11/24/2006 4:00:00 AM Time to get tough on immigration
It's time to call things what they are with the illegal immigration issue, and the Prescott City Council should approve the resolution it unveiled at this week's study session.
The draft resolution:
• Urges the federal government to seal the borders against entry of "illegal immigrants, criminals and terrorists."
• Opposes amnesty for illegal aliens currently in the United States.
• Urges the federal government and state to secure that state border and the city borders against illegals and to let the state and city enforce existing laws on illegal immigration, Social Security and related federal benefits fraud and laws governing illegals in the workplace and the hiring of illegals.
• Urges the federal government to enact laws that allow state and local government to enforce immigration laws and provide money to help them.
It's a sad fact of life that Congress and the Bush Ad-ministration have done precious little fix the problem. Even though it's the federal government's job, if someone doesn't do that job and soon things will get even worse.
The Daily Courier has noted in past columns that Immigration Customs and Enforcement people show no inclination to pick up illegals involved in crimes in Prescott and Yavapai County once they make it this far north.
Some people attending the study session were wringing their hands aloud about the blunt language in the resolution. Too bad. Not all of the people entering the U.S. illegally are criminals and terrorists, but plenty of them are. If enough local governments speak as plainly to federal officials as this resolution does, it might inspire the do-nothing Congress to fix this long-standing problem. The council should approve this resolution unanimously with no changes.
