Immigration showdown

"Prince William County supervisors early this morning voted to move forward with a nationally watched plan to crack down on illegal immigrants by increasing local police enforcement and restricting certain public services. "

"The measures approved yesterday improve cooperation with federal immigration authorities and direct police to check the immigration status of anyone accused of breaking the law if the officer suspects that person is an illegal immigrant. They also would deny certain county services to illegal immigrants, including drug counseling, some elderly services, and business licenses. "

"But for hours yesterday afternoon and deep into the night, the podium belonged to residents, highlighting how visceral the issue has become. The list of speakers grew longer after the workday ended, as scores of Hispanic immigrants arrived to urge the supervisors to vote no, many speaking through translators. Children of immigrants, standing on stools, asked board members not to hurt their parents."

"Others pointed out that illegal immigrants are breaking the law. 'Where do you get off demanding services, rights and mandatory citizenship?' said Manassas resident Robert Stephens, addressing the large crowd of Hispanic residents. 'Who invited you? You cry for your rights? You have none.'"

Wow. Just like high gas prices, our country needs a stimulus like what is happening in localities like Prince William to encourage discussion about immigration policy and spur the Federal government to act.

Local governments should do everything they can to effectively police themselves. I dont believe asking one's immigration status is a violation of one's rights. I dont agree, however, with the gentleman quoted above saying that illegal immigrants have no rights. All human beings have rights and should be treated with a certain dignity. However, I agree that they have no claim to services provided by local governments.

I think many people involved in this debate have a heart and feel empathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants, but this should not obscure the fact that our nation functions according to the rule of law and that we have - however convoluted and asinine -- immigration laws and regulations. What we dont have are effective boundaries to complement these laws.

Unfortunately, many law abiding residents of our country are forgotten during this debate. There are many productive, valuable members of our society that leave every year because their visas expire or their attempt at citizenship falls short. Some of these people have to leave family members behind, move to Windsor, Ontario and work at a car manufacturing plant because their 12 year attempt at citizenship fails. If they can do it, so can everyone else who is here illegally.