WAIVERS PAVE WAY FOR DEVASTATING WALL:LETTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Target:
ALL AMERICANS
Sponsored by:
April 1, 2008 was the beginning of a very sad time for millions of us on the border, in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, and throughout the U.S. The Bush administration issued two waivers on April 1 that circumvent dozens of U.S. environmental and other laws to pave the way for wall construction to begin immediately on the Texas border, and to continue on the New Mexico, Arizona and California borders.
With such an action, spearheaded by DHS Secretary Chertoff, the Federal Government shows a major failure to work and consult with border communities on the wall issue. Clearly, Chertoff is flexing his muscle upon the border residents. Instead of dialogue and consultation we, at the border, will receive imposition and unconstitutionality.
We on the border know that a wall won't work, and that it is not a real solution. Many others know this also. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are trying to educate the public and elected officials about how the wall and militarization of the border will profoundly impact the wildlife, the environment, our river and the lives and rights of people on both sides of the border. The executive branch of our government and the U.S. Congress, by their actions, do not seem to care about any of that.
We believe that Americans must realize before it is too late that their government is wasting taxpayer money in building an 18-foot-high barrier along sections of the border, as well as in increasing the militarization of the border communities, in a vain attempt to close the border.
In three Texas counties, DHS intends to combine walls with the existing flood control levees. By building this structure before it has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and effectiveness, DHS is recklessly endangering lives and property of border residents in these areas.
We all now must endure an unimaginably difficult time during which our nation's fears are manifested in an ancient, ugly form -- a wall %u2013- and manifested even more by increased militarization. In China, Berlin, Israel, Palestine and Northern Ireland, WALLS DIDN'T WORK. They definitely don't work in the U.S. either. They, primarily, decimate human rights and show intolerance and rejection. They kill hundreds of people annually in the U.S. because they drive people crossing the border to walk through more remote areas of desert where many then die of dehydration and exposure.
After lessons are learned, most walls are taken down. Thereafter, the wall builders are ridiculed, if they are acknowledged at all. Walls have failed to keep people out (or in) but, however, have damaged both human and riparian habitat permanently.
The Rio Grande is a very sacred and special place, with several wildlife refuges that will be devastated by a wall. In New Mexico, California, and Arizona, there are many special and sacred places along the border, including wildlife refuges and tribal lands, where a wall has already been built, unbeknownst to most Americans. Many of us have lived, farmed, and ranched along the border for generations. We urge the American public to hold on to images of the border, its people, and the environment as worth protecting, and to keep in mind that the wall is temporary because it was born of a failed policy.
We the undersigned ask Americans not to let a wall divide our border community. Even though the executive branch of the current administration has exercised undue power to bring about the construction, we the people must call, write and organize to stop the wall. If it is built, we must demand that it be taken down. We ask the American public to keep foremost in their minds the fact that the border area encompasses one community that includes both sides.
By our actions and our words, we must hold to peace along the border. Compassion, understanding and hope must inform the struggle that is by necessity taking place on many levels right now along the U.S.-Mexico border. We demand that our border communities not be devastated by a wall and by militarization.
We will not remain silent as our country's constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and even its laws are swept aside in the name of greed, fear and anti-immigrant fervor under the guise of "improving national security." Our country was founded on Constitutional protections as well as immigration, both of which are historically the very basis of what makes us American.
Americans need to wake up to the fact that signs of tyranny and imposition now exist in the United States of America, in the form of a Cabinet member, Michael Chertoff, who is allowed to use his legislatively-granted power to waive all U.S. law in order to implement a failed anti-immigrant policy. That cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
We the undersigned ask that Americans write their Congressional Representatives as well as their President and demand that the impacts of wall-building and militarization of the border be fully studied and fully acknowledged, and that humane, affordable, wise and workable solutions be found and implemented instead.
With such an action, spearheaded by DHS Secretary Chertoff, the Federal Government shows a major failure to work and consult with border communities on the wall issue. Clearly, Chertoff is flexing his muscle upon the border residents. Instead of dialogue and consultation we, at the border, will receive imposition and unconstitutionality.
We on the border know that a wall won't work, and that it is not a real solution. Many others know this also. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are trying to educate the public and elected officials about how the wall and militarization of the border will profoundly impact the wildlife, the environment, our river and the lives and rights of people on both sides of the border. The executive branch of our government and the U.S. Congress, by their actions, do not seem to care about any of that.
We believe that Americans must realize before it is too late that their government is wasting taxpayer money in building an 18-foot-high barrier along sections of the border, as well as in increasing the militarization of the border communities, in a vain attempt to close the border.
In three Texas counties, DHS intends to combine walls with the existing flood control levees. By building this structure before it has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and effectiveness, DHS is recklessly endangering lives and property of border residents in these areas.
We all now must endure an unimaginably difficult time during which our nation's fears are manifested in an ancient, ugly form -- a wall %u2013- and manifested even more by increased militarization. In China, Berlin, Israel, Palestine and Northern Ireland, WALLS DIDN'T WORK. They definitely don't work in the U.S. either. They, primarily, decimate human rights and show intolerance and rejection. They kill hundreds of people annually in the U.S. because they drive people crossing the border to walk through more remote areas of desert where many then die of dehydration and exposure.
After lessons are learned, most walls are taken down. Thereafter, the wall builders are ridiculed, if they are acknowledged at all. Walls have failed to keep people out (or in) but, however, have damaged both human and riparian habitat permanently.
The Rio Grande is a very sacred and special place, with several wildlife refuges that will be devastated by a wall. In New Mexico, California, and Arizona, there are many special and sacred places along the border, including wildlife refuges and tribal lands, where a wall has already been built, unbeknownst to most Americans. Many of us have lived, farmed, and ranched along the border for generations. We urge the American public to hold on to images of the border, its people, and the environment as worth protecting, and to keep in mind that the wall is temporary because it was born of a failed policy.
We the undersigned ask Americans not to let a wall divide our border community. Even though the executive branch of the current administration has exercised undue power to bring about the construction, we the people must call, write and organize to stop the wall. If it is built, we must demand that it be taken down. We ask the American public to keep foremost in their minds the fact that the border area encompasses one community that includes both sides.
By our actions and our words, we must hold to peace along the border. Compassion, understanding and hope must inform the struggle that is by necessity taking place on many levels right now along the U.S.-Mexico border. We demand that our border communities not be devastated by a wall and by militarization.
We will not remain silent as our country's constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and even its laws are swept aside in the name of greed, fear and anti-immigrant fervor under the guise of "improving national security." Our country was founded on Constitutional protections as well as immigration, both of which are historically the very basis of what makes us American.
Americans need to wake up to the fact that signs of tyranny and imposition now exist in the United States of America, in the form of a Cabinet member, Michael Chertoff, who is allowed to use his legislatively-granted power to waive all U.S. law in order to implement a failed anti-immigrant policy. That cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
We the undersigned ask that Americans write their Congressional Representatives as well as their President and demand that the impacts of wall-building and militarization of the border be fully studied and fully acknowledged, and that humane, affordable, wise and workable solutions be found and implemented instead.
April 1, 2008 was the beginning of a very sad time for millions of us on the border, in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, and throughout the U.S. The Bush administration issued two waivers on April 1 that circumvent dozens of U.S. environmental and other laws to pave the way for wall construction to begin immediately on the Texas border, and to continue on the New Mexico, Arizona and California borders.
With such an action, spearheaded by DHS Secretary Chertoff, the Federal Government shows a major failure to work and consult with border communities on the wall issue. Clearly, Chertoff is flexing his muscle upon the border residents. Instead of dialogue and consultation we, at the border, will receive imposition and unconstitutionality.
We on the border know that a wall won't work, and that it is not a real solution. Many others know this also. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are trying to educate the public and elected officials about how the wall and militarization of the border will profoundly impact the wildlife, the environment, our river and the lives and rights of people on both sides of the border. The executive branch of our government and the U.S. Congress, by their actions, do not seem to care about any of that.
We believe that Americans must realize before it is too late that their government is wasting taxpayer money in building an 18-foot-high barrier along sections of the border, as well as in increasing the militarization of the border communities, in a vain attempt to close the border.
In three Texas counties, DHS intends to combine walls with the existing flood control levees. By building this structure before it has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and effectiveness, DHS is recklessly endangering lives and property of border residents in these areas.
We all now must endure an unimaginably difficult time during which our nation's fears are manifested in an ancient, ugly form -- a wall %u2013- and manifested even more by increased militarization. In China, Berlin, Israel, Palestine and Northern Ireland, WALLS DIDN'T WORK. They definitely don't work in the U.S. either. They, primarily, decimate human rights and show intolerance and rejection. They kill hundreds of people annually in the U.S. because they drive people crossing the border to walk through more remote areas of desert where many then die of dehydration and exposure.
After lessons are learned, most walls are taken down. Thereafter, the wall builders are ridiculed, if they are acknowledged at all. Walls have failed to keep people out (or in) but, however, have damaged both human and riparian habitat permanently.
The Rio Grande is a very sacred and special place, with several wildlife refuges that will be devastated by a wall. In New Mexico, California, and Arizona, there are many special and sacred places along the border, including wildlife refuges and tribal lands, where a wall has already been built, unbeknownst to most Americans. Many of us have lived, farmed, and ranched along the border for generations. We urge the American public to hold on to images of the border, its people, and the environment as worth protecting, and to keep in mind that the wall is temporary because it was born of a failed policy.
We the undersigned ask Americans not to let a wall divide our border community. Even though the executive branch of the current administration has exercised undue power to bring about the construction, we the people must call, write and organize to stop the wall. If it is built, we must demand that it be taken down. We ask the American public to keep foremost in their minds the fact that the border area encompasses one community that includes both sides.
By our actions and our words, we must hold to peace along the border. Compassion, understanding and hope must inform the struggle that is by necessity taking place on many levels right now along the U.S.-Mexico border. We demand that our border communities not be devastated by a wall and by militarization.
We will not remain silent as our country's constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and even its laws are swept aside in the name of greed, fear and anti-immigrant fervor under the guise of "improving national security." Our country was founded on Constitutional protections as well as immigration, both of which are historically the very basis of what makes us American.
Americans need to wake up to the fact that signs of tyranny and imposition now exist in the United States of America, in the form of a Cabinet member, Michael Chertoff, who is allowed to use his legislatively-granted power to waive all U.S. law in order to implement a failed anti-immigrant policy. That cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
We the undersigned ask that Americans write their Congressional Representatives as well as their President and demand that the impacts of wall-building and militarization of the border be fully studied and fully acknowledged, and that humane, affordable, wise and workable solutions be found and implemented instead.
With such an action, spearheaded by DHS Secretary Chertoff, the Federal Government shows a major failure to work and consult with border communities on the wall issue. Clearly, Chertoff is flexing his muscle upon the border residents. Instead of dialogue and consultation we, at the border, will receive imposition and unconstitutionality.
We on the border know that a wall won't work, and that it is not a real solution. Many others know this also. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are trying to educate the public and elected officials about how the wall and militarization of the border will profoundly impact the wildlife, the environment, our river and the lives and rights of people on both sides of the border. The executive branch of our government and the U.S. Congress, by their actions, do not seem to care about any of that.
We believe that Americans must realize before it is too late that their government is wasting taxpayer money in building an 18-foot-high barrier along sections of the border, as well as in increasing the militarization of the border communities, in a vain attempt to close the border.
In three Texas counties, DHS intends to combine walls with the existing flood control levees. By building this structure before it has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and effectiveness, DHS is recklessly endangering lives and property of border residents in these areas.
We all now must endure an unimaginably difficult time during which our nation's fears are manifested in an ancient, ugly form -- a wall %u2013- and manifested even more by increased militarization. In China, Berlin, Israel, Palestine and Northern Ireland, WALLS DIDN'T WORK. They definitely don't work in the U.S. either. They, primarily, decimate human rights and show intolerance and rejection. They kill hundreds of people annually in the U.S. because they drive people crossing the border to walk through more remote areas of desert where many then die of dehydration and exposure.
After lessons are learned, most walls are taken down. Thereafter, the wall builders are ridiculed, if they are acknowledged at all. Walls have failed to keep people out (or in) but, however, have damaged both human and riparian habitat permanently.
The Rio Grande is a very sacred and special place, with several wildlife refuges that will be devastated by a wall. In New Mexico, California, and Arizona, there are many special and sacred places along the border, including wildlife refuges and tribal lands, where a wall has already been built, unbeknownst to most Americans. Many of us have lived, farmed, and ranched along the border for generations. We urge the American public to hold on to images of the border, its people, and the environment as worth protecting, and to keep in mind that the wall is temporary because it was born of a failed policy.
We the undersigned ask Americans not to let a wall divide our border community. Even though the executive branch of the current administration has exercised undue power to bring about the construction, we the people must call, write and organize to stop the wall. If it is built, we must demand that it be taken down. We ask the American public to keep foremost in their minds the fact that the border area encompasses one community that includes both sides.
By our actions and our words, we must hold to peace along the border. Compassion, understanding and hope must inform the struggle that is by necessity taking place on many levels right now along the U.S.-Mexico border. We demand that our border communities not be devastated by a wall and by militarization.
We will not remain silent as our country's constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and even its laws are swept aside in the name of greed, fear and anti-immigrant fervor under the guise of "improving national security." Our country was founded on Constitutional protections as well as immigration, both of which are historically the very basis of what makes us American.
Americans need to wake up to the fact that signs of tyranny and imposition now exist in the United States of America, in the form of a Cabinet member, Michael Chertoff, who is allowed to use his legislatively-granted power to waive all U.S. law in order to implement a failed anti-immigrant policy. That cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
We the undersigned ask that Americans write their Congressional Representatives as well as their President and demand that the impacts of wall-building and militarization of the border be fully studied and fully acknowledged, and that humane, affordable, wise and workable solutions be found and implemented instead.
We signed the "WAIVERS PAVE WAY FOR DEVASTATING WALL:LETTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" petition!
# 41:
5:39 pm PDT, Sep 22,
Edward Bryant Holman, Texas
I think that there are economic interests at play here. Follow the money trail.
I think that there are economic interests at play here. Follow the money trail.
# 40:
2:13 pm PDT, Jul 28,
Nick McGuire, Ohio
# 39:
3:02 pm PDT, Jul 25,
Stephen Lewis, Texas
# 38:
6:50 pm PDT, Jun 29,
Name not displayed, Virginia
It's almost painful to watch the grownups in charge leading us back from where we came:( 1. It will probably take longer to build the fence than the time it will take to mature the electronic fence technology. Whatever happened to the electronic fence solution? 2. This time sensitive issue needs more light, and if possible no more heat for now. Have the candicates been asked to weigh in on the issue? Has someone sent the petition to moveon.org and DNC.org? Has Al Gore been asked to comment on the environmental impact? 3. Follow the money. It's a good idea to know how much has been approved and how much will be spent.
It's almost painful to watch the grownups in charge leading us back from where we came:( 1. It will probably take longer to build the fence than the time it will take to mature the electronic fence technology. Whatever happened to the electronic fence solution? 2. This time sensitive issue needs more light, and if possible no more heat for now. Have the candicates been asked to weigh in on the issue? Has someone sent the petition to moveon.org and DNC.org? Has Al Gore been asked to comment on the environmental impact? 3. Follow the money. It's a good idea to know how much has been approved and how much will be spent.
# 37:
10:42 am PDT, Jun 12,
Lisa Morley, New Mexico
Such a wall would be an ugly scar on the land, be an ugly statement on humanity, harm migratory wildlife, and only serve as a reflection on our nation's inability to solve issues in a more intelligent and civilized manner.
Such a wall would be an ugly scar on the land, be an ugly statement on humanity, harm migratory wildlife, and only serve as a reflection on our nation's inability to solve issues in a more intelligent and civilized manner.
# 36:
11:22 am PDT, May 23,
Marianne Choquet, Iowa
# 35:
8:57 pm PDT, May 20,
Jaomi Brasher, Texas
# 34:
7:33 pm PDT, May 20,
Jessica Brasher, Texas
I have never known a wall to be an effective means of prohibiting human activity. Walls have historically proven to be oppressive symbols that people tend to rebel against, despise, and, ultimately, tear down. Did we learn nothing from the Berlin Wall? Are we returning to the fascism we, as a planet, were so joyful to eradicate when that wall came crumbling down? I have lived in Texas all my life, and have come to know Mexican workers as a good, family-oriented, kind, hard-working people. Putting a wall up is an insult and a scar, and a wall does not belong on our beautiful border, especially in Big Ben.
I have never known a wall to be an effective means of prohibiting human activity. Walls have historically proven to be oppressive symbols that people tend to rebel against, despise, and, ultimately, tear down. Did we learn nothing from the Berlin Wall? Are we returning to the fascism we, as a planet, were so joyful to eradicate when that wall came crumbling down? I have lived in Texas all my life, and have come to know Mexican workers as a good, family-oriented, kind, hard-working people. Putting a wall up is an insult and a scar, and a wall does not belong on our beautiful border, especially in Big Ben.
# 33:
8:02 am PDT, May 20,
Armelle Henry, France
# 32:
8:30 am PDT, May 19,
Yasmina Rossi, New York
In the name of the beauty and respect toward our mother nature , men cannot do such a madness, this WILL KILL US ALL!!!!!!! Stop to distroy and make become this planet a garbish to make some people rich , it is enough !!!!!!, and what soon the grand canyon with pump, and more around the country! are these people who are at the head in this country so crazy ? they have no respect for that amazing land, that land that welcome them no matter what they did when they invaded it,... and know they speak about homeland security!!!!!stop to take us for stupid ! EARTH will have her revenge , she is an entity and will not support such a thing , doing that lead us to huge disasters...can our leaders see it ? are they so far from common sense and LOVE, LOVE for "their OWN country! do they go around in the nature ? do they see really how is beautiful the nature of this country ? do they SEE???????DO THEY HAVE A HEART??????? Because if they see they cannot even think about building a wall...any where. On what right it is possible to do such a terrible thing? We have the advantage to have these Mexican people coming to help us and this help them in having a better life , where is the problem? take off from all the new york restaurant only, for example, all the working foreign people especially Mexican and you will see what will happened! This is a false problem , it is just a question of money making for some corporations , it is unacceptable !!!
In the name of the beauty and respect toward our mother nature , men cannot do such a madness, this WILL KILL US ALL!!!!!!! Stop to distroy and make become this planet a garbish to make some people rich , it is enough !!!!!!, and what soon the grand canyon with pump, and more around the country! are these people who are at the head in this country so crazy ? they have no respect for that amazing land, that land that welcome them no matter what they did when they invaded it,... and know they speak about homeland security!!!!!stop to take us for stupid ! EARTH will have her revenge , she is an entity and will not support such a thing , doing that lead us to huge disasters...can our leaders see it ? are they so far from common sense and LOVE, LOVE for "their OWN country! do they go around in the nature ? do they see really how is beautiful the nature of this country ? do they SEE???????DO THEY HAVE A HEART??????? Because if they see they cannot even think about building a wall...any where. On what right it is possible to do such a terrible thing? We have the advantage to have these Mexican people coming to help us and this help them in having a better life , where is the problem? take off from all the new york restaurant only, for example, all the working foreign people especially Mexican and you will see what will happened! This is a false problem , it is just a question of money making for some corporations , it is unacceptable !!!
# 31:
3:44 pm PDT, May 13,
Ryan McNairy, Texas
# 30:
8:43 pm PDT, Apr 30,
Deirdre Anderson, Texas
This is outragreous, to mess with one of the most beautiful pieces of Texas and for no good reason. A wall is not needed and would be a travesty to have such an eyesore and racist barrier to a most delicate, precious part of our country. This area is amazingly unspoiled and gorgeous and should not be altered in any way.
This is outragreous, to mess with one of the most beautiful pieces of Texas and for no good reason. A wall is not needed and would be a travesty to have such an eyesore and racist barrier to a most delicate, precious part of our country. This area is amazingly unspoiled and gorgeous and should not be altered in any way.
# 29:
11:01 am PDT, Apr 24,
Peter Bloch Garcia, Washington
This is the biggest waste of public dollars since the war in Iraq. And, worse, it is criminalizing communities in our own country.
This is the biggest waste of public dollars since the war in Iraq. And, worse, it is criminalizing communities in our own country.
# 28:
3:00 am PDT, Apr 13,
Can Atik, Turkey
# 27:
10:08 am PDT, Apr 11,
Ginger Geronimo, Alabama
# 26:
10:11 am PDT, Apr 10,
Carol A. Niemi, Texas
# 25:
9:38 pm PDT, Apr 9,
Mac Freeman, California
# 24:
8:36 pm PDT, Apr 8,
Maia Bielak, Illinois
# 23:
8:08 pm PDT, Apr 8,
Joe Evans, Texas
Walls = Bad solution to a growing problem. Why don't you stop and think seriously about what you are doing and listen to the people's cry for attention. We are getting more upset as each day ticks away. With walls, our families and businesses will be negatively affected beyond comprehension for a very long time. Children who grow up next to the wall will get the wrong impression with what our government is forcing down the People of America's throats. This problem is not about the false reasons that a wall is purposely and forcibly justified. Most of us come from our foreign ancestors that struggled immeasurably to come here when there were no walls to begin with. So how can this country survive in a Global Economy with walls surrounding it? America is made up of all types of people who seek the freedoms this country has to offer. Think about it and get back to us. Your customers are very interested in how you will respond.
Walls = Bad solution to a growing problem. Why don't you stop and think seriously about what you are doing and listen to the people's cry for attention. We are getting more upset as each day ticks away. With walls, our families and businesses will be negatively affected beyond comprehension for a very long time. Children who grow up next to the wall will get the wrong impression with what our government is forcing down the People of America's throats. This problem is not about the false reasons that a wall is purposely and forcibly justified. Most of us come from our foreign ancestors that struggled immeasurably to come here when there were no walls to begin with. So how can this country survive in a Global Economy with walls surrounding it? America is made up of all types of people who seek the freedoms this country has to offer. Think about it and get back to us. Your customers are very interested in how you will respond.
# 22:
7:17 pm PDT, Apr 8,
Linda Bedre, Texas
Not only is the wall inhuman to humans and the environment, it also prevents animals from migrating and drinking at traditional water sources. Stop this wall now - history has shown that they do not work.
Not only is the wall inhuman to humans and the environment, it also prevents animals from migrating and drinking at traditional water sources. Stop this wall now - history has shown that they do not work.
# 21:
7:01 pm PDT, Apr 8,
Leonard Cox, River Films, New York
# 20:
6:27 pm PDT, Apr 8,
T.R. Mackin, Texas
The people who live there should have the voice!
The people who live there should have the voice!
# 19:
4:41 pm PDT, Apr 8,
Waverly Evans, Texas
This wall makes no sense. Congress needs to quickly find intelligent options that will respect the people and the planet. Walls don't work! Build bridges of understanding instead.
This wall makes no sense. Congress needs to quickly find intelligent options that will respect the people and the planet. Walls don't work! Build bridges of understanding instead.
# 18:
7:49 am PDT, Apr 8,
Ann Williams Cass, Texas
We need to have Corryn introduce a bill to de-obligate the $1.2 billion for The Wall and allocate all of it to fix the levees along the river! We should not have to worry about levee repair with an 18 foot wall as the solution. What's wrong with this picture?
We need to have Corryn introduce a bill to de-obligate the $1.2 billion for The Wall and allocate all of it to fix the levees along the river! We should not have to worry about levee repair with an 18 foot wall as the solution. What's wrong with this picture?
# 16:
3:57 pm PDT, Apr 7,
Terry L. west, West Virginia
# 15:
6:20 pm PDT, Apr 6,
Nicky Elizabeth, Maine
# 14:
3:56 pm PDT, Apr 6,
Chum Richardson, Canada
# 13:
11:29 am PDT, Apr 6,
Cynta De Narvaez, Texas
Please stop creating more of a mess to be fixed after you leave! Please consider the Constitution's credo: Of the People, By the People, For the People and stop your allegiance to your business partners, who have nothing whatsoever to do with securing any borders anywhere much less this scenicly beautiful, politically sensitive area.
Please stop creating more of a mess to be fixed after you leave! Please consider the Constitution's credo: Of the People, By the People, For the People and stop your allegiance to your business partners, who have nothing whatsoever to do with securing any borders anywhere much less this scenicly beautiful, politically sensitive area.
# 12:
7:59 pm PDT, Apr 5,
Scott Nicol, Texas
Obeying the law is not voluntary, it is mandatory, and Secretary Chertoff cannot legitimately claim to be sweeping aside a host of laws on the border in defense of immigration laws. In a nation of laws all laws must be respected, not just those that are convenient. Equal protection under the law is meant to be a fundamental right shared by every American, but the Real ID Act makes the legal rights of citizens who live near the border conditional on Secretary Chertoff’s whims. Section 102 of the Real ID Act of 2005 states, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.” No one else is granted this extreme power under any circumstance. The President cannot waive our nation’s laws even in times of national crisis, and Secretary Chertoff cannot waive the laws that protect citizens who live away from the border. Only border residents may have their legal protections waived. The only reason for Secretary Chertoff to waive these laws is because he knows that construction of the border wall will break them. In announcing the Real ID Act waivers Secretary Chertoff said, "Criminal activity at the border does not stop for endless debate or protracted litigation." The waivers are an admission that the border wall will itself violate these 36 federal laws, making construction of the wall a criminal act. If Chertoff is genuinely concerned with criminal activity he should ensure that the agency that he oversees complies with the law. Instead, by setting these 36 federal laws aside, Secretary Chertoff sets himself above the law. Congress must not allow unchecked power to remain in the hands of an unelected administration appointee. As James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands… may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Allowing one man to overrule laws passed by Congress and signed by the President for the express intent of circumventing judicial oversight is un-American.
Obeying the law is not voluntary, it is mandatory, and Secretary Chertoff cannot legitimately claim to be sweeping aside a host of laws on the border in defense of immigration laws. In a nation of laws all laws must be respected, not just those that are convenient. Equal protection under the law is meant to be a fundamental right shared by every American, but the Real ID Act makes the legal rights of citizens who live near the border conditional on Secretary Chertoff’s whims. Section 102 of the Real ID Act of 2005 states, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.” No one else is granted this extreme power under any circumstance. The President cannot waive our nation’s laws even in times of national crisis, and Secretary Chertoff cannot waive the laws that protect citizens who live away from the border. Only border residents may have their legal protections waived. The only reason for Secretary Chertoff to waive these laws is because he knows that construction of the border wall will break them. In announcing the Real ID Act waivers Secretary Chertoff said, "Criminal activity at the border does not stop for endless debate or protracted litigation." The waivers are an admission that the border wall will itself violate these 36 federal laws, making construction of the wall a criminal act. If Chertoff is genuinely concerned with criminal activity he should ensure that the agency that he oversees complies with the law. Instead, by setting these 36 federal laws aside, Secretary Chertoff sets himself above the law. Congress must not allow unchecked power to remain in the hands of an unelected administration appointee. As James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands… may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Allowing one man to overrule laws passed by Congress and signed by the President for the express intent of circumventing judicial oversight is un-American.
# 11:
6:57 pm PDT, Apr 5,
Mike Downs, Missouri
# 10:
3:50 pm PDT, Apr 5,
Elisa DeLapa, New York
# 9:
11:34 am PDT, Apr 5,
Cara Gubrud, Minnesota
# 8:
4:31 am PDT, Apr 5,
Thomas Pirovano, Switzerland
# 7:
2:10 am PDT, Apr 5,
Steve Klein, Canada
# 6:
8:41 pm PDT, Apr 4,
Name not displayed, New York
# 5:
6:49 pm PDT, Apr 4,
Steve Dale, Australia
# 4:
5:44 pm PDT, Apr 4,
David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 3:
2:55 pm PDT, Apr 4,
Ines Seidel, Germany
# 2:
1:37 pm PDT, Apr 4,
Anne Seidel, Germany
Walls don't work.
Walls don't work.
# 1:
11:45 am PDT, Apr 4,
Adrienne Evans, Texas
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