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Commentary: Solving the immigration problem in the US

by Salvatore Oliva

Illegal is illegal! It is not a matter of whether the illegal are Central American, South American, Asian or Eastern European; it is illegal for anyone to enter any country without proper documentation, sponsorship and appropriate fees. This is unfair to all the legal immigrants who went through the process and who are going through it as I write. We tend to think the solution is so difficult, but it is a matter of commonsense. Bush has band-aided the issue with a wall when all over the world people are tearing them down. Talk about costing American taxpayers a bundle!

Solution!

Current illegal immigrants - Legalize all illegal immigrants currently in the United States, through the usual immigration process. Remember, they are working in our kitchens, on our farms and doing any job Americans never think of doing. For the ones that unsuccessfully go through the process, deport them and their families.

Deportation - Deport any illegal immigrant with a criminal record, including their families. We know what the pattern will be, if the family stays, so we do not need are jails anymore clogged than they already are. Our government's pork belly funds can go towards transporting illegal immigrants to their respective countries. The government can also give airlines tax breaks for all immigrants flown overseas.

Military - Immediately make all legal immigrants within age, eligible for the draft.

Employers employing illegal immigrants - Any owner of a restaurant, farm, vineyard, maintenance company, convenient store etc., should be fined for every illegal immigrant working for them. This fine can possibly help pay for the deportation fee.

English Language - Personally, I can care less, if a person speaks English or not. The American consumerist culture and media can teach anyone English in less than a month. But, for all Americans living in fear of non-English speaking people, why not make basic English a requirement within the legalization process, this way you do not have to yell and scream at a wait staff, if your poor little son gets a Pellegrino, instead of Perrier.

Borders - In the case of Mexico, there is no government-to-government solution. Mexico will not do anything, because dollars are coming back into their country's economy. A wall is so medieval. Is there a moat and archer also? I am not sure on this one. What about utilizing our troops in Iraq in our own country? Station them on the border, at airports and harbors.

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