Monday, February 4, 2013

Immigration Reform with No Consequence

It looks as if Congress and the White House are light years apart on immigration reform. What a surprise! In an immigration (campaign style) speech Obama gave in Las Vegas he said he wanted to expedite the citizenship process for those 11 million illegal aliens already in the United States. Obama also said he did not want to link citizenship to any border security enhancements. Here is a statement from the White House: “Administration officials were quick to say the president objects to linking an earned pathway to citizenship to enforcement or border security triggers, a contingency concept included in the bipartisan “principles” outlined by pro-reform senators who have been dubbed the “immigration eight.” Immigration enforcement goals have already been met by the administration, the officials said, and any new triggers or thresholds set by law would create unnecessary obstacles to those seeking legal status.”

In previous posts I point out that Obama would never let Republicans move further Left than Democrats on immigration reform. It is a pipe dream for Republicans or conservatives to think that their approval on immigration reform would yield any significant gains in the Hispanic electorate. Obama’s rhetoric on the subject only reinforces what I previously stated; he will not let Republicans be more liberal on the issue of immigration reform.

The “immigration eight” are willing to provide illegal aliens a pathway to citizenship, but they do not feel as if the pathway should be expedited. After all, these individuals broke the law and it makes little sense they should receive preferential treatment over immigrants who are following the law. This administration and liberals love to reward irresponsible and unlawful behavior with bailouts, entitlements, and now citizenship. This needs to stop. A reasonable solution to the problem should place at least some set of consequences in the pathway for citizenship for illegal aliens.

In 1986 Congress passed the Immigration and Reform Act. What was the result? Eleven million more illegal aliens have come to the United States over the past 25 years. Why? Because the bill did not improve border security; it did not hold illegal aliens accountable (it was not against the law) to apply for jobs; and it provided amnesty to any illegal aliens who came to the U.S. prior to 1982. This law was an invitation for illegal aliens to come to the U.S. in droves (nearly a half million per year). And Obama wants to make the same mistake Reagan made in 1986.

If there are no consequences for coming to the U.S. illegally and we fail to secure our borders then what do we expect the outcome to be? Yes, it does not take a rocket scientist to realize that another 11 million illegals will be flocking over the border to get the same preferential treatment. This is an ideal situation for Democrats because this means they will never lose another national election since Hispanics break for liberals about 70% of the time. The problem is that encouraging illegal immigration and expedited amnesty pose many potential problems. This effort will stress our already fragile entitlement spending programs. It will stress our healthcare system which already faces a doctor shortage. It will lead to more criminal activity including property destruction and environmental degradation in border states. There is a reason our immigration system has limits on how many people can enter to the U.S. and become citizens each year. It is because our country can only handle so much expansion from a fiscal and practical standpoint.

It will be much cheaper in the long run for the U.S. to increase border security then to invite millions more of illegal immigrants. There is no excuse for us not to have top flight border security. With technological advances there is no reason drone technology cannot be used to enhance border security not only along the Southern border, but along the Northern border and along our coastlines.

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