The American Legion gives thumbs down to Obama’s immigration plans

OPINION:

The nation’s largest veterans service organization now questions the wisdom of the White House “putting politics above national security” via President Obama’s plans to bypass Congress and grant amnesty to 5 million illegal immigrants.

“At a time when ISIS, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are killing innocent Americans, it makes no sense to let our guard down and send a message that the United States is an open, soft target,” says Michael D. Helm, national commander of the American Legion, which has 2.4 million members in 14,000 local posts around the nation.

“A message was sent during the recent elections, and it clearly wasn’t that Americans want amnesty. The American Legion urges the president in the strongest possible terms to put our security, and our citizens interests and wishes, ahead of providing amnesty for millions of immigrants here illegally,” Mr. Helm says.

He fully supports legal immigration, calling those that go the distance “patriotic”, with much to contribute.

“The United States has benefited enormously from citizens who have obeyed the law in the journey to becoming Americans,” Mr. Helm observes. “One common characteristic is that they have earned their citizenship the legal way. In fact, we have reached out to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to offer our help in bringing immigrants to full citizenship. Rewarding illegal immigration is a slap in the face to those who have obeyed the law and patiently went through the process.”