During a speech on immigration Thursday at The Heritage Foundation, Texas Governor Rick Perry emphasized the need for the United States to secure the nations border and take immediate and forceful action against ISIS terrorists in Iraq so that our country will not be vulnerable to terror attacks on our own soil.
“We have come to one of those moments where American action will be decisive and inaction will be consequential,” affirmed Perry.
The Texas Republican said that the unrest in Iraq and Syria — and especially the “savage execution” of James Foley at the hands of ISIS terrorists — should make Americans wary of “the possibility of another terrorist attack in this country.”
“We have every reason to take these individuals at their word,” asserted Perry, referencing the video that was posted to YouTube showing the ISIS militants murdering James Foley and delivering further threats to the United States.
He emphasized the fact that the individual executing Foley was a “radicalized British subject,” which was made apparent by the individual’s obvious English accent in the video.
“How many other ISIS radicals are carrying Western passports?” Perry asked, suggesting that ISIS terrorists could have easy access to the United States. The Texas governor said that this access is made easier by the insecurity at the nation’s Southern border.
“Defending the border is not a political option,” Perry insisted. “It is a constitutional obligation.”
Perry also said that any talk of comprehensive immigration reform is “pointless” because President Obama and Washington have “no credibility on the matter.” According to the governor, Obama will only gain such credibility by fulfilling his “constitutional obligation” and securing the southern border.
“Chaos is not the right condition for discussing longterm immigration policy,” Perry added.
The Texas governor also slammed President Obama for turning down his invitation to visit the border on a trip to the state in July despite the fact that the situation at the border is “a direct consequence of [Obama’s] policies.”
Perry has continuously urged Obama to secure the southern border and took matters into his own hands by ordering National Guard troops to the border of Texas earlier this summer to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
Perry labeled the 2014 midterm elections “America’s last chance to pass judgement on the Obama presidency” and suggested confidently that Republicans will gain the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Texas governor spoke last at the Heritage Foundation event, which also featured a panel of experts — including National Review editor Rich Lowry, Heritage Foundation fellow James Jay Carafano, Temple University law professor Jan C. Ting and founder and president of Polling Company Kellyanne Conway — that spoke about the immigration reform issue.
