Immigration Reform

I am not an expert on this issue.  I do not know the technical aspects of this issue – the law, the international protocols, and the ramifications for the American budget deficit and all the rest.

So I will address what I do know something about. Long term goal setting, big picture issue management.  Those two will do for a start.

In solve any problem, first it has to be defined. In this case I think the problem is: 12 million immigrants presently in our country illegally. There are many probably who feel this is an oversimplified definition.  OK then; what are the components that bother you and make you want to expand the definition of the problem?

I am aware that the cause of large numbers in the illegal immigration issue are many.  A porous national border with Mexico is one of the primary causes. But there are other causes. All need to be categorized and then analyzed to determine what can be done to stanch the flow of illegal immigrants into our country. With that analysis comes possible solutions. But already this discussion becomes overly complex.

We need to simplify the discussion. Agreed: we have a lot of illegal immigrants in America; they come from all over the world, not just Mexico. Also agreed, we are for immigrants of all stripes joining our national population. That is, after all, what America is about. It is who we are, where we got our start, and how we grew. It is also the secret to our getting along with so many nationalities throughout the globe. We are supporters of diversity, justice and equal rights among all of our people.

The issue, then, is not immigrants, but a regulated flow of immigrants to our land. For what reason is the regulated flow important? I suppose so we can adequately absorb incoming numbers of people properly and maintain an orderly society. Might this be the case?  Oh, I know there are concerns over national security, the high price of caring for immigrants who come to our land with few assets or resources but many needs to be funded from the public purse.  I would caution believers in this latter statement to understand that many immigrants come to us with skills, hopes and dreams and motivation to build highly successful lives. They also enhance our skill sets and sensibilities as an overall population.

There may be some concern about the religious beliefs of some immigrants; after all there is an Islamic jihad aimed at America, right? Well, no, actually. There are terrorists all over the globe who do not like America or many other nations as well. They claim injury from those nations and declare a jihad. It’s almost like if you don’t have a jihad named for your country, you must be doing something wrong!

Let’s face it. Jihads and Islamic radicals represent a tiny portion of the Muslim world. The Islamic tradition is one of peace, justice and loving thy neighbor. So are the traditions of Judaism and Christianity. They all come from the God of Abraham and thus the similarities among the religions.  They are all great religions. Each has its culture as well. Each is right to their followers. They are not a nationality; they are a religion.

Besides, America was built on individual liberty and chief among the liberties was to exercise religious beliefs without discrimination or abridgment. Even if the immigrant didn’t have a religion or belief in God. There was no religious requirement then (in the 1600’s) or now. You are free to be an atheist whether practicing or not.

So religious issues are not a part of the immigration issue. And rightly so!  How American is that?!

OK, so public services to immigrants may be costly at first but eventually our new citizens will more than make their own way in our society. It is one of the motivating factors of their moving from their homeland to ours; they want a fresh start. And if they are successful, they will more than pay their share of public costs.

If that is true, then any early public cost for services in their coming to America is an investment in their productivity and happiness. 

Therefore, that is no longer an issue.  A gripe, maybe; but not an issue. Fussy misers will always complain about costs and act as though they are the only ones bearing the cost. How egotistical of them!

Well then, we still have the huge issue of 12 million illegal immigrants. If their illegal status is the problem because solving 12 million cases all at the same time creates an enormous bureaucratic nightmare, I suggest we simplify the problem by declaring them all legal. That would eliminate the largest problem we are facing, right?

Now then, no longer do we have 12 million illegal immigrants to worry over.

What we do have are porous borders through which any malcontent can cross and create mayhem, including terrorists.  That is a far larger problem to solve, but at least it is definable in smaller numbers and thus more manageable. The management requires professional people trained to do this. We do not need self appointed militias to man the borders with guns licensed by the NRA! Vigilantes are not welcome in this volatile situation. They are not trained agents of the federal or state governments. They are not the police with special training for this task. So they are unwelcome and illegal actors on this particular stage. They should be arrested as a public nuisance and endangerment to the public weal.

 No high walls or fences are needed to protect our borders. Civility and professional border agents are. Deploy them sensibly.

Oh. One more thing. I suggest a welcome mat be permanently installed at all borders contiguously.

Now, can we get back to what’s really important?  That would be eating high calorie foods without getting fat. That’s a start.

September 12, 2014