Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

America is a nation of immigrants. In fact, if you go back far enough in history, the same could be said for every country that exists today. What makes us special, though, is we are truly a "melting pot" - a people who, due to the immigration from all over the globe, assimilated the rich culture of a multitude of people, forging them into our unique "Americanism." It is this rich diversity that has helped contribute to what we call "American exceptionalism."

The current approach by our leaders in Washington towards immigration threatens to undo all the contributions that prior immigrants have made to our American heritage.

Immigrants landing at Ellis Island in 1902
(source: Library of Congress)
To begin with, we are no longer a young country with wide-open spaces in need of settlers. This situation in our past allowed for an openness approach to welcoming virtually anyone to our shores. However, this is not the situation we face today. Today, our approach to immigration should change to match up with our current needs. What kind of people do we need to bring in? What qualifications and job skills should they possess? Can they be self-sufficient and contribute to the well-being and economic vitality of the country and not become a burden on us instead? You would not fling open the doors to your home and shout "Ya'll come" and let just anybody and everybody in would you? Then why should we do the same on a national scale?

Second, no country can exist without borders, and no people can be secure as guaranteed by our Constitution unless its borders are secured. Our leaders authorize spending billions of dollars protecting the borders of other nations around the world and yet refuse to adequately secure our own, which is it's the primary function. Our safety and security are at great risk because of their failure to fulfill this basic responsibility.

Third, the policies that have been adopted over the years by the career politicians in Washington instead of promoting assimilation by those who come to America, instead encourages them to hold onto their old way of life and language, even to the point of where they still feel themselves to be citizens of their old country instead of being Americans.

Worst of all, though, not only do they place us in danger but they have watered down the value of being an American citizen. American citizenship should be the highest-prized of any citizenship in the world, for it should carry with it privileges and benefits not granted to any other people. This devaluing must not be allowed to continue, as is the case with the immigration bill set forth by the so-called "gang of eight" in the Senate.

We are Americans. We are an exceptional people, more so than any other this world has ever witnessed. We deserve better and we can do better.

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