Illegal Aliens or Immigrants?

In 1910 a census was taken.  It was, perhaps, the most important census ever conducted by the United States of America.  It was this census which provided the core quotas used to allot the number of immigrants this country would admit, according to the Emergency Quota Act of 1921.  Originally, the act provided that all countries present in that census could see their numbers swell by 3% immigration. The need for the law was prompted by wage suppression brought on by the influx of immigrants.  There have been five major changes, reactions and adjustments since then.    

We are a nation of immigrants.  This country is a better place because of the talent and drive of our immigrants.  I am the granddaughter of three of them.  I deeply resent activists trying to recast the current debate about illegal aliens as a question of being pro- or anti-immigrant.  Do not try to adulterate this discussion by saying it is about immigrants.  That is insulting to my intelligence and even more insulting to the integrity of every foreign-born person who has waited in line, honored our laws, and deserves a seat at the table.  

            This debate is not about immigrants.  It is about illegal aliens.  Words matter and the difference between, immigrant and, illegal alien is too significant to be glossed over by manipulative, political toadies who thinks they are selling a law as a product. 

            So, before we go any farther, let me make two things perfectly plain.   First, I admire immigrants.  Second, I will not play the obfuscation game and allow the opposition to gain default points by lying about what the subject is.  We are NOT talking about immigration, we are talking about illegal aliens. 

            And since we are dipping our toe into a big vat of reality let’s try a plunge into the deep end.  Most of the illegals living in this country are decent people, here because America offers hope and their native countries only despair.  They number around 11 million.  This rounds out to 60% from Mexico, 20% from other Latin American countries, 10% from Asia and the remaining 10% from whatever is left.  You can not deport 11 million people, it would be inhumane.  Neither can you ignore them or offer them blanket amnesty; that would reward lawlessness which promotes anarchy.  We need to have some plan, some compromise, and some way to deal with this reality!  The current bill presented by eight bi-partisan legislators, [I refuse to call them the, “Gang of Eight” and when did we start naming our law-makers after communist cabals anyway?] moves us farther forward than back. 

I can live with this act.  I strongly support the Dream Act.  But all of this is dealing with a problem that already exists.  All of our good work will be useless without stemming the tide of illegal aliens assaulting out borders.  We do not have unlimited jobs or resources to deal with all of the people who want to come to the United States.

I want someone to point to a map of the world and pick out the country from which we are going to limit immigration so we can accommodate illegal aliens who are now going to be entered into our system.  Name the countries we are going to exclude.  Give me the names of the families we are going to delay, remove or reject.  Who gets a, “No” so other can be told, “Yes.”     

Don’t short change honest immigrants and keep the faith.