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Senate Must Consider Immigration Reform
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By Scott Gray
Sep 2, 2005

The dilemma at America’s border has finally created a problem so vast that Washington must listen to the people. Several states, most notably New Mexico, declared its state a disaster area after the violence caused by illegal immigration. As President Bush spent his August in Crawford, the problems of the American border were literally close to home- the President’s home. Americans must look to their lawmakers in the Senate to consider immigration reform when the Senate re-convenes next week.

This debate should not focus on the denying of rights to non-citizens. It should instead focus upon the extension and defense of rights for citizens of the United States. America truly is a nation of immigrants and a nation of freedom, and those seeking to come to the United States certainly deserve our concern. However, in the foremost manner, America is a nation of laws. Laws outline our Constitution, our Articles of Confederation, and our United States Code. When those laws are broken the entirety of society is threatened.

America’s border with Mexico is a prime example of this problem. In recent weeks, violence and drug trafficking have skyrocketed. Mexican drug lords virtually seized entire cities near the border and have been able to exploit America’s openness for their personal gain. Although the wealthy members of the Senate may see this as an opportunity for free labor while somehow supporting “freedom,� I see this as a dilemma that must be solved through action, and not exactly a guest worker program.

Senators should develop a comprehensive plan to:

(a) control and remove the illegal population presently in the United States and:

(b) restrict and refine the immigration process to keep out potentially dangerous illegal immigrants.

Some people state that such a goal is no more than frivolous idealism, but this could easily become a reality if America places a precinct-by-precinct emphasis on controlling this problem. The federal government is constitutionally obligated to assist local governments in administration and protection.

Conservatives should demand such protection from any immigration bill. Jobs are threatened by the influx of illegal immigrants into this nation. Some people have launched the argument that illegals only take jobs undesired by Americans. However, this is the same argument in favor of the welfare state. This should not necessarily be about the jobs Americans want, but it should instead be about the jobs Americans should have. As more jobs become available to Americans, more Americans should be required to fill those jobs or risk losing federal and state assistance. As illegal immigrants enter this nation in droves, it simply offers yet another affirmative argument supporting the welfare state.

Illegal immigration also directly poses a threat to the security of the American people and the immigrants themselves. Thousands of immigrants trek to America in truck trailers lacking air condition. Others walk miles in the desert without water. Many immigrants will not survive this journey, creating a human rights crisis at our own feet. However, the dangers are even greater for American citizens. Terrorism can be grown in Central and South America, and al qaeda is working to make that happen. The threat of Osama bin Laden and his minions using the border as a launch site is a true threat, not an exaggerated one.

The United States Senate has the ability to put the violence and disorder to a stop in September. As a matter of fact, they have an obligation to do so. America’s elected representatives have sworn an oath to represent the American people, to defend our sacred Constitution and preserve our systems of law. Anything less is simply unacceptable, and a failure to pass tough immigration reform would fall into the “anything less� category.

America’s top elected officials were at a legislative standstill for much of the summer, but I hope the tempers will cool down and ease into a fall of reason. Americans should demand immigration reform from the 109th Congress. If not, we as a nation are simply asking for more terrorism, more taxes for social services, and less jobs for the American people. Before another state is forced to declare a disaster area, bi-partisan immigration reform must take place in the Senate.


Scott Gray is a sixteen-year-old conservative writer from Birmingham, Alabama.