June 4, 2007

A lot has been said lately about the new immigration bill lately. It's somewhat ironic, since the real issue is what to do about illegal immigration, that is, the result of ignoring the laws we already have.

I want the United States to continue to be the place that immigrants want to come to, and I want us to continue to be a place that lets in many immigrants.

I don't want that to come at the price of throwing aside our laws. I don't believe we'd really consider nullifying thousands of parking tickets, or setting aside multitudes of convictions for breaking other laws. To allow amnesty for illegal immigration would be unfair to others tried under our laws.

I want people to enter our nation legally. The fact that many do not is unsettling. It conveys a disrespect for our nation and our people that seems dangerous, especially considering they are entering a place that is home for us.

I am not trying to suggest that all illegal aliens are malicious. Many indeed have heavy burdens and tragic circumstances. I am saying that we cannot set aside our laws for some people and force others to obey our laws. That is unfair.

There may be a front other than new immigration laws on which the issue could be addressed. If there were less corruption in the nations where many illegal immigrants come from, they wouldn't need to travel to ours to find work. Perhaps we could encourage the rule of law in all nations, and thus find the rule of law easier to maintain in our own nation. Those people who now must come here to find work would be able to work in their own countries and make their own homes more prosperous. It is the rule of law and the rule of conscience in our own nation that limits corruption and enables us to prosper in our own homes, and has made our economy so appealing to others.

I hope that more people will be able to experience the blessings that a land of laws is able to bestow, and I hope that each may be able to experience it in their own home.