What Prince William County is about to do -- spend $2.85 million a year nabbing illegal aliens without any real idea what will happen once they're locked up -- is foolish. But it is exactly the kind of poor public policy born from the pressure of desperation.[...]
Legal residents and taxpayers are mad. They want something done. But the men and women of Congress who could actually address their grievances remain deaf to public pleas to reform immigration policy.
That's exactly the issue here: Congress -- not Prince William County -- makes immigration laws for the United States of America. If Prince William and other counties would focus their efforts at cracking down on illegal behavior, such as excessive noise or overcrowding, and illegal employers instead of political posturing on an issue which is not in their purview, we'd all be a lot better off.
Of course, what's driving this is not sound public policy, but the fact that this is an election year, and Virginia Republican lawmkers have "nothing to report" (unless you count the hated abuser fees as an accomplishment). So, what better strategy than to turn to an issue that riles people up, but which Republican county officials have no serious ability or intention of actually DOING something about?
Very clever, except that people aren't as gullible as Republican lawmakers apparently make them out to be. They understand, as does the Roanoke Times, that immigration is "a federal problem without a local solution -- no matter how desperate places like it and Prince William become."
I need to get off this fear; but the rabble that "Help Save Manassas" wingnuts have stirred up scares me... they have been far too effective at stirring up anger that is clearly misplaced, yet will be vented this election, not next election.
Hell, I don't even agree that immigration (both legal and illegal) is really a problem. I thing all human beings should be entitled to the same opportunities, and that (as shown in Alexandria, Arlington, and many other cities) immigrants help a community stay healthy, safe, and culturally interesting.
I also think that even the power of the United States of America is insignificant in the face of the largest migration pattern the human race has seen since the end of the Roman Empire (Earth's one super-power did not survive that migration pattern then, largely because they decided to fight the migration rather than work with it). I think we can not only survive, but excel with new friends and workers and ideas. Sadly, I think I am in the minority in Prince William County, where people are afraid of change.
The only constant is change.
Immigration is not an issue that should be discussed in this election - but it will be, far too much and by candidates running for offices that can do nothing about it. Sigh.