Thread: EDITORIAL: Policy failure on immigration

EDITORIAL: Policy failure on immigration

So far, government's answer to immigration: Ignore it.

ONE SIGN CARRIED by an individual at the Beloit rally read, “No human being is illegal.”

Actually, that is not true. When a person chooses to skip the legal immigration process and sneak across the border, that person is indeed illegally inside the country. Signs and slogans won't change that.

The argument is not whether such people are here illegally. The argument is over what to do about the situation.

ON TUESDAY, in Beloit and across America, tens of thousands of mostly Spanish-speaking people demonstrated to draw attention to their pleas for immigration reform.

The demonstration here was orderly and those assembled were polite and respectful in tone and deed. The message, delivered in both Spanish and English, expressed affection for America and the desire for a path to legal status. But the speakers also objected to some of the plans put forth, calling for temporary work permits, payment of fees and fines, return to the country of origin, and the passage of several years before obtaining permanent status.

The underlying theme was clear: We're here, so just make us legal and let us stay.

THE TWO OPPOSITES in the immigration debate are, (1) deport them all, and (2) grant amnesty and legal status. Neither position is politically viable.

There are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, mostly from Mexico. Technically, they are illegal. In practice, they are ignored. The authorities are not actively trying to track down illegals or round them up for deportation. There are simply too many of them. That's not going to change, and the angry elements against immigrants may as well accept reality.

Besides, somebody wants them here, and that somebody is the U.S. business community. Those 12 million people are finding money somewhere, often by working jobs others won't do. So long as a financial incentive exists, people seeking a better life will be drawn to it.

At the same time, both fairness and justice argue against a position that might be summarized as, “Oh, well, they made it over the border, so give them a hug and their citizenship papers.”

Laws are laws. Winking at law-breaking has consequences, usually bad. And it's a terrible disservice to those who follow the rules and wait their turn to enter the country legally. It's just not right to ask others to wait while America rewards those who scurried over the border illegally.

TO ITS DISCREDIT, the government's policy has been to talk a lot and do absolutely nothing. A cynic might conclude Democrats - now in control of the legislative process - don't want to act because they look at these people and see generations of future voters, while Republicans didn't act when they were in charge because they see cheap labor.

Meanwhile, the numbers grow and the mess gets worse.

We still believe the first step toward solving the problem is to lock down and secure the border. If that takes a fence, so be it. If it takes more manpower, get to hiring. If it takes the National Guard, do it. Think of a bathtub; it won't drain until the faucet is turned off.

If a secure border can be achieved, the political leadership should move toward a policy that leads to legal status. People here illegally should have to come forward, acknowledge the offense of sneaking into the country, and pay some token penalty. Those who want to become citizens - which means leaving behind the old country and learning and embracing U.S. customs and language with no divided loyalties - should have that opportunity. Those who just want to work should find a path to temporary work permits, with eventual return to their nation of origin.

And those with criminal records should be kicked out of the United States. We have enough crooks of our own, thank you.

THE POLITICAL FAILURE to deal with this situation is as dangerous as it is embarrassing. If millions can make it over the border, so can a handful of terrorists. Don't even try explaining the dereliction of duty if, heaven forbid, another 9-11 is perpetrated by terrorists who scampered across our porous border.

America needs leadership on this issue, and the politicians are not providing it. The failure of both parties is complete.

Obviously, this is not just an issue in Los Angeles or New York or Chicago. It's an issue in Beloit, Rock County and all the surrounding communities.

City Hall can't solve this. Washington must act. To our Illinois and Wisconsin federal representatives, a fair question: What are you waiting for?

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles ... edit01.txt

THE POLITICAL FAILURE to deal with this situation is as dangerous as it is embarrassing. If millions can make it over the border, so can a handful of terrorists. Don't even try explaining the dereliction of duty if, heaven forbid, another 9-11 is perpetrated by terrorists who scampered across our porous border.

Wait until a few terrorists, utilizing a homemade nuclear device they have smuggled across our border, blow a few hundred thousand of us all to hell. Then watch all the politicians scurry under the rocks and hide.

Originally Posted by pjr40

THE POLITICAL FAILURE to deal with this situation is as dangerous as it is embarrassing. If millions can make it over the border, so can a handful of terrorists. Don't even try explaining the dereliction of duty if, heaven forbid, another 9-11 is perpetrated by terrorists who scampered across our porous border.

Wait until a few terrorists, utilizing a homemade nuclear device they have smuggled across our border, blow a few hundred thousand of us all to hell. Then watch all the politicians scurry under the rocks and hide.

This is what baffles me. We know that 7 of the 9 terrorists who hijacked the planes on 9/11 were illegals, and yet we've still done nothing about our borders. Why should we have to wait for another incident to happen? IT ALREADY DID!