And some people say the Feds aren’t doing their job…!
As I follow blogs, forums, and news articles dedicated to immigration issues, I see a large number of people justifying states like Arizona and Alabama taking charge of immigration by saying “The Feds aren’t doing the job, so the states have to!” Working as I do in the immigration industry, this claim seems preposterous to me. After all, if the Feds weren’t doing their job, I would have nobody to help because nobody would need help!
And now the New York Times is reporting that Federal Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agents are actually stopping and detaining undocumented immigrants who are leaving the United States. Some people may be saying they’re not doing their job… but I think this indicates that they may be doing it a little too well. After all, if Americans want people without proper documentation to leave, then why make it so risky for them to do so?
CBP Agents claim they’re searching for contraband… but if that’s the case, they can check papers after they find the contraband – not before. And why take biometrics of people who don’t have any contraband… when these biometrics records of prior entry without inspection will only make it harder for those people to immigrate legally in the future? If we want people to come here legally and we want them to leave if they haven’t, this policy seems to be working against our own desires as a nation.
One possible solution for undocumented immigrants is to try to get documents. Try exploring possibilities on websites like ImmigrationAmerica.org that explain ways to get documentation legally, be it through family or work, be it a visa or a green card. Because if America is going to make it that hard to leave… then maybe you’ll just have to work harder to stay.
Immigration America 