Amnesty foes are not xenophobes

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA)
May 10, 2009 Sunday
OPINION: Mark G. Sechrest

Sally Rivera's Point of View, "Don't Treat Immigrants as Scapegoats," May 5, irritated me on a couple of points.

First, that she labeled all those who want our borders controlled and illegal immigration contained as xenophobes, white supremacists or the Minutemen. I am really sick of being called a racist because I want our government to enforce our laws. Please debate this issue without stooping to name calling; you harm your cause.

Second, I appreciate the history lesson on immigration, but this is illegal immigration. The word "illegal" was conveniently not used one time in her article. All the immigrants to which Ms. Rivera refers in her history lesson came to this country legally; it is the illegal immigration that is the concern of many people in this country, myself included.

Rivera may be shocked to learn that many of us (all the people I know) who are against illegal immigration don't blame, or scapegoat, the immigrants themselves; instead we blame our government. Our government has failed us on this issue, our government has caused this issue by making it easier for immigrants to enter America illegally than legally, and now our government is failing all of us, the illegal immigrants and American citizens alike, by not responsibly addressing this issue.

We don't have to change laws. We don't have to grant citizenship to 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants. We don't have to deport 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants. We just have to expand the green-card program and enforce existing laws.

I believe the main reason the comprehensive immigration reform bill died under George W. Bush's presidency was that it involved granting citizenship to those who entered this country illegally. It is an issue of fairness. You don't reward illegal behavior; you don't grant the right to vote to people whose loyalty lies with another country.

Realizing that many of the illegal immigrants in this country are hard working, honest, decent members of our community, and that many businesses rely on these workers is the key to the solution. Allowing those businesses to sponsor (for green cards) existing workers who are in this country illegally does many things: It brings these people out of the shadows and removes the fear of deportation; it makes them taxpayers; allows them to get driver's licenses and car insurance; buy health care instead of overburdening our emergency rooms; and it stops their exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

Then, however, we will need to secure our borders and enforce the laws against those employers who continue to hire illegal immigrants.

Sadly, I doubt that Rivera will agree. She, and the other proponents of amnesty, refuse to compromise. It is all or nothing. So although she calls for an inclusive solution, I doubt she will consider anything other than flat-out amnesty. I hope she proves me wrong.

Mark G. Sechrest is a resident of Upland.

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