This past weekend, while in Tampa, Florida for a CP National Committee meeting, I had the extreme privilege of hearing Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project (www.minutemanproject.com), speak at our Friday evening banquet.

Mr. Gilchrist presented some astounding, and hard to believe, numbers about the illegal immigrant problem here in the United States. By his estimates, which he was able to back up with legitimate calculations, there are currently 30 million people here in this Country illegally. And that number will increase by 5 million per year unless some drastic measures are taken to curb the inflow.

Theodore Roosevelt had this to say in 1907 regarding immigrants and being an American:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith, becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

I've heard it stated many times that the basic problem with immigration in the United States today is the blatant violation of the laws regarding immigration. Last time I checked, the United States still welcomes people from all over the world, as long as those people immigrating follow our laws.

The real problem with immigration is the thousands of people crossing our southern border, and to some extent the northern as well, ILLEGALLY! We are talking about law-breakers, not law abiders. Yet, for some reason our elected officials in Washington are once again choosing to treat those who break the law with more respect than those who abide by and uphold it. When will America learn?

In Dr. Chuck Baldwin's April 19th "Chuckwagon" he stated a brilliant concept to help curb the problem. You can read Chuck's article by visiting his web site at:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/ and scroll down to the article titled "What Local Governments Can Do About Illegal Immigration".

If local governments, town / village / city councils and county boards, will empower themselves under current Federal law, they could round up and deport illegals themselves! No need for INS to get involved, other than providing the transportation. Local and County law enforcement could detain and deport any illegal immigrant they find.

How do they find them? YOU! We all need to get on the phone to our locally elected officials, or better yet attend a meeting of your city / town / village council, and bring this issue up. And don't let up until something has been done about it.

Once your local government is up to speed on the issue, make the phone call to the police. Now, I'm absolutely not advocating a "witch hunt" and I don't believe in harassing people just because of their skin color, but if you have good reason to believe you know the whereabouts of an illegal immigrant, then call the police and tell them about it.

Why should we care? Well, an illegal immigrant may be working but they probably work for cash and don't have insurance. So who pays for their health care if they must visit a hospital? Federal law requires hospitals to provide care for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, which means the hospital can recoup the costs by raising their prices, or as has been the case in California, just go bankrupt as eleven hospitals have in the past five years.

That's just one example Mr. Gilchrist pointed out during his keynote address. But another part of the problem is the hypocrisy being foisted on us by our elected officials and those in Mexico. In an April 3, 2006 article posted on the Center for Security Policy web site, author J. Michael Waller comments on "Mexico's Glass House":

In brief, the Mexican Constitution states that:

• Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
• Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
• Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
• Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants) and hand them to the authorities.
• Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process.

Notice that the Mexican Constitution does NOT differentiate between legal or illegal immigrants, all are treated poorly under Mexican law.

Waller, concludes: "...we should not allow the hypocrisy of others' treatment of undocumented aliens in their countries to induce us to refrain from taking effective steps to prevent further illegal immigration: by building a fence along our southern border; by enforcing immigration laws in the workplace and elsewhere; and by discouraging more such violations - with potentially grave national security implications - by dealing effectively with those who have already broken those laws by coming here without permission."

So while Mexican officials are badgering U.S. officials to be lenient towards the illegal immigrants, they do not reciprocate that leniency towards foreigners in Mexico.

And lest you think I'm picking on our southern neighbors, consider illegal immigrants from other parts of the world, the middle east primarily. I mean, really... when's the last time you heard about an illegal immigrant from Europe? Or Japan? Or Africa? People from those nations who want to come here typically do so through proper channels. And don't get me started on "multiculturalism". There are NO african-americans, and I think asians consider it an insult to be grouped together as 'asian-americans', considering Asian could mean Japanese, Chinese, Cambodian, Korean, or any number of other east-asian nations. You're either an American or you are NOT an American. There is no hyphen! But I digress...

Regarding middle-eastern, and by that I am speaking primarily of Muslim immigrants, I just love what the Australian government had to say about this last year.

Immediately after the London Tunnel bombings Australian Prime Minister John Howard called for a meeting of Muslim leaders in Australia. They recognized that unlike 9/11 where the threat came from outside, the 7/7 London bombings where done by those from within.

Australian Treasurer Peter Costello, seen by many as the heir apparent to Prime Minister Howard, had this to say on the nationally televised program Lateline on August 23, 2005:

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option."

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off".

"Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off," he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. But that statement was made with the full support of Muslim leaders he had met with, who agreed that what was said in certain schools and mosques would ensure they did not foster terrorism.

Again, the problem here is with people who come to our country ILLEGALLY, who have no intention of becoming AMERICANS. To those people I say "GO HOME!". And to our government officials who don't think this is much of an issue because a thousand illegals paraded around with Mexican flag? You should "go home" too! America doesn't need people like you leading us!

Unless you're a rape baby in Nevada, the Constitution Party is still the best bet for effecting change in America. After last week's meeting in Tampa I have very real concerns about the effectiveness of the current CP National leadership, but I still believe in the message of the Constitution Party Platform, and the Plank on immigration is rock solid; unlike the now less than 100% pro-life Plank.

I will conclude this week by pasting in the text from an editorial that was supposedly submitted to an Australian newspaper. I was not able to verify the authenticity of this but the words resound loud and clear and apply fully to immigration in America, so I have substituted "American" where ever the original had "Australian". To put it another way, these are not my words, but I did doctor them for the purpose of this post:

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT
Take It Or Leave It I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans.

However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America.

However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.

This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH here, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!

Most Americans believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push but a fact because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.

If the Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Trail", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means keep your culture but do not force it on others.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this.

But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom, "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE".

If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.

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