The opinion of a moderate on the NATIONAL Issue of Illegal Immigration

From the history of the attempts to regulate and control immigration it should be truly apparent that the knowledge of the effects of uncontrolled immigration has been known for years.  It has been evident that uncontrolled immigration could not be supported by the economy of this country and would, if left unchecked, create a burden on the infrastructure of this country that would lead to the unnecessary oppressive taxation of the citizens and voters of this country.

            No one should dispute that today’s massive illegal immigration problems stems in large part from the ability of illegal immigrants to cross into this country from Mexico virtually unopposed.  It would also seem apparent to this author that it should be just as apparent that the U.S. is looked upon as being a source for solving the social and economic problems of our neighbors to the south.  This expectation for the U.S. to solve their social ills is evidenced by the Mexican government’s unwillingness to make even the smallest reduction in this human tide.  If a person takes a hard look at the situation that has been created by the non-addressing of the illegal immigration problem coupled with the favored status that has been granted to our southern neighbor one can immediately distinguish some relevant facts.  Every person that crosses the border into the U.S. is one less person that is a burden upon the Mexican government for which they do not have to find employment or provide services such as medical treatment and when accompanied by their children educational services.  Once that individual arrives in this country and finds employment, they send a major portion of the monies made here back to their home countries providing a stimulation of the economies of those countries.  These expatriated funds amounts to billions of dollars annually (approximately 2% of this countries deficit) leaving this country, and by doing so, causing a corresponding negative impact on our economy.  In addition to the indirect effects, there is also a direct impact evidenced by wages being paid to a worker here, that in turn is not spent here, which then does not go into our economic system denying the American citizen the support of the economy or the added to the expansion of employment that would be derived from those dollars.  With so many dollars in play is it any wonder that there has been delegations of Mexican nationals that have come to this country for the sole purpose of trying to influence legislation (in violation of international law)?  The Federal Government has compounded the problem by falsely believing that by providing favored status and economic assistance it would help alleviate the problem.  Instead, the reverse has proven to be the case.  With all of the favoritism there is less of an incentive to stem the flow and it would actually make better economic sense from their point of view to use little or no effort and allow the flow to increase.

            Whenever the issue of illegal immigration comes up we hear so much talk about the benefits that the illegal immigrants provide, however, I find that the real truth lies in a totally different direction.  The standard cliché is that these illegal immigrants take on jobs and tasks that American workers won’t do.  I find that what is really happening is that the illegal immigrant situation is causing a substandard wage to be paid for many of these jobs.  If the illegal immigrants weren’t available, then the employers would be forced, by the lack of labor availability, to pay a higher and often times a more livable wage.  If many of these jobs paid wages upon which the average American citizen could rely to support himself and his family, then the jobs would be filled by American citizens.  We have often heard that these people help stimulate the economy, not true, as in the prior paragraph I point out that a large part of their wages are sent out of the country which doesn’t in any way help stimulate the U.S. economy at all.  Furthermore, a high percentage of these illegal immigrants are paid cash wages and do not help contribute to the system on which they place demand for services and those that aren't "cash workers" have very little, if any, taxes withheld from their wages.  That creates a situation where they are not paying into the taxation system that is providing them with the social and educational benefits that a vast majority of illegal immigrants participate in while in this country.  It has truly fallen onto the shoulders of the working citizens of this country to unfairly shoulder the cost burden of these illegal immigrants.

Do I believe that there are solutions that can be implemented to correct some of these situations, I most certainly do.  There are no easy solutions nor are there solutions that are going to be agreeable to most Hispanic and Latino special interest groups.  However, the last time I looked at the Constitution, this country was created and was to be maintained for the benefits of the citizens of this country, all of the citizens as a whole and not just for a certain or select few and not for the benefit of the citizens of some other country.  As much as we as American citizens would like to extend the opportunities available in this country to as many people as possible, there is, however, an economic driven limit to the amount of people that can and should be allowed to enter this country each year.   First, and foremost the borders of this country must be secured as much as is reasonably possible and not just for immigration purposes but for security purposes as well (an issue in and of itself).  If that means building a 3000-mile long 10-foot high fence or employing and using Federal troops along the border, so be it.  Not only do the borders have to be secured but the Border Patrol must be allowed to accomplish the mission for which it was created.  They must be allowed to pursue, apprehend and deport those who are here illegally.  The constant enactment of legislation and granting of privileges that work only to increase the incentive to cross the border must stop.  Humanitarian levels of services must and should be maintained but to expand into areas that only result in tempting more to try to enter into this country is not only unjust, it is immoral because of the numbers that perish in their attempts to get here.

There will be many who will label me as a bigot, a racist, an anti-Hispanic/Latino, and a just plain awful person but they couldn’t be more further from the truth.  I am none of those things and if it was possible to have unlimited immigration to this country without causing the pain and distress to its current citizens I would lead the movement to allow it to happen.  Only in some academic haven and the Congress of the United States populated by individuals who have no sense of reality will you find those that would ignore the detrimental effects of this illegal immigration and propose anything short of the only obvious solutions.  Yes, these are unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, and alien philosophies but the American people should be told the truth and not falsehoods and lies.  It is my hope that someone somewhere will read this opinion, ponder on its content and then pass this article on to another for only through allowing each individual to judge the truth for himself will we able to become once again that great nation that we once were.