Swine flu outbreak emerges in immigration debate

Mexico, as far as 'm concerned is a 51st state. We live in a global world. Distances are now irrelevant. As for sending troops to guard the border against the swine flu, that's a laugh or maybe I should say a tragedy. They, the troops, or some of them, will pick the virus up, and bring it home to their families, neighbors, and friends. Science is what is needed to help safeguard us from rising numbers of flu victims.

Meanwhile I hope my Mexican--state of Chiapas-- friends remain well. .

Since the majority of the cases in the US so far are the result of Americans returning from vacations in Mexico, presumably Gheen would also advocate an executive order banning Americans from traveling to Mexico. Or are his comments only intended to incite further rabid xenophobia among his constituency? And isn't it ironic that Irish immigrants to this nation, including probably those with the surname Gheen, were despised and blamed for the spread of disease in the last century.

Americans for Legal Immigration comments seem more believable
than Robert Gibbs " No Way" Jose!

Stop travel, shut down the border. Mexico is an unregulated third world country. Democrats only want the votes, they could care less what happens to the American people. He is a clown with no experience, and those who voted for him are morons who fell for the pied piper....

Jeromo While it may be true that the virus has been brought back by returning American tourists, mass illegal immigration isn't helping the situation either. Why allow numerous more vectors to come in and add to the ones we already have? Terrance is right, our "government" couldn't care less about us. The open borders lobby and its votes and power is all they care about, not US citizens.

Mexico is NOT our 51st state. You had best check with the AMERICAN CITIZENS of this great nation before you make statements like that. We vote on measures of that importance it is not automatically gifted because of a certain sector of the population feel that is the way it ought to be. Please read the Constitution for which our country was founded. Thank-you....

Mr. Gheen is absolutely correct on this issue, closing the border is the only solution. The problem is it makes too much sense for liberal reporters and Washington insiders to understand until they are directly effected. Boston Globe story calling for amnesty for 12 million illegal aliens while Americans are getting laid off by the thousands in 1....2.....3

"White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said during his regular briefing that the government response is "in no way" hampered by the absence of a permanent health secretary or CDC chief."

Then what is Obama's excuse for being slower than Bush to respond to Katrina?
It took two days to come up with three people to hold a 60 minute press breifing, which was not very reasuring. I got better information from the BBC than I did the White House.

Our government is a joke! All they care about is appeasing the illegals. Americans will not wake up until there are about two million Americans dead in the streets. people dead in the streets. This government cares only for corporations. One thousand working class Americans can die and the government won't do shit, but one corporate elite die, and the borders will close down tomorrow! I'm starting to hate this sorry ass government!

Osama Obama has gone around the world apologizing for America,more disgraceful behavior by a President has never been known,Close that Mexican border once and for all.Mexico has troops at their southern border,is any one else sick of all the political correctness BS? What happened to America for Americans? No other Nation in the world would do this to their loyal citizens.

There are reasons every country in the world bans illegal immigration. One is the spread of disease. Since Bush opened our southern border in 2001, and illegals have flooded into our country, TB which was once basically wiped out here, has roared back. I know of what I speak. My son caught TB from an illegal alien kid at school.

It is time to shut the border before this pandemic spreads.

Calling William Gheen xenophobic is a way for cheap shot marksmen to completely sidestep the scientific reality of what is happening. Open borders, globalism, explotation of the poor by the rich = massively efficient disease vector once a new pathogen shows up. If we had regulated our borders properly and not turned Mexico into the unofficial 51st state, the rate of spread to us would have been lower. Also, how come so many of them have died? But no, we looked the other way, and now the virus is out and running. It was never stoppable, considering the relationship between us and Mexico thanks to those who exploited that relationship.

The media is not giving the details of the circumstances surrounding most of the cases of this disease. Those in southern California and Texas did not mentioned anything about how the people contracted it, or whether they had recently been to Mexico. My guess is that they were illegal aliens

And yes, the border should be sealed... in both directions.
Stop risking lives for political correctness.

When did we become a nation of whiners? We should be willing to sacrifice our health and safety and that of our families to elitist claptrap like globalism.

when the avian flu was a scare a few years back,travel to and from asia was suspended if I am not mistaken.Why are we treating the mexican border differant?

What a massively stupid comment by Gheen!!! The flu gestates in 1 to 3 days and he is talking about sealing the border from immigrants coming to live in the US?? Go to the airport and stop people getting off the plane from vacation, twit. It's kids coming home from vacation we need to worry about, not hard working immigrants. This kind of silly politicization of real public health issues shows the depths to which the anti-immigration guys are reaching. Unbe-f-inglievable.

Why would the Democrats close the border? Every illegal that gets in is going to become a Democrat, eventually. If you're from a Red state or a border state, you're sucking wind my friend. Right now, Nancy P. and Harry R. are laughing and smiling. For them and the Democratic party, the future is as bright as a Mexican Sunrise.

they keep stating to legalize path to citizenship for those who have entered this country illegally. What if you arrived legally as a child, but have overstayed? Do these people get a chance especially when they pay taxes, and contribute to society and speak fluent english. Not all illegals here are here based on crossing the border with Mexico. Some of us flew in, went thru customs and remained here because INS did not process the application to remain here.

Agree with Mr. Gheen that our borders should be secured especially now to help contain the spread of this flu. But the powers that be won't allow it, would disrupt the money flow. One of the main responsibilities of the federal government is to secure our borders which they fail miserably at.

"What a massively stupid comment by Gheen!!! The flu gestates in 1 to 3 days and he is talking about sealing the border from immigrants coming to live in the US??"

The US Embasy in Mexico is closed and over 1,500 immigration or visa appointments were cancelled. No new people are coming in and this flu's incubation period is 24-48 hours, with exposure from people not exhibiting symptoms.

I don't feel our government (Janet) is doing nearly enough. Emergency measures should be taken -like guarding the border. Sealing the holes. I have children, live in a community with tens of thousands of illegal aliens with more arriving every week -I prefer my government not let this leakage continue.

Gheen is right to call for some kind of action. More Americans need to speak up about this.

the senate judiciary committee plans to start hearings on comprehensive illegal immigration reform tuesday! swine flu no problem wash your hands! criminal agenda must not be stop! washington illegal agenda priority! immigration authoriy bringing vietnam refugees into minnesota with TB! immigration authority bringing somali refugees wih LEPORSY TB" AND SEXUAL DISEASE ARKANSAS TYSON MEAT PROCESSING PLANT? two immigrants brought into country massacre innocent people? now we have swine flu outbreak? public health is number one on govrments minds? seems to me a pattern of neglect agenda? INDEPENDENT AMEN.

This isn't Obamas falt whites are looking for any reason to point a finger at him since he is black and there truly mad we got are first black president and want him to fail. They are blaming him like he cause it. There also going after Mexicans cause they blame them for the job loose will if whites didn't think they need top dollar to sit on there A$$ maybe they would get more jobs. Its air born and already in the U.S. whites just want a reason to close the border To bad the Native Americans weren't able to just close the border before whites came here. That whites for you they come steal a country and tell every one else they cant have the same rights and they cant enter in less they check with them first.

Some of you clearly get your talking points from Gheen, Fox News, Lou Dobbs, et al. Ignorant and racist to boot ! Many of you are direct decendants of White Supremacy who cannot stomach the thought that, when you wake up in the morning, the POTUS is a black man !
Now if you analyze this situation rather than react to it, take into account the fact that pork is a staple meat in Mexico and the U.S. It is ingested by citizens and tourists alike.
Industrialized farming is a major cause of pandemics. In this case, many American companies set up shop in Mexico and other countries - to take advantage of their economies, and to pay low wages with lax regulations. SMITHFIELD FARMS operates at least two processing plants in Mexico. The typical corporate pork processer raises thousands of pigs in an exclosed building with no breathing room - an opportunity for pathogens to multiply. The pork is consumed locally and shipped to the U.S., Canada, and other countries.......ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK !

It seems that those fools are out again, as if unsecured borders have spread the flu to New Zealand and Isreal. Most of the U.S. cases are in New York, while there are few or none Texas, Arizona, or New Mexico. The problem is easy travel buy U.S. citizens not illigals coming across the border.

IMHO -- Swine flu can be vectored by swine -- live or dead, by flies that are attracted to swine, by mosqitoes and by infected persons. Avian flu can be vectored by, birds and fowl -- dead or alive, by mosquitoes. West Nile Virus, is a bird to mosquito to bird, to human disease. Comonly humans transmit flu by contact with humans, contact with dirty items humans touch or by droplets from a sneeze or cough. Totally overreacting and sealing the border may seem prudant, but it is only prophylactic at best. This current flu will cross the borders with flies, migratory birds, and mosquitoes as well as unsecured human migrations, via air, land and sea. panic only breeds panic. Go secure the bordrs with your guns if you want, or save you ammo, to secure youre village. People will begin to get sick, hungry, and despate. You will stay, fight or migrate to a safe haven, or shot and killed on the road.

CheshireCat,
Bush screwed up Katrina big time.Closing the boarder may help.

I think we should shut down immigration for at least 12-15 years so our schools and roads can catch up to the increase in population.

Yes, we all know Obama is incompetent and timid. He is not a leader, and that doesn't make me a racist to say so. Too bad most voters think a presedential election is like texting American Idol. Sad.

Jorge.....guy, that's not even coherent English. Ease up over there, and feel free to mix in some punctuation next time.

KV

i totally agree with this opinion. i dont understand why we didnt immediately lock down mexico as soon as they realized there was a novel flu circulating there. no one in, no one out. how many lives will be lost that may have been spared with harsher and quicker policy. people of all ages, it's sad.

we freak out when there is a pipe bomb scare in a bldg or airport, everyone out, lockdown, search the building, etc. but with something far worse like a novel flu, it's "oh sure, come on in from mexico, no problem, or go ahead down there and have a good time, bring back the flu if you must, it's ok."

In 1976, the swine flu virus surfaced among troops in Fort Dix, NJ. The infected population-namely, American troops-was viewed as a particularly pernicious group because of the risk of a larger contagion. Sending troops to the border to prevent the "Mexican flu from crossing into America," as Mr. Gheen suggests, is beyond idiotic. Should American troops line up along the border and spread their arms in an attempt to catch this air-born disease? And, in the event that troops do "catch" this disease, will we then turn on our troops, like we do on Mexican immigrants, and ask that they be shipped abroad? If our plan is to safeguard America then surely those infected should be sent away. American tourists, American school children--all should be banished from this country, lest they infect more. In 1976, a rash decision by President Ford to inoculate all Americans led to a high incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing nerve disease, that affected and killed many more than the swine flu itself. Rash and irrational thinking--like that expressed by Gheen--can only do more harm than good. If we really want to be helpful we should silence the ignorance.

i totally agree with this opinion. i dont understand why we didnt immediately lock down mexico as soon as they realized there was a novel flu circulating there. no one in, no one out. how many lives will be lost that may have been spared with harsher and quicker policy. people of all ages, it's sad.

we freak out when there is a pipe bomb scare in a bldg or airport, everyone out, lockdown, search the building, etc. but with something far worse like a novel flu, it's "oh sure, come on in from mexico, no problem, or go ahead down there and have a good time, bring back the flu if you must, it's ok."

Welcome to the People's Republic Of the United States, where two wrongs make a right, where it's "last come, first served", where millions of people who have a rather limited education, brain activity, command of the English language and understanding of politics (Jorge) play the race card when they vote because that's "how they do", and where being PC has officially become more important than the rights of taxpayers and the future of our kids. But, since illegals tend to get free healthcare rather easily in the US anyway, they'll all be treated pronto and we'll avoid the worst.

We need the Orkin Man to go to Mexico and exterminate the rodents. They are coming into America and commiting crimes like murder, welfare fraud, armed roberies etc. They are a net loss to the system. We do not need 30 million illiterate animals who make $6 an hour but who take $20- $30 an hour in net benefits when you add up the free healthcare, no car or health insurance, no fed or state tax 35% of the prison population are illegals. What does that costs? Arresting these maggots and going to trial cost as well. Lets not even get into the fact that they breed like rodents on our tax dime. All the while thay take $from the white tax paying middle class. in 30 years there will be 5 rodents for every one white. And these rodents who have been fed a steady diet of the white man is bad by the Dumbocrats will be roaming the streets aimlessly becuase they are only capable of taking not giving. There will not be enough hard working whites to support their welfare existence. The math will not work and the rodents will feed on white population. Do you think the 30 million illegal rodents will pay into a system that helps whites whom they are taught to detest at this moment and are also taught to consider them as a daddy who provides for you. WE NEED THE ORKIN MAN. PRONTO

NOW>

people.

dumbocrats

middle class who

Dead on, Gheen. Time to stop the mexican flotsam from infesting our proud nation and endangering our beautiful children. If we wanted our country to be one big taco shop, we wouldnt have taco bell. AMERICAN OWNED MEXICAN PWNED.

The U.S. is lying about the so called swin flu, for political reasons (as always, they need someone to blame) in order to save face. “50 people have contacted the swin flu and not one has dead in the U.S.?” In Mexico, 100 people have died? The U.S. has more or less about 35,000 cases of the flu deaths per year, way more than Mexico. Those people in Mexico have dead for a smart flu Bomb that kills only Mexicans and spares Americans? The people who are dying from the flu in the U.S., the Medical establishment for Embarrassment and blame, In order to save face and promote the lies will simply say “it was some other flu. Is this some type of intelligent test? "MAN ARE AMERECANS STUPID" do you think you’re kidding the world? You’re not. Mexico knows exactly what you doing; they have a long History of Americas stupidity and crap. I don’t care if it’s the lizard flu the American who died or dead

Liberals, open border fans: so because the Mexican flu, aka the swine flu, comes from Mexico, we are not allowed to say it? Please take off your politically correct mask! And let's secure the border for good

People are pointing the finger at the President because he is the President of the USA not because he is "black" . No matter the color of your skin a job is a job and the President should think of his country first and foremost always!

I think is all a big political strategy. Thousands of poeple die due to drunk driving, or car accidents. Mexico city is a city with more than 35 mill people, I don´t think because of 100 or even 10000 is consider a danger to the world. Cut the crap!! Americans had enough of political games that ultimately cost the real state, airline, and car industries and overall the economy not mentioning the killing of thousands of inocent people and soldiers. Let´s cover up all the killing in Irak with a subject like "oh, there goes an Ilegal Mexican, he is a criminal" and put it all in the news and talk shows for months!!. American politicians are learning to be as corrupted like the Mexican Government. Let´s face it!

NOTICE HOW THE OPEN BORDER LOBBY ALWAYS TWIST EVERYTHING.

CUBA IS A "FRIEND" OF MEXICO AND THEY HAVE PUT A COMPLETE STOP TO INGOING AND OUTGOING EVERYTHING TO MEXICO!
NO ONE HAS TO SAY "ALL" THE ILLEGAL ALIENS OR EVEN LEGAL MEXICANS COMING INTO THE U.S. HAVE THE SWINE FLU. JUST IF EVEN A FEW COME IN THEY COULD START A DEADLY PANDEMIC THAT COULD KILL MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.WE HAVE A RIGHT JUST AS ALL NATIONS DO TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CHILDREN.

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