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.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”