HARMON: Are we not humane?
As I watch my daughter with her son in her arms traverse the path that leads from our house through the woods to hers, the idea of asking a mother who came here illegally to leave America without her child makes no sense, regardless of how or why they came in the first place.
Simply put, there would be too much pain involved both for the families of those asked to leave and those of us who still have a semblance of humanity left in our souls if we tear families apart in the name of purging the country of illegals.
When you read the myriad of comments regarding millions of undocumented immigrants, you hear, “I’m OK with the hard-working tax paying ones,” or “we’ve never had a moment’s problem with those people in our town.” I believe those comments are relevant and should be part of the discussion.
The majority of the millions of undocumented appear to be law-abiding productive citizens, their tax status notwithstanding. It seems that a lot of folks, and rightfully so, have a problem with the undocumented who commit crimes. So maybe our focus should be on them, realizing that deporting millions of people, in spite of what Eisenhower and others did, is not feasible in today’s environment.
I think the majority of people in the U.S. would feel better about the situation if two things happened. One, we secure the southern border to prevent as many drug dealers, terrorists and of course illegals as possible from entering. And two, we provide swift transportation back to the country of origin for those who commit crimes, (exceptions of course) regardless of the number of family members.
In other words, if dad screws up, the entire family gets a free ride back to their country of birth and the children are welcome to go as well. This should provide a good deal of incentive for mommy and daddy to behave, knowing transportation is at the ready if they do not.
In doing this it makes us all feel better with a sense that something is being done to solve the problem. It is obvious we cannot continue with the status quo. We probably don’t hear the half of what goes on at the border with ranchers having to deal with trespassers, drug imports and thefts taking place, as those who have nothing when they come use the only means they have to feed themselves or their children. As regards the ones who stay, restrict their right to vote until they are citizens. We are obviously going to have to “eat” the medical costs as well as welfare until the good folks who are here or coming here (because there is no way to completely eliminate illegal immigration), get on their feet.
We have to believe that most people, if given the chance, do not want to spend their lives on welfare but seek a better life for themselves and their children. With regard to transportation home, we do not use boxcars but airliners. At key international airports, of which there are many on the southern border, a designated number of planes are readied for trips south. Who pays? Why, we do, of course, through the federal government. This is part of the mess we find ourselves in requiring tough decisions no one running for office seems to be willing to make.
These planes can also be used to empty the prisons of felons from other countries who need to experience the good life elsewhere and on someone else’s dime. There should be deportation with no return ticket, and we really don’t care what those folks at the security check points do while the felons have their shoes off.
Motels can be used for housing at the airports and, you guessed it, paid for by us. Security guards will be needed to maintain order and discipline between both the illegals and the prison felons and we’ll pay for that also. There is no easy answer but the incentive to be productive, stay within the law and remain with one’s family should be enough for the normal illegal immigrant who wants to stay in America. After all, are we not humane?
Sonny Harmon is a professor emeritus at Georgia Military College. Visit his blog at www.sharmon09.blogspot.com.
This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "HARMON: Are we not humane? ."