In his latest column, Thomas Sowell writes (EXCERPTS):
Immigration is yet another issue which we seem unable to discuss rationally — in part because words have been twisted beyond recognition in political rhetoric.
The Bush administration is pushing a program to legalize "guest workers." But what is a guest? Someone you have invited. People who force their way into your home without your permission are called gate crashers.
If truth-in-packaging laws applied to politics, the Bush guest worker program would have to be called a "gate-crasher worker" program. The President’s proposal would solve the problem of illegal immigration by legalizing it after the fact.
We could solve the problem of all illegal activity anywhere by legalizing it. Why use this approach only with immigration? Why should any of us pay a speeding ticket if immigration scofflaws are legalized after the fact for committing a federal crime?
Most of the arguments for not enforcing our immigration laws are exercises in frivolous rhetoric and slippery sophistry, rather than serious arguments that will stand up under scrutiny.
“But what is a guest? Someone you have invited.”
The invitation is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
The invitation is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
etc etc etc…..
But then you need to get registered and properly enter the country, not sneak in and illegally enter this nation.
If there is that many legitimate opportunities for work etc that immigrants can be employed by, then great, just be documented, pay the correct taxes and there is no trouble.
It is the illegal activity of employers and the illegal aliens that is the problem. Reforming Mexican government and economy would be a good help too.
I think we already have a guest worker program. It’s called a ‘working visa’, or H-1-B. You can get a visa to work here if you already have a job lined up.
I remember years ago when I drove through Canada that they didn’t want you coming across the border unless you had a certain amount of money with you.
Why? Because they didn’t want you broke down and busted in Canada and becoming a ward of the state!
What is needed is reason and charity (as Pope Benedicted noted).
People need to make a living. Countries need to protect themselves and regulate who comes in when. We need reasonable and charitable laws. Laws that are ‘human’ and at the same time ordered for both personal and common good.
And we ought not be as little kids on a jungle gym yelling at the other kids that “we got here first!–go play somewhere else” The goods of the earth and of civilzation are for the COMMON good — not the selfish good.
Some of the comments here show a real ignorance as to what the criteria is for someone to come in an ‘work legally’. You should really take a look before you comment…. The visas are rather restrictive. It is not so easy to prove you met the requirments to come and work in a documented way.
Also paying the taxes can be a problem and it may not be possible. For instance if you are from a very poor country and you are able to make some money here– the taxes taken out may be too much proportionally to what you make. You have to travel to your country and back and then feed your family and provide housing….it may be too much and would negate the whole purpose of being here to work. And then when you get home there is a big tax for you to pay in your country!!!
I am not saying it is right to evade just taxes nor in all cases is it unjust but I am just saying that –in some cases it is a moral impossibility to do so perhaps.
I used to work for a company that is owned by a parent company overseas. They regularly hired foreign workers. It’s not that difficult to come here to work. It is a cost that’s absorbed by the employer.
Yes, a cost of several thousand dollars at a bare minimum. Our laws are set up so that legal immigration is a nightmare of red tape and expense, and illegal immigration is routinely ignored. For instance, if an employer is presented with documents that are not *obviously fraudulent*, it is *illegal* for the employer to inquire further about the applicant’s legal status. A better recipe for encouraging fraud and discouraging following the rules could not be imagined.
And with regard to “doing jobs natives won’t do” argument, years ago teenagers could get jobs mowing lawns, working at fast food restaurants, washing dishes, busing tables, and so on. I am glad I had to do that kind of work growing up; it was good experience. Now most of those jobs are taken by illegal aliens, at least here in Texas, and our children have no such opportunities.
The invitation is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
Wasn’t that inscription put there by the French? Let’s see how they handle it… oh yeah! Riots! Brilliant solution from a “more mature” country.
BTW, the Statue of Liberty (and the “invite”) is located right next to Ellis Island, where there was a processing station for legally coming into this country. I see no similar invite (or processing stations) at the borders of Mexico and Canada.
Yes, it’s hard to get a visa into this country, and it’s hard to get to get citizenship here.
It’s also hard to get in my front door, and if you come in without my prior authorization, it’s called “breaking and entering” or “illegal entry”.
If people want to make immigration law easier, they should work on that. We have democratic mechanisms for that. If people want to help would-be immigrants get visas, fine. But they shouldn’t tell them it’s okay to slip across the border and stay.
Especially when most people saying this seem to be concerned that their nanny and gardener supply not dry up. That’s exploitation, not kindness.
Oh Boy. Flame War!
Wait a second while I get my Nomex suit on…..Ok, let’s roll. 🙂
A) No responsible person is arguing against legal immigration, just illegal immigration.
B) Realistically, we are not going to round-up 11 million illegals and deport them. It ain’t gonna’ happen.
So there are two sets of related problems.
1) Border security/immigration policy;
2) How to deal with the people already here.
We need to fix #1 before tackling #2.
I don’t have an answer for #1 yet.
#2 will involve some sort of amnesty. People will use all sorts of euphamisms such as “guest workers”, etc., but some variation of a theme on regularization of existing illegal immigrants will occur. Oh, and one of the proposals to have illegals return to their home country and apply for legal status won’t work. See point B above.
Brian: Well said!
just enforce the existing law and fine a few employers who are impoverishing the undereducated American citizens by the hiring of illegals and the problem will fix itself.
At the same time, put political pressure on Mexico to fix their problems which push their people up here. JPII said fixing the problems of the countries of origin should be the FIRST line of approach in his World Migration Day address of 2004
“JPII said fixing the problems of the countries of origin should be the FIRST line of approach in his World Migration Day address of 2004”
That’s nice. Who’s going to fix them?
Simply put: Charity must guide the laws.
Just to set the record straight:
1.The poem about huddled masses at the base of the statue of liberty is just that; a poem by one Emma Lazarus. It is not now, nor has it ever been a statement of US immigration policy.
2. As Mr Aikin pointed out in a post March 3rd, it is up to the governments of nations to make prudential judgments concerning immigration laws. It is up to immigrants to obey those laws. We are bound to follow secular law unless it is somehow inherently immoral.
3. One can hardly claim to want to be a good citizen of a nation when one’s first act on entering is to break the law. Good citizens obey all laws, not just those that are convenient.
I only agree with Neal Boortz about 50% of the time, but his suggestion yesterday seems to have real possibilities.
Nealz Nuze [boortz.com] (First Item)
What if we cranked up the economy, created so many jobs, that “who cares?”
Foreign investment in this country would skyrocket. These foreign countries then would reform to be able to compete, thus taking away the incentive to come to this country.
I see some problems with the idea, but nothing that is a “show-stopper”.
That’s nice. Who’s going to fix them?
BUSH AND CREW WITH PROPAGANDA AND LOBBYING FROM THE MEXICAN AND AMERICAN BISHOPS.
Mexico– the same country whose prez has encouraged illigal invasion of the US in public speeches? I don’t think Mr. Fox is going to work with us to fix Mexico’s problems…..
Hey, why work too hard to feed your own kids when you know the neighbors will feed them?
It’s a lot easier than reform!
“Most of the arguments for not enforcing our immigration laws are exercises in frivolous rhetoric and slippery sophistry, rather than serious arguments that will stand up under scrutiny.” (Quoting Jimmy Akin)
Jimmy, I admire and respect you. I say that with all the sincerity that I can possibly muster. I don’t think I, a Catholic, can ever thank you enough for all that you have done for me and my family. I can’t even begin to tell you just how much I have learned from you. That said, and with all due respect, you are just plain wrong about unlawful Mexican immigration to the United States.
I am a native, Manhattan-born American that just happens to be as Irish as they come. My own father, now a proud US citizen, was born in Ireland. (All of my grandparents, incidentally, were also born in Ireland.) My father, like myself, is a proud Fordham alumnus. My beloved father may have “overextended” his lawful status (student visa) in this country (America) by a couple of years, in large part to court my beloved mother. Thank God he did! My folks, devout Catholics, have been married for 43 years now. They raised five Catholic sons: four cops and–God help them!–one dumb-ass, active, US Marine Corps officer. (All of us, incidentally, are college graduates–something that, I am sure you can imagine, is a great source of pride to my parents.) In short, you, an American, are safer today because my father, an honorable man, followed his heart and, once, broke the law.
Jimmy, precious few will condone unlawful activity in any form. Indeed, I, “the dumb-ass Marine” referred to above, have taken an oath to support the Constitution and laws of our nation. That said, I would be remiss if I didn’t admit the obvious: America is a much better place because of Mexican immigration to this country. It is a shame that someone as smart and as honorable as you are, would fail to see that.
“America is a much better place because of Mexican immigration to this country. It is a shame that someone as smart and as honorable as you are, would fail to see that.”
Jim-
Jimmy never said that wasn’t the case!
He simply said that immigration laws ought to be enforced. Your dad took a chance, and I’m sure he thought it was worth it, but if it had got him in trouble I don’t think he could really blame the U.S. government.
We need a humane, realistic, and enforcable immigration law that will enable us to at least have some idea of who is coming here, when, where, how and why.
Open borders and unregulated immigration are not the answer. Just ask France.
Thank you, Tim, for the kind words about my dad. God bless!
Jim, you were not quoting Jimmy. You were quoting Jimmy quoting Thomas Sowell.
My apologies, Benedict, and I thank you for disabusing me.
God bless.