May 3, 2006

Why not try to handle illegal immigration like Mexico does?…or would that be extreme?

Posted by D.A. King at 1:23 pm - Email the author   Print This Post Print This Post  

Oh-Oh…this guy is going to get some mail for this:

Should we try Mexico’s immigration law?

By J. MICHAEL WALLER
The Providence Journal
24-APR-06

WASHINGTON — Mexico has a radical idea for a rational immigration policy that most Americans would love. But Mexican officials haven’t been sharing the idea with us as they press Congress to adopt the McCain-Kennedy immigration-reform bill. That’s too bad, because Mexico, which annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States does, has much to teach us about how to handle immigration; under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien.

As the Supreme Court and politicians seek to bring U.S. law in line with foreign legal norms, it’s noteworthy that no one has argued that the United States look at what Mexico might teach us about how to solve our illegal-immigration problem. Mexico has a single, streamlined law, seeking to ensure that foreign visitors and immigrants are:

_ In the country legally.

_ Have the means to sustain themselves economically.

_ Not destined to be burdens on society.

_ Of economic and social benefit to society.

_ Of good character, with no criminal record.

The law also seeks to ensure that:

_ Immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor.

_ Foreign visitors do not violate their visa status.

_ Foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics.

_ Foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported.

_ Foreign visitors violating terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported.

_ Anyone who aids in illegal immigration is imprisoned.

Who could disagree with such a law?

Read the rest here