Thread: Building fence won't fix immigration woes

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/148229

My opinion María Elena Salinas: Building fence won't fix immigration woes

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.26.2006
It came as no surprise. House Republicans had been warning for months that there was no way they would approve any immigration reform that even smelled like legalization for undocumented immigrants, or "illegals," as they like to call them. So when HR 6061 was approved, it was not much of a shock. But it was certainly a disappointment.

The House of Representatives had a golden opportunity to move toward a real solution to the immigration crisis. But they failed miserably in recognizing the importance of helping the millions of undocumented immigrants already living in our country get out of the shadows and addressing the issue of a much-needed immigrant labor force.
The solution would have been easy. Just take the bill already approved by the Senate and endorsed by President Bush and negotiate a compromise. You want border security? The Senate bill included border security. You want employer sanctions for hiring undocumented immigrants? It was in there. You want workers to come into the country in a legal and orderly manner? The guest-worker program in the Senate bill provided that.
But no — instead, the House approved the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which does nothing more than turn our southern border into a high-tech war zone, with 700 miles of fences, unmanned aerial vehicles, sensors, satellites, radar, cameras, checkpoints and vehicle barriers. What kind of immigration reform is that?

You can't help but wonder what our legislators are trying to do. Do they want to protect us from potential terrorists, or do they think there's an enemy army of low-skilled, poor, hungry Mexicans and Central Americans trying to destroy our way of life?

If walls were what it took to shield the country from those who might want to harm us, then we'd have to build a fence along the 2,000 or so miles of our border with Mexico, not just 700 miles. Then we'd have to build another wall on the northern border, and then dramatically increase security at all of our ports, airports and along our coasts.

We all want to feel secure in our country. It is commendable that our elected officials are concerned with making sure we are safe. But the House of Representatives' solution has more to do with politics than with fixing a broken immigration system.

The midterm elections are weeks away, and polls show that there is an increasing disenchantment with the Republican Party, which controls both houses of Congress.

The failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform falls mostly — but not fully — on House Republicans. HR 6061 passed, with 283 votes in favor and 138 against and with 64 Democrats voting for it and six Republicans voting against.

Rep. Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., supported the measure, calling it a good first step. "But security fencing alone doesn't secure the border," he admitted.
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami is one Republican who thinks it's a bad idea. "I think that a serious addressing of this immigration issue requires that it be comprehensive. We are not going to control the border unless we have a temporary-worker program and a path to legalization. I am not going to support piecemeal solutions when this is too serious of a problem."

The Secure Fence Act might give us a secure fence, but it is not going to prevent terrorists from coming into the country. Up to now, none has entered through our southern border. It will not stop needy undocumented immigrants from attempting to cross the border; they will find new and more dangerous routes. It will keep the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the country in legal limbo and will create a deficit of workers — as it already has — in industries that help keep our economy growing. Billions of dollars and months of debate later, and we still have a broken immigration system. Is that what we elect our leaders for?

Contact María Elena Salinas through her Web site, www.mariaesalinas.com

They have turned the word comprehensive into a cuss word. This is the worse word I have ever heard.

Originally Posted by sawdust

They have turned the word comprehensive into a cuss word. This is the worse word I have ever heard.

I agree, I hate that word too!
Building a fence may not fix it,but doing nothing won't fix it either.

Originally Posted by ConcernedCitizen

Originally Posted by sawdust

Building a fence may not fix it,but doing nothing won't fix it either.

building the fence will fix a lot - it will show the illegals the direction of the wind , so they can sail South .
It will stop the pendulum from going back and forth and we can follow one plan on the immigration issue - it will help to achieve stability and to respect the laws

Nothing without enforcement will work. Nobody in government want's to enforce anything. Word's without action are impotent.

Originally Posted by Maria Elena Salinas

...Do they want to protect us from potential terrorists, or do they think there's an enemy army of low-skilled, poor, hungry Mexicans and Central Americans trying to destroy our way of life?...

Now just how in the heck would this imbecile go about determining the difference? On the other hand, she may have a scientific break-through here.

Building fence won't fix immigration woes

No, no, no, no. You misunderstood. We don't want a fence, we want a wall and we want it now!

..the importance of helping the millions of undocumented immigrants already living in our country get out of the shadows and addressing the issue of a much-needed immigrant labor force.

Yea, its called deportation..something we haven't got around to yet. Quit talking like they belong here.