The issue of immigration reform now gathers momentum in the 113th Congress.
The United States has always been a country of immigrants. Therefore, there have been concerns about the arrival of immigrants to America, and legislative action to address these concerns, throughout the country’s history.
In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States and the youngest man ever to accede to the presidency (he was 42 years of age), addressed the immigration issues that occupied that period of American history.
Roosevelt said, “We should insist that if the immigrant that comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of his creed, or birthplace, or origin.”
Roosevelt, very much progressive in his politics by 1907, further stated that “We have room for but one American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, and only one loyalty, and that is to the American people.”
The issue of immigration today is certainly different than in the time of Theodore Roosevelt. However, he makes several good points. Immigrants should learn how to speak English, pledge allegiance to our flag, and give their loyalty to their adopted country, the United States.
They should also pay taxes, and pay any fines incurred by being an illegal immigrant. There 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States today, and they are not all from Mexico. The immigration of Mexicans has dropped to a trickle due to the state of the U.S. economy. It is simple: there are no jobs, and little significant immigration from across our southern border.
However, with 11 million undocumented illegals already in the country, the problem is ready to be addressed with congressional action.
Congressional action must be realistic and reflect the America which has emerged in the 21st century. Yes, the border should be secured. However, this is an expensive undertaking and should be thoroughly investigated to determine feasibility, costs, viability, and effectiveness.
Any congressional immigration legislation should ensure that those foreign nationals entering the United States who plan to stay will speak English, pay any immigration-associated fines, have a documented job, and seek American citizenship in a reasonable time.
The reality is that America needs immigrants. Our economy needs these workers in agriculture, maintenance, construction, and hospitality industries, as well as many other industries that have a growing dependency on working immigrants.
Ask farmers in Kent County and throughout the Eastern Shore how they would fare without immigrant help. This dependency on immigrant workers is not only true locally, but nationally, especially in California. The seafood processing industry is significantly affected by the supply of immigrant labor available during the crabbing season as well. This industry has seen problems because the allocation of visas for immigrant workers are not as plentiful as those in other industries and professions that are classified as agricultural.
Congress has, as a result of the last national election, become acutely aware of a long-standing and festering problem facing this nation and the 11 million people now living within our country who are undocumented immigrants.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, of Virginia, in a speech this week, will tell Republicans that the party must “balance the rule of law and respect for those waiting to enter this country legally, with care for people and families, most of whom just want to make a better life and contribute to America.”
Immigration issues act as a challenge for both political parties and a Congress that has not been prone to rapid action or bipartisan solutions.
Fletcher R. Hall
02-05-13
Joe Diamond says
Fletcher,
Everything you present is true, pretty much. And the status of the 11 milion illegals should be resovlved. Many are from mexico and some from everywhere else.
The bigger issue is not the immagrants failing to learn the rap for US citizenship. Serious applicants will be glad to learn that stuff…in fact…many have advancerd degrees and are very aware of what America represents. The focus of immigration reform, I think, is actually import control. Any manufactured goods assembled by children should be banned. Drug arrests with a plea bargin should not be allowed unless the dealer / supplier is identified. American goods have to be competitive at least in America. Knowing the problems drugs cause in out society, eliminating their sources is part of the deal. Illegal immagrants with a pack of drugs need to be taken out of the game………..not by hurting them but by ending the game.
There was a time when the huddled masses referred to at the Sttatue of Liberty had a slot in America. Them days be gone. This place cannot support more masses………….we need to cut back on out own masses. Fixing the places the illegal immigrants could be a first step. And it looks like the US Coast Guard is about to give it a shot. South American smuggling is getting harder……………..the current administration is picking up the pace down there.
Joe
Gren Whitman says
The Republican Party’s problem with a legislated pathway to citizenship for 11 million “illegal aliens” is simply that—given its heretofore-despicable record on immigrants and immigration—most of the new Americans are likely to register and vote Democratic.
The GOP finds itself in a triple dilemma: (1) Do nothing and alienate American-Hispanics; or (2) oppose amnesty and ditto; or (3) support amnesty and alienate its Tea Party nutcases.
Joel Brandes says
How very convenient to have Republicans to blame for all the ill’s of the country. Never mind that many, of the most deplorable, cities in the country have been governed by Democrats for generations. As for Tea Party people being “NUTCAKES” some might qualify, but many Democrats could be considered ripe for the loony bin also. Judge not, that ye be not judged. Better put, “LET THE POLITICAN OR HIS PARTY WITHOUT SIN SUDDENLY APPEAR.”