Column: Liberally Speaking; U.S. known for breaking walls, not building them; Answer to immigration question in supporting other countries
Just last week, I flipped on C-SPAN to see how quickly it would put me to sleep. I have been conducting highly scientific experiments on this matter, and so far, the quickest C-SPAN has knocked me out is two minutes and 37 seconds. Well, this was the day I was going to beat my record, and just when I began to doze off and set the bar a little higher, a Republican from Texas grabbed my attention.
The program that was nearly putting me to sleep was on the topic of immigration. It was the House of Representatives and they were discussing the issue of immigration in great detail. This age-old debate has been waged since the dawn of time, or at least the 1600s. For whatever reason, people have always wanted to come to America. From every country in the world, from every walk of life, people want to fall into the open arms of Lady Liberty.
Well, the obvious problem that exists is that there is not room for everybody. There is no logical way to allow every person who wants to partake of Uncle Sam’s love into the United States. The capacity of our country is limited just as anything else. So what do we do? How do we decide who gets to live in America and who is sent back to their homeland? Well, that is precisely where the debate is formed.
Historically, Republicans have taken a more restrictive stance, whereas Democrats have been a little more lenient on immigration laws. Recently a new twist has appeared in this classic debate. Proposals have been made, as of late, to construct a wall along the 2,000 mile boarder between the United States and Mexico. This wall has put a spark under the issue of immigration that has never been seen starting debates throughout the country.
Well, back to the unnamed Republican from Texas – he was giving a well-written speech on why the addition of a wall is an efficient technique in reducing the amount of illegal immigrants coming into the country. His Democratic counterpart was arguing against the construction of the wall, stating some alternative solutions.
Clearly, illegal immigration is a problem in our country, but the question is if a 2,000-mile long wall is the answer. Mexicans come to this country in search of a better life. They come because they have to come, they come to save their family’s lives and they come to save their own lives.
Mexican immigrants really have only two options: either continue living in poverty or take the chance at something better. So, we are essentially at odds. Illegal immigrants aren’t going to quit trying to come, and we aren’t going to quit trying to stop them from coming. So what is the solution? A wall? I hardly think so.
Aren’t we the country that is supposed to be tearing down walls in Berlin, not putting up our own? The solution lies in making the countries these immigrants are coming from better. Going to these extreme measures to keep our boarders free of immigrants will not stop them from coming. Instead, our country should be lending a hand to make their country liveable. Illegal immigration is a problem in this country, but looking at it from the other side of the “wall” seems to make their motives a little more understandable.
Comments and questions can be sent to adamstrong@cc.usu.edu.