Free Republic

MATTAWA, WASH -- . -- Nearly everyone in this small farming community in eastern Washington speaks Spanish -- nearly everyone except those in city government and the Police Department, where English is spoken. And almost everyone who speaks one language does not speak the other. That language barrier has engulfed the community, which has grown over the last 20 years from 300 to about 3,200 year-round residents. Nine out of 10 Mattawa residents speak Spanish at home, and 8 out of 10 adults speak English "less than very well," according to the 2000 U.S. Census. The Columbia River basin community,...

Once again, we are embroiled in debate over immigration — and especially over the 11 million-plus migrants without papers who don't have trouble finding jobs. Don't expect a quick fix. We need to secure our borders and fix our broken immigration system. But simplistic solutions — such as building walls and militarizing the border, or deporting a population as large as Ohio's — won't do it. Nor will we get improved results by redoubling measures that haven't worked. Since 2000, President Bush has been calling for comprehensive immigration reform. But until now, his calls only galvanized the ultra-conservative elements in...