The Tragedy of Illegal Immigration
August 23, 2006 01:06 PM EST

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/17561.html


We have seen in the news this week the heartstring-tugging story of Elvira Arellano, an illegal alien who has evaded deportation by taking sanctuary in a church in Chicago. This "church" is a storefront Methodist church headed by a pastor with a long history of social activism in Chicago and someone at the forefront of the campaign for immigrant's "rights".


The media has taken up this story as part of their effort to personalize the tragedy of these people. I say tragedy not in the sense of their plight in having to go back to their native land but rather in the way they are being tragically used, not just by these social activists but by the employers who pay them slave wages and by the Mexican government which ignores its economic disaster that causes its citizens to flee north for jobs in the first place.


The tragedy doesn't end there. It continues, as the illegal worker is willing to work for below market wages, taking jobs away from Americans who would be paid more. If they are not taking the jobs away, they are depressing the wages Americans can earn because they have to lower their demands to compete.


Even more tragedy ensues with the strain on local governments and the schools. Benefits paid to or on behalf of illegal workers and their families are straining health care and other assistance budgets. Not only that, but the schools they attend are usually already overcrowded and poorly performing (a condition that would improve with competition and vouchers but that is another issue) and the needs of children who speak English poorly does not help these schools' performance.

Want more tragedy? Imagine you are one of the millions worldwide who complied with the law, filled out the forms, waited in line at the U.S. Embassy and have been waiting years to get into the U.S. to try for your share of the American Dream. How would you feel, watching millions stealing across a desert in the middle of the night, cutting into line ahead of you? Would you still respect the United States? Would you still respect the rule of law? It is a distinct tragedy that our career politicians have a tin ear when it comes to these people.


How do all of these tragic consequences come about? It all begins with corrupt career politicians in Mexico who nationalize industries and protect politically connected monopolies. This stifles economic growth there and causes the flight to work in the economically vibrant United States. Our willingness to not enforce our immigration laws only enables the Mexican government to continue the depressive conditions that cause this problem in the first place.


Our own career politicians are only too willing to cooperate in orchestrating this tragedy. They are trolling for votes by offering grand compromises that don't solve the problem but only encourage more illegal activity.


What we need are simple principled solutions such as enforcing the rule of law against employers who break employment laws. At the same time we need more border security to protect persons and property in our border states. Principles, not pandering, will give us a long-term solution to this crisis that benefits both countries.