Students are cutting school again to protest for "the rights of illegal immigrants," about 2,500 strong today in Denver. This report in the Denver Post is rich with irony, although it apparently sailed right past the reporter.

Before the walk, student organizer Daniel Alarcon told the students to walk safely. "Please guys, obey the law. Please don't put 20 people in a car, 'La ley es la ley. No quiero problemas," which means "the law is the law, we don't want problems."

How perfect: "the law is the law," not with respect to illegal immigration but to avoid getting busted for minor infractions while protesting against application of the law to illegal immigrants.

As has become standard at all the recent protests against the U.S. House bill that would classify illegal immigrants as felons and punish those who help them, distortion was rife.

Gabe Afflitto, a 13-year-old Wheat Ridge Middle School student said laws to keep immigrants from coming to the United States are "unfair and it's racist."

Gabe, you're being taught poorly, or manipulated, or both. We're talking about laws to keep illegal immigrants from the U.S., not immigrants.

Here's my proposal. All employers are required to check for proof of legal immigrant or visa holder status, and keep documentation on record showing each and every employee is legal. The government invests in meaningful immigration enforcement in the workplace, using the issuance of social security cards to legal-only workers as a mandatory condition of employment. No cash payments to workers are allowed. Obviously, enforcement is also prioritized to prevent illegal entry to the U.S. along our southern border.

To work through the controversial "amnesty" debate, I say adopt a sliding scale. For instance, two-thirds of illegal immigrants who've been here longer than ten years are allowed to qualify for citizenship if they can demonstrate full English proficiency and pass a civics test. Those eligible to qualify are chosen by lottery. One-third of those here for longer than five years and one-quarter of those here longer than three years are allowed onto the same citizenship test path, also by lottery. All those who've arrived within the last three years, and all those who fail to win a chance at eligibility in the lotteries must leave. We do not need to round up any of those who will have to leave, and "ship" them anywhere. Knowing, finally, that they will face jail, they will leave of their own accord. They've certainly got the money, now, for a bus or even airline ticket. Not to mention, in many cases, families to return to in their countries of origin.

We'll pay more for some things, but after all, "La Ley Es La Ley." Public resources will be reserved for legal citizens, and flouting the law will no longer be rewarded.

TECHNORATI TAGS: DENVER, PROTEST, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AMNESTY, WORKPLACE, BORDER, ENFORCEMENT

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 19, 2006 05:12 PM

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