Immigration needs more than reform, it needs to be fixed

By William O. Lipinski

William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia — William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District).

We have an anonymous problem with illegal aliens coming into our Land of the Free and home of the Brave.

This is not new, it has been going on for over a decade, if not longer.

Our political parties won’t or can’t deal with it. Why, because one party likes the cheap labor cost for businesses and large corporations, the other party believes they can make them citizens and get their votes in the near future.

Very disappointing positions by both political parties, once again demonstrating they only care what they think is good for their party, not what is good for our Land of the Pilgrim’s Pride.

Migrants working fields. Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Our present Presidential administration has just ignored the problem, and by doing so, has exacerbated the problem.

So far this year, that we know of, 2.1 million illegals have been permitted to enter our country.

They turn themselves in at the border, are arrested, registered, given a work permit, and told to come back for a hearing on their request for asylum.

This process turns them from illegal aliens into legal immigrants.

I would love to know how many come back for that hearing, unfortunately my research has not turned up a current number.

At one time it was 61%, but most people that work in the immigrant community think it is much lower now.

Because of this Presidential administration ignoring the problem the states along the border have been overrun by illegal aliens, driving many of their voters into the hands of the Republicans, that is if the Republicans don’t mess it up; as they so often due.

Perhaps we have stumbled into an opportunity for us to get a handle on our illegal immigration challenge.

The governors of Texas and Florida may have found away to force President Biden into doing something about our immigration challenge.

By bussing and flying these illegals into democratic sanctuary cities, such as Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and Martha’s Vineyard it has brought the immigration issue to the front page of liberal newspapers and liberal television news.

The criticism of these governors of course has been way over-the-top, calling them brutal and inhumane, but it has gotten the issue in front of the American people, hopefully forcing the Biden administration to stop ignoring the issue and taking some corrective action.

President Biden cannot solve our immigration problem by simply dealing with the influx of illegal aliens at the border, but it would be a step in the right direction; perhaps leading to a comprehensive reform of our immigration system.

I strongly support legal immigration, it has been necessary and great for our country, in future columns I will offer my ideals on a comprehensive reform bill.

I had some strong reservations about supporting the last immigration reform bill, until President Reagan asked me and others to vote for it, and I did.

What we need is to do is stop playing politics with immigration and start addressing the real problem ensuring that people who come to this country and properly vetted and welcomed and immersed in our culture.

I would love to hear your thoughts, readers, on what you think needs to be done.

Share your comments about this column by emailing former Congress Bill Lipinski at [email protected].)

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William Lipinski

William Oliver Lipinski is a former U.S. Representative from the State of Illinois. He served as the Democratic Committeeman from the Chicago 23rd Ward from 1975 and as Alderman of the Ward until he was elected to the Congress in 1982.

Lipinski writes the "Right from the Middle" Column twice each month.

Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill and graduated fromSt. Patrick High School, Chicago, Ill., 1956; attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1956-1957; United States Army Reserves, 1961-1967.

Lipinski was elected alderman, Chicago, Ill., city council, 1975-1982; He was a delegate to: the Democratic National Midterm Convention, 1974; Democratic National Convention, 1976 and 1984; Illinois state Democratic convention, 1977.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 2005)

His email is [email protected]

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