John McCain faced opposition within the Republican party during the primaries because of his positions and voting records on immigration. Like gun issues immigration seemingly breaks down around a dichotomous argument between legal and illegal immigration. So what if we change the questions a bit by asking some fundamental questions.
First, why do people from other countries come to the United States? There appears to be two major reasons; economic and political. They are fleeing economic deprivation or fleeing political persecution. Americans welcome immigrants from both groups as long as they come to the country legally and assimilate in a manner to American culture. One of the ways assimilation occurs is through citizenship, a right and responsibility earned through naturalization. So why don’t all immigrants enter legally? Some are felons who wouldn’t be admitted, some are from countries where the quota for immigration has been met and a very small number want to do the country harm in some way. Some are so desperate to leave their situations that adhering to the laws of this country are less important than surviving. We have unfortunately created a situation that the children of those who enter illegally who are born in the United States become citizens. Maybe this is part of the problem.
What would happen if that incentive to break the law was removed? What would happen if those who entered illegally could remain here but would have to register, pay taxes, be gainfully employed and have no option for citizenship unless they left the country for a period of time and re-entered legally and completed the naturalization process? What would happen if we got the best of both worlds, people motivated to work and pay taxes, who wouldn’t be a drain on the government or the economy and we didn’t continue to give them an incentive to break the law by holding citizenship for the lawbreakers’ children? Might we not end the divisive, xenophobic debate with a win/win for immigrants and the descendants of immigrants?
First, why do people from other countries come to the United States? There appears to be two major reasons; economic and political. They are fleeing economic deprivation or fleeing political persecution. Americans welcome immigrants from both groups as long as they come to the country legally and assimilate in a manner to American culture. One of the ways assimilation occurs is through citizenship, a right and responsibility earned through naturalization. So why don’t all immigrants enter legally? Some are felons who wouldn’t be admitted, some are from countries where the quota for immigration has been met and a very small number want to do the country harm in some way. Some are so desperate to leave their situations that adhering to the laws of this country are less important than surviving. We have unfortunately created a situation that the children of those who enter illegally who are born in the United States become citizens. Maybe this is part of the problem.
What would happen if that incentive to break the law was removed? What would happen if those who entered illegally could remain here but would have to register, pay taxes, be gainfully employed and have no option for citizenship unless they left the country for a period of time and re-entered legally and completed the naturalization process? What would happen if we got the best of both worlds, people motivated to work and pay taxes, who wouldn’t be a drain on the government or the economy and we didn’t continue to give them an incentive to break the law by holding citizenship for the lawbreakers’ children? Might we not end the divisive, xenophobic debate with a win/win for immigrants and the descendants of immigrants?
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