The aforementioned example is instructive in that it demonstrates that the issue of illegal immigration is no longer, if it ever was, one of humanitarian impulses but of raw fiscal import. In New York State, out of an approximately $106 billion dollar state budget, Medicaid spending consumes more than $45 billion dollars thereof. This is greater than the next two most populous states combined. In the southwestern United States hospitals and other public services are groaning under the weight of having to provide services for illegal immigrants. To say that this is out of control would be an understatement of epic proportions. It is not only the financial aspect that is disturbing, villages and towns, communities and neighborhoods, are all experiencing fundamental and in many cases disturbing changes. Overall quality of life is suffering and many long-term residents are seeking greener pastures, if you will. Of course, not every state is so affected. The ones most likely to see this massive influx of illegal immigration are those in the Northeast and Southwest. Particularly appealing are those states with exceedingly generous, no questions asked welfare benefits. To ignore the role that welfare plays in attracting illegal immigrants to the US is to ignore reality. The old canard that illegal immigrants pay massive amounts in taxes at the state and federal level has also been dismissed by recent studies. Illegal immigrants are a net drain on the public fisc; witness the proportion of the NY State budget spent on Medicaid. It is worth noting that New York State is laboring under a nearly $50 billion dollar debt burden, having recently resorted to borrowing so as to fund operating expenses. A recipe for financial disaster to be sure.

The United States is not the only country struggling to deal with massive influxes of illegal immigrants, Europe is challenged in this as well. In Europe, however, the role played by the “asylum seeker”, looms larger than in the US. While here in America the illegal immigrants simply hop, skip or walk over, through or under our porous southern border, in Europe illegal immigrants (mainly muslim) seeking better financial circumstances more often than not ask for political asylum. They will claim to be escaping religious or political persecution and as such should allowed in or to stay if already there. It seems almost as if every asylum seeker in Europe is escaping religious persecution. If most are muslim, who exactly is persecuting them? Of course this request opens the benefit floodgates, and as these cases can drag on for years and years the European taxpayer is forced to foot the bill. As the asylum cases drag on children are born to the illegal immigrants and it becomes harder and harder to eventually deport them. Entire communities exist to cater to the needs of the muslim community. In Vienna, Austria for example, there are some parts of the city where you think you are in a muslim country, such is the near total subsumption of entire traditional Viennese neighborhoods. As Oriana Fallaci has pointed out on numerous occasions, it is through demographic domination that muslims will reconquer Western Europe – not through force of arms. Thankfully many nations in Europe are taking long overdue steps to rein in their overly generous asylum and welfare programs and have begun to, in some cases, forcibly repatriate those who refuse to leave when asked. It would appear that the European taxpayer as well is fed up and has demanded that politicians act accordingly.

In the United States the public has been demanding reform in the area of illegal immigration as well. Most polls show that 60-70 percent of Americans favor wholesale reform of our immigration system and want our borders to be made more secure. Despite this overwhelming public support we have those politicians, President Bush included, who again wish to foist another amnesty plan on America, now under the guise of a “guest worker” program. This, as always, to deal with the problem of illegal immigration in a “rational manner.” Are we now going to devout precious resources to a system that “helps” employers find willing workers south of the border? Does one expect that border jumpers will be checking the internet job postings prior to their law breaking sojourns? It seems to escape most that we already have an extremely rational immigration system, in that whomever wishes to come and live or work in the Untied States on a permanent or temporary basis must apply to do so. If their request is denied that should be the end of the matter. Unfortunately due to the desire on some members of the public, the political class, and general hangers-on to actively seek to undermine our rational immigration system, we are now in a very irrational situation. It beggars belief that there should be those who advocate on behalf of immigration lawbreakers, yet this is what we have.

It matters not to the “illegal immigration” advocates/activists that a crime was committed in entering the United States illegally, what matters is that these lawbreakers be given the fullest measure of societal succor. It is said that they are only looking for a better life, seeking the American dream or some other tendentious prattle. We should ask ourselves, what kind of individual willingly leaves their settled life and family in their own country to break the law and enter a foreign country illegally? I would venture that it is not the cream of that nation’s crop. It is more likely to be the dregs of society, those who have no compunction about such matters. Now for a country like Mexico, or nearly any other, the illegal immigration safety valve is a boon. It relieves pressure on the government and greatly reduces the impetus to actually do something about the situation while at the same time allowing remittances to flow back unabated. As an aside, another disturbing aspect to the “illegal immigrant” industry, if you will, are the activities of the Catholic Church. In the United States and in Europe certain Church agencies are actively engaged in assisting illegal immigrants. Not only in-country “immigrant services,” such as legal guidance, etc., but in some cases outright encouraging illegal immigration as a general good and right. This may bear further examination.

Those who oppose illegal immigration are often termed racists, lumped in with xenophobes and those who oppose all forms of immigration. This is decidedly not the case; we are in favor of legal immigration. It matters not what country one comes from only that one come to the United States legally. We are an immigrant nation, is the oft heard reply – this while true is not wholly accurate. As Samuel Huntington recently pointed out, America is a settler nation, immigrants came later. As such, the unbridled immigration that our nation has experienced lo these many years, while useful when we were a growing country, has outlived its usefulness.

What efforts can be undertaken to ameliorate some of the burden which illegal immigration places on our nation?

Some good first steps have already been taken. The Real ID Act, despite some seemingly minor loopholes, may have a real impact. Also, we must enforce the immigration laws already on the books. Scrupulous enforcement thereof would contribute considerably to a reduction in illegal immigration. Of course, while there will be caterwauling from the usual suspects, it should be paid no heed. Additionally, support should be given to those members of Congress who are struggling mightily against the pro-illegal immigrant lobby. It may also be worthwhile to consider a change in our notion of United States citizenship being granted simply by virtue of being born on American soil. After all, it would stand to reason that if an individual is illegally in the United States, a child born to them while such should not be granted citizenship. This alone would create a strong disincentive to illegal immigration.

There are many things that can be done to reduce or even outright eliminate illegal immigration into the United States. As such, it behooves us to undertake those measures necessary to do so. The deleterious effects of illegal immigration are manifest and we should brook no criticism or opposition in seeing that our borders are secure and our immigration laws enforced.

The political will should be mustered and common sense prevail.