Illegal Aliens. How We Move Forward Is Important.

Anyone who has read my posts on illegal aliens from Mexico knows that I tend to have a soft spot for those simply trying to make a better life and not being able to get through the red tape of legal immigration.

Interestingly, one of the meanest bunch of e-mails I have ever gotten was from those living in Arizona regarding the border issue. I'm not sure politicians truly understand how much this issue means to many people.

Seeing the immigration rallies on TV, I was as disturbed as many people with all the Mexican flags. That does not garner too much sympathy with most Americans I'm afraid. But it doesn't matter. If we try to put into legislation any more of a criminal offense on the illegal alien it will bomb. Democrats will only use it to make us into the bad guys. In my opinion, any more legislation needs to be directed at those who hire illegals, not the illegals themselves. And certainly not at charities helping illegals.

There are two separate issues here. First is to stop illegal immigration. I'm not sure of the answer. Some say a wall. Some say a vast increase in border control. Those things are fine with me. Focusing on that should be primary. Who can really argue with legislation trying to stop something that we all agree is illegal?

The 2nd issue is what to do with 12 million illegal aliens already here. This is where we must tread lightly. Deporting them all is impossible and would be a PR disaster and we just have to face that fact. Many Republicans are angry at Bush for proposing the Guest Worker program, but to me it makes the most sense. It is creating a way to make these people legal. We will then know who they are and they can work legally and pay taxes ect.

Yes, I know that it isn't "fair" that they get "rewarded" for breaking the law. But it also isn't fair that we sit around shouting at one another and nothing gets done. It only gets worse.

If we can show some compassion with a Guest Worker program, then I think it would be a lot easier to push through legislation to stop illegal immigration and not look bad in the Hispanic community. And whether we want to admit it or not, this is important. Very important.

While Gore won 65 percent of the Hispanic vote, holding Bush to a mere 35 percent, Kerry only carried the Hispanic vote by 55-45. Which most certainly helped Bush win.

Since Hispanics cast 12 percent of the vote in 2004, their 10-point movement to the GOP gave the president an additional 1.2 percent of the national vote.

We cannot afford to lose the that gain. It isn't just about the illegals. It's about the Hispanic community at large. It's about showing them that we care about their issues. And they care about this issue.