Illegal Immigration Nonexistent in Presidential Election

During this stage of the presidential race, you don't hear Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) or Barack Obama (D-Ill.) giving much attention to the illegal immigration crisis that continues to plague our nation.

There is no more important domestic issue facing America than illegal immigration, and yet we continue to avoid resolving the problem. The dilemma is that millions of people are streaming across American borders in the hope of improving their lot in life, but only a few of them are going through the proper channels to become legal citizens or documented aliens. Thus, our country is full of people who for all intents and purposes do not exist — they don’t have voting rights, they don’t have proper identification, they don’t serve on juries, and they don’t pay taxes.

So as our schools crumble, our freeways become worn out and our hospital waits become longer, illegal immigrants exacerbate the problem by using these services without adding to them. Those illegals who do work are admittedly helping the economy, but they are also hurting our overall society by sapping our resources without giving back. And finally, what is scary to think about is that in this age of terrorism, an open border (or a weak border) is an invitation for terrorists to enter and plan, support or cause chaos.

With all these convergent ideas on immigration reform and only five months before we vote for a new Congress and president, there is absolutely no way anything substantial will get done until 2009. Blame who you wish — and trust me, there is plenty to go around — but remember that the real loser is not some politician, but the everyday taxpayer who is paying for millions of illegal immigrants to freely attend our schools, drive on our freeways and use our hospitals.

As a man of faith, I strongly believe that every human being deserves the right to pursue happiness, but as a taxpaying citizen, I also believe strongly that every human should do his or her part to make the government work. And until the American immigration policy is reformed, and we stop catering to illegal immigrants, we will continue to let millions of people reap the rewards of our system without paying their due.