Illegal Immigration

In thinking about the concerns with illegal immigration, I have to ask myself, "What is all the bother about?" I understand that taxpayers would rather not be paying for illegals to have public services provided for them; however, it is also my understanding that illegals have paid a substantial amount of taxes themselves. One figure that I saw indicated as much as $10 billion paid to states in taxes by illegal immigrants. Are the rest of us really 'supporting' illegals, or are they paying their fair share as well.

Many arguments center around the necessity of illegals to provide labor that others of us are not willing to take on. Should we really expect people to risk their lives to enter this country so that we can have the basest forms of labor provided without concern? Of course, the opposing argument is that if the federal government would raise the minimum wage (which has not been raised in nearly TEN years), then we would not have to rely on illegals to fill labor jobs. If the wages were better, there would be greater competition for the work. Republicans, who are leading the battle to send illegals home and to keep them out of the country, are split on the need for illegals to enter the country. If illegals can provide cheap labor for business, then why should the minimum wage be raised?

The President has proposed a guest worker program, but as Fareed Zacharia points out in this weeks' Newsweek, similar programs have not worked in Europe (in particular Germany) because the 'guest workers' have no promise of eventual citizenship in the European countries for which they have left their families in order to work. The United States should expect nothing more of any guest worker program here. Why should people leave their families to make a home in another country where they struggle to learn the language without the promise of someday becoming a citizen of that country and having the opportunity to bring their families here to join them. We must give everyone who comes to this country to work an equal opportunity to achieve citizenship, freedom, and equal consideration for services.

But it all comes back to the notion, "What is the big concern all of a sudden?" Give Mexicans the same rights as Canadians -- free passage to and from Mexico to work or live. Treat law-abiding visitors with respect and appreciation for the work they provide this nation, and give them the freedom to chose a life of freedom, liberty, honor, and wealth here in the United States.