Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Here are my thoughts on immigration:

First of all we must realize that we discussing a very complex issue. According to a recent article in USA Today there were 11.6 million illegal residents in January 2008, down from a record 11.8 million a year earlier, this was according to a Homeland Security report.

Many politicians as well as candidates talk about rounding all of them up and sending them back to their home country. In my opinion this is either pure political hype or worse yet coming from individuals who have no knowledge of our Constitution.

The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution calls for Due Process of law. Which in layman's terms means each and every suspect is entitled to his day in court, a task that would be nearly impossible given the sheer number and our current federal court system. The other half of this is the inability of the Justice Department to apprehend all 11.6 million individuals and house them while waiting for a court to hear their case.

I often ask people; if they are able to reach into their pocket or purse and pull out a document that would prove they were an American citizen. The answer is always the same: no! The only difference between legal and illegal might therefore be related to the inability of the suspect to speak English.

I would propose a method whereby these undocumented individuals would register, pay a fee or a fine, or both and begin a five year path towards citizenship. It is far better to have them pay taxes and know who and where they are, than to make believe they don't exist.

The real problem pertains to our seemingly reluctance to enforce our current laws regarding the hiring of undocumented workers. I believe the majority of those who cross the border illegally, would not do so if there were no jobs available. Many employers take advantage of the workers by hiring them below minimum wage, often with cruel working conditions and without benefits.

I estimate the border between the U.S. and Canada, combined with the border between the U.S. and Mexico amount to approximately six thousand miles with an addition three thousand miles of oceanfront. Protecting all of this area 24 hours a day is a near impossibility and as far as I'm concerned they need to be strengthened, not with fences, but with an increase in border patrol relying on modern technology..

In addition, there needs to be a legal work program instituted for those coming from other countries who choose to take advantage of seasonal work programs within the U.S.

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