Immigration

I heard this morning that some local businesses had been visited by immigration and that a few employees had been detained. This is a very controversial topic that has directly affected someone I know. And, a topic about which I am conflicted.Yes, illegal immigration is just that - illegal. These individuals come into the country, do not pay taxes or social security, utilize our public services i.e. schools, health departments, and often are uninsured. Its not fair for Americans to shoulder this financial burden. There are others from those same countries waiting patiently to work through the immigration process to come to the US. It's not fair to those who put the time and energy into following the rules. No, illegal immigration is not a cut and dry subject. Our immigration processes are flawed, underbudgeted, and take a lifetime to work through. As people, those who come into our country illegally often have a better work ethic than those of us who are here - they truly WANT freedom. Sometimes, those of us born into freedom, take it for granted. Many who come into this country are simply trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Having spent time in industries where there is a larger number of illegal immigrants than most other industries, I would say that there are Americans would not do these jobs for minimum wage and I have watched applicants come in and say those words. Until our work ethic as a society surpasses the desire of illegal immigrants, we will always have a problem. In the end, the law is the law and illegal immigration has to be stopped. But, we have to fix our internal issues - the immigration process, assistance programs that reward individuals for not working who can, and a growing American attitude of entitlement coupled with a decrease in our society's work ethic. These are not only issues that affect immigration, but will affect America's ability to succeed in a globalized future. But, as a human, I have sympathy for those who do come here, albeit illegally, with hope, excitement, and a strong desire to succeed.

(Note: This post was taken from a Summer 08 entry I made on myspace)