First of all, let me preface my rant by saying this about illegal immigration: I completely understand why a person living in a poor city in Mexico/Central America/ South America or anwhere else would want to find work where he or she can earn enough to support their family. I also understand that the US has made it very easy for a person from Mexico, Central/South America to sneak in without permission, get a job, get a place to stay, get healthcare if they need it, get assistance, get their children into schools and taught English,etc. We have created this monster of illegal immigration by not enforcing the laws that are on the books. What poor person would not want to have a better life? I understand all of that.
Here is where it gets dicey for me....where and how will this ever end?
What about the people who came here legally, applied for a visa, applied for a green card, are studying to become a citizen, pay taxes, speak English. How must they feel about the people that are cheating the very system they are trying to abide by?
We are a nation that was created by LEGAL immigrants and that is how it should stay. We need to be a nation of citizens and citizen applicants who work, pay taxes, vote, follow the laws, have health insurance coverage, and want to be Americans.
A required part of becoming an American should be learning to speak the native language of the United States. When we offer "press one for English, press 2 for Spanish" we are not encouraging people to learn the native language. Driver's tests should NOT be available in Spanish. Road and traffic signs are all in English. The Citizenship test is in English only as it should be. There are unlicensed illegals driving around in unregistered cars. What if you are in an accident with one of them? Who pays for the damages? You, as the only insured and licensed driver, will pay for it. And even if it is not your fault, your insurance premiums will likely go up. The state of Massachusetts has toyed with the idea of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in order to "track them." Who does this help? What use is tracking them if they are uninsured? Tracking them is not a means to sending them back to their home country. This insanity will not help anyone. Luckily, so far this bill has not passed.
Our Health Insurance Sytem is a mess at this point. Most people feel that at least some basic changes are needed. As it is now, there is nobody out there that can't get health care if they are in an emergency situation. Any person can go to the emergency room and get treated regardless of insurance status. Then you and I, the people who pay through the nose for health insurance, get stuck with the cost of services for the uninsured. This is how illegal immigrants work the health insurance system. A doctor cannot refuse to treat them, so they get treatment, leave us with the bill, and either keep or send all of their non taxed earnings out of the country to support their families that live elsewhere. This system will keep escalating the cost of health insurance premiums until something is done to change this system.
Another idea by the Massachusetts legislature was to give children of illegal immigrants the right to pay in state tuition at Massachusetts State Universities & Colleges. I have a problem with that as well. It is just another incentive for people to come here and bring their children so they can get these opportunities. It will encourage more illegal immigration, instead of discourage it. These children, once admitted to colleges, would probably be eligible for major grants and need- based scholarships due to the fact that their parents do not claim any income because they DO NOT FILE FEDERAL TAXES! and their earnings are "under the table."
The rounding up of illegal immigrants would be difficult, costly, and ineffective. They know how to hide from detection, they also know how to work the system. If our country enforced laws banning the hiring of illegals by issuing large fines or otherwise punishing companies that hire them-, and the same for landlords who give preference in subsidized housing to illegals, illegals would have a big incentive to go back to their home countries and try to come back here legally.
The border patrol on our Southern borders has it's hands tied. They are not allowed to do their jobs and a few have even been arrested and jailed for trying to protect citizens that live in US border towns. Tons of drugs are brought into the US over the border either on foot or hidden in vehicles each year. Our border patrol should be able to round up, question, fingerprint, and jail, if necessary, any illegal intruders that cross. Simply sending people back to their country does not seem to deter them from returning and trying it again soon after being sent back. The fence needs to be finished, the full length of the border, and electrified. The National Guard should be stationed at or by the fence insuring our safety. They should be permitted to defend our borders as necessary without fear of being "Court Martialed" for bloodying someones nose. Right now,every terrorist knows they have a better chance of walking in here through our Mexican border than they do sneaking onto a US bound plane. How are we safe in this country if anyone can walk in at any time without the fear of consequences?
I feel so sorry for the people that live in the US Border towns. They have nightly intruders and mountains of trash left behind by the bands of illegals that pass through every night. They are not allowed to take up arms to defend their properties and that is just wrong.
The drug situation on the Mexican border has escalated recently and has become extremely violent. This will inevitably translate into violence spilling over into the US towns near the border.
I am not optimistic that this administration will make any changes to reverse the flow of illegal immigrants into the US anytime soon. The last administration didn't do anything about it either. Maybe the next administration will take up the cause. But that is a long way off.
In the meantime, millions more illegals will come here, soak up our resources, and not contribute anything financially to the well being of the US.
I am not in favor of amnesty-that is not fair to those who played by the rules. If we can enforce the laws that we already have, there will be more of an incentive for people to come here legally and for those who are here illegally to go home when the emloyment and entitlements dry up. I don't agree with those who say illegals do the jobs most Americans wouldn't do. There are so many people out of work right now, I am sure even those jobs would get filled by US citizens. Why don't we give it a try and see what happens?
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