Advertisement

Immigration Plan Targets Terrorists

Share

Your Jan. 19 editorial, “No More Manana,” unfairly characterizes my views on immigration reform. I support legal immigration and admire those legally coming to our country to begin a better life.

America welcomes immigrants to our country, but we currently have significant problems with our immigration laws and their enforcement.

The 9/11 commission’s staff highlighted this fact by stating that abuse “of the immigration system and a lack of interior immigration enforcement were unwittingly working together to support terrorist activity.” The Times refuses to even acknowledge this fact.

Advertisement

Before Congress attempts to reform immigration, it must first complete the job of addressing the 9/11 commission’s work. The REAL ID Act that I am introducing targets terrorist travel because, as the 9/11 commission staff found, “members of Al Qaeda clearly valued freedom of movement as critical to their ability to plan and carry out attacks prior to September 11.” All of us should keep this in mind as we address any changes to our immigration laws.

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.)

Chairman, House Judiciary Committee, Washington

Advertisement