Homeland Insecurity

    

Chapter 5 of the "Mandate for Leadership" calls for dismantling the Department of Homeland Security. You may recall that this newest department was created after the attacks of 9/11, hoping to coordinate several otherwise unrelated agencies like immigration, Coast Guard, Secret Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Mandate suggests a more logical, mission-oriented regrouping, but in the meantime advocates death by thousand little cuts. 

      Clearly, the object of the chapter is to strike out against immigration, but not the straight-forward deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants as touted so often by the current Republican Presidential candidate. Instead this chapter lists devious ways to get rid of LEGAL immigrants. For instance, eliminate  visas currently granted to victims of human trafficking who are serving as witnesses for the authorities. Or limit the H-1B visa most often used by university graduates to extend a student visa by qualifying for a specialized job. 

    These limitations are worded so that the impact is not immediately clear. For instance, the Mandate calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to not update the list of countries that can participate in the H-2 Seasonal Worker program. But since the list is only valid for a year, failing to update the list at the end of the year is the same as shutting the program down entirely. 

          The Mandate would remove Temporary Protected Status, which was established in 1990 to protect immigrants from war-torn countries. An estimated 700.000 who have been living and working legally in this country for decades would be deported.

        Punishing immigrants is not all. Although illegal aliens don't qualify for federal school loans, the Mandate wants to deny federal aid  to ANY student if their school allows  "illegal aliens"  to qualify for in-state tuition, which 26 states have approved. Never mind that this would be a grave violation of the state's right to determine its own rules for in-state tuition.   

      And when it comes to state's rights this chapter goes to the other extreme as well.  Disaster preparednes should be on the states, the Mandate says. The Federal Emergency Management Agency needs to respond only in the most severe emergencies and should reduce the amount of grants available. That advice should be well received by conservatives in Florida and Texas, the two states that receive the largest portion of FEMA funds thanks to frequent hurricanes.