It was April 12, 1952: seventy years ago. I saw Lady Liberty from our ship.

We were processed at Ellis Island. Mom, Dad, my brother, and I received our LEGAL ALIEN CARDS. I still have the card. We left behind, hunger, oppression—and began a new life of freedom, rule of law, right to own property, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and being rewarded for work. All we had to do to live the American Dream was to work hard.

Before being permitted to immigrate, our family was vetted for four years. Mom and Dad had to prove they were not Nazis or communists. They also had to pass a criminal background check. Nazis, like cockroaches scurrying in the light, were trying to hide all over the world. The USSR was already working to destroy the USA and was sending spies. Even my 11-year-old brother was “interrogated” several times. The “interrogators” were matronly ladies, who questioned my brother privately, behind closed doors. What better way to find out what Mom and Dad really thought and had done in the past than to ask a child? We always thought vetting was reasonable and wise.

I look with incredulity at our current southern border. Millions of people from 160 countries are illegally crossing. I suspect that the great majority are coming for the same reasons as my family. They think: “How illegal can it be to cross the border if the federal government gives me a cell phone, and buses or flies me to somewhere in the USA?” Before being processed, many migrants throw away identification documents they had with them. No criminal background checks are done. How many are cartel members, MS-13, gang members, common criminals, murderers, pedophiles, rapists, or terrorists sent by our enemies? The answer: We don’t know. Those who fit those descriptions will prey on American Citizens.

Nazis (National Socialist German Workers Party) killed Jews, Roma, homosexuals, and the handicapped. Twelve million non-Germans were sent to slave labor camps where many perished. The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) toll of innocents killed is estimated to range from 40 to 60 million. That is more than the Nazis killed. The communist killing methods of choice were a bullet in the back of the head or to starve in the Gulags. Like countless others, my dear cousin was sent to a slave labor camp where she nearly died.

Cartel and MS-13 members kill with bullets, with the occasional added the twist of dismembering bodies. I see no moral difference between Nazis, communists, cartel members, MS-13, and terrorists. The only difference is the technology used to kill.

It made sense on April 12, 1952, to protect the American people by only allowing immigrants who would be a positive addition to America, to come. It still makes sense.