Securing Borders and Reforming Immigration

Samuel Clemens once said words to the effect that “everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” The same could be said of illegal immigration and immigration reform in the United States right now. Everyone realizes that there is a major problem, but seems unable to do anything but talk about it. “How can this be,” you ask? “Is there no congress to correct the laws?” “And the Border Patrol? Is it still in operation?” The answer to both is yes, but congress is afraid to move on the issue, and the Border Patrol is understaffed, underfunded, overworked, and patrolling an indefensible border.

Why is congress afraid? Simply because illegal aliens vote, illegally of course, but they do vote, and in some places may even be a majority of the electorate. In particular, the Democrat party caters to the illegal immigrants, particularly illegals from Mexico and Central America. Activists aligned with the Democrat party subvert and openly violate United States laws on a routine basis to aid and shelter illegal immigrants. Politicians from areas with large ‘Hispanic’ populations face tremendous opposition if they support sealing the border. As far as immigration reform goes, if they advocate anything less than full amnesty for the illegals they face the same implacable opposition. It is no mystery, then, why members of congress elected from such areas are usually Democrats who are dedicated to staying on the good side of their illegal constituencies, regardless of harm to the nation as a whole.

“Horatius,” you ask, “What can we do?” First, elect more Conservatives and practically minded libertarians to all offices of government; until then nothing useful will be done. Then, demand that the borders, particularly our southern border, be secured, from sea to shining sea, across prairie, desert, mountain, and swamp. And not with a pathetic metal mesh fence, but with a real high security buffer zone, complete with multiple fences, a wall of no less than 50 feet in height, raked sand zones, electronic sensors and a dedicated, 24 hour-a-day guard force. “My God,” you say, “That will be expensive.” True, but think about this: How valuable is it to you to live in a stable, prosperous, secure nation?

“But, Horatius, what of the illegal immigrants already here?” First of all, I do not like the term ‘illegal immigrants.’ The word immigrant lends an air of respectability to what they have done. They did not immigrate to our country legally, so they are not immigrants, but trespassers, international trespassers. However, we must keep in mind that most of these international trespassers have come here to enjoy the fruits of American greatness: good jobs with good pay, good roads, water that is safe to drink right out of the tap, and the like. Most of them are, with the exception of their trespassing, law abiding people.

It is a thorny problem we face. Here are the things I would do, in this order, if I had my way:

1. Secure the border.
2. Issue ‘smart’ national identity cards for all citizens and legally residing aliens and make presentation of them mandatory for all employment and any kind of service at any federal, state, or local government office or bank.
3. Amend the Constitution of the United States so that the children of international trespassers do not become U.S. citizens simply because they are born on U.S. soil, but retain the nationality of the trespassing parent(s).
4. Make international trespassing in the United States a felony, with immediate deportation the punishment.
5. Offer all international trespassers who are employed, not on government assistance, and who have no criminal record a chance to get a ‘green card,’ but never citizenship, IF they pay all back taxes (if any), refund all money ever obtained under welfare or any other U.S. Government or State program (if any), and then pay a fine equivalent to 5% of everything they have earned in the United States prior to accepting this opportunity. Upon accepting this offer they would be issued a special visa, not a ‘green card,’ allowing them to live and work in the U.S.A. on probationary status until they had met all the above requirements for obtaining a full green card. One misdemeanor conviction during this probationary period would result in immediate deportation without appeal. The minor children of such probationers would be eligible to apply for naturalized citizenship only upon the successful completion of their parents’ probation, and the most the former international trespassers themselves would ever get is a standard ‘green card;’ they could never become citizens.
6. Immediately deport all international trespassers who do not agree to the above conditions, are unemployed, on public assistance, or who have any criminal records whatsoever.

There you have my thoughts on the subject. What are yours?