Editor's Note

Fumbling the Football

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Nov 01, 2006

THERE will be no comprehensive immigration reform law passed this year in Congress. Lawmakers have fumbled the football in Washington, D.C., and that errant pigskin lies first and goal at the U.S.-Mexican goal line. Here's how the Senate plans to recover the fumble.

School violence hasn't required offenders to overpower any one person. The perpetrators typically wander inside a building and begin a takeover.

In mid-September, our senators took up a bill to erect a fence along one-third of the U.S.-Mexico border. Members of that Grand Old Party conceded that plans to pass immigration reform had failed. Congress was so far from the goal line in getting this done, it shouldn't even be awarded a kick for an extra point, and now it's even questionable if they can recover their own fumble.

Rarely do I agree with the Democrats, and even less with the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, but the Demos are talking about an attempt later this year to force another vote on a broad Senate bill that combines steps towards tougher border enforcement, a new guest worker program and a controversial plan to give illegal immigrants already in the United States a chance of citizenship. Most expect Majority Leader Bill Frist to use parliamentary procedure tactics to block the move. Either way, this is neither a move for better security nor a response to the interests of the America people.

Now back to the fence. It's purpose was to achieve at least some progress in addressing the political hot potato of illegal immigration before Congress adjourned for the midterm elections. According to Reid, the United States can build the tallest fence in the world, but it won't fix the broken immigration system. He's calling for comprehensive reform, and his counterpart, Frist, said we need an enforcement-first approach. Security is at an impasse.

So, here's what's on the table. The Senate is all about the construction of 361 miles of fence along the border between Calexico, Calif., and Douglas, Ariz., as well as 30 miles of fencing along the Laredo, Texas, border crossing.

Here's the catch. The bill won't actually provide any funding to cover costs of 700 miles of fencing and other barriers -- all this for immigration reform. Immigration isn't the problem, and fencing won't fix the flow of illegal immigrants.

Estimates indicate that nearly 12 million people are in this country illegally. They key word here is that they are here ... illegally. They are breaking the law; security has been compromised.

Despite what nationwide demonstrations would have you believe, the rights that illegals are seeking belong to those of us who are citizens. This country was founded by immigrants, but our founding fathers were not here illegally. Those who demonstrate today seem to be angry that the United States might actually be interested in protecting its own borders, and that by so doing, would make it more difficult for illegals to sneak into this country, and once here, stay indefinitely. Most are likely not security risks, but the fact is, they are here illegally. It's a matter of homeland security.

Let me bring this down to terms that protesters might understand by reviewing a letter to the editor in a recent national newspaper. The female writer said:

"Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors; I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest, except for when I broke into your home.

"The protestors say that you must let me stay, and you must add me to your family's insurance plan. You must educate my children and provide other benefits to me and my family. My husband will do your yard work because he too is hard-working and honest, except for the breaking in part.

"Don't call the police or even try to force me out, because if you do, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my right to be in your house. It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself. I'm hard-working and honest, except for that one part, you know.

"And what a deal for me. I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of selfishness, prejudice and being an anti-housebreaker. Oh yeah, there is one more thing. I want you to learn my language so you can communicate with me."

While immigration reform should take into account every person who wants to reside in the United States, one of the most powerful arguments is the drug trafficking along the southern border. U.S. officials are worried that the drug cartels' reach is growing and that the Mexican government may be losing control of the fight. Drug cartels are securing smuggling routes through Central America and also are recruiting gunmen from there.

American officials describe the lawlessness in Mexico as an urgent problem. The United States must share in this problem, partly because of the growing demand for illegal drugs and because this type of disorderly conduct knows no boundaries.

Now, about that fence along the southern border of the United States that Congress is considering. Forget it. Get back to work Congress. Congress has at its disposal any number of security experts that can and will give advice it on what it will take to secure the borders. The same Americans that elected Congress to office are the same people lawmakers are sworn to protect and serve. Americans are tired of officials fumbling and bickering through media sources for political gain.

There's a fumble on the field. Both teams want to recover it but have no desire to put themselves at risk. After all, once a lawmaker jumps on the fumble, others will begin to pile on. That's a heavy security burden to carry, even for a member of Congress.