Which is a bigger threat to our national security: Illegal Immigration or LEGAL Immigration? (Caution: This is a PC Free Zone.)
July 17th, 2007 | by admin |To say that a lot of people have been up in arms (myself included) over the idea of giving illegal immigrants a free pass to citizenship in our country, would be an understatement. The outrage by the American public caused an immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate to die. While illegal immigration is a grave concern for many, what about LEGAL immigrants?
The question that has been on my mind a lot lately is this: Which is actually a greater threat to our national security: legal immigration or illegal immigration?
On the one hand, illegal immigration is wrong for two principle reasons. First it’s breaking the law, and to hand out a reward for breaking the law sets an awful precedent for everyone. Second it’s always been an issue of national security for me. I want our borders protected from those who would try to enter our country illegally and do us harm.
Despite these issues, the more we learn about terrorists around the world, I’m not sure that they would even take the risk of coming in illegally. They’re smarter than that. In the UK we’re talking about a network of medical professionals. The September 11th terrorists were students in the country going to flight school. These are not common, dumb, thugs. They seem to often times come from affluent families with wealthy backgrounds. They are well educated mad men. So while “illegal” immigration is all the hubbub, maybe “legal” immigration deserves more attention.
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I did some homework and came up with the following statistics based on new immigrants to the state of Minnesota in 2005, and then some rather out of date data from the 2000 U.S. Census that details the number of foreign born people living in the United States. I think you’ll find what I found to be interesting to say the least.
In Minnesota there were 15,456 new immigrants in 2005. That put Minnesota 17th in the nation in new immigrants. The highest amount of immigrants came from Somalia with 2,233 new immigrants. Rounding out the top 3 was Ethiopia (1,303) and India (830).
Let’s look at Somalia where the majority of immigrants in Minnesota are now coming from.
The Somalis are almost entirely Sunni Muslims. The Somali constitution discourages the promotion and propagation of any religion other than Islam.
Now let’s look at the number of foreign born people in the United States that come from Muslim countries as of the year 2000:
Arabic Born Population in the USA (205,822 )
Saudi Arabia: Claims that the Qur’an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Sharia)
Egyptian Born Population in the USA (142,832)
Approximately 90% of the population in Egypt adheres to Islam
Iraqi Born Population in the USA (37,714)
Religious composition includes: Muslim, 97%; Christian or other, 3%.
Jordanian Born Population in the USA (39,734)
More than 90 percent of population in Jordan adhered to Sunni Islam in the late 1980s.
Palestinian Born Population in the USA (72,112)
The Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is 97% Muslim.
Syrian Born Population in the USA (142,897)
Syria’s population is approximately 90% Muslim.
Iranian Born Population in the USA (338,266)
Most Iranians are Muslims; 90% belong to the Shi’a branch of Islam, the official state religion, and about 8% belong to the Sunni branch.
Turkish Born Population in the USA (117,575)
94.0% of the Turkish population is Muslim.
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If radical Islam is so much more dominant than moderate Islam (which one can only assume by the few number of voices speaking up against the violent terrorist acts throughout the world) is there a cause for concern for citizens of the United States? We are living among many followers of Islam and the number continues to grow each year. Should we be more concerned? Should there be a cap on immigration from certain countries?
Many claim that Islam is a religion of peace. Many followers of Islam agree: There will be peace when the world is Islam! That is indeed what many want. You think I’m saying something radical here? Ask France about the intentions of radical Muslims. Ask people in countries throughout Africa including the Darfur region of Sudan what followers of radical Islam have been up to lately. What about in the UK? Did you read about the protest at a mosque in England?
Across town from the site of the recent attempted car-bomb attacks, several thousand Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America.
“One day my dear Muslims,” shouted Anjem Choudary, “Islam will govern Britain!”
Choudary was a co-founder of Al Muhajiroun, the now-banned group tied to suspects in the July 7, 2005, London transport bombings and a cheerleader of the 9/11 attacks.
“Democracy, hypocrisy,” Choudary chanted as the crowd echoed him. “Tony Blair, terrorist! Tony Blair, murderer! Queen Elizabeth, go to hell!”
For the full article and audio of the chants click here.
These statistics I dug up don’t even include Muslim immigrants from countries in Europe, other parts of Asia, and Africa which are becoming more and more Muslim. What will it take to get people talking about this? Will it take another terrorist act? Will it be too late then?
By Chris on Jul 17, 2007
I sympathize with your concern that the next terrorist act on American soil may very well be carried out by someone who resides here legally. I believe the latest National Intelligence Estimate supports this view. But what solution would you recommend? Stop all immigration to this country? Deport all Muslims? These are solutions that are almost scarier than the threat of terrorism.
By Talk Radio Personality on Jul 18, 2007
I think stopping immigration from some countries is worth considering. I also think that more detailed background checks and lie detector tests should be used.
As far as those that are already here? I think there should be some consideration of a mass background screening, and required classes to help adjust to American culture and also to check for and possibly weed out terror suspects.
By aloush on Aug 5, 2007
as i was doing a google search on the minnesota muslim population for my thesis, i unfortunately came upon your blog posting -which might i say may have effectively lowered my iq. a lot of what you have to say is extremely misleading, so before you post content that in essence perpetuates hate, please check your facts. first, minnesota’s primary immigrants are not somali. however, minnesota’s main REFUGEE populations are somali and the hmong. both, which, suffered at the hands of the united states. but, i am sure, you already knew that and are aware of the history behind it.
and, might i add, when did a somali carry out a terrorist attack? what is your point here? is this a scare tactic, using selective statistics to justify your position and also selectively inputting quotes from a constitution of a country that is pretty much in shambles.
if you have not already guessed, i am muslim. and i without a doubt find the terrorist attacks to be unislamic. as do many other muslims….so how many muslims have you talked to? somali’s? -to come to the conclusion that you have made. please do not tell me that you have based these accusations on the oh so redundant argument “of the silence of moderate muslims” or on what the media presents you, which is riddled with propaganda and inaccuracies.
my point: do not pick and choose facts to misconstrue the truth, it is disgusting, unethical, and straight-up racist.
i think you owe all somali’s an apology for using their refugee status to justify your stance on legal immigration.
p.s. if you don’t want to be PC, then at least TRY to be fair.
By Andy Barnett on Aug 5, 2007
Aloush,
You are just the person I’d love to hear from! Thank you for writing your thoughts, why don’t you call into my program on Monday and we can have a discussion about this on the air, I think it would be beneficial to everyone!
Actually, Minnesota’s largest new immigrant population (refugee or otherwise) was Somalian in 2005 as I stated.
How did the Somalians suffer at the hands of the United States, please educate me.
I do indeed use the argument of the silence from the moderate muslims when I look at the radical attacks by the Jihadists. There are plenty of free Muslims living in America and I don’t hear many saying much at all when it comes to these radical actions… Thank you for your willingness to do so! I’d again love to have you on our radio program.
I’m not picking and choosing facts, these are the facts I came across. I’m using them to get my point across that radical Islam is a huge problem and we need to address it. I’m doing the sort of talk that very few are doing because they are afraid to do so. I’m not afraid to fight for democracy, I’m not afraid to confront evil. I hope you feel the same way.