North American partnership pushes immigration reform

Ag Weekly ^ | Cathy Roemer

[hedgetrimmer]

Sweeping changes in America’s immigration policy may be directed by hidden hands. Although free trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have softened America’s borders considerably, the latest Congressional immigration revamp comes about one year after the Council on Foreign Relations released a 59-page document titled, “Building a North American Community.”

Founded in 1921, the CFR is an independent, membership organization “dedicated to producing and disseminating ideas … on world and foreign policy choices affecting the United States and other governments.

In an overview of the 2005 CFR document, Illinois watchdog group Eagle Forum, reported a March 2005 meeting held in Waco, Texas where the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States “committed their governments to the “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America,” fashioned from the CFR plan. Participants in the meeting were President George Bush, Canada Prime Minister Paul Martin and Mexico President Vicente Fox.

Eerily similar to the proposed immigration bill now in Congressional conference committees, the CFR document may have laid the groundwork to create a “freer flow of people within North America.” This, says Eagle Forum director Phyllis Schlafly, will mean “employers can recruit low-paid workers from anywhere in North America.”

“The CFR document calls for ‘a seamless North American market’ and for the ‘extension of full labor mobility to Mexico,’” Schlafly said.

On June 9, 2005, Robert Pastor, coauthor of the CFR document and director of the Center for North American Studies, testified in a hearing to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In a lengthy speech, Pastor laid out numerous reasons why NAFTA has failed its goals.

“We are thinking too small,” he said.

The remedy is a bold initiative, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, he said. Another step would be to “establish Centers for North American Studies … to help people understand the potential of an integrated North America n and to think of themselves as North Americans.”

Pastor said “We need to find ways to making trade and travel easier while we define and defend a continental security perimeter.”

“Instead of stopping North Americans on the borders, we ought to provide them with a secure, biometric Border Pass that would ease transit across the border like an E-Z pass permits our cars to speed through toll booths,” he said.

Pastor’s recommended “ease of travel” is already U.S. policy. Last year, Congress mandated the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security to implement a “Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative” requiring travelers to present secure identity documentation when entering the United States. It also applies to U.S. citizens re-entering their own country.

In a January 2006 press release, HS secretary Michael Chertoff, said, “As we address Congress’s mandate in this initiative, we continue to consult very closely with our Canadian and Mexican partners in the Security and Prosperity Partnership and with our other allies in this part of the world about how to best facilitate border movement in a way that is consistent with law and security.”

Chertoff spoke of the People Access Security Service, similar to a driver’s license.

“We have been working to establish a global enrollment network that will unify our various registered traveler programs into a single comprehensive system,” he said.

In conjunction with the WHTI, Congress passed the REAL ID Act, HR 418, in 2005. Although much of HR 418 deals with immigration, it also mandates by 2008 that U.S. citizens trade in traditional drivers’ licenses for the new I.D. card.

Outspoken congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas, said the REAL ID Act “transforms state drivers’ licenses into de facto national ID cards.”

“It establishes a massive, centrally-coordinated database of highly personal information about American citizens,” he said. “At a minimum, it will contain their name, date of birth, place of residence, Social Security number and physical characteristics. In the future, it could contain a retina scan, fingerprints, DNA information, or radio frequency technology.”

In Idaho, Lynn Rhodes, driver’s license program supervisor, said before the REAL ID Act is implemented, “the rules have to be finalized and the state legislature must approve it.”

“Nor is the 2008 timeline giving states time to comply,” she said.

And even though states do not have to implement the new identification card, if state residents don’t have one, they will be denied entry to federal buildings, unable to board airplanes or access federal programs like Social Security, he said.

Pastor said he believes a border pass with biometric identifiers should be developed.

“North Americans are ready for a new relationship,” he said. “The U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments remain zealous defenders of an outdated conception of sovereignty.

“North America needs leaders who can articulate and pursue a broader vision,” Pastor said.

Editor’s note: Lat week, Ag Weekly reported on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America and its implications for immigration. Ag Weekly will further report on how the Partnership could affect farm labor in Idaho in an upcoming issue.

[hedgetrimmer]

“We have been working to establish a global enrollment network that will unify our various registered traveler programs into a single comprehensive system,” he said.

G-l-o-b-a-l g-o-v-e-r-m-e-n-t

[hedgetrimmer]

“North Americans are ready for a new relationship,” he said. “The U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments remain zealous defenders of an outdated conception of sovereignty.

--Robert Pastor

Not so much, it would appear, --hedgetrimmer

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

When was the last time YOU felt like a "North American?" Why, I'm starting to feel Canadian, eh, and Mexicano ahora. I'll be a norteamericano, eh, in no time!

[hedgetrimmer]

When was the last time YOU felt like a "North American?"

Is "North American" a feeling? [begin music] sometimes you feel like a NAU'er, some times you don't....

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

How has CAFTA, a free trade area which hasn't yet come into effect, softened the borders? Although the borders should be strengthened (and NAFTA has softened the borders), some people should get their facts straight.

[Waco]

Anyone wanting to find a reason to impeach Bush? Look at "attempt" to destroy our sovereingty (sp). Course you'd have to impeach/imprison a hellva lot of other politicians too.

[Texasforever]

Anyone wanting to find a reason to impeach Bush? Look at "attempt" to destroy our sovereingty (sp).

So should Bush be impeached?

[Waco]

If the shoe fits.

[Texasforever]

If the shoe fits.

So that is a yes?

[Sweetjustusnow]

I've been yelling about the CFR for months now and providing links straight to the documents. I'm glad it is getting more attention.

[naden25]

This is for anyone who can answer: Does anyone know how I can find the article where President Bush said that the Constitution was just a @#%&* piece of paper? I saw this mentioned here, but I didn't get a chance to read the piece. Thanks

[Texasforever]

It was from Wayne Madsen and it was never on this site. DU had it up. Wayne Madsen is a nut-case. You appear to have believed it though.

[CplRon]

I believe we're seeing a confluence of interests that has been brewing for decades. The interests of the one-world-government socialists and those of the globalists/corporatists have merged; one driven by ideology, the other by profits.

Corporatism is not conservatism when it becomes willing to sell out our sovereignty, to extinguish American exceptionalism, for the sake of the global organization of markets.

Divisiveness and polarization are decried by most, but we will need more of both to make clear to authentic Americans the gravity of the moment, to throw into clear black and white relief the choice we face. Thus all we do and write at FR, the blogs and in our political action must be aimed at maximizing polarization. The choice must be made clear; This situation must be brought to a head.

Impeach Bush, if you can, but that alone won't be enough. The battle will have to be fought initially in the House of Representatives. All contributions to the Republican party, national, state and local, have to stop. Instead we must identify real conservative candidates and support them directly with money. There is no alternative; voting third party or sitting out elections is foolish. We have to remake the Republican party. Every election must be an electoral bloodbath.

To Bushbots who squeal and bleat about the things Bush has done correctly, the response to 9/11, the appointment of conservative judges, etc., we can only say, yes, he did the right thing, that is expected; but we expect him to do the right thing in all cases -- doing the right thing in one case doesn't somehow make up for not doing the right thing elsewhere. And his stance on this issue is not some kind of mistake. It is premeditated

[c-b 1]

To Bushbots who squeal and bleat about the things Bush has done correctly, the response to 9/11, the appointment of conservative judges, etc., we can only say, yes, he did the right thing, that is expected; but we expect him to do the right thing in all cases -- doing the right thing in one case doesn't somehow make up for not doing the right thing elsewhere. And his stance on this issue is not some kind of mistake. It is premeditated

I couldn't have said it better. Thank You!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Here's my proposal. If there is not to be a defined United States of America, I propose we pay taxes ONLY to the "North American" government. We citizens of North America should only pay taxes to the "North American" government when and if one is created. We can salute a "North American" flag. I also propose a draft of young people to serve in the North American Army.

The geographic boundaries of "North America" itself, of course, shall remain vague and undefined.

[raybbr]

Statement by Robert A. Pastor supporting John Kerry for President

National Press Club

October 6, 2004

Thirty-four years ago, I joined the Peace Corps to serve our country and its values. Many of us working by ourselves were able to make a difference in a local community. Together, all Peace Corps Volunteers helped change the way the world looked at the United States - from just a great power to also an idealistic one, from a country that fought wars to one that also helped the world's poorest.

Like veterans and diplomats, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) as a group have tried to keep the organization we served above politics. But this election may be the most important of our lives, and we cannot sit it out.

....

This election is about the future of America and its leadership in the world. A vote for President Bush means that we will be fighting virtually alone a rear-guard insurgency. A vote for John Kerry will be a vote for a more secure America in a grand cooperative alliance that will be faithful to our values and interests. From here.

It almost seems that that Pastor has contradicted himself. Does he stand with Bush now? Did he think at the time that Kerry would help erase the borders more quickly?

It really doesn't matter as long as Pastor gets his open borders.

So, Bush once again walks down the aisle with a lefty.

[hedgetrimmer]

"The first stage of fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power" --Benito Mussolini (1883-1945), Fascist Dictator of Italy

1,264 posted on 06/09/2006 6:50:32 AM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)

[Borax Queen]

Pastor said he believes a border pass with biometric identifiers should be developed. “North Americans are ready for a new relationship,” he said. “The U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments remain zealous defenders of an outdated conception of sovereignty.

Do all the citizens know about how antiquated we are? Will we be placed in camps for being "zealous defenders"?

[hedgetrimmer]

Pastor is an insult to the America people.

[Czar]

"The U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments remain zealous defenders of an outdated conception of sovereignty."

I doubt that the U.S. belongs in there, since we're talking about governments. Our people, yes--the federal government, no.