The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal

By Kelly Lemieux, Special to the Rocky

Published July 31, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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* Nonfiction. By Mark Krikorian. Sentinel/Penguin, $25.95. Grade: A

Book in a nutshell: Krikorian, himself a grandson of Armenian immigrants, postulates in his new book that America has a serious problem with immigrants overwhelming our social support systems and evading legal restrictions.

Citing a U.S. population of 300 million with a low birth rate compared to the developing nations sending so many to our shores every year, Krikorian makes a strong case for permanently reducing immigration, both legal and illegal.

The author laments that modern communication technologies like cell phones and e-mail allow immigrants to maintain cultural ties with their homelands that interfere with their assimilation as Americans, both linguistically and patriotically, and might lead to a sense of "transnationalism." The author also makes the expected connection between illegal immigrants and national security threats from terrorists overstaying visas, as was the case with some of the 9/11 hijackers.

In addition, he gives serious consideration to domestic, immigration-based concerns like the Latino Aztlan movement that seeks to return the American Southwest to Mexico.

Best tidbit: With regard to foreign information technology specialists, the author makes a salient point: ". . . high levels of skilled immigration sponsored by the high-tech industry may represent a special threat to America's security . . . The vulnerability created by the nexus of skilled immigration and this advanced technology has already been exploited for purposes of espionage. . . . "

Pros: Even those on the political left will find it hard to fault Krikorian's rock-solid investigation and honest evaluation of both sides of the immigration argument.

Cons: Considering that America is built on immigration, the author's suggestion of virtually closing the borders might hamper future prospects for recruiting the best and the brightest to add to our great diversity.

Final word: Krikorian's investigation is obviously based on patriotism and genuine concern, not xenophobia or bias. His ideas about enhanced assimilation techniques to promote a love of America, especially the dire need for Spanish-speaking immigrants to learn English, make this a provocative and informed read.

• July 31, 2008

  7:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Brittanicus writes:

  If we don't force House leader Nancy Pelosi and host of genuflecting Democrats to sponsor the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). The illegal immigration occupation of our nation will never stop. ICE letting illegal aliens voluntary leave at their own accord, but Lets-be-honest how long before, their climbing that fence again? All we need is the Mandatory E-verify system to make employers comply with our laws. If you listen to the rhetoric and lies, the Democrats say it doesn't work? Then why does the Fed's use to extract illegal aliens from their employment. Want to learn more? http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?...

  They will keep coming and taxpayers will keep having to support them and the pariah businesses that attract them. Without the SAVE ACT enacted, not even a border fence will stop them? Once they get Obama or McCains Amnesty, millions more just waiting in third world countries will expect a welcome. They have powerful influences including the Church, corporate opportunists and ethnic caucuses. a whole list of Special Interest lobbyists.

  Then not even the US border patrol, the National Guard or the regular army, navy, air force will stop the tsunami. It will be like a ever increasing swarm of human locusts, that eat everything financial in sight.

  Your wages will go down, when your jobs are given to cheap foreign labor. The globalist, open-border free traders will have won. Overpopulation will be a paramount stigma that will not be irreversible. After November election it will be far too late. NUMBERSUSA to fax free your representative

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