Napolitano lists Canadian border a top security priority

“The northern border of the United States has become, since 9/11, important to our national security,” Miss Napolitano wrote in an action directive issued Friday.

“As we have designed programs to afford greater protection against unlawful entry, members of Congress and homeland security experts have called for increased attention to the Canadian border,” the directive said.

“Virtually every issue related to immigrants is now viewed as a ‘security matter’ while the positive and needed impact of immigrants on the nation’s economy, society, families and communities is ignored,” the group wrote in a Jan. 21 letter.

“We now have an outpouring of hatred and hostility against immigrants by elements of our society who take it out on anyone they believe is Latino or an immigrant,” the letter said. “We hope you will help change the tone of the immigration debate by making the defense of due process and civil rights a DHS priority, and continually using your platform to affirm the enormous contributions immigrations are making to protect our quality of life.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/26/canadian-border-key-priority-in-napolitano-securit/By Audrey Hudson – Washington Times