Immigration and Graduation

Here we go again. The next round of massive pro-immigration demonstrations have begun.\nI have said it before and I will say it again: I am simply amazed that people have the temerity to demand rights and freedoms for those who have broken the law.\nThis year, the demonstrators seem to be looking a gift horse in the mouth.\nThe latest round of laws being proposed creates a special new class of work permits, the so-called “Z” visas, which are renewable every three years for a minor fee. An additional requirement is an extended period of work before applying for a green card, but hearings are sped up to bring one’s family into this country. \nHowever, even this comission is not enough to pacify the radical pro-immigration folks out there.\nThey seem to want immediate amnesty with no strings attached and no increased security measures.\nWell, to the Catholic priests such as Indianapolis’ Rev. Tom Fox and the Archbishop of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and radical groups like La Raza, I say that you should take what you can get. Beggars cannot be choosers, and if it were up to people like me and Rep. Tom Tancredo, all illegal immigrants would be arrested and either deported or made to serve prison sentences for trespassing. \nFurthermore, as a Catholic myself, I am absolutely disgusted that many priests seem to prefer helping illegal immigrants to helping American citizens and legal immigrants. Cardinal Mahony even received La Raza’s 2007 Capital Award for his pro-immigration work. I guess seminaries no longer teach that whole “protecting the sheep by fighting off the wolves” thing.\nWhy is this a big deal for so many people? \nThe simple answer is the immigration problem is no longer confined to the coasts and major cities.\nAn article in the Indianapolis Star earlier this week detailed the march to Monument Circle. One of the spokesmen for the march was – surprise, surprise – a local Catholic priest.\nRev. Fox was quoted as saying that a year ago people were reacting to an immigration bill that many considered punitive towards immigrants. \nAt last, a fact!\nOf course, the package of bills considered last year was punitive toward immigrants. They flout our laws by coming here illegally, and create huge security problems in the process, drain our social services resources and think there will be no consequences. Someone has to demonstrate that in America actions have consequences.\nThose of us being educated at this University and others around the country are in a unique position to stop this hemorrhage of America’s resources and threat to our country.\nAs the policymakers of tomorrow, it is our responsibility to protect our resources and our country from those who threaten it. Yes, illegal immigration does just that.\nIllegal immigrants suck up our social services, fill our jails, and have the gall to ask for full rights and amnesty after all the harm they have caused our communities.\nIllegal immigration is a problem at every level of government. Despite some recent complaining about state and local governments acting against illegals, they have the right and the responsibility to act when their communities are threatened.\nInaction is a risk we cannot take.