February 4, 2014

For the past decade, both parties have been jockeying for a political path to address the problem of illegal immigration. The question of how America got into this mess is quite obvious, both parties have done nothing to control the border and kick out those who fail to leave the county once their visa expires. Each political party has its own reason why they support open borders. The Democrat party wants new voters and the Republican party wants cheap labor for big business. No matter the reason, the most significant outcome has been the devaluation of the rule of law and our sovernty as a nation.  

During the Bush Adinistration, the so called reform package was an extremely broad amnesty for numerous categories of those who are here illegally. From students to farm workers, almost all would have received amnesty. The misunderstanding seems to be with the definition of amnesty. The political class and those who support open borders believe that a fine, delayed citizenship and the promise of future enforcement is sufficient to overcome the most egregious outcome; allowing those who broke the law the benefit of remaining in the United States as a legal resident. Granting legal status is amnesty no matter the additional requirements. Why should the United States reward almost eleven million people who broke into our country when there are five million waiting to come in legally? This does nothing but to send a message to millions who want to come illegally.   

The current Republican plan is no different than the Senate plan as it allows all of those who are illegally in the United States to be granted provisional legal status. The Senate bill allows for a thirteen year path to citizenship and the Republican principles call for no specific path to citizenship. While the later calls for enforcement first, there is no quarantee that the law will be enforced. We need to look at history as a guide. The current administration continues to look for ways to violate our immigration laws by paroling those who came illegally to the United States as children and further limiting deportations to mostly those caught on the border. The Republican principles while short on specific details does not specifically rule out granting a path of citizenship.   

The simple way to fix our broken immigration laws is to consistently enforce the law. This can be accomplished of increasing the number of interior enforcement officers, identify those who are here illegally by utilizing currently Homeland Security assets, ensuring compliance of our employment laws by fully implementing E Verify, the Entry/Exit visa system, gaining functional control of the border and repealing all laws that grant benefits to those in an illegal status. If there is any compromise for those that came illegally such as those who came as children, it must be limited by age and there must be restrictions on reverse migration, petitioning for family members.   

Most Americans are reasonable and would support constructive changes to our immigration laws such as streamlining the process for legal immigration. The distinction is legal versus illegal. A country such as the United States which built the interstate highway in four years and sent a man to the moon can certainly resolve the crisis at our borders. The problem is not our ability but rather our resolve. It also has to do with understanding the truth. Giving legal status to all who are here illegally and enacting enforcement after the fact is still amnesty.