Hmmm … interesting reactions to Arizona’s new immigration law, or anti-illegal-alien law, whichever term you prefer. Not surprisingly, politicians from my old state of California are up in arms about it. That’s because they prefer a different term for illegal aliens: future loyal voters — if only they can push another amnesty bill through Congress someday. Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, has called for a moratorium on city-related travel to Arizona, and several members of the Los Angeles city council have proposed that L.A. stop doing any business with Arizona.
Mexican government officials are also up in arms, labeling the immigration law “abominable,” “a violation of human rights” and “discriminatory.” (Hard to argue with that last one; we do tend to treat criminals differently in America.)
Given all the hubub, I think the only fair course of action is to scrap the Arizona law and replace it with a new national immigration policy. Here are the provisions it ought to contain:
- Foreigners will be admitted into the country according to their ability to contribute to our national progress.
- Foreigners will be banned from interfering in our country’s politics.
- Immigration officials must ensure that all immigrants have the necessary funds for their own sustenance and for the sustenance of their dependents.
- Foreigners may be barred from the country if 1) their presence upsets the equilibrium of the national demographics, 2) they are deemed detrimental to our economic or national interests, 3) they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, 4) they have broken any of our laws, or 5) they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.
- Immigration authorities must keep track of every single person in the country and assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants.
- A National Population Registry must be established to keep track of every single individual who comprises the population of the country and verify each individual’s identity.
- A national Catalog of Foreigners must be established to keep track of all foreign tourists and immigrants, and assign each individual with a unique tracking number.
- Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into the country will be fined.
- All foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may fined or imprisoned.
- All foreigners who fail to obey the rules of the country will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned.
- All foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned.
- All foreigners who are deported and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization will be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
- Foreigners who violate the terms of their visas will be imprisoned for to up to six years.
- Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visas — such as working with out a permit – will face prosecution and possible imprisonment.
- Citizens who help illegal aliens enter the country will themselves considered criminals and face prosecution.
- Any citizen who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in this country will be subject to up to five years in prison.
Yes, yes, I know … it’s not exactly send me your huddled masses yearning to breathe free kind of stuff. Some of those policies come off as racist, classist, or downright harsh. So how can I possibly call them fair?
Simple: those are Mexico’s immigration policies. If Mexican officials think our laws are abominable and discriminatory, let’s adopt theirs instead.
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