On one side I am a fourth generation American. On the other my family tree goes back to 1642. My citizenship is not only a result of immigration followed by an accident of birth, but something I have earned by serving honorably in both the Navy and Army National Guard. My fiancée is a Filipina whose family lives in destitute poverty. I understand the desire to live in America. I also know the trials of acquiring a visa.
However, our government is treasonous in their disregrad for illegal immigration. As someone said earlier, it is an invasion. If we applied the same dilligence, capital, and manpower to securing our borders as we did towards the supposed Y2K problem, it would be a breeze. Manpower, equipment including military aircraft and satelites, and accountabilty.
Our biggest hinderance to this problem is Corporate America. our jobs have been sent south and overseas. Sam Walton's "Made in the USA" no longer exists, as do so many mom and pop businesses. If we sealed the border, then permanently revoked the business licenses of any individual or corporation found using any under the table labor, including illegal immigrants, and then gave an opportunity to the illegals to request permanent residence, with registration, we would solve many problems, renew American jobs, and eliminate much debt and security problems.
For those illegals who do not register, tattoo the universal "NO" symbol on the back of their hands and deport them for the first offense with a ban for life. Second offense, treat them as spies and enemies of the state as our constitution allows.
What a great post. Thank you for your service, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding : )
My dad's mom came from Ireland, and I still have her cedar trunk. Due to the huge age gaps, I'm second generation on his side(she would be 137 yrs old, dad would be 95). Due to the history of Catholic Ireland under the British, we've always been wary of things like borders. It is so upsetting to see that most of us know the importance of securing our national borders, especially in times like this, and yet the highest officials in this country don't seem to be taking it seriously. Folks like my grandma were sponsored and vetted for health. Not anymore : (
Corporate America is what robber barons were to previous centuries. They don't care about what they leave in their wake. They have exported jobs to foreign countries, deliberately use illegal labor to further cut their costs, and made a living wage in the construction industry a bloody joke.
It is treason. When our own government won't secure our borders, especially after 9/11, it is wanton disgregard towards our collective safety. I call BS!