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by Jeff Lukens |
May 1st, 2006
Good fences make good immigration policy too.
Polling results are clear. Upwards of 80% of Americans want the federal government to get tougher on illegal immigration. While politicians pander to cheap labor and cheap votes, we the taxpayers pick up the tab for increased health-care, education, and other social services. As for dollars and the social fabric of our nation, cheap labor may not be so cheap after all.
While almost everyone welcomes legal immigrants to America, we know we can assimilate only so many newcomers at one time. The solution to our illegal immigration problem begins with controlling the border, and controlling the border means building a fence.
The income gap between the U.S. and Mexico is the largest between any two neighboring countries in the world. The Mexican economy does not provide living wages for its growing population, and their solution is to export their poor to our country.
No previous group of immigrants has had such a large inflow or access to their home country that this latest group has today. That's because no previous wave of immigrants could walk across our borders.
Earlier groups crossed oceans to come here and were assimilated into the culture in a gradual and measured way. This latest wave quite literally has only to walk right in, and they are doing so in a big way.
Most illegals do not conduct themselves like immigrants of the past. Okay, they work hard, but they are here against our laws and generally have little interest in learning English or the ways of our culture. Illegals generally come here merely to find a job, not necessarily to become citizens. And now they are protesting our generosity and good will.
These attitudes are offensive, and are the reason why most Americans want the border controlled. This is not about racism. It is about a distortion of the process that appalls African, Asian and other ethnic groups who are legally waiting in line to come here.
Once in the U.S., sending illegals back has become nearly impossible. With legal restrictions and limited enforcement resources, even when we catch them they are often released back on U.S. soil as if nothing happened. If we don't address this problem properly, in 20 years we may have an exponential number, say 20 or 30 million more illegals, to deal with.
The president has provided no leadership in this whole mess. Moreover, Congress refuses to let the INS enforce existing laws for fear of offending illegals as prospective new voters, or the political contributors who employ them. Until they understand that this new group is not behaving like traditional immigrants, public anger over the situation will continue to grow.
We should not allow Mexico to export their poverty as a way to avoid economic and social reform. Ultimately, this problem will not go away until Mexico reforms its systemic government and societal corruption, and their people can live prosperously in their own country.
So far, all efforts to secure the border have failed. Our priority should be enforcing our laws and not rewarding those who break them. More patrols alone will not do the job. Who knows, whatever funding is provided this year may be cut next year, and we are right back where we started. We need something tangible.
Our elected officials talk tough but do nothing. In plain English, enforcement at the border means building the fence. They need to authorize it, fund it, and start building it. We can even contract Mexican labor to do the work.
No, a fence will not stop illegal aliens from coming. It will be controversial and expensive, but it will reduce their flow to a manageable level. Once it is in place and we restore order, our ability to handle guest worker programs and related issues grows immensely. We really cannot address any other issue related to immigration until our border security is first restored.
There is an old saying that good fences make for good neighbors. This truism has never been more applicable than with our Southern neighbor. Good fences make good immigration policy too.
We have a proud history of accepting the world's poor in a system designed to provide gradual assimilation of new citizens into our language and culture. We need to control our border and allow that process to happen properly.
jlukens@thenma.org
Visit their website at: http://www.jefflukens.com
Responses to "Good Immigration Policy Starts With Building A Fence"
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Build the fence! Make it 30 feet high, 30 feet deep, and make 3 rows. Allow space for border patrol vehicles driving in between.
Comment by Richard | May 1, 2006
The US should establish one continuous Military base 10 miles wide the entire length of our southern border. Such a base would incorporate a fence as most military bases now do. The base would be home to US Marine forces transferred from Camp Pendleton and Camp Leujune, as well as US Army units from various bases around the US. The former bases would be sold to provide funds for land purchase (when such land is privately owned) to complete the new military installation. This base would be an ideal site for desert warfare training,artillery ranges etc. Lanes at legal border crossing points would be provided through the base. Such a base with a fence and manned with armed troops would be a serious deterrant. I would also expect that the prospect of being arrested while trespassing on a US Military installation would be somewhat more effective than the current "catch and release" program!! Jim
Comment by Jim Tanner | May 1, 2006
Please sign this petition to enforce the laws on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
Comment by enforce immigration | May 1, 2006
What polling results? Your own? Politicians do not pander to cheap labor and cheap votes, They pander to citizens. Or at least that's what I thought. Taxpayers pick up the tab for increased health-care, education, and other social services? Heaven forbid that the child of a 4 dollar an hour labourer has to take his child to the hospital to drain "the system" because someone attacked him because he was a Mexican. Cheap labour indeed. The solution to our illegal immigration problem begins with controlling the border, and controlling the border means building a fence? Are you daft? If you paid these people a living wage the problem would dry up overnight! BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! To much profit to lose. The income gap between the U.S. and Mexico is the largest between any two neighboring countries in the world. The Mexican economy does not provide living wages for its growing population, and their solution is to export their poor to our country. Is that so? Canada is a huge border but you don't have 18 million of them running the border to get in. This latest wave quite literally has only to walk right in, and they are doing so in a big way.Why is this so? Why are they entering in such numbers? The answer is plain. Most illegals do not conduct themselves like immigrants of the past? What is this supposed to mean? "Okay, they work hard" Oh how kind of you to to admit to their most grevious sin! " but they are here against our laws and generally have little interest in learning English or the ways of our culture. " Very hard to learn english when you are waiting to deport them. Far far more of them can speak English than Americans can speak Spanish. Culture? For god's sake give me a break! The spanish culture will stand any day mano el mano! Illegals generally come here merely to find a job, not necessarily to become citizens. And now they are protesting our generosity and good will. No they are not sir! They merely wish to work hard and not be savaged. They seek to provide a better life for all surrounded by them or kin to them. Nothing more than what you would wish for your own children. These attitudes are offensive, and are the reason why most Americans want the border controlled. Speaking Spanish is offensive? Wanting a living wage is offensive? This is not about racism. Oh of course. Everyone else does not have to cross an ocean. But if they were speaking african and singing the national anthemn in Asian well………. " sending illegals back has become nearly impossible. With legal restrictions and limited enforcement resources, even when we catch them they are often released back on U.S. soil as if nothing happened. Sounds like you don't want to spend the money on them picking lettuce or on the border patrol. Ah, the problem of outsourcing and lowest bidder. Mexico is not exporting their poverty, America is importing Mexico's poverty If America is not exploting these people the problem would vanish overnight!!! " We can even contract Mexican labor to do the work. " This is so so full of irony that I refuse to rise to this level of stupidity. Once it is in place and we restore order, our ability to handle guest worker programs and related issues grows immensely. Hasn't this been tried before and not to great a result? We really cannot address any other issue related to immigration until our border security is first restored. The southern border you mean? There is an old saying that good fences make for good neighbors. Robert Frost would recoil at this distortion of his poem. We have a proud history of accepting the world's poor in a system designed to provide gradual assimilation of new citizens into our language and culture. It's been a while I think…………
Comment by Patrick DeBerg | May 1, 2006
The U.S. Government must "crack-down" on illegal immigration. It is a problem definately increasing in size. Illegal immigrants feed off of America. They do not pay taxes. What basically occurs is this: law-abiding, tax-paying Americans are forced to "support" these immigrants. They use numerous social services, without having to pay (through taxes that is) for them. This problem needs to stop. Border patrol is just a start. The pending legislation in Congress is taking it even farther. I am pleased that something is actually being done to combat this problem. Thank you.
Comment by John Doe | May 2, 2006
As the author said, build the fence first. If there are any laws passed that give a path to citizenship, we will see a huge surge in illegals moving across the border. It would be like ringing a dinner bell.
Put up the fence before ringing that dinner bell, please.
Comment by Ron S. | May 2, 2006
“Good Immigration Policy Starts With Building A Fence”
A fence is neither needed nor very many border patrol agents?
All that is needed is a little common sense with a simple course of action?
But that is not the issue here? It’s so simple that it will be scoff at because of its simplicity…
Comment by Rafa | May 6, 2006