Illegal Immigration
Unpeeling the layers

The US is giving itself a black eye with its immigration policy over illegal aliens and immigrants.  What kind of world are we creating? Indecision in Congress has led to vigilante efforts to enforce the law. 

The border between the US and Mexico is now partially guarded by volunteers because of the failure of the US government to enforce the law.

In Texas, the city of Irving has begun enforcing immigration through cooperative efforts between the local police and immigration agents. Any illegal who is encountered for any reason is deported. This is breaking up families, most of whom are here legally. 

Oklahoma passed a strict law that has long-term illegal residents running in fear. Again, this is tearing up families. 

Few issues have been as divisive to the government and the US public as illegal immigration, particularly regarding the weak border with Mexico and nations south. The Department of Homeland Security  fuels the issue with frequent reminders that terrorists can infiltrate through this area (as if they couldn't arrive by boat at our thousands of miles of unprotected shore). 

President Bush, to his credit, tried very hard to work out a solution. But there is a false dichotomy being forced on the issue by those who don't want any immigration. The dichotomy is that any action that doesn't punish illegal immigrants is not the correct action. 

Here is the problem. The immigration law, as applied to our southern border, is a scoff law. It has not been enforced. Part of the reason is the harsh underfunding that goes on in government in pursuit of the holy grail of who can cut taxes the most... not because it is an effective policy but because it is a doctrine. (See Right Sizing Government.)

Scoff laws invite people to break them, and they are often thrown out by the courts because they are not enforceable. This is the position that the government has placed us in, and the failure of Congress to reconcile on immigration issues and create enforceable policies and laws has led to a vigilante atmosphere with characteristic mob rule: unthinking, uncaring, polarizing, and leading to radical action. 

When did we stop being a nation of respect and compassion?

By allowing people to enter illegally, we invite the abuse of these people by those who bring them here, by those who use them but don't pay them, and by the failure of the US system to address their needs while they are here.

Close the gate today. That's fine. But the US needs to realize that we helped create the problem, and we need a compassionate approach to repairing it.

The amnesty approach is simply another way to encourage people to come here. Those who oppose it are correct in assuming that it will not end the problem. 

On the other hand, the immediate deportation approach is inhumane and irresponsible, and permanently separates families by branding the exported person as ineligible for reentry. It also damages existing businesses by removing their work force, and probably driving their profitability into negative numbers (they aren't likely to survive).  Prices for many agricultural products and some services are likely to rise, so the economy will have to deal with that in a very competitive international atmosphere - this is likely to be an economic setback because in many countries labor is very cheap and we import those products - wishful thinking won't change this - it is what it is.

There is another way. Give visas to those who are already here. This would bring legality and accountability into the system without brutal overreactions. Those who are here would become tax payers. Companies employing illegals would survive plus contribute to the economy. The number of aliens in the country would be known and the border would be better controlled. This is an intermediate step that would help get the problem under control.

After this, get the border under control and devise effective ways of addressing the real needs for labor, the economy, and immigration. Solve the problem.

Finding effective and compassionate solutions to problems should be the hallmark of the US, not vigilante justice.

- Scott

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