An illegal immigrant, Elvira Arellano, took refuge in a Chicago church a year ago. She has now announced that she is departing to go fight for the legalization of illegal immigrants - in Washington, D.C..

Much has been said about Elvira and what will happen to her. She has a legal son. Will they be split up when she leaves sanctuary? Who knows?  But, this morning, I heard an interesting fact that I had not heard before (given, I haven’t followed this case that closely).

I knew that Elvira had arrived at her illegal status in this country by walking across the border. But, I did not know that she had already been deported and returned 3 days later.  Obviously, she knew she was violating the laws of the United States;  yet, she did it, anyway.

Should we make allowances for those immigrants that go on to have kids and just say “well, they have family here… let’s let them stay… but not these others over there”? Does that seem fair to you? Does that seem like a standard that will be abused to the highest degree, if it is set?

I only bring this up… because, there are so many people these days that say “well, let the ones with families stay.” Does that make them less illegal? I don’t know about this logic.  I rarely here people say “well, we can’t put that robber or drug dealer behind bars.  He has family!”  But, illegal immigrants are knowingly violating the laws of the United States.  What’s the difference?

Share This

Lou Dobbs has some great thoughts on yesterday’s activities…

I couldn’t help but wonder as I watched monitors bringing images of the marches and demonstrations from all across the country, who should really be protesting on May Day. What about the millions of legal residents who followed the long, drawn-out process to secure a visa to enter the United States lawfully? Maybe they should be protesting. What about the seven-figure backlog at the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of people who are following the rules. Should they demonstrate?

What about all of our fellow Americans who are being marginalized by the massive importation of illegal, low-cost and mostly uneducated labor into this country? Perhaps those citizens should take to the streets. And what about the more than 250 million Americans who make up our middle class and those who aspire to it whose wages have stagnated and who are paying for the social, medical and economic costs of illegal immigration? That’s a big march.

If yesterday’s demonstrators and their supporters in Congress and corporate America are serious about their deep desire for American citizenship, why don’t we hear any of them clearly say they’re willing to give up dual citizenship? Or that they’re willing to learn English and surrender demands of bilingual education? Or declare they embrace English as our official national language? Or demand that illegal employers of illegal aliens pay for the social, educational and medical costs now borne by the taxpayers?

Lou is right.  Yesterday’s activities should make you IRATE as a law abiding American.

Look, don’t listen to people that say that “anyone who opposes this is a racist or is opposed to immigration”.  BS.  That is just the way they are framing this debate.  Immigrants built this country.  LEGAL immigrants built this country.  Unless you are a descendant of an American Indian, you, too, are the product of immigration.  We all are.
These masses who took to the streets yesterday are not concerned with surrendering the demands of a bilingual education and adopting English as their official language.  They are not concerned with ensuring that they are paying their fair share of taxes - or ensuring that the law-breaking employers who hire them are paying taxes on them, as employees.  I should expect nothing more, I suppose, from these individuals who refused to embark upon the process of securing an American visa to enter this country… and, rather, decided to illegally pursue a course that essentially makes them convicts on the run.

And, it is shameful that our elected officials are pandering to this group of individuals openly promoting law-breaking activities.  I was in Chicago during yesterday’s immigrant March.  Mayor Daley and Congressman spoke to a rally for these individuals.  It is wrong!  Wrong!  Wrong!  And, frankly, if you - as a law-abiding American - cannot see that these individuals are in open and flagrant violation of the law, then, well, you need to re-think your concept of why we even have laws in this country.

It is shameful that our elected officials are refusing to take a stand.  And, that stand starts with the failure of President Bush to properly and openly lead this nation on this issue.  Legal immigration makes this country stronger.  Illegal immigration will break the back of this great nation.  It is happening already.

Share This