Notes on the Border: A Hawkish Opinion

Capping it off at 12 million, living in the United States of America, illegally. For anyone who fails to be shocked enough, those numbers are from the year 2004. So honestly, the question has to be, has the nation had enough? Sure companies ship jobs overseas, but allowing more undocumented workers to come into the country doesn't solve that problem, even if they are deputized as American citizens. In reality, what we really need to do is stop selling governmental control to the Mexican border conflict and start where the real problem is: freedom of passage.

I've spoken at lengths beforehand about my blatant disagreement with President Obama's reckless decision to amend border security laws in a such a manner that cuts off general funding for the ever so necessary fence to protect American citizens, and in this piece my view is no different. Regardless of George Bush's election in the swing year of the change in centuries, it still took almost 60% of a decade for his party to address immigration reform, resulting in the slow start of a process to complete the line of defense against those disrespectful of the laws.

In the 21st Century however, we have to take a different approach. No longer are new immigrants simply pursuing the American Dream, as they might have years ago. With many states offering healthcare and social benefits as lucrative welcome presents, illegally entering immigrants now have more incentive than ever to break the rule of justice and decency in our good nation. Critics of my viewpoints often argue that these people just want new opportunity like my own ancestors who arrived in the States, yet they miss the huge elephant in the room that summarizes neatly their logic: the availability of government benefits. Perhaps there was less of a downside to immigrants arriving illegally generations past, as they could not waltz up and claim food stamps or unemployment--all while not paying taxes. And in the social democratic mindset of today, our nation must care for, first and foremost, all of its citizens.

For these reasons I can see no better policy than a hardened mentality which seeks to deport all discovered illegals for their crimes. Much like in the country of Italy, we should hold little regrets about doing what is right in the best interests of American citizens of all races and creed.

Of course these decisions may divide families, yet people must come to terms with their own actions in life. America is a melting pot; not a swine's trough, and her riches must be protected at all costs. To those who feel that tough immigration policy is discriminatory towards Hispanics, view this link, which explains how Latinos have become regular targets of crime from illegal immigrant hands.

People have the right to be angry that families are broken up, or that the legal immigration process takes so long, yet this does not justify their actions against international and American law. The end should certainly not justify the means, and the insistence by modern political scientists to apply the reverse of such a tenet to immigration policy is irrefutable evidence of confused logic over the issue.

Indeed we must stand together, and in the defense of something greater than ourselves.


Gene Schilling

Writer--Our America Blog

Notes on the Border: A Liberal's View

(Please note: this piece is part of a two section opinion series on America's solution to illegal immigration. Neither article forcibly represents the views of the National Alliance Foundation)

In the age of the Tea Party and the conservative revolution which it embodies, it's sometimes easy for us to be swept up in the moment, forgetting the hard facts and truths about where we as a nation have come from, and were we may go if we do so in a united fashion. To be clear, I'm not a Republican by a long shot; I dislike the policies that too often fringe on pro-corporatism and outsourcing of American jobs, which can be tied directly to the immigration issue, as will soon be covered. Instead, my registration is Democratic, and I favor a more realistic approach to immigration, and indeed one which I think even my red state friends can come to agree with me about.

Spend even a few hours with a family of South or Central American descent, and almost universally they display and incredibly noticeable pro-familial attitude towards life, which, strange as it may be, is very conservative! Many Latinos own the small businesses of our nation, harvest the produce for our organic markets, and provide wonderful environments for growth even for other Americans under lesser circumstances. Even in the poorest of conditions, Hispanic families cherish a warm and united feeling between their members, inspiring those around them and in the case of the small business owners, creating jobs.

This is why I cannot abide to the GOP's near insistence on not only alienating, but going so far as to demonize the immigrant community for being as they will. Of course assimilation is necessary, but does anyone really want to chase away the pro-family attitude of the majority of these immigrants? Considering the mounting divorce rates spreading across the land like a plague, how is it hurtful to to bring in a culture which predominantly is advocating monogamy in marriages and a close knit, conservative way of life?

Whenever he border security issue comes up, my good Republican friends are always ready to pounce, delivering a blistering tirade against the problem of the open border, and thus sidelining the countless Hispanic immigrants who have made the lives of others better in this country through their courageous openings of businesses and shops. And regardless of the hard right conservative mementos of the Spanish language as some festering virus, most second generation immigrants speak near flawless English while their parents may pass on still communicating in their motherland tongue. If this seems untrue, then I urge my conservative detractors to listen to a speech by their newly enthroned bastion of Reaganism, Senator-elect Marco Rubio of Florida, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, yet he today speaks flawless English.

Solving our issues with the border is by no means about trying to marginalize and cut off one source of new American citizens in the form of the Hispanic community. Looser legal immigration restrictions, more protectionist job opportunities, and further investments in math and sciences are what will help us build a more united future as a true melting pot culture. This image does not need to be scapegoated habitually by the GOP, nor by the more traditionalist Democrats. As Americans we are not exclusive to one race or one party, but instead to a legacy of pride and honor as the last hope for freedom and enterprise in the world.

Let's work together; not apart.


Rick Mendoza

Adjunct Writer--Latino Coalition Blog