Immigration
The only thing that I want to say about immigration is that if you are going to protest pending legislative action that is not in favor of the illegal immigrant— Please leave your Mexican flag at home (maybe even in Mexico). It doesn’t help your cause.
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April 2nd, 2006 at 4:34 am
Indeed.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:06 am
I do not understand how any legislative action can legalize something that is current illegal and just wash away all the illegal acts. If I hold up a bank to get money to better my life, why should that illegal act also not be washed away since I am in fact breaking the law to better my life.
April 4th, 2006 at 11:57 am
The immigration issue has been heated by the debate in Congress over a bill to secure the borders [Summary] or [Full text]
It’s easy to dismiss the argument based on the fact that illegal immigration is in fact, illegal. But I think it deserves a deeper look at the issue behind it. Bank robbery should clearly always be illegal to maintain the rule of law, but do we have a right to close our borders to others that want to come make a contribution to the success of America? Are America’s borders too open right now? Or are they too closed? Should America make it tougher or easier to enter this country? It’s obvious that immigrants have helped this country, but there is evidence that even those who come here illegally support, rather than hinder, the success of this country.
Most economists, for example, view immigration to this country as being a positive for the growth and sustenance of our economy. Many immigrants fill jobs that Americans don’t want to do, for example.
Another thing to think about: What do you do with the current situation? You have millions of illegal immigrants living within America’s borders - many of them for several years now. So what do you do? Do you go door-to-door and ask to verify everyone’s SSN/Tax ID number? And once you know who is legal and illegal - do you just round up the 10 million+ illegals, put them onto buses and ship them back to the country they came from? How much would all of that cost us, and would it really benefit us in any way?
If none of those options are feasible, then what? Do you make the immigration policies more strict, further verifying the fact that these people are here illegally, yet still not making any real headway? Do you make the policy less strict, so you can keep better tabs on everyone, and collect tax revenue?
It’s a tough issue, and I haven’t read enough to formalize an opinion yet. I know that there are many immigrants who are here adding to the economy - and I reap some of the benefits from that. I also know that there are many who are here just mooching off of the economy - and I pay for at least part of that.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Just as Brad states, the issue of immigration has to do largely with securing the borders. I do not take issue with who is already here (for the reasons Brad has enumerated) as much as who can get in.
If terrorists or international drug dealers are in the country, we cannot easily find them all. We may reform policy and procedure to get better at thwarting their efforts; however we deffinitely need to concern ourselves with security of the border.
Border controll is not or should not be about keeping people out because they were not born here. It is about (as the name suggests) controlling the border. Making entry to this country conditional is not only acceptable, but desireable.
Therefore, let all people come who will make the country a better place; but let it be regulated and secured against harmful substances and scemes.