I agree. I'm sure I will fall closer to the open border side than most Republicans.
There is another debate that has not gotten much attention on this thread and that is how do we find and deport 10 million illegan immigrants and secure the border. I don't believe America has the technology and the resources to do this at this time. The actual cost of removing 10 million illegals and the damage to our economy, would far outweigh any savings in government spending. If every illegal was gone tomorrow the school systems would still be a liberal indoctrination center, Health-care would still be sky high and Social Security would be bankrupt since fewer workers would be paying for the elderly (the richest segment of our society) to retire.
The Bush administration has been trying to tackle this problem with a combination of more "search and deport," trying to get more illegals into the sytem by easing restrictions and raising the number of work visas, and helping Mexico stabilize it's economy with free trade. This is the approach I would take.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/20020105thm.html
President George W Bush: Right. A couple of things. First, short-term, is to make sure that the INS functions; that the INS is able to expedite the paperwork for people who are legitimately here in the country, and expedite the paperwork necessary for families to reunite. If you believe in family values, you've got to have families together, it seems like to me. And yet, we're too bureaucratic when it comes to the INS, and we need to streamline it and make it work. (Applause.)
Secondly, we've got to understand that in the past, at least, there have been people who were trying to hire people and people willing to work. And it makes sense to me to have a system that matches willing employer with willing employee.
Thirdly, the long-term solution is for Mexico to grow a middle class so that people don't feel like they have to come here to work. (Applause.) The long-term solution -- family values don't stop at the Rio Bravo. If there's somebody who has got children to feed, somebody, a mom or a dad who has got little ones to take care of, and they make fifty cents in a state in Mexico, or they could make $5 in America, they're going to come to America if they believe in their children, if they have the same values you and I have.
Values don't stop. And so, therefore, it seems like to me the best thing we can do is to have a strong relationship with Mexico, a free trading relationship with Mexico so that Mexico is more likely to grow a middle class, which means that person who is willing to walk miles across Texas desert to work to feed her children will be able to find work close to home.
That's why I said one of the most important foreign policy relations we have is with Mexico. The stronger Mexico is, the less pressure on our border; the stronger Mexico is, the more prosperity there will be in both our countries.
Thank you for a well written and thoughtful reply.
And of course that isn't happening with unlimited immigration --- massive migration just leads to more instability --- but those employers of illegals just want the cheapest possible labor and it is to their advantage to have Mexico remain corrupt and poverty stricken. Open borders is making things worse in Mexico -- and I'm sure you noticed their July elections showed some big losses for Fox's PAN party and a big turn to the left.
The only way Mexico is going to improve would be for unlimited immigration to the USA to stop being the solution for every problem --- and they would have to change that corrupt government and the culture of corruption and machismo. Otherwise Mexico only remains a producer of desperately poor people.