Thread: Illegal Immigration: Let's Put the Fault Where it Belongs

http://www.chieftain.com/editorial/1154241957/2

Illegal immigration: Let's put the fault where it belongs
By TOM CLASON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom Clason is a business consultant who lives in Pueblo.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two provocative articles in The Pueblo Chieftain on Sunday, July 16, strongly addressed the growing problem of illegal immigration. While both offered strong solutions, neither really offered a workable comprehensive solution, although each raised some very valid points.

Ruben Navarrette, a very talented columnist, came closest to offering a workable solution when he talked about "Éstiffer and more often enforced employer sanctions." But he could not help but take a jab at House Republicans for insisting on "enforcement first."

The truth is the border is too porous and should be protected adequately. Mr. Navarrette did not thoroughly address the root cause for the problem of illegal entry.

State Sen. Ken Kester of Las Animas also made a good point when he complained that "Éviolating this new law will be a misdemeanor." He felt the measure was not tough enough on businesses. He was right, but I certainly don’t think a constitutional amendment was necessary as he suggested. In my opinion, putting the immigration issue to a vote of the people would be divisive.

We hired our legislators to do their jobs, but it seems they were more interested in following partisan lines and that none of them wanted to lose votes by taking positions that might prove unpopular. Based on what they came up with, it seems they were trying to take a very safe political position.

What I find most repugnant about the immigration issue is that so many people focus primarily on the illegal aliens as the bad guys. The truth is that in most cases, these people are looking to better their own lives and the lives of their families. The millions of dollars they send to their relatives in Mexico is proof positive of their true intentions.

A good friend told me quite frankly that if he were in the position of either having his family live in poverty or sneaking across a border illegally, he would certainly become illegal. He would feel that it was his responsibility to do whatever he could do to improve his family’s welfare.

"If I knew that there was hope over there and none over here, I would definitely make the move," he said. Smart words, but there should be a third alternative.

The reality of Mexicans coming across the border to find a better life is understandable. It is what men and women throughout history have done when they felt there was no hope for them.

People have run away from oppression, hatred, danger, poverty and tyranny as long as those conditions existed. In every case, they have moved toward a place where they could find safety from their dilemma and hope for a better life. It is in the nature of men and women.

Nobody can deny that uncontrolled migration of Mexicans is expensive and that immigration needs to be controlled. But faulting the illegal immigrants is like condemning the innocent.

They are following a course of action that is both normal and logical. These people will not stop coming as long as they believe in their hearts that if they get here, they will be rewarded with a better life. Put into that position, I wouldn’t give up until I was successful and neither would most of you.

The fact is we have become so accustomed to our wonderful way of life and the benefits we enjoy that we really do not appreciate how well-off we are compared with people in other countries.

Now if we momentarily take the premise that Mexican citizens cannot be faulted for trying to come here, who do we fault? The first culprits that come to mind are the businesses that openly welcome immigrants by giving them jobs. It is understandable that businesses will do what they can to hold down costs. The less they pay their workers, the less they have to charge for their goods or services. The less they charge for goods or services, the more competitive they are in their respective markets.

But what businesses do in quest if a competitive edge is to create an unlevel playing field, often forcing their competitors to follow the same course of action or fail.

The message sent to poor people in Mexico is that they will be hired if they can somehow find their way across the border. Desperate people will take serious risks. During the Cold War, people living in East Germany took life-threatening risks to seek freedom. Failure often meant death, yet they continued to attempt to get to the West.

They took risks willingly, and while you may find the analogy a bit of a stretch, do you really think that increasing security along the border will do much more than just increase the risk of success for illegal immigrants? I don’t think so, but I do think border security should be increased because it is the right of all Americans and the responsibility of our government to have secure borders.

I feel Colorado legislators did our state a disservice by not making the companies that hire undocumented workers pay very stiff penalties - penalties that would threaten their very business lives should they continue to hire illegal workers.

On the other hand, the federal government should make it easier and more advantageous for people to come here legally.

We should strengthen the borders and penalize the businesses that insist on breaking the law.

Fining a company a few thousand dollars will not deter businesses from hiring undocumented workers. It has to be much more punitive. Kill the old message and send a new one: "Follow the law, work hard and you shall prosper."

The good employers will do what they need to do, and we will deal with the bad ones.

For those here illegally, I propose a workable avenue to become legal. It is not only humane, it is pragmatic. We must find reasonable alternatives for immigrants of good will and good intentions.

Our elected officials should not just look to win votes, but should do the right thing. There will never be a true solution to illegal immigration as long as political ideology is our lawmakers' primary motivation

The truth is that in most cases, these people are looking to better their own lives and the lives of their families.

Couldn't a bank robber make the same claim? The reason you commit a crime has no bearing on the legality of the crime itself.

Our elected officials should not just look to win votes, but should do the right thing. There will never be a true solution to illegal immigration as long as political ideology is our lawmakers' primary motivation

How about simply enforcing the law?

For those here illegally, I propose a workable avenue to become legal. It is not only humane, it is pragmatic. We must find reasonable alternatives for immigrants of good will and good intentions.

We have a workable avenue, but we can't make separate laws to distinguish from "good and bad" immigrants. The law is the law is the law. No special exceptions.

In my opinion, putting the immigration issue to a vote of the people would be divisive.

Huh?

"If I knew that there was hope over there and none over here, I would definitely make the move," he said. Smart words, but there should be a third alternative.

How about the alternative of demanding thier own government stop being so corrupt and forcing them to make things better for them in their own countries? Mexico, for one, has more than enough natural resources to support its people, it's just that the rich and goverment elite want their poor gone and all the money sent back into its economy, it's much eaiser than reforming and ending the greed of its ruling class.

Nobody can deny that uncontrolled migration of Mexicans is expensive and that immigration needs to be controlled. But faulting the illegal immigrants is like condemning the innocent.

But they can afford to pay thousands to smugglers? Doesn't sound like to me they can be that poverty stricken.

What I find most repugnant about the immigration issue is that so many people focus primarily on the illegal aliens as the bad guys. The truth is that in most cases, these people are looking to better their own lives and the lives of their families.

As WaveTek said - Couldn't a bank robber make the same claim? The reason you commit a crime has no bearing on the legality of the crime itself.

The millions of dollars they send to their relatives in Mexico is proof positive of their true intentions.

Indeed, their true intentions are glaring and for all to see. There is no loyalty to the country that they feel they have the right to pillage.

People have run away from oppression, hatred, danger, poverty and tyranny as long as those conditions existed. In every case, they have moved toward a place where they could find safety from their dilemma and hope for a better life. It is in the nature of men and women.

And yet, they bring the same ills with them to the new "place"? Those men and women he describes above did not expect the new "place" to take care of their every need. If they run from "poverty", why are there so many of the countrymen taking to the streets as we speak to change their government. Is the author of this article saying these are the cowards?

The message sent to poor people in Mexico is that they will be hired if they can somehow find their way across the border.

Is he saying that these people are naive and spineless? That they have to will of their own?

Desperate people will take serious risks. During the Cold War, people living in East Germany took life-threatening risks to seek freedom. Failure often meant death, yet they continued to attempt to get to the West.

Yes, I think the analogy is more than a "bit of a stretch" - I think it is a horrific one.

Our elected officials should not just look to win votes, but should do the right thing. There will never be a true solution to illegal immigration as long as political ideology is our lawmakers' primary motivation

I agree with this. However, the politicians are also charged with ENFORCING THE CURRENT LAW!!!!