U.S Southern Border is a Mess
To The Editor:
The United States of America no longer has a southern border.
I lived in Harlingen, TX years ago. It was a bucolic, safe, and pleasant tropical paradise on the Texas/Mexico border. Back in the day, the multi-cultural Rio Grande Valley was an eclectic and gorgeous place to raise a family, go to college or retire. Many towns in the RGV and on the southern border are currently considered treacherous communities of invading despots.
Since January of this year, millions of illegal migrants (from over 80 plus countries,) have systematically poured across the southern border, primarily in Texas and Arizona. (Before this year, California claimed the largest volume of illegal folks crossing the border.) Once the illicit trespassers reach Mexico’s northern border, they litter the banks of the Rio Grande River with any official documents from their countries of origin, wade across the river and dishonestly claim asylum. They are processed (with many given immediate legal status without medical or personal background vetting!) and sent to multiple governmental or charitable organizations (catholic charities of central Texas, immigration and refugee assistance benefits. gov, DHS, rescue.org, JFSSD. org, and many more publicly funded organizations.) Illegal aliens are often granted tax-payers’ dollars for legal expenses, housing (our homeless citizens should have first access!) and other public services ordinarily reserved for American citizens or legal residents.
Ranchers on the southern border have lost livestock, fencing destroyed, defecation of watering holes and lives threatened by disrespectful and aggressive trespassers. Chain migration is destructive to the environment with the women, children, and other vulnerable populations, faring abhorrent treatment. They are raped, harassed, battered, trafficked, and forced to succumb to the most adverse of conditions.
To argue “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,” no longer applies to our perilous immigration agenda in this country. Our grandparents legally migrated to this country with skills to provide for their welfare, thus, enhancing our communities. They had the strong will to work arduously in pursuit of their goals and dreams. That’s the American Dream. That is exactly what should be expected of all potential residential applicants to our country.
All developed nations have strong border laws, which are vital for a secure, powerful, and vibrant country. The United States immigration laws are very intricate and can often be confusing. We have a visa lottery that allows 50,000 applicants yearly if they meet simple requirements…attended and graduated from high school or its equivalent and have had at least two years in a job needing two years of training over the past five years. The necessary qualifications to apply for refugee status are fear of persecution in one’s homeland, which must be proven through subjective feelings and objective evidence that persecution exists due to social group, politics, religion, or other identification. One can apply within one year legally in the USA or through their country of origin. (Women can also claim protection under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.)
Our immigration controls and limits are under vicious attack every day. Americans must insist on the robust enforcement of our immigration and border protection laws to secure a safe and free country for all citizens, residents, and guests.
P.L. O’Neil La Grange