Cal Thomas - Borders bolster America’s founding principles

MEGAN BASHAM, HOST: Today is Thursday, March 11th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Megan Basham.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard.

Commentator Cal Thomas now on the importance of controlling our borders.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: I recently had to cancel a long-planned trip to South America. The countries I wanted to visit are either closed or require up to a two-week quarantine in a hotel. It doesn’t matter that I have been vaccinated and have repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19.

Several countries in Europe I would like to visit are also closed. Ireland imposes a 2,000 euro fine for anyone leaving the country.

All of this while the United States faces a flood of people crossing the southern border, including unaccompanied minors. They are overwhelming Border Patrol agents who are releasing many of them into the country with little chance they will show up for court dates. Or they’re temporarily detaining them in “rapid-processing hubs,” with a goal, writes the Washington Post, “of releasing them into the United States within 72 hours.”

Politicians have flipped positions on illegal immigration but are never held accountable.

Here are three from 2014. First, Barack Obama, who said, quote— “Do not send your children to the borders. If they do make it, they’ll get sent back. More importantly, they may not make it.”

Hillary Clinton said, quote— “We have to send a clear message, just because your child gets across the border, that doesn’t mean the child gets to stay. … So, we don’t want to send a message that is contrary to our laws or will encourage more children to make that dangerous journey.”

And finally, Joe Biden, who said, quote— “Those who are pondering risking their lives to reach the United States should be aware of what awaits them. It will not be open arms. It will not be come on — it will be, we’re going to hold hearings with our judges consistent with international law and American law, and we’re going to send the vast majority of you back.”

What’s changed? 

No nation can survive if it fails to control its borders. Our nation is unique in the world. We are a nation of laws. We are a nation with a rich history. If we abandon what our forebears fought to preserve, what will be left but a shell of a once-great country?

Too many schools remain closed, but the border is increasingly open. Does this make sense?

We had better decide what kind of country we want to be, or we will become a country others want us to be. That was clearly not the vision of our Founders, of the many presidents who succeeded them, or even recent Democratic presidents and presidential candidates.

Until now.

I’m Cal Thomas.

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle drives along the border fence during a Las Posadas event at the U.S.-Mexico border wall. 

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