February 06, 2007

A Novel Approach to Illegal Immigration
—Michael Medved

Some of the more than 12 million illegals in the U.S. do serious damage to our society through crime, welfare cheating and refusal to embrace American values, while many others work hard, pay taxes and raise families. Any workable immigration reform must make clear distinctions between illegals who should be compelled to leave, and those who want to correct their shadowy status and continue benefiting the nation.

The best way to divide the undocumented is to force them to choose: if they pay a hefty fine for illegal entry, pay all back taxes, prove they've mastered English and steered clear of criminal activity, creating a path to legal residency and then a chance to assimilate and to become Americans.

Those who can't or won't seize that chance should find it impossible to get jobs--and face deportation. The right strategy for Congress on immigration is divide and conquer--conquer through assimilation and entering the law-abiding mainstream.