FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM (Editorial): Beside the golden door

Star-Telegram
October 20, 2005

The United States, which long has prided itself on being a land of immigrants, finds itself in a classic conundrum concerning those who have come here seeking political and economic refuge.

That impressive symbol of liberty standing in New York Harbor, beckoning to the world's "tired" and "poor" and "wretched refuse" and "homeless, tempest-tost," seems contradicted by a growing sentiment to halt the flow of those "huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

The swell of illegal immigration in this country, estimated at about 11 million undocumented residents, is producing a backlash that has resulted in growing domestic protests, private border patrols and a slew of proposed legislation to combat a problem that cannot be easily fixed.

In addition to vigorous enforcement of existing laws, including those that punish employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, something more drastic, more creative and more practical must be done to stop the mass influx from our southern borders in particular, to address the needs of industries that depend on the labor of undocumented workers and to bring the illegal immigrant out of society's shadows.

Lawmakers in Washington have proposed numerous solutions -- everything from the draconian to the naive.

Some want a massive roundup and deportation, while others recommend prison time and harsh fines for illegal immigrants or erecting miles of fencing along the border.

The Bush administration, which came into office with this issue (and better relations with Mexico) as a top priority, put the matter on hold after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This week, with appearances before Congress by two Cabinet members, the administration has reintroduced its guest worker plan, along with proposals for tighter border security and more aggressive enforcement inside the country.

Under the president's revised plan, illegal immigrants would be able to apply to work in the country for six years, pay a substantial fine and then return to their native land. The guest workers would not be placed on a path to U.S. citizenship.

A proposal by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., would permit immigrants to remain in the country after paying a $2,000 fine, and the workers would be able to apply for permanent residency and eventually U.S. citizenship.

The problem is so big, and the proposed solutions so varied, that Congress isn't likely to do anything about it this year. It is also doubtful that anything will get done next year -- except for political grandstanding -- as the country prepares for midterm elections.

This crucial issue needs immediate and productive action. But Congress and the administration must not approach it piecemeal. There must be a comprehensive plan that addresses the issues of the workers and their families, an economy that has come to depend on many of them, the constant breaching of our borders, and the economics of Latin America that are a huge part of the problem.

The Bush administration is right to put something on the table for consideration, but the president must now push Congress to get to work seriously on the matter rather than just use the issue as political fodder during a campaign season.