HispanicVista Columnists

National Security begins by sealing the border the Canadian border.

By Patrick Osio, Jr

One must admit, it sounds so right and its so simple National Security begins by sealing the border. If the border is sealed, no illegal immigrants ergo no terrorists can come in to the country. Whats so tough about understanding that? Those who on an almost daily basis hammer home that message seem so frustrated that the simple message seems to be lost on Federal authorities. Watch CNNs Lou Dobbs, or Foxs OReilly, or Buchanan or in almost any home town conservative radio talk show hosts they all pound the message and they are all frustrated and angry.

Mention to them that US businesses need cheap immigrant labor, and they will point out how wrong that is there are plenty of Americans who will do those jobs, they say. Mention that as long as US businesses continue to hire undocumented workers illegal immigration will continue, and they quickly will tell you that if the border is sealed, that statement will be moot. 

None, however, seem to take note on how quickly the national security aspect of their arguments get shuffled to the back burner as the real message they espouse is: We dont want Mexicans to continue entering the country. If it were truly about National Security why is the obvious absence of the 4,000 mile Canadian border in the discussions? Why is there no talk about sealing the Canadian border? Particularly since terrorists as in real terrorists have attempted to and some have penetrated into the US, while none from Mexico.

And, the recently released 315-page report by the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defense, which brought out that most of Canadas 160 land and maritime border crossings have only one agent at the posts. Canadian airport security is so lax that over 1000 security badges and uniforms were stolen and some appeared for sale on eBay. The uniforms and badges are needed to gain access to airport security areas.

So if we are to argue that National Security begins with sealing the border lets, but include the 4000 mile Canadian border.

Now, how about militarizing the Canadian border?

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Patrick Osio, Jr. is Editor of HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) Contact at POsioJr@hispanicvista.com