On one of the opinion pretending to be news shows, Dick Morris said “The way to stop illegal immigration, which is part of the House bill, is a wall, a border fence. That’s the only thing you need to have, a fence.”
The general consensus is that currently there are 11 million people who have moved here without the permission of the US government. That’s about 1 out of every 27 people. You almost certainly cross paths with such people on a daily basis.
Over the years I have met many people this immigration reform bill wants to label as felons. And not one of them were smuggled across the border. They came by plane, entered the country legally on a student or tourist visa, then stayed past the end of the visa. I’d say that a good chunk of the 11 million came in a similar fashion. A fence across the desert will have little effect on the number of people entering the country illegally.
This is a thorny issue. On the one hand we see tons of exploitation of illegal immigrants in the labor market. Sure I like my fruits and vegetables cheap but not so that I want people being paid near slave wages so I can have a cheap peach. On the other hand, many people are escaping an even more explotive situation back home in their original country. And what of the people making the efforts to be legal. It’s not an easy process and we certainly want to encourage legality but if coming in illegally is the shorthand way to citizenship we’re simply asking everyone to do it that way and I don’t think we REALLY want that either?
Also with such large populations migrating in, there are huge pockets of culture that are absolutely outside the mainstream and easily exploited by the people who control their communication and understanding of mainstream America. This seems like a dangerous situation as well.
I certainly don’t want to make people felons who are hardworking and making this country a better place but the presence of illegal immigrants is not problem free either.
This is a thorny issue. On the one hand we see tons of exploitation of illegal immigrants in the labor market. Sure I like my fruits and vegetables cheap but not so that I want people being paid near slave wages so I can have a cheap peach. On the other hand, many people are escaping an even more exploitive situation back home in their original country. And what of the people making the efforts to be legal? It’s not an easy process and we certainly want to encourage legality but if coming in illegally is the shorthand way to citizenship we’re simply asking everyone to do it that way and I don’t think we REALLY want that.
Also with such large populations migrating in, there are huge pockets of culture that are absolutely outside the mainstream and easily exploited by the people who control their communication and understanding of mainstream America. This seems like a dangerous situation as well.
The notion of a fence is a ridiculous one and is an example of the sort of elevated thinking most of America gets in place for rational discussion (historically I think this has gone on for most of our illogical 200+ years) and does conjure a very specific and misleading picture of who many illegal immigrants are.
I certainly don’t want to make people felons who are hardworking and making this country a better place but the presence of so many illegal immigrants is not problem free either.
The hypocritical thing with all this is that our (U.S.) government leaders allowed the illegal immigration to occur. It’s been happening a long time now, and our government did little or nothing about it — for better or worse. Now with some 11 or 12 million Mexican immigrants (mostly illegal, I gather), it just doesn’t make sense to turn around and turn them into felons, or to threaten them with exportation. Our government’s negligence is the real issue, and our government has to accept the responsiblity for its own failures, and not scapegoat the immigrants.
While I have objections to illegal immigration, my sympathies lie with those Mexican immigrants who risked a lot to get into this country, presuming that the U.S. would continue to close its eyes to them and tacitly allow them entrance.
Of course, I’m speaking here about those who honestly wanted an opportunity to work and build up a life for themselves and their children. I’m not talking about anyone with either hostile intents against us, or with the intention merely to exploit our system and not support it with their taxes. I live in central NJ, and I work in a town with a sizeable Mexican population. The ones I’ve met are good people who want to work.
I think the proper answer right now is to provide an opportunity for these illegal immigrants to regularize their status. Meanwhile, the government should make it clear that the immigration laws will now begin to be enforced. My reason for this is that, if the government does not enforce the laws for future Mexican immigrants, precedents will be established for not-so-friendly foreigners, such as terrorists.