Obama administration taking wrong line with illegal immigrants
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is among commentaries written by students in the Washington Seminar program at Janesville Parker High School.
The current U.S. immigration policy is not working. Not only is it not up to date, since its last examination was in 1965, but it is not executed properly.
Illegal immigration has been a huge problem for decades and still is. In order to significantly decrease the levels of illegal immigration, the United States must increase border security. Physical means of security, such as a fence, would be a waste of federal money. The United States should implement more efficient means of technology for security.
The caps on specific immigrants also must be reassessed. I do not think specific immigrants should have an easier entrance path than others. The only things that should be considered are criminal backgrounds and the ability to speak and understand English. I do not believe that having a child in the United States or marrying a U.S. citizen should automatically let an individual gain entrance into the United States.
The E-Verify System also should be included in immigration reform. The system would significantly reduce the number of people working here illegally. Also, with this system, fewer people would immigrate to the United States because it would be nearly impossible for them to get jobs in businesses. Since the E-Verify system is more than 99.5 percent accurate, it is highly unlikely that an individual would get a false reading. That small percent also makes this the most successful governmental program.
The Obama administration plans to legalize the nearly 12 million people living in the United States undocumented with virtually no penalties. I do not agree with this because that is basically stating that it is OK to immigrate here.
Because mass deportation would be impossible due to lack of resources, the undocumented immigrants should have to go to the back of the line for legalization after criminal background checks, pay fair fines and be required to learn a moderate level of English.
The United States also should not provide benefits to undocumented residents except for benefits the Supreme Court requires. These are education to minors and emergency health care. Undocumented residents take advantage of and significantly affect federal funds, so these residents should be provided with only required things.
Jun 24, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.
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Chris: At what age is one able to wrap their heads around an important subject such as this? These are high school seniors not kindergarteners. I choose not to believe that US schools, at any level, offer "international language" options as a vehicle for making communication easier on illegal aliens. If you ask me, they already have it too easy and I'll be darned if I'm going to make it easier on them by choice.
And, if you ask me again, these "kids" have more substance in their printed OPINION than someone (yourself) who claims to have more years, knowledge and experience on them......
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
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There isn't a point in this article that does not require extensive research, support for your conclusions, or reconsideration due to circumstances, consequences, and/or benefits that you are probably to young to even understand.... especially considering that you're probably to young to even vote on this subject in the first place.
While these are important subjects for young people to be considering, maybe we can limit these kids to subjects that they can actually wrap their heads around properly and write an article or paper that shows the proper support and/or explanation of their thesis statement and arguments/opinions.
These are pretty bold statements made in this article, especially considering the amount of minority migrant (immigrant) workers in the area. I'm surprised it was printed.
We're one of the only countries in the world where the majority of the people only speak one language fluently... and even that is changing. There's a reason that a second language is required from grade 7 on in the Janesville school district. Maybe students should pay more attention in your foreign language class and you won't have to worry so much about those that are still learning English.
I learned Spanish in the Janesville school system and continued to study it through college and it still amazes me that native Spanish speakers I converse with are astonished at the fact that I learned to speak Spanish fluently in US schools. Although after considering this article's tone towards immigrants and non-English speakers, I can see why this stigma exists.
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