Thanks to the unwillingness of the federal government to crack down on illegal immigration, states feeling the effects of the onslaught are taking matters in their own hands. (Christian Science Monitor: For illegals, a spreading backlash). Communities in such unlikely places as New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Idaho are finding loopholes in federal law to take action against illegal aliens and companies that employ them.
The Bush Administration's unwillingness to address the problem is due in large part to fear of alienating the Spanish vote in key battleground states. A precarious relationship between Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox only compounds the problem. Trying to woo this admittedly large voting block is not without repercussions, however. Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies states, "The public agrees on certain things, and one of these is the distinction between legal and illegal immigration."
A recent CBS poll shows that 67% of Americans oppose the Administrations plan to offer "guest visas" to illegals already in the US. A Gallup poll determined that 70% of Americans do not support legislation that would make US Citizenship easier for illegal aliens.
Residents in communities innundated with illegals contend that their taxes are increasing to pay for social programs, jobs are being lost, and housing values are declining. Language is becoming a bone of contention as well. Robert Vasquez, Caldwell, Idaho county commissioner complains, "Why should I have to 'Press 1 for English?' " It may seem like a minor point, but language is a major point of division in a nation where the overwhelming majority of the population is monolinguistic.
Illegal immigration is emerging as a campaign issue in 2008, and quite possibly an issue in the 2006 mid-terms. The ultimate winner will be the group that has the courage to take a stand against illegal aliens and safeguard our borders. There is a process already in place for entering our nation legally. It's time our government enforced it.
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