President Bush, You’re Still Missing The Point!

J.J. Jackson* | November 30, 2005

I was listening to some of President Bush’s speech about border security on 790 AM, KNST in Tucson, Arizona. As a resident of a border state, as well as living in a city rather close to the border, this issue is of great concern to me.

As I was listening to what President Bush was saying, some of it sounded like he was actually listening to the American public for a change. But, while he opposes granting amnesty, he’s doing exactly that.

A quick definition for amnesty is:

A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses. - Dictionary.com

A Kansas City Star article states:

Bush said any comprehensive package should include tougher enforcement and a temporary-worker program. His plan would let workers stay in the country for up to six years, after which they would have to return home. Temporary workers would not be on a special track toward citizenship.

[emphasis added]

Why does a comprehensive package need to include both? A temporary-worker program grants people who are illegally in this country legalized status. No matter how good and hard-working these people are, they are still here illegally.

And, as the definition of amnesty clearly states, this temporary-worker program will pardon the illegal activity already done by those here in this nation illegally. This isn’t a “that depends on what your definition of the meaning of the word ‘is’ is” kind of thing. By giving a temporary-worker program, you thus make legal what was once illegal.

I understand that America puts out the carrot on a stick for those to come over here illegally. America does have to look at herself and accept some of the culpability. I think that the general American public has accepted that and wants something changed.

Even though Mr. Chertoff is correct when he stated that it is not practical to deport every illegal alien in this country, it is even less practical to legalize them all. It also sends a very wrong message to those who respected our nation’s laws enough to go about coming here the right way.

To legalize those who have no right to be here is comparable to legalizing marijuana since there is no way to actually enforce the laws anyway. Of course, the police cannot knock on everyone’s door or pull every car over loooking for marijuana. But, the police can arrest you when you are caught with marijuana.

The same goes for being an illegal alien. Of course the INS, or whoever they are now, cannot go to every door or every worksite looking for illegal aliens. But, they can get search warrants for places they reasonably believe do employ or harbor illegal aliens and thus arrest them. Of course, many are going to slip through the cracks and never get caught. At least they will not be legalized.

So, yes President Bush, we need to strengthen our borders and we need to do something to fix our immigration problem. We do not need to have a temporary-worker program that rewards illegal behavior. It is amnesty, by any definition.

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