Thread: Danbury, CT - Immigration Unrest

Waiting
Border security, illegal immigration must be addressed by Congress

Aug 15 2007
http://www.newstimeslive.com/opinion/ed ... 1186568930

Danbury is now accustomed to gatherings, protests and marches regarding immigration. The latest was Sunday's "unity vigil" in support of illegal immigrants.

Organizers of Sunday's gathering included members of the region's clergy. The organizers see racism in calls for the deportation of illegal immigrants and say Americans should have compassion for their plight.

"Today, the illegal immigrant comes before us like Jesus ... asking for recognition and acceptance," the Rev. Michael MacInnis of St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford told those in attendance.

A few weeks ago, there was a similar gathering in Danbury, but that one was organized by local residents who want illegal immigrants deported. Their event was billed as a "prayer vigil" for Americans who have been victimized by crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

Like so much of the immigration debate, these local "vigils" reflect the opinions of the extremes on both sides. Either all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay or all should be deported, these activists insist. There never is room for a middle ground.

But most Americans are in that middle. They think immigration laws should be enforced, yet they have compassion for the plight of illegal immigrants -- especially for those exploited by employers and for the children of illegal immigrants.

Congress went on its August recess without adopting comprehensive immigration reform. It did not approve additional border security measures or address the status of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States.

As a result of federal inaction, state legislatures and even municipalities are stepping into the vacuum. According to a report by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 171 immigration-related bills became law in 41 states in the first six months of 2007. In all of 2006, state legislatures approved 84 laws regarding immigration. So the trend is clear.

Immigration is a federal responsibility and states and municipalities have limited legal authority to deal with these issues. Just because a law is adopted doesn't mean it can be enforced.

Last month, for example, a federal judge struck down the "Illegal Immigration Relief Act" adopted in Hazelton, Pa. It imposed fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and denied business permits to companies that employ illegal immigrants.

U.S. District Judge James Munley ruled the Hazelton legislation was pre-empted by federal law. He said "the nature of the political system in the United States prohibits the city from enacting ordinances that disrupt a carefully drawn federal statutory scheme."

The definitions of federal and state powers are "carefully drawn." Unfortunately, federal officials are not living up to the expectations of that "statutory scheme" by enforcing immigration laws and reforming the immigration system to improve how it works.

This nation should not have immigration laws that differ from state to state and city to city. It should have one policy, written into federal law and enforced by federal officials.

Congress has much work to do when it returns from vacation.

The federal government needs to do something. Anything.
Don't just sit there!!

I think it's time for 1 huge march by the American people. I mean all of us.

Like so much of the immigration debate, these local "vigils" reflect the opinions of the extremes on both sides. Either all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay or all should be deported, these activists insist. There never is room for a middle ground.

I wish these lazy editorial writers and reporters would do just a little research and stop trying to selectively paint this as an either/or situation, i.e., EITHER we grant amnesty to 12-20 million + illegal aliens OR we deport them all.

Since this problem didn't occur overnight, it doesn't have to be solved overnight. So the middle ground, IMO, is attrition through enforcement -- a well-known concept that many who are versed in immigration issues are aware of. Unfortunately this concept has never really been attempted or implemented to any degree, especially during the GWB regime.

Focus resources on arresting and deporting the most dangerous illegals, build the fence, and cut off the job magnet and non-emergency government benefits for the remainder. Seems reasonable to me.