Open Letter To President Bush, Members of Congress: Immigration Reform

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Mr. President, Honorable Members of Congress:

Because our government has failed to secure America's borders and enforce our immigration laws, our nation is struggling to deal with 12-30 million illegal aliens who have invaded this great nation.

Many are quite likely good-hearted, hard working folks, simply looking for a better life.

However, that description also applies to scores of millions of others from throughout the world, just as eager, and just as deserving, for a chance at the American Dream.

But while America is overwhelmed with illegal aliens who have willfully violated our borders and laws, people in other parts of the world are ordered to stand in line, wait their turn, and do that which is required for legal immigration.

We tell such hopefuls that America operates in accordance with the rule of law, and that immigration must be handled fairly, according to law.

Many of those waiting in line are highly educated and well trained.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for most illegal aliens currently in America.

Predominately from third-world Latin nations, they are typically non-English speaking, unskilled and poor. Such people impose extraordinary burdens on our all-ready stressed education, health care, and legal systems, and cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions each year.

In addition, while young American men and women are sent to serve in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq, our own borders remain unsecured, making America vulnerable to further terrorist attacks.

Failure to secure the home front during time of war can only be seen as a cruel mockery of the American lives and treasury sacrificed to secure freedom in foreign lands 10,000 miles from home.

Americans are well aware of the fact that immigration is the subject of intense debate in the hallowed halls of congress.

We also hear that some legislative proposals would actually forgive those who have broken into America in defiance of our borders and laws.

In Washington parlance, the euphemism is "Guest Worker" Program.

Guest worker is understood by everyone to be "amnesty," and is totally unacceptable to a large majority of the American people.

To reward those who are here illegally would only serve to invite another 30 million or so to invade, and would be an unmitigated outrage.

At some point, our government (you) must decide that America is a sovereign nation with borders and laws that really mean something.

Again: Guest worker is amnesty and is totally unacceptable.

A sensible approach to immigration reform should incorporate the ideas offered below:

Employers Must Be Forced to Follow the Law

Businesses that employ illegal aliens represent a major threat to U.S. homeland security and the war on terror. Such businesses must be punished to the full extent of the law, including severe criminal sanctions against management.

Deportations Essential

America can no longer tolerate a policy whereby the immigrant decides unilaterally to invade America - and gets away with it!

The U.S. government must have total control over who enters the nation, where they will reside, for what purpose authorized, and
date by which that individual must leave.

No reform scenario should sanction illegals currently here. Intelligent reform should require that every illegal alien be deported.

Use Military Force to Secure Borders

Our borders must be secured by sufficient military troops and or national guardsmen authorized to use force (including lethal) as needed to prevent illegal entry into the U.S.

Temporary Work Permit (TWP)

A worker in a foreign nation wishing to APPLY for a TWP should be allowed to do so, PROVIDED he/she has not been in America unlawfully within the last five years.

Other conditions:

An American employer seeking services from a foreign worker
should, in effect, sponsor the worker. That means assuring there is NO burden to the community by way of health care costs,
education, crime, and the like.

Employers may chose to form cooperatives to purchase health
insurance at group rates. However, any and all costs of such coverage should be absorbed by employers, not taxpayers.

A TWP should authorize a term of not greater than 18 months,
and pertain only to the worker. (A worker's family could cost
U.S. taxpayers substantially for health care, educational and
legal services systems, thereby negating any benefit realized
by employing the worker.)

No worker on a TWP must be allowed to parent an "anchor
baby." Existing U.S. laws conferring citizenship on those born to illegal aliens must be changed, retroactively.

Criminal behavior of any sort, even a misdemeanor, should
require immediate deportation of the worker.

All of the worker's income should be subject to tax
withholding according to procedures administered by employers.

The worker should acknowledge, in writing, his/her understanding and agreement that the TWP has a limited,
non-extendable term, and that it confers no other benefits such
as driver's license, social welfare, in-state tuition breaks, or
citizenship.

Employers must assure that the worker leaves the U.S. before
expiration of the TWP. Any violations should cause the employer
to be severely punished.

The labor needs of American business can be satisfied without jeopardizing homeland security or the economic and cultural stability of the American people.

However, we must secure the borders permanently, force employers to obey the law, deport those here illegally, and stop making it so easy and attractive for illegal immigrants to invade America.

Any amnesty or "guest worker" proposal is NOT an acceptable alternative.

Trusting each of You to protect and defend the constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, I remain Sincerely Yours,

John W. Lillpop
California

John Lillpop is a recovering liberal.