American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz yesterday described President Obama’s proposal to grant amnesty to people who are in the United States illegally as nothing more than a bad sequel and has called on Congress to reject illegal citizen amnesty.
On the American Legion site, Koutz said, “Whether it’s called ‘Pathway to Citizenship’ or some other euphemism, it’s still amnesty. It didn’t work when President Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and it will be even more disastrous if we repeat that mistake again.”
In late August of 2012, the American Legion held their 94th National Convention of the American Legion in Indianapolis, IN. and passed a resolution, Resolution No.19, submitted by the Convention Committee on National Security, in support of enforcing immigration laws.
In Resolution No. 19, it said:
“WHEREAS, Each sovereign nation is responsible for the enforcement of laws regarding its borders; and WHEREAS, Citizens of each sovereign nation should be protected from those who violate their borders; and WHEREAS, The United States has laws specifying how to obtain legal entry to our nation; and WHEREAS, These immigration laws are being violated each day by persons entering our nation illegally and endangering our national security; and WHEREAS, There are existing laws to arrest, detain, or deport those who violate these immigration laws; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Indianapolis, Indiana, August 28, 29, 30, 2012.”
“That The American Legion supports the strict enforcement of immigration laws already in existence; and, be it finally RESOLVED, That government benefits of any kind should not be granted to any alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa.”
"The American Legion is not opposed to immigration; we are a nation that was built by immigrants. But we also believe in adherence to the law. What kind of message does it send to those who worked hard to become legal immigrants if we offer the same status to those who disrespected the process? ‘American citizen’ is a special title that should not be bestowed upon people who broke the law to get it,” said Koutz.
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