No amnesty for illegal immigration

PHOTOGRAPHER: The New York Times

Eight border wall prototypes stand in front of the existing wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in Otay Mesa, Calif.

Recent moves to reopen the subject of amnesty for illegal aliens are misplaced and self-destructive. First and foremost, law breaking should never be rewarded. What you reward, you get more of. Undocumented immigrants broke a law coming here and break it every day by remaining. Considering that rule-of-law is the keystone of America’s success, we should not be undermining it and dooming ourselves to the lawlessness and nepotism that has held back so much of the world.

In addition, we are finally getting out of a prolonged economic slump that saw record numbers of Americans drop out of the work force. Trump’s policies have changed this, and it’s our duty as a country to make sure new jobs go to actual Americans. It’s easy to sympathize with younger undocumented immigrants who were brought here. But every job they take is one a citizen can’t work. It’s morally inexcusable for a government to let foreign law-breakers take these jobs instead of Americans.

Government should not be discussing amnesty for these people. It should be returning them to their home countries and building a wall on our southern border to prevent future illegal migration.

David Welch
Scotia