Immigration
Immigration has been a center point argument since the Reagan Administration. Over the past 30 plus years, many congressmen and presidents have spoken strongly about the issue but nothing ever changes. Immigration needs to be looked at as four distinctly different issues, not just one. The first is border security. We need to increase the number of law enforcement personnel both locally and federally throughout all border states. The second part of this issue deals with decreasing the incentive for employers to hire illegal immigrants. We need to re-write the laws to hold employers accountable for choosing to hire illegal immigrants before hiring American citizens. The third part of the problem identifies the fact that we do have a need for immigrant labor forces. We need to rebuild the current program that grants temporary and extended immigration worker rights to those who wish to work within the United States. The last part of the issue deals with those illegal immigrants that are already here. Forcing a mass exit would cost the U.S. government hundreds of billions of dollars and is realistically not possible. Since amnesty is not an option, those immigrants that have no criminal history, other than being here illegally, currently hold employment that allows them to pay taxes into our national and state systems, and they are willing to pay applicable fines in addition to an annual work permit fee, than there should be no reason to force their exit.
Local and state governments need to become more involved in the immigration process. This will not only achieve a smaller federal government but also allow the states to have a greater responsibility for their immigrant population. The federal role should be to maintain the Constitutionality of the state programs.
Supporting legal immigration through a proper process increases the fairness of the system. It is simply not fair to benefit from crossing the border illegally while 15 million foreigners are waiting in line to properly immigrate to the United States legally.
Our current political situation does not allow for a resolution or even a starting point for immigrant rights or a process that can satisfy the needs of the nation along with the needs of the immigrant population. The United States congress has allowed this problem to go unchecked for over 30 years and grow to involve over 11 to 13 million people. We must find a starting point to deal with the growing problem that not only gives compassion to those who are seeking out the American dream but also one that holds true to our immigrant traditions and fairness of process.
My Immigration Points:
-I oppose amnesty because it is not a fair or justified process
-Securing the border can only be achieved through greater numbers of personnel, state and federal cooperation, and strategic mission goals
-Federal government needs to better support Customs and Border Patrol personnel and allow them to do their jobs without politically driven regulations
-We need to hold employers accountable for choosing to hire illegal immigrants
-We must establish a starting point for a useful program that allows states greater involvement
-We can’t wait another 10 years for a solution
Written By R.W. Jenna
Congressional Candidate
Arizona District # 6