NPG responds to Secretary Janet Napolitano's speech to the Center for American Progress on November 13, 2009.

Below is the letter sent by NPG President, Donald Mann, to Secretary Napolitano on November 20, 2009. Also included below is a link to the press release which NPG released to draw more attention to this issue, as well as a link to a NY Times article about Secretary Napolitano's speech and her full speech from the Department of Homeland Security's website.

NPG Press Release
Secretary Napolitano's Speech
NY Times article

___________________________________________________

November 20, 2009

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Madam Secretary:
                  
I have read your recent speech to the Center for American Progress and applaud the readiness of the Obama Administration to finally address a long-needed overhaul of our nation’s immigration policies and practices.
                  
Without question, the immigration issue – along with its dozens of derived problems – has been allowed to fester far too long.  It is time to confront immigration head-on before it creates even more economic and social havoc within our states and communities.
                  
However, in all of the major discussions I have seen related to this issue – including your speech – one critical aspect is consistently overlooked and must be brought to the forefront in any policymaking.  That is, the disastrous impact increased immigration will have on our population growth and our ability to preserve a livable future for our children and grandchildren.
                  
Never has it been more important for you and for our elected leaders to make the right decisions on immigration.  The country now faces great uncertainty about how it will adapt to ominous trends such as global warming, water shortages and a shrinking pool of jobs.  Hasty, politically driven measures now could be particularly destructive.  The continued issuance of hundreds of thousands of work permits yearly to foreign workers at a time of 10.2% unemployment suggests that the essential link between existing immigration policy and the national interest has ceased to exist.
                  
As you well know, immigration is the greatest factor making America's population growth the highest of all industrial nations.  Projections show that nearly all population growth in the coming decades will result from our prodigal legal immigration policies and our continued tolerance of heavy illegal immigration.  That is simply unacceptable.  These numbers must be brought under control now, before it is too late.

NPG has specific, practical solutions to the mushrooming immigration that threatens this nation's environment and resource base:  completely halting all illegal immigration, and drastically cutting legal immigration from the current 1.2 million per year to no more than 200,000, including relatives, refugees and asylees.                  
                  
Yet what will most weaken any potential now for the nation to stabilize its population  will be a sweeping amnesty policy.  It would ensure the permanence here for approximately 12 million illegal immigrants now present, lure additional illegal immigrants, and trigger a new cascade of family reunifications.

NPG is 100% against all amnesty/citizenship opportunities for those who broke America’s laws to enter our country.  Such policies will set a horrid precedent.  We will do all in our power to defeat this legislation in Congress.
                                     
Madam Secretary, as the former governor of a border state that is still ravaged by the huge costs and social problems triggered by years of massive illegal immigration, you understand these issues better than anyone.  Yet, in your relatively brief tenure, we have seen key internal enforcement measures drastically weakened.  We urge you to recommit to full enforcement and keep uppermost in mind the risks to America's future of continuing or expanding our current reckless immigration policies.                  
                 
The millions of immigrants who have illegally entered our country, along with their American employers, have definitely created a powerful political force.  But, to simply accede to their demands for legal status would send a fateful invitation abroad, and seriously undermine our present laws – and future quality of life.

I respect the immense magnitude and diversity of your task of protecting the security of our homeland.  But I do urge you to respect and respond to the more gradual but no less insidious threats to our security represented by overpopulation, an overloaded national infrastructure, and resource exhaustion. 

Sincerely,

Don Mann
NPG President