Who is doing the wrong thing here?

I had the opportunity the other day to attend a lunch meeting with a representative of AmeriCorps. They are looking for ways to help (legal) immigrants assimilate into the culture here in Northeastern Wisconsin. This meeting was focusing on the Hispanic population and I learned a good deal. Much of it was very positive and dealt with helping people learn to plan for their futures and encouraging their children to aim for college and beyond.

Some of the knowledge was not so welcome. One of the other attendees was a high school teacher for a rural school. She was clearly fully integrated into the "these poor illegals are all victims of our cruel and oppressive system" mode, so I won't go into most of what she said. The part that struck me was relating to the future of the children of illegals. She was incensed that there were no programs for them to get social security numbers. She said these children often don't see any point in graduating from high school or going on to college because without social security numbers they can't get jobs and they can't attend college. (At least not most colleges) Now in my mind, the mind of the presenter and her mind this was linked to the growing gang problems we have been seeing. (Legally unemployable youth who are already criminals by their mere presence here turning to lives of crime? Say it isn't so.)

In her mind, and I suspect the minds of most liberals, this is a great reason to extend amnesty to these children, if not their parents. To my mind, it's a great reason to send them back to their country of origin. Like it or not, actions have consequences. One of the consequences of entering this country illegally is that your children will have no future other than a life of crime. I am not the bad guy for making these children into criminals. Their parents chose to put them in this situation, not me. They are criminals by living here with their parents, and they have nothing to look forward to here but becoming more deeply involved with criminal elements by staying here. By not sending illegals back to their own countries,(and I believe those countries of origin should pay us for their transport, lodging and food on the way), we are forcing these children into a life of crime.

Many of these children are bright and intelligent and deserve better. Think of the impact they could have on their own countries. Having lived here and experienced the values that lead to success, what couldn't they be inspired to do to make their own countries better? We don't have the right to keep them here and force them into a life of crime and neither do their parents. They should be taken back to their own countries. Maybe some of you think that makes me cruel and heartless. I don't. I think adversity builds character and these children will have what it takes to rise above their humble beginnings and make a difference for their own countries, if they get what they need from us. Namely a ticket home.

To those who believe they should be allowed to stay and get a social security number, put your money where your mouth is and sponsor them for legal citizenship. But don't ask me to approve of any plan that strings them along with promises of amnesty at some nebulous time in the future while they are dragged deeper into criminal activity, held hostage by their illegal status. Don't ask me to approve carte blanche citizenship for people who are providing fertile ground (their children) for gang related and other criminal activities by their willingness to put personal profit above personal responsibility. And please, don't tell me I should be helping people who would put their children into such a situation either. This is not making a better life for your family, it is plunging your family into a pit from which they may never climb out.

I believe that if you want to come here and work your tail off to send money home, then your first priority should be to make enough money to get yourself here legally, as a citizen. This is the country that is giving you the opportunity to help your relatives back in the old country. This is the country that is providing you with such freedom. If you are unwilling to work to make your own country into a place that gives you such opportunities, then don't expect me to welcome you with open arms unless you want to become a responsible, contributing, citizen here.

"It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." ~ Luke 17:2