Don't marginalize immigrants

It is puzzling to read both that the United States is a nation of immigrants and that immigration is a threat to the United States. The "Hispanic transformation" of the Western states described in Bob Brown's op-ed piece deserves our attention, certainly, but equally deserves careful consideration of national and local policy alternatives.

His suggestions, among others, that Montana enact laws restricting access to public services and drivers licenses makes sense only if the solution does not make the problem worse. Unfortunately, it would.

Our country's history is the history of immigration. Immigrants traditionally have come to America to seek out a better way of life. They were attracted by our values of religious and political freedom, equal educational opportunities, and economic and social mobility. They have sought refuge from political corruption and official persecution.

There is nothing especially different about the immigration from Mexico in those respects. As Brown observes, "They are coming here to escape to a better life."

Of course, the problem described by Brown is more complex than simple immigration. His concern is with the effects of illegal immigration. It is not good policy for the United States to allow people from other countries simply to move here without official permission. But our national response to Latin American immigration is neither effective nor realistic. Nor is Brown's.

It may well be true that 12 million to 20 million undocumented Mexicans now live illegally in the United States. It is probably also true that the value of social services they consume far exceeds their contribution to the cost of such services through the payment of taxes, and that the rate of crime among undocumented Mexicans is higher than the national average.

It could hardly be otherwise, because undocumented aliens cannot work on legal payrolls. They cannot have Social Security numbers, their employers cannot withhold payroll taxes, and they cannot file income tax returns. They cannot benefit from collective bargaining agreements, employer-sponsored health care plans, or even minimum wage laws, so it is hardly surprising that they are willing to work for less than a fair or legal wage or turn to crime.

Our immigration policy denies them the opportunity to work, pay taxes, obtain health insurance, or save for retirement in the official economy, so they work in a growing underground economy that competes unfairly with the owners and employees of legitimate businesses and they remain dependent upon government services.

Brown's suggestion of a mass crackdown on employment of undocumented aliens is unrealistic. It does not take into account the enormous pool of inexpensive labor from immigrants that our national government is either unwilling or unable to keep out, but will not allow to take legitimate employment.

A fence along the Mexican border would simply be a hugely expensive farce, unless of course we showed that we really meant business by erecting a Berlin-style wall complete with search lights, motion sensors, land-mines and machine gun towers manned by soldiers with orders to shoot. I'm not sure of the legal or political implications of simply killing unwanted immigrants, but I am completely sure of the moral shortcomings of such a policy.

The point of the matter is that we would have far less to fear if America simply did what America does best — to assist newcomers from whatever country or culture to become productive, law-abiding citizens who share a stake in the preservation of America's freedoms and opportunities.

People coming to the United States should not be viewed simply as liabilities but as potential assets who can contribute to the vitality, energy, wealth and diversity of our country. We should not marginalize or criminalize people who aspire to share in our freedoms and opportunities. We should welcome them.

Jim Ramlow lives in Whitefish.