Editorial: North of the Rio Grande
Monday, May 7, 2007 | 7:14 a.m.
The folks in the Rio Grande Valley town of McAllen, Texas, could teach immigration hard-liners in Congress and the Bush administration plenty about immigration and the economy - if they would only listen.
Despite what McAllen officials say were assurances to the contrary, the Bush administration is planning to build a fence and vehicle barriers along 153 miles of the Texas border, including the Rio Grande in and around McAllen. City officials say the Homeland Security Department had led them to believe there would be a "virtual" fence of surveillance cameras and border patrols because a real fence would cut off access to the river for wildlife, recreation or farmers who use the river to irrigate crops.
So much for promises.
In our post-9/11 world, it is, of course, vitally important that our borders are made secure and terrorists are kept at bay, but is the fence really designed to thwart terrorists trying to destroy the American dream or Mexicans trying to grab a piece of it?
McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez said he does not think a wall will stop people who desperately want to be here, like those he has seen form human ladders and jump off bridges to get into the United States.
The issue, he said, is one of basic economics.
"We have integrated all of the markets in North America, but we have failed to integrate the labor market," Cortez said. "It's the market forces that are bringing people here to work."
Americans should be considering how to add to the country's economic engine by expanding legal immigration. That should be part of comprehensive immigration reform, which should include better enforcement of our borders and a path to citizenship for those illegal immigrants already here who have not harmed anyone.
Instead, those taking a hard line on immigration reform, and who want to wall off the country from the "illegals," are trying to keep out Mexicans who spend money, pay taxes and work jobs in America that otherwise might go unfilled.
How does that make sense?
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao: The only fight fans want to see
- Now we can all see Islamic extremism for what it truly is
- Manny Pacquiao says he feels stronger than ever
- Ensign Federal Credit Union fails
- Small city struggles with shocking allegations
- Bruised and battered, Cotto says he will fight again
Blogs
Elsewhere
Dana White continues to push for event in Abu Dhabi
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Harry Reid is powerful for Northern Nevada, too!
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (11 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





