Immigration was believed to be a hot-button topic for this past election.  Unfortunately, the Republicans misplayed their hand and immigration reform advocates like J.D. Hayworth lost.  Perhaps the Republicans can try this tact.

We, as conservative republicans, are not opposed to legal immigration.  We welcome legal immigrants who, like previous generations of our own families, came to this country to make a better life and contribute to the growth and greatness of America.  We welcome all of the cultural treasures and customs that the legal immigrants bring with them and we encourage them to become Americans.  When we talk of an official language for America we do not seek to stop immigrants from talking in their mother tongue's when they are together socializing or if they are conducting business with one another.  An official language helps the country standardize they way government will be run, business will be conducted, and schools are taught so that no individual is left out or made to feel ostracized.  A common language is one of the pillars of any society.  Additionally, if there are people seeking asylum for valid reasons they will be welcomed to become a citizen if they so choose.  As a legal citizen, they will be subject to the same freedoms, laws, and protections as any other US citizen.

But, conservative republicans are opposed to unfettered illegal immigration.  Especially when the people who seek to come here to live and earn a living while refusing to learn our language and obey our laws.  While some republicans and democrats seek to confer rights of citizenship on illegal immigrants without requiring them to work towards citizenship, thus becoming drains on the citizens of this country, we are diametrically opposed.  Unfortunately, the number of illegal immigrants currently in this country poses a problem.  There are too many with criminal records in their own countries who continue to commit crimes here in the United States to make amnesty and fast-track citizenship a rational option.  Illegal immigrants who are in this country who are working honestly and are worthy of citizenship should of course be given the opportunity to fast-track through the citizenship process but this must be strictly enforced.  Additionally, the hardcore criminals must be sought, arrested and returned to their country of origin.  If there is still popular support for legalizing the remaining illegal immigrants, then there should be a freeze on all other immigration for as long as it takes to sort the problem out.  Exceptions would be made of course for those seeking asylum, but with proof that the desire for asylum is justified.

Some may think that this is to strict.  To them I suggest they ask actress Adrienne Shelly.  But they will have to direct their questions to heaven as she died at the hands of an illegal immigrant who she unfortunately had a disagreement with recently.  Some may think this is not stringent enough.  To them I say that this is but a framework for a fair and rational process of dealing with a problem that is out of control and continues to grow larger.  But it should be remembered that while the framework has some flexibility it is not a limitless flexibility.

I leave you with the words of one of our greatest presidents, Theodore Roosevelt:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to the president of the American Defense Society dated January 3, 1919. 
Pres. Roosevelt died 3 days later.

Publius