Understanding the Constitution: How States May Respond to Illegal Immigration, Part I
Posted by freedomforall 3 months, 3 weeks ago to Government
Excerpt:
"Some Founders Called Illegal Immigration ‘Invasion’
One of the most interesting pieces of evidence came from an actual 18th-century case of illegal immigration.
Before the Constitution was adopted, the State of Connecticut had a claim to land in the Wyoming Valley. The Wyoming Valley is the part of modern-day Pennsylvania around Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
Relying on their state’s claim, Connecticut citizens poured into the Wyoming Valley—to the great distress of Pennsylvania authorities. The newcomers settled on rich farmland that, according to Connecticut law, was theirs—but according to Pennsylvania law, it was not.
This immigration into the Wyoming Valley wasn’t a military assault. Local Indians and Pennsylvania officials eventually attacked the settlers, and they resisted. But the immigration itself seems to have been almost entirely peaceful.
But to Pennsylvanians, the unauthorized immigration was an “invasion.” In 1754, Benjamin Franklin authored a plan “to divert the Connecticut Emigrants from their Design of Invading this Province.” And in 1783 the Pennsylvania Legislature wrote to the Confederation Congress, labeling the Connecticut settlers “invaders of the State.”"
"Some Founders Called Illegal Immigration ‘Invasion’
One of the most interesting pieces of evidence came from an actual 18th-century case of illegal immigration.
Before the Constitution was adopted, the State of Connecticut had a claim to land in the Wyoming Valley. The Wyoming Valley is the part of modern-day Pennsylvania around Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
Relying on their state’s claim, Connecticut citizens poured into the Wyoming Valley—to the great distress of Pennsylvania authorities. The newcomers settled on rich farmland that, according to Connecticut law, was theirs—but according to Pennsylvania law, it was not.
This immigration into the Wyoming Valley wasn’t a military assault. Local Indians and Pennsylvania officials eventually attacked the settlers, and they resisted. But the immigration itself seems to have been almost entirely peaceful.
But to Pennsylvanians, the unauthorized immigration was an “invasion.” In 1754, Benjamin Franklin authored a plan “to divert the Connecticut Emigrants from their Design of Invading this Province.” And in 1783 the Pennsylvania Legislature wrote to the Confederation Congress, labeling the Connecticut settlers “invaders of the State.”"
