General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Hopes Frustrated, Many Latinos Reject the Ballot Box Altogether [View all]WilmywoodNCparalegal
(2,654 posts)in the spirit of the 1st Amendment and as an immigrant myself - deportation is the price you pay if you break some immigration rules. An article cited above indicates that over 48% of those being deported are criminal aliens and others subject - under the law - to deportation.
Since when is that a bad thing? If I drive while drunk, I should expect to suffer the consequences of my actions. If I fail to declare my income and pay taxes, I should expect the IRS to come after me. Sure, I could use the excuse that huge corporations pay fewer or no taxes, but I doubt the IRS auditors would give me a freebie.
I guess my point is that we have to define what we mean by 'immigration reform.' Is this reform about changes that can be made to very bureaucratic and old-fashioned rules to allow for more ways for people to obtain work authorization or is this reform that some propose a basic 'carte blanche' for anyone to just pop in the U.S. and work?
As an immigrant who actually did it by the book, I find this second option a slap in the face not just to me but those thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world who have to wait years - and even decades - to come to the U.S. legally.
I am well aware that the current immigration system is not up to par with 21st century realities and there must be at some point a concerned effort to improve it, strengthen it and even re-design it if necessary.
I will fight for that all day - as I have done so for quite some time. But I will not fight for the kind of 'immigration reform' that makes a mockery out of following the process in place and doing things honestly and by the book.
I do not feel sympathy for those who willingly chose a less than honest path into the U.S. and then have to pay the price for their actions (such as being deported, leaving family behind). Immigrating to any country is not a right, but a privilege. Every country in the world has the right to set up its own rules and eligibility criteria.
The President is actually enforcing laws that should have been enforced for quite some time; he is doing his job as the Chief Executive. However, he cannot unilaterally legislate immigration reform. That has to be a congressional action. The main problem is that different factions within the parties define 'immigration reform' differently. Even among self-described liberals, there are a variety of opinions on what immigration reform should entail.
There is not going to be an easy fix or a solution that will please everyone. But there is no doubt that something must be done, both on the business and family sides of immigration.