Strict immigration laws are a by-product of an economy on the downswing. When consumer confidence is down, the public begins pushing for any available federal controls — immigration being chief among them.
But with the United States in the midst of economic recovery, the approximate 110,000 undocumented immigrants in Utah can serve to strengthen the local economy — not hurt it. They should be left alone to stay and work here and not be deported.
The proposed reform of the Gang of 8, a bipartisan group of senators, is backed by Utah Attorney Gen. John Swallow. It would seek to strengthen border security as well as figure out what to do with the illegal immigrants already living and working in the state. Swallow has said the reform should involve a path to legal status. The Gang of 8’s proposal includes such a path.
However, senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch are attempting to slow down the proposed reform. Utah’s Republican senators have pushed for additional hearings for the bill and sent a letter imploring senators to move slower in their discourse.
The slowdown is representative of the senators’ stances on the bill. If they were they in full support of the immigration reform, they would likely push the bill through as quickly as possible. Instead, this slowdown serves as a symbol of the primary problem with modern immigration.
Illegal immigration owes its severity to the shortcomings of the legal immigration method. If it were efficient and easy to immigrate legally, no one would take the risk of illegal immigration. Furthermore, undocumented workers could more easily be taxed and represented if they were better able to pursue a path to citizenship.
Immigrants stimulate the economy with their purchases and keep labor markets competitive — especially farming markets — which rely heavily on seasonable immigrant labor. It is also financially healthy to maintain a diverse nation. Fear of immigration arises from antiquated isolationist views and doesn’t have a place in the modern economic picture.
This is not to say the country should pursue total, unrestricted immigration. It is important for the government to know who is entering and exiting the country and maintain a general sense of those living in the United States. However, there is no reason for the process to be difficult. Porous borders is key. So is a timely process — not an unduly lengthy one.
Despite the reluctance of Hatch and Lee, the nation needs immediate immigration reform. At its current trajectory, Congress will inevitably create a better system for potential immigrants. If it is ready to make this decision by June, then it should be done by June. Hatch and Lee should not be able to halt the process because they feel the topic requires more debate. Anyway, it really only masks their ideological opposition to liberal immigration policies.
It is these kinds of situations that illustrate the American people’s frustrations with Congress. The structure of the political system inherently forces a slow process. We don’t need our representatives doing the same.
The current U. S. immigration system is a mess. Immigrants deserve an efficient means of entering the country, and the undocumented people who have already integrated themselves in American society deserve an easy means of staying here. If Congress is ready to fix a problem, let them fix it.