Fear and anger are effective political tools. I was sorry to see the GOP use these weapons to stir the American people, urging a crackdown on illegal immigrants. Concentrating solely on border control and ignoring the plight of the hard working illegal immigrants and the better interest of the US economy, the GOP-controlled House passed in December a law to treat illegal immigrants as felons and punish even those who help them. While the GOP incites the public with its rhetoric for law and order, I urge the Democratic Party to be the voice of common sense and address the immigration issue with a comprehensive, tough, fair, and practical solution.
The United States is a land of immigrants. Yet, it is also the land of law and order. A majority of Americans are indeed concerned that millions of foreigners have illegally entered this country, and that more will follow. The Democratic Party should address this valid concern but advocate for an "immigration policy with a human face" approaching the reality that many immigrants are hardworking and beneficial to the economy, and in need of legal protection from crimes and unethical business abuses. To win the issue of immigration, the Democratic Party should carefully balance compassion and legal principles in providing comprehensive solutions for three key areas in this issue; border control, a guest worker program, and the policy toward illegal immigrants.
Border control: The Democratic Party should advocate for strict enforcement of border security. Every nation has a responsibility to guard its territory from trespassers, and our party should strictly abide by this principle. Border security is just as vital to the national security as the so-called "War on Terror". The U.S. should utilize its resource to build a "virtual wall" and forcefully demonstrate that only the foreigners who play by our rules will be allowed to enter.
Guest worker program: Every fence has a gate. The US should prevent illegal immigration but widen the door for legal immigrants. The new immigrants form a significant proportion of employees in many American businesses. The development of the U.S. throughout history was due greatly to the wave of immigrants who provided labor and market for the U.S. economy. The guest worker program allows foreign immigrants to work in the United States with legal protection, avoiding the danger of black market economics spurred by illegal immigrations. By taking a stand for promotion of legal immigration, the Democratic Party can take the position of pro-growth progressives, who support economic justice and economic prosperity at the same time.
Illegal immigrants: The Democratic Party should advocate not amnesty, but a chance for the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the US to display personal responsibility and earn their way into citizenship. The practical solution for America is neither to deport the illegal immigrants nor to form groups of social outcasts prone to abuses and crimes, but to transform these illegal immigrants into hard working, tax-paying, legal immigrants. The illegal immigrants should be documented and then be put under the legal protection of the U.S. government, but at the same time they should show accountability by adhering to the U.S. laws and learning to speak English
The GOP is often fond of black and white solutions. Well, life isn't black and white and neither is the immigration issue. The U.S. government should take a tough, fair, and practical approach to provide justice for its citizens and immigrants. If the GOP stands for the rhetoric of righteous condemnation of illegal immigrants, then the Democrats should stand for a real, enforceable solution in promoting diversity, unity, and integrity in the American society.
Jong Eun Lee is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a liberal columnist for the Eagle.
