Today is the beginning of the week, and on every Tuesday hereafter I plan on bringing another political “hot” topic to the forefront. If there is something you would like to discuss, post it here or I believe we will be having a way for you to directly email me your suggestions. If there is enough of a discussion I will let it run for a couple of extra days so everyone can get their facts on the table.
Remember: this is not an arena for personal feelings; I want facts and logical arguments, unbiased (as much as anyone can make them at least) by feelings or opinions.
This week’s topic is: border security and what we should or should not do about it.
As many of you may or may not know the state of Arizona recently passed a law which would allow state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The law basically says that in the process of normal legal questioning by law enforcement they are allowed to inquire the status of anyone believed to be an immigrant. If, in the course of that questioning, it is discovered that the person in question is in fact not in United States legally the officer is allowed to take the subject into custody. At which point law enforcement would contact Immigration National Services.
The current controversy over this law is that some people are claiming that it is racist and will re-enforce stereotyping by law enforcement.
I for one think this is a positive step forward in Americas immigration laws. Laws like the one Arizona passed get state and local officials to help INS in its efforts to enforce our immigration laws. Up to now law enforcement could not arrest someone for entering the country illegally. That was the strict purview of the Federal Government. This led to the awareness that INS and border Patrol were massively under staffed.With laws like this the burden on INS and Border Patrol will be greatly reduced.
However, this law will not solve all of our problems. And in reality probably wont be able to affect as many illegal immigrants as we would like. What will help bolster laws like this is giving illegal immigrants that have been in this country for many years a chance at becoming full fledged citizens. What I mean by that is that we amend this law to include some of the following:
1. Amnesty for any illegal immigrant that can prove they have had consistent work in this country starting from 5 years prior to the law being passed.
2. All immigrants that wish to seek employment in the United States will be given a working visa for a period to be determined by legislation. With this visa they will be required to have a form of ID (Drivers License, Identification Card, etc.) which would have there immigration status on it.
3. With the above amendments implemented they will also be required to pay taxes as if they were citizens. Failure to submit there taxes at anytime will result in there visa being revoked and there deportation at the first possible moment.
4. Provided the preceding amendments have been met those with visas will be eligible for full citizenship by the end of there visas term.
I think that these amendments in conjunction with the Arizona law will show the US’s commitment to helping those less fortunate in the world find a home here. And that we take immigration seriously and will enforce such immigration laws. There are terrible places to live in this world to be sure. And America is without a doubt a beacon of hope and prosperity. But we can’t shoulder the burden of providing for the entire world. Ensuring that those who wish to live and work here are willing to follow the laws of our land like any other citizen helps to ensure that that hope and prosperity continues to thrive. And that those immigrants will spread our form of democracy and government to the betterment of the world.