Reducing Incentives to Illegal Immigration: Steps in the right direction

The problem of illegal immigration is a difficult problem for local communities, but it must be addressed! Marc Fisher's Washington Post column calls it "The Wrong Approach to Illegal Immigration," but reading through what he writes, I don't see a problem. Local authorities must be empowered to maintain order, and uphold the laws of the law. This is not about race, or discrimination, but about being within the boundaries of the law. To many "feel-good" socialist and leftist policies are at the root of the problem. If our laws had been enforced from the beginning, we would now see much less incentive for illegals to enter our country.

The House of Delegates has passed a bill to give state police the authority to enforce immigration laws; if the Senate and governor approve the plan, Virginia would become the third state to let police become immigration cops when they, for example, make a traffic stop.

I agree that it's the children that will suffer the most, but that is why we are a nation of liberty; individuals are held responsible for their actions. That is the exact message that would-be illegal immigrants need to get: if you enter our country illegally, your children will not necessarily have it better off.

Having said that, it is also time something was done about our current immigration laws and quotas. I'm no expert, but from what little I know, it seems to me that there is more work than available labor. Anyone in this country that wants a job, will and can eventually get one. Sure, it may take some time, months even. But there is plenty of work. We need to allow a safe, secure and orderly process through which we can welcome immigrants willing to work, contribute and integrate into our society.

Del. Jeff Frederick (R-Prince William), whose mother is an immigrant from Colombia, supported the ban as a disincentives to illegal immigration. "Look, my mother obeyed the laws and worked her butt off to come here," he said. "Like millions of other people, she waited her turn and played by the rules.

"People are fed up with illegal immigration, and they're demanding we do something about it. It's the overcrowded houses, the job market with the day laborers bringing down wages, the health system with hundreds of millions being spent in Virginia hospitals on illegal aliens, and all those ESL [English as a Second Language] classes taking away resources from other kids."

It just has to be done--no offense to the many honest, good men and women who have made the mistake, and committed a crime, in coming into this country illegally.