Legion to Congress: Reject amnesty

I don't think that the Amnesty issue is one that the American Legion should be tackling. I look to the American Legion as my advocacy group primarily on Veterans Issues. I wish that the National Commander had addressed the issue of using military service as a pathway to Citizenship. This is one item that I hope he fully supports and has been successful in the past. I hope that taking a hard stance against "Amnesty" doesn't provide a chilling effect on future potential Legionaires who are now faithfully serving in our military in the hopes of earning the rights and privelages of U.S. Citizenship.

Interestingly enough, I don't recall being asked about this issue. As a Legionare, I would hope the opinions put forth on such an issue would have reflected member's opinions.

In this case, Amnesty has nothing to do with Veterans rights, and frankly, I'm disappointed. I'd hate to see the Legion turn into a general service PAC.

J

I am more interested in what the American Legion is ever going to do about the illegal patrons that use the legion post lounge as an open to the public "watering hole". This continued abuse at numerous Post homes should result in the loss of tax exempt status. Why is it that I spent 4 years in the USAF and have paid my dues for over thirty years so I can legally join the legion and then sit next to a guest who is spending his own money in clear violation of the IRS tax exempt laws. Do I go to the IRS or the Department of Maryland first?

I share MAJ Dave's concerns. In addition, I don't agree that the Obama proposals result in "amnesty". What is clear is that it is past time for immigration reform and I would strongly recommend that, if the American Legion is going to take a position in this regard, it strongly promote the need to get this done.

The Legion should stick to Veteran's affairs and support. Stay out of politics. The Legion does not represent me in these matters.

The Legion should stick to Veteran's affairs and support. Stay out of politics. The Legion does not represent me in these matters

Lima Charlie, Major Dave. The Legion Should STRONGLY be concerned with Veteran's affiars and support. These statements do not represent my views at all, nor was I ever asked to express how I felt on immigration. I agree with the folks who have stated, "STAY OUT OF POLITICS"

I recently renewed my membership after letting it lapse because of similar stances by the Legion.  I rejoined when it appeared to me that the Legion had toned-down such rhetoric and was sticking to Veterans issues. Evidently, I was wrong. The Legion does much good for Veterans, and I want to support that, and that only, through my Legion membership.

Isn't it odd that there is more emphasis on immigration even when there more urgent injustices occurring to our active duty service personnel. Wouldn't it be nice if no active duty person could not have to worry about there constitutionally guaranteed right to vote and have it counted. But then again maybe I need to check to if there is a constitutionally guaranteed right to vote. Maybe this should be a more important discussion that the American Legion hierarchy should be concentrating on.

As a 30 year Legion member, I find that the leadership of this organization again falls flat on it's face. This time, like so many times before, the epitome of social injustice! How did an article like this even make it past the editing desk?

The American Legion National Commander has clearly overstepped his boundaries and needs to take immediate action in order to make amends. The American Legion should represent the interests of Veterans, Active Duty, and Reserve members and their families. He has no right to assert that he represents the membership on deeply-divided political issues, nor on any issue that does not involve Military and Veterans issues. The only way for him to re-gain the faith of the membership would be for him to immediately retract his statement to Congress, explaining that the American Legion represents the interests of the Military, Veterans, and their families and that the position that he expressed was his own private opinion only, and that it did not represent the position of the American Legion as an organization nor its membership as a whole, and that he never pulsed the membership of the organization that he represents for their opinion before asserting that it was OUR collective position. Then, he should vehemently apologize to all of us for making such a statement to Congress on our behalf, especially without consulting us, and for abusing the power that we entrusted in him by using his position to make a political statement at our expense. His actions dilutes those important issues where we DO entrust him to represent us, and those where we all do stand united, such as issues relating to our Military and Veterans and their families. It also divides our membership on highly-charged political issues, when we need to be united for the cause of our Military, Veterans, and our families. Should he take these actions, retracting his statement to Congress and apologizing to all of us, then we should consider allowing him to continue to serve us in the Post in which he was entrusted. If not, then we have no other option than to call for him to step down. Let me make it clear that I am not taking a position on Immigration Reform; my point is that our membership is clearly divided on this issue and the American Legion (which is us) should not be taking a position on Immigration Reform either (nor on fiscal policy, Gay Marriage, the Death Penalty, Affirmative Action, etc. etc.). Therefore, the National Commander had no right to claim to represent us to Congress on this.

It seems that National should listen to the members.They,as do I,do not want the Legion involved with this issue.

I agree with Maj. Dave. This is apolitical issue, not a vet. issue. I would like to point out to those of you who do not want immigration reform that YOU are, or are descended from, immigrants. Many of the people who are without documentation were brought here, without their knowledge and consent. Some do not even know that they are not citizens until they try to get a drivers license, register to vote, or enlist. You want to send them back to a country they do not know? How about at least letting these kids serve for citizenship? R. A. Heinlein once proposed the idea that a veteran is more worthy of citizenship because he/she has proven her/his loyalty by going in harms way to protect his/her country. If they qualify in all other respects, let these kids have the chance to prove their loyalty.

Good to see a lot of criticism concerning the Legion's position on this. Instead of making united recommendations to tackle the many veterans problems that exist, the 'Legion' finds it better to incite more political division that this country does not need. To keep following this path alienates the membership and exasperates the falling membership issue. Many of the organizational problems that have been mentioned in the past, as well as those on here today, seem to be deliberately side stepped by leadership as miniscule, but let a post become delinquent in dues, and see how fast the leadership acts. Just one other comment: Keep informed as to when the leadership and staff plans to visit your area and approach them with your comments. It may involve some travel and time, but there is nothing more statisfying than bringing one's issues up face to face with those at the top. No organization will survive when the leadership personally controls it and stops listing to ALL of the MEMBERSHIP!!!

It is an issue, a monetary one that we CAN'T AFFORD. If we are going to provide for tens of millions of illegals in this country then be prepared for cuts to the VA. Then the griping and complaining will begin.

My family came into this nation legally and strived to become American Citinens through assimilation. They only spoke their native language in their own home, and even that was limited. Why did they need to work so hard to become citizens? I served to protect the ideals that my Grandparents worked to achieve. We are the only Country on Earth that just allows people to be granted Citizenship simply because they are here. If any Americans try to go to another Country to work or live, they can be denied citizenship and even be fined and jailed for not following proper procedures. We have laws on the books that are not enforced and are claimed to be Draconian. We do not need new laws -we simply need to enforce the laws we currently have in place; no matter how Draconian. Maybe Draconian is what we need right now? Question: If those in this Country illegally believe that America is so great, then why don't they follow our laws; why do they strive to send all of their money back home; and why is the President of Mexico encouraging their citizens to break the laws of another Country?

I miss National Commander Wong. He had a very clearly-stated and well-articulated Legislative Agenda that focused on the Military and Veterans Issues. He spoke for all of us, and he commanded the respect of both parties in Congress, thus furthering our cause. The Current National Commander, Jimmie Foster, has taken all of this great work and thrown it in the dirt. Foster's legislative agenda has nothing to do with Veterans. His priority seems to be on immigration and so-called amnesty, rather than on Veterans and our Families. He speaks out of turn, he divides the membership, he fails to represent us, and he has tossed aside our Veterans and their issues in order to focus on his own personal far-right-wing agenda. He has also alienated more than half of those Congressmen and Senators whose support we need for Veterans Causes by instead focusing on divisive and complex immigration issues; they will now not listen to a word he says, but rather write him (and therefore us!) off as a quack. Perhaps National Commander Wong would be willing to come back and serve the remainder of National Commander Foster's term and focusing on getting us back on a good solid legislative agenda and on furthering the cause of Veterans?

The Legion is 100% correct "Thank You" for remembering the importance of our nations Sovereignty, the reason we fought and protected our country, why thousands of soldiers died.

This is a political issue, and the American Legion should keep out of it. This is the same sort of issue that caused me to drop AARP membership.

I agree with MAJ Dave, this is a political issue and The Legion should stay out of it.

This is not really the business of the American Legion, which should not mix in political issues unrelated to service personnel and veterans. Nevertheless, I'll ad my two-cents worth:

For those crime-free aliens who register, admit they have broken our laws, pay their fines and pay their back taxes(including payroll taxes from their employers), there should be a legal path to work permits, residence and eventual citizenship, provided they remain a contributor to our country by staying employed and crime free during the process. All others should be deported.

Fellow Legion Members and Veterans, we need to be careful with this topic. We all have our opinions about immigration. It could easily divide us if we enter the political fray on this topic. Fact is, the Legion is a critical voice for issues impacting Vets, Active Duty, and families. We need to use our collective voices with the Legion to make sure those concerns are well provided for. Voice your opinions on immigration through your other constituency groups and state legislatures. The Legion entering the mix on this issue will only serve to dilute our impact in speaking up on Veterans issues. The reason I renewed my membership in the Legion was to battle the draconian cuts that are facing the DoD, Veterans, and families, not to debate immigration. I urge the National Commander to save his bullets for the right fight. This is not it.

I don't understand most of you people no wonder this country is in bad shape most of you spent a long time in service for America and now you talk about letting millions of illegal aliens come into this country and take jobs and federal hand outs that could go to our veterans. Shame on you! And thank you Commander