Illegal immigration: Go back and do it right

Former talk show host Jerry Bowyer has an article in which he claims the Bible is unabashedly pro-immigrant. "We cannot kick people out who have been here for awhile." That's what President Bush said last week.

While I respect both men, I disagree. Both viewpoints run contrary to the law of the land. No man is called by the Bible to subvert the law or undermine it.

Bowyer says in his article, "The Bible is explicit. In the Torah, Moses commanded, "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt." The problem is no one that I know of is calling for mistreatment or oppression.

I understand many of the people who come here are fleeing oppression, but that does not mean we must provide a safe haven for every person who wants to flee their country. If that's the case, we should a have round the clock flights landing from Darfur, North Korea, Cuba and a thousand other places.

When a person willing defies our immigration laws, jumps ahead of those who have legally applied to be citizens and has no respect for what we do and do not allow in this country, they are then oppressing the law abiding. There must be a a penalty for that action.

If President Bush says we can not kick people out then he is granting amnesty and encouraging other to come here agaist the law. He is offering amnesty for those who have broken our laws.

I'm not against immigration, I'm against illegal immigration. Immigrants have built this country and still continue to do so. However, that greatness has been achieved by submitting to a system of laws and government. It's that system that causes people to want to come here in the first place.

The continual argument I hear from the other side is "You can't deport 10 to 20 million people." Jerry Bowyer uses the term "concentration camp" to guilt those who take a hard line on the issue.

First, this is the USA. We can do anything we put our minds to. If we can put a man on the moon, we can enforce the law.

I suggest giving all those who are in those in this country illegally 6 months notice. You have that time to get your affairs in order. Within 6 months you must return to your own country. If you choose to ignore that grace period, state, federal and local law enforcement will begin to seek those who remain.

Employers who hire undocumented workers will be responsible for paying a hefty fine and the cost of deporting those workers. Same with those who supply housing for they are aiding and abeting.

All those who return to their home country will be able to apply for citizenship upon return. They would be granted citizenship within 7 years pending a criminal background check and required language and educational requirements.

If you are caught in this country after the grace period, you will be deported within 48 hours and can not apply for citizenship for 10 years. If you are caught more then once, you are banned for life. I know it's hard. I know many people have been here for years. Still they are the one who chose to break the law and we must not forget that.

Under this plan most people would finally be able to right thier wrong and become legal residents of this great country.

The law of the land is clear on what happens to lawbreakers. They are punished. Those who break immigration laws are deported. This should be no exceptions to that law. When amy person publicly waivers from that, more illegals make their way across the boarder and we might as well toss out the welcome mat. Let's start the 6 month clock and try defending our own soil.