Illegal Immigration

Everyone has an opinion regarding what to do with the millions of Illegal aliens in our midst.  In informing our opinions most of us have at least a passing understanding of the issues.  This note provides more information that may prove useful.

 

1.  Many have said that the Democrat party is a strong advocate for legalizing illegal aliens for the perceived benefits to their electoral future.  This first link suggests that may well be the case.  Consider these words:  "The immigration proposal pending in Congress would transform the nation’s political landscape for a generation or more — pumping as many as 11 million new Hispanic voters into the electorate a decade from now in ways that, if current trends hold, would produce an electoral bonanza for Democrats and cripple Republican prospects in many states they now win easily."  This possibility gives one reason to question the real motives of the Democrats.  Is it altruism or politics?  I wonder.  http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/immigration-reform-could-upend-electoral-college-90478.html

 

2.  The decision as to whether to grant amnesty to illegal aliens is in some cases most difficult.  Specifically those who were brought into the country at a young age.  However, we claim to be a country of laws and there are laws long on the books that establish the fact that an illegal alien is illegal regardless of the circumstances of his/her illegal status. Those brought here as children are an especially difficult circumstance.  The dilemma we face is whether we are or are not compelled to enforce our nation's illegal immigration laws even if the illegal was a child when crossing the border.  Tough I know.  Then again bending or ignoring the law or making law excepting violators in certain circumstances makes for no law at all.  This link addresses this dilemma.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/22/995-of-illegal-immigrants-get-approval-for-legal-s/?page=all#pagebreak

 

3.  Setting aside the emotional turmoil some may feel, if the immigration law proposed by the Gang of Eight is enacted, there are known consequences for those of us who are taxpaying citizens.  Consider just this brief point, illegal aliens granted provisional status will “have to be able to support themselves, so they’ll never become a public charge.” That sounds really good and the Senate bill does in fact say that, citing the never-enforced section 212(a)(4). However, as the author of the below link informs us, "the bill also waives that requirement for anyone who is unemployed, in job training, getting a high school or GED diploma, taking care of a child, younger than 21 or older than 60, or attending college (pp. 99-102). That covers everyone. To stay in this country as a provisional and qualify for a green card in ten years, you need to be working except if you’re not (Sec. 245C(b)."  Additionally, once illegals become provisional, they’ll qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges, a subsidy funded by taxpayers (Sec. 2245D(d)).  In addition, insuring these provisionals will increase taxpayer's burden by an estimated $100 billion just for Obamacare, not to mention those who qualify for food stamps, subsidized housing and similar programs.  So, it is safe to say that projections are that already stressed American taxpayers will be required to pay even more of their hard earned money to support upwards of 11 million special status illegal aliens while trying to take care of their own family needs.  http://spectator.org/archives/2013/04/24/read-the-fine-print-senator

 

4.  This link serves as a wrap-up of the issue.  http://spectator.org/archives/2013/04/24/immigration-gambles

 

We need to give this whole matter serious consideration and let our respective elected officials know our positions. But, our opinions need to be based on reason, not emotions.  It seems to me that those involved in drafting immigration legislation are working from one of two orientations.  Either they have determined that it politically good for them and their political party or they are allowing emotional feelings over-ride the interests of American citizens.  Neither is the basis for writing public law.  

 

 George Burns