Immigration starting to make waves

I mean it. My lawn looks like I haven't lived in the house for a few weeks. It's overgrown on the side that soaks up the most water and there are little sprouts in the cracks of the driveway.

I haven't put a lot of work into the lawn because it's pretty well been a disaster since I moved into the house. So I ignored it, hoping the forces of nature would infuse some new grass in the back yard and make it more even in the front.

In much the same way, politicians are hoping the illegal immigration issue will just go away and it hasn't. After all, we are a nation of immigrants so it is difficult for some of our leaders to take the necessary steps to address the out-of-control illegal immigration that is killing this country.

First, the immigrants that included my Scottish and French grandparents were seeking all the same things that today's illegal immigrants are: better money, freedom, etc. But immigrants of the 1800s and early 1900s absorbed American history and culture and in most cases learned the language to give them a better shot at success.

Most of today's illegal immigrants couldn't care less about this country and look at it as a meal ticket or a way to get over. They haven't followed the rules in the first place -- sneaking across the border -- and they oppose the market forces that make the country work once they're here.

The immigrants of yesterday also loved America and ended up fighting for her in huge numbers. For example, the Japanese unit that fought in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion in World War II ended up as two of the most decorated units in the war. Germans and Italians were also a significant part of the war effort and helped as translators and soldiers throughout Europe as they helped conquer the continent.

The immigrants of today won't even root for our nation at a home soccer match. Everywhere the U.S. team travels in this country it is opposed by its own residents, who would rather root for Mexico -- if they're playing in California -- or England -- if they're playing in the northeast. The only place Team USA got a break and some home support was in Salt Lake City, for crying out loud.

Despite the rhetoric of Mexico's President Vicente Fox and other world leaders, this issue is not a racial one. More than anything it's financial, as America's workers cannot support the overwhelming societal needs of people who do not contribute tax dollars.

Even if they did, so many of the jobs held by illegal immigrants are minimum wage, low-skilled labor and would provide little tax infusion to the treasury, even if the workers were documented.

But there is also a security issue at work because we don't know how many terrorists have already traipsed across our borders. Also, the southern border of America is so porous that a nuclear weapon could get through with little difficulty.

It's not only in the southern states we are seeing this negative trend. On Thursday, 200 illegals were arrested in New England in a police sweep that rounded up people who had already served time for attempted murder, rape, child molestation and arson.

At what point can we start to recognize the remarkable number of thugs and potential terrorists in our midst? What has to happen before American politicians take drastic precautions to save our country from this ugly flood?

Rep. Tim Tancredo, a New Hampshire congressman, is considering a presidential run to shed some light on the issue and every other potential presidential candidate from Newt Gingrich to Hillary Clinton is making hay over Americans' dissatisfaction with George W. Bush's foot-dragging on illegal immigration and border security.

But the fight is multi-pronged, as the pro-illegal forces claim racism against anybody who talks about the swelling tide of economy-crippling law-breakers. One high-school student in Corvallis, Ore., Trent Demarest, was recently targeted because he wrote a piece about illegals in his school newspaper.

His column was met by two days of protests and two-thirds of the protesters hadn't read the article. The Hispanic group's response was to March around the school carrying a Mexican flag.

This war will be waged on a variety of fronts, people, you need to picks sides now. Weeds are infesting our country and if we don't uproot them we will all pay the price. The problem will not take care of itself.

Oh, and I have a mea culpa from last week's column. A gentleman from Canada pointed out that John Kerry never mentioned impeachment hearings in relation to the "Downing Street Memo" and I implied that he had. I was wrong, but give Sen. Kerry and his cohorts some time and I'm certain that he and some others will try and impeach George W. Bush for SOMETHING.

Gaylon Parker can be reached at gparker-@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1416.

Many times the arguement of the 14th amendment is brought up to indicate that illegals should be prtoected according to the law.

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. "

I agree that they should be protected according to the law and get due process, but my own opinion is that the two views (prosecuting illegal aliens and protecting illegal aliens) are not mutually exclusive. If the illegals are to provided with equal protection under the law, and due process, which I believe they should be, then that also means that they are bound to obey and follow and respect those same laws. Equal protection cuts both ways...we are entitled to be protected from their illegal activities.

The fact is...what they are doing in being here is illegal and they need to be prosecuted according to the law, equally just as if someone were committing illegal acts against them.

IMHO, they need to be deported and told to come in through the legally proscribed means. They need to be registered as someone who attempted to enter illegally and informed that in repeat offenses they may well be incarcerated and put to work benefitting this country, before they are deported again...and so on and so forth. But that is just my opinion on the matter.

In my estimation, the arguement that the issue of illegality is a non-issue in this debate is demonstrably and patently wrong. It has everything to do with it. According to the 14th amendment and the constitution, those illegals are responsible for their acts and must be held accountable for their illegalities precisely because there is equal protection under the law.

Gotta go.

WEB SITE: Mexico immigration laws

Respect for the law is important.

Entering Mexico without documents is sanctioned by law.

Consejo Consultivo
Migratorio
La Paz

The ley General de Publacion and its By-Laws that regulate your admission stay and departure from Mexico. The Constitucion Politica de las Estados Unidas

Mexicanos.

Article 1

In the United States of Mexico every individual will enjoy the guarantees granted in this Constitution and these cannot be restricted or suspended, except in those
cases and under the conditions established below.

When you enter the country as a "tourist", you are allowed to remain for a maximum of 180 days for the purposes of recreation, health, artistic or sports activities.

You may not work in Mexico.

If you arrive by air: You must have your immigration form and present it to the immigration authorities upon arrival at the airport of your destination within Mexico.

If you arrive by road: You must request your immigration form after having paid the tourist fees at a local bank. Your vehicle must leave the country when your tourist card expires. You cannot sell your car within Mexico nor use it for any other unauthorized purpose.

If you arrive by sea: You must obtain your immigration permit after having paid the fees at the port of entrance. Once your authorized 180 days are up, you must leave the country.

If you wish to re-enter the country: You can do so with a new immigration form granted by the immigration authorities at the place of entry after having paid the
corresponding fee.

You may extend your stay in Mexico as a: Person of independent means: Defined as one who lives off of income generated outside of Mexico.

Financially dependent person: Defined as one who is economically dependent on a spouse or blood relative.

In a position of trust: Defined as a person who assumes a sole managerial role or some other position of absolute trust in established Mexican companies or institutions.

Student: Defined as a person who begins, finishes or perfects his studies in Mexico. Once the student terminates his/her studies, he/she must leave the country.

Religious minister or associate: Defined as an active minister of any religion or a person who performs social or philanthropic acts. In this case, you must register with the "Secretaria de Gobernación".

Political exile: Defined as a person who enters the country to protect his/her liberty or life, from political persecution in his/her country of origin. You must have permission from the "Secretaria de Gobernación" and you may not leave the country without permission from the Secretaria if your request is granted.

Business visitor or investor: Defined as a person who enters the country for the purpose of seeking alternate investment prospects or for carrying these out. In this case, the foreigner must comply with the Foreign Investment Law requirements.

Transmigrant: Defined as person who is in transit to another country and passes through Mexican territory. A Transmigrant has the right to remain in the country for a maximum of 30 days.

To obtain an extension of the aforementioned categories you must go to the immigration department, (Instituto National de Migración) taking with you your immigration form and valid passport, where upon fulfilling all additional requirements and having paid the corresponding fees, the extension of your mmigration document can be authorized.

You may extend your stay on four occasions, each for maximum of 365 days. With the authorization to remain in Mexico temporarily, you may enter or leave the country without any restrictions, except in the case of a tourist.

With regard to all the above categories, if you wish to acquire some property, you may do so after fulfilling the necessary legal requirements.

You must never have two immigration documents simultaneously.

All foreigners entering the country, except in a case of a tourist, must request their name be entered in the National Foreigner’s Registry.

Once you have obtained a permanent address in Mexico, you have 30 days in which to request that your address, or change of, be noted in your immigration document.

During your stay in Mexico, if your civil status changes, you must notify the immigration authorities within a maximum of 30 days from the event.

In the case of marriage to a Mexican national, or adoptions, you will be required to obtain the Immigration department’s authorization.

To extend your activities, or change employer, you require the Immigration Department’s authorization and payment of the corresponding fee.

In the case of loss or theft of your immigration document, you must file a report before the State Attorney General, (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado).

To obtain a replacement of your immigration document, you must present a photocopy of the above report.

If you wish to leave the country and your immigration document is being processed, notify the department and you may obtain an exit and re-entry permit valid for a maximum of 45 days.

If you wish to leave the country, you must hand in your immigration document to the immigration department before you leave.

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