"Technically it is not illegal to be illegal in Massachusetts" -Martha Coakley

June 27, 2010 by Nipun Marwaha

Illegal: (adj) contrary or forbidden by law.
Immigration: (n) the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

We all agree that there are immigrants in our nation, who did not travel here through legal channels. They violated the US law and are therefore fugitives. By definition illegal immigrants are committing a crime and need to be punished. They need to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law; however, there is no such law that takes away human rights of individuals.

I agree with the vast number of people who say they do not want their tax money going to support illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, some people take good ideas to a bad extreme. Groups advocating a ban on tax payer money paying for EMERGENCY medical care is a view that I would described as a depraved indifference for human life (coincidentally, one of the definitions of murder).

If we want to come up with a solution we need to respect life and laws and liberty. I look at today's scenario and see two major evils. To better understand the evil let us change the crome from illegal immigration to burglary. If we granted amnesty to burglars, we would be informing all burglars that they will get to keep the loot and not go to jail. This Jesus-like idea of forgiveness will accomplish nothing except artificially increase the unemployment.

The second evil, is the policy that would come out of the already controversial Arizona Immigration Law. Benjamin Franklin said "if you sacrifice freedom in the name of security you receive neither and deserve none". Giving police the right to question the legality is a "chicken and the egg" scenario. Illegal immigrants are illegal, there for they do not have all of the rights given to citizens by the Constitution. On the other hand, how are you going to know if they are illegal if you can not check their status?

I can not say I have the perfect solution; however, I believe that to abide by the spirit of the Constitution. My suggestion (based on 5 years of mock trial, 2 years of student senate, and AP US History) is to pass a law stating that if you are arrested, you are required to produce proof of citizenship. I believe that this suggestion still leans too much towards the second evil and it is going to take a mind far greater than a single college student to solve it.

Nipun
6-27-10