Immigration & Assimilation, Pelosi Condemns, Inadequate Answers, 2020 Update

Gary Bauer

by Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: Immigration & Assimilation
The White House has released a fact sheet on President Trump's new immigration reform plan.

But there is one aspect of his proposal that isn't getting the coverage it deserves. President Trump wants our immigration policies to do a much better job of assimilating immigrants, of "Americanizing" new citizens. Here's some of what the president said yesterday:

"Throughout our history, we have proudly welcomed newcomers to our shores. Out of many people, from many places, we have forged one people and one nation under God, and we're very proud of it. We share the same home, we share the same destiny, and we pledge allegiance to the same, great American flag. . .

"To promote integration, assimilation, and national unity, future immigrants will be required to learn English and to pass a civics exam prior to admission. Through these steps, we will deliver an immigration system that respects, and even strengthens, our culture, our traditions, and our values. . .

"American citizenship is the most precious gift our nation has to offer. When we swear in new citizens, we do more than give them a permit; we give them a history, a heritage, a home, and a future of limitless possibilities and potential.

"Our nation used to pride ourselves on this capacity: our unique ability to instill the spirit of America into any human heart, into any human being. . . It's time to restore our national unity and reaffirm our national purpose. It is time to rebuild our country for all Americans."

I couldn't agree more! We should be proud of our country and proud of our values.

Being an American means something. It should mean something to the people who want to come here. And as I have long argued, we should know a lot more about the people coming here. We should not be importing more hatred and anti-Semitism into the country.

Requiring immigrants to learn English, learn our history, understand our system of government and share our values is not unreasonable. It's just common sense.

Pelosi Condemns
The president put a serious proposal on the table, which polls very well with the American people. But I had not gotten back to my car after leaving the White House yesterday before progressives on Capitol Hill had declared the plan dead on arrival.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the president's immigration plan, declaring, "To say that this plan's application criteria are 'merit-based' is the height of condescension." Maxine Waters denounced the president's plan, saying that parts of it were "very racist." (See next item.)

There's a narrative I am hearing among some conservatives that the only reason Democrats won't consider Trump's plan because they don't want to give the president a legislative victory heading into the 2020 campaign. There is certainly some truth to that.

But here's the problem with that analysis: It suggests that if we had a progressive president, Democrats would support securing the border, stopping the massive influx of illegal immigration and increasing funding for ICE and the Border Patrol.

Does any conservative really believe that? The reason some Democrats once supported border security is because they felt then that they couldn't get away with saying what they really believed. This is a vastly different time.

Kristen Gillibrand has apologized for her past moderate views on immigration.

Beto O'Rourke wants to tear down what few border walls we have now.

Here's what Rep. Ilhan Omar said yesterday:

"We need to abolish ICE, and end all inhumane deportation and detention programs. We need to fight back against the criminalization of immigrants and those crossing the border."

Joe Biden said recently that we have an obligation to provide free healthcare to anyone, including illegal aliens. And it's part of the left's "Medicare for All" plan.

This isn't just a matter of political strategy. This is a struggle between two completely different worldviews.

The left is all in on open borders because they believe it is to their political benefit to do so. They have regularly reminded us that they believe the great heartland of America is "deplorable and irredeemable," clinging bitterly to their "guns and religion."

Crisis On Our Streets
There is a crisis on the border and there's a crisis on our streets. The left is ignoring both.

The vicious gang MS-13 has claimed yet another victim right here in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. A 14 year-old girl was brutally murdered by other teenagers. The victim was hacked with a machete and beaten with a baseball bat.

As is often the case, the young victim was Hispanic. MS-13, a Latin American gang, preys on other Hispanics because the gang concentrates in other parts of the country where there are large populations of immigrants.

It is beyond absurd to suggest that securing the border and shutting down illegal alien gangs is racism. Perhaps Maxine Waters should visit the families of Jamiel Shaw, Jr., or Ronil Singh to get the perspective of other minorities who have been devastated by open borders and illegal immigration.

Inadequate Answers
I am pleased to report that Attorney General William Barr is pushing hard and demanding answers from the deep state. In an interview with Fox News, Barr said the following:

"I've been trying to get answers to the questions, and I've found that a lot of the answers have been inadequate and some of the explanations I've gotten don't hang together, in a sense I have more questions today than when I first started. . .

"People have to find out what the government was doing during that period. If we're worried about foreign influence, for the very same reason we should be worried about whether government officials abuse their power and put their thumb on the scale."

Barr's comments come as former deep state officials have started pointing fingers and redirecting blame. That's a good sign that Barr is starting to smoke the rats out!

2020 Update
As one late night comedian said this week, "Yet another Democrat has forced their way into the 2020 clown car." Actually, two Democrats have joined the race since our last update -- Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Polling continues to show that the Democrat primary remains a Biden/Sanders contest. The latest poll finds Biden and Sanders are the only candidates earning double-digit support.
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Gary Bauer (@GaryLBauer)  is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families

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