U.S. Needs Skills-Based Immigration Laws

By James Kumpel
August 19, 2011

The euphemisms for those people who have entered our country without proper registration or visa status has evolved from illegal aliens to illegal immigrants to guest workers to undocumented immigrant. Regardless of what phrase is used or how necessary the work may be, the bottom line is that laws were broken due to porous borders, lax enforcement efforts, or conscious intent.

Let's be frank. Most Americans buy into the view that this country owes much to its immigrant heritage. That includes Republicans, Southerners, Arizonans and Tea Partiers. I realize that this concept must be hard to believe for the mainstream media, Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid because racism is so central to their irresponsible ad hominem attacks on Republicans. But the transparently political reason for Democratic politicians to support greater college aid and drivers licenses for illegal aliens is to build up another voting bloc beholden to the party during a period of center-right ideological orientation.

There needs to be some strategy to bring long-standing residents into the societal fold in order to ensure true naturalization, language training, civics lessons, tax collections and government identification. However, this process has to begin after we have established secure borders that stem the flow of more people who live "off the grid" and off the books. While some might balk at the idea of building fences or guarding national boundaries, there are excellent rationales for doing so, including national security, fiscal responsibility, civil order and property rights.

As a society, we recognize the need to show government-issued ID to enter a bar, board a plane, cash a check or pick up a package. We accept the consequences of parking for too long on a certain street. We accept the responsibility of filing taxes annually and applying for the right to properly zone properties. It should not be viewed as biased, unfair, or intolerant to expect those seeking to permanently work and live in the U.S. to file the proper forms, adhere to basic standards, learn the national language, understand our democratic traditions and maintain proper identification.

Virtually all Americans understand the contributions of immigrants to our country's success and progress. Everyday we observe the work ethic, entrepreneurship, and ambition of first generation immigrants who are trying to establish a better way of life for themselves and their families.

However, many citizens in Border States endure the costs of caring for sick or pregnant illegals whose hospitalization bills are passed onto the state or local governments. Border States absorb undue and disproportionate societal costs in dealing with the drug or human trafficking, heightened educational and social services demands, and inhumane living conditions in various facilities that house illegal aliens.

The federal government should enforce its own laws and stop leaving the states with the tab. It is unfair to our citizens and to the migrants who are subject to manipulation by employers or others to allow the status quo to continue.