Common sense says if you tell people they will have a better shot at attaining legal status as Americans if they just come to this country to work for a while, more people will enter the country illegally.
Common sense has now been borne out by hard statistical facts provided by the Border Patrol.
In the month since President Bush floated his non-amnesty amnesty program, the number of immigrants caught attempting to enter the country illegally at the biggest border crossing checkpoint is up 15 percent.
In other words, George Bush rolled out the red carpet for more illegal immigration. In other words, George Bush sent out engraved invitations for more illegal immigration. In other words, George Bush undermined the immigration laws of this country. In other words, in a time of heightened national security concerns, George Bush has helped to overwhelm our already stretched law-enforcement resources at our borders. In other words, George Bush is promoting law breaking.
That's right, the chief executive of the federal government – the man constitutionally mandated to enforce the laws of the land – is promoting the breaking of our laws. He's encouraging more law breaking and the results speak for themselves – even after only 30 days.
If you think maybe there is no cause and effect between Bush's words and the attempted illegal border crossings at San Ysidro, listen to this: More than half of those caught using phony documents say the president's offer of de facto amnesty motivated them to attempt to sneak into the United States.
"This surge in unlawful attempts to cross the southern border is precisely what U.S. border enforcement officers and immigration policy experts predicted," said the normally subdued and moderate San Diego Union-Tribune in an editorial. "By proposing to forgive millions of illegal aliens their trespasses against this country, President Bush has encouraged even more illegal aliens to join those already here."
Bush wants new laws on immigration. But he has shown no interest in enforcing the old laws. Why should we listen to him now?
The response from the American people should be this: Let's try enforcing the old laws before we pass any new ones. Let's try beefing up the Border Patrol. Let's try pressuring the companies hiring these illegal aliens to hire legal Americans. Let's try denying taxpayer-supported social services to lawbreakers. Let's try deportations. Let's try enforcing criminal laws against illegal aliens just as we prosecute American citizens. Let's encourage states and local governments to cooperate with immigration to uproot the illegals – especially those who continue to break the law. Let's even try putting the National Guard at our borders. If it works in Afghanistan and Iraq, why shouldn't it work here?
The Union-Tribune said the White House is not learning the lessons of 1986, "when Congress granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. The amnesty did absolutely nothing to discourage future illegal immigration. In fact, the number of illegal immigrants has increased exponentially since then."
Not only that, as we now know, terrorists who later attacked America at the World Trade Center established residency in the U.S. as a result of that amnesty program. Let us never make that mistake again.
A recent New York Times poll indicates two-thirds of Americans oppose a temporary worker program for illegals. What is it about the law of the land and the will of the people George Bush doesn't comprehend?
This is the wrong plan at the wrong time.
It rewards law breaking.
It establishes a double-standard for immigration rules.
It threatens the jobs and wages of American workers.
It costs hard-working Americans more in tax-supported benefits.
And, most of all, it undermines national security at a time when the president claims this as America's No. 1 priority.