Despite what the mainstream media has been drilling into us, the American people won't accept any immigration overhaul -- bipartisan or otherwise. Amnesty was a bad idea when the Reagan Administration pushed it. It is bad today.
Then, American were willing to give it a try. One action today and the problem might be solved forever. Things did not turn out that way.
Supporters of amnesty have strong arguments. We're not about deport millions upon millions of people, dividing families and inflicting physical and emotion pain. There are jobs Americans won't do. We can argue what those jobs are and why Americans won't do them. (Business owners seeking cheap labor in cahoots with consumers seeking cheap goods?) America's aging population, liberals' anti-family and anti-children policies, among other things, would leave the country incapable of sustaining its great power status well into the future.
But America is where it is today because it is a nation of laws. People who entered the United States in violation and continue to live here in that capacity are law breakers. No emotional argument can be allowed to weaken the country's resolve to uphold the sanctity of its borders. Offenders must pay the penalty.
So here's the deal. Let's institute a $5,000 fine for illegals. No ifs, or buts there. Self-deportation costs money. Applicants might find it more appealing to pay the fine. If a fine is good for those violating the country's healthcare laws, it should be good enough for those who break its immigration laws.
