Napolitano is lost…

Sec. Napolitano, your great defender of the border...

Janet Napolitano, who suppposedly is Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said the following on Larry King regarding illegal immigrant…

And yes, when we find illegal workers, yes, appropriate action, some of which is criminal, most of that is civil, because crossing the border is not a crime per se. It is civil. But anyway, going after those as well.

Um, what?!!?!

This comes one week after the DHS debacle on right wing extremism report, which of course, was a political hit piece pure and simple. Napolitano appears to be turning into one of the more partisan Obama Cabinet members; something I would have never predicted.

Julie Kirchner, (through Michelle Malkin), clearly states what the law really is:

ENTRY WITHOUT INSPECTION IS A CRIME: In fact, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1325, crossing the border illegally is a crime–a misdemeanor for the first offense and a felony for the second and subsequent offenses. But of course, ignoring or mischaracterizing the law is a very convenient way for those in power to avoid the laws they find most inconvenient. Sadly, statements such as these are also a signal that Americans will have to wait a long time before their government articulates any credible immigration enforcement policy.

Maybe the chief federal officer in charge of our borders should know the law, huh? And this is even more frightening considering she was Governor of Arizona for many years, and is considered by Democrats to be an expert on border related issues. Oy vay.

Then, Napolitano followed up the first blunder with another. She made the accusation that the 9/11 terrorists came through Canada. Nice, especially considering it is totally untrue. Canada’s National Post blasted her credibility, and asked how she got the job in the first place. Good question. Things have gotten so bad, some members of Congress are calling for her resignation. That, of course, will never, ever happen.

On another level, however, this may give us insight in how the Obama Administration views the immigration debate. They don’t view illegal immigrants as law breakers, only as pure individuals looking for a better life. Most conservatives, on the other hand, view illegal immigrants as law breakers, who are looking for a better life. This is a clear delineation, because how you view this group of people is directly related to how you feel we need to move forward on reform. If you feel they have done no wrong, then there is no amnesty per se; you can’t absolve someone of a crime they didn’t commit.

UPDATE: It appears that Napolitano will redact the previous report from DHS, and reissue a new one. A victory for conservatives.