How Do We Deal With Millions of Illegal Aliens

Some say there may be as many as 20 Million illegal immigrants in the United States. (Others argue the figure is smaller ... but the total is purely academic !)

How do you deal with and/or deport several million illegal immigrants ?

How do you clean a crocodile's teeth ? Very, very, very carefully !

Mass deportation has been tried in the past - (but we wound up re-importing Mexican nationals when World War II created manpower shortages on the homefront !)

In 1932 , about one million people of Mexican descent were rounded up unceremoniously , and sent to Mexico by bus. It is said about one third of those "rousted" were naturalized American citizens - but no one cared.

This was an era in which white robed Klansmen marched by the thousands on the streets of Washington ; when a Black man could be punched without warning or repercussion for failure to make way for a White man on a sidewalk ; when the German-American Bund was taken over by swastika-wearing Brownshirts.(Some of the members left; others stayed and applauded.) In the little upstate NY town I grew up in , a Catholic church was burned to the ground - while volunteer firemen watched approvingly .

There are some who would like us to return to the 1930's , and deport anyone who "looks or sounds Mexican" ; and they are not fussy about what methods are used to get rid of these "beaners" ; these "wetbacks"...but it's not 1932 anymore.

One quarter of all American citizens are "Hispanic" - and - though they rarely vote in recognizable blocs , they are (potentially) a political force to be reckoned with. Anyone who thinks they can be swept aside 1930s - style is in for a rude awakening.

In addition, our "uninvited population" has - through 50 years of custom and usage-acquired certain expectations - which the Courts have increasingly interpreted as "rights" .

For example , NY City - for whatever reason - began giving Food Stamps to "illegals" a long time ago. Recently , faced with budget constraints, the City decided it would cut off illegals from support - because they were non-citizens,and thus disqualified. The Courts told them - in no uncertain terms - to restore the cuts immediately. It's doubtful the City will appeal.

In just about every jurisdiction of the United States , illegals are as eligible for welfare and other forms of tax-supported assistance as any native - born applicant;and may , in some areas , have an easier time getting aid.

At the Federal level , immigrants who are OTM (Other Than Mexican) cannot be deported without a hearing - and are entitled to appeal if they don't like the results.It is only recently that facilities have been built to detain (some of) them:probably in response to CNN's investigative reports on "Catch and Release" policies.

To my way of thinking, the best way to deal with the problem of illegal immigration is to remove as much of the economic incentive as possible.

Most illegals come here for economic reasons : They can't make enough at home to support their families , so they sneak in , get jobs , and send money home : a lot of money . Something close to 20% of Mexico's income is derived from money sent home by "expatriate Mexicans" . Cut that money off , and the expatriates will drift home - or move on to Canada (which could actually use the extra manpower !)

There is a Pilot Program, operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,which would allow American employers to run prospective employees through a database - at no cost -and to determine in minutes whether they may be employed legally or not.

This program is offered now on a voluntary basis - but should be made mandatory for all employers over a certain size . The mandate should include heavy penalties for deliberate employment of illegal aliens : including seizure of assets , and temporary/permanent shutdowns , depending on the seriousness/persistence of violations.

A second possibility (which might have been one of the motivations for NAFTA and other pending trade agreements) is that of making the aliens' home countries a more attractive alternative than risky border crossings.

Back a few years ago , the US had an over-abundance of illegal immigrants from Ireland , who seemed determined to dig their heels in and stay. After a sudden flurry of economic renewal on "the auld sod" , Irish "visitors" began going home in record numbers. People will always flow toward better prospects - economic,social, or political ; and we might want to consider that idea.

There is some indication Mexico's economy is improving . One commentator felt the country offers enormous possibilities , and may become a hemisphere "superstar" within the next 20 years.

The CIA "Country Fact Book" is less enthusiastic : noting severe environmental and economic problems and a general unwillingness of the present Mexican Congress to address them. (Presidente Fox got fairly good marks, but his term has expired .)

It might be useful if we could improve Mexico's economic attractiveness - without damaging our own ; but realistically , that's another " cleaning crocodiles' teeth" kind of job : to be handled with enormous care - if at all !

So what options does that leave us (other than the mass murder one correspondent half-jokingly suggested - or the annexation of Mexico suggested by someone else ) ?

1. End the influx by securing the Border - Berlin Wall -style if neccessary.

2. Make it mandatory for all businesses over a certain size to use ICE software to check immigration status of prospective and existing employees.

3. Make the penalties for deliberate employment of "undocumented" aliens so burdensome the shareholders will demand compliance.

4. Lock up "OTMs" and deport all illegals quickly as possible .

5. Elect politicians who are opposed to open borders.

Comments

[Don Meaker]

The Eisenhower administration had good results by deporting illegal aliens to the southern most part of Mexico. Some went on a ship, which managed to find a few weeks of bad weather on the way to Veracruz.

The employee sanctions worked well, once Jumpin' Jim Swing was put in. He swapped the hopelessly corrupt INS agents around, so they were a fair distance from the wealthy employers who had bribed them. The senators had no pull with him. He enforced the law, the employers couldn't stand the risk, and the immigration criminals self deported, rather than starve. They took their children with them, and the public schools got better just in time for the response to Sputnik.