The Debate We Should Be Having

The immigration debate that we're having is the wrong debate for Republicans to be having. What I'm proposing instead is something that's both politically intelligent and good policy towards Mexico.

Here's what the GOP immigration policy should include:

1. Building a wall to keep illegal immigrants out. We simply can't have people getting into this country unchecked. This isn't controversial with the Hispanic community in general and it just makes too much sense.
2. Fine businesses that hire illegal aliens on a progressive scale. Their first infraction should get their undivided attention. Their second infraction should hurt them. Their third infraction should cripple their business.
3. This is the first proactive facet of the policy. It's both sensible and defensible. We should be encouraging Mexicans to be voting only for politicians who want to make Mexico's economy work. Anything short of that shouldn't be tolerated. This is something that President Bush should make the cornerstone of American policy toward Mexico going forward.
4. Working with Vicente Fox, we should establish a goal of eliminating the Mexican drug lords within a 5 year window.

Last night, Newt Gingrich told about the sheriff of Neuvo Laredo resigning after just 8 months on the job. Here's how the Houston Chronicle reported his resignation: 

"Everything is fine; everything turned out well," Pimentel said in an interview Thursday, reflecting on his tenure as top cop in one of Mexico's most violent cities. "I'm leaving with my head held high."

His predecessor was gunned down hours after taking office, victim of a turf war between rival drug cartels that continued unabated during Pimentel's watch, leaving at least 57 dead in Nuevo Laredo this year alone.

The proven ability of the cartels to kill and intimidate people in law enforcement, local government and the news media has left Nuevo Laredo a place of fun-house mirrors, where the ordinary meanings of civic life are continually distorted.

If law enforcement is intimidated by the drug cartels, how can we be surprised that people want out of Mexico? What chance do they have against well-funded, well-armed cartel militias?

Establishing a strike force along the lines of Special Forces would go a long way towards cleaning up Mexico's terrorist-induced instability.

Here's why this will help all parties involved:

1. By advocating this comprehensive policy, Republicans could tout their policy as helping Mexico develop a viable middle class, something that's all but nonexistent at this point. This will ingratiate Hispanics to the GOP for at least a generation.
2. Eliminating the corruption and violence in Mexico's border towns would buy the GOP lots of goodwill with the Hispanic community while it stabilizes the region. The importance of this can't be stressed enough. Yes, it'd take money but it's smart money that will go a long ways towards stabilizing our border with Mexico.
3. We've seen the work ethic of Mexicans. There's no reason why they wouldn't work hard in Mexico to position their families for future prosperity. The thing that most seems to be holding business development back is the overregulation and overtaxation on businesses.

If the U.S. started a high visibility program that told the Mexican people that their government should be helping them create businesses that Mexicans can run, word would get out that life inside Mexico could improve in a relatively short time.

If the U.S. helped drain the Mexican 'swamp' of the Cartel's terrorists, it would go a long ways towards improving life in Mexico. Based on the terrorist activities and the impotent economy, who can blame Mexicans for wanting to leave?

Cross-posted at California Conservative

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Posted Friday, March 31, 2006 8:57 AM

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