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We all feel
tremendous sympathy for the men who lost their lives last week locked in a
truck-trailer outside of Victoria, Texas, in the congressional district I
represent. Regardless of the circumstances of their entry into the
United States, it is a terrible tragedy for their families, and a horrific
example of what can happen when human life is considered cheap.
This event also reminds us of the serious immigration and border
control problems that remain to be addressed.
Why is it that
people will take incredible risks to come to this country? Fundamentally, it
is because they seek a better, more prosperous life. Such a life is
possible only in a nation of laws, where there is a reasonable assumption
that the law will be applied equally to all. This is why, regardless of
one’s position on immigration, existing immigration laws must be better
enforced. Incidents like this, and the thousands of illegal border crossings
that take place every day, demonstrate that authorities are not enforcing the
law effectively.
This tragedy also
reminds us of the lengths to which some will go to gain entry into the United
States. Even as the government takes more and more of our income and curtails
our liberties, incidents like this serve as a poignant reminder of the great
freedoms and prosperity we enjoy in the United States. That dozens of people
would cram themselves into a trailer like cattle, just for the opportunity to
come to the United States, says a great deal about our relatively free-market
system. It should also remind us of just how important it is to do
everything we can to preserve our liberty and constitutional form of
government.
This tragedy
highlights something more chilling, however: our continued vulnerability to
terrorist attacks. More than four million trucks enter the United States
through Mexico each year; border authorities inspect less than one percent.
Indeed, our borders have become more porous than ever, as federal authorities
in some cases simply will not enforce the laws that Congress has passed.
Suppose that
rather than human cargo, the truck was carrying a chemical or nuclear weapon.
Suppose 100 trucks loaded with nuclear weapons crossed the Mexican border driven
by Al-Qaeda operatives. Some 99 would get through. Who believes
terrorists would have much trouble getting into Mexico?
Yet while we
maintain more than 200,000 US troops in more than 120 countries- many of whom
are involved in guarding foreign borders- our own border patrol stands
unprepared to prevent terrorists from bringing terrible weapons into our
country. Surely those soldiers and resources would be better used
protecting our own shores. The recent bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed
several Americans, indicates that Al-Qaeda is still alive and well. We
therefore ignore our unguarded borders at our own peril.
Ron Paul
www.house.gov/paul
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Congressman
Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for
liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington
for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return
to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. For more
information click on the Project Freedom website.
Published
with the authorization of Dr. Paul.
Copyright
Dr. Ron Paul
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