CNS News – by Penny StarrSpeaking at the United States Conference of Mayors on Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the approximately 11 million people who are in the country illegally have “earned the right to be citizens.”
“An earned path to citizenship for those currently present in this country is a matter of, in my view, homeland security to encourage people to come out from the shadows,” said Johnson, in what he remarked was one of his first public speeches since being confirmed as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief in December.
“It is also, frankly, in my judgment, a matter of who we are as Americans,” he said, “to offer the opportunity to those who want to be citizens, who’ve earned the right to be citizens, who are present in this country–many of whom came here as children–to have the opportunity that we all have to try to become American citizens.”
Johnson, who had earlier served as general counsel for the Department of Defense under Obama from 2009 to 2012, told the more than 270 mayors in attendance that enforcing immigration law was one of the main missions of DHS.
“The five core missions of the Department of Homeland Security are guarding against terrorism, securing our borders, enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, safeguarding cyberspace and critical infrastructure in partnership with the private sector, and supporting emergency preparedness and response efforts at every level,” Johnson said.
Then he concluded his remarks by calling for “comprehensive, common sense, immigration reform.”
“Common sense immigration reform is supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, businesses, and if the polls (are) to be believed, the majority of the American people,” Johnson said. “Border security is inseparable from homeland security.”
“And border security must and should be part of comprehensive immigration reform – protecting our borders, securing our ports, promoting the lawful flow of trade and travel through our ports to cities and other communities,” he said.
Johnson touted the alleged improvement in border security over the last four years and said comprehensive immigration reform also would increase that security.
“Comprehensive immigration reform would also promote a more effective and efficient system for enforcing our immigration laws, and should include an earned path to citizenship for the approximately 11-and-a-half-million undocumented immigrants present in this country, something like 86% of whom have been here almost 10 years,” Johnson said.
“An earned path to citizenship for those currently present in this country is a matter of, in my view, homeland security to encourage people to come out from the shadows, to be accountable, to participate in the American experience, the American society,” he said.
“It is also, frankly, in my judgment, a matter of who we are as Americans,” said Johnson. “To offer the opportunity to those who want to be citizens, who’ve earned the right to be citizens, who are present in this country – many of whom who came here as children – to have the opportunity that we all have to try to become American citizens.”
– See more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/homeland-security-secretary-illegals-have-earned-right-be-citizens#sthash.5lkUvVky.dpuf
These SOB’s in the government of course have their right to their own private opinions, but when it comes to expressing an opinion in public, that should reflect the opinion of the American People.
Clearly, none of us want another 11 million persons of any nationality to suddenly become citizens. Jobs and livelihoods for Americans first. A decent life for Americans first.
What more do these traitor scum bastards have to say before the idiots sheep in this country catch on?
Sure , criminals deserve citizenry , lol
Just like criminals deserve to run this country
Ya see they understand each other , that’s why they support this BS
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has “earned the right to be” HUNG for HIGH TREASON!!!
Another unelected idiot espousing his view which is not with mainstream America or that of most legal immigrants. Johnson you are a moron, when you look in the mirror at yourself remember you was not put in your position because of your intellect, only because you have the same ideology as your bosses and soon you will be unemployed along with your bosses. America is through with the democrats for a while, lets see them try to hold this dying economy tighter till next election time and explain why making more people citizens improves our economy, it doesn’t and you know it, you are merely trying to gain votes, it wont work.
Your fired jerk off.
What about the vets, chewed up and cast to the gutter? What about the family men and women who work their asses off to support their families, who most likely have now lost their jobs, their life savings and in too many cases, their homes? Aren’t the Americans who were actually born here and paid all of the taxes, fees and fines their entire lives due a little something? No, the loser criminals who come here illegally, who dilute the labor force and drive wages down, are now due all of those things that used to be reserved for hard working Americans. Now Oblah blah wants to import Muslims to further degrade and destabilize the country.
Excuse me while I go throw up.