In recent weeks, we’ve seen illegal immigration take center stage from our nation’s schools to the steps of the Capitol in Washington D.C. The issue is what to do about the illegal aliens crossing into our country from Mexico and what to do, if anything, with the 12 million illegal aliens who are already here. Because of the already steep controversy associated with the illegal population, I share my thoughts about the matter.

Throughout United States history, immigration has been key to our prosperity as a nation. Immigrants, wishing for a better life and the American dream, bring forth diverse talent and extremely respected work ethic. Individuals have strived to make life better for themselves and their posterity, while adjusting to a country they’d soon call their own. However, the good name of immigrants has been hijacked by people who have come into this country illegally, thus giving immigrants a bad reputation in these trying times.

The point is, immigrants must follow the laws of the United States and come into our territory in a legal fashion. Afterall, how can we trust individuals to follow the laws of the United States when the first laws they break are the laws governing their entry into America?

Millions of illegal aliens have crossed into America’s territory since amnesty was granted to near 3 million illegals in the mid 1980’s. However, our government has not done near enough to stem additional illegals from crossing the border. Not only has lack of funding and manpower prevented existing law enforcement to actually enforce current immigration law, the threat of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, or drug proliferation have not even put illegal immigration on the political radar. If the problem of illegal immigration is not solved, American society will suffer, as healthcare and law enforcement costs will skyrocket, wasting precious taxpayer dollars that need’nt be spent in the first place.

Many protests across this country have supported the cause of immigration and the dream of a good life in the United States. However, the current legislation before Congress is not, nor has it ever been, an attack on LEGAL immigration. The legislation before Congress is an effort to enforce and reform the current immigration laws on the books. It is an effort to prohibit new illegal immigration, while promoting accelerated citizenship or penalties for illegals already here.

The bottom line is that we must secure our borders or face serious economic and political consequences. A wall or fence must be built along the border to provide a first line, physical barrier to illegal immigrats. Second, we must penalize businesses who hire illegal aliens, therefore drying up the job market for illegals. Third, we must increase funding and manpower to the border patrol and promote citizen watch groups like The Minuteman Project to help point out illegal border crossings to law enforcement. Fourth, we must penalize the illegal immigrants already here in order to enforce current immigration law. Illegal immigrants need not be rewarded with American welfare money or non-emergency healthcare if they came here illegally.