Christopher Ruddy
Thursday, June 16, 2005

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  "I do not think that we have protected our borders or our ports," the Senator from New York said recently. "I am adamantly against illegal immigrants. People have to stop employing illegal immigrants."

Sen. Clinton should be applauded for at least publicly addressing the issue while her party's old guard, led by Ted Kennedy, remains diametrically opposed to any reform.

For Sen. Clinton it may also be smart politics. Americans of all stripes are up in arms over our current immigration policy.

Conservatives don't like it because unbridled immigration is changing America's traditional Eurocentric culture. Democratic unions and their members don't like job losses.

Still, many in the public arena are afraid to deal with the issue. In this edition of NewsMax Magazine, we feature CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, who has courageously tackled the immigration issue on his TV program, citing among his worries that unsecured borders present a serious security problem.

News reports indicate the Mexican-American border is a sieve that allows al Qaeda terrorists to take an easy way into our homeland.

But many of those worried about immigration seek to solve the problem by taking a draconian position: Throw all the illegals out, lock down the border and stop immigration, period.

Such a position is not tenable rationally or politically. Instead, we should embrace immigration, but smartly.

America's history as an immigrant nation is at the root of our greatness. And with the demographic tidal wave hitting soon as 77 million Baby Boomers retire, the American economy needs the inflow of immigrants.

In 1950, 16 workers supported each retiree on Social Security. Today, there are about three workers for each pensioner – and experts predict that figure will eventually be just two workers for each retiree.

The President talks about the Social Security crisis. The Democrats talk about a health care crisis. The Congress deals with a growing private pension crisis. Immigration is tied to solving these and other challenges facing us.

Here are some positive steps America can take to tackle the immigration problem:

1. Limited Amnesty for Illegals

Currently, there are an estimated 10.3 million illegal aliens in the U.S. – and some put the figure at 15 million or even 20 million. If they are made citizens, they are likely to go on the tax rolls and pay into Social Security.

Of course, an offer of citizenship should exclude criminals and come with several provisos: All new citizens must learn functional English within 18 months and pass a test proving it. Illegals seeking citizenship who are between, say, 18 and 25, will have to serve in the military. New citizens will not be eligible for some government benefits such as welfare or Social Security for a period of five years.

2. Secure the Border -- Finally

The grant of amnesty should only be given if the border with Mexico is finally secured. The Mexican-U.S. border is the primary entryway for illegal aliens. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 1.2 million illegals crossing the border last year – and 36 percent had been previously apprehended.

The U.S., like any sovereign nation, needs to secure its borders. If it means calling out the military, it must be done.

3. New Immigration Quotas

As a result of immigration provisions from the 1970s, America's legal immigration policy favors Third World nations to the detriment of Europe and other major economic powers.

In an average year about 800,000 people are granted legal permanent residence in the U.S. Most of the illegal population comes from Mexico – 90 percent of illegal immigration comes from Latin America and 70 percent of illegals are from Mexico.

Having one nation, Mexico, dominate U.S immigration flies in the face of America's historical tradition of drawing immigrants from many nations. With secure borders we could seek out a truly diverse immigration policy, which could include residents from the new democracies of Eastern Europe.

4. "Brain Suck" the World

American manufacturers cannot compete with workers in India and China making 50 cents an hour. But where we can compete is on the cutting edge of technology and industrial innovation.

To do that, America needs the greatest minds in the world. We have many here, but we need more.

The current immigration policy effectively favors one country and one socio-economic class. Instead, we need to favor diversity in both nations and classes. America desperately needs the people who will keep us preeminent through this century. Why not open the U.S. to the world's best and brightest scientists, engineers, doctors and other technical professionals?

5. Student Citizen Awards

It's amazing how many countries send us their best and brightest young minds here to reap the benefit of our MIT's -- and then go back to their home country to help businesses there compete against America!

U.S. colleges should be allowed to nominate their brightest foreign students for a grant of U.S. citizenship.

6. Bilingualism for the World

I support bilingualism. I believe that any nation that receives U.S foreign aid should require that its schools teach English as a second language.

Such a move would not only make immigrants ready for the U.S., it would be a deft maneuver to keep America and our products and ideas preeminent in the world. I first suggested this idea some time ago in NewsMax Magazine and recently the Dominican Republican announced it is making English a compulsory subject in its schools.

Some of these ideas may surprise some of our readers. Let me be clear: I am opposed to U.S. immigration policy as it now stands. It does little to make America one nation – or to keep us at the top of the heap.

What are your thoughts? You can comment on this article by going to www.newsmax.com/comments.cfm and giving me your feedback.

Thanks for listening.

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