Editor's Note: Immigration Reform Critical To National Security

Rarely would Sen. Edward Kennedy and I see eye-to-eye in politics, but he recently said that “failure to pass immigration reforms would push illegal immigrants into isolation and create breeding grounds for homegrown terrorists.” One need only look at the deadly attacks in Europe. The Massachusetts Democrat is right. 

Kennedy is a leading proponent of legislation that would grant the nearly 12 million illegal immigrants lawful status. We disagree on this point, but he is right by pointing out that alienation and immigration problems in European nations have led to terrorist acts.

He’s probably right. Look what’s happened in London, where in 2005, bombings killed 52 people. Look what’s happened in France, Germany and Spain. It’s homegrown international terrorism. Kennedy said passing such legislation in the United States is critical to the country’s national security, and I argue that effective U.S. border security increases international security.

The fact is our borders are as porous as a fruit strainer. Everywhere you look, there’s a hole for illegal aliens to come right on through.

Kennedy said that by assimilating people of other cultures (he said Muslims), they will feel involved and have a stake in national security. Brian Darling, a spokesman for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., said the argument “doesn’t hold water.”

It seems to me that if the United States would secure its borders and stick to it, our concerns would then rest upon homegrown terrorists. We have them just as European nations have had theirs. The largest homegrown terror plot was the alleged plan to attack Fort Dix in New Jersey. The suspects supposedly had no connections to al-Qaeda, but the young Muslin men had recorded a jihadi videotape.

International security must give way to homegrown terrorism and terrorists. That means players in the security arena must share information. International border security is paramount.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

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