Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
In 2009, 115,000 persons from Muslim countries were granted permanent residency status in the United States. Hundreds of thousands more were issued visitor's or student visas - and no one knows how many of those have overstayed and gone underground.
The Bush and Obama administrations have made much of the numerous domestic terror conspiracies they've uncovered over the past ten years. But those conspiracies wouldn't have been hatched within our borders if we hadn't let Islamists come here in the first place.
What possible benefit accrues to the people of the United States from Muslim immigration that could outweigh the risk that some portion of those immigrants will be covert Islamist terrorists or persons who, having taken advantage of our hospitality, will be radicalized in American mosques? How long until we have Islamist radicals staging protests in our own streets?
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
I sympathize with the emotions, Kenneth, and share your alarm. But I think it would be a mistake to ban all Muslims. Most aren't going to attack us, and will return to their homelands with a vision of the future that is contrary to Sharia Law.
It's impossible to measure the possible benefit. But the fact that we haven't been successfully attacked since 9/11 (except on a small scale) is not due solely to our law enforcement apparatus.
Feb '11
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
We can't ban muslim immigration for the same reason we can't build a border fence, or a refinery, or fix the health care system, or drill for oil.
It's because the political left doesn't want it to happen. No matter how many elections they lose they've always had enough influence over the actions of the government that they effectively had a veto. And when they win elections- God help us.
For a while I read through a leftist blog and its comments. It was rather plain that they just loved muslims and loathed conservatives.
So you can bet your bottom dollar that when those islamist radicals start marching Noam Chomsky and all leftist pals will be cheering them along.
Of course since I presently live and work near Dearborn, Michigan I think there are parts of the country that they don't even need to march through.
I'm sure the left loves that! America- getting what it deserves!!
Dec '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
I don't want the federal government screening people based on their philosophical beliefs. That seems rife for abuse.
Its a violation of the separation of church and state. Our government is constitutionally mandated to be religiously neutral. Banning people from entry into the country based on religious belief, as oppose to being an actual member of a political organization, seems unconstitutional.
Not all Muslims are radicals. Islam itself was a relatively tolerant and open religious less than a 100 years ago. The religion itself is never going to completely die out, we shouldn't shut our doors and ignore it; we should attempt to bring back to the forefront the version of Islam that doesn't encourage murder, rape, mutilation, and honor killings.
How would you even enforce this law? Unlike Christians it is allowable for a Muslim to lie about their religion or violate their religious rules if their safety/well being is at risk.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
On the contrary...it seems the pattern is to be radicalized here, then go home for jihad training in Yemen or Pakistan or Somalia.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Nyadnar17: I don't want the federal government screening people based on their philosophical beliefs. That seems rife for abuse.
Its a violation of the separation of church and state. Our government is constitutionally mandated to be religiously neutral. Banning people from entry into the country based on religious belief, as oppose to being an actual member of a political organization, seems unconstitutional.
No, we have every legal right to ban immigration from specific countries. We've done it before.
Dec '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
My first thought is "why"? The federal government should base it's immigration policy on what is best for the country. Unless someone can tell me why allowing mass Muslim immigration is a plus for the country, I'm all for banning it.
I'm not well versed enough to comment about the Church&State argument, but I'd hazard a guess to say that this isn't what the Founders intended.
Not all Muslims are radical--of course they aren't--but they also don't share a similar cultural heritage, religion, tradition etc. This by itself isn't reason to exclude a person, but it's enough to, at least, give pause.
Again I'll ask, "what benefits do we get as a country, by allowing Muslims to immigrate here?"
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Michael Horn
Again I'll ask, "what benefits do we get as a country, by allowing Muslims to immigrate here?" · May 10 at 9:28am
That should be the question we ask about all immigrants.
Mar '11
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Michael Knox Beran writes on NRO today of the intellectual isolation of the world’s Muslim population. (http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/266778/dark-night-islam-michael-knox-beran) Further isolation hardly seems to be an effective tactic for undermining tyrannous ideologies.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Well, opening our borders to the 9/11 "students" sure worked out great....
Edited on May 10, 2011 at 9:44amDec '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Kenneth
No, we have every legal right to ban immigration from specifi ...
Banning people from certain country is a much, much different thing than banning people base on their religious beliefs. I have no problem with a country ban.
Michael Horn
My first thought is "why"? ...
Its about what comes next. Are people who think homosexuality is a sin going to be banned? Climate change deniers? Anti-abortioners? You have to think about the precedent that would be set and how the next group to take power will use the precedent. Do you really trust the people in charge of the government not to simply use the precedent that would be created to keep out people who's views they disagree with?
As for what we get. We get doctors, lawyers, welfare workers. There are millions of Muslims in this country right now who have never nor will ever commit a crime. Let alone endorse terrorism. What statistics are you looking at that shows American Muslims are taking away anything from the USA?
I we are going to ban immigrants based on political belief there is for more evidence that we should be banning liberals than Muslims.
Edited on May 10, 2011 at 9:49amFeb '11
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Nyadnar17: I don't want the federal government screening people based on their philosophical beliefs. That seems rife for abuse.
Its a violation of the separation of church and state. Our government is constitutionally mandated to be religiously neutral. Banning people from entry into the country based on religious belief, as oppose to being an actual member of a political organization, seems unconstitutional.
Wow.
So you're arguing that the United States government has no power to decide who is allowed to immigrate to this country.
Hey, I've got some questions about that.
If we're not allowed to manage our immigration policy who does manage it? What are the goals of the people pulling the strings? What is our place in their world?
With seven billion people on the planet they've got a lot of options.
Can't we at least ask them to screen out the people most likely to want to kill us?
Pretty please? With sugar on top?
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Nyadnar17
Kenneth
No, we have every legal right to ban immigration from specifi ...
Banning people from certain country is a much, much different thing than banning people base on their religious beliefs. I have no problem with a country ban.
Michael Horn
As for what we get. We get doctors, lawyers, welfare workers. There are millions of Muslims in this country right now who have never nor will ever commit a crime. Let alone endorse terrorism. What statistics are you looking at that shows American Muslims are taking away anything from the USA?
Edited on May 10 at 09:49 am
We can get plenty of doctors from Russia, believe me.
As for statistics, I'll just go with, um, six. The Fort Dix Six.
Aug '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Kenneth
Michael Horn
Again I'll ask, "what benefits do we get as a country, by allowing Muslims to immigrate here?" · May 10 at 9:28am
That should be the question we ask about all immigrants. · May 10 at 9:32am
Bingo. All immigration should begin with what is in America's best interests.
Dec '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Are you really telling me you have no issue with the government deciding immigration policies based on peoples thoughts? You aren't seeing any danger in the precedents that would set?
Kenneth
We can get plenty of doctors from Russia, believe me.
As for statistics, I'll just go with, um, six. The Fort Dix Six. · May 10 at 9:52am
Considering there are 300 former Soviet Union crime figures and associates in the San Francisco Bay Area and 600 to 800 Russian crime figures in the Los Angeles area alone I would say 6 is a pretty decent number.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Nyadnar17: Are you really telling me you have no issue with the government deciding immigration policies based on peoples thoughts? You aren't seeing any danger in the precedents that would set?
Kenneth
.
Look,it's simple:just deny visas for anyone from majority-Muslim countries. No thought-policing there. We'd simply be saying, "Sorry, but things have gotten out of hand in your part of the world and there's no tangible benefit to the United States in taking undue chances."
Apr '11
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Yes, we have the right to make our own immigration policy, same as any other nation. If someone has a criminal record or is on a terrorist watch list, keep them out, of course. But to exclude someone because of their religion is un-American and it is wrong. Decent people from around the world come to live someplace where the government does NOT tell them how to pray.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
What's "un-American" is flying airplanes into buildings, plotting attacks on a military base in New Jersey and wearing an underpants bomb.
You need to read Andrew McCarthy's Willful Blindness.
Mar '11
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Kenneth
Well, opening our borders to the 9/11 "students" sure worked out great.... · May 10 at 9:43am
Edited on May 10 at 09:44 am
Since 9/11 the opinion of the masses has turned and thousands have risen up against their oppressors. In no small part because we have sown the seeds of modernity.
Jul '10
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Casey
Kenneth
Well, opening our borders to the 9/11 "students" sure worked out great.... · May 10 at 9:43am
Edited on May 10 at 09:44 am
Since 9/11 the opinion of the masses has turned and thousands have risen up against their oppressors. In no small part because we have sown the seeds of modernity. · May 10 at 11:18am
Tell that to the Copts of Egypt, and Christians throughout the Muslim world whose churches have been burned and whose families have been slaughtered.
Re: Why Not Ban Muslim Immigration?
Kenneth
Casey
Kenneth
Well, opening our borders to the 9/11 "students" sure worked out great.... · May 10 at 9:43am
Edited on May 10 at 09:44 am
Since 9/11 the opinion of the masses has turned and thousands have risen up against their oppressors. In no small part because we have sown the seeds of modernity. · May 10 at 11:18am
Tell that to the Copts of Egypt, and Christians throughout the Muslim world whose churches have been burned and whose families have been slaughtered. · May 10 at 11:23am
Wouldn't your immigration policy also ban groups like the Copts of Egypt or Christian Kurds?