Posted on 05/08/2007 2:12:32 PM PDT by stan_sipple
Every day, the fence at the U.S.-Mexican border grows a little longer as the government continues to spend the billions authorized by Congress.
But the problem of illegal immigration remains as large and complex as ever.
Building a fence is not enough. Other aspects of the issue need to be addressed.
As President Bush said, “We cannot fully secure the border until we take pressure off the border.”
The country needs an orderly and legal process for temporary workers. And the country needs to find a practical way to deal with the estimated 12 million immigrants who already are in the United States, which is the knottiest and most controversial aspect of the problem.
Some insist that all 12 million be deported or jailed. Now consider the immensity of that option. It’s equivalent to deporting every man, woman and child in Nebraska. And South Dakota. And North Dakota, and Wyoming. And Kansas. And Colorado. And Montana.
In Nebraska’s congressional delegation, Sen. Chuck Hagel has been the strongest voice for sensible, comprehensive reform. Other members of the delegation should step up.
Last month, Hagel proposed a new merit-based plan for illegal immigrants who are already here to earn legal status through a point system that emphasizes employment and education. Applicants would have to demonstrate proficiency in English, pay a fine, pay any back taxes that were owed and pass criminal and background checks.
That’s a variation on proposals he’s offered earlier.
It’s also the sort of concept that apparently has some support among Nebraskans. Last year, the Rural Poll published by the Center for Applied Rural Innovation at the University of Lincoln reported that 56 percent of Nebraskans agreed with the statement that an undocumented immigrant who had been working and paying taxes in the United States for five years should be allowed to apply for citizenship.
Nonetheless, Hagel’s idea was quickly denounced by erstwhile opponent Jon Bruning as “amnesty.”
Discussion of immigration reform needs to move beyond simplistic and emotional rhetoric or it will remain stuck where it has been for decades.
Last fall, progress broke down when Republican congressional leaders tried to exploit the issue to win votes in key races. Ultimately, the tactic failed, but it was too late to revive the legislation.
President Bush earlier this year made immigration reform one of his top four domestic priorities. The Senate plans to take up this issue later this month. Now it’s time for Congress to stop posturing and start being realistic.
“Reality Based”= Leftist liberal moonbat talk.
Building a fence is not enough.
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What fence? Only pieces of a fence have been proposed and the administration is obviously in no hurry to build the TOKEN FENCE, let alone build a real fence to stop the flow of illegals.
The entire handling of the issue by Washington is a political sham, and disgusting to the concerned American citizen who is not only paying for the illegals, but having their country ravaged by criminals, all the while having them SUPPORTED by our own government, encouraging their law breaking....
“a practical way to deal with the estimated 12 million immigrants who already are in the United States”???? Start sending them back.....now. Close the border until an answer is found. Shut these people down or make Mexico a state.....or put in a mine field. Enough is enough. I’m tired of hearing about it, I’m tired of our politicians doing absolutely nothing. Cut off the access to the schools, social security benefits, medical and especially change our laws about children born here becoming citizens.
A lot of us believe that a practical way to deal with the estimated 12 million immigrants who be to send them back........
what good is a fence when pretty soon hundreds of containers full of who knows what will be coming through the border to their own “port” in the middle of Missouri?
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