Immigration Nation

Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses."\nThis statement shows America's commitment to immigration. This country has tried to be the kind of place people from all over the world could come to build a better life. Legal immigration is something this nation has always treasured. \nHowever, in providing this kind of welcoming society, America shouldn't be naive about the risks created.\nA Feb. 18 article by The Associated Press detailed just how serious the national security threat is. Testimony by Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy indicated al-Qaida wants to send operatives into the United States via the Mexican border.\nThat's no surprise. The immigration problems with Mexico practically beg terrorists to use it as an entry point.\nThere should be privileges U.S. citizens and legal immigrants enjoy that illegal immigrants do not. This isn't about racism. It's about fairness and rewarding those who have followed the law.\nAccording to a Feb. 11 article in The Boston Globe, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill meant to strengthen immigration controls. This bill would keep driver's licenses out of the hands of illegal immigrants, toughen requirements for obtaining political asylum and require the completion of a fence along a portion of the California-Mexico border known as "Smuggler's Gulch."\nFencing and asylum restrictions aside, this bill boils down to a matter of fairness for all of those who have worked hard and followed the rules.\nWhy do illegal immigrants think they have the right to a driver's license? I had to take driver's education, show the BMV my birth certificate and pass two exams to get my license. To think that someone can walk in this country and be handed a license is an absolute travesty.\nSpeaking of travesties, one immigration proposal is proving to be particularly frustrating and ineffective.\nAccording to the White House Web site, President Bush's guest worker program "would allow workers who currently hold jobs to come out of hiding and participate legally in America's economy while not encouraging further illegal behavior."\nNo disrespect intended, but this program is the most ridiculous proposal ever to come out of a Republican White House.\nThe president is saying if an illegal immigrant sneaks into this country and evades detection long enough, we'll let him stay. Now tell me that isn't encouraging illegal immigration!\nUnfortunately, taking away government ID cards and punishing illegal behavior will only go so far. To truly solve this problem, we must address the No. 1 reason most aliens come here: employment.\nCompanies must be penalized for breaking federal law and hiring illegal immigrants. A Feb. 26 AP article detailed proposals that would do just that.\nRep. Russell Pierce of Arizona plans to introduce a bill next year that would allow American workers to sue companies that fire them while keeping illegal immigrants on the payroll. A similar idea is being kicked around in the Oklahoma legislature.\nThe intent here is to discourage employers who might want to hire illegal immigrants. Sometimes certain conservatives have been accused of not having compassion for American workers, but where is the compassion here? American workers should not be losing their jobs to people who are here because they've broken the law.\nI have no problem with people wanting to come here and build a better life for themselves. That's been one of this country's core values for more than 200 years.\nHowever, I have absolutely no tolerance for those who break the law, take jobs from American workers and suck our social welfare system dry.\nYes, we still want your tired, your poor and your huddled masses, but they'd better be willing to follow the law.