What to do about Immigration?

By Art Pedroza

Illegal immigration has become the top issue for most Republicans in California. How can we curtail the problems without disenfranchising Latino voters?

Our freeways and streets are crowded; our hospitals are near bankrupt or closed down because so many immigrants seek medical care that they cannot pay for; our schools are overloaded and in disrepair; and our jails are swelling with criminals who are undocumented. What to do?

I would submit that most immigrants come here to work. They often come from countries with socialist economies, and as such few opportunities. They often leave behind their loved ones so that they can make money to send back home.

We need to pay close attention to our borders in the wake of the tragic 911 terrorist attack in New York. But what about the immigrants who are already here?

I support the plan to give green cards to those immigrants who have been here for at least five years without getting into trouble. But I do not support another amnesty. I also think we need to make the immigration process easier, so folks won't resort to coming here illegally.

At the same time, we need to hire more Border Patrol officers and give them the equipment they need to do their job. In particular we need to shut down the drug trade on our southern border.

We also need to penalize American companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. They are creating the demand that is driving illegal immigrants into our country.

When thousands of illegal immigrants recently protested in Santa Ana and Los Angeles, many of them did so while carrying Mexican flags. That was a stark reminder that we need to work harder to assimilate these people into Americn culture.

In that vein, we need to make English classes for Spanish speakers readily available in all major cities. When my parents came here from Mexico, they got their green cards and started to learn English right away. It made all the difference in their lives.

Both sides in the immigration debate need to dial it down a bit and work hard to resolve these issues. Our security and future are at stake as are the lives of thousands if not millions of families.