Posted on 03/16/2005 8:16:21 PM PST by CHARLITE
I recently read about a very disturbing incident that happened just last week — literally in my own back yard. Federal agents arrested 27 illegal immigrants at the Piedmont/Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, not very far from where I live.
What were these guys doing when they were arrested? They were working on commercial jet airliners! You know, like the ones that al Qaeda terrorists flew into the Twin Towers on 9-11. This strikes me as a pretty lax approach to national security.
These 27 men originally came from a variety of countries, including Sudan, Chile, Peru, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, and Laos. But they had one thing in common: they almost all possessed valid North Carolina driver’s licenses — as well as other documents including airplane-repair licenses, phony Social Security documents, counterfeit green cards, and even a falsified passport.
Were these illegal aliens really terrorists? Probably not; at least there’s no evidence of that so far. But the problem is, any one of them could have been. Remember, the 9-11 hijackers used state-issued drivers’ licenses to board the planes.
“Practically everybody we arrest has a North Carolina driver’s license on them,” said Thomas O’Connell of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lots of people even come from other states, because under liberal Gov. Mike Easley, it’s really easy to get North Carolina licenses. Now, that really makes my Tarheel heart swell with pride. I’m waiting on the bumper sticker that reads “It’s Eas-l-ey in NC for Illegals.”
Do you know what is even more disturbing to me about this incident? The fact that YOU most likely didn’t even read about it. You see, as of Monday, March 14, the story about these 27 illegal airport workers had only run inside of North Carolina and in one paper in South Carolina.
What’s more, in the official AP wire story that did run, the lead paragraph was NOT about the national security threat of having illegal aliens working on jet airliners at an international airport inside the heartland of America. Rather, it was about how leaders of El Pueblo, a so-called “Hispanic advocacy group,” were going to Washington to protest the potential passage of the “Real ID Act” in Congress next month.
“If something like Real ID passed, it would be devastating for many in our community,” said Andrea Bazan Manson, director of the Raleigh-based group that organized the lobbying effort to protest tougher regulations against giving licenses to illegals. These Hispanic activists believe the proposed law “unfairly targets hardworking immigrants and could result in public safety problems,” according to AP.
Public safety problems? Imagine that! Who can tell me what is wrong with this picture?
“Illegal immigration is exactly as the title implies; it is illegal,” explains the website of Americans for Legal Immigration (ALI-PAC). “If three-fourths of America’s legal citizens want illegal immigration curtailed, and the laws are in place to facilitate their wishes through a constitutional democracy, then why is America experiencing the largest population increase through illegal immigration in our history?” That’s a very good question that deserves an honest answer.
What does the face of illegal immigration look like? Well, to most, illegal immigrants are those who work in agriculture, construction, landscaping and manufacturing jobs. Basically, they perform hard manual labor that requires a lot of physical strength. That is a stereotype.
Being from North Carolina, the tobacco and furniture capital of the world, I have seen these workers firsthand. There is one fact nobody can question: they do work hard. That’s precisely why many people want these illegal workers here and are lobbying hard for laws to let them stay.
These intruders have some good attributes, like hard work, but they are still here in America illegally. That very fact constitutes a threat, not to mention an economic liability, for our country. Giving illegal aliens government-issued IDs is simply wrong. They are breaking our laws and we are rewarding them for doing so.
The “face” of illegal immigration is definitely changing. The stereotype of all illegal immigrants being manual laborers is clearly false. The incident at PTI Airport illustrates that fact. The FAA has to train and certify these aircraft technicians. Proper security and screening never should have let this incident happen.
That is the first part of the story. The second might even be worse. We have CEOs of big companies who have an affair with their secretaries, and that makes national front page news. Yet, when illegal aliens with false documents are found to be secretly working on jet airplanes, that story passes under the radar screen without even a blip.
Are we trying to revisit September 11th?
About the Writer: Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North Carolia, where he owns a successful small business, and was a recent candidate for Congress. Nathan receives e-mail at nathan@nathantabor.com.
What are companies thinking?
bttt
Immigration Reform
When Eleanor Roosevelt addressed the Daughters of the American Revolution, she began with the words, "My fellow immigrants." It underscores the point that most Americans either had family who immigrated or they themselves came over as immigrants.
When talking about immigration reform the very first point I always make is that our country is great because of immigration, not in spite of it. I believe though that our current immigration policy is sick. Too many terrorists are put on the fast track into this country without a proper background check.
I will continue to call for a moratorium on non-resident immigration until we can come up with a manageable, common sense immigration policy. People in Washington ask why we need to stop immigration to fix the problem. In Missouri, we know that if you want to fix a leaky faucet, you cannot do it while the water is running.
The Department of Homeland Security is overwhelmed trying to keep up with current flow of immigrants. A moratorium would allow them to implement new policies such as providing a personal interview for all applicants. It would also let them draft a plan for finding those who violate their visas.
We also need to end fast track programs that put an emphasis on quickness rather than safety. Visa Lottery allows an individual to come to the United States without a personal interview or a thorough background check. We are literally gambling with our national security and that is unacceptable.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves
Member of Congress
That`s what I don`t get about Bush, you would think after 911 THE #1 priority would be to stop this illegal immigration bulls--t, but nooooooo...Let`s tell them they can get wroking permits to come in here, let`s even give them drivers licenses! How about a red carpet and a limo as well? The fact is another 911 is going to happen unless this is taken care of. I mean as an example 10 years ago I flew into Frankfurt Germany, and right in the airport they had the guards with machine guns and when I got to the passport agent they questioned the living hell out of me and went through everything in my suitcase. I haven`t been in a US airport since 911 but I hear now US airports are the same, so if they treat passengers like that HOW THE HELL ARE ILLEGALS WORKING THERE???
Are they trained and experienced aircraft mechanics???? What about that?? How can companies do this to themselves and us???
When did the FAA start training "aircraft technicians"?
For extra credit, what is an " airplane-repair license"?
"That`s what I don`t get about Bush, you would think after 911 THE #1 priority would be to stop this illegal immigration bulls--t,"
Bush is bought and paid for by the OBL.
It's piling up so high that I need to buy another laptop...
On Lou Dobbs program tonight it was noted that thousands
of illegals are purchasing home thru HUD with stolen or
phony ID's. Two who were cited as benefiting from our tax dollars were illegals -- one of whom was wanted for murder!
Real ID isn't the answer. Those guys down in Cochise County, Arizona have the answer.
Some folks higher up on the food chain sure are trying...
The answer is you come in thru the system anything else is jail and hard labor (let them rake the desert) then deportation with a revocation of any chance future work visa.There is nothing to think about they are spreading disease,Crime and stealing from the system with impunity.
Of course I dutifully rewired the Light switch box to feed this ridiculous retro-fit and reminded my wife that the last disposal rather disliked being fed fibrous remains such as expanding potato peels and the like and she assured me that she would use good judgment on what our new dependent would feast.
The little beast now lives on a regular diet of ice cubes and vinegar/baking-soda dressing and the occasional spilled box of small nails that happens to be mislaid on the sink's edge.
Myself, I still think that while I sleep, someone is having a big meal of hashbrowns, sausage and gravy.
PPL?
I dunno. . .I just fly'em.
"What are companies thinking?"
You mean what is Bush and the RINO GOP thinking by allowing this to happen? Putting our nation at risk and supporting business interests over the security and welfare of the American citizenry.
BTTT!
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