When Solutions Get Sticky...

I've been mulling over the immigration issue for quite sometime - and every time I think I reach a point where I come out on one side or the other, something else comes up.. Before long, I realize I'm looking at a cataclysmic failure on so many different levels that it presents an almost impossible solution.. If anything, the immigration issue highlights all of the problems that have fallen absent and ignored throughout the years:

- The failure of various trade agreements has left Mexico with staggering 40% unemployment rate.. When I listened to the interviews, several Hispanics said they did not want to be in the US, but they had very little choice because there's no jobs, no income and a poverty rate that is vastly being ignored.. When they get money (as I understand it) they are sending it back to their family in Mexico.. Again, who can fault someone who is trying to support themselves and their family..

- Immigrants are coming across the border for an opportunity and on that regard, I can't fault them, after all - it is the basis for the countless millions of immigrants that flooded into New York City.. The difference, as is pointed out - is that there's a difference between legal immigration and illegal immigration.. Again, I can understand both sides of it - because on one hand we want things to be legal, yet on the other, we'd be rather hypocritical if we blocked things out *now* rather than trying to find a suitable remedy that will appease everyone involved..

- Granting amnesty and legal-immigration status is going to have a PROFOUND impact on our economy.. Because illegal immigrants will now be legal, they will also enjoy the benefit of a minimum wage and insurance requirements as dictated under law.. How that is funded largely depends on where you shop, where you stay and what services you obtain.. Fruits and vegetables will cost more.. Hotel prices may rise as will other industries which have benefited from un-documented workers.. At a time when our deficit continues to rise - and when we have a President who is dead-set on giving the top 1/2 of 1% an early Christmas present in tax cuts, the economy is going to have very difficult time absorbing a large influx of workers..

- Yet I also understand that the influx of illegal immigration has already had a PROFOUND impact our communities.. Health care, education, police, fire and other community services are feeling tremendous strains and growth issues.. With cities, counties and states already having strained budgets, the continual influx of immigrants who are not paying into the system continues to be overwhelming..

- However, if we leave the current situation "as-is" we're not protecting our borders.. And while I recognize that the early indications is that no terrorist has ever crossed over into the United States from Mexico, my point is: we don't know for certain.. Considering the reliability of our intelligence agencies, I'm more inclined to believe that they have - and know that they live amongst us, rather than living the fairy tale dream that all is okay.. Border security is vital - but then our government has proven its vulnerabilities and weaknesses in ways that a pre-schooler could figure it out..

- When you have the President of Mexico encouraging his citizens to sneak across the border and defy our laws of immigration, then I have a real big problem with how this administration is handling it's foreign policy.. It seems insane that Bush stands idly by and let's Vicente Fox continue to make recommendation and provide access routes for those illegals that cross the border.. The trade agreements haven't worked - and Bush can be held responsible for that because Mexico is our neighbor, but that shouldn't automatically mean that they should live in our house.. Bush has done nothing to repair the trade agreements to help Mexico stabilize its economy.. When we have companies relocating to India for cheaper labor, they obviously didn't give much consideration to our Mexican neighbors.. Instead, Bush turns a blind eye so that the corporate monopolies can continue to exploit this level of economic enslavement.. Mexicans may not have shackles on their feet, but when you're paid on dollars a day - then that's still criminal and immoral..

The bottom line is that there's no clear cut answer..

Our economies clearly mesh together.. To forget this fact is really stupid.. Sending all illegals home will not improve our economy any more than it would be to grant them instant legal asylum in the US.. As neighbors, we should be working together to not only protecting our borders, but to not allow our economies to falter and fail..

And to do that - means that we work together to secure our borders, while helping the Mexican economy grow so that those families that continue to live in both countries can decide what is best for them.. That's cooperation and the best way to make everyone work together for a solution..