According to Fox News, Governor Mike Huckabee proposed halting immigration from countries that are listed as state sponsors of terrorism, which includes
This is the same mistake that Fred Thompson made months ago (discussed here and here). Trying to make a secure borders/anti-immigration point, both he and Huckabee went too far and hurt themselves among Cuban Americans.
For candidates, it works politically to call
But it does not work politically to say that immigration policies toward Cubans should be applied as if
Our current immigration policy is an invitation to the Cuban government to infiltrate whoever it wishes, mixed in with all the other Cubans who come by raft or speedboat, or who just show up at a border station. The policy is a sign that the Administration sees no danger of terrorism from
[Update: Governor Huckabee backtracked, saying he wants a review of immigration procedures with regard to people coming from countries in the list of state sponsors of terrorism. AP quoted him as follows: “I think we just need to do a more thorough job of ensuring that when people come here, and they come from nations that the State Department has designated as terrorist nations, that we are diligent in background searches.”]
3 comments:
So a candidate throws out a statement in a campaign that he will block immigration from terrorist states. Obviously, he wouldn't be saying it if the Bush Administration was already doing it. So, you can say the same thing about Iran, Syria, etc., that you say about Cuba -- that the Administration doesn't fear terrorism from those countries via immigration. I don't understand what the point is supposed to be...
The difference is that if someone from Iran or Syria shows up without a visa, he or she is not admitted without screening. Cubans that reach our territory find an open door: minimal processing, no need to claim or establish an asylum claim, and a range of government benefits. That may be good or bad immigration policy, but it does not fit the idea that Cuba poses a threat.
but if a country is on the state sponsors of terrorism list that doesn't necessarily mean they have to be a direct threat to the U.S. homeland. Iran, North Korea, and Syria don't threaten us directly (at least yet).
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