a nation on the other side of the globe. This is the essence of irony. Even more disturbing, towns like Riverside are not on the radical fringe of American politics. Riverside is reflecting not only the will of its 8,000 residents, but that of the nation. According to research conducted by the reliable Rasmussen Reports, a whopping 67% of the American public long for an enforcement first immigration policy. Further polling data shows that 60% of Americans support building a barrier along the southern border and 55% of the people support a policy of apprehending illegals and then sending them home. Thus, the problem with immigration reform does not reside with the people, but rather the powers that be. But is this how it has to be? Do we just raise the white flag on the America of yesterday, and accept the "reality" of America's decline and the demise of Western culture? Do we believe the arguments that it is impractical to deport illegals and resurrect the melting pot? It depends on which President you ask. On July 14, 1954, with the executive blessing of President Eisenhower, "Operation Wetback" was born. The sole purpose of this operation? Deport those who are here illegally. Records indicate that in the first 24 hours of the operation over 4,800 illegals were apprehended. By the end of the operation, the INS boasted the deportation of 1.3 million illegals. Did it take an army of men to deport over one million illegals? Not hardly. Seven-hundred federal officers, working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, easily deported over a million illegals. Just imagine what could be accomplished by the 6,000 National Guard troops Dubya promised to send to the border. What impact did Operation Wetback have on U.S. immigration? The INS claims that prior to the start of the operation approximately 700,000 illegals fled to Mexico out of fear of being caught. In the months after the operation closed up shop, the U.S. was controlling the flow of immigration. Translation: Mexico sat up and took notice of America's decision to protect the integrity of her borders. Once again, the President finds himself at a policy crossroads. This issue will determine who we are as a people and what we become as a nation. But it is not enough for Bush to support a deportation, for the crisis is too severe for such a remedy. Along with deportation, a moratorium must be imposed on all immigration and a secure fence must be built along the southern border. Only then can the melting pot be repaired and the unique American identity preserved. If our politicians, Bush included, fail to halt this backdoor invasion, we will soon find ourselves up the Rio Grande without a paddle. You have defended Iraq, Mr. President -- now it is time to defend the Southwest. Joe Murray (jrm1835@gmail.com) is a civil rights attorney residing in New Jersey. Murray is a former staff attorney for the American Family Association and has also served as national director of correspondence for Patrick J. Buchanan's 2000 presidential bid. Murray has been a guest on numerous radio and television talk shows, including the O'Reilly Factor. More guest columns.