Conservative Views on Immigration Reform

Conservative Views on Immigration Reform In 2006, liberal documentarian Morgan Spurlock devoted a segment of his show 30 Days Latest Developments His resolve may seem surprising, considering how close he became with the Gonzalez family, but his position was vilified in 2009 as a rash of kidnappings occurred in Arizona as a direct result of illegal immigration. Members of Mexican drug cartels, in the US illegally, would kidnap American citizens for ransom, and send the money across the border, where its value was inflated. While the kidnap victims were often the relative of a drug-trafficker, they were just as often the relative of an immigrant smuggler. Phoenix became the kidnap capitol of the US in 2009, with more incidents than any city in the world except for Mexico City.Immigrant smuggling has become more popular in US states bordering Mexico because a load of 30 immigrants can net the smuggler anywhere from $45,000 to $75,000.Very often, conservatives favoring immigration reform will couch the issue in terms of national security. Illegal immigration goes well beyond the US/Mexico border, and kidnapping isnt the only prob lem. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, it was revealed that all 19 hijackers entered the US with valid documents. Some, however, had committed fraud to obtain them. The fraud was easily perpetrated thanks to glaring and easy-to-fix loopholes in the US visa system. Background The issue of illegal immigration is very different from the issue of immigration itself. While most conservatives have no problem with immigrants, there are conflicting opinions about illegal aliens. Conservative opinions are as complex as the issue itself.So-called law and order conservatives favor tightening the US border and deporting illegal aliens back to their countries of origin wherever they may be. Reflecting the growing dependency on illegal labor in the US, so-called business interest conservatives favor easing immigration restrictions and acknowledging the economic importance of immigrant workers. Americans willing to work hard should be able to make a decent living. President Barack Obama to One of the major contributing factors to illegal immigration is the fact that the employment rate in Mexico, which has never been especially sturdy, is reaching alarming lows. Solutions Resolving illegal immigration isnt easy.For example, most people, even immigration reform advocates, would agree that denying anyone emergency medical care is morally wrong. Yet, they would also agree that access to American medical care shouldnt be a perk for illegal immigrants and yet it is. Illegal laborers injured during the course of a menial job are treated by topnotch American physicians.Separating families is also morally wrong, yet when two illegal aliens have a child in America, the child becomes a US citizen, which means deporting the parents creates an American orphan. Heres an example of illegal aliens accessing US medical facilities, and also creating an avenue to permanent US residency without the necessity of becoming an American citizen.Americans consider things like medical care and family unity basic human rights, but for many immigrants who arent afforded the same rights in their countries of origin, these rights are often seen as rewards for making it to America . While rewarding people who come to America illegally only encourages more people to come illegally, the solution is not to deny them their basic human rights.If the giant moat we call the Atlantic Ocean isnt enough to deter illegal immigration, building bigger and stronger fences at the US/Mexico border wont be either. As conservative humorist PJ ORourke observed, Fence the border and give a huge boost to the Mexican ladder industry.About the only viable solution to the problem of illegal immigration is removing the incentive to emigrate to America. If people have no reason to leave home, they wont. Poverty, persecution and opportunity are the main reasons people flee their country of origin. Better foreign aid and a more engaged foreign policy may be the only options to stem the tide of illegal immigration. The Trouble With Amnesty From USAmnesty.org: An amnesty for illegal aliens forgives their acts of illegal immigration and implicitly forgives other related illegal acts such as driving and working with false documents. The result of an amnesty is that large numbers of foreigners who illegally gained entry into the United States are rewarded with legal status (Green Card) for breaking immigration laws. Where It Stands Liberals claim that resident illegals do pay taxes, albeit indirectly. When they pay rent, their landlord uses that money to pay property taxes. When they buy groceries, clothing or other household items, they pay sales tax. This, the liberals say, supports the economy.What they do not realize, however, is how much illegal immigration costs as a result of the taxes illegal immigrants do not pay.For example, when children are brought into the country illegally and use the American educational system, their parents are not paying the local municipal taxes that provide for their childrens education. The problems are more than financial, however. As weve shown, American citizens in the employment sector are denied opportunities every day thanks to illegal immigration. Opportunities are also blocked in the academic community, as well. A college mandated to meet a racial quota may reject an American citizen or a legal immigrant in favor of an illegal immigrant with the appropriate cultural background. Despite the urgent need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Barack Obama recently announced his administration will do nothing to address the problem this year. Somehow Obama believes the trouble with the economy and the trouble with immigration are mutually exclusive.Dont expect to see much from the Obama administration on immigration reform at all, unless it is to ease the way for illegals. There are rumors that Obama will make some sort of policy statement regarding illegal immigration in May.Its important to remember that in 2006, Obamas support for a national amnesty movement was apparent as he marched down the streets of Chicago arm-in-arm with illegal immigrants. Then, last year, he promised Latinos that he would develop a plan to make legal status possible for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. If the rumors are true, conservatives should brace themselves for a proposal from the administration along these lines.