Crackdown would be effective

Published 8:57 am Wednesday, February 22, 2012

 

A good definition of insanity is doing something over and over again, even though it doesn’t work. This is a point to reflect upon as various lobbies endorse the lunacy of offering yet another legalization (amnesty) for illegal aliens and pathway for them to become citizens.

Every time we have done this in the past we’ve only had more illegal immigration to follow. But should it surprise us that when we reward a behavior we get more of it? Furthermore, let’s consider how we debase the worth of our citizenship by giving it people who hold our laws in contempt.

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With more than 11 million Americans out of work, one can reasonably assume that the estimated 12 million illegal aliens in this country are taking a significant number of jobs that Americans would like to have. The solution to illegal immigration is firm and steady enforcement of our immigration laws. Faced with this prospect, many illegal aliens would go home on their own.

It’s happened before. In 1954 the Eisenhower administration determined that illegal immigration was getting out of control. Rather than contemplate amnesty, the administration launched a swift crackdown. Most who departed left on their own accord when they saw that enforcement was serious. For more than a decade after the crackdown, illegal immigration was not a major problem.

We do not lack the means to deal with illegal immigration. What we are lacking now is the will.

 

Mike Gordon

Albert Lea