Immigration Law "Reform"?

The Editorial Board for the Austin American Statesman laid out a good point in its July 15th article, "We Should Make a Federal Case Over Immigration." I have to say, I learned a lot from the opinions expressed herein, and couldn't agree more. Essentially, they are speaking to all Americans in the piece, but border states that feel the effects of illegal immigrants are especially targeted. The AAS Board states that our (America's) general feeling of Obama's opposition to Arizona's self-mandated law is a negative one. Obama wants to see to it that there is a universal, fair, and just way to collect from and penalize immigrants to the US; a heavy issue already, recently complicated by Arizona's new law to check suspicious character's "papers". Meanwhile, Americans favor by a 17 point margin leaving the matter to the individual state.

If Arizona gets to make it's own laws about how to deal with illegal-looking characters, things can and will easily get out of hand. Brownish, yellowish, reddish, or funny-sounding people the states over would almost assuredly be unfairly profiled, and that is exactly what the Obama administration is trying to avoid. Imagine every border town and state in a state of siege. It can not likely be easy to identify each of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living free in the US already, and it will not get any easier if they are sent into further hiding their identity, forging papers, or worse, creating strongly knit gangs (or modern day factions).

We have to face it, people who face discrimination have tendencies to revolt. I'm not saying Mexicans and Haitians and Canadians all form gangs, but they do usually keep close packs once they arrive, and we need to recognize them as a threat if they are to be rounded up and mistreated by some zealous state troopers on the border (and you know there's no shortage of those).

I was most pleased to hear that Obama has indeed identified the problem that currently faces Americans due to declining federal interest and funds at the nation's borders. In all honesty, I believe that this should be the land of the free, but Nothing here comes free to Americans, so why should it come free to foreigners? I have to admit, in my 10 plus years as a server/bartender/valet, you name it in the hospitality industry, I have befriended, met or known of 100s of illegals, usually hard-working, and just lucky to be out of dreary Mexico border towns. They typically reside in cramped apartments for years, and send much needed money back home as they can. Its actually heart-warming, a single, displaced man risking All just to provide for a family he cannot see, and may honestly never see again unless they make the cross too.

That said, before 2008, I never thought about how many resources they abuse, and jobs they take from honest Americans. If there was an abundance in jobs needing workers here, I would say "Welcome, Todos!" But it's just not the case anymore, and so I can see why states are feeling the need to create there own means of protecting their jobs, funds, educational institutions, and yes, even our national language.

I am a Mexican American. As of 3 generations ago, I couldn't call myself American. I love my heritage, and enjoy studying my language (I was not raised to speak Spanish). However, I believe my predecessors had to do it the hard, or "honest" way. Marrying in, becoming citizens, paying taxes, then working hard and contributing to our great nation's diversity. I wish, especially considering how troubled Mexico has become in recent drug-war-ridden years, that each and every immigrant to the states could have an opportunity to make it here, and prosper as the Rodriguez' and Gonzalez' have. But, I think they need to wait it line, pay the toll, and then do it right, especially if they don't wish to be profiled everywhere they go.

It doesn't seem fair for refugees to be constantly on the run and afraid of their new governmental system; but it is only fair that they adhere to all of America's rules when they arrive. We will be a stronger integrated nation of immigrants if the federal courts rule on stricter border control and standardized means for citizenship.