by Steve Painter
Daily Lobo columnist
The Mexican government has decided to call the proposed building of a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border a violation of human rights.
A little fence protecting one country from being invaded by another is by no means a human rights violation, especially if the country that is bringing the grievance is too incompetent to deal with the problems of its own people.
Mexico joined other Latin American countries at a summit on migration in Uruguay on Nov. 4 in order to complain about the proposed border fence. Mexican President Vicente Fox said, "A wall isn't a solution" to the immigration problem facing the United States. He is correct in that a wall made of brick, chain-link fence or wood is not a solution.
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The U.S. does not need to build a wall in order to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the border. This wall needs to be made out of bullets - we should enforce illegal immigration laws like we mean it. This would certainly be a deterrent to those trying to cross into the U.S. illegally. Unfortunately, this will never come to fruition, because politicians are too scared to lose potential votes from Hispanics.
For the past hundred years, if not longer, the Hispanic population has been disregarded by American politicians. Now, it is valued. A Draconian policy toward immigration would be detrimental to candidates, because it would be considered racist by some. In reality, the issue of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is not one of race, but of nationality. For those who are legal immigrants or were born in the U.S., it is in their best interest to keep out illegal immigrants who try to cheat the system, or worse, get benefits from the system. Proposals have been made to give illegal immigrants in-state tuition for college and free health care. This discriminates against all Americans that want to attend out-of-state colleges and have no health care. Why are those that break the law privileged over hardworking Americans?
Another issue that hampers illegal immigration legislation is the process that one has to go through in order to become a U.S. citizen. Some people feel the process is too long or too hard. If illegal immigrants really want to become citizens of the U.S., then they will take the time to learn about the country's history and the English language. Those who immigrate legally are far more successful in this country than those who immigrate illegally, because they are familiar with the country and its traditions.
American history is filled with immigrants who have been successful - it is one of the keys to this country's success. But all of these successful immigrants took the time to learn the language or integrate into the country's larger culture.
Finally, the issue of cheap labor needs to be addressed. Some believe that prices would skyrocket on U.S. products because of the added cost that would go to paying legal workers instead of relying on cheap, illegal labor. I have a simple solution to this problem - instead of having illegal immigrants do all the cheap jobs that Americans refuse to do, why not have prisoners do it? This would act as an efficient deterrent to those who consider a life of crime. Instead of being in a jail cell all day, criminals will be forced to work. If they decide to act up outside, there will be armed guards to handle them.
The only way that the illegal immigration debate will be settled is if the Mexican government takes the initiative to provide for its people or if American politicians realize that national security is more important than a few extra votes. Until that time, the true Americans that were born here or went through the legal process of immigration will suffer.
