As with so many other issues facing this country, it seems that everybody talks about immigration, but nobody knows what to do about it.
Members of Congress all point their fingers at someone else for the millions of illegal immigrants that have flowed into this country. Democrats and Republicans blame each other, and each political party is salivating over the prospect of getting millions of more votes-which translates into more seats and more power in Congress for the winning party-if millions of illegals are granted a form of amnesty.
Before anything can be done, the public must understand that only Congress can create the laws that determine who is entitled to become a U.S. citizen.
Anyone who is in this country without the proper papers is considered here illegally, even though the term “illegal” is something many politically correct lawmakers no longer want to use.
There are some who want a blanket amnesty for the approximate 11 million illegal immigrants in the country now. If that happens, they may entice friends and family who are also here illegally to stay and bring even more into the U.S. illegally. Could we possibly sustain another big influx?
Amnesty-defined as “a pardon for past criminal offenses for a class or group or individuals who are subject to trial but have not yet been convicted”-is tossed around very lightly and seen as a panacea to the nation’s immigration problem. Since 1986, seven amnesties for illegal immigrants have been passed by the federal government, starting with the blanket amnesty for 2.7 million illegal aliens.
In 1994, there was a temporary rolling amnesty for 578,000 illegal aliens, which was extended three years later. Another one million illegal aliens from Central America were granted amnesty in 1997, followed the next year by 125,000 illegal aliens from Haiti.
An estimated 400,000 illegal aliens who were qualified but did not receive amnesty in 1986 were finally granted it 14 years later in 2000. That same year, a reinstatement of rolling amnesty forgave an estimated 900,000 illegal aliens.
It’s obvious that the U.S. has been generous in granting amnesty to illegal aliens over the years, but it seems that no matter how much leeway is given, more is asked.
Anti-amnesty proponents point out the adverse impact of consistent amnesty is hard on basic services such as education, health, social services, child care and housing-as well as native-born minorities and the American youth.
Some may fantasize about rounding up 11 million illegal immigrants and shipping them out. Good luck with that. The logistics of such an operation-in terms of time and resources spent-would make such a grandiose effort completely futile.
If amnesty is to be used in any kind of comprehensive immigration reform, it must be accompanied by meaningful measures aimed at keeping criminal elements out, streamlining the often-complex citizenship process and cracking down on those who would exploit illegal aliens.
The majority of Americans welcome immigrants, but they want immigrants to come in legally, just as countless ancestors did more than a century ago.
