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Status quo on illegal immigration is unsustainable

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Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 11:58:24 pm CDT

Illegal immigration is one of today’s hot-button, hot-potato issues. And this is an election season, with no shortage of hot oratorical winds blowing from campaign stumps in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early-voting venues.

There are other, possibly more important topics stalking us at every turn, but the Iraq war, terrorism, economic troubles, rebuilding from hurricane damage, health care system gridlocks, Constitutional clashes, governmental secrecy, Guantanamo prison, tax cutting, the shrinking dollar, energy shortages, global warming, the Medicare mess … they’re all so complicated. Twelve sides to every argument.

But illegal immigration? Cut and dried, to a lot of people, and tailor-made for these politically-charged times.

As the Journal Star has suggested before, the problem with immigration reform has always been that there are too many zealots who insist that only their version of reform is acceptable. They refuse to concede anything.  And so nothing is done.

Continuing the status quo means the estimated 12 million illegals already in the country will continue to work, drive and go about their lives in a shadowy existence that limits full community participation. The channels for workers to legally enter the country will remain clogged and befuddling. Illegal immigrants will continue to flood across the border.

Evidence of the status quo’s failure is at hand.

It comes with a price, and, as Journal Star writer Kevin Abourezk reported Oct. 7, children and families too often pay that price with mental anguish.  Children have been torn from fathers and mothers, their schooling interrupted and families left without resources to care for young ones.

Abourezk’s article focused on a raid last December in Grand Island and on the raid’s repercussions throughout the city, school system, the entire student body, social services and the police department.

Also, the story was about an 11-year-old girl whose father was ripped from her family when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents staged a surprise raid on the Swift meatpacking plant in Grand Island. The young girl’s world fell apart that day.

The entire community of Grand Island was in upheaval. Children were stranded, and suspicion of authority spread like a plague. Families huddled in hiding, afraid to send their children back to school in fear the kids would be snatched up by agents.

The community as a whole reacted admirably under the circumstances. Damage seemed to be less than it could have been, but the children’s psychological torment and scars are incalculable.

The National Council of La Raza, a national Hispanic advocacy organization, has investigated the Grand Island raid, along with two others, and will release a study later this month of the effects of workplace raids on children, families and communities. Maybe some answers will come from this and other sources.  In the meantime, workplace raids continue across the United States.

The Journal Star has consistently supported repeated bipartisan efforts in Congress for comprehensive immigration reform, with steps to advance and humanize the process. But the measures were knocked down by buzz words like “amnesty” and other nonnegotiable, simplistic sticking points.

Apparently, there are some people who don’t want the hot button to cool off.

“We’re not saying we support illegal immigration,” said Yolanda Nuncio of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Social Services, “but there’s got to be a better way of handling these things.”

Thousands of innocent children would agree.


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LOADED.......... wrote on October 15, 2007 4:07 am:
" Understanding that this a a loaded issue. ONE thing remains constant and NO ONE seems to address it. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL no matter WHAT the issue. "
whatever wrote on October 15, 2007 5:39 am:
" La Raza is an inherently racist organization. Build a fence and control the border, then we can discuss rational immigration policies. Till the border is secure there is nothing to discuss. And as far as zeolots go, I'd say the JS is as zeolous as it gets. "
Edgar Pearlstein wrote on October 15, 2007 7:46 am:
" Where did that estimate of 12 million illegal aliens come from? Did it come from some real data, or is it just a number that everyone repeats because everyone repeats it? Who was the first to utter it, and what was the evidence? "
Truman wrote on October 15, 2007 8:46 am:
" If 12 million people were robbing banks would the JS be for comprehensive banking reform that would allow more poeple to rob banks? Would the JS be more concerned with the bank robbers children being left w/o a parent than it would with the laws being broken? CLOSE THE BORDERS NOW!!!!, ENFORCE THE BORDER LAWS NOW!!! And for Pete's sake stop quoting racist organizations like la raza. "
One day wrote on October 15, 2007 9:20 am:
" We want to look at all the downtrodden countries and say, "ohwhat a shame, why don't officials do something." Well, look in our own backyard. Look at the big salaries the different government officials are getting and pensions and wonderful health insurance, and from the get go, they have let this illegal problem grow and grow and set there and did nothing and look at the lives that have been created and torn to sunder. Basically this is exactly the same that for the reason of the 9/11. Our government rocked in their chairs and let that happen, then turn around and blame Bush who wasn't even President when all the hoodlums came to the U.S. to learn to fly and stomp all over the U.S. at their will. Even more the govt officials aren't going to do diddly when the cheap labor is making their friends rich. Its the same senerio as doing nothing about all the manufacturing moving to foreign countries for cheap labor, and executives reaping millions and millions at their expense. One day, this is all going to back fire and all these rich smiling faces could be carrying guns, or locking their doors, and most of all creating a world we all wish we didn't live in!!! "
over 60 wrote on October 15, 2007 9:26 am:
" Illegal is Illegal not matter wheather it's in spanish or english. There is no other defination. Get the border secure and quit prosecuting the ones who protect it. Heck, even put Blackwater down there. That would surely put a stop it the crossings. It seems we can't sustain the boomers going on social security why do we want to give it away to Illegals? Looked at the AARP newsletter about SS or SSI in texas with pictures. Look closely at the pictures and in one you will see 12 people only two look old enough for SS. In the other check it out, all but three are anglo. "
doug wrote on October 15, 2007 12:19 pm:
" Enough of the stupid handwringing over "poor children ripped from their families." These parents who illegally enter another country know what might happen. Actions have consequences. Apparently you do not agree and think we chould cater to lawbreakers because they bring children along. Sorry. There are hundreds of ways to come legally, and granting some amnesty only cheapens the efforts that legal immigrants have made. They do it the right way, and are welcomed with open arms into this country and always will be. These sob storries are getting really old. Perhaps we should start sob storries about the thousands of people killed each year by drunken illegal aliens, assaults, robberies, murders, etc. Just enforce the law, put the employers in jail. Stop giving in-state tuition to illegals, stop giving them free school, healthcare, and all the other "perks" that many of our own citizens and legal immigrants cannot get. "
Legal wrote on October 15, 2007 9:34 pm:
" you are either here legally or not, if not , get out of my country you lawbreakers! "
Absolutely Ridiculous wrote on October 15, 2007 10:32 pm:
" "Children have been torn from fathers and mothers, their schooling interrupted and families left without resources to care for young ones." "...an 11-year-old girl whose father was ripped from her family when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents staged a surprise raid on the Swift meatpacking plant in Grand Island... The young girl’s world fell apart that day." "Thousands of innocent children would agree." PLEASE!!! Enough with the "for the children" rhetoric. Perhaps the parnets of the aforementioned children should have taken it upon themselves to enter the country legally in the first place... I cannot imagine myself emigrating illegally to a country, establishing a family there, and then being upset with said country's government and/or citizens for deporting me. ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS! Here's a novel thought -- perhaps the parents of the affected children should have been responsible enough to enter the counrty legally in the first place... "
Ernie Johnson wrote on October 16, 2007 7:37 am:
" Illegal immigration IS cut-and-dried. You're either in this country legally or illegally. There's no in-between. There's no "kinda legal." The way to handle this is to round up the illegals, send them home, then help those who want to come back to come LEGALLY. Help them get to the embassies. Set up field offices to help them get the paperwork done. The Department of State can do this on its own. It's clear Congress isn't going to do anything -- they're incapable of action on anything important. "
Jim Harnly wrote on October 16, 2007 9:05 am:
" A hypothetical situation--a married man, with two school aged children, can’t find work. He and his wife were married young and had children before they were financially ready. Let’s call him Jim. Jim enterers a local gas and shop to purchase a newspaper to look for work. As it happens, the person on duty is in back, stocking the cooler. It was never Jim’s intention to do anything illegal but the register was left open and the money was visible. Jim grabs it and runs. Several days later, at a local sports field, Jim watches his daughter play soccer. An off duty policeman recognizes Jim, from the video taken during the robbery, calls it in and police show up and arrest Jim. To paraphrase your October 15th Editorial, the girl’s father “was ripped from her family”. I find it nearly impossible to discern a difference between Jim and the person arrested in the Immigration raid in Grand Island. They are both guilty of theft, Jim stole from the gas and shop. Illegal aliens are stealing from us all. "
Michael F wrote on October 16, 2007 9:45 am:
" The problem with all the pity mongering is that there is no solution offered. The problem with the "what don't you understand about illegal" crowd is there is no solution offered. It is not the most complex of problems. Clearly there is some substantial need for workers in this country. Clearly the legal immigration system is not capable of meeting that demand. However, amnesty was tried once and it failed so there will not be any great support for that now and there shouldn't be. The fault lies with our elected representatives who, in a rare spirit of bi-partisanship messed this up completely without regard to party. They stuck their heads in the sand in the hope that a problem, if long enough ignored, will go away. So here we are stuck with a massive population on illegal workers that numerous businesses depend on. Enforcement alone will not work as the problem is too big for anything but the most draconian measures to have any effect. As I see it the solution is to expand the agency that processes legal immigration so the demand can be met. Second is to make the penalties for hiring illegal immigrants so high that employers will begin to shy away from it. Third concentrate enforcement on those employers, without ignoring enforcement on the illegal immigrants who are caught. Fourth enforce the law where it comes to aiding illegal immigrants. There needs to be a way for those here illegaly for many years to become legal. Because assuming we need the workers it makes more sense for those workers to have a knowledge of this country. Therefore I think we should give precedence for legal immigration to those who are healthy, can speak English and have close relatives who are either here legally or already citizens and/or have sponsorship from a employer guaranteeing them work. However these people must make their application from their home country. If done properly the turnaround could be just a couple of months. "
AD - parents fault wrote on October 16, 2007 9:47 am:
" Yes, the children involved are hurt when their ILLEGAL parents are caught - so are the children of any parents who are caught/punished for breaking the law. Should we not punish murders/drug dealers/bank robbers/DUI's etc. because they are parents and their children will suffer. These parents chose to have children knowing full well they could be punished for being ILLEGAL and breaking the law. Let enforce the laws we already have before we discuss reform. "
TS wrote on October 16, 2007 12:18 pm:
" Immigration is certainly a challenge we need to address in this country, but the truth is that the issue and the people who are the target of the discussion are being used as scapegoats. As long as you are all focused on blaming immigrants, legal or not for the challenges the US is experiencing from outsourced jobs, domestic unemployment, unaffordable and/or inaccessable health care, the decline in our educational system, etc. you will not hold the people you elected responsible for solving those problems, and that is fine with them. "
Concerned wrote on October 16, 2007 1:46 pm:
" The best way to stop it is too go after what they are here for and that is Work. If you fine the companies that hire them, Then you stop their income they will leave. They will take their children with them. Problem solved!. The only problem with that is that Big Business is not going to want that as it will cut into their Mega profits and their 60 million a year salaries. Bottom line is they don't Care!!!! And most politians are just playing lip service. "
whatever wrote on October 16, 2007 3:58 pm:
" It isn't brain surgery to build a fence and enforce the integrity of our borders, then we can work on immigration reform. Including locking up those who hire illegals. "AD-parents fault", my brain hurts just trying to figure that logic out. "
Amused wrote on October 16, 2007 5:32 pm:
" YOU Nebraskans are to blame as you support businesses who hire illegal aliens. (Meat packing plants) "
JG wrote on October 18, 2007 10:49 pm:
" It is amazing how many of you talk as though you are experts on this issue but clearly know nothing about it. There are not thousands of ways of entering this country legally. In fact, there are very few ways to enter and for many there is no way to enter legally. For those who do have a path to enter legally, there are lots of barriers and time lags. For those of you who like to jump on the "It's illegal" train, you should know that is not a crime to enter the country without status. It is a civil infraction similar to a speeding ticket. I'm sure none of you have ever gotten a speeding ticket. By analogy, that would make you illegal and un-American. "
Dave wrote on October 21, 2007 7:22 am:
" And the reason is: (Quote) In California, former Republican Rep. Robert K. Dornan was defeated by Democrat Loretta Sanchez by 984 votes in the 1996 election. State officials found that at least 300 votes were cast illegally by non-citizens.[7] Investigation of the allegations established that aliens had illegally voted in those elections, but not in sufficient numbers to have changed the result. Authorities appear not to have prosecuted any of the aliens who voted illegally. It appears that in at least most of these cases, aliens who voted illegally may have done so unknowingly. This is a result of the enactment of The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) ― known as the Motor-Voter law ― which made the process of registering to vote nearly automatic for people applying for a state driver’s license or ID card, and called for distributing registration applications in state welfare offices.[8] Under this law, the information supplied by the applicant for a license doubles as information for voter registration unless the applicant indicates that he/she does not want to be registered to vote.[9] With driver’s licenses made available by several states to aliens (both legal and illegal), it seems likely that voter rolls now contain large numbers of non-citizens ― enough in close elections to change the outcome if those aliens illegally vote.[10] An effort in Congress in 1998 to preclude the registration of non-citizens was narrowly defeated.[11] "
maggie wrote on November 4, 2007 9:44 am:
" There is a simple way to end the problem of these "poor" illegal alien children being "torn" from their parents----send the entire family back to the country they came from, then these poor children won't have their wonderful law breaking parents torn from them. Those "law breaking " parents who have stolen some unsuspecting american's social security number, violated our immigration laws and entered this country illegally, and who knows what else they may have done ( are doing) to stay here. Has anyone bothered to find out what the words La Raza mean? Guess what folks, it means "the race". Hello---doesn't that reak of racism to you????? Oh wait, I forgot, the only people that can be called racists in america are the caucasians. Yep, having your organization called" THE RACE" isn't racist or exclusionary. Hey kids, did you know that the majority of illegals coming into this country are from Mexico? And do you know what Mexico does to the illegals trying to cross into their country on their southern border? They round them up, lock them up, and send them back. President Eisenhower had no problem sending back approximately 1,000,000 mexicans after WWII so what's the big deal now?? And the biggest joke is when the propagandists write/say that the illegals are only here doing jobs Americans are unwilling to do----what a laugh!!! My brothers work construction---I have worked in factories as a day laborer so whose kidding who? Wake up America before racist groups like "La Raza" rip the American dream from your fingers forever. I prefer that our tax dollars are spent on our citizens FIRST!!!!!!! We come first---PERIOD!! "

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