Wide Open Spaces

Part Two of a Series on Immigration Reform

Securing our borders is a tall order. In my novel, Under the Fifth Sun, the U.S. government passes legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security to achieve operational control of the border. Easier said than done, to be sure.

While the border with Mexico gets most of the attention when discussing illegal immigration, there are many other opportunities by which an illegal immigrant may gain entry into the United States. Here are some interesting facts.

- As stated in the previous post the U.S.-Mexico border is just under 2,000 miles long and spans four states.

- The U.S.-Canada border is over 5,500 miles long - the longest undefended border in the world.

- According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website, international flights to and from the US carried more than 147 million passengers in 2007.

- The United States has over 12,000 miles of coastline with many isolated areas that allow entry without effective detection. (Our coasts, of course, are the primary theaters of operation for the U.S. Coast Guard. Let's hope their motto holds true: Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready".)

That's a lot of wide open space. It should be obvious to everyone that if someone wanted badly enough to enter this country illegally, there would be plenty of options to choose from. A wall along the border would be a physical deterrent, much as a lock on a door will keep most people out. Honest people see the lock and respect the symbolic message: "stay out". Those with other motivations will find a way through the door no matter what.

So why all the fuss over securing the southern land border and not the others? First, the United States and Mexico have not established a practical, meaningful relationship between law enforcement agencies. Yes, there are many bi-lateral agreements and treaties, even a Joint Defense Commission created by Executive Order in 1941. But nothing of significance is taking place where it matters most: against organized crime and drug trafficking, corruption within local law enforcement, and those individuals engaged in human smuggling. In contrast, there is a high degree of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada including the joint Integrated Border Enforcement Teams.

Second, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security has led to significantly improved security and counter-terrorism methodology, while enhancing airport security through exchanging information about terror suspects with other countries. The enactment of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative also makes illegal entry more difficult. The use of forged documents for travel purposes is not as simple as before.

Finally, there is a law at work in full force in Mexico. It is a universal law but one less known to Americans than to Mexicans: the Law of Survival. It encumbers the vast majority of immigrants that move across our southern border and is as powerful and absolute as the law of gravity.

It is not to be confused with the Law of Want or the Law of Greed - two forces in full play in our society of consumerism. The law of survival is what impels the vast majority of the one-million impoverished souls to brave the elements, risk their lives and their well-being, and make the days-long trek across the border. Lack of jobs - even those paying the minimum wage, equivalent to less than five U.S. dollars per day - combined with poor sanitation, sub-par public health care, and growth of gang/drug violence make the lure of finding work in the United States difficult to resist. For many, it represents the only hope left in their world. For many others, their survival is linked to a family member already working in the United States.

So, do I sympathize with the plight of these people? Yes, I do. Do I believe we should open up our borders and grant them amnesty? Absolutely not.

Our country is based on the rule of law, starting with the Constitution and continuing to the parking meter police and everything in between. Our laws against illegal entry into our country must remain strong and in force in order to maintain our sovereignty. The fictitious U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Rick Santillan in Under the Fifth Sun makes a strong statement to the Mexican Foreign Secretary, Alejandro Villarreal:

“I’m here today to advise you that the United States will utilize all legal means available to secure its borders,” replied the diplomat.
“So you are going to put Mexican citizens in the same category as terrorists?”
“Illegal means illegal, Alex, and the law does not differentiate between the motives of those who try to enter unlawfully.”

If there were no jobs available in the United States would the one-million illegal immigrants still come? No way. The solution? Stay tuned for Part Three.

A parting thought from the Torah:

When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. The foreigner who resides with you must be to you like a native citizen among you. So you shall love him as yourself, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt (Leviticus 19.33-34).

Oh, yeah. One more thing...the "Wide Open Spaces" title of this post is from a book by Christian author Jim Palmer, not from the girls who make some Texans embarrassed that they are from the same state.

Next: Partners in Crime