One of the next big items that I believe will become a topic of debate in the USA will be immigration. There are many facets to this problem, and I believe that it would be wiser to tackle them separately, rather than all at once. I believe that it is foolish to try and solve all the problems at once. There's too much that can go wrong. (See my posting on health care and unintended consequences.)
So:
1. What do we do about the people that are already here illegally, who came as adults?
2. What do we do about people who are here illegally, but who came as minors? (presumably with their parents)
3. What do we do about those who wish to come in the future?
The following are my opinions only, and subject to change based on intelligent arguments and discussion. Please don't throw any accusations about racism. No name calling.
1. I believe that those who came here illegally as adults should permanently lose their chance to become US citizens. They should, subject to certain conditions, be allowed to stay legally.
- No serious criminal record (Let the legislators decide how serious)
- Payment of a fine - not enough to be crippling, but enough to show the seriousness of their actions. The fine would be payable over several years, and not all at once.
- Employment and being productive members of society
- Successful high school graduation with at least a "C" grade point average (Special needs students would obviously excepted)
- Sufficient English skills
- Employment or college
- No serious criminal record
- Those who enlist in the military should be given a fast track to citizenship, barring other factors.
3. Here I'm out of my league. We need to control the borders, and who is allowed in. A guest worker program might best fit the bill. From what I've heard the entire immigration system needs reform (but not all at once). It's byzantine, unfair, and keeps people whose skills we need out of the country.
Anyway, there are some thoughts. What are yours?
I, too, have thought about this issue in recent days. This is one area where my conservative politics and my Christian world view don't always mesh. Besides that, there are too many complications to make it a simple matter.
ReplyDeleteFor example, even your first scenario can be broken down further. What about those in category one who are now married to a legal alien or citizen and have had children here. In this case my beliefs on family and marriage trump my conservative political views, and I believe we must allow people in such circumstances stay.
Unforutnately, we made the mistake years ago not to enforce the law, and now we must pay the price of that neglect.
Glenn
www.pastorglenn.wordpress.com
These people should be allowed to stay, again subject to fines etc. but the key is THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BECOME CITIZENS. They can be productive members of society, but they shouldn't be allowed to help influence the political makeup of the country. Perhaps exceptions should be made if they are willing to serve in the military.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a blog with some other thoughts about immigration and missions. You can read it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://pastorglenn.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/immigration-and-mission/
Glenn