I hardly ever talk about illegal immigration, probably because 1. I don’t think I understand it all that well and 2. I just don’t care.  During the Republican debates in late 2007/early 2008, whenever illegal immigration was brought up, I tuned out.  Boring.

Big-time conservative pundits seem to really care, but to me, how many people come into our country without notice isn’t really an issue of big vs. small government or free market economics, or not killing babies.

But as I pay attention, I keep getting a few glimpses as to why it might be somewhat important.  Since I live in Wisconsin, my reticular activating system isn’t exactly tuned to be sensitive to news about illegal immigrants and all the tomfoolery they can cause.  For example, I don’t see any Hispanics holding “North America is ours!” posters, or something like that.  (Note:  Now, after writing this blog post, I’ll probably see a ton more reasons pop up, thanks to the RAS).

So here’s what I know about illegal immigration, as I can gather it:

1.  It’s primarily an economic issue.

Having 12 million illegal immigrants NOT pay taxes but STILL collect government payouts and benefits is damaging to our budget, and therefore to our economy.  This is why the distinction between LEGAL (on the grid) immigration and illegal (no one knows!) immigration is so important.

Illegal immigrants are like steroids for the American Nanny State:  not only do they expand the amount of people who receive government benefits, but since they don’t pay taxes, they increase the tax burden on the rest of Americans.

2.  Illegal immigrants tend to vote Democrat.

Like most economic leeches tend to do, illegal immigrants enjoys them some Democrats.  More unemployment and medical benefits, please!  Hey, I had this broken bone fixed without paying for it, but don’t tell the Republicans!

They vote Democrat, and they strengthen the Nanny state.  Illegal immigrants are a great thing for Democrats.  What does that tell you about Democratic policy?

3.  No one seems to know what to do.

The top Republican candidate for President this year has essentially called for amnesty in the past.  The Democrats don’t even want to stop illegal immigration.  Dubya hasn’t seemed to fix the problem, and I barely see any decisive plans, aside from a Maginot Line starting at the Rio Grande and ending in California.  If you want to deport illegal immigrants, you’re seen as cruel.

There is one potential solution:  e-Verify, a program that helps employers verify the status of their employees.  It’s used in Arizona and is such a success that many illegal immigrants are simply moving on to New Mexico (kind of like an economic virus).

It’s easy to call out anti-Illegal immigration people as bigoted racists:  it kind of seems that way, and America has benefitted a lot from immigration in the past, even when bigots already living here hated the Irish and Italians.  But there can’t just be one angle to this thing.

What do you think?

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