Children Crossing America’s Border – What’s To Be Done?

First things first.  Stop the influx. 

American law designed to protect the victims of sex trafficking is apparently expansive enough to cover any foreign alien (except for Mexicans and Canadians) who is a minor and is on U.S. soil (regardless of how the child got here).  So, apparently, it’s not legally possible to return them without “due process”, which means a hearing, and that will take time, probably a lot of it.

Plainly, the border is not secure (prior Administration claims to the contrary have been proven ludicrous).

Yes, the massive influx of illegal aliens has generated a great need to provide care for the children.  We are Americans, the most generous – humanitarian – people in the world.  We will provide it.  But it cannot be without end.

Satisfying short term needs cannot serve as a substitute for long-term policy.  Even generosity must have its limits.  The ability of a nation of three hundred and fifteen million to serve the needs of a world’s population of seven billion can hardly be infinite, despite the wish of some that reality were otherwise.

We must improve security, so money must be spent on fences, guards, etc.  But there’s more to be done that doesn’t involve billions in expenditures.

U.S. officials need to be clear and loud in declaring that America will not be receptive to others seeking to join the alien children already here.  Those present will be treated according to our law.  We will do all that we can – including changing the law – to keep illegals out.

Let the word go out across Central America (the main source of our border overload) that the U.S. will no longer be a safe haven for illegals trying to escape problems at home.  Those who ignore the message must be advised that they will lose the costs of traveling north and risk their lives for nothing if they try.

What choice do we have?

Our immigration system, now so dysfunctional, was supposed to insure an orderly absorption of immigrants into our nation for the mutual benefit of the new residents and the American people.  America is in indeed a land of opportunity and immigrants – and still proud to be such.

But borders do matter.  We have a right as a nation to determine who joins us.  If such were not so, anyone (good and bad) would be free to enter.  We’d also soon become the orphanage of the world (as the U.S. is rapidly becoming for Central America).  Could collapse and national bankruptcy be far behind?

America would then be rendered helpless to aid anyone.