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Will Common Sense Prevail on Border Security and Shutdown?

Posted on Wednesday, January 2, 2019
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by AMAC, Robert B. Charles
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139 Comments
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Let’s limit this report to facts.  Here they are – and at the end of this list, you draw the conclusion that best fits your view, based on common sense.  Here are the ten most salient facts related to border security and the recent shutdown, now approaching week two. 

First, according to the Department of Homeland Security, approximately 1,100 illegal aliens have been crossing the border daily between the Rio Grande and Yuma sectors.  This does not include the “caravans,” massing slowly south of San Diego, to seek “asylum” from persecution south of Mexico.

Second, the overall trend in border penetration is growing, after an initial stall that followed President Trump’s election and hardline 2017 position on illegal entrants.  Public projections for refugee flows north are a reaction to three factors:  Rule of law challenges and narcotics-trafficking violence in Central America, more left-leaning Mexican administration, and a 2.3 million refugee outflow crisis from the cratering Venezuelan socialist crisis.  None of these crises will dissipate soon; they must be prepared for.

Third, recent events in the United States indicate that a 2018 nexus exists between elevated illegal alien population, expanding “sanctuary” cities, and drug-related violence (spiking in certain cities, reflective of the national drug crisis).  The nexus is contributing to a broad rise in crime, with the murder rate up (e.g. in Baltimore, DC, cities in Texas) and broader violent crime spiking (e.g. in key parts of Texas, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Indiana, California, New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, and even South Dakota).  Nor are the rises incremental – they are material.  Then, last week, a California law enforcement agent was killed by an illegal alien – whose prior crimes were not reported to ICE based on sanctuary protection for the criminal alien in California.  The crime is viewed by some as a pointer, to future events – if the border, ICE, CBP and national law enforcement are not supported.

Fourth, cross-border drug trafficking from international sources of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, other dangerous synthetics and marijuana – is experiencing a steep rise, as are concomitant addiction numbers in every drug category, according to a recent national assessment by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  The report is corroborated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  This can only be addressed by direct, proactive counter-narcotics and border security policies.

Fifth, the pending legislation – which is not being signed by the President for lack of five billion dollars to support a border barrier (e.g. wall) – is a composite of seven outstanding (incomplete) appropriations bills.  Ground truth:  The bills total almost one trillion dollars, with roughly 322 billion in “discretionary” money that could be moved around by Congress; the rest is untouchable “entitlements.”  Within the 322 billion – passed by House and Senate, but only House included five billion for a wall – are Senate “marks” that elevate federal spending on programs for things like Housing and Urban Development (HUD), foreign aid, above the president’s request.  Example:  $43.6 billion for HUD that is $11.9 billion OVER the President’s request.  One solution:  Just bump up HUD programs by, say, $6.9 billion, allowing the rest for a wall (i.e. five billion).

Sixth, another possible solution would be for Congress to officially allow the President – in this spending bill – to transfer funds from one or another accounts, up to five billion – to allow for the beginning of the formal border security program or wall.  That would allow the Democrats – which for some reason want open borders as a national policy – to adopt the (political) fig leaf of no border money, but then allow the President to protect all Americans with a transfer of resources up to five billion dollars, to get the process of securing our sovereign border started.

Seventh, polls of Americans are revealing.  First, the “wall” was a signature issue contributing to President Trump’s win in 2016, and by all accounts remains a strong issue for the Republican Party, and some in the Democrat party.  Southern states are sensitive to the issue, but it is national in nature.  Thus, while some polls tip against the “wall,” many (including liberal polls) put at least 40 percent in favor.  More specifically, Gallop (for example) puts 73 percent of Republicans in favor a wall, with 13 percent of Democrats in favor.  On the other hand, while most Americans see some value in making a “pathway to citizenship” for 800,000 children of illegals, “sanctuary cities” are firmly opposed by a majority of Americans.  

Eighth, the new Mexican President – although tipping hard left – is seeking Mexican support for a more “free-trade zone” idea next to the US border, presumably accommodating Mexican corporate interest in a more US-like enterprise zone that encourages higher wages, lower taxes and more productivity, similar to US options.  This zone could be endorsed, in concert with a new US-Mexico trade accord that beefs up US-Mexican border security, reduces drug trafficking, and also helps Mexico contain illegal crossers at its own southern border – and includes the wall.  Ironically, a wall under these conditions might help both economies.

Ninth, the so-called partial shutdown is about to get more real – as four things happen:   The President calls congressional leaders to get an “up close and personal” border security briefing at the White House this week, which will show effects in their many congressional districts; Democrats take control of the US House, thus also responsibility for shutdown resolution; the southern border crisis gets more severe, on the numbers; and federal workers (between 300,000 and 800,000) begin to face a possible delay in one two-week paycheck. 

Tenth, the news will begin to leak out – as this report offers – that the whole resolution is dependent on roughly half of one percent of the pending bill, or less than two percent of the overall discretionary money.  In other words, the Democrats could be outed for “grandstanding” and forced to admit that they can resolve this entire impasse – and protect the US border, which is under siege – with a simple transfer of less than two percent of the total pending bill.

Now, take a deep breath.  Think on this issue, in context of these material facts.  Does it make sense for the US Congress to continue to block the fractional request for money to start President Trumps’ border wall, or not?  If not, what is the argument for not funding this commitment?  If it makes sense, shouldn’t Congress wake up, sit up and step up – to funding?  Is it not common sense to end the shutdown, and protect America’s borders? 

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Steve Polk
Steve Polk
5 years ago

The democrats were previously for border security and approved much more money than is being asked for now; this is obviously a political ploy by them and they need to swallow their pride and do what’s right for the country, which is support national security by building a physical barrier, eliminate sanctuary cities/states, and do something about the illegal immigration/drug/human trafficking problem. It’s way past time to work together for the common good of all Americans!

Peggy
Peggy
5 years ago

Posted it to Facebook…let’s see if I get kicked off!

RBart
RBart
5 years ago

Common sense and congress are an oxymoron.

Rose
Rose
5 years ago

If Trump wants it -they’ll fight it-that simple
Citizens of this country’s rights or wants not on their agenda

Merlin
Merlin
5 years ago

Trump needs to go the Nuke option and get it done.

Sam Beasley
Sam Beasley
5 years ago

Pure common sense judgement goes out the window. All the Democrats want is to be in power. They perceive their hold on power is waning w most Americans and will Do Anything to figure how to win. Bringing in illegals, providing, food, healthcare, and creating for themselves a good source of votes. To this end they are willing to lie, cheat, steal, look into the cameras and tell absolute whoppers. They have done it and used to hide it, but now they do it openly- and most of the media soaks this up and encourages it.

Sherry
Sherry
5 years ago

your using common sense, well obviously you have not met the demorats.

David Kayser
David Kayser
5 years ago

In the 1980’s the Republicans and President Reagan compromised with the Democrats on border security. In exchange for the promise of border security the Republicans agreed to ” Amnesty ” for the mass of illegal aliens that were in the USA at that time. The result was they received amnesty and 30 years later we are still fighting for border security. The only answer to the crisis is to secure the border to stop the flow first, then decide what to do about all the illegals that are already here.

Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith
5 years ago

I’d like to know what happened to the brave wounded veteran who offered himself and his money to help build the wall and requested each American giv) e (the sum was small toward the building of the wall which would enable it to be built in a timely manner? Americans, I believe, would stand behind him and support “the build the wall” which would happen within a short one year according to his plans. Last I heard on that report, his request and plan got squashed for some reason..!!!!!

stevenjacobs
stevenjacobs
5 years ago

the 5 billion is ONE TENTH of one percent of the budget-this can be paid without blinking an eye. This is the true measure as to how much Pelosi, Schumer and the rest of the Democrats HATE America as it stands today.

Shirley
Shirley
5 years ago

Common sense, currently what is in place for border security isn’t working. How about some positive feedback on working toward a solution instead of pointing fingers.

Richard
Richard
5 years ago

Points 2, 3, and 4 have been happening for decades in the decaying big city blue bubble plantations ruled over by Democrats for the last 100 years. So to remedy that we have to raise taxes 70% (or in NY 82%) as proposed by Congresslady Alexandra Occasional Cortex (D-Bronx) and terminate the private ownership of all firearms by deplorable bible clinging Americans in “red” flyover states as the Democratic Party aspires to do.

Sharon B
Sharon B
5 years ago

Time for those who are refusing to fund the wall to be taken directly to the border crossing and be shown what these hoodlums and fake immigrants are doing. Maybe some eyes on the facts will make them pull their heads out of the sand (not the words I’d like to use) and realize we have a serious problem with these people crossing our borders. They certainly aren’t coming here to assimilate! We have more than enough of these fake legals and illegals in our country who have and are trying, and have and are destroying, to take over our states and turn our country into what they cowardly ran away from instead of manning up and fighting for their country like our forefathers fought for the freedom of this country from the British.
Maybe just maybe these stubborn spoiled millionaire Democrats will figure out our country cannot allow this massive influx of hateful degenerates into our country. Make them go to some of the countries these illegals have destroyed, the lives they have taken, the children they have raped and murdered how the survivors have come to be. These radical liberals have walls around their homes, security forces paid by our tax dollars to keep them all safe, they don’t intend nor do they have to see or live in an area where these illegals are raping and murdering our children, their children are safe, protected. They don’t have to contend with thier homes being broken into and things they worked there whole lives to get are stolen or destroyed, their homes are protected. They don’t ha e to into a store or restaurant and be treated as less than dirt, they have servants (paid slaves in many cases) to bare the brunt of their employers hypocrisies.
WE, THE PEOPLE, have to experience this in our daily lives. Now born Americans are being made to bow down to these immigrants and live as though we are in their old world instead of our, the LAND OF THE FREE, but the way things are going, it’s not going to be FREE for long.
GET OFF YOUR SELF-IMPOSED THRONES AND BUILD THE WALL. OUR FOREFATHERS DIED TO MAKE THIS LAND FREE. OUR MILITARY, 1ST RESPONDERS AND FIREMEN ARE DYING EVERY SECOND TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND YOU’RE HANDING OUR COUNTRY OVER TO THE ILLEGALS AND IMMIGRANTS ON A SILVER PLATER!
WE, THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAM PEOPLE, DO NOT WANT THESE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, TO TAKE IT OVER AND DESTROY IT LIKE THEY HAVE EVERY OTHER COUNTRY THEY HAVE IMMIGRATED TO.
Those of us who believe in the greatness of our country, respect our flag and what it stands for are going to stand our ground and we will start fighting back. This country is headed for a civil war. Both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights gives US the power to remove the standing goverment and replace it with those who will follow the wishes of those who elect them.

Cynthia Jane Smith
Cynthia Jane Smith
5 years ago

Don’t forget these suppressed frighten illegal immigrants are standing at our borders proudly waving the flag of their nation ..yet they expect us to open our borders and say. Come on in…seriously…for Nancy Pelosi to stand in front of the cameras and declare a border wall is immoral was a joke .then she offered our President one dollar for.our security . If anyone. Needs to be. Impeached it would be that lady. We need border security and President trump will work very hard to get it. President trump will win in 2020 because the American people are sick of the disgusting behavior of the Democratic party.

Ann Mueller
Ann Mueller
5 years ago

The hypocrisy of the democratic congressman, esp. Pelosi and Schumer are at an all time high. Their thinking is also totally illogical and obviously show they care more about their own self-importance and power than our Country.

Dave
Dave
5 years ago

Why are the Democrats never taken to task for their refusal to compromise? Pelosi is NOT the President!

Terry Kellar
Terry Kellar
5 years ago

Common Sense and Dumocrats do not go together.

PAUL
PAUL
5 years ago

sounds really great to me. It’s far past time that these issues get resolved. not doing so evidences once again that the Congress is there for themselves, not us!

Marian
Marian
5 years ago

Build the wall and protect us, the US citizens, from harm and illness. We need to use our money to take care of our citizens who have paid for social security and medicare instead of spending it on illegals! Also, we have many citizens who are homeless and hungry that we need to take of before spending money on illegals, who many of them are in our jails. The democrats need to stop fighting and take care of the business that is facing them on the table. We would be able to solve a lot of this if we had terms for all of congress, not only the President and Vice President. Some of the people in congress are just too old and set in their ways…………….they have been in office too long and getting their way toooooooooooo long!!!! We need them to step up and do what the people who put them into office wants, not what they want or think that this will keep them in office!!! Let’s clean house so that we can have this country doing what needs to be done and what we, the people, need and want……..it is time!!

MR. A. B. JAMES
MR. A. B. JAMES
5 years ago

COMMON SENSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! IDIOTCRACY RULES!

SHANE CONWAY
SHANE CONWAY
5 years ago

Using the same logic that the democrats use about the border wall along the Mexican border, no one needs a front door with a lock for home security. Instead of a locked door at night, all you need is a camera and motion sensors on your lawn. Pay a security guard to watch your house. Then, if someone tries to enter your house in the middle of the night, you’re covered. Having a locked front door is immoral and will not stop anyone from entering your home to do you harm. I’m sure all the liberal elitists living in and around San Francisco or Washington, D.C. will agree. No Front Doors! No Border Walls!

Pat Champion
Pat Champion
5 years ago

These are essential, and MUST be done!

Louise
Louise
5 years ago

It’s beyond ridiculous!! The government is supposed to work for us, not spend all their time and money fighting amongst themselves and not getting anything done.
I have a hard time remembering a day when it was a government body working for the good of the people, and not a piece-meal, separated-by-political-party body only interested in making the other guy look bad.

Michelle Buchman
Michelle Buchman
5 years ago

Alas, common sense is not so common anymore.
The “shutdown” or forthcoming spend-all “budgets” are hardly the real issue.
The real issue is that one party, the DNC, wants to eradicate all other political parties and take over total dictatorial control of the USA including our homes, our land, our incomes, our health care, our Police State and naturally, the air we breathe.
I have never seen such a wild Monty Python spoof of antics and bad behavior in an entire branch of the US government such as the one displayed by Nancy Pelosi’s bunch of radicals.
Is this really about building a safe and secure border wall that our very bad neighbor to the south obviously needs to keep from destroying America?
Politically, no.
It is about the overthrow of the United States government.
America needs the wall. If necessary millions of Americans will go to the southern border with bricks, mortar, tents and supplies to build the wall themselves. Has no one noticed the GoFundMe Build the Wall project? It is telling congress that we no longer believe our government is going to protect us, but enslave us. We must build our own wall because no one in DC gives a flip about American citizens.
By the way, there are several “polls” about the wall and I do believe Harvard finally got one right when it showed 57% of Democrats want the wall and 78% of Republicans want it.
Clearly if America is to be safe from villains, drugs and sex traffickers pouring into our nation we cannot count on the government. We must build our own wall unless the President decides to use Homeland security. And the fact that it remains an “iffy” thing for him means we may as well get to work.

Joseph Pope
Joseph Pope
5 years ago

God help us if the average American does not see through disingenuous obfuscation from the democrats. Hopefully, a civil war can be avoided. Commonsense says conservative and christian people will not accept self inflicted nonsense should those people actually take over.

larry phillips
larry phillips
5 years ago

build the wall

Bob L.
Bob L.
5 years ago

Common sense is not a common commodity in Washington these days, in fact you can even say sanity is not very common as well.

Zelda Lee Hoover
Zelda Lee Hoover
5 years ago

Yes to your last Q’s. Where is the common sense on the opposing faction? America first. If we love our country, we will want to protect it , and the citizens of the USA.

Diana
Diana
5 years ago

Not with the corrupt politicians leftist socialist communist muslum atheists, but our President needs to declare a National Emergency and Build our Wall To Protect America from an invasion INVASION that is what this is and soros obama and others are behind find out who Arrest Prosecute this is an ACT of WAR build the the best most affective Wall and make sure it has a good foundation with censers so No tunnels

Bob Leuck
Bob Leuck
5 years ago

This is an article that should be delivered to EVERY Representative and Senator in Congress, as well as the President by AMAC! Clearly written, well thought out, and presents a “Face-Saving” solution to ALL party’s egos. That being said, is there enough there that Congress could draft a big enough stack of paper to put into law??

Zelda Lee Hoover
Zelda Lee Hoover
5 years ago

Yes to your last Q’s… Considered thoughtfully for some time, since the issue came up!!!

Irv C
Irv C
5 years ago

The President said he can call this a National emergency and force the wall to be built.
My God man, DO IT!!!!
These demoncRAT fools need to be put down with Trumps powerful personality to which I stand behind.

Tom Abner Sr
Tom Abner Sr
5 years ago

As long as the Dumbicats are more focused on impeaching Trump than the American people, NO!

Ken
Ken
5 years ago

GREAT information!! Too many Liberals in Congress and they have NO common sense.

Bev Marie
Bev Marie
5 years ago

The GOP had 2 years when they could have passed common sense immigration reform, common sense health care reform, common sense gun laws, and the list could go on and on, and they basically were not prepared and did nothing. I never used to be a proponent of a wall – always thought all we had to do was maybe enforce our existing laws for a change. A physical barrier can cause other problems – like impeding the migration of certain animals, etc. And, reading about the sophisticated ways smugglers and drug cartels manage to sneak into our country, a wall would probably only be a stop gap measure anyway. But lately, our courts for some curious reason, have been siding with illegal aliens, who are basically criminals. The American taxpayer is forced to support these illegals the minute the step foot in this country. We have to house them, feed them, clothe them, educate their kids, provide counseling, provide medical care, pay for court and legal expenses and this list can also go on forever. I am sure we spend more than 5 billion on them – at least for a wall our money would be spent on something useful – like providing all that care to American citizens. And why in the world are sanctuary cities even legal? Instead of trying to stop government money (our money) from going to those cities, why don’t we just arrest anyone who refuses to comply with Federal law? And why do we give any consideration at all to illegals? I worked overseas for almost 35 years and have seen locals of many countries wait hours, days, weeks and sometimes even longer, in lines to apply for a visa to the U.S. legally. We seem to be saying that these people are idiots, when all they have to do is somehow sneak in and they will be given more consideration than if they had tried to come in legally. Actually, it is probably us, the American taxpayer, who is an idiot, because we have put up with this nonsense for decades.

michael failla
michael failla
5 years ago

In keeping it simple i refer to article title and my answer would be NO! NOT ONLY NO BUT HELL NO! The left wants trumps head on a platter for GASP! winning an election and defeating Felonia von Pantsuit. Oh the humanity! Its our government to run,we know how much better than you peons, how dare you have the temerity to think for yourselves much less act on it! On the left? Common sense? NOT SO COMMON!

Ed Schrade
Ed Schrade
5 years ago

Pull the alien escorts in green back 10 miles from the border. Park the drones and let citizen militias close the borders.

Pete
Pete
5 years ago

For all who want open borders, move out of your gated communities and remove the locks on your doors

wandamurline
wandamurline
5 years ago

The Deomcommunists are insane so don’t expect any common sense from them.

Bonnie
Bonnie
5 years ago

I have traveled to other countries in the world and it was a necessity to carry your paperwork with you at all times or you would be sent home. Protecting the people of your country is not unfriendly or a new idea. It’s like a parent looking out for their children. I say every Democrat and liberal blocking this issue or that believes that it’s ok for them to come here should be made to house the illegals that are coming over in their own homes and save us from having to give them food, housing, and medical care. They would change their tune real quick. They are so out of touch with reality because they don’t have to deal with it

Bud
Bud
5 years ago

Why dont we cut the senators and representatives pay until this is resolved? We are working on the wrong emd of the pay scale.

Jack
Jack
5 years ago

We need the wall the demorcrstd have to work for the people instead of there interests

Charles Hall
Charles Hall
5 years ago

The resistance by the democrats to fund the wall is retaliation for President Trump pulling funding and individual mandate for Obama care. The dems have kicked the can down the road on border security and legal and illegal immigration etc. Pelosi, Schumer and the democrats are to blame for every crime committed to Americans by illegals and every immigrate harmed migrating to our borders.

Concerned
Concerned
5 years ago

What else does those in our government need to know before they allocate some of our taxes to fix the border barrier, to fix this problem? Nancy Pelosi, a Leader of the United States House of Representatives and Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, please do what is right for our country. The answer seems clear. Your statements that the wall or barrier is immoral, ineffective and costly… Please explain this to all of us out here in the real world. We seem to see it differently.

SherryLoret
SherryLoret
5 years ago

Democrats do not want Trump to succeed isn’t it shameful Dems are insanity willing to protect us,guess when these Illinois start harming their families,can’t blame Trump for it can they?Disgraceful of them but we knew it would happen just hope it backfired on all these Dems

Stephen K
Stephen K
5 years ago

The wall has to be built along our southern border. It is a vital national security interest that the WALL be constructed. Our sovereignty is at stake. Both Houses of Congress do your job. Follow the oath you took and put our country first for a change!

Pete from St Pete
Pete from St Pete
5 years ago

You do realize that the federal employees not receiving paychecks includes members of the US Coast Guard, don’t you? They fall under the Dept of Homeland Security, not the Dept of Defense as all the other services do. What does the Coast Guard do? Aside from rescuing people in precarious situations at sea they spend most of their time running down drug smugglers and aliens trying to enter the country illegally. Just the very things that a wall would accomplish on land. Does any of this make any sense to you?

Cathy Witthoeft
Cathy Witthoeft
5 years ago

Congress – end this shutdown & protect our borders NOW! Stop trying to control everything and keep this commitment. Federal workers deserve their pay! Shame on you running off on vacations while people were waiting on earned paychecks over Christmas and New Year holidays! Cry babies, power hungry – get busy and cooperate! You are overpaid and underworked-full of hatred and rebellion.

Rick
Rick
5 years ago

Concerning #3 above, the family of the California law enforcement officer should sue the pants off of whatever municipality prevented the murderer’s criminal history from being passed on to ICE! I don’t think the citizens of that sanctuary city would appreciate their leaders getting them into a multi-million dollar payoff! That would stop a lot of this garbage, and other cities would think twice about this!

Alan Power
Alan Power
5 years ago

If I were President Trump, I would never back down. I would buy time on national TV and lay out the facts. The Democrats would not have a leg to stand on.

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