Hardnox from VA - Amnesty for Illegals?

Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island

There has been much talk from both parties about what to do about the illegal aliens that we have in this country. This issue will no doubt be center stage after the Climate Change debate. Both parties vie for the “minority vote”. The Democrats have been particularly successful in championing this issue. Their motives aren’t about the aliens it’s about elections. Liberals in both parties want to develop a voting constituency and Conservatives don’t want to touch it for fear of being labeled racist. Both groups are cowards.

No one really knows how many Illegals that we have in this country. Some say 12 million. Some say it is as high as 20 million. Regardless of the number, they are ILLEGAL.

The cold reality is that these Illegals are a tremendous drain on our nation in terms of economic resources in a time when we can least afford it. Some studies estimate as high as 385 billion dollars are year are spent cumulatively by local, state, and federal agencies.

The Left claims that it isn’t fair that these individuals were not fortunate enough to be born in the United States. This is a true statement but frankly that’s just too bad. Get in line and apply for citizenship just like tens of millions have done. Don’t just sneak in under the radar and then expect special consideration. We have a process of citizenship that has served this country well for over a hundred years. What part of Illegal don’t our elected officials understand?

Waiting at Ellis Island

The Left always banters the “Fairness” of all things. Okay, let’s talk fairness. I say it is patently unfair for Illegals to bypass the lawful citizenship process, jump passed the front of the line, and enjoy American citizenship without the deliberate application of wanting to be a citizen. I ask the Left “is that fair?” The whole idea of amnesty for aliens is unfair. Unfair for those that have already applied for citizenship, and unfair for those that have already accomplished that task. Additionally, those that have applied or have become citizens did so because they want to participate in the grand experiment known as the United States of America. Amnesty would not garner loyalty to this country nor would it make them Americans in their hearts. It would be free. Therefore it would be of little or no value.

Some proponents of amnesty claim that Illegals do the work that Americas won’t do. Maybe so, but $385 billion is awfully expensive. If the high figure of 20 million aliens is true then the actual cost for taxpayers per alien is about $19,250 per year for EACH alien. This figure is beyond what they already earn for their labor.

The silver lining in our present recession has led to a slow exodus of aliens back to their mother countries. This proves that they were never intent on being Americans in the first place. I hope that the exodus continues. If they want to return and become Americans, then get in line.

The greatest obstacle to any solution lies in the fact that we have too many Liberals in both parties and that the agencies that are tasked to enforce our laws have been neutered by politicians. I must remind our politicians that they owe their loyalty to America first.

Before any reader jumps to any conclusion about me they should know that the issue of Amnesty and citizenship has a personal importance to me. In 1960, my parents and 4 year old me came to America with three suitcases and $200. The three of us became proud citizens in 1968 after an exhaustive citizenship process. In all those fifty years that we have broken our backs to get ahead and realize the American dream not once did we receive special consideration or aid. Never was it expected nor would we have taken it had it been available. We were glad to just be here and learned the language and customs of America. We have eagerly embraced all that this great land has to offer. We are proud to be Americans. We are not hyphenated Americans nor will we ever be.

Simply put, an immigrant’s personal struggle for citizenship and the American dream is the recipe for success in America. Ask any naturalized citizen if I am wrong.

Amnesty for Illegals would ultimately ruin the fiber of this nation by destroying the glue that binds us together as Americans by cheapening the entire process.
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