Coming to America

On May 15 President George W Bush proposed using the National Guard to block illegal immigration across the Mexican border and a "path to citizenship" for illegals already here. Is he right?

Q1. How does Mexican immigration today differ from waves of immigration in the past?
European immigrants made a much more clear break with their home countries. The vast majority intended to become Americans and never look back.
Mexican immigrants today tend to travel back and forth a great deal; many come here to make money and bring it back to their homes and families south of the Rio Grande.
Unlike the immigrants of the past, those of today expect American society to adapt to their needs through bi-lingual education, bi-linglual ballots and minority electoral districts. It is significant that many demonstrators for immigrant rights have flaunted the Mexican flag.

Q2. How can we seal our southern border?
Bring over Israeli consultants. They know how.

Q3. Why were immigration constraints passed in the 1920's?
To keep Jews out.

Q4: If so, should American Jews today be on the side of easy immigration?
Not necessarily. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Jewish entry to the United States has not been vital. Although many Jewish refugees would rather live live here, Israel needs them more than we do.
Also, the percentage of Americans that are Jewish has been declining since about 1925. Immigration of large numbers of Christians reduces it further.

Q5. Why don't Canadians sneak into the US across the northern border?
Because they would lose their national health-insurance.

Q6. Do we need immigrants to do the lousy jobs Americans don't want? Almost 8 million Americans are unemployed now. I am sure some of them would take some jobs now held by immigrants. If immigration were scaled back, wages for these jobs would rise and more Americans would accept them.

Q7. There are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the US right now. Should we deport them all?

That is not practical, but any who are convicted of crimes should be deported when they complete their sentences. Since they chose to come here against our laws, they should not be eligible for licenses or government benefits. If they cannot get jobs here (due to better enforcement of restrictions on employing illegals), some will return to their home country voluntarily. However, any children they have here are US citizens.

Q8. Rep. Sensenbrenner would criminalize illegal aliens, and President Bush would let them become citizens (after satisfying certain legal requirements.) Who is right?

Neither one.