Border Security

Ann Coulter: still picking losers for President

Ann Coulter never seems to pick a winner in Presidential elections. This year is no different. The problem may be that she is not as conscientious about research as I thought.

I’ve read all her books, and have been impressed with her research. She can certainly say “Lexus-Nexus” faster than anyone I know.

She’s obviously not done her homework on Rick Perry and the law in Texas.   In this video interview at the Wall Street Journal, she says that Romney lied about Global Warming because he was attacked, but that we should believe that he won’t support the same people if we elect him President. She’s sure that he’s learned his lesson on Romneycare, too.

In contrast, in the case of Rick Perry,

His position on illegal immigration is a killer. . .
You can’t repeal the citizenship.
We have a path to amnesty for illegal immigrants that’s a policy can never be changed.

There is no such thing as a path to amnesty in Texas Law, and the Governor has never endorsed amnesty.

We have already been burned once by false promises of border security in exchange for tying security to other aspects of the immigration debate. President Regan, in 1986, signed the immigration reform and control act, which legalized close to 3 million undocumented immigrants. The law was supposed to be a comprehensive solution with provisions intended to clamp down on border security. These provisions were never enforced, and the subsequent explosion in illegal crossings has resulted in some 11 million illegal aliens living in the United States today an estimated 1.8 million illegal immigrants are currently residing in Texas, compared with 1.1 million in 2000. In ten years, that represents an increase of 54 percent or 70,000 persons each year coming to our state illegally. Today, the Pew Hispanic Center estimates than about one in ten people born in Mexico live in the United States. And all of this has occurred outside the system and to the disadvantage of others who have been waiting in line for many years. There are literally millions of people waiting to get into the country legally.  (pp.118-119)

Perry, Rick (2010-11-15). Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington. Little, Brown and Company. Kindle PC Edition.

Perry border security history (Links, Headlines)

Edit on August 4, 2015. Unfortunately, the Governor’s office links no longer work. Even “Archives” only cover Abbott’s tenure.

I’m still working on this list, adding older sources that are hard to find online.

Here is a great source, the Governor’s website page on “Border Security.”

2001:

Guard Activation Remarks

added to the number of National Guards at Texas Airports

Creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Homeland Security

2002:

Border Facilities Fund Announcement San Antonio

Governor used funds from his own office to institute Counter Terrorism training at the Port of Houston and another separate program to train state and local law enforcement.

2005:

Operation Border Star

Gov. Perry works with the 16-member Texas Border Sheriff’s Association to deter illegal immigration and prevent border-related crime – Creates ‘Operation Linebacker”

2006:

Perry: Texas National Guard on Schedule in Operation Jump Start

Perry Authorizes More Border Security Funding, Virtual Border Watch Program

Border cameras (overview)

Operation Rio Grande

2007:

Gov. Perry Announces Phase II of State-Led Border Security Operation

Sheriff Fears Texas Gov. Perry’s Anti-Illegal Immigration Push

Gov. Perry Praises Progress of Statewide Radio Communications Capabilities

2009:

Gov. Perry Expanding Operation Border Star – Sends Rangers, Guard to the Border

Texas Rangers’ deployment to Mexico border a military-style effort

Video “They’ve gotta practice somewhere.”

Brownsville video on strategic fencing

Gov. Perry Announces Highly Skilled Ranger Recon Teams as Texas’ Latest Efforts to Enhance Border Security; Urges federal government to approve request for National Guard resources along border

2010:

National Guard Arrives in Texas Aug. 1

Texas Republicans protest plan to move National Guard troops off the border

Governor Perry’s Letter to Barack Obama

Federal Government Must Take Action To Prevent Spillover Violence from Mexico Requests Predator Drones and National Guard Troops along Border

Governor’s Perry’s Homeland Security Strategic Plan for Texas, 2010 – 2015 (pdf)

Gov. Perry Releases Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2010-2015

Gov. Perry Orders Activation of First Phase Of Texas Spillover Violence Contingency Plan

2011:

President Obama extends National Guard deployments along Texas-Mexico border

Perry Tours Border With Greta van Susteren

National Public Radio, “Texas Governor Wages Own Battle Along Border”

Some angry Texans are stuck south of the barrier

Texas Senate to the Feds: Pay for Border Security

Gov. Perry Adds Sanctuary Cities to Special Session Call

Gov. Rick Perry on House Passage of House Bill 12

Gov. Perry Takes a Major Step in Securing the Integrity of the Electoral Process;
Signs legislation requiring voters to present photo ID at polling places

Statement by Gov. Rick Perry Regarding Sanctuary City Legislation

Perry’s early record on border security

Governor Perry has been active in border security and controlling illegal immigration since early in his first term as Governor.

During his first Session of the Texas Legislature, he vetoed a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to obtain drivers’ licenses. (We finally got a law that prohibits them, this year.)

Immediately after September 11, 2001 attacks on Washington, DC and New York’s World Trade Center, the Governor helped coordinate the deployment of 530 National Guardsmen at airports all over the State. In November 2001, he added 133 more to the number of National Guards posted at 27 airports in Texas.
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/4233/

In October 1, 2001, Governor Perry announced the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Homeland Security. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/4440/

In June, 2002, the Governor announced that Texas would receive Federal grants for building border security facilities at the border crossings. These facilities would inspect trucks and other vehicles that cross from Mexico into Texas. (there were none before 2002).http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10787/

In May, 2002, the Governor used funds from his own office to institute Counter Terrorism training at the Port of Houston and another separate program to train state and local law enforcement. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/4322/

Too many of those who oppose Governor Perry seem to fixate on one law, the exception for non-resident tuition for the children of illegal aliens, ignoring the forest for one tree.

Over and over in Texas, we have demanded and begged for the Federal government to carry out its job of securing the border.. We pump our own money, men and machines, into programs meant to secure the border. If the United States Federal government followed the laws that are in place, they would be forced to block the border and to notice and to deport illegal aliens, long before their kids finish 3 years of school.

The safety of our Nation depends on border security, and keeping terrorists, drug runners and spies from crossing the border, not on how we treat 18 year-olds whose families brought them here when they were 15 years old or less.