Immigration Reform

As Congress debates the subject of what to do about more than 11 million foreign invaders (undocumented immigrants), the word reform is in the air.

In this case, the synonym for reform is amnesty. No matter what anyone says, if a new immigration law is passed, it will include amnesty for millions of people who are defrauding the American taxpayers.

Bob Segall of WTHR-Indianapolis has documented that illegal immigrants using their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and filing tax returns and subsequently claiming additional child tax credits for children they don’t have, are defrauding the American taxpayer of more than $4.2 billion annually (Inspector General Report).

That computes to almost $4,000 per illegal. The IRS obviously knows about the problem, but as evidenced by the current revelations about IRS harassment of conservatives, rectifying the situation is not on the agenda.

Wouldn’t it be nice if American citizens could get the liberals to grant amnesty to them for defrauding the IRS out of billions?

The American people need to demand that the Obama administration and Congress deal with the reality that we are being invaded by an army of people cheating the American taxpayer.

The reform needed is to secure the border.

I think that most of our immigrants choose to come here because they think that it will improve their lives.

Some, no doubt, actually intend to do our country harm, or are among the types who end up being net “takers,” drags on our society.

Most, I expect, would make good citizens. Some, I’m sure, would bear “watching.”
There’s a “diluting the strain” line of thought that involves some people believing that today’s immigrants aren’t as good as what we used to get.

But recall that when the world realized what our sparsely populated land represented in terms of opportunity, lots of people came. Most were Europeans, but all races and most places were represented.

A bit of “immigrant” lives within all of us, even Native Americans when their ancestors took a big chance, a long time ago. Over time, all countries change.

It is important how we deal with these changes – they involve valuable and sensitive resources; they are about human lives.

Disproportionately, our immigrants bring personal characteristics positive for our country – qualities like ambition, courage and loyalty.

As for the roles, the responsibilities, that voluntary compliance and civic participation entail in our society. I think that most are eagerly embraced.

We are fortunate. Let’s keep attracting, welcoming and assimilating the world’s best. We need them.

They are what we are about.