by Jim Nutting
Why the big fight in congress? If I as an American born citizen were to cross into Mexico and sneak back into the USA illegally, I could and should be charged with a felony. We have borders and federal agents to manage and enforce them. Sure it's my country, but for security reasons the proper gates of entry are necessary, post 9/11 especially.
Any American citizen would agree that if we were living in a repressive and corrupt third world country and our families were near starving, we would probably flea to a country where we could work and send money back to our families. But that isn't likely because we live in a country where we as citizens have a representative government. Though not perfect, there is transparency, Randy Duke Cunningham for instance, caught using his position to line his pockets and hurting his constituents, was charged and found guilty. He will be spending time in prison. Unlike Mexico, where that practice in government is common.
If we as Americans illegally entered another country, we would be committing a crime. We would also be bringing our cultural behavior with us. That is what we were taught all of our lives. We would be speaking English. It would be hard for us to assimilate into the new culture and language. We would be working under the table or using fake documents to get better jobs. We would also be paid less than the citizens of the country in which we had illegally invaded. When we get sick, we would either die or find a way to obtain medical treatment any way we could. This would drain the host country. We are humans and will fight for our survival. But with all of this said, we would be criminals in the country we illegally entered. We would be aliens. This is the USA and this scenario is unlikely.
We stood up to our oppressors in the revolutionary war. Mexico and many other third world countries don't have the same transparency in their government. The ones who try to expose the corruption are either threatened or pushing up daisies.
No matter how much money we as Americans spend vacationing, touring and shopping in Mexico, the employees of the hotels, restaurants, and shops are getting paid much less than they deserve. Safety and security is pathetic. Police are, and have been paid so little that they use their positions of authority
and end up playing judge and jury on the field. Taking mordida (bite or bribe) for minor infractions or serious crimes from violators is common place, as are payoffs for other government services. Is this a country that we could trust to open our borders with?
The illegal drug importation is another problem. Supply and demand is what drives the continued corruption in Mexico and other third world corrupt countries. This is unfortunately our fault. Our country is the largest importer of illegal drugs in the world. That's due to the liberal drug laws here in America. We could not in clear conscience blame only illegal aliens for this crisis. Our drug laws need to be tightened. I'm tired of the whiners complaining of the lack of prison space in the United States to be able to enforce severe drug laws. We have plenty f desert space available. They also whine that we couldn't afford to pay for it. Well, to those idiots, I say 'discontinue the war on drugs'. The billions we spend on that failure would be more than enough to open drug prisons nation-wide. I also believe in rehabilitation, only while incarcerated. I also believe in prison work crews. Oh my goodness, guess what? The prisoners could do the work that we claim the illegal aliens could only do. And here's another surprise, so could healthy and fit welfare recipients. This should be rehabilitation for all of them. The prisoners and the lazy and physically fit welfare recipients would have no other choice but to work. Eventually, they will want to get off their butts and find better job.
Getting back to the felonies committed by illegal aliens or falsely documented illegal trespassers or what ever term satisfies our loony left. If any American citizen would be charged, and in most cases punished for entering his or her own country illegally, so should the millions of illegal aliens or falsely documented illegal trespassers as well as their employers be charged and punished.
Charging a legal resident, naturalized or born American citizen family members or clergy for offering comfort to illegal trespassers would be sending a horrible message. That is unless they are charged for helping them get into America illegally.
There are millions of illegal trespassers, not just Mexican or Latin Americans but Islamic middle easterners and Europeans living and working in America. Most are getting paid minimum or below minimum wage. There are some here in industries like construction who get paid pretty good. Others are involved in criminal activity like drug or human smuggling. Some have been able to open up legitimate businesses. Many are sucking up taxpayer money in local jails, state and federal prisons. Some are probably working with terrorist groups planning the destruction of the USA.
The reality is, we could never round all them up. Employer sanctions would create an unbelievable workload for law enforcement. It would be too costly and the government wouldn't recover enough money from the employer sanctions. I believe there is a simpler answer.
Give all illegal trespassers and employers an opportunity to pay a fine for their felony. I would give a ballpark figure of $2000. Give them a reasonable amount of time to pay the fine, trespassers should obtain a letter from their employer and live-scan finger prints. Pass an intense background investigation, operated by, but not paid for by local of federal governments. This background check should be paid for by private pro-immigrant groups, non governmental organizations (NGO's) or the applicant themselves. Applicants should be actively employed and clear the background check. They as felons, should waive their fourth amendment rights of search and seizure. Their addresses and place of employment should be registered and current. As felons employers should be subject to workplace inspection. Immigration agents should be able to follow up on employers activities.
This felony should be limited to five years. After the five years the felony is expunged from both the applicant and the employer, providing they pass the program and show they were productive members of our society. Within the five years the applicant should learn the natural American language of English and study for a newer and stricter citizenship exam and become American citizens. Otherwise, when the five years is up the applicants are required to return to their country of origin. Those applicants who qualify and serve in the United States Armed forces should be able to expedite their citizenship. All applicants should be required to carry their temporary permission card. They should have the same rights to apply and obtain employment. They should be paid the legal wage and not be discriminated against because they are on temporary status. Applicants will be taxed the same as citizens. However, when in the application process, employers have the right to employ the citizen first unless the applicant is more qualified. No born or naturalized American citizen should be deprived of first choice if more qualified. There should be no quota system.
All applicants whose applications are disqualified, or do not follow through with the program should be incarcerated and deported back to their country of origin. Any applicant who commits a crime should be immediately incarcerated and sent back to their Country of origin. Any applicant involved in any anti-American protest or activity should be incarcerated and deported. They are only guests and will be considered as anti-American in these cases. During this program, the United States Military is stationed at our southern and northern borders along with the Border Patrol. The security fence is built. The fines obtained from the applicants and employers by the federal government will go to border enforcement. Continued violations by employers should be enforced and the business and assets should be seized by the federal government and the employer should be incarcerated.
Anyone counterfeiting or possessing state or federal documents such as Social Security Cards, state identification cards or driver licenses and birth certificates should receive the strongest penalty the courts could impose on them. The practice of foreign governments issuing consulate matricular identification cards should stop immediately.
With the above plan, any trespasser not in compliance should be investigated by the Department of Homeland Defense. There is no other reason to remain undocumented unless they are probable criminals or potential terrorists.
After the border security fence is in place and patrolled by the Military and Border Patrol, any invader is arrested and not qualified for the program. They are charged and tried for a felony. No free ticket. Any child born in the USA to an illegal trespasser not in the application process, will not be given citizen status. However, any child born here while the mother is an applicant will have the status of the mother without the requirements necessary after the five year program ends.
I believe the above idea would be humane and fair to both US citizens and immigrants. I believe it will make it easier to track down potential foreign terrorists. I believe by toughening our drug laws here in the USA won't stop our drug problem, but if there are enough arrests for minor drug possession, this may slow down the supply and demand. I think drug rehabilitation will become a big business. The importation of drugs coming in on ships and planes are another problem to address. | 
