There Is No Easy Answer

Reflection on the Illegal Immigration Issue


by John Russell Turner, May 11, 2019

Imagine if you will, a story about Ramon, Nora, and their child, Felipe. This family lived in Honduras, a country troubled by violence, poverty, and political corruption. Both Ramon and Nora lost their jobs because of lay offs in the manufacturing plant where they worked. Unemployed, neither one of them could find new jobs because the economy in Tegucigalpa (the capital city of Honduras) is bad. Soon their savings account was depleted, and the family was evicted from their apartment in the city. Desperate, they decided to flee their country and head to the United States, where they heard there is plenty of work. Some people in the city were organizing a caravan of other people who want to work; some for basic survival, others to keep their families together. They joined this caravan, and in due course, arrived at the US border. This is a typical story behind many of the people seen here in El Paso/Juarez, and at Laredo, Nogales, Tijuana, et al. They have no desire to hurt anyone; they only want to work and be with their beloved families. Such is not possible in their native countries, and this saddens them, for who likes to leave the land of their birth, their culture, and their ancestors?

So it is this story that drives the agendas of those here in the US to support things like open borders and relaxed immigration laws. "Let them in, it's the least we can do", they say. For the truly desperate, America is hope for a better life, and a chance to keep their loved ones near. Many of the people trying to get into America illegally are flat broke, penniless and with no food. They come to America,  and if allowed to enter, use the various social programs available to get back on their feet and eventually, become US citizens (or at least, productive members of the communities where they live). That sounds great, only: 1.) Many Americans are impoverished, flat broke and homeless themselves and need those social services as well; 2.) Money for social services is notoriously scarce; 3.) it is against the laws of this country and the states within to enter into the US without official permission. This is so, in order to do the necessary background checks and health screenings, as well as to insure that the individuals will assimilate into our culture; 4.) Many of these immigrants abuse the social programs available in America, while still others come here to work, evade taxes and send a lot of their money back to friends and relatives in their native countries. Meanwhile, many American citizens are struggling to find a job, while still others find their wages low because so many of these immigrants will gladly work for cheap.

So on one side of this issue, there is compassion and understanding of human suffering. On the other side is practical reality, economics, the rule of law, and security. What is the answer? Whatever the answer is, just make sure you realize that this issue is nuanced, and not easily resolved. There are no pat answers. The answers will have to take both sides of this issue into account. The fact that even America does not have unlimited wealth to shelter, feed, clothe and assist all the economic and political refugees in the world should be foremost in the minds of policy makers. The pot is not endless, and we should care for our own, first, before we take new people in. We should also keep in mind how vitally important it is to maintain the integrity of the rule of law. Without it, we will sink into barbarity.

One thing's for sure, this issue will never be satisfactorily resolved if each side ridicules and hurls contempt at the other. Come on Americans, let's get together on this-people are suffering, and we need to find out what's the best thing to do about it. It's not by throwing open the gates and letting anybody and everyone in, and it's not by draconian restrictions on entry. How about long term solutions? Short term? How about we have a conversation without partisan bickering?