Closing The Gaping Open Loopholes

Senator Norm Coleman has introduced legislation that would effectively "dis" incorporate "Sanctuary Cities" we have all over the country.

May 23rd, 2007 - Washington, D.C. - In an effort to strengthen national security, Senator Norm Coleman yesterday introduced an amendment to the Immigration bill to make sure local law enforcement officials are able to communicate with federal law enforcement agencies regarding suspected immigration violations. Currently, a number of cities throughout the nation are using a loophole to get around Sec. 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 by instituting ordinances forbidding local law enforcement to even ask the question as to whether a person is in the U.S. lawfully, thereby evading their legal responsibility to report their suspicions to the federal government.

“In a post 9-11 world, it is simply unacceptable for communities to ignore federal laws requiring them to share this type of information with federal authorities. This is not a matter of making state and local governments enforce federal immigration laws, it is simply a matter of closing this loophole that certain cities have created,” said Coleman. “This defies common sense, as the rule of law must apply to both legal and illegal residents. Moreover, we know how crucial it is to connect the dots in order to avert another terrorist attack in this country. The consequences of prohibiting information sharing are too great. To close this loophole, I have introduced an amendment that will ensure the lines of communication are open between local and federal law enforcement officials.”

I believe this makes much sense. Although I am against the federal government intervening in many areas, when it comes to federal laws and rules AND national security, AND political correctness gone mad as the leaders of these cities obviously are- this is a common sense legislation.

However, the federal government MUST do it's job and enforce the laws already in place. They MUST connect the dots and not allow cites to hide potential terrorists and their supporters. Senator Coleman deserves a big KUDOS for this.


On another related note, Senator John Cornyn has introduced another piece of common sense legislation: To bar the immigration of known terrorists, sex offenders, gang members and alien smugglers.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship subcommittee, on Wednesday introduced an amendment to the immigration bill to close a gaping loophole in the bill that will ensure the following individuals are either permanently barred from the United States or prohibited from getting any immigration benefit: members of terrorist-related organizations, known gang members, sex offenders, alien smugglers who use firearms and felony drunk drivers.

“The question I put to my colleagues is this: Should Congress permanently bar from the U.S. and from receiving any immigration benefit: suspected terrorists, gang members, sex offenders, felony drunk drivers, and other individuals who are a danger to society?,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I hope that every Senator would answer this question with a positive response.

Sen. Cornyn’s amendment also closes the loophole in the pending bill that allows legalization of those illegal immigrants who have violated court ordered deportations, or absconders.

One has to wonder how many of these absconders we have lurking among us...in particular how many who have committed crimes against Americans. We cannot automatically grant these thugs citizenship, and we cannot offer them amnesty or whatever title is popular at any given moment.

X Posted @ ARS