1/29/19, “Inside Kushner’s immigration plans,” Axios, Alayna Treene, Jonathan Swan
“Jared Kushner ran a white board planning session last week at the White House with the Koch network and other people who worked with him on criminal justice reform. The purpose: to see if the administration can replicate the approach they took to pass criminal justice reform to overhaul America’s immigration system. ["The administration" ignores that it already did the "overhaul" in Nov. 2016 when 63 million Americans voted for an unconditional promise of a wall.]
“They would like to try and replicate at some level a bipartisan coalition on immigration issues, [A “bipartisan coalition” has existed for decades: wide open borders] something paired with border security [“border security?” The 2016 election was about a wall. The US gov. is fine with inviting contagious diseases across the border] as well,” said Koch Industries senior vice president Mark Holden, who attended the meeting.
“They would like to try and replicate at some level a bipartisan coalition on immigration issues, [A “bipartisan coalition” has existed for decades: wide open borders] something paired with border security [“border security?” The 2016 election was about a wall. The US gov. is fine with inviting contagious diseases across the border] as well,” said Koch Industries senior vice president Mark Holden, who attended the meeting.
*A senior White House official familiar with Kushner’s thinking said it’s too early to tell what he’s going to do, but confirmed he held the planning meeting last week.
Behind the scenes: The meeting lasted a few hours, according to Holden. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Josh Trevino and Brooke Rollins, who works in the Office of American Innovation and was a key player in criminal justice reform talks [a “key player” to sell people something they already wanted?] also attended.
*The white board session was one of several immigration-related meetings the White House hosted over the past week. Kushner and his team met with faith leaders, Hispanic leaders and prominent conservatives. Some have expressed skepticism that Kushner — a New York liberal [whose company has a $250 million line of credit with convicted felon George Soros] with no background in immigration policy or politics — could succeed where so many of his predecessors have failed.
*Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin, who met with the president and other conservative leaders [Jenny Beth Martin is not a “conservative leader,” she’s a Beltway crony sellout] last Wednesday, told Axios: “Border security and immigration reform are much more complex issues than criminal justice reform. … It would be wise [for the White House] to be in touch with the president’s base as any such legislative deal is being created. Many of the strongest parts of the president’s base do not want amnesty, and the president’s promise to secure the border [no, his promise was a wall] is what drew those voters to him from early in his campaign.”
*Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin, who met with the president and other conservative leaders [Jenny Beth Martin is not a “conservative leader,” she’s a Beltway crony sellout] last Wednesday, told Axios: “Border security and immigration reform are much more complex issues than criminal justice reform. … It would be wise [for the White House] to be in touch with the president’s base as any such legislative deal is being created. Many of the strongest parts of the president’s base do not want amnesty, and the president’s promise to secure the border [no, his promise was a wall] is what drew those voters to him from early in his campaign.”
*(The White House has, however, been meeting with conservative movement leaders — including Martin — who regard themselves as representatives of the base. [Ms. Martin is not a "conservative movement leader," nor do any such "leaders" exist. There is no "conservative movement." If such a movement existed and had "leaders," we wouldn't have needed Trump. From paragraph above, Ms. Martin doesn't say she's representative of Trump's base. She merely suggests Trump be "in touch" with his base. She wasn't an early Trump supporter, I believe she favored Cruz, which is fine. There are 63 million better representatives of Trump's base than Ms. Martin.] Vice President Pence attended the meeting with Martin last week.
Daniel Garza, president of the Koch network’s LIBRE Initiative and a supporter of Kushner’s approach, attended a separate White House meeting with Hispanic leaders. Garza said Kushner used a quote he presumably gathered from his ongoing efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. [Kushner is so wonderful! He’s even bringing “peace to the Middle East” and can quote famous people!] “At one point during the meeting, Jared quoted [former Israeli President] Shimon Peres and said something along the lines of ‘You don’t arrive at peace by meeting with just friends,’” Garza said.
Between the lines: Two senior White House officials told Axios they are stunned that that Kushner thinks [who cares what “Kushner thinks?”] he could be the mediator who solves one of the most intractable problems in American politics [it’s not a “problem” of “politics” since the entire political class agrees on wide open borders] the wall for the past 20 years: immigration reform. [the wall was “immigration reform.”] One senior White House official told Axios that Kushner’s success in criminal justice reform has no bearing whatsoever on his ability to succeed on immigration. [Isn’t that obvious?]
*“He convinced Democrats to support something [criminal justice reform] they already agreed with,” the senior official told Axios.
*Supporters of Kushner point out that if he didn’t persuade Trump to move from a harsh law-and-order candidate [“Harsh?” Trump is weak on law and order for lawbreakers and “harsh” on law abiding Americans because he allows tens of thousands of illegals to cross the border every month bringing a resurgence of contagious diseases to innocent Americans including a new strain of a polio-like virus that’s crippling American children. The US government has declined to announce its origins.] to being open to–and ultimately supportive of–criminal justice reform, then the effort would have died.
The other side: Two other senior White House officials familiar with Kushner’s plans told Axios that the president [I guess meaning Trump] asked Kushner to join with Vice President Mike Pence and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to negotiate immigration on behalf of the White House. [“To negotiate immigration?” The wall “negotiates immigration."]
One of those officials said Kushner has almost exclusively been talking to Republicans to figure out what they want out of a reform package. [A “reform package?”] His planning sessions are “about defining what we’re for, not what we’re against.” [“Planning sessions?” Wow. How great for “Republicans” to get to sit in a Jared “planning session.”]
*“Right now [Kushner is] just trying to understand the Republican position so that we can take all those views to the president and he can make an informed decision,” the same official said on Tuesday.
*“This is more of a long-term policy process, [the “long-term policy,” the wall, was decided in Nov. 2016] not a resolution for the shutdown,” the official added. “And amnesty was not discussed at any of these meetings. This is really about how do we reform our broken immigration system.” [False. What's “broken” is the US itself which is now an oligarchy. Law and order are gone. Those who benefit have no incentive whatever to return any of their power to the taxpayers they despise. Today the entire political class considers its constituents to be anyone living outside the US. It cares nothing about American children being crippled by a new strain of polio or a resurgence of other contagious diseases from third world invaders including refugees and asylees.]
*As Axios has reported, Kushner relayed to White House officials an idea from [Establishment] Republican Sen. James Lankford: Give a path to green cards for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and who are currently protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
[Update]: Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told Axios: “The President asked us to take a team approach, with the VP taking the lead. That team has done fantastic work and we are all pulling the same direction to carry out the President’s strong border agenda. ["Agenda" means no wall.] The negotiation is far from over, and at this stage, there’s no way to know what that legislation will ultimately look like. [“Legislation?” Please]. Whatever the outcome, though, you can be sure the President will protect the American people.“” [No, we can't. We've found over two years that the President has no intention of "protecting" us. He won't build the wall and he won't line the border with tanks and shoot anyone who comes near.]
“Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a quote from acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.”
…………………………….*Supporters of Kushner point out that if he didn’t persuade Trump to move from a harsh law-and-order candidate [“Harsh?” Trump is weak on law and order for lawbreakers and “harsh” on law abiding Americans because he allows tens of thousands of illegals to cross the border every month bringing a resurgence of contagious diseases to innocent Americans including a new strain of a polio-like virus that’s crippling American children. The US government has declined to announce its origins.] to being open to–and ultimately supportive of–criminal justice reform, then the effort would have died.
The other side: Two other senior White House officials familiar with Kushner’s plans told Axios that the president [I guess meaning Trump] asked Kushner to join with Vice President Mike Pence and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to negotiate immigration on behalf of the White House. [“To negotiate immigration?” The wall “negotiates immigration."]
One of those officials said Kushner has almost exclusively been talking to Republicans to figure out what they want out of a reform package. [A “reform package?”] His planning sessions are “about defining what we’re for, not what we’re against.” [“Planning sessions?” Wow. How great for “Republicans” to get to sit in a Jared “planning session.”]
*“Right now [Kushner is] just trying to understand the Republican position so that we can take all those views to the president and he can make an informed decision,” the same official said on Tuesday.
*“This is more of a long-term policy process, [the “long-term policy,” the wall, was decided in Nov. 2016] not a resolution for the shutdown,” the official added. “And amnesty was not discussed at any of these meetings. This is really about how do we reform our broken immigration system.” [False. What's “broken” is the US itself which is now an oligarchy. Law and order are gone. Those who benefit have no incentive whatever to return any of their power to the taxpayers they despise. Today the entire political class considers its constituents to be anyone living outside the US. It cares nothing about American children being crippled by a new strain of polio or a resurgence of other contagious diseases from third world invaders including refugees and asylees.]
*As Axios has reported, Kushner relayed to White House officials an idea from [Establishment] Republican Sen. James Lankford: Give a path to green cards for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and who are currently protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
[Update]: Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told Axios: “The President asked us to take a team approach, with the VP taking the lead. That team has done fantastic work and we are all pulling the same direction to carry out the President’s strong border agenda. ["Agenda" means no wall.] The negotiation is far from over, and at this stage, there’s no way to know what that legislation will ultimately look like. [“Legislation?” Please]. Whatever the outcome, though, you can be sure the President will protect the American people.“” [No, we can't. We've found over two years that the President has no intention of "protecting" us. He won't build the wall and he won't line the border with tanks and shoot anyone who comes near.]
“Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a quote from acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.”
Added: A new polio-like virus in the US is crippling American children. “One-third of migrants in caravan are being treated for health issues” including HIV/AIDS, TB, chickenpox, and lice.“…In addition to these diseases “making a resurgence in the U.S., a new one called acute flaccid myelitis, thought to be caused by a virus, is currently in the news. This is a polio-like illness causing permanent arm and leg weakness in children. Polio has been largely eradicated, but now American children are becoming infected. Could it be related to the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants entering the U.S.?” [They haven't cited the origin.] Ellis Island would’ve prevented this.
“Medical screening served a purpose. Not only did it keep contagious diseases out of America, but it also prevented the medical burden of caring for immigrants who required hospitalization or treatment.…If the immigrant was too sick and too weak to manage to work, they were not allowed to enter to the US….Children under 12 years old that were not allowed to stay in the US were forced to go back with one parent.”
12/6/2018, “Time for an Ellis Island Approach to Immigration,” American Thinker, By Brian C. Joondeph, “Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based physician”
“As migrants stream from Central America, through Mexico, toward the southern U.S. border, media coverage focuses only on plight of poor refugees seeking a better life in America. The health of the refugees is never discussed [other than that some are about to give birth]. Are any of them carrying contagious diseases? If so, how many of them and what are they bringing to the U.S.?
The Centers for Disease Control provides the answer.
“Studies have identified the importance of cross-border movement in the transmission of various diseases, including HIV, measles, pertussis, rubella, rabies, hepatitis A, influenza, tuberculosis, shigellosis, syphilis, Mycobacterium bovis infection, brucellosis, and foodborne diseases, such as infections associated with raw cheese and produce.”
These are all contagious diseases and relatively uncommon in the U.S. Fox News reports, “One-third of migrants in caravan are being treated for health issues” including HIV/AIDS, TB, chickenpox, and lice.
Apart from the diseases above making a resurgence in the U.S., a new one called acute flaccid myelitis, thought to be caused by a virus, is currently in the news. This is a polio-like illness causing permanent arm and leg weakness in children. Polio has been largely eradicated, but now American children are becoming infected. Could it be related to the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants entering the U.S.?
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons suggests a solution, seemingly obvious except to politicians more interested in scoring political points and damaging President Trump than actually protecting their constituents, the American people. The remedy is simple.
“In the past, waves of immigrants from Europe were stopped at Ellis Island, medically examined, and quarantined long enough to be sure they were not incubating a contagious disease. Procedures are less rigorous today, and of course those who enter illegally are not screened at all.”
America, once upon a time, was adept at admitting and processing immigrants with potential contagious diseases. Why not look to our experience a century ago at Ellis Island? One website chronicled this process from the Swedish perspective.
Unlike our current porous border where immigrants are welcomed with a red carpet of social welfare benefits, Ellis Island immigration was quite strict. “To arrive to New York and Ellis Island didn’t mean that you knew if you could stay or not in the new country. In front of them waited strenuous and time-consuming controls.”
Inspectors boarded the arriving ships checking for, “Any contagious diseases such as cholera, plague, typhoid, measles and diphtheria.” Those infected wouldn’t be allowed off the ship.
Next came the medical examination where, “The doctors viewed them from above to watch after weakness, heavy breathing (indication of heart problems) and other signs of mental disturbances.”
Then they went to the eye doctor. “They searched for a disease in the eyes called trachoma. This eye disease causes blindness and it can also lead to death.” If they had trachoma, “The immigrant was sent back home again.”
Medical screening served a purpose. Not only did it keep contagious diseases out of America, but it also prevented the medical burden of caring for immigrants who required hospitalization or treatment.
Put simply, “If they had other diseases and these were confirmed or if the immigrant was too sick and too weak to manage to work, they were not allowed to enter to the US.”
What a novel idea. How many other countries allow sick people to immigrate? From one country’s immigration website, “People coming to Australia have health checks before entering the country as another way to prevent further infectious diseases.”
Children didn’t get special treatment or consideration as they do now.
“Sick children from 12 years old or older were sent back by themselves to their home harbor. Children under 12 years old that were not allowed to stay in the US were forced to go back with one parent. Many tears were dropped when the parents should decide which parent that should stay and which parent that should go back with the sick child.”
So much for the media chorus that Trump is the only president to separate immigrant children from their parents.
Those who passed their medical evaluations were not yet home free. Another inspector awaited them who made a determination whether, “That the person could take care of himself and fulfill the demands to be able to stay in the US.”
Another concept that most countries use in evaluating potential immigrants — self-sufficiency rather than a burden on taxpayers. As one country states on their website, “We all expect each other to contribute to and share in Australia’s wealth.”
This is particularly relevant with the recent report that that 63 percent of non-citizens in the U.S. are on welfare, 4.6 million households. Ellis Island scrutiny aimed to prevent this.
In addition, inspectors had to weed out the bad apples, “They should also determine if the person was a danger to the society.” Each inspector had only a few minutes to make their assessment.
“If there were any hesitations the immigrant had to stay at Ellis Island for further investigation.”
Another novel concept — not admitting known criminals or troublemakers. How many other countries have similar restrictions? From the New Zealand immigration website, “To show you are of good character, you may need to provide us with police certificates.”
After passing the multipoint inspection, they were given a “landing card”. Then they were free to enter America. “After approval it was time to leave the island and continue to the final destination.”
What a simple and logical approach. Despite the technological advances over the past century, sometimes the tried and true ways of the past are still best.
Unfortunately, politicians of both parties have no interest in a strong national border or scrutinizing who enters and stays in our country. The open borders elites don’t have to live with the consequences of their lax immigration enforcement. Illegal immigrants don’t live in their neighborhoods or attend their children’s fancy private schools. It’s everyone else who lives with the crime and disease.
Ellis Island was from a simpler time but effectively handled immigrants arriving in America. Some say the future proves the past. Why not bring back a successful past process, proven to work, leading to a safer future for America? Time to resurrect some Ellis Island common sense.
“Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.”
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