Four Presidents on Immigration: Bill Clinton, George Bush, Jr., Barack Obama and Donald Trump
Written/Compiled by Marcia Gillis (June 24, 2018)
(In most cases, the quotes are linked to the sources.)
When “we the people” elect a President of the United States we elect a human with strengths, weaknesses, philosophies, perspectives, and backgrounds. They are shaped by their upbringings, life experiences and education. Whether we agree, or not, we need to respect the position.
We elect our President to both “protect” and “preserve” our United States of America in such a way that our citizens may prosper and be safe. In our unique country, citizens are made up of a blend of cultures, colors, ancestry, religions, some of whom were born here, others who legally immigrated here and gone through the process of becoming citizens, some non-citizens who either have temporary legal status, and others who are illegal.
Below are quotes from the Introduction, and Article One and Two of our Constitution of the United States:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (Introduction)
"Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--''I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'' '(Article II, Section 1)
"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." (Article II, Section 2)
"Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated…" (Article I, Section 7)
On our Statue of Liberty is a sonnet that American poet Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) wrote in 1883 to raise money for the construction of a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. Part of that sonnet is quoted below:\
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
So how is our President to “preserve, protect and defend” AND welcome immigrants in a time when it can be increasingly dangerous to welcome? How can we distinguish between those who are honestly seeking asylum and those who have dangerous destructive ulterior motives?
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the rise and spread of an increasingly brutal hate-filled unreasonable Islamic extremism, our world has been changed forever. Immigration has become increasingly tangled with criminal enforcement and national security. Wikipedia lists 31 foiled US focused terrorist plots post – 9/11, during the Bush and Obama presidencies.
Around the world, there have been hundreds of brutal acts of terrorism that have succeeded resulting in the mutilation and deaths of innocents, who have refused to embrace the extreme Islamic message. Moderate Muslims, and especially Christians, have been tortured and killed. These martyrs are often dumped into mass graves, as were the 21 Christian Egyptians behead by ISIS in Libya. Up to 15,000 ISIS victim were buried in mass graves in Syria and Iraq. These are just a few of the victims. Over the past 10 years, in the Islamic countries, persecution has reached a whole new level as millions of Christians have been brutally killed and tortured and have watched their children killed, tortured and kidnapped.
Our world is very different today, than when the words on the Statue of Liberty were penned.
Below are some immigration policies and actions of our pre and post 9/11 Presidents, as recorded in Wikipedia and various news article, some from the dates of their presidencies.
Bill Clinton 1/1993-1/2001
Wikipedia documents: The Clinton era Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Division C of Pub.L. 104–208, 110 Stat. 3009-546, enacted September 30, 1996 (often referred to as "i-RAI-ruh," and sometimes abbreviated as "IIRAIRA" or "IIRIRA") vastly changed the immigration laws of the United States.
"This act states that immigrants unlawfully present in the United States for 180 days but less than 365 days must remain outside the United States for three years unless they obtain a pardon. If they are in the United States for 365 days or more, they must stay outside the United States for ten years unless they obtain a waiver. If they return to the United States without the pardon, they may not apply for a waiver for a period of ten years."
"Among other things, it explicitly gave the Attorney General broad authority to construct barriers along the US-Mexico border and authorized the construction of a secondary layer of border fencing to buttress the already completed 14 mile primary fence. Construction of the secondary fence stalled due to environmental concerns raised by the California Coastal Commission."
Previously, immediate deportation was triggered only for offenses that could lead to five years or more in jail. Under the Act, minor offenses such as shoplifting may make individuals eligible for deportation. When IIRIRA was passed in 1996, it was applied retroactively to all those convicted of deportable offenses.
During the Clinton administration The 1997 Flores Settlement says unaccompanied children who are caught at the border can only be held in immigrant detention for up to 20 days (this was later expanded to include children accompanied by their parents). After that they must be released to their parents, adult relatives or other caretakers or the "least restrictive" setting, in that order.
George Bush Jr 1/2001-1/2009
"While Bush did address the subject of illegal immigration late in his second term, neither lawmakers nor voters offered much support for his ideas. Most American citizens disagreed with allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the country while giving them a path to legal citizenship, and legislators were unable to come to any kind of agreement on how to implement a program for immigration reform. With the country entering a recession in 2007 and unemployment on the rise, Bush found no support for allowing illegal immigrants to be eligible for jobs or government benefits."
"In 2008, President George W. Bush signed the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act into law, which required unaccompanied minors from non-neighboring countries (all countries except Mexico and Canada) to be turned over the Department of Health and Human Services for resettlement within three days."
President George W. Bush's administration deported just over two million during his time in office. "
Barack Obama 1/2009-1/2017
ABC News articles, and others, written during his presidency report that President Obama gained the name “Deporter in Chief. Between 20095-2015 his administration removed more than 2.5 million people through immigration, which didn’t include those who were turned away/or returned to their home country at the border. According to data, Obama deported more than any other president in the 20th century. Here is a family story.
"On a typical day, there are over 30,000 immigrants imprisoned in the world’s largest immigration detention system. Most deportees never see an attorney or have a hearing before a judge before they are expelled from the country. Deportation carries a high price for families and communities across America: one-quarter of all deportees are separated from their US citizen children and countless others from spouses and other family members" (Article written 2014).
Obama’s claim to sympathize with immigrant families’ “pain” obscures a troubling fact: while the review he ordered may lead to more “humane” treatment of some undocumented immigrants—a welcome if still-modest outcome—it will do nothing for the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who get snared each year in the nation’s thickening national security and criminal enforcement webs. And these immigrants represent the majority of persons deported during the Obama era (Article written 2016).
A big Obama immigration scandal ensued, in 2014. A congressional report and criminal indictment resulted from a 2014 incident in which multiple immigrant children were handed off to a human trafficking ring.
The increasing child sex trafficking industry, a malady of our sick society, is one reason children do get separated from the adults with which they come over the border. Those adults may not actually be their parents.
Donald Trump 1/2017-
From the beginning of his candidacy through his current presidency, President Trump has been focused on keeping America safe and prosperous. Certainly, there have been missteps, but we have seen that he is a pragmatic man who loves America. He is a man who is growing into his presidency. He is a man who is changing. He is a man committed to his promises. It is important that we commit ourselves to pray for him. The problems our leaders face today are very complex and interwoven. Digital communications mean that everyone is in our business and we are in theirs. It’s a challenging time to lead. Below are some immigration-related decisions that have transpired though his presidency, thus far.
"The current policy, as explained in an FAQ section on the Department of Homeland Security's website (updated last week), is that children and their parents may be separated "for several reasons, including situations where DHS cannot ascertain the parental relationship, when DHS determines that a child may be at risk with the presumed parent or legal guardian, or if a parent or legal guardian is referred for criminal prosecution, including for illegal entry."
June 18, 2018 - Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed U.S. attorneys in southwestern states to prosecute all cases flagged for illegal entry, citing a "zero tolerance policy."
May 7, 2018 - Sessions discussed the policy in San Diego, saying, "If you smuggle illegal aliens across our border, then we will prosecute you. If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law."
April 8, 2018 - Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed U.S. attorneys in southwestern states to prosecute all cases flagged for illegal entry, citing a "zero tolerance policy."
May 7, 2018 - Sessions discussed the policy in San Diego, saying, "If you smuggle illegal aliens across our border, then we will prosecute you. If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law."
June 15, 2018 - White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that children are being separated from their families because of existing laws, claiming "the president is simply enforcing them."
Things look a different when you look at all four presidents together, don’t they?
Manufacturing Director, Co Founder/Owner
6 年The thing is, Its no different for the American people. "We The People" should understand. And as it should be, if you are lawfully deemed unfit by means of abuse, neglect or by committing criminal activities, DHS will (In Fact) remove the child from the parents possession.? We've all seen the abused or neglected child and prayed for the government to step in and remove this innocent child from harm. As a father, this is truly a heartbreaking scenario, but the alternative could be potentially life threatening for someone so innocent. I think all Americans should reflect and admit that this is the way "It Should Be". Please understand I mean no harm by personal opinion. Again it is only my opinion. These children deserve hope and the option to be shielded from the harm their parents could bring. And, if the parents would accept this as a sign of glory, then maybe our youth will have a better chance.
Institutional Effectiveness & Research Consultant, Leadership Expert, Strategic Communications & International Relations, Practical Theology, Missions & TESOL Instructor, Creative Writer & Digital Storyteller
6 年Yes. It does look different when we see it in proper perspective. Thanks for the article