Editor,
Lisa’s Pampuch’s [guest] opinion piece about illegal immigration in the April 27 Free Lance is really sensible She recognizes that the problem has no simple or easy solutions. Wholesale deportations are utterly impractical, and amnesty would be a beacon that only draws more millions to steal across our borders. As she notes, attrition through enforcement seems like the most practical first step. In other words concentrate on securing our borders and enforcing our laws that prohibit employers from hiring undocumented workers. Only after these measures are implemented and the undocumented begin to find jobs hard to get, should we take other steps. (One step at a time is only prudent when addressing a complex issue where unintended consequences are almost certain.)
As the second step, we should recognize that those who have worked here for over 6 years, obeyed our law, and learned to get along in English, have earned the right to stay and to apply for citizenship. After all, we are also at fault for failing to enforce our laws.
As for guest worker program, that should wait until the need is amply demonstrated. And any guest permits should only be for short periods, 2 years or less. Experience has shown that most “guests” fail to leave.
Also, as Ms. Pampuch suggests, we should address the conditions that impel so many of the world’s poor to risk all to get here, namely overpopulation and poverty in the underdeveloped nations. (These conditions also breed terrorism.) Alleviating these problems will take decades, but we have ample evidence that most poor families will choose to have fewer children given the knowledge and the means to do so. Also, aid on a local level that helps the poor to help themselves has proven effective. Both strategies are practical and affordable. Our self interest should motivate us to greatly expand these efforts, and to do so soon.
John Blake Hollister
