Posted by
Josue on Saturday, July 08, 2006 4:43:30 PM
Tuesday, February 7 -- The problem of illegal immigration is a difficult problem for local
communities, but it must be addressed! Marc Fisher's Washington Post
column calls it "
The Wrong Approach to Illegal Immigration,"
but reading through what he writes, I don't see a problem. Local
authorities must be empowered to maintain order, and uphold the laws of
the law. This is not about race, or discrimination, but about being
within the boundaries of the law. To many "feel-good" socialist and
leftist policies are at the root of the problem. If our laws had been
enforced from the beginning, we would now see much less incentive for
illegals to enter our country.
The House of Delegates
has passed a bill to give state police the authority to enforce
immigration laws; if the Senate and governor approve the plan, Virginia
would become the third state to let police become immigration cops when
they, for example, make a traffic stop.
I agree that it's
the children that will suffer the most, but that is why we are a nation
of liberty; individuals are held responsible for their actions. That is
the exact message that would-be illegal immigrants need to get: if you
enter our country illegally, your children will not necessarily have it
better off.
Having said that, it is also time something was done
about our current immigration laws and quotas. I'm no expert, but from
what little I know, it seems to me that there is more work than
available labor. Anyone in this country that wants a job, will and can
eventually get one. Sure, it may take some time, months even. But there
is plenty of work. We need to allow a safe, secure and orderly process
through which we can welcome immigrants willing to work, contribute and
integrate into our society.
Del. Jeff Frederick
(R-Prince William), whose mother is an immigrant from Colombia,
supported the ban as a disincentives to illegal immigration. "Look, my
mother obeyed the laws and worked her butt off to come here," he said.
"Like millions of other people, she waited her turn and played by the
rules.
"People are fed up with illegal immigration, and they're
demanding we do something about it. It's the overcrowded houses, the
job market with the day laborers bringing down wages, the health system
with hundreds of millions being spent in Virginia hospitals on illegal
aliens, and all those ESL [English as a Second Language] classes taking
away resources from other kids."
It just has to be done--no
offense to the many honest, good men and women who have made the
mistake, and committed a crime, in coming into this country illegally.