No More Self-Delusion on Immigration Policy

Michelle Malkin reminds us how quickly sound, successful public policy can be derailed by politicians.

In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration created NSEERS, the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System.

Administered and championed by Justice Department constitutional lawyer, immigration enforcement expert and now-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, NSEERS stopped at least 330 known foreign criminals and three known terrorists who had attempted to come into the country at certain official ports of entry.  NSEERS required higher scrutiny and common-sense registration requirements for individuals from jihad-friendly countries ...

That higher scrutiny included 30 extra minutes of interviewing at ports of entry, digital fingerprint checks, and verification of exiting the country, as well as registration and monitoring of temporary visa holders. In addition to blocking unfriendly visitors, NSEERS also resulted in "the apprehension of dozens of illegal alien felons."

Once in office, however, the Obama administration

...indefinitely suspended the NSEERS pilot program and has no plans to revive it in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings."

Now the Gang of Eight Republicans want conservatives to jump in bed with these security saboteurs for another Amnesty Now, Enforcement Never plan? Who’s [Senator Marco] Rubio kidding? Only himself.

It is hard to argue with Malkin on this point. This administration has made no secret of its desire to overhaul immigration policy and make citizens—and voters—of illegal foreign nationals currently in the U.S. Yet given Obama's record on NSEERS and other immigration policies already in place, it seems all too likely that, if comprehensive immigration reform is passed, Mr. Obama will permanently get his millions of new citizen voters, and any promised future prevention and enforcement policies will be temporary at best.