Not since 2006, when then-President Bush attempted to pass immigration reform into law, has America seemed prepared to confront illegal immigration, a complex, contentious issue.
Now, the recent passage of a new immigration law in Arizona has generated a nation-wide debate on U.S. immigration policy and brought the issue of illegal immigration to the forefront of the public consciousness.
The Arizona law stipulates that law enforcement officials may stop any individual they suspect of being in this country illegally. In addition, the law makes it a crime for individuals not to have citizenship papers in their possession at all times.
As a Republican, I cannot support this law. I believe in maintaining a balance between freedom and security.
A healthy tension should always exist between these two cornerstones of American society. Providing law enforcement officials with the wide-ranging powers of this ambiguous law represents a serious threat to the civil liberties of the people of Arizona.
By virtue of its murky wording, application of the law will be left to the discretion of law enforcement officials. It is both dangerous to citizens and unfair to law enforcement to force officials into the difficult position of making judgment calls of this nature.
I do think it is important to recognize and acknowledge the problems and concerns that prompted the passage of this law.
Right now, security at our border is not adequate. Border town residents have had to face crime and violence as a result of our porous border. Drug traffickers have expanded their drug war from Mexico into American border towns. Allowing criminals to gain a foot-hold in our country is unacceptable.
Somehow, our nation’s lawmakers must resolve the issue of securing our borders, while also addressing the issue of the millions living here illegally.
America needs comprehensive immigration reform that acknowledges the reality of the current situation.
With an estimated 11 million people living in this country illegally, mass deportation is neither feasible, nor ethical. It would not only place an immense strain on our already bloated budget, but also deny human beings their fundamental dignity. It would also engender strong feelings of resentment within the Hispanic community and within Mexico, a valuable trading partner and ally.
Instead, lawmakers need to shift their focus to facilitating the successful assimilation of immigrants and equipping these individuals with the tools and opportunities necessary for success.
Lawmakers must provide a pathway to citizenship that provides an incentive to learn American culture and language. Immigration reform legislation should mandate passage of a citizenship test covering American history, culture and minimum proficiency of English.
Requiring some degree of proficiency in English should not be viewed as a reactionary or punitive measure. It should be seen as equipping immigrants to rise in American society. Ensuring that immigrants are conversant in English will empower them to attain higher paying jobs.
In addition, the law should require that an applicant for citizenship maintain employment and have no criminal record.
Providing a pathway to citizenship, however, is not sufficient in solving the immigration conundrum. Border security must be made a top priority.
A porous border poses a legitimate national security threat and puts the United States in a precarious position. More funds must be appropriated to provide more Border Patrol agents and to establish a “virtual” wall along the border.
We need secure borders so that we can adopt a sensible policy on citizenship, and we need a pathway to citizenship so that order can be restored in the border region.
As a nation of immigrants, we must recognize the vitality and energy that immigrants inject into our society. Think just how many of us here at SMU can trace our heritage back to those same immigrant groups.
In earlier times, Irish, Italian, Polish and Jewish immigrants were viewed with suspicion and treated with contempt. Over time, those immigrant groups not only assimilated into our society, but they also rose to occupy the highest positions of leadership.
Rather than fear the ongoing change in our country, let us instead embrace this change. Let us use this influx of talent to propel this country to a new and greater level of prosperity.
America must always be changing, always growing, always improving, if we hope to maintain our position as the lead actor on the world stage.
Chad Cohen is a junior majoring in finance, with an English minor. He is also the President of College Republicans. Cohen can be reached for questions or comments at [email protected]. College Republicans meets every Wednesday at 5:30 p..m. in The Varsity.
