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Leaky Borders Have Created A Flood
Before anyone gets all cranked up and thinks that this article is going to condemn immigration, I am afraid that you will be disappointed. There is a divide in our country with people who fall on both sides of the issue, as to whether or not we should build the proverbial wall around our borders. Both sides have valid points with evidence to support their beliefs and theories. But, for the sake of time, let us look at how immigration, particularly illegal immigration, has affected a particular segment of our country. I am sure that none of you will be surprised to read my concern of how immigration has caused a tremendous strain on our criminal justice and judicial system. In all honesty, this particular topic had better be of concern to all of us. As I have said before, like it or not, a strong law enforcement presence is all that protects us from the anarchy that we see on CNN every night throughout the world.
Here is the problem! Based on the number of immigrants that are coming across our borders, the legal system has swelled to the point that its ability to protect our country's citizens from the bad guys has been jeopardized. Now that you have heard my hypothesis, I will attempt to make you a believer. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, better known these days as the Bureau of Homeland Security, readily admits that the numbers who pass illegally over the U.S-Mexico border is out of control. Despite crack downs at the border, every means possible is being utilized to bring illegal immigrants across the border. We have heard the terrible stories of immigrants who have died in boxcars and big rigs, but the practice is still in full swing with plenty of customers waiting to give it a try. Although the numbers of people who are being caught attempting to enter the country illegally has increased, the number of those who are not being caught is also increasing. Not only has the number of illegal immigrants increased, the number of births to illegal immigrants has also increased, with over 11,000 births in Georgia in the year 2002. As you have probably read, our homicide rate has already surpassed the 2002 year totals within the first six months of 2003. Of the total number of homicides that occurred in Gwinnett County this year, there has also been a marked increase of illegal immigrants who make up the perpetrator's list, as well as, those who have fallen victim to murder. The entire make up of our gang population most certainly cannot be labeled as illegal immigrants, but a percentage of them in fact can be. The Gwinnett County Gang Task force has now identified 171 gangs in Gwinnett County alone.
Now back to my original statement. I am not a proponent of closing our borders. In fact, my opinion is quite the contrary. As the old indisputable argument goes, unless you are descendants of the Native Americans, I suppose that we are all immigrants. I am not for clamping down on immigration, but simply for making it a process that is done in a legal fashion. Our country has been richly blessed in so many ways. If there is a way that we can share these blessings with anyone, from anywhere, I am all for it. When the United States begins to stand with closed arms, rather than the widespread arms of welcome that we have always had, we will find ourselves standing alone. We must be honest with ourselves. Even thought I wish that we could, our country simply cannot accept every citizen from every country who looks to escape from political and otherwise tyranny. We must communicate with our neighbors to the South, as well as, the entire world through a program of information and education that teaches the importance of legal immigration and the rewards that immigrants will find by doing so. For those who go through this process, we should welcome and assist them as they integrate into our country's populace. On the other hand, we must not turn our heads to those who are here illegally or attempt to gain entry illegally. Our system of legal responsibility is not only a good idea for some of us but is necessary for all of us. Quite frankly, our system of justice will never be able to keep pace with the numbers if some form of control and accountability is not in place. Legal immigration, through current and potential new laws that are user friendly rather than, red tape will create incentives for those wishing to enter our country to do it the right way.
One of our nation's mottos is that we are the "land of the free and the home of the brave." If we are to continue this boast, we had better add "and land of the legal." As our borders continue to leak around the seals, we must always be cognizant of the fact that leaky faucets may someday flood your entire home.
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Stan Hall is the Director of the Victim Witness Program for the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office. He is also the host of the Gwinnett County Communication Network's television show "Behind the Badge."
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