Issue: Immigration
Date: April 5, 2004
Author: Ken Larsen

Immigration

If I were in charge, I would let everyone in. I would trust them immediately to own a gun and get a job. As soon as they qualify, I would allow them a driver's license. The Berlin Wall was designed to prevent people from escaping to freedom. I don't want the world to see another Berlin Wall, not on our borders. I see no reason why my state taxes should be spent giving a free education to an immigrant from Colorado and not to an immigrant from Uruguay.

It is interesting that the 14th Amendment defines a citizen and requires the States to respect them. Then, it says no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Notice the word "Person." It is bigger than "Citizen." It includes non-citizens, and we are not allowed, legally, to discriminate against them. I would change the laws so that "illegal alien" would be virtually impossible. Walking into America should not be a crime. Freedom is about mutual trust. I trust them.

I agree with Emma Lazarus, author of the poem on the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." Anyone who thinks more immigration control will reduce terrorism should look at the success of our gun control and drug control laws at reducing gun violence and drug abuse. If tightening our borders has any effect on terrorism, I can think of some good reasons why it would be an increase. Please rekindle the lamp beside the golden door.

Ken