OUR VAST IMMIGRATION BACKLOG

by Michelle Malkin

"Why can't anyone in Washington pinpoint what's wrong with this picture?

Over the last several years, I've noted the following immigration backlogs that continue to plague our homeland-security system:

* The backlog of 600,000-plus fugitive deportee cases.

* The backlog of an estimated 100,000 FBI background checks for legal immigrant applicants.

* The disappearance of 111,000 citizenship applications.

* The backlog of 4 million immigration applications of all kinds.

The Washington Post reported that those mounds of unprocessed paperwork continue to grow. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came here legally are waiting for FBI background checks that must be obtained before they can become naturalized. Since 2005, the paper recently showed, the "backlog of legal U.S. immigrants whose applications for naturalization and other benefits are stuck on hold awaiting FBI name checks has doubled to 329,160."

That's right. The FBI name-check backlog stands at nearly 330,000 cases.

After an embarrassing screw-up that I reported on in November 2002 involving a known Hezbollah terrorist who received naturalization approval, immigration officials resubmitted 2.7 million names of applicants to the FBI for additional scrutiny. The Post reports that "[m]ore than five years later, the FBI is only now emerging from that huge load, with about 5,800 names left to be rechecked."

Legally doesn't count when it comes to the liberal wet dream of championing criminals. The system is already bursting at the seams, but somehow, miraculously it seems, it will handle an additional 12 million folks...and then their families...with a 24 hour turnaround.

For decades and not years, Conservatives have been asking for answers only to be told that yes, it takes time, it takes a lot of time but those wishing to become Americans must understand that citizenship cannot happen overnight. Not possible. We've got to be careful, do our due diligence. But since the liberals smell blood in the water...their OWN blood from killing off millions of future Americans via abortion...they can replace those dead babies with freshly minted citizens who will think, act, and vote the way they tell them to.