Illegal Immigration

Illegal Immigration is not a seatbelt violation. It often comes with social security and license fraud, crimes ordinarily considered identity theft and heavily punished. A reasonable policy discussion can be had over how to enhance or fix our legal immigration system, but in no way can our nation support violating the rule of law. Legal immigrants go through a long, complicated process to earn their citizenship, and to even speak of amnesty or a “path to citizenship” is to insult them and denigrate not only their efforts, but the very basis of the American compact – many cultures, one Constitution. A nation governed by laws, not men.

There is a false choice in the belief that because our immigration system is overwhelmed we much therefore abolish its enforcement. There is no immediate way to address the immigration issue. Immigration is about both enforcement and humanitarian issues. To address the 12-15 million illegal aliens already in the country, we must put up a policy wall and end the entitlement magnet, thereby creating a border both physically and philosophically. No employment for illegal aliens. No welfare benefits for illegal aliens. Remove these magnets and many illegal aliens will deport themselves.

More difficult is the humanitarian issue, which would require the cooperation of the Mexican and other governments. Mexico as it currently exists is incredibly corrupt. Drug cartels are fueled by America’s lax entitlement structure (i.e. welfare benefits for illegals) and our drug habit – these cartels then use the money from the drug trade to corrupt officials and police, resulting in tens of thousands of Mexicans killed per year. For the protection of our border states, lands agreed upon by both governments could be used to provide a temporary sanctuary for the housing and well-being of illegal aliens, rather than simply forcing them back into a life that they fled from, a life lost in-between nations that often strips them of any chance for life and / or dignity. This process is designed to provide them a definitive and permanent status. If they are violent offenders, they should be sent back to their home country’s prison system.

There is already a “path to citizenship” – ask anyone who came through Ellis Island. Our laws are already on the books – the problem is a reluctance to enforce them. The Obama Administration attacks Arizona by implying its policy is racist – yet 1/3rd of AZ residents are Hispanic. To believe the AZ State Police or any comparable police force will pull over 1/3rd of their citizenry for no compelling enforcement reason is absurd.

Democrats and many Republicans, including my primary opponents, discuss immigration violations as if they are trivial. They are not. To allow foreign nationals that do not speak English, that do not understand the American notion of a Nation of Laws, and that have no chance for advancement beyond menial labor is to allow a second-class citizenry. That is both wrong-headed and wrong, and worse are the “Sanctuary Cities” that endorse cradling this inherently limited underclass. American citizenship is valuable, we should treat it as such.