Friday, May 25, 2007

George Will

In 1986, when there probably were 3 million to 5 million illegal immigrants, Americans accepted an amnesty because they were promised that border control would promptly follow. Today the 12 million illegal immigrants, 60 percent of whom have been here five or more years, are as numerous as Pennsylvanians; 44 states have populations smaller than 12 million. Deporting the 12 million would require police resources and methods from which the nation would rightly flinch. So, why not leave bad enough alone?

Concentrate on border control, and workplace enforcement facilitated by a biometric identification card issued to immigrants who are or will arrive here legally. Treat the problem of the 12 million with benign neglect. Their children born here are American citizens; the parents of these children will pass away.
I've been touting a compromise much like the one he cites from 1986, which is why historical perspective is a valuable thing to have. Bring on the border control!

2 comments:

Steve Burri said...

I imagine that you have your kids making those Lileksian papier mache alligators already!

Steve Burri said...

Wicked Thoughts also has an even broader based solution:

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately. Illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, wild animals attacking humans in Florida . Not me. I concentrate on solutions to problems. The result is a win-win-win situation:

+ Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.

+ Use the dirt to raise the levees in New Orleans .

+ Put the Florida alligators in the moat.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?