Thread: ALABAMA VOICES: Secure our borders first

By Richard Shelby

Few legislative subjects resonate with the American public like immigration reform. This issue has troubled Alabamians and I share their concern.

Earlier this month, as the American public looked on, the Senate spent hours debating what was dubbed "the Grand Bargain" of immigration reform. However, this legislation was far from being a bargain for the American people and for this reason I opposed it.

Now, with the promise of some new spending, and the consideration of a new round of amendments, the U.S. Senate is poised to return to the issue.

This bill, touted by some as a great compromise between legislators on both sides of the aisle and the administration, essentially grants amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrants who have broken our nation's laws to enter this county.

Although illegal immigrants would be required to pay a small fine, remain employed, pass English language tests, and eventually leave the county in order to apply for permanent legal status, under the proposed visa program these individuals would be allowed to remain legally in the United States for eight years.

Rather than forcing these illegal immigrants to leave the country and re-enter through a legal process, this bill paves a clear path to permanent legal status.

We cannot deny that our immigration problem needs to be addressed. But in order to do so responsibly, we need to learn from our past mistakes. Granting amnesty to millions who broke the law is not the answer.

Twenty-one years ago, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I was part of the debate on another mammoth immigration bill, one that granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal, undocumented aliens.

At the time, supporters of the Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty bill thought that by allowing those individuals already illegally residing in our country to be granted amnesty, we would limit the influx of new aliens.

Today there are an estimated 12 million illegal aliens residing in the United States. Unfortunately the rationale of Simpson-Mazzoli supporters was sorely wrong.

Therefore, it is critical that we attend to securing our borders first. The number of immigrants crossing our borders unchecked each year is proof that our current system is broken and must be fixed.

To patrol these porous areas, we should install hundreds of miles of additional fencing and install vehicle barriers. We must also increase the number of technologically patrolled areas and border agents to seize those attempting to cross illegally. A secure border leads to a secure country.

To that end, our law enforcement must have the resources necessary to implement our current laws. We must end the practice of "catch and release" that has hindered our enforcement efforts and ensure that our detention facilities are capable of handling the vast amount of illegal immigrants crossing the border each year.

This must also be coupled with a reliable worker identification system that holds employers who hire illegal immigrants accountable.

Our country is a nation of immigrants. But it is also a nation of laws.

While I do not fault a person for wanting to come to this great nation, it is imperative that they do so legally. As the immigration debate continues, I will strive to make certain that we maintain and enforce our laws. By doing so, we will ensure that the great American tradition of immigration continues.

Richard Shelby is Alabama's senior U.S. senator.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/app ... 12/OPINION

Today there are an estimated 12 million illegal aliens residing in the United States. Unfortunately the rationale of Simpson-Mazzoli supporters was sorely wrong.

Well, a great big AMEN to that!

Our country is a nation of immigrants

Let me add to that...Our country is a nation of LEGAL immigrants.

We still need more senators to write more articles like this and emphasize what a mistake we made in the past by granting amnesty then not enforcing immigration laws.