Delicate Topic Crossing

This is a very delicate topic for a lot of people. It really interests me because I feel like I have some creditability when it comes to the subject. I've lived in Mexico for 2 years...but not just anywhere....I was right on the border. Nogales, Agua Prieta, Esqueda, Hermosillo, Obregon, Guaymas, Navojoa... I was as close to the border as you can get, so I've seen first-hand a little of what goes on at the border. Plus my best friend is from Guadalajara, so I've got a lot of ponies in this race.

In my opinion, the topic of illegal immigration needs to be dealt with in 2 different parts but a lot of people try and shove them together. First, there's the issue of illegal immigration as it happens today. What are we doing to secure the borders, what is the process to become a citizen or obtain permission to enter the country, etc. Secondly, what do we do with all the illegal immigrants that are in this country already?

Let's address the first issue. This is what most people think of when illegal immigration controversy arises. My view will be based on Mexico, since that's where most of our problems with illegal immigration are. There's so much that goes into this. The Democratic view is to open the borders (as much as possible) and make it easier for people to come into the country. I fall more on this side. We need to change the process of how people can come into this country. The whole reason most are trying to do it illegally is because they've tried and can't do it legally. It's expensive, time-consuming, and not always fair. There are good people doing everything they know how to become citizens. Aren't these the type of citizens we want in our country? People who want to be citizens?

There obviously aren't any easy answers, but this is the main thing that needs to change. The fact that Mexico doesn't have it all together like the U.S does makes it harder. A lot of people have multiple names and no documentation. The U.S doesn't have record of them, so it's harder to track them down. A lot of people ask what the big problem is, and compare it to other countries in Europe. The sheer quantity of how many people want to cross Mexico's border to get into the U.S is far and above any other country, including Canada. Let's fix the bigger problema and it may just fix any smaller ones we have.

We need to have more accountability. Let's fix the system so that we can allow more people over, but we need to figure out some ways to tighten it up. Since documentation is limited (but should still be required) on Mexico's side, let's create some on our side so we'll have what we need then maybe we can require check-ins every month or so. Let's get the number of 'illegal' immigrants down so we can deal with legal immigrants.

This is one thing that really gets me. People often talk about 'illegal immigration' as 'immigration'.... can you see the problem here? Immigration is not the same as ILLEGAL immigration!! Many people ONLY have problems with the illegal part. So how can we just ignore that word when we discuss immigration?? We don't do it for anything else... "this person got the candy bar from the store, and this person ILLEGALLY got the candy bar from the store." Shouldn't those 2 things be handled differently?! The same goes with immigration. For those people who the VERY FIRST thing they do when they get to this country is BREAK THE LAW by entering it illegally, they aren't the people we want here. What that means is if they're willing to break the law by even getting here, they'll be willing to break it while they're here. Whether they continue to do it is irrelevant: every single illegal immigrant HAS ALREADY broken the law. 100% of illegal immigrants have done something illegal. So when you talk about immigration, please make sure you are clear on whether it's legal or not...don't lump those 2 together.

Which brings me to the Republican point of view: close the borders. Now this is just one side of the Republican view because a lot of Republicans are extremely hypocritical when it comes to illegal immigration. Just ask Alabama farmers. Most DON'T want illegal immigrants in this country, but as long as they're here let's give them a job for $2 an hour. Sadly that's more than they would earn in a lot of places in Mexico. So Republicans want to close the borders but keep a secret pathway open to their business so they can maximize profits.

I like parts of both points of view. I think we need to open the borders more, just like Democrats want. But I also want stricter punishment for those who do come illegally, just like Republicans. Now this will only work if we do enact them together. Opening the borders without restructuring the process of letting people in will only make it worse for us.

This is just the first part of the problem. The second part deals with the illegals who are already here. Ask an immigrant who became legal through the process how they feel about simply making all the illegal immigrants here citizens. Or to feel a similiar effect, ask New Yorkers how they felt about terrorism on September 12, 2001. It took some people years and years to become citizens of this great country, so granting instant citizenship to a group of people who's only group accomplishment has been to break the law is more than a little disheartening to them. And I don't blame them. There has to be something they can do besides just becoming Americans.

I know exactly how tough conditions are in Mexico. I taught people about the LDS religion in shacks made of cardboard. Some families made a few cents an hour at their jobs. I saw this for 2 years. If your heart doesn't tug at the sight of some of these poor conditions, I don't know what will. But I can't just not show up for work because I'm giving all my money to the homeless in downtown Salt Lake...I have to help where and when I can. Likewise, we just can't let anyone who wants to come into this country and be made a citizen in...there needs to be a proper way of doing it and up until now it hasn't worked out that well. So let's make a change so we can have the obedient, respectful Mexican citizens here who want to be here.

These are the 2 issues that need to be addressed, in that order. It's not easy, and I don't claim to have all the answers. But the more we keep delaying this, the worse it will get.

Now I googled illegal immigration images and some of the first ones I saw were signs saying, "If you think I'm illegal because I'm a Mexican learn the true history because I'm in my homeland." To the millions of Mexicans who feel that Mexico still owns what is now California, Utah, Nevada, Texas, etc., let me be the first to tell you that you don't own it anymore. It sucks, I know. But that's a decision your country made. You can't sit and whine about it. Either accept it or fight us for it. Land has pretty much been allocated to each country, so just use what you have. How do you think the American Indians feel? If Canada ended up taking Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, do you think Americans would stand around complaining about it? No. We'd get over it and move on. The U.S isn't your homeland...you're not entitled to everything west of the Mississippi River. Mexico is your homeland, and it could be a great place. Take your country back from the people who have corrupted it. Or hopefully the U.S will get their act together about immigration and you'll have a better chance to come here legally and potentially stay here. I'm all for immigration...it's the illegal part that bothers me.

So there's my more than 2 cents. Probaly more like a few hundred bucks worth of opinions. I love Mexico, and when the U.S gets knocked out of the world cup, I'll be cheering for the Red, White, and Green. But both sides need to give a little bit in order to make this work.