Hammer of the Gods
Immigration is an issue that I've always struggled to wrap my mind around because it's unlikely there's a good way to handle the issue. I'm especially skeptical about anything that comes out of Washington that is labeled as "comprehensive" because:
a) It won't be; and
b) It can't be.
The way I think about the issue is this:
- It's highly undesirable to have 11-12 million people in this country who are living in the shadows. Nor is there any practical way to remove these people from the country.
- It seems likely to me that most immigrants, legal or illegal, are here because of economic opportunity and the freedom that we enjoy, not for nefarious reasons.
- There are some who are here for nefarious reasons and they need to be dealt with.
- The War on Drugs complicates everything we do.
- Mexico, especially northern Mexico, is pretty close to a failed state. In large measure, this is because of the narcotraficantes, who operate with impunity because they have more firepower than Mexican officials. And many of those same officials are bought off, anyway.
- We'll never really be able to control the border.
- Living in Minnesota, I have no way of knowing what things are like in California, or Arizona, so my opinions about what Californians and Arizonans should do about border issues aren't worth much.
- From this distance, it seems like Texas has less trouble with illegal immigration than either Arizona or California. I don't know why that is. I don't know what the situation is in New Mexico, because there's rarely any reporting about it.
- We aren't asking people to assimilate in the same way we did when my ancestors came over. This is a problem.
- Whatever might emerge out of Washington is more about gaining political advantage than about solving the problem.
So does that list seem a bit jumbled to you? That's the point. There are so many variables involved that it's well-nigh impossible to account for every issue. I would imagine that a thoughtful reader of this blog could come up with several other factors I've failed to mention here.
So what does it all mean? Beats me. The only thing I can predict with confidence is this -- if we see anything that is labeled "comprehensive" get passed into law, it won't be.
Cross-posted and comments welcome at Mr. Dilettante's Neighborhood.