By Maj. Gen. Jerry R. Curry, US Army (Ret.)
The United States is more than able to control its borders and deal with its illegal immigration problem. And it is able to create and adopt an intelligent, productive, guest worker program. This requires vigilance, dedication and cooperation.
There has never been a nation as unique as the United States of America, one based upon the revealed principles of self-evident truths; one which created and adopted the world’s first written constitution based on a bold vision of what a New World could be. It is a nation of immigrants and immigration, for the most part legal, but in some cases illegal. For half a century Congress and various Presidential Administrations have unsuccessfully wrestled with the illegal part.
Stopping illegal immigration at our nation’s southern border is not nearly as difficult as many pretend. It does take strong leadership and a clearly defined path of action and will power. At issue is not a question of citizenship but of leadership and of obeying our laws.
One night in August of 1961 when the inhabitants of Berlin, Germany went to bed there was no barrier, no wall separating East from West Berlin. When they woke up the next morning they discovered that the Russians and East Germans had erected a ninety-six mile long concertina barbed wire fence sealing off East from West Berlin, complete with armed guards and police patrol dogs. Over time this fence grew into a formidable wall. With all the modern technology we’ve developed since then, surely today we can match that fifty year old fete of engineering.
President George Washington once said, “The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.” In short, immigration is extended to foreigners only with conditions attached. Our Founding Fathers expected that immigrants could only qualify for citizenship by being law abiding.
Thirty years ago, when it was estimated that there were just over five million illegal immigrants unlawfully residing within our borders, I was one of those who said that law-abiding immigrants should be pardoned for having broken our law provided our borders were controlled, our immigration laws upgraded and strictly enforced, and violators severely dealt with.
Back then, we assumed that if someone chose to leave their homeland and migrate to America it was because they wanted to be assimilated, to become an American and to be governed by the American Constitution. It was not because they wanted to turn America into a carbon copy of the morally corrupt nation they were fleeing.
I wrote, “No nation can continue to exist as an independent nation if it is unable or unwilling to maintain the integrity of its borders.” I was a fool. The Congress had no intention then, just as it has none now, of securing our southern border and strictly enforcing our immigration laws.
Because of the uninterrupted flow of drugs, terrorists and illegal immigrants across our southern border, it has become a national security disaster. But don’t be deceived. If directed to, the Joint Chiefs of Staff could secure our southern border within 90 days. Never … never … never …underestimate the effectiveness of our military when the nation’s national security is being threatened, even after it has been stripped naked by an indifferent President and a “do nothing” Congress.
There are too many illegals now living in this country to round them all up and in one fell swoop herd them back across the Mexican border. For the good of the country it will have to be done in stages: here a little, there a little.
After first getting the illegal immigrant problem at our southern border under control, we should deport the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants languishing in our prisons. Then could come immediate deportation of those who are caught in the act of committing crimes.
Immigrants illegally born in this country , or who were brought to this country as small children and grew up here could be issued some type of card that allows them to legally remain in the country, but not vote, until and unless they have gone through the process of applying for citizenship and have been accepted.
Even so there will still be millions of illegals living here. As they are identified through day to day routine activities such as traffic accidents and job applications, they can be deported. This will be a long, messy process, but it is far better than what we have today, or likely will have. And eventually most illegals will be identified and deported or decide to leave the country on their own.
Then our borders will be controlled, the illegal immigration problem solved, and President George Washington’s hope that our nation will be one of decency and propriety will be realized.
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Jerry Curry is a retired Army Major General, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Carter administration; Acting Press Secretary to the Secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration; and Administrator of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration in the Bush Sr. administration.