Robert Kelly
A proposal for immigration reform is under debate in the Senate. It is not yet law. It will probably pass in that body, but then it must get through the obstacle course known as the House of Representatives where, pundits say, resistance is expected from both sides of the aisle.
This is a major issue that has been building for decades. It has now reached the point where procrastination - the favorite tool of politicians when dealing with tough issues - is no longer possible because the pain of a nonsolution has become apparent to the public. The lack of a positive response will infuriate voters even more.
The Senate response is typical. Its tried-and-true motto is: If you can't or won't fix it, make it appear that you have. In this case, the nonperforming response is the typical 300-plus-page document that looks good, and according to many, fixes nothing.
According to Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation, this bill, if passed, "would transform the United States socially, economically, and politically. Within two decades, the character of the nation would differ dramatically from what exists today."
Perhaps the importance of the problem is best demonstrated by the use of numbers that are maintained by Immigration Counters.com:
* Counting extended family, there are more than 20 million illegal immigrants in the country.
* They have wired more than $30 billion to Mexico since Jan. 2006.
* Since 1996, social services used by illegals have cost more than $397 billion.
* Public schools have more than 4 million illegals who have cost the public more than $14 billion since 1996.
* U.S. jails have more than 300,000 illegals at a cost since 1996 of $1.4 billion - and there are more than 600,000 fugitive illegals.
* There have been about 2 million babies born to illegals (who become automatic citizens) since 2000.
* It is estimated that more than 9 million skilled jobs have been lost to illegals.
America's modern politicians have demonstrated repeatedly, on such issues as energy and entitlement programs, how irresponsible they can be. But when politics-as-usual contaminate such issues as national defense and homeland security (immigration), the games must stop.
A proposal for immigration reform is under debate in the Senate. It is not yet law. It will probably pass in that body, but then it must get through the obstacle course known as the House of Representatives where, pundits say, resistance is expected from both sides of the aisle.
This is a major issue that has been building for decades. It has now reached the point where procrastination - the favorite tool of politicians when dealing with tough issues - is no longer possible because the pain of a nonsolution has become apparent to the public. The lack of a positive response will infuriate voters even more.
The Senate response is typical. Its tried-and-true motto is: If you can't or won't fix it, make it appear that you have. In this case, the nonperforming response is the typical 300-plus-page document that looks good, and according to many, fixes nothing.
According to Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation, this bill, if passed, "would transform the United States socially, economically, and politically. Within two decades, the character of the nation would differ dramatically from what exists today."
Perhaps the importance of the problem is best demonstrated by the use of numbers that are maintained by Immigration Counters.com:
* Counting extended family, there are more than 20 million illegal immigrants in the country.
* They have wired more than $30 billion to Mexico since Jan. 2006.
* Since 1996, social services used by illegals have cost more than $397 billion.
* Public schools have more than 4 million illegals who have cost the public more than $14 billion since 1996.
* U.S. jails have more than 300,000 illegals at a cost since 1996 of $1.4 billion - and there are more than 600,000 fugitive illegals.
* There have been about 2 million babies born to illegals (who become automatic citizens) since 2000.
* It is estimated that more than 9 million skilled jobs have been lost to illegals.
America's modern politicians have demonstrated repeatedly, on such issues as energy and entitlement programs, how irresponsible they can be. But when politics-as-usual contaminate such issues as national defense and homeland security (immigration), the games must stop.
Who opposes meaningful reform?
The Senate passed the Secure Fence Act last year. Only 19 voted against it. Except for Chafee of Rhode Island and Jeffords of Vermont, all were Democrats, including Reid, Durbin and Kerry. Kennedy didn't vote.
Last year, 34 senators, including Kennedy and Kerry, voted against declaring English as the national language. All but two were Democrats.
Just as the U.S. is a nation divided over war with one side pursuing victory and the other retreat, so it is divided on the issue of illegal immigration. Republicans first want secure borders; Democrats first want amnesty and chain (family-based) migration.
That is the essential fight. They argue; we lose.
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Robert Kelly writes regularly for the opinion pages of the Eagle-Tribune Newspapers. His e-mail address is robert.kelly5@verizon.net.
