Immigration Reform is a Farce

First off, let me just say that I have nothing against illegal immigrants as people. Just as with any other labelled group of people, there are good people and bad people, just depends on who you get to know. My beef is with ILLEGAL immigrants in general.

I know there is a whole lot of hullabulloo in regards to the recent Arizona law which declares being an illegal immigrant is a crime. I don't know the exact details of the law, but in the general sense of it, I think it's right. If you are here illegally than you are committing a crime. Since when did "illegal" stop meaning "being against the law"? It definitely should not lose its true meaning just because it's used in conjunction with "immigrant."

I can totally understand why illegal immigrants want to come here. Our country has a plethora of opportunties for them, most of which are far better than what they can get in their own country(s). Wanting to take advantage of these opportunties though, does not negate the immigration process. A person should still follow the procedures that are set in place to become a legal immigrant. I know they are tedious and come with long waiting periods, but in the end it will allow that person to have those opportunities AND be completely legal within the system.

Unfortunately, even though Arizona is pushing the right idea, it comes too little too late. We have gone so many years with "allowing" and "overlooking" illegal immigrants that our country cannot deal with those who are already here. Especially since there are a vast number with children that were born here in the U.S. Which brings me to the point that America really goofed when they didn't put in a clause to clarify that only children born to Legal immigrants would automatically be American citizens. When the law was first created most of our population was immigrants from all over the world and so this law was applicable without the clause. In the later centuries, however, when we realized that illegal immigrants were taking residence in our country, and when we started giving them public aid, someone should have thought to make that clause.

Now we are stuck with an unfixable situation because so many illegal immigrants already have families. Being that we are an empathetic country and do not like to separate parents and children, we find ourselves with the inevitable situation of keeping these illegal immigrants. Some of these families do work toward becoming legal citizens and I give them kudos for those efforts. Others however, demand the same rights and benefits as true American citizens, but never voice a desire to actually become an American citizen. They continually declare their original country and their one and only "home country". This attitude really irks me. Why be here and reside here and live off of this country if you do not wish to consider it your home country? I have nothing against loving your original country, practicing the same customs, and teaching your children to appreciate the original country, but if you are going to make this your place of residence, respect it enough to declare it your home country!

Well that's my rant for today. Feel free to leave opinionated comments, after all, that's what free speech is for!