Border Security

Border security proposals announced by U.S. House Republican leaders Thursday are not everything Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell wanted, but he thinks they will make a substantial difference in combating illegal immigration. Republican leaders announced their "Border Security Now" agenda in place of a more comprehensive immigration-reform bill. The agenda consists of 10 border-security proposals that House Republicans want to pass before the end of the month. "If we can get this through the Senate and signed by the president, it will make a dramatic difference in the illegal alien problem," Campbell said Thursday.

I've accumulated thousands of business cards throughout my career, but few stand out quite like the one belonging to Surat Singh Randhawa. The card of the Costa Mesa resident and small-business owner is a 2-inch-tall by about 3.5-inch-wide résumé. It wastes no space and conveys a dizzying amount of information. Above his business' name, Angels Auto Spa & Auto Repair, and beneath his own name, Surat Singh — as he is known about town — the card lists his credentials and life's highlights: "Ex-Border Security Force, Volley Ball Player, Volley Ball Coach, 1996 Olympic Security Officer.

After months of keeping his views to himself, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher announced he would endorse GOP hopeful Mitt Romney for president, citing the former Massachusetts governor as the candidate he trusts to fix the nation’s “illegal immigration crisis.” “Romney is going to be someone who tries to get control of the illegal immigration across our borders,” he said, adding, “We’re coming into a lot of economic troubles Romney has some private sector experience, especially in building economies and corporate jobs.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has become an intriguing figure in Costa Mesa both as a physical presence and a symbol of the racial tension within the city. Since December, the federal agent has taken up residence in Costa Mesa Jail, screening arrestees for citizenship status. Since then, more than 460 people have been flagged for immigration violations. July was the busiest — 59 people were held after being arrested on suspicion of various crimes. Many have protested, claiming some of those detained were arrested for violations as minor as jaywalking.

Doing nothing will make illegal immigration worse Without effective border control and enforcement of our laws, whatever "Band-Aid" regulations are passed by our "do nothing" politicians, the current 12 million illegal immigrants will significantly increase and create even bigger problems. Those who are against border security and law enforcement encourage foreigners to enter the U.S. illegally, and once here they are encouraged to flout our laws. By flouting our laws they burden law-abiding citizens with significant legal, health care, education and welfare expenses.

We can certainly say that the American landscape these days is not short of political streetwalkers dolling themselves all sexy like in the lingerie of illegal immigration. We vote for them because they look pretty and they give us what we want, and maybe something else that we don't want. Something that requires medication. But let's be clear. We are sharing a bed with these folks because the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States is flat out of control. And we've let it get that way because we like yard care, produce and nanny services on the cheap.

A federal immigration-reform bill announced Thursday is being touted as comprehensive and bipartisan, but it's likely to be panned by Newport-Mesa's congressmen. While Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell reserved judgment until he sees the bill, Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said it will "increase the overall flow of immigrants, both legal and illegal." The bill's provisions won't be finalized until they're in print Monday, but a White House fact sheet listed these highlights: Border security, including a fence and more Border Patrol agents, and tougher enforcement on employers will come before other provisions.

NEWPORT BEACH — Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani led off with his strongest card, his terrorism-fighting credentials, before touching on healthcare, immigration and energy policy in a speech to a welcoming crowd Saturday. "Sept. 11, 2001, taught me — and I believe it taught a lot of people, including President Bush — that we have to remain on offense," Giuliani said. "That means that we have to use our military. We can't show weakness." His visit is expected to be one in long string of appearances in California as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.

It will be ballot box déjà vu on Nov. 7 for voters in the 48th Congressional District who will see the same list of candidates they voted on a little less than a year ago. But this time, incumbent Republican Rep. John Campbell has a record, and he and his Democratic opponent have been bringing it up in their campaigns. Campbell faces Democrat Steve Young and Libertarian Bruce Cohen — both of whom lost to him in a December special election for the 48th District seat, which represents Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine and all or part of nine other Orange County cities.