Our federal government has failed in its responsibility to control our borders. Individual states have recently passed laws to help identify those who are illegally in our nation. We too must take control of the problem of illegal immigration in our state. Doing so will eliminate extra costs of our government and offer better services to our citizens.
I believe that Americans support legal immigration and oppose illegal immigration. When one comes to America for the purpose of establishing permanent residence, it should be assumed that their wish is to become an American. America is a melting pot of cultures, but we are first Americans. We must support our government, its laws and the citizens who obey the laws. Illegal immigrants are not obeying the immigration laws. They may obey all other laws and are not necessarily of a criminal mind; however, they are taking advantage of the benefits that America has to offer her citizens. Providing illegals with medical care, police protection, and public education costs our citizens through higher taxes and fees. Everyone receiving these services must contribute to the costs of them.
Our society cannot accept and should not be expected to accept the extra costs of these services for individuals who do not wish to participate in our society. Americans will always be generous people but we cannot be blind to those who take advantage of this generosity.
In the words of Theodore Roosevelt in 1907:
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American… There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
We will welcome immigrants wishing to become Americans and offering their loyalty to America and its people. All others must be considered temporary residents and abide by the rules affecting those of that status.
