The Big Lie: Protecting Our Borders

 

If you were told that “Obama says it’s okay to come to the US,” wouldn’t you make the trip? That’s what people in Mexico are told, and they are also learning that they only need to say the right words to be able to stay here: “political asylum.”

Based on a piece produced by KUSI TV in San Diego, it’s clear that the Obama administration has no regard for the American people or for protecting our borders. Daniel Plante, a reporter with the TV station spoke to Chris Harris of the National Border Patrol Council about the current border issues in San Diego.

https://youtu.be/FsTMt1WHHJU

In the video, Harris reminds Plante that Congress approved funds for 2,000 more border patrol agents, but the funds have not been used to hire new agents. The partial walls are not walls, but are fences that provide little security for our border. They are sometimes destroyed or crawled over. In his comments, Harris explained that the border patrol is little more than a welcoming committee: illegal aliens are given food, blankets and medical supplies by the border patrol. They are then driven to the San Ysidro bus stop on our side of the border and dropped off. And they are also provided with more food, blankets, and medicine to take home with them.

To replace fences with walls, according to Harris, will be extremely expensive. Meanwhile, fences without an appropriate infrastructure to support them, will be useless.

The most telling story was about a man who crossed illegally and explained he had a heart condition. Of course, he was provided heart surgery in a US hospital.

Do people think the wall, with the necessary support technology will ever happen?

Published in Immigration
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  1. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Fred Cole:

    Kozak: I’d make sure he wasn’t in immediate danger. Then I would send him to Mexico.

    Okay. That’s interesting. Let me dissect that.

    Why would you do the first part before the second?

    If his condition is so grave, why did he make such a perilous journey.  Free healthcare.  Why was this one of his first statements to the US authorities?  Free healthcare of course.    They may be here illegally, but they’re not stupid.

    Why don’t you start a private fund to pay for the healthcare of people here illegally – THEN I’ll think you’re a noble guy.  But if you want other people to pay?  No  so noble.

    The problem is, we’re enticing people to come here.

    • #31
  2. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    Bryan G. Stephens: Unless you say here, that you want to pay for him with your own money, then you are asking others to do it.

    No.  I’m asking him to do it.

    And if we had a rational immigration system that actually conformed to reality and let people in, then they wouldn’t be forced to be “criminals” and they could participate in the normal systems that ensure that most people pay their bills.

    Instead, because our immigration system doesn’t conform to reality, this man is forced to sneak into the country, get caught, and only then go to a hospital.

    Don’t you get it?  It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system.  I can’t get away with not paying my bills and neither can you.  It’s only because this guy is forced to be a “criminal” that the option of stiffing the hospital even comes up.

     

    • #32
  3. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    Lily Bart:

    Fred Cole:

    Kozak: I’d make sure he wasn’t in immediate danger. Then I would send him to Mexico.

    Okay. That’s interesting. Let me dissect that.

    Why would you do the first part before the second?

    If his condition is so grave, why did he make such a perilous journey. Free healthcare. Why was this one of his first statements to the US authorities? Free healthcare of course. They may be here illegally, but they’re not stupid.

    Or better quality care.

    Let me ask you this: You have a heart condition.  Where would you rather be treated?  In Mexico or America?

    I’ve never had to pleasure of going to a hospital in Mexico, nor would I wish to.  And we don’t know this guy’s situation, but he felt it was worth the risk to go to the US rather than stay in Mexico.

     

    • #33
  4. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Susan,

    When we were building our house (2013-2014), our builder who employed numerous Mexicans, told me that they told him that the message to all their  friends and relatives throughout South and Central America, “if you are going to come, come now because you will not get in after Obama leaves office.” He openly invited people to come with promises of all benefits, and they listened.  I am not making this up.  I thought that was an amazing statement.

    • #34
  5. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Fred Cole:

    Bryan G. Stephens: Unless you say here, that you want to pay for him with your own money, then you are asking others to do it.

    No. I’m asking him to do it.

    And if we had a rational immigration system that actually conformed to reality and let people in, then they wouldn’t be forced to be “criminals” and they could participate in the normal systems that ensure that most people pay their bills.

    Instead, because our immigration system doesn’t conform to reality, this man is forced to sneak into the country, get caught, and only then go to a hospital.

    Don’t you get it? It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system. I can’t get away with not paying my bills and neither can you. It’s only because this guy is forced to be a “criminal” that the option of stiffing the hospital even comes up.

    Next up, you can tell us how we only have to pay for criminals health care because we have laws against murder. If we did not have laws against murder, we would not have to pay for the healthcare for people who murder. Q.E.D

    As far as stiffing the hospitals, you really don’t understand how treatment of the poor works at all. If you would like to come see how it works, I would be more than happy to show you around my centers, were the Americans we treat cannot pay us either. They are all treated on the taxpayer dime. Why you see an unrealistic unrestrictionism policy that will import more people with no money into America as not adding to the problem is beyond me.

     

    • #35
  6. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Fred Cole:

    Kozak: Because thats what I do.

    Yes. But why do you do that? Because that’s what you’re paid to do? Or because you’re require to do so out of a sense of medical ethics and human decency?

    I’ve donated probably at least 20% of my professional services over a 30 year career.  I’ve never not treated a patient or mistreated anyone based on their payment.   But I understand what this is costing the country.  And I want everything done to try and end it.

    • #36
  7. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Fred Cole:

    Susan Quinn: I don’t know how dire it was, Fred. We don’t know what he meant by a “heart condition,” how serious it was, what needed to be done.

    It was serious enough that the authorities who found him took him to the hospital. But your solution is to send him back to Mexico.

    And you’re okay with that? That’s your idea of compassion? That’s your idea of mercy?

    Libertarians usually understand that charity is a private thing.   You cannot use force against others to make them pay for what you deem to be compassionate.

    Start a private charity if you feel so burdened about this.  (I already give to help the needy – what are you doing?)

    There is more need in the world than resources.   We are already $20 trillion in debt, not included unfunded liabilities.   We have our own poor.  We honestly cannot take care of everyone who shows up saying they are in need.    Its sad but true.

     

    • #37
  8. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Fred Cole:

    Lily Bart:

    Fred Cole:

    Kozak: I’d make sure he wasn’t in immediate danger. Then I would send him to Mexico.

    Okay. That’s interesting. Let me dissect that.

    Why would you do the first part before the second?

    If his condition is so grave, why did he make such a perilous journey. Free healthcare. Why was this one of his first statements to the US authorities? Free healthcare of course. They may be here illegally, but they’re not stupid.

    Or better quality care.

    Let me ask you this: You have a heart condition. Where would you rather be treated? In Mexico or America?

    I’ve never had to pleasure of going to a hospital in Mexico, nor would I wish to. And we don’t know this guy’s situation, but he felt it was worth the risk to go to the US rather than stay in Mexico.

    If he wants that, he should come here to pay for it. Anyone with money in Mexico can come to the US for treatment. They don’t have to sneak in. The cost of a visa is $131. So come in to America legally and get treatment.

    This guy did not have any money to start with. Don’t claim that if we had your policies he would magically have money. If he had money, he would paid for his treatment.

    Do you really believe this stuff, or do you just say it to get a response? Do you understand how much damage you do to the libertarian cause?

    • #38
  9. Ford Penney Inactive
    Ford Penney
    @FordPenney

    Hey, the easy answer is send them to Fred Cole’s house because he cares more than the rest of us, right?

    Need a place to stay… Fred’s.

    Need food… Fred’s.

    Need medical care… Fred will be glad to take care of that right? Or Fred will pass that off to everyone in America to take care of him and the world?

    Nice

    • #39
  10. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Fred Cole: Don’t you get it? It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system.

    You can have your open borders, or a welfare state, not both. Not in this universe.

    • #40
  11. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Bryan G. Stephens: Do you really believe this stuff, or do you just say it to get a response? Do you understand how much damage you do to the libertarian cause?

    I asked multiple times to explain how payment for this

    Ford Penney:Hey, the easy answer is send them to Fred Cole’s house because he cares more than the rest of us, right?

    Need a place to stay… Fred’s.

    Need food… Fred’s.

    Need medical care… Fred will be glad to take care of that right? Or Fred will pass that off to everyone in America to take care of him and the world?

    Nice

    I’m sure he has no windows or doors either because that would be unfair.

    • #41
  12. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Bryan G. Stephens: No he is not. Your statement is clear: You want to force the doctor to take care of the person free of charge, or you want the American Taxpayer to pay for it. Unless you are on offer to pay for it yourself, of course.

    That isn’t what Fred is saying and you know it.

    • #42
  13. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Ford Penney:Hey, the easy answer is send them to Fred Cole’s house because he cares more than the rest of us, right?

    Need a place to stay… Fred’s.

    Need food… Fred’s.

    Need medical care… Fred will be glad to take care of that right? Or Fred will pass that off to everyone in America to take care of him and the world?

    Nice

    heh

    • #43
  14. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

     

    Fred Cole:Or better quality care.

    Let me ask you this: You have a heart condition. Where would you rather be treated? In Mexico or America?

    So easy to be compassionate when someone else is paying.

    Today, America.   After we destroy ourselves and our healthcare system with too much debt and too many ‘compassionate’ promises, I don’t know.

     

    • #44
  15. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    Fred Cole:And you’re okay with that? That’s your idea of compassion? That’s your idea of mercy?

    It’s always a little disconcerting to me to see people on the right using simplistic appeals to compassion, which are the favored cudgel of the left.

    The reason that many of us feel that, yes, the man should be sent back to Mexico without being taken to a hospital unless he’s clearly in immediate danger, is not because we have no compassion for him, but that we believe there is a bigger picture here- integrity of the law and the sustainability of healthcare for citizens.  If we make it government policy to provide every illegal who comes for medical treatment with tax-payer-provided care (which is what it will be; I’m very skeptical of the idea that somehow the illegal’s going to end up paying for his treatment), our over-burdened system will be less able to meet the needs of our country’s citizenry and will hurtle ever faster to collapse.

     

    • #45
  16. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Susan Quinn: In the video, Harris reminds Plante that Congress approved funds for 2,000 more border patrol agents, but the funds have not been used to hire new agents.

    Under the current regime, more border agents means more illegals, not less.  They have been converted to “facilitators”. Round up illegals at the border, and get them on buses and planes into the interior, oh yeah with a farcial ” order to appear” notice that is universally ignored.

    • #46
  17. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    The optics of sending the illegal home in this situation isn’t heartwarming, but neither is refusing to pay ransom for a hostage or being against tariffs that may save the jobs of one industry at the expense of another or refusing to raise taxes to pay for whatever “It’s-for-the-children!” cause that’s being promoted.

    The option that looks the most compassionate to an outsider and the option that is actually wise and benefits more people in the long run are often not the same thing.

    • #47
  18. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Susan Quinn: Do people think the wall, with the necessary support technology will ever happen?

    No.  Why would Hillary do that?

    Oh…wait!  Ha!  Because you think Trump’s gonna win…oh boy!  You had me for a second!

    Seriously, though, no.  It isn’t going to happen.

    • #48
  19. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Spin:

    Susan Quinn: Do people think the wall, with the necessary support technology will ever happen?

    No. Why would Hillary do that?

    Oh…wait! Ha! Because you think Trump’s gonna win…oh boy! You had me for a second!

    Seriously, though, no. It isn’t going to happen.

    “The wise man said it could not be done; the fool came and did it.” — ancient Chinese proverb

    • #49
  20. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Spin:

    Bryan G. Stephens: No he is not. Your statement is clear: You want to force the doctor to take care of the person free of charge, or you want the American Taxpayer to pay for it. Unless you are on offer to pay for it yourself, of course.

    That isn’t what Fred is saying and you know it.

    Fred said he wanted the man to pay.  Which is ridiculous because he cannot pay and everyone knows this.   The only alternative is private or public charity.

    We are already in more debt as a country that we can pay.  Our children and grandchildren will be tied to this ruinous debt – they’ll never escape it.

    • #50
  21. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Kozak:

    Fred Cole: Don’t you get it? It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system.

    You can have your open borders, or a welfare state, not both. Not in this universe.

    This is exactly right.  Well, no.  You CAN have both, as we seem to now.  Just not for very long.  Cue Thatcher’s comments regarding the problem with socialism.

    But…in my view…the problem here is welfare, not immigration.  Or I guess I might say it is both.

    • #51
  22. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Lily Bart:

    Spin:

    Bryan G. Stephens: No he is not. Your statement is clear: You want to force the doctor to take care of the person free of charge, or you want the American Taxpayer to pay for it. Unless you are on offer to pay for it yourself, of course.

    That isn’t what Fred is saying and you know it.

    Fred said he wanted the man to pay. Which is ridiculous because he cannot pay and everyone knows this. The only alternative is private or public charity.

    We are already in more debt as a country that we can pay. Our children and grandchildren will be tied to this ruinous debt – they’ll never escape it.

    None of that suggests that Fred wants taxpayers to pay for healthcare.  He specifically said the opposite.  Because you disagree with someone, does not mean you get to say what you want them to have said so that you can feel good in your disagreement.

    • #52
  23. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Mike LaRoche:

    Spin:

    Susan Quinn: Do people think the wall, with the necessary support technology will ever happen?

    No. Why would Hillary do that?

    Oh…wait! Ha! Because you think Trump’s gonna win…oh boy! You had me for a second!

    Seriously, though, no. It isn’t going to happen.

    “The wise man said it could not be done; the fool came and did it.” — ancient Chinese proverb

    Well the joke is on the Chinaman, because Trump’s gonna send his backside back to Beijing!

    • #53
  24. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Spin:

    Kozak:

    Fred Cole: Don’t you get it? It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system.

    You can have your open borders, or a welfare state, not both. Not in this universe.

    This is exactly right. Well, no. You CAN have both, as we seem to now. Just not for very long. Cue Thatcher’s comments regarding the problem with socialism.

    But…in my view…the problem here is welfare, not immigration. Or I guess I might say it is both.

    As with the poor, the welfare state will always be with us.  But illegal immigration can be stopped, and legal immigration can be reduced, and both should be.

    • #54
  25. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Spin: That isn’t what Fred is saying and you know it.

    What is he saying?  I’ve asked several times, maybe you can answer.

    Just exactly how do hospitals and doctors get paid for being forced to see all these illegals under the EMTALA law?  Or do I get another lecture on compassion and ethics?

    • #55
  26. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    Fred Cole:

    It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system.

    Force?  Nobody forced this guy to do anything.  Incentivize, maybe.

    Nit-picky of me to point it out, but the use of that term here did bother me.

    • #56
  27. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Spin: None of that suggests that Fred wants taxpayers to pay for healthcare

    Fred thinks the man  should pay:  I never said it should be free. I never said he shouldn’t be sent a bill.  Which is ridiculous.

    Fred also thinks that if we just let the guy in legally, he’ll pay all the bills for open heart surgery and recovery out of pocket (!) or something, and the fact that he is not going to pay is really our own fault:  “It’s people who demand unrealistic immigration restrictionism that force people like this guy to become criminals and exist outside the system. I can’t get away with not paying my bills and neither can you.”   

    Reality check:  if we let the guy in legally, medicaid would foot the bill for his open heart surgery and recovery.  That means you and I will foot the bill.  The taxpayers.   

     

    • #57
  28. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Fred Cole: can’t get away with not paying my bills and neither can you. It’s only because this guy is forced to be a “criminal” that the option of stiffing the hospital even comes up.

    Fred, no one is forced to be a criminal. The system is what it is, and people are expected to conform to it.

    • #58
  29. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Fred Cole: I’ve never had to pleasure of going to a hospital in Mexico, nor would I wish to. And we don’t know this guy’s situation, but he felt it was worth the risk to go to the US rather than stay in Mexico.

    And I expect it was a risk he took, knowing he could be caught and sent back. But then again, our system is so flawed that he might have thought he could “game” the system and we could meet his needs.

    • #59
  30. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Another news flash:  We’ve already given away more than we have.  We are $20 trillion in debt, not including unfunded liabilities.     And those unfunded liabilities are a big deal.  People are going to be super pissed when they cannot have the retirement and healthcare they were promised.   And its not a lack of compassion.  Its just math.  And math doesn’t give a damn.  All that “compassion” was misplaced, overly generous, and created unhealthy incentives – including incentivizing people to come here illegally for healthcare we cannot afford to give them.

     

     

    • #60
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