I will grant you that President Obama has brazenly political motives for announcing on Friday that immigration agents would no longer deport roughly 800,000 young, illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria (e.g., no criminal record and either military service or school attendance). This is an obvious play for Latino votes and an attempt to preempt Sen. Marco Rubio’s plan along similar lines. I will also agree with critics who question whether the president has the right to enact this sweeping change by fiat when legislation to accomplish this goal–the DREAM Act–has been stalled in Congress. But all that aside, I believe Obama’s move is right on the merits.
There are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. For all the tough talk on the right about deportations, there is no realistic prospect that any but a tiny minority will ever be deported. That leaves a vast number of people living in a shadow economy where they are not allowed to work legally, subject to exploitation, and are, in effect, exempt from the protections of the law. This is not a tenable, long-term status quo. The sooner those who are here can be moved into a more legal status where they can work legally and pay taxes, the better.
Fears that this is an “amnesty” that will encourage further illegal immigration seem overblown. The latest figures show a rapid decline in illegal immigration from Mexico–by some estimates, more Mexicans are leaving the U.S. than entering it, the Mexican economy has picked up while ours has slowed down. Undoubtedly economic necessity will dictate the extent of migration into the U.S. in the future, as it has in the past.
In any case, there is nothing incompatible between tough border enforcement and steps to legalize immigrants already here: They are simply two sides of the same coin, two complementary approaches designed to address the issue of illegal immigration and its consequences.
I have long thought that the DREAM Act was an excellent starting point for a saner approach to immigration law–one that would allow young people who have lived upright lives to become normal Americans, just like countless generations of immigrants before them, rather than being trapped in a legal netherworld where they must always fear a knock on the door from immigration agents.
Assuming that President Obama’s executive order on Friday passes legal challenges, it is a step forward toward a more realistic approach toward immigrants–one that thoughtful Republicans such as Marco Rubio have also championed and that other Republicans should give serious consideration to rather than engaging in histrionic attacks that will only cost the GOP badly needed Latino votes.
First of all, most are paying taxes. Most illegal aliens who work use either a Taxpayer Identification Number if they are reasonably honest illegal aliens. Most use either false SSNs (e.g. numbers not assigned to an individual) or an SSN already assigned to a person. They pay taxes and their surplus is keeping Social Security afloat. Once they legalize, they will be withdrawing from the Social Security system and at a level higher than they contributed. Legalization is a financial disaster. n nIt will also be a political disater for Republicans and consequently Isreal. Mexican immigrants support the radical welfare state and vote consitently for the radical left, including hate filled anti-Isreal politicians. n nLegalizing immigrants is bad for America and bad for Israel.
"…or school attendance). " n nIt is not 1960! Virtually anyone today with a pulse can get into a college of some sort. Inflated grades and lower standards are often the norm. Left-wing teachers and administrators will simply approve the applications of illegals who may not even be able to read at an 8th grade level.
The US is missing an enormous opportunity to open its borders and society to the best and the brightest of the failed european economies . We are wasting time and money legalising janitors and busboys , while engineers physicians and other skilled professional are fleeing Spain , Italy and Ireland . When they settle in Australia or Canada , it will be our loss in the end ,but we will acquire 800,000 low skill most likely not taxpaying new "citizens " .
Max, please address the rule of law arguments in future posts on this subject. I can’t believe this isn’t of interest to you. I’m all for legal immigration and for fixing the problem of illegals, young or not, but no policy should even be considered by laying aside the rule of law.
Boot, I’m going to find something you care deeply about that is of absolutely no interest to me, hopefully something where you have the law on your side of the argument…
…and then I might do my level best to see that you lose. Badly. A little “something” for the effort, you know?
Have a nice day.
This post fails to take into account the important incentive effects this will have. President Obama's decree now gives greater incentive for every third-world parent who wants a better life for his child to come here in the hope that his kid will be granted legal status in a few years.