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By Ed Rutledge
Libertarian for Lt. Governor
09/17/2010
The American Dream is exemplified by personal freedom and individual responsibility. Our current immigration policies, however, consistently undermine these defining qualities. If we want to discourage those who would abuse our generosity or otherwise cause our country harm, while encouraging those who are eager to become peaceful, productive, and proud Americans, then we need to rethink the incentives and penalties associated with immigration policy.
First, the States must reassert their 10th Amendment powers, eliminating the federally mandated goodie bags which get handed out nearly indiscriminately, to the detriment of local and state budgets and at taxpayer expense. Further, minimum wage laws have created a gap between what the market suggests a job is worth paying and what employers are legally allowed to pay employees, a gap most frequently filled by undocumented workers. Reducing the minimum wage, or eliminating it altogether, would allow employers to lawfully hire more American workers, reducing the number of jobs which attract illegal immigrants. Finally, if the federal government will not enforce its own laws, then Illinois must be prepared to deport illegal aliens who pose a physical or financial threat to residents of our state.
At the same time, there is no sense in throwing out the baby with the bathwater by banishing those who have been living here peacefully and productively, yet outside of the law. These are the very immigrants that we, as Americans, should want to attract. Since we are a nation ruled by law, giving currently undocumented aliens a free ride would be a distinct disservice to those who have played by the rules. We need to create a process through which those who have been here peacefully and productively can come into the system, bring themselves current on prior obligations incurred as undocumented residents, and begin the process of truly becoming “Americans.”
For the time being, though, we continue to live with the effects of a welfare system forced upon the states by the federal government coupled with, for all intents and purposes, open borders. This is a combination which is destined to overwhelm local and state governments and cause widespread resentment among those who are forced to pay the bills. Arizona's controversial law was simply that state's attempt to treat the symptoms of governmentally created problems. It is time for us to stop treating the symptoms, and to start focusing on a cure.
