FROM THE MICHIGAN GOP...

Immigration: Hispanics & Mexican-Americans belong in the Republican Party

Hispanics and Mexican-Americans belong in the Republican Party.

Much is getting lost in this so called “immigration” debate. Many are trying to play this up as being anti-Hispanic or anti-Mexican…nothing could be farther from the truth. Or at least it shouldn’t be.

Yes, there are extremists on both sides of this argument who are poisoning the waters. Very few argue that we should round everyone up and ship them back. At the same time, “amnesty” as the first act of becoming a citizen, in a country that is based on the rule of law - is a problem as well.

I come from a first generation family that emigrated from Lithuania. I didn’t learn to speak English until I was about 6 or 7 years old. I am very proud of my heritage, my children have learned the language, I go to a Lithuanian language Catholic Church, I’m the scoutmaster of a Lithuanian-American Boy Scout troop…but I am an American!

We are a country of immigrants…but legal immigrants…primarily patriotic immigrants who came here because they wanted to live the American dream. They wanted to get their piece of the American promise.

Republicans also represent the values, the work ethic, and the dreams that are embodied in most immigrants. Hispanics and Mexican-Americans find the Republican Party the “natural” home for their values, their belief system and what they want for their children. We must work to ensure we don’t let the rhetoric of this debate lose that natural connection. And this my friends, will be a tough job.

Republicans support immigration. With open arms, some of the brightest and most gifted people from around the world have settled in this great country of ours. And there will be millions more. We have also accepted the poor, the sick and those seeking asylum.

We find it not only acceptable, but natural to protect our “homes”, lock our doors and do what it takes to secure our families future. Why are we debating the idea of securing our “homeland”, controlling our borders, knowing who is in our “house” and for what reason?

See what Americans think:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/06/rasmussen-poll-.html

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/06/rasmussen_poll_.html

I have posted several logical and practical approaches to “immigration reform” that the likes of Newt Gingrich or Pete DuPont have described. We should enforce the existing laws, secure our borders and then logically come up with a way to “register” every foreign national coming into this country for whatever reason.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/06/pete-dupont-has.html

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21184

This has as much to do with the war on terror as it has to do with the rule of law. We owe it to our country and it’s citizens to be honest with what is happening and how we will solve the problems we have. If you are convicted of a crime and an illegal or legal immigrant, without the proper status you should be deported immediately. We should provide for the work visas necessary to fill the jobs we need. We should encourage those who come and learn at our universities and institutions of higher learning to stay and become citizens. These are the folks we want…yet we have a perverse set of priorities as to who should come and who should go.

Bobbie Eberle in an article below says: “Yes, we do need to reach out to Hispanic voters, and there are many ways to do so — but we don’t do it by granting amnesty… we don’t do it by printing more and more signs, labels, and instructions in Spanish. We do it by showing that the American dream applies to all who will work, obey the law, and embrace American culture.” He happens to be part Hispanic.

There is a very good discussion about immigration and what could happen in the United States if we don’t “manage” our immigration policy. It uses “gumballs” to illustrate an eye opening example about the problems we could face. Check it out:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/06/immigration-pol.html

This is the greatest country in the world for a reason…and everyone is welcome…that is who comes here for the American way of life. However, that has to mean legal, planned, patriotic immigration, based on a rule of law and not amnesty…especially for the criminal elements and gang members that are here now.

It’s the ONLY country in the world where people are willing to risk their lives in order to get in! Think about that.