Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Tu Hablas Ingles?

There is a border between the United States and Mexico...  This at best has been a porous border which has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to pour into the United States.  Let's not pretend this is a problem that only existed after a 15 year old Mexican boy was shot when he entered the United States... But now it is news that blood has been shed on the border.  Actually, this was the second shooting this year, and more than likely it will not be the last. The Federal Government (and law-makers) who are sworn to protect, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States have found it difficult to protect U.S. citizens from the plague of illegal immigrants. I distinctly remember sitting in a classroom over 30 years ago discussing illegal immigration as a part of our Weekly Reader magazine...

Now 30 years removed things appear to be coming to a head. Sure, we can all appreciate anyone who wants to come to the United States to better themselves. Immigrants have come to America seeking opportunity for nearly four centuries.  At some point in time, the U.S. government found it necessary to protect citizens by creating an immigration policy in which an individual can be naturalized and become a legal resident.

But let's face it... it has been quite convenient for illegal immigrants to come to America. Think of all the cheap labor that was utilized via the back-bone of illegal immigrants. And in it's most basic sense, maybe this charade was allowed to go on as long as it has because farmers and builders have needed a cheap work force that will do the work that no one else wants to do. However, laws are laws and just as easily, visas could have been passed out to these individuals as guest workers and the labor shortage could have been solved.

My guess is that large-scale farmers and to a lesser extent business owners saw the benefit of a no-border policy with Mexico. Heck, states are now counting their illegal immigrant population in the U.S. Census in hopes of gaining more control the the House of Representatives. Heck, even our Founding Fathers who owned slaves had even more brains than that. However, there is a high degree of self-interest at stake. And, when good people ignore evil, the bad guys will prevail. Write your representative about immigration reform today!

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