How to Fix US Immigration Law: What Must Be Done
Posted by admin on May 12, 2010
Recently, the US has seen their immigration laws go under a microscope amidst the latest fiasco regarding Arizona’s changed laws. The Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer recently passed a law that will make it illegal for any non-American to be present in the state without the necessary documents . It is also being strictly enforced, where citizens and non-citizens alike are under heavy scrutiny. This brings up the very apt comparison to an Orwellian society. Illegal immigrants are rounded up and shipped out. This is a slippery slope that the Americans are going down; there is no end to the potential harm to civil liberties and freedoms if laws such as these are passed.
Thankfully President Barrack Obama is not one to stand for it. He, like his forefathers, truly believes that the US is a nation built on tolerance and immigration. After all there would not be a USA if not for the immigrants, and he actually sees that foreigners contribute to the economy and fill important positions such as locum doctors jobs. He believes that law-abiding citizens of American and immigrants who are law- abiding should not be subjected to an air of suspicion and any kind of abusive behaviour by the state. Changing the immigration policy should not be allowed to set aside basic principles. However, there are several senators and governors who support Brewer’s stance, but there are more who support the President.
Maybe the law in Arizona is too strict but it could be that all immigrants must be given the ability to regularize their status in the country.
The illegal immigration law must be beefed up so that it has teeth. It can’t be that people can simply just get into the country and that’s it, they are ok. Thus better patrols and screening along the American borders and coastlines should be employed to keep the situation for getting worse.
The main problem lies along the Arizona and Texas borders and whether it’s a fence or more patrols or assisting the countries of central and South America in preventing their citizens from trying to come into the country illegally, the influx must be halted.
This is a tricky issue for the President, especially so soon into his term. Immigration is a touchy subject (why? I don’t know) and he must tread lightly.
The US must return back to their roots as an accepting nation for immigrants. Their neighbours to the north have made successful laws pertaining to immigration, and they have few if any problems. The Americans need to follow suit or the insanity seen in Arizona will spread to other states, even those that are seen as progressive.
The problems need to be solved from the top. The governors and law makers must open their eyes to the current problems. But this seems to be a problem for those who support immigration law reform; as many governors and senators from both parties are finding it difficult to find support.