Lots of topics in the news recently, about illegal immigration, refugee caravans from Central and South America at our Southern border, school performance, homelessness, crime, voter fraud, social safety net spending, and so forth. I’m going to attempt to tie it all together, in one large topic: US citizenship. Let’s dig.
Let me preface my position by restating something I’ve written in the past: I feel I am a patriotic American. I think the US is the best combination of economic freedom, political freedom, consistent adherence to the rule of law, educational opportunity, private property rights, charitable organizations, social safety net, workplace safety laws, etc., of nearly any country, anywhere or any time. Sure, we could use some improvements, and we seem to be slipping in some areas. But if I thought another country does it better, I’d relocate there. So yeah, I am a HUGE USA fan. Always have been, likely always will be. But we have some responsibility issues that need addressing. All under the umbrella of citizen vs non-citizen.
US citizenship is, and should be, a valuable thing. If you were born here to legal citizen parents, or if you or your parents made it through the daunting legal immigration gauntlet, you’re IN. You automatically receive the benefits listed above. In addition, you have almost no restrictions on your life: what you do for a living, starting your own business, moving from place to place within the US, how you live, what you drive (if anything), and so on. But there are some costs to being a citizen, that most, if not all, Americans chip in for. We have a plethora of taxes to fund government and its associated programs: Income, property, sales, excise, communications, payroll, you name it. Among those things funded are K-12 educational systems, social safety net (Welfare, SNAP, AFDC, Social Security, etc.), prison system, legal system. Where the equation gets completely out of whack: when a large portion of the population get benefits from those programs, but do not pay into them. When we keep those non-paying recipients at a reasonable level (children, elderly, handicapped CITIZENS), the system works as intended. But when non-citizens get access to the systems that citizens have been taxed to provide for themselves, the numbers go nuts.
So, I’m creating a new term: CITIZEN ADVOCATE. I am championing the cause of all citizens, and pushing all non-citizens to the back of the line, if not out of the country entirely. Not only does the US have no obligation to police the world outside of our borders or interests, we also are not everyone’s daddy. Come here legally, see the prior paragraph. But illegals are draining our resources, pure and simple. We have enough trouble assisting those that are having tough times that BELONG here: see LA, Portland, and Seattle. Want to eliminate, or greatly reduce the issues listed in the first paragraph? BUILD THE WALL. POLICE VISA OVERSTAYS (WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY). DEPORT ILLEGALS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AT EVERY CONTACT WITH SOCIAL SYSTEMS. MAN OUR BORDER WITH MILITARY, IF NECESSARY (I can think of no more legitimate usage of our military but to avoid an invasion). Will illegals be ‘afraid, living in the shadows’? GOOD. They do not belong here—they are lawbreakers by their initial entry method. Get in line with the others that abide by our laws. Maybe then, and only then, will we address fixing our broken LEGAL immigration system. And any politician that promotes illegals over citizens? OUT. You’ve violated your oath of office (immigration is part of the US Constitution you swore to protect and defend). I am a bit confused by those political animals in the first place: legally, they cannot vote, so how can they be YOUR constituents? Joe Biden has even recently stated that we, as a country, have an obligation to provide health care to illegals! Under what fantasy scenario is the US obligated to provide ANYTHING to non-citizens? Provide the treaty that passed the Senate that obligates us to those terms. I’ll wait. BTW, does this make me heartless and cruel? Maybe. But maybe the illegals should stay in their own country, where language isn’t a barrier, and improve their own country—by revolution, if necessary. The US is the accumulation of nearly three centuries of taming wilderness, building a working infrastructure, fighting wars (including a Civil War), and establishing the social safety net mentioned above. Outsiders should not get a free ride to join what our citizens have worked for.
Another note: I am not a fan of the existing USA LEGAL Immigration System. That it takes YEARS, and thousands of dollars, for a legit person from another country to relocate here, is nonsense. This system does nothing but enrich the cottage industry of ‘immigration lawyer’. IMHO, this system should boil down to the following:Â
1. Pass a physical (we have enough communicable diseases, we do not need more. Heck, some of the diseases we completely eliminated from our environment are making a comeback, purely from unhealthy folks from elsewhere).
2. Pass a criminal background check. As with diseases, we do not have a criminal shortage. And this includes prior criminal records, including border-jumping here. Fail this test, you should forfeit your future opportunities to immigrate here.
3. Pass a physical search. Things that may be legal from there may not be legal here. And performing the role of ‘smuggling mule’ does not pass muster—ever.
4. Keep in contact for 5 years. We have the technology. Track these people for criminal activity. Fail, out.
5. They must have a family member support system. This is necessary, since no one from anywhere else should qualify for our social safety net. If they do not have a plan to survive, regrettably, they should not be allowed here.
6. There is no question that we need a ‘work method’ for some immigrants. They are honest, hard-working folks, when given the opportunity. We should encourage such behavior.
None of the above points require the services of attorneys. They require rigorous enforcement of standards and existing law, along with funneling immigrants to controlled points of entry. With that accomplished, we can restore non-points of entry to their true status: criminal access points. ANYONE caught trying to enter the US in a non-point of entry should be labeled as such: criminals, to be jailed and/or exported immediately. Of course, NONE of this matters if we do not have the political will to accomplish anything. Unfortunately, we have very powerful people quite interested in retaining the status quo. The aforementioned ‘immigration lawyers’ would immediately have to look for another flavor of law to pursue. Many businesses THRIVE with the imported near-slave-labor class—those that cannot report abuse for fear of deportation. And many politicians think they are importing a new class of uninformed voters—their favorite! These are the same political skunks mentioned in the fourth paragraph, that place priority of illegals OVER citizens. Again, the skunks should be exported along with their clients. US citizenship is not for everyone. And it should retain its value.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article! Feel free to add comments (good or bad) in the box below. In addition, there is a link at the bottom of the article to view other items I’ve written at Global Liberty Media. Enjoy!
