Don't 'legalize' illegality

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
December 17, 2009

The United States has reasonable specific laws and specific numbers for proper and desirable immigration. But in atrocious and unreasonable dodging of rule by law, the United States has tolerated the illegal invasion of our country by an unknown number of law violators -- maybe as many as 20 million!

They have no right to be here and should not be allowed to remain here. Law enforcement agencies should seek them and expel them.

But totally unreasonably, there are recurring efforts by some to reward law violating border crossers by "legalizing" their illegal entry.

One current estimate is that about 8 million illegals are now employed inside the United States.

Millions of others are unemployed, some getting taxpayer-financed benefits. We wish them no ill.

But they do not have any legal right to be here.

With about 10 percent of legal American citizens unemployed, does it make sense to ignore our laws and have several million illegals taking jobs that legal Americans might hold?

It is totally wrong for some in Congress to propose, as they are currently doing, to "legalize" illegals if they are willing to register with the federal government, pay a $500 fine, learn English, pass a criminal background check -- and become citizens after a six-year period.

We have some sympathy for some foreigners who would love to come here and enjoy the benefits of America.

But we should not tolerate their illegal entry or pass any law to encourage them to violate our laws with the hope of eventual legal approval.

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