This was posted yesterday on one of my GaryNorth.com site’s forums.
You seem to have little to say about the illegal immigration issue unfolding on our southern border. Do you have any information why this is occurring now? Do you have any thoughts on how it should be dealt with and why?
First, I invoke Franklin Roosevelt’s law of politics: “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.”
Second, the story has two halves: outside the USA and inside. We need to consider both in order to make sense of either.
Third, immigration arrests were down by 75%, FY 2000 to FY 2013.
 |
 |
Fourth, the media are focusing on a small component of this immigration this year: immigration from Central America. It’s up this year to about 204,000. With three months to go until the end of fiscal 2014, this might hit 250,000.[amazon asin=1590799755&template=*lrc ad (right)]
There is not a word from the Border Patrol on immigration from Mexico in FY 2014. There is also not a word on former immigrants from Mexico who are returning to Mexico. This has increased since 2000. Net immigration from Mexico has been close to zero for a decade.
Fifth, the lure is the hope of amnesty. If they can get on this side of the Mexican border, they may be allowed to stay.
My subscriber wants to know “Why now?” I’ll tell you why now.
1. INSIDE THE USA
I cite the Wikipedia article on The REAL ID Act. It’s the law. It has been for nine years.
The REAL ID Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109–13, 119 Stat. 302, enacted May 11, 2005, was an Act of Congress that modified U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for [amazon asin=0986036293&template=*lrc ad (right)]the state driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism.The law sets forth requirements for state driver’s licenses and ID cards to be accepted by the federal government for “official purposes”, as defined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secretary of Homeland Security has currently defined “official purposes” as presenting state driver’s licenses and identification cards for boarding commercially operated airline flights and entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants.
The Social Security card has functioned as an ID card for decades. I am old enough to have a card that says on the front: “NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION.” From the beginning, defenders of civil liberties saw the threat. The card is now widely used for identification purposes.
The SS card is not current. Driver’s licenses are. So, the DHS is attempting to create a federal ID card that is tied to state driver’s licenses. The goal is to get the federal camel’s nose into the privacy tent. The DHS is encountering resistance.
The REAL ID Act implements the following:
Title II of the act establishes new federal standards for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver identification cards.Changing visa limits for temporary workers, nurses, and Australian citizens.
Funding some reports and pilot projects related to border security.[amazon asin=0990463109&template=*lrc ad (right)]
Introducing rules covering “delivery bonds” (similar to bail bonds but for aliens who have been released pending hearings).
Updating and tightening the laws on application for asylum and deportation of aliens for terrorist activity.
Waiving laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders
Unlike the vast majority of federal laws, this one created widespread resistance. Half of the states have resisted or have refused to participate. This has thwarted the DHS.
The DHS has a timetable for implementing this law. The Wikipedia article is clear about this timetable.
On December 20, 2013, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that implementation of Phase 1 would begin on January 20, 2014, which followed a yearlong period of “deferred enforcement”. As of January 2014, 21 states are compliant, 20 states and territories have been granted renewable extensions (until October 10, 2014), and 15 states and territories are noncompliant (but are eligible for extensions).
Let me ask the obvious question: When did the publicity begin about this “tidal wave of immigration”? When did the headlines begin?
Hint: not in 2013.
This is an orchestrated event. Watch for “relief” from the “wave of immigration” — formal calls for the acceptance and implementation of the REAL ID law.
