…this comes from the State Department’s “Country Reports on Terrorism 2005” (via Dennis the Peasant, who has similar questions),
Canada
[snip]The Arar case underscores a greater concern for the United States: the presence in Canada of numerous suspected terrorists and terrorist supporters. Algerian-born Ahmed Ressam, the “millennium bomber” caught attempting to bring bomb-making materials into the United States, was denied asylum in Canada, yet remained in Montreal for seven years and used false identification to obtain a Canadian passport. Other known terrorists in Canada include:
- Mohammed Mahjoub, member of Vanguards of Conquest, a radical wing of Egyptian Islamic Jihad;
- Mahmud Jaballah, senior member of the Egyptian Islamic terrorist organization al-Jihad and al-Qaida;
- Hassan Al Merei, suspected al-Qaida member;
- Mohammed Harkat, suspected al-Qaida member; and
- Adil Charkaoui, suspected al-Qaida member.
Where exactly is Michelle Malkin, the Minute Men and Tom Tancredo?
You can read the shocking entry for Mexico below the fold,
Mexico
The Mexican Government worked closely with the United States on all aspects of
counterterrorism security and prevention. In particular, Mexico was extremely helpful in flagging, monitoring, and controlling flights to or over the United States that may have raised terrorism concerns.A National Security Law that took effect in January established a National Security Council to improve military, intelligence, immigration, and civilian law enforcement cooperation on security issues, including terrorism. The law also established a National Security Commission in the Congress.
Mexico remained engaged with the United States in efforts to improve border security.
Working with the United States and Canada, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) was launched to keep North American borders closed to terrorism and open to trade.The Mexican Government deployed federal authorities and military forces along its northern border as part of “Operation Secure Mexico,” in response to deadly attacks against government officials and narcotics-related violence. Mexican officials also worked to implement the Operation Against Smugglers Initiative on Safety and Security (OASISS).
Under Mexico’s own Plan Centinela, Mexican armed forces were deployed along the northern and southern borders to protect vital infrastructure throughout the nation and to enhance airport security. The Mexican military continued to place great emphasis on expanding its counterterrorism capabilities, maritime air surveillance, and security and response measures for all key national strategic facilities, including the oil production infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.
Shocking isn’t it?
Seriously though, suppose we do build the “Berlin Wall South”, what is the likely response? Illegal immigrants will
- Climb over the wall,
- Take to the seas,
- Go to Canada first,
- a and B,
- b and c?
My guess is b and c. Granted this will make coming to the U.S. much more expensive, but I don’t think it would stop illegals from crossing the border. I know, the response is, “So, just because you can’t stop it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it!” Which is true, my thinking is instead of giving the National Guard a crappy duty, spends billions annually, why not take advantage of these people who want to come here and work? A guest worker program would also make crossing the border illegally relatively more expensive.
Also, it would ensure that these workers are covered by the same laws as U.S. citizens when it comes to wages. Hence the illegal who is being paid a sub-minimum wage job or taking a low paying job out of fear of deportation would be greatly lessened (in short it would remove the low pay advantage for the illegals). On top of this these workers would be more likely to pay taxes, including Medicare and Social Security taxes, which we definitely need.
And finally many of these jobs are jobs American’s don’t want at the going wages. I know, the standard response to this is the faux simpleton outrage of people like Michelle Malkin, “How dare you suggest American’s are lazy!” My response is, “How dare you suggest Americans are stupid!” If an American has a opportunity for a better paying job, why not take it? That is what it means when people say, “Americans wont take that job at the prevailing wage.” It isn’t saying Americans are lazy, but that they have much better options. If an American can work in a job that pays more and allows them to be more productive why should he/she take the lower paying job? To prove they aren’t lazy? Now that is just stupid.
The bottom line is that many of these people want to be here to work, Americans often want them here to work (i.e., they like the benefits of the work they do), and trying to keep them out will just cost more than we can afford.
