The Militant Moderate

One of several pressing national policy issues, all running behind the Iraq War, is that of immigration policy.  This is either a simple or a complex issue, depending upon whether one is an average citizen or a politician.  Because this is also an emotional issue with racial and ethnic overtones, the Militant Moderate has not been anxious to address it.  Arriving at any solution which may be simply stated easily understood has been something of a challenge for him.  The task is further complicated by the somewhat muddled history of the MM’s own thoughts on the matter.  

Three out of four American people say very emphatically, “Close the borders!  Establish tight border control!  Stop the illegal immigration!  Do it NOW!”  That should not be all that hard to understand.  But, alas, it is quite difficult for politicians.  

The clinker for some is the issue of what to do with the 11 million (perhaps 15-20 million) illegal immigrants who are already in this country.  The American people are not quite as decisive about that, but two-thirds of them say, “Remove the illegal immigrants and take them back across the borders.”  However, that is even harder for the politicians to understand.  

Let us look at political differences.  Generally, the democrats favor tight border control.  Republicans favor better border control, but only if an expansive “guest worker” program is authorized and implemented to take care of those party members, corporations, and other donors who profit from the cheap labor that loose immigration provides.  

Democrats are not so strong about removing illegal immigrants, since their kin generally constitute a democratic voting block.  Republicans are not strong on removal of illegal aliens because these constitute a cheap source of labor for their supporters.  In some instances, such as in Jeb Bush’s Florida, Latino immigrants may be a voting block for the republicans.  

Workers and their organizations, which normally support democrats, see immigrants as undermining jobs for Americans and lowering the prevailing wage scales.  Democrats almost universally favor the raising of the minimum wage for workers, while republicans almost always oppose such increases as a favor to their business base of support.  

The president has not exhibited leadership in addressing the immigration issue, and normally avoids it.  However, he is now proposing tightening the borders, but only if an expansive “guest worker” program is approved.  He also favors a form of amnesty (by another name) for all those here now illegally but employed.  Republican majority leader Frist, a candidate for 2008, is pushing a bill to control immigration, but without any guest worker or amnesty feature.  Senator McCain, front runner republican for 2008, supports the president.  It would appear from her utterances that Senator Hillary Clinton favors tight border control, no large guest worker program, but a form of amnesty for most who are here now, working, and exhibiting good citizenship.  A number of democrats and some republicans, running for office in affected states, want tight border control, deportation of illegal aliens, and little or no guest worker program.  

Thus, that which is a simple issue for most of their constituents becomes a complex issue for politicians of both parties.  This is also a hot issue for voters, aggravated by the fact that politicians are doing nothing substantive about it.  

The Militant Moderate agrees with most other Americans in stating emphatically:  “Close the border and enforce it!”  The widow of one of his wartime navy buddies has a cabin and acreage in southern Arizona which is subject to regular trespassing of illegal aliens who pour through our border in that area.  We simply must put the necessary resources into border control.  That is the first step.  

According to various analysts, the amnesty of 1986 did not work well at all.  Therefore, any general amnesty now would be ill advised.  Yet the Militant Moderate would find it very difficult to face the repugnant sight of a round up of more that 11 million people, put into cattle cars, and shipped back across the border like cattle.  Yet these persons are here illegally, in defiance of our laws, and we cannot just keep ignoring or forgiving such a condition.  

Inevitably we must do this very bitter thing on some scale.  The best minds need to be put to work to address the most humane way of handling that effort, possibly allowing a probationary period for some, priority for legal immigration for others, and outright deportation for many.  It is very difficult to allow privileges for this group without giving obvious rewards for past illegal conduct.  Conditions need to be set, and every person and his/her whereabouts accounted.  Our laws need to be stiff enough to provide stiff penalties and prosecution of those who employ illegal, undocumented immigrants.  

But first, everybody must stand up and shout, “Stop the flow!  Secure the borders!”  Then we need to elect people to office who are not the hirelings of corporate and business interests but servants of the people, so we can actually get our laws enforced.  

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA Militant Moderate